The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, under the guidance of its Additional Secretary Sonali Arun Gupta, convened a condolence meeting to mourn the sad demise of renowned Sarangi player and folk artist Girdhari Lal Sharma, who passed away yesterday due to an unfortunate accident at his residence.
The meeting was attended by officers and staff members of the Academy, who expressed profound grief over the untimely demise of the veteran artist. They paid rich tributes to the artist and recalled his immense contribution towards the promotion and preservation of Dogri folk culture and music.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Sonali Arun Gupta described the demise of Girdhari Lal Sharma as an irreparable loss to the artistic fraternity of Jammu and the entire Dogra region. She highlighted his lifelong dedication towards preserving traditional music and nurturing young talent.
Girdhari Lal Sharma had received his early training in Sarangi from Guru Bua Ditta Maharaj, under whose guidance he mastered the traditional art form. During the early phase of his career, he performed Punjabi folk music on Tumbi and was widely admired for his rare ability to sing in both male and female voices. Later, following the advice and inspiration of his guru, he devoted himself to Dogri singing and became a committed promoter of Dogri culture and heritage.
For the last 37 years, Sh. Sharma remained actively associated with the field of folk music and cultural activities. He also established and ran a training institute at Patnial, Kho Manhasa where he imparted training to numerous local students and budding artists, thereby contributing significantly to the continuation of the traditional musical legacy.
The participants in the condolence meeting observed a two-minute silence and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.