Folk project stuck,Tope promises action

Noted linguist and writer Keshav Phalke,appointed chairman of MRLS on October 3,2011,has thrown up his hands in despair after all his efforts to resuscitate the samiti went in vain.

He has sent “umpteen proposals” to the state government asking for funds to make MRLS functional but his efforts have gone in vain.

“It is most unfortunate that ministers fail to understand the importance of this samiti and the work we are supposed to do. Folk literature is the mother of all literature and folk dance and music the genesis of all dance and music. Marathi culture is rich in folklore that varies from place to place within the state itself. If we do not preserve it now,it will be lost forever,” said Phalke.

The samiti is supposed to carry out and promote research in folk culture and folk literature.

Since March 21,2012 to May 13,2013,Higher education department in the city had sent eight proposals to the Higher Education Ministry seeking funds for the samiti,but there has been no response from the government,said an official.

The samiti,officials say,has been redundant after the tenure of its former chairperson,the late Sarojini Babar. “The samiti has the task of reviving and preserving folk culture. During the time of Babar 15 years ago,funds were available and she was very enthusiastic about the work in this field. She has done a lot of work in compiling and researching Maharashtra’s folk literature. But after that,the samiti kind of fell from grace due to paucity of funds. After Babar,hardly anything has been done,” said P R Gaikwad,Director,Higher Education.

The Higher Education department had last year sought Rs 75 lakh for the samiti to function. In October Rs 40,000 was sought by the samiti for calling a meeting but it was not granted.

‘Will look into matter’

PUNE: Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope,conceding that negligence on the part of officials was the reason that affected the functioning of the MRLS,has promised to look into the matter this week.

Meanwhile,political activists and folk literature experts feel that the government neglecting such a culturally important body was unacceptable.

Tope said,“Yes,it might be negligence on our part why nothing was done in the past to revive this committee. But I have called a meeting on Tuesday with all officials concerned to review the situation.”

ENS