Shri Vidyanand Saraik

Shri Vidyanand Saraik

Vidyanand Sarek, a Pahari littérateur & folk culture artist who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Sirmauri, a language on the verge of extinction, will be conferred with the Padma Shri this year. 

Who is Vidyanand Sarek ?

Vidyanand Saraik, who was born on June 26, 1941, in Deothi Mazgaon, Sirmaur, has dedicated his life to preserving folk culture. At the age of 4, singing folk dance from Kariyala Manch, singing folk music from Akashvani Shimla in 1956-57, and presentation in front of the then Broadcasting Minister Dr. Keskar at All India Folk Music Conference Delhi in 1957, folk singing from Akashvani Shimla till date Staged and presented folk dance Lok Natya Kariyala from Jalandhar Doordarshan.

Similarly, music direction, songwriting, dialogue, and acting in the play Samadhan, a form of Pahari folk saga Jhakho Ajba, establishment of Sarvodaya Natya Dal Devathi Mazgaon in 1962, Pahari Artists Association in 1971-72, whose chief patron Dr. Y.S. Parmar (the then Chief Minister) and Patron Surat Singh, as the director of the organization, worked for hill culture, published Parvat Bole cultural magazine and also presented at district, state and international forums.