JOIN US"Almost 85 per cent of the construction work of the five-acre complex has been completed," says the late Gangubai's grandson Manoj Hangal.
The gurukul will train students under the ancient 'guru-shishya parampara'. It will also provide stipend, boarding and lodging to the students.
"The project is funded by the Karnataka government which had sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the first phase. Now the second phase of work, including an air-conditioned auditorium and museum, is in the final stage," Manoj said.
According to Dharwad district commissioner Darpan Jain, a March-end deadline have been given to the authorities concerned. He, however, expressed doubts over the completion of the Gurukul's work before March 5, which is the birth anniversary of the eminent vocalist who died last July.
"We have given a deadline of March. We are working minutely on every aspect of the project to make it the best and biggest centre in the world. Thus it will take some time. It is wrong to say that the project is getting delayed due to any other reasons," Jain says.
The idea of establishing the Gurukul was mooted in 2007 at a meeting of stalwarts like Hangal, Rajashekhar Mansur, Sadanand Kanavalli, Hayavardhan Joshi and others.
As per the earlier plan, the gurukul was to function from June 2009. But Gangubai's death and transfer of then Deputy Commissioner M S Srikar, who was responsible for implementing the project, affected the work.
It is still undecided who will head the gurukul trust but the legendary singer's family wants a vocalist be given the charge. Though the name of sarod player Pandit Taranath has been doing the rounds, Manoj denies any decision has been taken.
"We have not zeroed on any name as of now. We, the family of Gangubai, wish that a renowned vocalist should be given the charge as the centre is for vocal Hindustani classical music. The nine-member trust will decide about the chairman, guru and students," he says. According to Jain, 25-30 students will be selected on the basis of all-India test for each batch.
"We are sending letters to several universities like Bhatkhande (Lucknow), Khairagarh, Banaras Hindu University and Delhi university. There will be a special website of the centre. It will be a seven-year course.
The first batch will start this year. We are considering the prospect of allowing foreign students as well," he says. ccording to Manoj, as per his grandmother's wish the motto is to produce performing artistes rather than giving degrees or diplomas.
Gangubai felt that universities teach music but do not produce performing artistes. "For this, one needs 'riyaj' (practice) under the guidance of gurus. In this gurukul, we will also teach them how to perform on stage," she had said.
It was her dream to initiate a centre for classical music in this land of legends like Mallikarjun Mansoor, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Rehmat Khan.