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ಗಾನಭಾರತೀಯ ವರ್ಣಮಯ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ

ಮೈಸೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾದಬ್ರಹ್ಮ, ಬಿಡಾರಂ ಕೃಷ್ಣಪ್ಪ ಸಂಗೀತ ಸಭಾ ಹೀಗೆ ಹಲವು ಸಭೆಗಳು ಸಕ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಆದರೆ ಸರಸ್ವತೀಪುರಂ ಹಾಗೂ ಕುವೆಂಪುನಗರದ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲ ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಬಾರದೇಕೆ ಎಂಬ ಯೋಚನೆ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಬಂತು. ವಿ.ಎಸ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ೧೯೭೮ರ ಜನವರಿ ೧ರಂದು ಸಭೆ ಸೇರಲಾಯಿತು. ಸಭೆಯ ಗೊತ್ತುಗುರಿಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸುದೀರ್ಘ ಹಾಗೂ ಗಂಭೀರ ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು. ಆ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ ಸಿ. ಕೆ. ಎನ್. ರಾಜ ಅವರ ಸಲಹೆಯಂತೆ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗೆ “ಗಾನಭಾರತೀ” ಎಂಬ ನಾಮಕರಣವೂ ಆಯಿತು. ಇನ್ಸ್ಟಿಟ್ಯೂಟ್ ಆಫ್ ಎಜುಕೇಷನ್ ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ ೨, ೧೯೭೮ರಂದು ಅದರ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು. ಆಗಿನ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಡಿಐಜಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ

ಶ್ರೀ ಕೆ. ಯು. ಬಾಲಕೃಷ್ಣರಾವ್ ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದರು. ವೀಣೆ ದೊರೆಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ಯರ ವೀಣಾವಾದನ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ನಂತರ ಎಸ್.ನಾಗರಾಜನ್ ಅವರ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಭೆ ಸೇರಿ ಒಂದು ಮಧ್ಯಂತರ ಸಮಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಯಿತು. ಎಸ್. ನಾಗರಾಜನ್ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು, ಸಿ. ಜಿ. ನರಸಿಂಹನ್ ಉಪಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು, ಜಿ. ಸಿದ್ಧರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಎಚ್. ಆರ್. ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠೇಶ್ವರ ಸಹಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಿ. ಕೆ. ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠಯ್ಯನವರು ಕೋಶಾಧಿಕಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾದರು. ಇನ್ನು ಸದಸ್ಯರಾಗಿ ಬಿ. ಸಿ. ಕೇಶವ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್, ಶ್ರೀ ಕುಪ್ಪುಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಜೆ. ಆರ್. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣರಾವ್, ವಿ. ಎಸ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಾಚಾರ್, ಸಿ. ಕೆ. ಎನ್. ರಾಜ, ಜೆ. ಎನ್. ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರನ್, ಜಿ. ಕೆ. ವರದಪ್ಪ ಹಾಗೂ ನಂತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಸ್. ಗುರುರಾಜಾಚಾರ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಲೀಲಾ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರನ್ನು ಸದಸ್ಯರಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಯಿತು. ಸದಸ್ಯರನ್ನು ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಬೈಲಾ ತಯಾರಿಸುವುದು ಈ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ೮-೧೧-೭೮ರಂದು ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ೨೭-೪-೮೦ರಂದು ನಡೆದ ಮೊದಲ ಸರ್ವಸದಸ್ಯರ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯು ತನ್ನ ಉದ್ದೇಶಗಳಿಗೆ ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುವ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕಾರಿಣಿ ಸಮಿತಿಯನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಉದ್ದೇಶಗಳು

೧. ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಲೆಯನ್ನೂ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನೂ ಬೆಳೆಸಲು, ಉಳಿಸಲು, ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಲು ತಕ್ಕ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದು.

೨. ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಗಳು, ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆಗಳು, ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಛೇರಿಗಳು, ತರಗತಿಗಳು, ವಿಚಾರ ಸಂಕಿರಣಗಳು, ಚರ್ಚಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಗಳು, ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನಗಳು, ಸ್ಪರ್ಧೆಗಳು, ಸ್ಮರಣ ದಿನಾಚರಣೆಗಳು ಮೊದಲಾದ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸುವುದು.

