Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the ‘Narendra Singh Negi Sanskriti Samman Samaroh’ organized on the occasion of the birthday of renowned folk singer Narendra Singh Negi. On this occasion, the Chief Minister released the book “Mountain Melodies of Narendra Singh Negi,” based on the English translation of Narendra Singh Negi’s songs, and conferred the ‘Narendra Singh Negi Sanskriti Samman-2026’ upon Tai Tugung, a prominent actor, theatre artist, and playwright from Arunachal Pradesh.
In his address, the Chief Minister extended heartiest birthday greetings to Narendra Singh Negi and wished for his good health and long life. He stated that Negi Ji is a pioneer of Uttarakhand’s folk culture, who through his songs and music has brought distinct national and international acclaim to the state’s cultural identity. He added that Negi Ji’s songs vividly reflect the life, nature, struggles, emotions, and social concerns of the people of Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister highlighted that this prestigious award, named after Narendra Singh Negi, is dedicated to personalities who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of culture, literature, art, and social causes across the Himalayan states. Congratulating Tai Tugung on receiving the honor, he mentioned that Tai Tugung has given widespread recognition to the folk culture and traditions of Arunachal Pradesh through the Nyishi language, Arunachal Hindi, theatre, plays, and cinema. His acclaimed play ‘Lapya’ and the film ‘Sangi Gai’ (which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival) stand as significant milestones in his creative journey.
The Chief Minister described the release of the book “Mountain Melodies of Narendra Singh Negi” as an important initiative toward the preservation of Uttarakhand’s local dialect and folk culture. He expressed confidence that the book would introduce coming generations to Narendra Singh Negi’s life, personality, and decades-long musical journey, while playing a crucial role in establishing the state’s cultural heritage in a global perspective.
The Chief Minister further noted that Uttarakhand’s folk culture is immensely rich and diverse. Traditional songs such as Jagar, Beda, Mangal, Khuded, and Chhopati, along with folk instruments like Dhol, Damau, Hurka, Mashak, Turri, and Bhankora, form the core of our cultural identity. He expressed happiness that many young artists in the state are presenting folk songs in modern forms alongside contemporary music, giving them a fresh identity.
He emphasized that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is continuously working toward the conservation and promotion of local languages, folk arts, literature, and cultural heritage. To provide respect and opportunities to folk artists, the empanelment process has been simplified. So far, 275 cultural groups and 226 solo artists have been empanelled, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talent as well as gain employment.
He shared that to encourage traditional instruments like Dhol-Damau and the artists associated with them, eligible artists are being provided free musical instruments and traditional attire every year. Furthermore, the monthly pension for elderly and financially weak artists, litterateurs, and writers who dedicated their lives to folk art and literature has been increased from ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 per month, currently benefitting 180 artists.
The Chief Minister added that six-month training workshops are being organized through folk artists to keep the Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition) alive, enabling the younger generation to learn and carry forward their folk traditions. He mentioned that in 2025, the ‘Dirghkalin Sahitya Sevi Samman’ was instituted with an award sum of ₹5 lakh. Additionally, 57 litterateurs from various languages including Hindi have been honored under the ‘Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman’, and the ‘Sahitya Bhushan Puraskar’ has been launched with an award sum of ₹5,51,000. Since 2022, financial grants have been extended for the publication of books by 102 authors.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is working at various levels to preserve and promote local languages and dialects. He stated that the government aims to position Uttarakhand not only as a tourist destination but also as a national hub for literature and culture. To achieve this, plans are underway to develop two ‘Sahitya Grams’ (Literary Villages) in the state, offering facilities like accommodation, libraries, study centers, and seminar halls for writers. Initiatives like the Himalayan Cultural Center, Art Gallery, and Museum in Dehradun are part of this broader cultural vision.
He concluded by stating that the state government is working relentlessly with the core motto of ‘Vikalp Rahit Sankalp’ (resolution without alternative) to safeguard its rich cultural heritage. He expressed firm confidence that with the cooperation of society, artists, and litterateurs, Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage will grow even stronger, richer, and more inspiring.
Folk singer Narendra Singh Negi, writers, artists, culture enthusiasts, representatives of various cultural organizations, and a large number of dignitaries were present on the occasion.
