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Under onslaught for “reflecting foreign Muslim and European influences” successful the Jammu and Kashmir’s tableau during the Republic Day parade successful New Delhi, creator Balwant Thakur connected Thursday (January 29, 2026) said blaming creation oregon artists and turning a nationalist accomplishment into a level for governmental score-settling was unfair and unwarranted.
“Unfortunately, a fewer ill-informed voices person chosen to politicise this uncommon accomplishment by alleging determination bias. It is important to spot facts connected record. A tableau is simply a ocular narrative, created wrong a strict clip framework of astir 45 seconds, built astir a azygous theme. To marque an impact, lone 1 facet of 1 taxable tin beryllium highlighted,” Mr. Thakur, who served arsenic Secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for 8 years, said.
This year’s J&K tableau showcased a ample houseboat with iconic handicrafts connected display, including Samovar (used to hole section tea), Pashmina weaving, walnut wood carving, carpet weaving, papier-mâché, copperware and Basohli miniature paintings. Besides, a Dogra Chhajja performance, Rouf, Kud, Jagarna, Pahari, Gojri, and Dumhal were besides performed.
The plan and conception earned J&K the 2nd presumption astatine the nationalist level.
However, the curator of the tableau faced disapproval from a conception of nine successful Jammu. “It is an honour that belongs to Jammu & Kashmir arsenic a whole. Let america not let a infinitesimal of pridefulness to beryllium diluted by unqualified controversies raised for attraction oregon publicity,” Mr. Thakur said.
This year, the taxable was handicrafts of Jammu & Kashmir. “While efforts were made to see crafts from some regions, the National Selection Committee — not the creator — insisted that lone those handicrafts with established nationalist and planetary beingness beryllium showcased. In specified circumstances, the scope for deviation is limited,” Mr. Thakur said.
The imaginativeness for tableaux comes from the authorities and the National Committee for R-Day. “Artist translates that imaginativeness into a ocular form. It is besides important to recognize that determination is nary determination practice successful tableaus. Themes are projected by States/UTs but are finalised, supervised, and approved by a National Committee of eminent painters, sculptors, musicians, designers, directors, costume experts, and fabricators,” helium added.
He said the 2nd presumption the J&K tableaux earned was “an honour that belongs to Jammu & Kashmir arsenic a whole”. “Let america not let a infinitesimal of pridefulness to beryllium diluted by unqualified controversies raised for attraction oregon publicity,” Mr. Thakur said.
Mr. Thakur’s clarification came successful the aftermath of disapproval helium faced from societal media influencers successful Jammu and Kashmiri Pandits.
“The tableaux was wholly unrepresentative of the age-old civilization, culture, contented and heavy philosophical connection connected behalf of the UT of J&K. Samavor is not indigenous to Kashmir and has been imported from Central Asia (Samarkand) and was brought to J&K by the overseas invaders, looters and perpetrators of genocide and taste cleansing,” Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, elder BJP person and Kashmiri Pandit leader, said.
He said houseboats represented European involution successful Kashmir particularly during the British Raj. “These primitively beryllium to the Netherlands and the different regions of Western Europe. They don’t correspond our civilization and culture,” Mr. Chrungoo said.
He said J&K has a affluent taste contented of much than 5 1000 years and our scriptures, architecture, humanities documentation, taste contented and customs and usages are grounds of this information of our civilization and history.
“Kashmir is the parent of Natyashastra and classical music. Rabab is besides a overseas instrumentality of euphony that has a transportation with the extracurricular factors alternatively than a narration with the originality of Kashmir’s affluent tradition. It besides doesn’t afloat correspond our large contented of classical music, creation and folklore,” the BJP person said.
He appealed to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to acceptable up an enquiry and probe into the full episode.
