JOIN USErratic changes in events; yet 'all is well' says DC
As per the announcement, folk songs by Janardhan and his troupe was supposed to be held between 6.30 pm and 8 pm followed by ghazal by noted singer Anoop Jalota.
The citizens who were unaware of the change in programme, were dumbstruck after the programmes were interchanged. Many returned disappointed after they learnt that the ghazal programme was preponed reportedly at the behest of Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta, City Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal and Mysore City Corporation Commissioner K S Raykar. The reason behind this change was to attend another musical programme by Kailash Kher at Manaranjan Dasara being held at Maharaja’s grounds.
Janardhan, popularly known as ‘Janni’ said the sudden change in the programme was nothing but an insult to folk artists. They had been giving performance throughout the year and postponing the programme was ‘unfair’. “We are also equally talented and competent like Jalota. When this is the ground reality there should not been any disparity. In the name of austerity, not much publicity has been given for Dasara programmes. What is the point in celebrating Dasara if their intentions are to save money?” he asked.
Kundur Prasad of Nirantara foundation opined that the Deputy Commissioner has insulted artists by changing the programme without giving any prior intimation. The artists, who were supposed to give their programme, were made to wait for more than two hours. Since the artists of Mysore are pious their nature should not be misused at least in the future.
Prof Kalegowda Nagawar, a litterateur said both artists and general public were made to suffer for changing programmes without prior intimation. “We have heard that deputy commissioner is a good officer. He should ensure that such things don’t recur in future”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta said they were forced to make sudden changes as two star artists participated in the programme. A number of people wanted to enjoy the ghazals by Anoop Jalota and singing by Kailesh Kher. So, the programme of Jalota had to be preponed. “I did not want to comment to allegations that the changes were made just for the sake of a few officials. This is a petty issue and need not be blown of proportion,” he said.