If it was anyhow possible that time gives someone as old as 162 years a chance to be alive to meet someone as young as 162 months with child-like smile at latter’s face and creativity in his hands, the delight of happiness and perfection of that elderly gentleman could have matched with none other than the one which Audrey House in the heart of Ranchi has been enjoying since last some days. And why not so, as children under 15 years from Kalakriti School of Arts are exhibiting one of their best creations of painting in a historic building called Audrey House, which has been a witness of every single movement of time since last 162 years.
One of the oldest buildings of not only Ranchi but also of Chhotanagpur region and now a property under Raj Bhawan (official residence, Governor, Jharkhand), Audrey House has undergone a successful renovation and makeover work some five months ago, and now it is looking all fresh. A tin-board welcoming President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Inauguration Day after renovation of the Audrey House on January 9 this year still finds itself resting on the ground, leaning on boundary wall in front of entry gate of exhibition hall, and bamboo ladders and sticks used in renovation can easily be seen lying in the backyard, which make the premise look fresh and lively.
However, an unwanted, rather more unexpected, silence appears to have swallowed its freshness, which is not good for the purpose it was renovated. The ongoing exhibition and sale of painting has started on May 10, which will continue till 14th of this month. But the exhibition has not been able to draw attention of many. The entire exhibition carrying more than 100 paintings didn’t have an appraiser other than a mom-daughter duo on last Saturday afternoon, in which daughter studying in NIFT (Kolkata) happened to be a painting and photography enthusiast.
Dhananjay Kumar, a painter himself and teacher of those participating in ongoing painting exhibition wasn’t surprised at the overshadowing silence at Audrey House. He said, “This excellent centre otherwise, lacks serious efforts of promotion. Not many even know that there is an exhibition going on in this old house. Until it is promoted properly, this premise is going to remain deserted.
Though there is another aspect of it also, said Kumar. He said, “After showcasing my paintings at a couple of places and at least three exhibitions including the one ongoing in Audrey House, I can say that Ranchi does not lack esthetics of art, or painting specifically. But when it comes to purchase them to hang on the wall, the same art lover moves a step backward.” He said that it was not the first time that he was witnessing fewer footfalls. lack of proper promotion didn’t allow this centre to turn into a happening place since it was inaugurated.
But silence and emptiness wandering there in premises of Audrey House have a valid reason. And Amitabh Mukherjee, whose company was responsible for renovation work of Audrey House, is the one who knows the reason better than many others. He said, “The fact is that I am ready to hand this premise over to the government since last five months, and government has not been replying. I have been writing letter-after-letter to them, and now just fed up. I have to keep five of my employees in Audrey House even after completion of the project just to maintain and look after premise, which is the responsibility of government otherwise. I am paying their salaries and suffering…with no answer as to how long this situation would prevail.”
On the other hand, AK Singh, Culture Director ridiculing the arguments of Mukherjee said, “It is a minor issue or not an issue at all. It is a matter between him and the Engineer who was given this project. The (Culture) department has released funds from its end and we are regularly organising events here. We have nothing to do with agreements between him and the Engineer concerned. Whereas the emptiness and silence of this campus is concerned, we have a number of events in pipeline, and we will get rid of something which we don’t believe exists here, soon.”
Organising more and more events is the only answer to wipe out the unwanted silence and emptiness of the centre. It is good to see that the centre has been trying to do so in a way or the other.