Munish Sood
Mandi
Recognising an extraordinary lifetime dedicated to safeguarding Himachal Pradesh’s cultural legacy, Rotary Club Sundernagar honoured eminent cultural activist Kuldeep Guleria during its 20th Annual Installation and Felicitation Ceremony held at Hotel Ashiana.
The prestigious recognition was conferred upon Guleria for his exceptional contribution during 2025–26 towards the preservation, promotion and revitalisation of Mandyali folk traditions, as well as his sustained commitment to cultural awareness and community service. The honour acknowledges nearly four decades of tireless work devoted to documenting, reviving and promoting indigenous art forms that form the foundation of Himachal’s cultural identity.
The award was presented by Vijay Sahdev, District Governor Elect (2027–28) for Rotary District covering Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, who attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest and Installation Officer. He was accompanied by District Secretary (Administration) Surendra Singh Multani. Rotary Club Sundernagar President Dr. Sarla Gautam, Secretary Vimal Sharma, retired Joint Director (Technical Education) R.K. Sharma, and Prof. Mahendra Chaudhary felicitated Guleria in the presence of distinguished guests.
Widely regarded as one of Himachal Pradesh’s leading custodians of folk heritage, Guleria is the founder-president of Mandavya Kala Manch, a seasoned theatre personality, accomplished compere and multifaceted artist. For the past 39 years, he has remained at the forefront of efforts to preserve the state’s rapidly disappearing folk traditions while creating platforms to connect younger generations with their cultural roots.
Among his most significant contributions has been the revival of Luddi, one of Mandi district’s most celebrated folk dances, which had almost vanished from the cultural landscape by the 1990s. Following nearly a year of intensive research and documentation, Guleria successfully spearheaded its revival, helping restore it to mainstream cultural performances. His conservation efforts have also extended to several endangered traditional art forms, including Banthda, Buthda, Mandyali Gidda, Nagariya, Charkati, and numerous traditional folk songs associated with local customs and rituals.
MLA Rakesh Jamwal attended the function as the Guest of Honour. The event also brought together office-bearers and members of Rotary Clubs from Sundernagar, Mandi, Nerchowk, Bilaspur and Ghumarwin, besides eminent personalities representing diverse fields.
The ceremony concluded with the installation of the new Rotary Club Sundernagar leadership for the 2026–27 Rotary year. Incoming President Rakesh Sen and Secretary Naresh Dhiman expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests, award recipients and members for their presence and support.
The honour conferred upon Kuldeep Guleria goes beyond individual recognition. It underscores the growing importance of preserving Himachal Pradesh’s intangible cultural heritage and celebrates the enduring efforts of those who continue to ensure that the state’s rich folk traditions remain alive, relevant and accessible for generations to come.
