Spotlight on IGNCA, it may review status

Take Bhupen Hazarika, the Assamese singer and filmmaker, also part-time Prasar Bharati Board member, and the defeated BJP candidate from Guwahati. Like all trustees, who are appointed for a 10-year term, Hazarika will retire only in 2012. However, attention will be drawn to the question of his continuing presence on the Board of Trustees.

Culture Minister S. Jaipal Reddy has already made clear there will be no witch-hunt against loyalists of the previous regime, but the members are beginning to wonder about their fate.

‘‘I will resign, if asked to. I anyway have never had the opportunity to attend any of IGNCA’s meetings for, as chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, both institutions’ meetings almost always clashed,’’ said Hazarika. He regrets not getting any help from the IGNCA for an integrated approach between the two institutions.

‘‘The IGNCA’s work was conducted in a haphazard manner. I did not feel at home there and anyway, I was appointed for my work as a performing artist. However, if the IGNCA reforms and scholars like Kapila Vatsayana return, maybe I would like to carry on. But if I’m not necessary, I will move out,’’ said Hazarika.

Other contentious members include the chairman of the board, Dr L.M. Singhvi, a BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha. Though Singhvi was not available for comment but former Editor M.V. Kamath, who is a known sympathiser of the BJP, was cryptic as he said: ‘‘The question has not been raised so far, I will respond when it is raised.’’ Kamath is also a member of the Prasar Bharati Board.

The IGNCA, meanwhile, stirred to life a month ago after a dormant decade — with the appointment of member-secretary Dr K.K. Chakravarty as its director. Harvard-trained Chakravarty, who was handpicked by outgoing Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan, has expertise in museumology and culture. According to IGNCA sources, Chakravarty has already begun reviewing the fiscal health of the institution and has made a desperate plea for more funds.

‘‘The IGNCA’s secondary corpus of Rs 29 crore, which came from interest of its initial corpus of Rs 50 crore, was diverted for construction of one of its buildings, which is now half-built, but the money is wiped out. The adminsitration is now repositioning its priorities — it has commissioned half of the new building; and is working on projects which will raise funds for the institution,’’ said an official source.