LoK Virsa to help preserve culture, music of Gilgit-Baltistan

Islamabad

Lok Virsa plans to promote bilateral cooperation between local cultural organisation and Lok Virsa Islamabad in research activities to preserve the traditional heritage, music and culture of Gilgit Baltistan.

The commitment was made by Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr. Fouzia Saeed in a meeting with elders of Gilgit Baltistan where they discussed concerns and future plans for retaining the culture of the area. The meeting was held during her recent visit of Gilgit Baltistan.

She said that Lok Virsa is a National Institute and would support all languages and culture that are near extinction. The elders asked Dr. Fouzia Saeed for an outlet of crafts of Kalash at Lok virsa. Dr. Fouzia Saeed invited the local cultural organizations to come under the umbrella of Autaq so that their cultural threats can be easily communicated by mutual understanding and conflict reducing.

ED Lok Virsa assured the elders that Lok Virsa would preserve and save cultural and traditional heritage or the area. She also held a meeting with Kalash women and listened to their social hurdles and problems. She visited the museum which was developed by Greek scholars and the government is running it in a very good manner.

Dr Saeed committed to develop deeper links with this museum and the Lok Virsa. She also visited Chitral town and met with several research scholars, folklorists, Folk singers and linguists. They shared many ideas where Lok virsa could help.

Meanwhile, two research ideas were finalize with scholars, Farid Ahmad Raza and Mohammad Irfan to document folk stories and folk songs. Recording of a 90 years old flute player Taleem Khan, was also agreed upon who still remembers many old folk tunes that the new musicians do not know. Lok Virsa committed to help the folklorists and artists in Chitral through promoting them in the Capital and having them connected with other institutions.

Dr. Fouzia Saeed said that Lok Virsa provides a vital platform for a wide variety of cultural organizations and ethnic communities to organize themselves; with a space for artists and artisans, to become a part of Lok Virsa’s larger family.