This Rangshala is for babus, not artistes

Rohtak dramatists oppose running of government offices from open-air theatre

Quote: “The rangshala, which was meant to stage plays, dramas and other theatrical and cultural events, had being serving the desired purpose till a few years ago. However, after the demolition of the old infrastructure and construction of new one, it is being used for government offices and programmes.” Vishav Deepak Trikha, Veteran play-maker

Caption: Pt Shri Ram Rangshala, an open-air theatre, in Rohtak, which is being used as a government office. Photos: Manoj Dhaka

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, February 18

Rohtak-based artistes are up in arms against the unavailability of space and other provisions required for organising visual and performing-arts events such as plays, dramas, dance and musical evenings in the city.

The artistes lament that Pt Shri Ram Sharma Rangshala, an open-air theatre located in the heart of the city, is being used to run government offices instead of conducting cultural programmes.

Representatives of various art groups and ogranisations based in Rohtak have demanded that the rangshala be freed from the clutches of government babus and handed over to them.

The demand was raised at a joint meeting of Colour Gallery Film and Theatre Society, Saptak, Mukhauta Naatya Mandali, Jatan Naatya Kendra, Action Theatre and Sargam Theatrical Group organised here, recently.

“The rangshala, which was meant to stage plays, dramas and other theatrical and cultural events, had being serving the desired purpose till a few years ago. However, after the demolition of the old infrastructure and construction of new one, it is being used for government offices and programmes,” rues veteran play-maker Vishav Deepak Trikha of ‘Gadhey Ki Baraat’ fame.

Rohtak-based artistes Krishan ‘Natak’ and Naresh ‘Prerna’ also maintain that there should be a platform in the city to stage theatrical events and open-mike sessions so as to provide a soulful cultural atmosphere.

The theatre persons further demanded that the tariff to use the rangshala is also exorbitant, which discourages artistes. “Instead of charging rent from artistes, the government should give them some incentive, so as to encourage the staging of plays and cultural activities in the city,” they said.

The artistes have suggested that a committee comprising eminent theatre persons of the city be constituted to manage the affairs of the rangshala, which has been reduced to a sarkaari office complex.

The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the District Grievances Committee and a delegation of prominent theatre-persons will soon meet the local Municipal authorities and urge them to do the needful in this regard.