THE GENERAL ZORAWAR SINGH AUDITORIUM COMPLEX
University of Jammu
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu, in
his vision for the institution, wanted the University to become a vibrant hub
of artistic and cultural activities that would benefit from and strengthen the
finest pluralistic traditions of the country, the region and its civil society. The
General Zorawar Singh Auditorium Complex is a realization of that vision.
The Complex, with its unique Museum and Art Gallery, is a celebration of the
symbiotic relationship of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and showcases the
rich cultural heritage and diversity of our State. The magnificent high-tech
facility provides the perfect blend of creative, artistic and academic ambience
to showcase the University of Jammu as a true centre of holistic education.
The building is one of the first of its own kind in North India. Its uniqueness
lies in the fact that this four storied state-of-the-art Auditorium Complex
includes an Art Gallery, Photo Gallery, Exhibition Halls, Heritage Museum,
Conference Halls, TV Studio, FM Radio Station, Media Centre, Art Studio
for children and a Cafétéria with a Parisian ambience.
The Auditorium Complex is named after one of the most illustrious sons of
Jammu, General Zorawar Singh. It was the Chancellor of the University, Lt.
Gen. (Retd.) S. K. Sinha, PVSM, who suggested the name. According to the
family
tradition,
Zorawar was born in
about 1784 AD in a
Chandravanshi
Kahluria family at
the village of Ansar
in tehsil Hamirpur
of
the
Kangra
district. As a youth,
Zorawar Singh was
a bold and intrepid
adventurer
who
served as a soldier in
the
army
of
Maharaja
Ranjit
Singh and Maharaja
Sansar Chand of
Kangra. Later, he
joined
Maharaja
Gulab Singh’s army
and his valiant and
chivalrous
disposition caught
the attention of
Gulab Singh who
appointed Zorawar
Gen. Zorawar Singh
as
Inspector
of
Commissariat supplies for all the forts north of Jammu. When Kishtwar was
annexed by Gulab Singh in 1820, Zorawar Singh was appointed as Hakim
(Governor) of that district, a position he held upto 1836. The stage was set for
Zorawar’s greatest military expedition. He prepared his army for combat in
the lofty snow bound lands north of the Himalayas. Zorawar Singh’s conquest
of Ladakh, Baltistan and Tibet is etched in golden words in the annals of high
altitude warfare, and can be compared to Hannibal’s march across the Alps.
During the year 2003, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, during his visit to
the state, released a special grant of Rs 30 crore to the University of Jammu
and it was decided to use a part of it to construct a multipurpose Auditorium
Complex. In addition, a special Auditorium Fund was created and resources
were raised, including through generous donations from civil society. The
foundation stone for the building was laid by the Governor and Chancellor of
the University of Jammu His Excellency, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S. K. Sinha,
PVSM, on June 21, 2004. The Bhoomi poojan was performed by the Vice
Chancellor, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, on June 26, 2004.
The Art Gallery is named after Lotsava
Rinchen Bzangpo (c. 958-1055 A.D.), a
great Scholar and Translator, who was
responsible for the foundation of 108
monasteries (Gompas) throughout Ladakh,
Western Tibet and Lahul Spiti (Himachal
Pradesh). He played a very important role in
laying a firm foundation for Buddhism in
Ladakh region and is known as the 'Father
of Buddhist Culture in Ladakh'. The
monasteries (Gompas) built by Rinchen
Bzangpo are renowned for their architecture,
which includes rich wood carvings and fine
wall paintings. The idea of dedicating this
gallery to Lotsava Rinchen Bzangpo is to
propagate his vision towards the Arts. Hence
the purpose of the Gallery is
preservation, dissemination and
research, which makes it
distinct from other art galleries
of the country.
The major collection of
the Gallery is of contemporary
paintings. These have been
received from the artists who
participated in the "All India
Contemporary Artists Camp" at
Patnitop (Jammu) in October
2004, organised by the University of Jammu. The other collection is black &
white photographs, sketches and paintings which have been donated by
renowned artists and art historians like Prof. S.D.S Charak, Satti Sahni and
Serbjeet Singh.
The Art Gallery also houses some beautiful wooden sculptures, which were
carved in the special "Wood Carving Camp" organised by the University of
Jammu in 2005 and attended by renowned sculptors from all over the
country.
The
Rinchen
Bzangpo Art Gallery
is divided into six
different
sections
according to their
theme and artists viz;
Contemporary
Paintings, Panorama
and
Sketches
of
Serbjeet Singh, Wall
Paintings of Jammu
Region,
Scroll
Paintings (Thangkas), Pahari Miniature Paintings and Satti Sahni Gallery of
Photographs
The Heritage Museum is named in honour
of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Nur-UdDin Noorani (1378-1439 AD), popularly
known as Nund Rishi. He was the
propagator of Rishi cult and devoted his
life for the cause of humanity. He derived
inspiration from the holy Quran and gave a
distinct Kashmiri tinge to Islamic
doctrines. He propagated the philosophy
of 'Unity of Being' and non-violence.
Sheikh Nur-ud-Din died in 1439 and was
buried with royal pomp at the village of
Chrar.
The highlights of the Museum are
the display of different categories of
artifacts in a continuous sequence covering
the entire history and culture from prehistoric times to contemporary. The pre-historic section displays tools from
the sites of Malpur (Jammu) and Burzahom (Kashmir).
Some examples
of pre-historic rock petroglyphs of Ladakh are exhibited in a re-constructed
form. Replica of Burzahom pit presents the unique Neolithic culture of
Kashmir. The Historic period of Jammu is represented by the artifacts
belonging to the Kushana and the Gupta periods excavated from the two
sites-Manda and Ambaran (Akhnoor). The remains of Krimchi temple are
recreated to show the temple tradition of 7th and 8th century AD.
The Auditorium has a seating
capacity of more than 1500. The
auditorium can be divided into two
parts: the main auditorium with a
capacity of more than 1000, and a
mini auditorium - with its own
hydraulic stage, acoustic, slidingfolding partition - with a seating
capacity of about 500. Two hi-tech
elevators
are
an
added
convenience. The Art Gallery in
the basement houses the Curator’s Room, the Miniature Gallery, a special lift
for the physically challenged and a Freight Elevator for carriage of Heavy
artifacts. The T.V. Studio in the
second basement includes a
Control Room, Rehearsal Room,
Editing Room and a modern
studio. The ground floor includes
the Museum, a Souvenir shop, a
Photo Gallery, the Curator's
Room and the Cafeteria. On the
ground floor, there is also a
Special Complex with facilities
like a Lounge Room, Dining Hall, and Pantry and with direct access to the
stage. In addition, the ground floor also hosts a Conference Room, a
Communication Room, Administration Office, Green Room (Ladies), Green
Room (Gents), and the Administrator’s Room. The first Floor houses a
Seminar Room, the FM Radio Station, Media Centre, Office and two
Exhibition halls. The second Floor houses Offices, several brain-storming
rooms and an Art Studio for children. The third Floor has Conference
Rooms, a Reading room-cum-library while the Master Control Room is
located on the fourth floor.
We invite you to visit this Complex which is a unique combination of
tradition, modernity and a tribute to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and
Ladakh.