DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
jammu, Nov 22
The Collegiate Department of education, Government of Kerala honoured Padamshree Balwant Thakur on the occasion of the inaugural session of National seminar on contemporary theatre and drama which he not only inaugurated but also spoke as key speaker. His presentation ‘World vision of Indian theatre’ was applauded and appreciated by the top scholars and students of theatre where he underlined the most significant features of Indian theatre. Terming Indian theatre as total theatre inter-pressed with music, dance and other visual expressions, will always have an edge over the theatre being practiced worldwide. American theatre or the theatre of the Europe might have acquired proficiency in technological advancement but the originality and purity of Indian theatre is unmatched. On the occasion he was presented a ‘Vastram’ and a plaque of Honour.
Balwant is currently travelling Kerala since the last two days on an invitation of the Government of Kerala and over five events have been lined up by the local organisers which includes the inauguration of a ‘Theatre Club’ in the University of Kerala. Being an established International name of Indian theatre, one can find a huge thrust amongst the institutions of Kerala who wants every minute of Balwant Thakur be utilised in learning from his vast experience of theatre and cultural diplomacy. Balwant Thakur is the first Indian theatre personality who has the experience of cultural diplomacy of two countries and the exposure of the majority of world theatre practices. Being the largely travelled Indian theatre designer and director, he is in a huge demand all over the country where theatre practitioners, art administrators, designers, scholars, playwrights, cultural diplomats want to learn from his immense artistic experience.
Balwant Thakur is one of the most creative theatre directors of the country who have given a new identity to Indian theatre with their highly innovative theatre productions. Decorated with the highest Indian honor in performing arts i.e, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Direction in theatre, Balwant Thakur is credited for being the youngest theatre director of India who has participated over three hundred National Theatre Festivals as director and holding of over 6000 events, which is a record in the country.
Known as a magic man of theatre, his outstanding visual poetics on stage like ‘Ghumayee’ ‘Bawa Jitto’ ‘Suno Eh Kahani’ ‘Chauraha’ ‘Mata Ki Kahani’ and ‘Mahabhoj’ have vibrated the theatre scene of North India. Recognizing his outstanding contribution in Indian theatre, the Department of Culture, Govt. of India Awarded him the National Senior fellowship for three years to do research on the performing modes of Jammu. In 1992 he was decorated with yet another prestigious award of the country i.e, ‘Sanskriti Award’ for direction in theatre, which is given once in three years to a theatre person. Same year he got The Ford Foundation (USA) Grant Award for his research project ‘Search for a New Theatre Language’.
He has also been honored with the title ‘Duggar Rattan’. In 2005 he won the best Director Award in the Ist Doordarshan Theatre Festival. In 2011 he was honored by the Royal Award ‘Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Award2011’, Tagore Sammaan-2012, Gursharan Singh Commitment to Theatre Award (World Theatre Day Honor of Punjab Govt)-2013. He was conferred PADAMSHREE by the President of India in 2013.
J&K’s highest State Award for Life-time achievement-2017, Prithvi Raj Kapoor Samaan 2017, B V Karanth Memorial Award for Life-time achievement-2018 and Gandhi@150 by Indian Associations of South Africa.
He worked as Secretary J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages for over eight years. Among many accomplishments, under his creative guidance the State of J&K won Best tableaux Award for the first time in 1997 and continued the tradition of winning Best Awards in 1999 and 2001.
He also worked as Regional Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs between 2012 to 2018. He also served on the Boards of prestigious Institutions of the country including, Department of Culture, Govt. of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, North Zone Cultural Centre, Council for Promotion of Urdu Language and as an expert for National School of Drama, Department of Culture, M.P., Department of Language & Culture, H.P. and Association of Indian Universities. Court Member of Central University of Jammu and member of Audit Advisory Committee of Accountant General of India. Widely traveled Balwant Thakur held his presentations over record 100 International cities including Bangkok (Thailand) Singapore, Kaulalmpur (Malaysia) London, Oxford, Brighton, Stratford, Birmingham, Manchester (UK) Berlin, Frankfurt, (Germany), Rome (Italy) Moscow, Yoroslov, Belgrade, St. Petersburg, (Russia) Turkey, Almaty, Bishkek, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xining,Shenzhen, Guiang (China) Denmark, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town Mauritius, and Dhaka.
