IGNCA Hosts Captivating Panel on ‘Thirty Songs from the Punjab and Kashmir’ at Chinar Book Festival
Srinagar, KNT A thought-provoking panel discussion on the century-old musical-literary classic Thirty Songs from the Punjab and Kashmir enthralled a discerning audience at the ongoing second season of the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar. The event was hosted by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), drawing together an erudite panel of scholars and literature enthusiasts.
First published in London in 1913 by Luzac and Novello & Co, the book is a rare confluence of melody, language, and ethnography. It was originally recorded by Mrs. Alice Coomaraswamy, popularly known as Ratan Devī, with translation and introduction by pioneering art historian Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and a foreword by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. A revised edition was released in 1994 by IGNCA in collaboration with Sterling Publishers, edited by the renowned musicologist Premlata Sharma and featuring a new foreword by Kapila Vatsyayan.
The panel discussion featured noted historian Prof. Farooq Fayaz and acclaimed writer Dr. Satish Vimal, with senior journalist Bilal Bashir Bhat moderating the session.
In his opening remarks, Bilal Bashir Bhat provided an insightful overview of the book’s bibliographic journey and its enduring significance in South Asian literary and musical history.
Dr. Satish Vimal delved into the emotional and lyrical richness of the thirty folk songs, originally composed in Punjabi, Kashmiri, Dogri, and Persian. “These songs embody themes of love, separation, nature, and festivity, reflecting the syncretic cultural fabric of the region,” he noted. He also praised the original musical notations embedded in the text, calling them “technically precise and globally relevant.” However, he lamented that such an invaluable cultural resource has not been preserved or disseminated with the seriousness it deserves.
Prof. Farooq Fayaz offered a historical and linguistic perspective, underlining the book’s role as a cultural archive. “The linguistic diversity alone is staggering,” he said. “These compositions are not mere folk songs—they are echoes of civilizational memory, blending the voices of Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, and Persian into a cohesive artistic heritage.”
Both speakers praised the secular and inclusive spirit of the compilation, highlighting its ability to transcend regional and religious boundaries. “It’s a rare attempt to bring together peasant folk tunes and poetic sophistication into one volume,” remarked Dr. Vimal.
Prof. Fayaz described the book as “an emotional map” of shared artistic identities in the Punjab-Kashmir region, calling it a bridge between oral traditions and modern literary consciousness.
The event concluded with an engaging audience interaction, where scholars, students, and culture enthusiasts posed questions to the panel. The IGNCA also held a brief felicitation ceremony, celebrating the contribution of the panelists.
Copies of Thirty Songs from the Punjab and Kashmir are available for sale at the IGNCA stall at the festival venue. [KNT]