೩. ಶ್ರೋತೃಗಳು ಶುದ್ಧಾಭಿರುಚಿಯ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕೇಳುವುದಕ್ಕೆ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಕಲಾವಿದರು ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣವಾದ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಕಲೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಅತ್ಮಾಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕುದಾದ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ತಳಹದಿಯನ್ನುಳ್ಳ ವೇದಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ರಚಿಸುವುದು.

೪. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಸಮೂಹಗಾಯನ, ಹರಿಕಥೆ, ಸಂಗೀತರೂಪಕ, ನೃತ್ಯರೂಪಕ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸುವುದು.

೫. ಸಂಗೀತ ಹಾಗೂ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಇತರ ಕಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಣತ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರ ನಡುವೆ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಅರಿವು, ಸಹಕಾರ ಸಾಧರ್ಮ್ಯಭಾವ ಮೂಡುವಂತೆ, ಬೆಳೆಯುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುವುದು.

ಭವನದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ:

೧.ಸ್ವಂತ ನಿವೇಶನ: ೧೯೭೯ರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾನಭಾರತಿಗಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಂತ ನಿವೇಶನ ಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ೧೯೮೦ರಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಫಲಪ್ರದವಾಯಿತು. ಶ್ರೀ ಜಿ. ಎಲ್. ಎನ್. ಅಯ್ಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಶ್ರೀ ಹೆಚ್. ವಿ. ಸುಬ್ಬರಾಯರ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಿಂದ ಸಿಐಟಿಬಿ ಛೇರ್ಮನ್ ಡಿ.ಮಾದೇಗೌಡ ಅವರ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ೨೬೬೪ ಚದರ ಮೀಟರ್ ನಿವೇಶನ ಮಂಜೂರಾಯಿತು. ೧೯೮೦ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹಣ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಲು ಸ್ಮರಣಸಂಚಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊರತರಲಾಯಿತು. ಕುಮಾರಿ ಮೈಸೂರು ಪ್ರಭಾ ಅವರ ಸುಗಮ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮತ್ತೆ ೧೯೮೭ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಮಾರಿ ಮೈಸೂರು ಪ್ರಭಾ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ್ ಭಾರತೀ ಇವರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಕುಮಾರಿ ವಾಣಿದೊರೆಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಕುಮಾರಿ ನಂದಿನಿ ಕೇಶವ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ ಅವರ ಸಹಾಯಾರ್ಥ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನವನ್ನು ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿತ್ತು.

೨.ಸ್ವಂತ ಕಟ್ಟಡದ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ: ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರು ೨-೪-೧೯೮೯ರಂದು ಭವನದ ಶಂಕುಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಇದರ ಹಣಸಂಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಸದಸ್ಯರು ಪಟ್ಟ ಶ್ರಮ ಅಷ್ಟಿಷ್ಟಲ್ಲ. (ವಿವರಗಳಿಗೆ ಜಿ. ಟಿ. ನಾರಾಯಣರಾವ್ ಅವರ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ.) ೧೯೯೦ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಟ್ಟಡದ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ೩೧.೦೮.೧೯೯೧ರಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನದ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಕೆಲಸ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು.

೩.ಉದ್ಘಾಟನಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ: ಉದ್ಘಾಟನಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ೨೬.೧೦.೧೯೯೧ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಯಿತು. ಮೊದಲಿಗೆ ಮೈಸೂರು ವಿ. ದೊರೆಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ‍್ಯರಿಂದ ಅರ್ಧ ಗಂಟೆ ವೀಣಾವಾದನ. ಭವನವನ್ನು ಧರ್ಮಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಶ್ರೀ ವಿರೇಂದ್ರ ಹೆಗ್ಗಡೆಯವರು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದರು. ಸಭಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಿವರಾತ್ರಿ ದೇಶಿಕೇಂದ್ರ ಮಹಾಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರ ಆಶೀರ್ವಚನದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಭಾಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮುಕ್ತಾಯವಾಯಿತು.

