Although popular singer Sonia Sirsat
belongs to Ponda, she is best known for her performances in venues all across
the state but her hometown, courtesy, the absence of a cultural centre in the
cultural capital of Goa. The only one in town, Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, which
was thrown open for public use in 1999, has been shut due for renovation work…
for the past 5-6 years. The residents of Ponda and surrounding areas have been
eagerly awaiting the completion of the renovation project. In the absence of
adequate facilities, people have had to visit the Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and
Kala Academy in Panjim to watch dramas and other programmes.
Renowned fadista, Sonia Sirsat says, “There
is a need to get the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir ready as soon as possible. We
need a cultural centre in Ponda where a lot of theatre, music, and even college
events can be held. A lot of people from Ponda are not always able to travel to
Margao or Panjim. My concern is that this section of the society that is not
culturally inclined towards a certain art form will not travel to another town
to attend such events. But if it is happening in their own town, they might
attend the event and chances are that they might develop a taste for that
particular art form. The lack of a cultural centre may also lead to a
considerable decline in the cultural audience as the new generation may lose
out on the opportunity to appreciate an art form. It has been a long time since
the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir was shut down for renovation. As a citizen of the
town, I request the authorities to hurry up and get the centre up and running
at the earliest possible.”
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The Kala Mandir at Ponda was to be thrown
open in December 2013, but it was later postponed to May 2014 and again
postponed to December 19. Director of Art and Culture Prasad Lolienkar says,
“Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir is on the verge of completion. It should be ready
tentatively by the month of June / July 2015.” Speaking about the reason for
the shutting down of the centre, Lolienkar says, “The decision to shut it for
renovation was not ours but that of the Chairman and the Board of the Rajiv
Gandhi Kala Mandir. They wanted to renovate it and increase its capacity.
Although the centre is under renovation, the Board is still functional. I agree
that the delay has been there, but unfortunately, it is not in our hands. GSIDC
is constructing it and once they are done with it, they will hand it over to
us.”
“The old Kala Mandir could have been
utilised as a mini-entertainment centre of sorts or for any other purpose,
instead of just demolishing the project,” he added.
Mahadev (Apa) Khanolkar, a theatre artist
and film producer who is also a former councillor, had earlier said that in the
absence of a theatre, artistes face great hardship to promote their art,
including rehearsals. “We are eagerly waiting for the completion of the
project. We have to travel to Panjim, Margao and other parts of the state for
entertainment programmes. Being a cultural city, Ponda should encourage its
artistes and the state government should ensure that the project is not delayed
for so long,” Khanolkar had previously said.
