JK NewsToday

May 9, 2024, New Delhi: The President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Shri to Shri Romalo
Ram of Jammu & Kashmir in the field of Art during the Civil Investiture Ceremony
in New Delhi today.

Brief citations about the life and work of the awardee is given below-

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

  1. Born on 3rd March 1963, Shri 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 the remote areas for the better education particularly of the village
    students. Heretired as ZEO Ramnagar in March, 2023.
  2. Shri 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 of the region. More than 150 pupils are working &
    learning the traditional art.
  3. Shri Ram published a book named as “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 the 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 a B-high grade Jammu. He acted as a member of General Council Committee of JKAACL to represent Dogri folk music and remained the active member of Advisory Sub Committee for folk music nominated by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of art culture and languages. He acted as brand ambassador of SVEEP program of district Udhampur and Reasi in Lok Sabha and legislative Assembly election 2014.
  4. Shri Ram is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He has been
    conferred honorary “Gold Medal” in the Folk Song Competition in National Youth
    Festival, 1999 in Lucknow, UP. The UT Government conferred on him “State
    Award” for his pioneering role in performing Arts of JK in 2022. JK.Sopori
    Academy of Music and Performing Arts at New Delhi honoured him by “Samapanund Rishi Samman” in 2018. Doordarshan Jammu and Montage film
    industry felicitated him by “Virasat Shri”in Jashan-a-Virasat, 2013. He received
    Certificate of appreciations from various government agencies for different cultural
    participations. He received Lok Kala Rattan Purashkar, 2019 in Akhil Bhartiva Lok
    kala Mahotsav organised by Karnataka Sahasa Kala Academy.In 2017, he was
    honoured by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine Board and J&K Tourism Department at Katra in Navratra Festival.