೪. ಗಾನಭಾರತೀ ಸಂಗೀತ ನೃತ್ಯ ಶಾಲೆ: ಮುಂದಿನ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಾಗಿ ಗಾನಭಾರತೀ ತನ್ನ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವನ್ನು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾ ನೃತ್ಯ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಲಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಶಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿತು. ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ವೀಣಾ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಂ. ಜೆ. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ಯರು ೧೨-೪-೧೯೯೨ರಂದು ಗಾನಭಾರತೀ ಸಂಗೀತನೃತ್ಯ ಶಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದರು. ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಆರ್. ಗುರು ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ತರಗತಿಗಳು ೧೫-೪-೧೯೯೨ರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದವು. ೧೯೯೨ರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂರು ಕೊಠಡಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ನಂತರ ೧೯೯೪ರ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ಇನ್ನು ಆರು ಕೊಠಡಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಲಾಯಿತು.

೫. ೨೦೦೦ದ ಜುಲೈನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿನಿಹಾಲ್ ಒಂದನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಲಾಯಿತು ಹಾಗೂ ೨೦೧೧ರಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡ ಹಾಗೆ ಕೌನ್ಸಿಲ್ ಹಾಲನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

೬. ಅದೇ ವರ್ಷ ೨೦ ಕೆವಿಎ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯದ ಜನರೇಟರನ್ನು ಖರೀದಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

೭. ಭವನದ ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾಗದ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಠಾಣೆಯ ಹಿಂಬದಿಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಂಪೌಂಡ್, ನೂತನ ಹೊರಬಾಗಿಲು ಮತ್ತು ಅಕ್ಕಪಕ್ಕದ Sಣoಡಿm ತಿಚಿಣeಡಿ ಜಡಿಚಿiಟಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಪಕ್ಕಾ ಕಾಂಕ್ರೀಟ್ ಸೇತುವೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ (ಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಗೋ. ಮಧುಸೂದನ್ ಅವರ ಅನುದಾನ).

೮. ಸಂಗೀತನೃತ್ಯ ಶಾಲೆ ಕಛೇರಿಗೋಸ್ಕರ ಭವನದ ಬಲಭಾಗದ ಈoಥಿeಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕ ಕೊಠಡಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಹಾಗೂ ಭವನದ ಎಡಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕೊಳವೆ ಬಾವಿಯ ಪುನಶ್ಚೇತನ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತು.

೯. ಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ತೋಂಟದಾರ್ಯ ಅವರ ಅನುದಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನದ ಹೊರಾಂಗಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಮೆಂಟ್ ಹಾಸುಬಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

೧೦. ಕಾಮಗಾರಿ ಕೆಲಸಗಳಿಗೆ ೨೮,೦೦೦ ರೂಪಾಯಿಗಳ ವೆಚ್ಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಯೂಮಿನಿಯಂ ಏಣಿ ಖರೀದಿ.

೧೧. ೨೦೧೨ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಕೊಠಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚೆನ್ನೈನ ಟ್ಯಾಗ್ ಕಂಪೆನಿಯವರ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ಡಿಜಿಟಲ್ ಮ್ಯೂಸಿಕ್ ಲೈಬ್ರರಿಯ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ.

೧೨. ೨೦೧೪ರ ಮೇ ತಿಂಗಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಕೊಠಡಿಯ ಮೇಲಂತಸ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ವೀಣೆ ಚೊಕ್ಕಮ್ಮ ಕಕ್ಷೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ (ಚೊಕ್ಕಮ್ಮ ಕುಟುಂಬ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ದಾನಿಗಳಿಂದ).

೧೩. ೨೦೧೪ ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನದ ಎಡಭಾಗದ ಪಡಸಾಲೆಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡಂತೆ ಶೌಚಾಲಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ (ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಎಸ್. ಎ. ರಾಮದಾಸ್ ಅವರ ಅನುದಾನದಿಂದ).

