Southern States - Karnataka   

Dasara: Plan to rope in private firms resented

By Vijaykumar Patil

Belgaum Aug. 11. On the face of it, the decision of the State Government to celebrate Dasara in a grand manner this year may have gladdened the hearts of many. But it has brought little cheer to artistes from North Karnataka who feel "dissociated" from Government-sponsored festivities. The plan to rope in event management companies to revamp the shows staged during Dasara has caused surprise here.

Artistes in Belgaum and neighbouring areas of the district do not seem to have welcomed the plan. "Where is the need to engage such firms in what is essentially a people's festival?" asks an artiste here.

The musicologist and convener of the Academy of Performing Arts, Belgaum, Hayavadan Joshi, does not see any reason in the plan. He says private institutions or event organisers are driven by the profit motive. Therefore, the possibility of selection of artistes based on their "market value" cannot be ruled out. Despite some shortcomings and discrepancies in the selection of artistes, with a "bias" seen against those from North Karnataka, the element of social concern was always there. Even if symbolically, all the regions were represented at the cultural festival.

The Government did not look only at the market value of an artiste while making selections for various cultural events staged in Mysore. That those "close" to the officials in the department concerned and with political influence reportedly succeeded in their bid is another story.

"In case the Government ropes in event management firms, can it (Government) guarantee justice to the artistes? Can the Government assure us that private firms will have the same concern?" asks Mr. Joshi.

Moreover, this might set a "precedent" for other events such as Karavali Utsav and Hampi Utsav. He said the Government should itself tackle the shortcomings and not allow commercial firms to manage the cultural events. "This will be a departure from tradition," he said. Mr. Joshi also spoke of the "domination" of artistes from South Karnataka in the Dasara festivities. He said that many a time the same artistes were invited again and again which sent wrong signals and created an impression that new artistes were not coming forward to perform.

An official of a Dharwad-based music organisation, who is also an artiste, alleged that the opportunities for artistes from North Karnataka were not many. Moreover, the treatment given to artistes from the region during festivals was also not good, he claimed.

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