In many ways, people have to live outside of themselves to achieve fulfillment. It is not enough to meet one’s material needs. Spiritual sustenance is also a must and not just in terms of religious belief. This is why cultural elements play such a major role in human existence. Literature, music, dance, the arts and theatre, storytelling in its many forms are not just entertainment but also a deeper form of education for the collective and individual psyche. This involvement is what makes one human.
This is why every human gathering over time evolves its particular forms of celebration. Increase in material well-being provides the leisure these activities require. As such, these are also indicative of general prosperity. As such, the spread of such activity over the years in the once laid back and sleepy township of Dehradun – particularly since the formation of Uttarakhand – signals the growth of a location specific culture people can proudly call their own. Every community and institution has contributed in its own way. Be it the Bannu community that took on the responsibility of Dusshera celebrations, or the Survey of India related Bengalis and their Durga Puja. The people of the hills, be they the Jaunsaris, Garhwalis, or the Gorkhas, all have added to the mix. The famous schools, including those run by the missionaries, have provided the literate base for an appreciative audience. There was a thriving theatre culture anchored in the Town Hall, and a local ‘school of art’ developed by Kala Kendra’s Dwijen Sen. Writers, poets, playwrights provided a Doon flavour to literature. Avi Nanda was among those who expanded the scope of theatre to a more spectacular scale beyond the confines of enclosed theatres.
Later, the SPIC-MACAY movement found a receptive audience in the city, grooming school and college students in the diverse cultures of the country. This inspired Virasat, the cultural fair that has become an established institution of the region. And a more recent addition has been the Valley of Words Literature Festival, which has gone beyond an annual gathering to a year-long celebration of the written word and its manifest forms. Of late, the Doon Library and Research Centre has become a venue for varied events related to the intellectual realm.
Of course, every city and town with any history behind it has a similar local culture that deserves support and patronage. However, there is no doubt that Dehradun has excelled in this regard. This fact needs to be more appreciated and celebrated for a better understanding of ourselves.
