RATHEE KI LATHEE

For satirist Jagbir Rathee, folk art is a medium that unites peopleS.D. Sharma
So many roads of influence meet in the persona of Jagbir Rathee that it is indeed arduous to designate him with a single sobriquet.
An academician, anchor, theatre and film actor, director, poet, playwright and above all, a crusader against social evils, Rathee is devoted to the Haryanvi regional culture and folk arts. Born and raised at Jind, Rathee holds a master’s degree in English literature and also in mass communication and is now pursuing a doctorate in folk art. He is on the panel of advisers of the All-India Universities Council for Cultural Affairs.
Having worked as a project director, Haryana Kala Parishad, he is presently the director of Youth Welfare, Mahrishi Dyanand University, Rohtak. Credited with over 25 comedy albums in Haryanavi, TV serials and feature films, including Fifty Fifty, Ikk Begum Badshah, Panghat, Khandani Sarpanch and Shivranajni, besides three Haryanvi dialect music and two video albums. His poetry books Chup Chap Chidi, Bidai Ka Geet, Maati Ka Chulah are widely read and appreciated while his novel Yudhvir was awarded with the Best Literary Creation award by the Haryana Sahitya Akademi.
A graded drama artiste of the All-India Radio, Rathee has won over 300 awards in drama, debate, dance, music and poetry at inter-university and state-level competitions. In the city for participation in a mushaira on the invitation of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, Rathee shared his views on certain issues of academic or art affairs.
On the need to propagate vibrant Harynavi folk culture and art at the national or world level, unlike the popular Punjabi folk, he says it lacks vision, planning and effective execution. Speaking from 30 years of experience, he adds, “Efforts have been made to project the rich repertoire of songs and dances in pristine pure raw form, without innovative embellishing, and making it match the taste acceptance of foreign audience. In fact, after the takers evince interest, gradually you can enforce those basic pure forms, like the Punjabi or folk promoters have done it,” says Rathee.
“We listen to only a limited number of songs, which had been preserved through the oral tradition by passing on from one generation to the next but are not documented. Extensive research to explore more repertoires and their documentation is of paramount importance. The research scholars do it, but then their research is limited to the submission of thesis only. The folk art can constitute a bond of union amongst people of different level and culture,” maintains Rathee.