೧೪. ೨೦೧೪ರಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನದ ಹಿಂದೆ ಇದ್ದ ಮುಕ್ತ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ’ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ರಮಾಬಾಯಿ ಗೋವಿಂದ ರಾವ್ ರಂಗಮಂದಿರ’ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ (ಖ್ಯಾತ ಉದ್ಯಮಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಂ. ಜಗನ್ನಾಥ್ ಶೆಣೈ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ೧೨ ಮಂದಿ ದಾನಿಗಳ ಕೊಡುಗೆ).

೧೫. ರಂಗಮಂದಿರದ ಮುಂಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಪೇವರ‍್ಸ್ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆ (ಗೋ. ಮಧುಸೂದನ್ ಅವರ ಅನುದಾನದಿಂದ).

೧೬. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ರಂಗಮಂದಿರದ ಮುಂಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಮೇಲ್ಚಾವಣಿ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ (ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ಅನುದಾನ).

೧೭. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಥಿಲಾವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕಾವಲುಗಾರ ಬಿಡಾರವನ್ನು ಕೆಡವಿ ಅದೇ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಧುನಿಕ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳುಳ್ಳ ಹೊಸ ಮನೆಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ.

೧೮. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ರಂಗಮಂದಿರದ ಹಿಂಭಾಗ ಮತ್ತು ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಭದ್ರತೆಗಾಗಿ ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದ ಗ್ರಿಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಶೀಟ್‌ಗಳ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆ.

೧೯. ೨೦೧೫-೧೬ರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾನಭಾರತೀ ಕಛೇರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಗೀತನೃತ್ಯ ಶಾಲೆಗಳ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳ ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರೀಕರಣ.

೨೦. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಗೀತ, ನೃತ್ಯ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಭದ್ರತೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಸಭಾಂಗಣ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊರಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಸಿಟಿವಿ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆ

೨೧. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು ರೂ. ೪ಲಕ್ಷಗಳ ವೆಚ್ಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಭವನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಧ್ವನಿವರ್ಧಕಗಳ ಖರೀದಿ (ಡಾ. ಹೇರ್ಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ದಾನಿಗಳ ಕೊಡುಗೆ).

೨೨. ೨೦೧೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ರಮಾಬಾಯಿ ಗೋವಿಂದರಾವ್ ರಂಗಮಂದಿರದ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರಿಗಾಗಿ ೫೦೦ ನೀಲಕಮಲ್ ಕುರ್ಚಿಗಳ ಖರೀದಿ (ಶ್ರೀ ಎಂ. ಜಗನ್ನಾಥ್ ಶೆಣೈರವರ ದಾನ).

Ganabharathi – A Song In Progress

A successful Sangeetotsava arranged in September 1977 in connection with the Ganesa Festival by some organizations of Saraswatipuram including the area since named Kuvempunagar motivated some of us to explore the possibility of starting a cultural organization in this part of the City. Under the leadership of Sri V. S. Narasimhachar we went about consulting friends in neighbouring extension and we concluded that it was a feasible proposition and it would yield rich dividends.

As the first step,a meeting of friends from Saraswatipura and neighbouring extensions was convened at the residence of Sri V. S. Narasimhathar on 11-1-1978. It was decided at the meeting to start an organization for the purpose of arranging cultural programmes like music, dance and drama.

The name GANABHARATHI, suggested by Dr C. K. N. Raja, was unanimously accepted. It was to have, among its objectives, holding music competitions periodically for the benefit of talented youngsters and also arranging music and dance classes.

The inaugural function was held on 2-2-1978 in a hall of the Institute of Education with the kind permission of its President Sri K. S. Suryanarayana Rao. Administrative Officer late Sri B.V. Nanjundiah, Principal J. N. Ramachandran (one of our promoters) and his colleagues rendered all possible help.

Ganabharathi was formally launched by Sri K. U. Balakrishna Rao, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mysore at a well attended meeting presided over by Sri A. Venkata Rao, District and Sessions Judge, Mysore. It was blessed by Sangeeta Vidya Varidhi Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar, who was the Chief guest. After the inaugural function, he gave a delectable veena concert.

