Resurrection of Lakshmipuram school

Historic beginning

It is sad that the school that taught thousands of students of Mysore became a history even before completing its century.  But, the only solace is that now the school has been handed over to Karnataka State Gangubai University of Music and Performing Arts to temporarily to conduct classes.

Presently, the varsity is being run from a guest house belonging to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) at Vijaynagar which is quite far from the city.

Besides, the building does not have adequate space to conduct classes. The offices of vice-chancellor and registrar are located in small rooms. The plans to shift the varsity to Varakodu on Mysore-T Narasipur Road has turned into a controversy.

Now the State government is seized of the matter and the issue is yet to be sorted out. The piece of land has become a bone of contention among the Departments of Revenue and Forest. While the Forest Department claims that it belongs to them; the Revenue Department contends that the land was the government property.

This 'ownership problem' has delayed construction of building on the disputed land. Although, the varsity has got the RTC in its name, the forest officials are not allowing the varsity to take up any work.

Following urgency to start the academics, the varsity approached Medical Education and District In-Charge Minister S A Ramdas who on the spot summoned the officers of Department of Education and got the historic Lakshmipuram Boys’ School to the varsity.
The education department formally closed down the school last year as only five students enrolled in the academic year 2010-11. Now, the school is being given a facelift to look decent enough to hold classes.

Dr Hanumanna Nayaka Dore, vice-chancellor of the Music Varsity said they would temporarily shift the varsity office to the school till the permanent building is ready.

There is no dearth of funds as the government had released long ago. The work would start once the ownership row was resolved. As a temporary measure, the varsity would start functioning in the school building from April.

The selection of candidates for several courses in Carnatic classical music, Hindustani music, dance, drama and instruments is over. Forty students are selected for these courses.

There were 18 rooms in the school which are sufficient to start the classes. The advantage is that it is within the city limits and the ambience is very good for performing arts. This would not have been possible without the help of Ramdas, he noted.

Prof Nilgiri Talwar, Registrar of the varsity told City Herald that the condition of the school was so horrible that it took eight days to thoroughly clean the rooms.

In the absence of security guards, the place was rather being abused. Firstly, the varsity appointed four security guards to guard the building and covered all the broken windows with the wooden planks.

The compound would be constructed on all sides and install gates to restrict entry. The painting work is going on and it is expected to be completed in another eight to ten days. Then, they would officially launch starting of classes and functioning of varsity.

The V-C said plans are afoot to approach the chief minister, B S Yeddyurappa to get the land row resolved at the earliest as it was the pet project of the latter. In fact, other districts are ready to give whatever land required for setting up of the varsity as it was the second Music Varsity in the entire country. The first one has been functioning well in Madhya Pradesh since last two decades.

But, Mysore is the best place to house this varsity as the city is known for nurturing art and culture. The maharajas of Mysore also patronised traditional arts. In view of this, the music varsity should be located in Mysore, he added.