Reviving Cultures, Arts and Literature, Fostering Creative Civilization
- Culture is about the ideas, customs, social behavior and social norms of a particular people or society. In other sense, culture is a way of life that have the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of a people or society encompasses language, religion, cuisine, social habits, beliefs, music and arts. In fact, culture manifests the human intellectual achievement and development. However, development is not only about the material possession by individuals, but it is to serve mind through reviving cultures. Policy on Sikkimese Culture shall be formulated for overall growth and development and to contribute to a distinctive state identity.
- Arts and Literature is perhaps the greatest invention in the evolution on earth for human civilization. The arts and literature formed the seed of further invention, discovery and development of human life. It plays an important role in fostering creativity to human life. Arts and literature have important social benefits like social integration, discover new interests and discover self, strengthening cognitive skills and thinking habits, improving personal and social skills, development of community identity, neighborly cohesion, local enterprise and initiative, willingness, etc. Today’s economy is driven by knowledge and ideas; arts education is a necessary. Sikkim State Culture, Arts and Literature Council shall be established as Advisory Body involving experts, artists, academicians, literary persons, artistic persons, etc. for policies, programming, co-ordination, research, collaboration and information dissemination.
- System of governance, religious practices, and agricultural practices, specialization of professions, social structure, arts, architecture, infrastructure, writing, artisans and technology form the basis of a civilization. Sikkimese culture is yet to be conceptualized. The broad framework within which Sikkimese Culture shall be conceptualized to preserve the state culture and historical heritage.
- There shall have Development Board for Indigenous Tribes.
- There shall have cultural security and peace with religious freedom to the citizens of Sikkim.
- A strong State Culture, Arts and Literature Agency shall be established as the membership organization to unite and serve all communities systematically and equitably and for creative business development and cultural planning.
- There shall have the programs that aim to enhance mutual understanding and emphasize a culture of peace to support harmonious relationships among different ethnic groups and uphold the dignity of life. Inclusive culture for all citizens shall be promoted and strengthened.
- Sikkimese religions, practices, philosophy, customs and traditional attires of all tribes shall influence nation and the world. Sikkimese culture shall be used to connect North East region of India; Himalayan states mainstream India; and the world.
- Kanchendzonga shall be regarded as the only deity of Sikkim. There shall have the special focus on the ancient cultures, ethnics, traditions and customs of different tribes living in the lap of the guardian, Mt. Kanchendzonga deity to provide better future and identity of Sikkimese. The children of Mt. Kanchendzonga` shall be emotionally integrated and united in diverse cultural and traditional values. The lofty mountains, grandeur of steep gorges, rough terrains and the survivors of the worse shall draw people together rather than divide us.
- Cultural Identity of Sikkim shall be strengthened, preserved and promoted. There shall have the cultural development that catches up on and keeps step with technological and scientific progress; it shall gradually take its place in overall policies for development, education and scientific activities.
- Our government shall generate cultural knowledge of Sikkim and promote cultural discourses. There shall have the culture of nationhood and integration of science and technology with culture preserving the distinct cultural identities of Sikkim.
- Institutions shall be established for research into culture, arts and literature to generate basic cultural data, facts and information that can be useful in fostering cultural civilization.
- Identification of structures and strategies shall be done to provide scopes and avenues for the preservation, promotion and presentation of cultural heritage.
- Great culture works shall be available to all sections of the society. Cultural brand ambassadors shall be appointed to promote cultures of Sikkim.
- There shall have the revival of folk arts, foods, language, religion, dance, music, painting, architecture and customs for sustainable livelihood.
- State Awards and Financial Assistance shall be provided to artistic creation.
- Certified license shall be provided to the people who have sound knowledge in traditional cuisine, making traditional handicrafts and arts and so on so that they serve as the resource person in the field.
- Nepali literature and culture Research Centre (Gyalsing) shall be strengthened with all modern facilities. An autonomous Research Institute shall be established for cultural study of all tribes.
