`Mission Maa Dogri’: President confers Padma Shri to J&K folk artist Romalo Ram

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Shri to   Romalo Ram in the field of Art in New Delhi today.

Romalo Ram is a Dogri Folk Artist of Jammu Region and is known as the real founder of the Dogri Folk Song Geetru who revived the dying Folk Form “Geetru and Bhakh” with his dedication and hard work.

Born on 3rd March 1963,   Ram received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 from the University of Jammu. After graduation, he joined as a Government Teacher in 1987 and also started writing Dogri Poems & Folk Songs. He served almost in remote areas for better education, particularly for the village students. He retired as ZEO Ramnagar in March 2023.

Ram started performing Dogri folk in 1980-81 under the banner “Romalo Ram and Party” by participating in local functions. He served across the Jammu Region for so long and started a new revolution by the name of “Mission Maa Dogri”. His “Mission Maa Dogri” Model has become the foundation for the huge success of young aspirants in the region. More than 150 pupils are working & learning the traditional art.

Ram published a book named “Geetruyen Di Fouhar”. His works were published in various newspapers such as Dogri Times, Daily Excelsior, State Times, Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, The Earth News, The News Now, etc. His contribution in the form of Cassettes, Records, and published articles is proof of his excellence in the field. He was approved as a B-grade artist in All India Radio (AIR) Jammu in 1988 and in 1995 approved as a B-high grade Jammu. He acted as a member of the General Council Committee of JKAACL to represent Dogri folk music and remained an active member of the Advisory Sub Committee for folk music nominated by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages. He acted as brand ambassador of the SVEEP program of district Udhampur and Reasi in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly election 2014.

Ram is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He was conferred the honorary “Gold Medal” in the Folk Song Competition at the National Youth Festival, in 1999 in Lucknow, UP. The UT Government conferred on him the “State Award” for his pioneering role in the performing Arts of JK in 2022. JK. Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts in New Delhi honored him with “Samapanund Rishi Samman” in 2018. Doordarshan Jammu and Montage film industry felicitated him with “Virasat  ”in Jashan-a-Virasat, 2013. He received Certificates of appreciation from various government agencies for different cultural participation. He received Lok Kala Rattan Purashkar, in 2019 in Akhil Bhartiya Lok Kala Mahotsav organized by Karnataka Sahasa Kala Academy. In 2017, he was honored by   Mata Vaishno Devi ne Board and J&K Tourism Department at Katra in the Navratra Festival.