On 19-2-78 a meeting was held at my residence with Sri J. R. Lakshmana Rao in the Chair. An Interim Committee with the following members was constituted:

Sri S. Nagarajan, President
Dr C. G. Narasimhan, Vice-President
Sri G. Siddaramiah, Secretary
Sri H. R, Sreekanteswara, Jt Secretary
Sri C. K. Srikantiah, Treasurer
Sri B. C. Kesava Iyengar
Sri S. Kuppuswamy
Sri J. R. Lakshmana Rao
Sri V. S. Narasimhachar
Dr C. K. N. Raja
Sri J. N. Ramachandran
Sri J. Sivanandam
Sri G. K. Varadappa

Two more members. Dr S. Gururaja- char and Smt Leela Murthy were coopted to the Committe on 26-2.78.

The organizational tasks before the Interim Committee were :

Enrolment of members
Drafting the Memorandum of Association and By-laws of the organization.

At the outset the Committee received help from friends and sister organizations mainly the Bharati Mahila Samaja, Saraswatipura. The second task was rendered easy, thanks to Sri J. N. Ramachandran who placed at our disposal a copy of the Memorandum of Association and By-laws adopted by the Delhi Sangeeta Sabha, one of whose founders was Justice T.L. Venkatarama Iyer of the Supreme Court, who was also an eminent musicologist. The draft prepared by the Drafting Committee was subjected to close scrutiny by the entire Committee, which took about three sittings to finalize it.

Ganabharathi was registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960 on 8-11-78 as Association No. 100/78-79. The Interim Committee was restructured to suit the requirments of the By-laws. The first General Body Meeting was held on 27-4-80 and an Executive Committee duly elected. Since then, annual general body meetings are regularly held on schedule to pass the audited accounts and annual reports. Elections to the Executive Committee are held regularly once in three years. These activities have earned for Ganabharathi a blemishless record of credibility.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Ganabharathi (R) has ordained to itself that its objects shall be the preservation, enrichment and propagation of sangeeta in all its forms and in furtherance of the objects :

to arrange lectures, demonstrations, concerts, classes, seminars, symposia, conferences, competittions, commemoration days and festivals etc (the number of programmes to be arranged shall not be less than ten in a year)

to develop a broad base of healthy musical appreciation and self-expression through the medium of group singing and other allied forms like Harikatha, musical drama, dance drama and other composite programmes

to promote mutual understanding among the votaries of the various systems of music and allied arts

to acquire, maintain and dispose off moveable and immoveable properties; and

to undertake any other activity conducive to the promotion of the objects of the organization.

That successive Committees have been functioning within the scope of these guidelines and are endeavouring to make the activities as varied as envisaged will be evident from the following account of the activities.

MONTHLY CONCERTS

The inaugural concert was given by Veena Vidyavaridhi Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar on 2-2-78. The first Sabha concert was given by Sri Trichur V. Ramachandran and party in March next. It was a Karnatak vocal concert and the latest one in May 1991 (at the time of going to the press) was also a similar one by Sri B. S. Vijayaraghavan and party. In between there have been 129 concerts giving on an average of about 10 concerts per year. This number includes Karnatak vocal, Hindusthani vocal, veena, violin (solo, duet and trio), flute, gotuvadya, veena- flute, sitar, sugama sangeeta, Harikatha and dance programmes. Actually for the last three years, the annual number of programmes has been on the higher side of twelve. These apart three demonstration concerts were arranged as part of the monthly programmes. They were ‘A Day with Tyagaraia’ by Dr S. Ramanathan, ‘Tyagaraja and Todi’ by Vidushi Vedavalli and ‘Seeta Kalyana’ by Vidushi Gowri Kuppuswamy.

The membership graph went on registering an upward trend during the earlier period. Later on the graph started showing a downward trend causing some concern. Ganabharathi however soon came out of the anxious period unscathed and settled down to steady progress on the course it had charted for itself. This was possible on account of the helping hand lent in the initial stages by Vidwan S. Mahadevappa and in later years by Vidwans R. N. Thyagarajan, H. K. Narasimha Murthy, T. V. Bhadrachar, P. G. Lakshminarayan, G. S. Ramanujam and a host of our local Vidwans and Vidushis, all of whom look upon Ganabharathi with pride as ‘their organization’. Since 1989 the programmes are thrown open free.

That most of our members are quite knowledgeable and are true rasikas has been vouchsafed by many artists who have given concerts on our platform.

