Renowned theatre director and Padma Shri awardee Balwant Thakur called on Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhawan, Shimla, presenting a comprehensive roadmap for cultural revitalization in the state. Thakur, who is also a former cultural diplomat of India, appealed for the creation of district-level cultural development councils, mobile theatre units, and youth-led creative festivals in partnership with educational institutions. These initiatives, he emphasized, would promote grassroots engagement with the arts while opening employment avenues through the creative economy.

Currently touring Himachal Pradesh, Thakur held detailed discussions with the Governor, drawing upon his decades of experience in national and global cultural spheres. He highlighted his past work in the state, particularly in theatre and folk art, and stressed the need for a renewed strategic approach to preserve and promote Himachal’s cultural heritage.

Despite the region’s rich traditions and a vibrant pool of talent, Thakur noted that Himachal remains underrepresented on national and international platforms. “The need of the hour,” he said, “is to empower local artists to access wider creative circuits and simultaneously bring iconic productions and cultural leaders to Himachal.” This dual approach, he said, would elevate artistic standards within the state while integrating it more deeply with India’s broader cultural narrative.

Thakur also proposed transforming Shimla’s historic Gaiety Theatre into a world-class performing arts hub through professional production models, creative residencies, and effective marketing. Such a move, he believes, would attract artists, audiences, and cultural tourism alike.

At the meeting, Thakur underscored the cultural continuity shared between Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, particularly in folklore, spiritual traditions, and nature-based artistic expressions. He also urged the government to expedite implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, especially its focus on integrating Indian languages, heritage and values into mainstream education. This, he said, would help build a culturally grounded new generation and create fresh opportunities for artists and educators.