Let’s not treat cultural venues as expendable

The site of the demolished Pranganga amphitheatre at the Bhavan’s Cultural Centre

Celebrated artistes, in the music and dance fields, architects and activists are protesting against the demolition of an amphitheatre in Andheri West.

This paper had a report about several performers, many of them Padma awardees, expressing shock and dismay against the sudden flattening of the cultural venue. They have now written complaint letters to relevant agencies and recently visited the governor to express their anguish and press for their demand that the venue be rebuilt. On the other hand, the management has claimed that the amphitheatre needed to be razed for certain reasons and artistes may soon have access to another space.

We must see that cultural spaces are kept going, though these have been tough times for all. Covid lockdowns have hit these venues very hard because of the nature of these performances. They need an audience of course, sizeable numbers in proximity to each other. The performers are in a group at times, or with other musicians. The entertainment industry, which is an umbrella term for all artistes, has suffered hugely in the pandemic.

This may not be applicable to the Andheri space but every effort must be made to save these venues. Like we stress on open and green spaces in the city, the vast physical and mental benefits to a citizenry that has access to them, so it is with cultural places. The former is about the body, the latter for the mind. They, too, are spaces for mental nourishment, for finer sensibilities. As a city, we must let the arts and culture flourish. Without a platform, we will see an exodus of artistes and dying out of audiences.

Let us put equal stress like we do on parks and gardens, to keep cultural spaces open and oppose demolition if not valid and stay alert against any encroachment. Culture, too, is vital for the lifeblood of the metropolis.