NK SINGH
Bharat Bhawan, the controversial "House of Arts" at Bhopal, has started limping back to normalcy with the release on bail of B.V. Karanth—the noted drama director who was recently arrested on the charge of attempted murder.
The lake-side multi-arts complex, constructed with public funds and run by a private trust headed by the ruling Congress (1) leader, Mr Arjun Singh, became the centre of unsavoury public attention in the wake of the sensational Vibha-Karanth affair.
Normal functioning of the cultural complex was disturbed and the Bharat Bhawan repertory, Rangmandal, was almost paralysed following the arrest of its director, Karanth, and the serious burn injuries sustained by the leading actress of the troupe, Vibha Mishra.
Over the last month, little had happened in Bharat Bhawan apart from two minor programmes and a campaign launched to defend the institution against public criticism.
Now with Karanth back in action, Bharat Bhawan is restarting its cultural activities in the right earnest. Rangmandal is staging its long-awaited play on the Bhopal gas tragedy, Banjh Ghati (Barren Valley), originally scheduled to be staged earlier last month, on July 5.
Ever since his release from jail last week, Karanth had to resign the trusteeship of Bharat Bhawan and directorship of Rangmandal. His arrest has been visiting the arts complex daily to participate in the rehearsal of Banjh Ghati Rangman dal artists said he was helping with its music. The renowned drama director is reputed to be a good musician.
His wife, Mrs Prema Karanth, had disclosed in a press interview that the theatreman planned to finish the plays he was preparing before his arrest. The High Court has asked him to remain in Madhya Pradesh till the disposal of the case. However, a Bharat Bhawan spokesman said Karanth was visiting the complex only to meet friends.
On Monday, the bearded, 57-year-old artist left Bharat Bhawan suddenly, and then left amid rehearsals as a group of curious newsmen reached persons who were taking him there and much more shameless of state Government which was watching the drama without batting an eyelid," the opposition leader told newsmen on Thursday. "Art and culture will survive even without Karanth," Mr Patwa commented.
Mr Patwa also condemned the visit of Mr Ashok Vajpeyi, the culture secretary of Madhya Pradesh, to Bhopal central jail to meet the imprisoned artist, and Mrs Rashmi Vajpeyi's visit to the jail to receive Karanth at the time of his release last week.
Indian Express
July 3, 1986
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