Arts city to come up soon in Vadodara

VADODARA, April 23: A dream may be about to come true for serious lovers of arts and culture in Gujarat. The state government is planning...

VADODARA, April 23: A dream may be about to come true for serious lovers of arts and culture in Gujarat. The state government is planning to set up Kalanagar8217;, an arts city8217;, in Vadodara exclusively for scholars on the lines of the Surajkund enclave in Haryana, but bigger and better.

To cost around Rs 2 crores, Kalanagar will come up on government land about 10 km away from the city, close to the villages of Hinglot, Jaspur and Sindhrot between the Mahisagar and Mini rivers. Work is scheduled to begin after the monsoons.

Well placed officials told The Indian Express that the arts city would invite scholars and artists to settle there and, through their interaction and communication, promote their work, organise performances and showings.

The government-managed enclave would be economically self-reliant, they said, adding that the costs of infrastructure 8212; housing, water supply, electricity, health and education facilities 8212; maintenance and development would be met through subsidised sale ofland to institutions and individuals. Also on the list are open-air theatres and auditoria.

While District Collector Anil Mukim said the plan had been submitted to the state government, P K Laheri, Additional Chief Secretary, Gujarat Tourism, told this paper, 8220;The work on levelling the land will begin immediately after the monsoons. In the meantime, scholars and artists will be invited to come and check out the place. The response from leading Gujarat-based artists has been overwhelming.8221;

While a senior official in the arts and culture department claimed that they would protect the enclave from 8220;petty commercialisation8221;, artists and scholars this reporter spoke to expressed hope that the government would be successful in doing just that.

Welcoming the proposal, renowned musicologist and former vice-president of the Gujarat Sangeeit Natak Akademi R C Mehta, author and folk culture scholar G N Devy and writer Rani Dharkar said this would promote the arts environment in Gujarat. They emphasised,however, on proper implementation and selection.

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M S University8217;s officiating dean at the Faculty of Performing Arts D K Bhonsle and Head of Music instrumental Department K S Mistry also welcomed the enclave. 8220;This will give the state an image and encourage professionals to hone their skills,8221; said Bhonsle, while Mistry agreed the place would remove a stumbling block for research and growth of art in Gujarat.

Interestingly, villagers in Hinglot and Sindhrot, too, said they would prefer such a project over industries. 8220;This will pave the way for our welfare8221;, said Sindhrot sarpanch Mel Singh and one Hinglot resident R S Gohil.