Lok Virsa praised for efforts to preserve culture, heritage

Islamabad: National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) organised a grand celebration on Saturday night to reflect on its last three year’s strategy for progress.

The event was attended by a large number of people, including MNA Ramesh Kumar, Ambassador of European Union to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Neil Buhne, foreign and local diplomats, film director Syed Noor, writers IA Rehman, Mujahid Brelvi and Murtaza Solangi and members of film, TV and media fraternity.

Lok Virsa’s board members Farooq Qaiser and Akhunzada Taqi Mir were also present among the audience. Each component of Lok Virsa’s strategy and progress was discussed in a separate segment. These components included “Rebuilding Cultural Identity”, “Reclaiming Cultural Spaces”, and “Strengthening Lok Virsa”, “Linkages with Cultural Institutions “and “Promoting Diversity and Pluralism”.

A large multimedia screen displayed presentation of short video clips, interviews, before and after visuals, demonstrating the progress made as a result of last three years’ strategy. The host of each segment helped the audience through various presentations on the multimedia screen.

The audience were particularly excited to see the launch of Lok Virsa’s digitized archives during “Strengthening Lok Virsa” segment. These archives can be accessed online from anywhere in the world.

The segment also included launch of “Lok Tunes” which is a website featuring all of the recordings of famous artists recorded at Lok Virsa. The launch of Lok Virsa’s digitized archives and “Lok Tunes” website is historic progress in preservation of culture and its promotion. Neil Buhne, shared his excitement with audience, saying he was already listening to music on the “Lok Tunes” i.e. websitewww.loktunes.com.

The evening was a fusion of discussion as well as music. Lok Virsa’s “Open Mic” stars took to stage and performed a folk medley during the segment “Reclaiming Cultural Spaces”. During the same segment, Syed Noor, renowned film director, described “Mandwa Film Club” as a concept that is not only reviving the culture of film screenings but also helping to remind new generation about the real “Mandwa”. Lok Virsa’s dance troupe “Jamalo” paid tribute to vintage cinema by performing to the classic song “Socha tha Pyar na Karen Ge”.

“Linkages with Cultural Institutes” was a segment which paid tribute to partners of Lok Virsa such as the Smithsonian Institute and the various local partners who form the Autaq cultural network. At this occasion members of various communities who have worked with Lok Virsa during last three years, stepped on stage to announce their appreciation for Lok Virsa under leadership of Executive Director Dr. Fouzia Saeed. ICF, organizers of annual Mother Languages and Literature Festival, lauded Dr. Fouzia Saeed, for her commitment and support which has made this festival possible. A list of Lok Virsa’s supporters were also honoured with special medals during the same segment. Next was “Promoting Diversity and Pluralism” during which the Hazara community thanked Lok Virsa and Dr. Fouzia Saeed for inaugurating a Hazara Diorama at Heritage Museum, which is the first and only diorama of it’s kind to be displayed anywhere in the world. Members of the Lok Virsa staff, who come from all corners of Pakistan, also took to stage during this segment and introduced themselves to the audience.

MNA Ramesh Kumar lauded the 3 years’ strategy and the resulting progress saying continuity of progress is essential to help preserve the cultures, traditions and heritage of Pakistan. Ambassador Jean-François Cautain shared his own experience of Lok Virsa before and during the last three years, saying the improvements are visibly exceptional. Noted puppeteer Farooq Qaiser expressed his wishes for the progress at the National institute to continue for many more years to come. The evening concluded with a performance by Krishan Laal Bheel who generously presented his musical instrument as a token of appreciation to Dr. Fouzia Saeed for her leadership and services to communities and cultures of Pakistan.