Vidwan T. V. Shankaranarayana once said any artist performing from our platform establishes instant rapport with the audience and so can give of his or her best with a total sense of involvement. Prof T. R. Subrahmanyam’s observation was that at least 90% of those who attended our programmes sat through the concerts and that this was good enough for an artist to perform with sustained interest. Dr S. Ramanathan once told me in reply to a question “The occasion brings out the best in the man. Your Sabha was celebrating Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana. The decorated mantapa with the portraits of Sri Purandara Dasa as well as Sri Tyagaraja adorning it and the gen-uine appreciation I could discern in the gestures of the members of the audience, inspired me to give of my best.” The popular saying has it thus “If an artist cannot rise to his greatest heights at Ganabharathi (R) he can never do so elsewhere.”

No wonder, the concerts arranged under the auspices of Ganabharathi (R) have very rarely failed.

UTSAVAS AND COMMEMORATION DAYS

The first Sangeetotsava was arranged on the occasion of Sri Ganapati festival in 1978. A little earlier, competition in music and essay writing had been conducted. Two classical vocal concerts and a flute concert, apart from distribution of trophies to the deserving participants, were all features of this festival. The then CITB Chairman, Sri D. Lingiah permitted us to host the festival on the CITB land. Officals of that body erected a big pandal. They paid a handsome contribution for the final day’s function in which the idol of Ganapati was taken in procession for immersion. Vidwan N. Nagaraju and party provided nagaswara seve. Sister organizations like Citizens’ Forum and Bharati Mahila Samaja were cohosts.

Sri Purandara-Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana was the next celebration. This was on Mahasivaratri day in 1979. Ganabharathi was then a year plus a few days old. The utsava was inaugurated by Sri D. Lingiah under the chairmanship of Vidwan T. M. Puttaswamiah. This was followed by the group singing of the Pillari Geetes of Sri Purandara Dasa and Sri Tyagaraja’s Pancharatna kritis by senior Vidwans and Vidushis. Vidwan T. M. Puttaswamiah played on the mridanga at the start due to the belated arrival of a younger artist. Thanks to the auspicious beginning made on that day Ganabharathi has been able to organize the Aradhanotsava every year since then. In the morning session, the Chairman of the CITB in the course’ of his speech, offered to consider seriously allotting a site to Ganabharathi, if possible free of cost. In the evening Sri K. B. Shivaiah, a Minister in the Karnataka Cabinet at that time, distributed the prizes to the participants in the competitions. Prof G. Varadaraja Rao gave an excellent discourse on Ugabhogagala vaisishtya. Prof Rao is no longer with us but his memory survives and endures. The grand old Vidwan of Mysore Sri Titte Krishna Iyengar then gave a half-hour concert.

The Minister’s observations during the course of his speech are still green in my memory. He said “When I accepted your invitation I had never dreamt that participation in this formal function would be so lovingly informal and elevating.” True, culture is that which refines reforms and elevates.

The CITB Mysore allotted a site to Ganabharathi in 1980. A Souvenir was brought out to raise funds needed to pay for the site. A function had to be held for its release. On the suggestion of Sri V. S. Narasimhachar a music festival to celebrate Sri Krishna Jayanti was organized for the first time in September 1980. Since then it has taken firm roots as an annual feature. It even became a source of inspiration to sister organizations in the City to celebrate similar utsavas. Vidwan A. Subba Rao, who was then Chairman of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy helped us to get a grant of Rs 1,000 for the utsava. It was utilized and the utsava was conducted on a modest scale. This turned out to be a precedent for similar grants in later years and the late Sri B. N. Suresh, as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Academy, helped Ganabharathi to celebrate Sri Krishna Jayanti in the succeeding years. We are grateful to Sri Subba Rao. We salute Sri Suresh’s memory.

It is said that Sri Krishna Jayanti was being celebrated by the late Veena wizard Mysore Veene Seshanna at his home every year. It was his personality its grandeur, love for people, total surrender to music and magnanimity to appreciate and encourage talent that had attracted a galaxy of stalwarts from all over South India to this annual sangeeta samaradhane. When Ganabharthi started this utsava in 1980 little did it realize that it was reviving a great tradition of yester years and that in the near future it would be starting the construction of a Bhavana to commemorate the memory of Veene Seshanna. Strange are the ways of tradition : how it rewards its sincere adherents is a mystery.

