Kala Kendra remains unused, unvisited

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 19

Since its inception in 2006, the majestic Kala Kendra, designed to cater to the needs of art and cultural pursuits of the state, has turned out to be a white elephant.

After the structure came into existence, it was left on its own mercy with no institution coming forward to own the building. The proposal was mooted by the Central and state government in which the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), too, was roped in for providing land for raising the monument.

Today it stands neglected as no government authority holds itself responsible for its caretaking as well as maintenance of the structure, which is withering away with the passage of time.

Kala Kendra is a society registered under the Registrar of Societies Act and funded by the Union Government of India and is not under direct occupation of any state institution. However, J&K state Art Academy as well as the Archives and Museums Department were called to take up the institution in parts for pursuing art, culture and museum activities here.

While the other monumental structure of Abhinav Theatre, which is under the direct occupation of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), is flourishing since its reopening by the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in December 2015, Kala Kendra looks dejected and forlorn.

“ I had taken up the issue with Governor NN Vohra, who also admitted that in principal the structure raised for art and culture activities of the state should be a part of the J&K Art Academy,” said Aziz Hajini, secretary, JKAACL.

He said since the reopening of Abhinav Theatre, the JKAACL had been flooded with cultural activities and had Kala Kendra been it part, half of the load could have been shifted to the venue, which would have created a much bigger impact in the region on the cultural front.

On the maintenance and administration of the huge structure, the authorities of controlling institutions expressed helplessness saying that lack of coordination between the JKAACL, JDA and Archives and Museums Department is telling upon the building adversely, which is fast losing its grandeur.

‘A small piece of work to be executed in the Kala Kendra has to move in three different offices before reaching the JDA for completion, which is quite cumbersome,” said one of the caretakers of Kala Kendra.

The JKAACL, which owns the painting and studio part in Kala Kendra, has its own staff posted there. Their salary is drawn from the academy only, informs JKAACL secretary Hajini.

Soujanaya Sharma, Director, Local Bodies, who holds the additional charge of the administrator of Kala Kendra, said he had earlier passed on the charge to Savita Bakshi, then additional secretary of the JKAACL, since there was a post of administrator in Kala Kendra, but due to Governor NN Vohra’s intervention, he was again given back the charge.

“It has been rendered defunct for the past some time, but recently we have prepared a calendar of activities and soon Kala Kendra will be seen bubbling with activities,” assured Soujanya Sharma.

He said that magnificent building that could serve as an attraction for the tourists of the state by variegated artistic performances could enhance its value also vis-a-vis revenue aspect and could earn money.

Except for some insignificant number of painting exhibitions held in one of its small hall on the ground floor and couple of other functions held on its first floor, the elephantine structure remains generally empty and unattended throughout the year.