Nagpur News.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday announced construction of the state-of-the-art Cultural Centre in Nagpur which would provide an artistic platform for Vidarbha artists to display their talent and also hone their skills. The Cultural Centre would be a fitting tribute to late Vasantrao Naik on his 100th birth anniversary, Chavan said. The Cultural Centre would be built at the cost of Rs 20 crore, the CM added.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating All India Lok Kala (Folk art) Sammelan (Convention), organized by State Government’s Women and Children Welfare Department at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall in Nagpur. The traditional inauguration by lighting the lamps was marked by the singing of Sant Tukaram’s “Bharud” by the artists of Lok Kala Academy, Mumbai. The Maharashtra Council Deputy Chairman Vasant Davkhare presided over the function. Others who graced the function include Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anil Deshmukh, Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare, Culture Welfare Minister Sanjay Deotale, EGS Minister Nitin Raut, Convention’s Organising Committee President and Women and Children Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Minister of State for Finance Rajendra Mulak, Convention’s President and actress Madhu Kambikar, Rahi Bhide, Working President Shaila Khandge, Bollywood and Marathi Cinema actress Sonal Kulkarni, Director of South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) Dr Ravindra Singhal, Women and Children Welfare Department Commissioner Rajendra Chavan and others.
The Chief Minister further said, “The Maharashtra Government organizes divisional level All India Lok Kala Sammelans for development of various arts of the State. The aim of organizing divisional level Sammelans is to adopt and develop culture of other regions. The local culture prospers through “Lok Kala” and takes firm roots of unique and extraordinary cultural heritage. And it should be maintained in the era of TV, Internet, YouTube. Today’s artists are a confused lot because of spreading of foreign culture. The State Government has been and will take measures to take care of various difficulties faced by artists who develop and imbibe culture in the society by their artistic messages,” the Chief Minister stated.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Sonali Kulkarni, Sunil Tatkare, Vasant Davkahre, Madhu Kambikar, Varsha Gaikwad and others.
The programme was compered by Rahi Bhide, Sanjay Bhuskute while the vote of thanks was proposed by Shaila Khandge. Former Ministers Satish Chaturvedi, Anees Ahmed, former MLA Ashok Dhavad, S Q Jama, Yadavrao Deogade and artists from across the State were present at the function.