Sri Purandara.Sri Tyagaraja Aradhanotsava and Sri Krishna Jayanti Sangeetotsava were started in 1981 and are being conducted regularly. Music and essay competitions and honouring of Vidwans were a part of the former in 1981 and 1982. From 1983 onwards these two have become a part of the latter.

Since 1982 we have established a convention to felicitate local Vidwans, who get recognition from the Madras Music Academy and elsewhere, as well as youngsters who secure ranks in music and dance examinations of the Senior and Vidwat standard. Likewise our own members who get awards from Sahitya Akademi and similar bodies are also felicitated. These felicitations are arranged along with the honouring of vidwans. In 1985 we began the Taruna Bharati programme as a part of Sri Purandara Sri Tyagaraja Aradhanotsava. It is meant to provide a platform to young talents who aspire to make mark as artists with the blessings of the great Saint composers.

In the Sri Krishna Jayanti Sangeetotsava from 1982 to 1991, more than seventy programmes had been arranged. These included classical vocal (both Karnatak and Hindusthani),instrumental, Sugam Sangeeta, a Nadataranga (Tala- vadya ensemble) programme by the students of the Vanita Sadana and two musical features. Sri Krishna Vaibhava presented by Vidwan R. K. Srikantan and his team and the other Sri Ranga Vittala presented by Dr R. Satyanarayana and his team.

As part of the Taruna Bharati programmes over forty concerts had been arranged with the participation of quite a few young artists.

During the Sri Purandara-Sri Tyagarajotsava till date the following seminars,demonstration-concerts and lectures have been conducted :

1981 : In the morning session a seminar presided over by Dr S. Ramanathan at which Vidwan M. Chaluvarayaswamy. Dr V. S. Sampatkumaracharya and Dr T. N. Nagarathna presented papers on Manodharma Sangeeta, Navavidha Bhakti and ‘Some Aspects of Dasa Sahitya’ respectively.

In the evening Sri Srinivasa Udupa demonstrated how the compositions of Sri Purandara Dasa used to be rendered before they were set to classical tunes.

1987 : (i) A demonstration concert on Sri Tyagaraja Kshetra Pancharatna Kritis by Dr Gowri Kuppuswamy and her team.

(ii)A speech by Prof S.K. Ramachandra Rao on the ‘Evolution of Karnatak music from the days of Sri Purandara Dasa to the days of Sri Tyagaraja.’

1988: (I) Musical feature on Sri Purandararu by Dr R. N. Srilatha and Dr T. N. Nagarathna.

1989: Demonstration concert on Srirangam Pancharatna Kritis by Rudrapatnam Brothers Sri R. N. Thyagarajan and Dr R. N. Tharanathan.

1990: Musical feature on Saint Tyagaraja’s Prahlada Bhakti Vijaya by Dr Gowri Kuppuswamy and her team.

COOPERATION OFFERED BY GANABHARATHI

(i)Ganabharathi offered cooperation to the Dakshina Bharata Sangeeta Prachara Sabha Trivandrum, which hosted a music festival for seven days at Mysore in December 1981. About 42 artists from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh participated in the music and dance programmes. Vidwan Lokanatha Sharma’s lecture-demonstration on to Tamboora without burude was interesting.

(ii) For the first time since it came into being the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy hosted at the local Jaganmohan Palace a three-day music and dance festival in 1982. There were nine programmes in all including a musical feature and a dance programme. Ganabharathi assisted the Academy in the conduct of the festival right from the stage of making preliminary arrangements.

(iii) Ganabharathi offered cooperation to the Committee, which got up on 20-6-1982 at Mysore a function to felicitate Vidwan A. Subba Rao.

(iv) As one of the organizations constituting Sri Purandara Aradhanotsava Samiti Mysore, Ganabharathi has been taking an active part in arranging the Purandarotsava in the Jaganmohana Palace every year since 1983.

