Kannada & Culture Commissioner takes over Rangayana

A day after B V Rajaram was shunted out of Rangayana, Kannada and Culture Commissioner K R Ramakrishna assumed charge as the in-charge director of Rangayana on Saturday morning. Ramakrishna, however left to Bangalore shortly after, claiming he had to tend to some “emergency work”.

Rajaram, the former director came under the department’s wrath for having protested against its decision to transfer 12 artistes from Mysore to Shimoga and Dharwad.

Dire consequences

Rangayana artistes deputed to Shimoga and Dharwad, might face “dire consequences” including suspension if they failed to report to duty immediately, said Nirmala Matapathi, Deputy Director of Rangayana, when contacted on Saturday.

Matapathi said that the transfer orders had been issued on March 16, and the artistes were told to report to the respective work places on or before March 26.

She said that the artistes had been given 10 days to report to work.

“The department might seek an explanation if they don’t show up to work on the day specified. If they fail to do so, they might face suspension. There is also a possibility the department might give the artistes an extension,” she added.

In the event the artistes moved the court and brought a stay on the orders of  deputation, then the entire process might get delayed, she added.

Nirmala said that the artistes in question knew their art well, and their expertise was required to build the Rangayana at Shimoga and Dharwad. The reparatory in Mysore would not be impacted by this move, she added.

It was also a norm to appoint artistes on a deputation to all three Rangayanas on a rotation basis, once in six years, she said, adding that the activities of Rangayana should not be confined to Mysore alone.

Matapathi also refuted that there were continued clashes between artistes and the department officials.

 “Ranga Samaja and the government has taken the decision. I am here to execute it —and not to question the same,” she added.