MT News Service
Jammu, February 1:
Balwant Thakur-the Cultural Diplomat of India to South Africa arrived here today in Jammu. On his arrival, the artists of Natrang gave him a warm reception at Natrang Studio, Jammu. This is the first visit of Balwant Thakur in Jammu after he joined as Director, Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Johannesburg in the month of August, 2019.
During his visit in the city of Temples, he has planned to hold series of meetings with Government departments, cultural organisations and artists to explore the possibilities of holding Indian Cultural festivals in South Africa. During the year 2020, apart from other events he has a huge plan to hold Jammu & Kashmir festivals in Johannesburg, Durban, Limpopo and Cape Town for this he will short-list the artists and possible events being featured in these ambitious festivals. In Chandigarh, an exclusive programme ‘Ru-Broo’ is being held in his honour on 9th of February, 2020. Various receptions have also been planned in his honour by different organisations’.
Balwant Thakur was appointed as Cultural Diplomat of India to South Africa by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in August, 2019 and is currently heading the prestigious Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Johannesburg as its Director, Consul Culture and Head of Centre. In past five months he has already made records by holding 50 International events in such a short pain of time. Known as magic man of theatre, Balwant Thakur has already been conferred the top Indian honours including Padamshree. He held very prestigious positions including Secretary J&K Academy of Art Culture and languages for over Eight years and as Regional Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations for over Six years. In South Africa he has initiated many stand alone programmes like ‘Mera Bharat Meri Shaan’, ‘Hindustan Hamaraa’, ‘Festival of India’ ‘Çolors of India’ ‘Gandhi in South Africa’ ‘Vibrant India’ ‘Hindi Mahotsav’ and ‘Dance Diversity of India’ which have vibrated the entire South Africa.
The artists who attended the reception to Balwant Thakur included Suresh Kumar, Neeraj Kant, Vikrant Sharma, Sumeet Sharma, Subash Jamwal, Sanjeev Gupta, Chander Shekhar, Mahikshit Singh, Vrinda Sharma, Mihir Gujral, Lovely Sharma, Brijesh Avtar Sharma, Sumit Raina, Gopi Sharma, Sushant Singh Charak, Aarti Devi and Vanshika Gupta.