COMPETITIONS

Since 1978 competitions are being held every year in Karnatak vocal, singing of the compositions of Sri Purandara Dasa, instrumental music, Talavadya and essay writing (senior and junior events). We have been getting a large number of entries every year. Local Vidwans and Vidushis are helping us by judging the competitions. The task of organizing the competitions is being taken care of by Sri J.R. Lakshmana Rao, one of our committee members. Local authors and publishers are donating books to be given away as prizes. The organizers are grateful to them. It is a matter of pride, that some of the participants and winners of prizes in our competitions are today performing artistes of high calibre or radio artistes.

BOOKS PUBLISHED BY GANABHARATHI

The following books have so far been brought out under the auspices of Ganabharathi:

Kallusakkare containing select compositions of Sri Purandara Dasa together with the message of each compostion (1981).
Kanakasamputa containing select compositions of Kanakadasa together with the message of each composition (1982). .
Haridasa Vangmaya (1985) and Dasa Sahitya Sudhe (1991) brought out with financial assistance from the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam and edited by Dr T. N. Nagarathna. Sri D. V. K. Murthy has kindly taken over the distribution of these books.

ACQUISITION OF A SITE AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN AUDITORIUM

Attempts which were begun in 1979 to get a CITB site for Ganabharathi bore fruit in the suceeding year. A site measuring approximately 920 square metres (9900 sq ft) was allotted during the stewardship of Sri B. R. Prabhakar I A S. For various reasons it had to be exchanged for a different one when Sri D. Madegowda was the Chairman of CITB. Sri G. L. N. Ayya, our President and late Sri H.V. Subbaramiah played very important roles in ensuring the fruition of the exchange. The site now in Ganabharathi’s possession measures 2664 square metres (28676 sq ft). It is located at a point where three extensions of the City — Kuvempunagar, Jayanagar and Saraswatipura — touch each other.

In 1980 a souvenir was brought out and funds for the acquisition of a site raised. Kumari Mysore Prabha, daughter of Sri K. Srikantiah a well-known art patron, gave a Sugama Sangeeta benefit programme in 1981. Thanks to Dr C. G. Narasimhan, Sri B. N. Ramanuja Iyengar and Sri A. Narayanaswamy it proved a great success. A souvenir was also released on the occasion. Another benefit performance by Mysore Prabha and Rajkumar Bharati was arranged in 1987 and a souvenir was released to mark the occasion. These programmes fetched about Rs 90,000. We are thankful to Mrs and Mr K. Srikantiah, Mysore Prabha and Rajkumar Bharati, and to the donors and advertisers for their help. Yet another souvenir was released in 1984 on the occasion of a benefit performance covering dances by Kum Vani Doreswamy and Kum Nandini Kesava Iyengar. About Rs 25,000 was collected.

About two years ago it was decided to start the construction of the auditorium. The noted Industrialist Sri R. Guru, an art patron, laid the foundation stone on 2-4-1989 at an impressive and largely attended function. The actual construction of the Bhavana began in April 1990. Thanks to the efforts of our committee members, financial help is coming forth from all directions. Prof S. Ananthanarayana has come forward to have the stage put up at his cost. Sri Veerendra Hegde of Dharmasthala has given a handsome donation of Rs 1 lakh. It is gratifying to record that a sum of Rs 2 lakhs has been granted by the Department of Human Resources, Government of India. Donations, large and small, are coming in practically every other day. All those, who helped us in getting this sizeable sum sanctioned or collected will be remembered by Ganabharathi for ever.

Sri S. Rama Bhat of Arkay Engineers is in charge of the construction of the building. The building subcommittee comprising of experienced Civil Engineers is planning the execution of the work with an eye on maximum economy consistent with quality. It has been more or less a wholetime job for the convenor of the subcommittee, Sri M. S. Rajagopal. His labour of love is the sound monument coming up so magnificently, elegantly and economically too.

I wish to record the valuable service rendered by Sri G. N. Anantavardhana in taking possession of the site and fencing it.

The liberal help we have received from donors from all parts of India and the dedication with which our friends have given their time to the task of building Veene Seshanna Bhavana have been responsible for Ganabharathi realizing its dream so soon.

We have plans to undertake in due course the extension programme with a view to arranging music and dance classes for the benefit of talented children belonging to the less privileged sections of the society. A music oriented library and museum are also within the realm of our future expansion programmes.