NEW DELHI: Several senior artistes from the world of the arts are part of the reconstituted Central Advisory Board on Culture which held its first meeting in the capital over the weekend.

These include renowned lyricist Sameer Anjaan, Chhannulal Mishra, Prof M Balasubramaniam, Vasudeo Kamath, Prof S R Leela, danseuse Uma Sharma, Shyam Sharma, Suresh Talwalkar, and Prof S C Mittal.

Culture minister Mahesh Sharma stressed on the need to evolve a participative process of decision making in the field of culture, and invited suggestions from the members on the way forward.

The members of the CABC were requested to highlight priority areas in the fields of art, music, dance and literature. Some of the members were of the view that the local cultures and artists at the village and district level need to be galvanised so as to bring about a true cultural revival.

The minister assured the members of all possible help from the culture ministry in this brain-storming session. The next CABC meeting has been scheduled for 21 November 2016 at Varanasi wherein these priority areas highlighted by the artists would be taken forward. This participative free-wheeling discussions of ideas and interests from different domains of culture augur well for culture in India.