19072024-LSTL-01.qxd 7/18/2024 7:50 PM Page 1 c m y b SELENA BAGS EMMY NOMINATION Selena Gomez has secured her first Emmy nomination for best lead actress in a comedy series for her role in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Gomez joins a competitive category that includes Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary, Ayo Edebiri from The Bear, Maya Rudolph from Loot, among others. TRIBUNE On board Kubbra Sait has landed a role in one of the most anticipated comedy sequels, Son of Sardar 2. The film also stars Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Mrunal Thakur. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 19 JULY 2024 Sheetal A man in all whites wearing an Awadhi choga or Angarakha kurta without collar, do palle ki topi and Aligarh pyjama, sits on an elevated platform on a low wooden table called the takht, and addresses quite a contrasting audience donning pahari dhatu or topis in the picturesque Naggar village of Himachal Pradesh. This man, Azharuddin Azhar, is called Dastango and the art form is Dastangoi, derived from two words — Dastan and Goi — which means ‘story’ and ‘to tell’, respectively, in Persian language. Unlike other performers, Dastangos don't rely on any props or music; instead, they make storytelling an interesting affair for the audience with their linguistic and acting talents. While many Dastangos have revived this forgotten art from the Mughal times, and before its 300 years of reign in parts of Persia, Arabia and India, it's interesting to see Gen Z student of Urdu with an interest in storytelling taking this art form forward and branching it out in Hindu-majority state like Himachal Pradesh. Aligarh-born Azhar, who has been living in Naggar village of Kullu Valley since 2021 has recently initiated the Himachal Dastangoi Project, where he has combined his expertise in the art form with the rich folklore of Himachal to create something that's contemporary and in sync with the changing times. The rich usage of Urdu is a must for him, but to make it interesting for the local crowd Azhar has bent some rules. "Being well-versed with Urdu, to narrate dastans in that language is easier for me. But I think it's not always necessary to stick to norms because not everyone has the same vocabulary or interest in language that people in the 13th century had, when it all started. While I have picked local folklore, which aligns with the Urdu way of storytelling and also used many Urdu words for my first public performance, I would like to bring more and more stories under this project. It will help propagate oral storytelling as an art form and educate the youngsters about their local history." Azhar credits Professor Danish Iqbal Adept in Dastangoi, Azharuddin Azhar treats many a soul in village Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, with the wonderful stories that he narrates in his own unique style, all with the aim of propagating oral storytelling as an art form from Jamia Millia Islamia for everything he has learnt about Dastangoi. “When I took a break for a year to be in Himachal Pradesh, it led me away from Dastangoi, as I looked after my friend's café and explored nature. As years went by, even though I wasn't Story of THE HILLS practising much, I never left my habit of reading Urdu literature and other historical books." Azhar had first performed in 2019 and followed it up with many other performances. In Himachal, as his contacts and association with locals grew, he got an offer to perform for a private audience last year. This led him to the idea of doing something that locals would be interested to learn about. Azhar talked to many local storytellers and documented their stories, as he researched about Himachal's folklore. His passion to preserve and carry forward the oral traditions of pahad made him translate them into a Dastangoi performances. His first-ever Dastangoi with pahadi stories was heavily derived from Santram Vatsya's book Himachal Ki Lok Kathayein. "My interest in knowing about old temples and oral traditions of Kullu Valley led me into merging two of my interests together — regional history and Dastangoi," he says. Azhar admires the works of poets like Ibn-e-Insha, Noon Meem Rashid, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ghalib and Jaun Eliya, and author Saadat Hasan Manto, but to become a Dastango which book is a must-read? He names not one but many, "Hamzanama, also known as Dastan-e-Amir Hamza by Ghalib Lakhnavi, Bagh-o-Bahar by Mir Amman and other stories by Amir Khusro." RICH FOLKLORE, CALMING WEATHER Azhar calls Naggar a place rooted in Vedic history, traditions and ancient folklore, but also open to change and modernism. “Naggar is home to art and sacred practices since the Vedic times. When I came here, I felt really accepted. Besides the serenity of this Himalayan town, its rich history makes it a special place.” PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal ‘tickled pink’ as they welcome daughter Proud parents The Sikh Empire 1710-1849, an exhibition curated by a group of young students, presents Punjab through the eyes of artists and authors Parbina Rashid It seemed they got everything right except for the name — Sicques, Sicks, Seiks and Seeks — as artists and authors from the Western world tried to capture the essence of the Sikhs. The only exception was Frenchman Victor Jacquemont, who wrote in Journey of India — “I know not whether it is an optical illusion. But the Punjab and its inhabitants please me so much…the unsophisticated Sikhs of the country have a simplicity and open Relics of an empire honesty of manner, which a European relishes…” The year was 1853. Cut to 2024 and a group of young Indian-Americans — Ilahe Kaur, Bani Kaur, Gani Kaur, Jodha Singh, Rubbi Singh, Gurshaan Singh and Jagsher Singh — joined hands with Bilaval Kaur and Amitoj Singh from Punjab to search for their roots. Their five-week internship with Punjab Digital Library has brought out a treasure trove of information, which dates back to 1710 and extends up to 1849. The findings were on display at the auditorium of Guru Gobind Singh College For Women, Sector 26, under the banner — The Sikh Empire: Perspectives by International Artists & Authors. On display were some 80 plus prints of lithographs, maps and paintings, which were digitised by Panjab Digital Library, and a few priceless artefacts that included an intricately designed gunpowder-holder from the times of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Or, should we say Maharaja Runjit Singh? Yes, there is a complete list of mispronounced names duly compiled for the benefits of the visitors — Umritsar, Amrutsir for Amritsar; Punjaub, Pendjab, Puujab and even Pandschab for Punjab! This is how James Rennell describes the Sikhs in Memoir of a Map of Hindustan (1783) — “The Seiks, a new sect of religionists, appeared in arms in the Lahore province and ravaged the whole country from thence to the banks of the Jumnah river… they differ from most religionists.” If the comments inspired awe, the visuals provided the right setting to conjure a round-up image of the era and the race. Several images of Lahore in all its spendour, Emily Edon’s 1838’s portrait of Runjeet Singh, George Richmond’s painting of Rani Jindan Singh give glimpses of those times. c m y b Each frame was a treasure trove of information. Like for instance, Interior of Darbar Sahib by W Capenter in 1858 captured the openness of the holy place as devotees do kirtan. A closer look at it and it revealed how kirtan was done to the tune of stringed instruments instead of the familiar harmonium. “The tabla was used even then, but the harmonium made its entry into gurdwaras after the British came to Punjab,” we were told. “We sifted through thousands of documents to select these frames. What we kept in mind was to pick those panels and quotes that presented Punjab in its true essence. We made a conscious effort to stay away from hyper-regionalism,” said Bani, Gani, Ilahi and Jodha. Wise beyond age, their spirit is much in sync with the land they originally come from! Bollywood couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have announced the arrival of their first child, a daughter. In a joint statement, Richa and Ali confirmed that they welcomed a ‘healthy baby girl’ on July 16. “We are tickled pink with joy to announce the arrival of a healthy baby girl on 16.07.24! Our families are overjoyed, and we thank our well-wishers for their love and blessings! Love, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal,” the couple shared in a statement. In February, Richa and Ali announced on social media that they were expecting their first child. Their Instagram announcement read, “1+1=3,” and was captioned, “A tiny heartbeat is the loudest sound in our world.” — IANS