JAMMU, Jun 16: Renowned Dogri theatre artist and cultural activist Pawan Verma has written a detailed representation to the Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Dr. Sandhya Purecha, seeking clarification regarding the evaluation process adopted for the recently announced Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024–25.
In his letter, Verma expressed disappointment over the assessment of his candidature despite his 26-year-long contribution to Dogri theatre and cultural promotion in Jammu & Kashmir. He stated that this year marked his final eligible opportunity to be considered for the prestigious youth award.
Referring to a conversation with Shri Ayash Arif, a jury member representing Jammu & Kashmir, Verma claimed that his name had been discussed during the award deliberations and that his contribution to theatre was acknowledged. However, according to Verma, the jury member himself expressed surprise over the final outcome and informed him that the Managing Committee had assigned him a “C” grade. Verma has sought clarification on the criteria and parameters used for grading candidates and the reasons that led to such an assessment of his profile.
Highlighting his achievements, Verma noted that his candidature was supported by several eminent personalities, including six Padma Shri awardees and two recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in theatre. He also mentioned that former Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, had formally recommended his candidature to the Akademi in recognition of his contribution to theatre and cultural promotion.
Verma further pointed out that he was conferred the Jammu & Kashmir State Award in Theatre in 2024 by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. He is also a recipient of the Junior Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for his work and research in Dogri theatre.
In his representation, Verma emphasized that his concern was not merely about receiving an award but about understanding the evaluation process that resulted in what he described as a disproportionately low grading. He urged the Akademi to review his profile and provide transparency regarding the assessment of his candidature.
Reiterating his commitment to preserving and promoting Dogri theatre, Verma expressed hope that deserving artists working in regional languages and traditional art forms would receive fair and transparent consideration under schemes intended to encourage young practitioners of the arts.