- Infrastructures like buildings for arts and literature, museums, monuments, libraries and community hall-cum-theatre with the state-of-the art facilities for traditional culture, modern culture, aesthetic culture, exhibition, performance of arts and musical works shall be established in all constituencies.
- There shall have the regular documentary films, dramas, plays, folk music and dance to all the citizens.
- State Culture Fund shall be appropriated to offer monthly honorarium to all established folk and professional artists, registered organizations, associations, society, SHGs, Clubs, and other similar bodies working on culture.
- Productive and progressive society shall be developed, promoted and strengthened for revival of culture.
- Development of heritage sites shall be done for all cultures. New cultural sites like Bans Ko Bagaicha (Bamboo avenue), Painyo Ko Bagaicha (Cherry avenue), Kapas Rukh Ko Bagaicha (Mapple tree avenue), Jagarseth Ko Bagaicha 9Cycus avenue), Bar-Pipal Bagaicha (Fig tree avenue0, Gurans Ko Bagaicha 9Rhododendron avenue), Lalupaatey Bagaicha (Euphorbia avenue), etc. shall be established.
- All the major/important state festivals shall be organized in a grand manner. In addition to these, there shall have Miteri-Saino Utsav, Siri Gain and Goru utsav, Ropain and Dain Utsav, Bhera Utsav, Yak Utsav, Chalchitra Kala Utsav, Sangeet Kala Utsav, Lok Kala Utsav, Paramparagat Ausadhi Utsav, Tarul Utsav, etc.
- There shall have programs and plans for erecting structures that have cultural significance.
- Facilities and support shall be provided to do research on traditional medicines, traditional religions and beliefs of the various tribes.
- There shall have the dedicated individuals, voluntary cultural groups, NGOs, professional associations for promoting of culture and its development.
- There shall have the financial support and services in publishing and popularizing traditional folklores, dance, poetry, drama, folk tales, etc.
- Chief Minister’s Religious Pilgrimage program shall be started to senior citizens as per their religious affiliation.
- Tashiding Bhum Chu shall be celebrated as a State Festival.
- The field of Culture, Arts and Literature shall be a hall of state innovation and it shall be transformed into creative industry and promoted for production and marketing of handicrafts, painting, sculptures and other items.
- There shall have the intellectual property rights and copyrights protection for original book works, music, paintings, etc.
- Basic skill development and entrepreneurial courses shall be conducted for young aspiring artists.
- There shall have the utilization of citizen skills to produce cultural products or goods and services for marketing.
- There shall have the financial assistance to the small cultural industries and entrepreneurs associated with the culture.
- The amateur art activities, regional culture and public culture services provided by NOGs/CBOs/VOs/Cos etc. shall be supported.
- Creative Symposia and Literary Award Scheme shall be established and promoted.
- Creative Partnerships Programme between schools and artists shall be introduced and promoted.
- Sikkim Identity and Brand in Culture, Arts and Literature shall be promoted.
- Financial support to small business development shall be provided to creative entrepreneurs.
- Performing Arts Grants Scheme shall be introduced.
- Hire-purchase of works of arts shall be initiated.
- Painting techniques of Sikkim shall be strengthened and promoted.
- Public reading centers shall be developed in all corner of Sikkim.
- Our government shall stimulate and harness the creative energies of people, and the youths of our state.
- Sikkim State Literature Day shall be celebrated on 26th April each year in the honor of a noted literary son of Sikkim, late Shiva Kumar Rai.
- Research grants shall be provided to work on language and literature of all tribes.
- Database shall be generated on traditional arts and crafts of all the ethnic communities.
- All the local language shall be promoted and the steps shall be taken to recognize them in the national level.
- Emphasis shall be given to all local languages for government advertisement, employment notice, publishing government brochures etc.
- Capacity enhancement shall be initiated to local artist and design interventions of local arts products.
- Annual workshops, seminars and symposium shall be conducted to popularize the local language.