The long pending wish of the local artists of Jharkhand to get the State’s Kala Bhawan as an autonomous body may soon get fulfilled as the Art and Culture department is mulling to make Ram Dayal Munda Kala Bhawan at Hotwar an autonomous entity in the lines of Bharat Bhavan. Presently, the cultural hub is owned by the state government.
“Kala Bhawan holds a precious place for the artists. We have thought of giving it an autonomous status. A team of local artists will get the authority to take final decisions related to the bhawan and implement it without the interference of government. Else, plans for the centre usually remain pending awaiting government’s approval,” Art and Culture Director Anil Kumar said. However, he pointed the state government would play the role of giving financial support to the centre irrespective of its changing recognition. “As of now, the plan is yet to take shape. We will be conducting meetings for formation of the committee members,” he added.
Art and Culture events are regularly held at the Kala Bhawan. It is equipped with a gallery, six halls and air conditioner auditorium with a seat capacity of 500 audiences. Also, there is an open theater for around 3000 audiences. Sources maintained the government grants huge funds for maintaining the Kala Bhavan. Veteran folk singer Mukund Nayak and former Head of Ranchi University’s Tribal and Regional languages (TRl) Giridhari Ram Ganjhu met Anil Kumar recently for implementing the plan at the earliest.
“Few years back, many scholars of the region carried out researches on different topics on art and culture of Jharkhand. It was done under the supervision of government. Unfortunately, till date the thesis of each research work is awaited. Only one incomplete thesis was published. If the autonomous body is formed, the pending thesis of those scholars can be published without the government’s approval,” said Ganjhu.
The artists have requested Kumar on considering the employment of local artists as part-time teacher in schools and colleges. “Earlier, no one had a degree in regional dialects but was expert in teaching. Today there are several talented artists including us. We want the government to rope in these teachers as part time or guest faculty member in schools and colleges of the state,” Ganjhu said. Meanwhile, Nayak felt besides the autonomous tag, the government should step in for preserving the Akhra in every educational institution like that maintained in the TRl department.