Ego clash tarnishes image of Bhopal's Bharat Bhavan

Bhopal, Apr 27 (UNI) The prestige of the multi-art centre Bharat Bhavan, established in 1982 in this City of Lakes, has taken a body blow due to an ego clash between the Trust's Chairman Dayaprakash Sinha and Secretary Rameshwar Mishra 'Pankaj'.

Mr Mishra recently issued orders for fresh appointments in Rupankar (Painting), Vagarth (Literature) units, Rangmandal (Drama) Director and Repertory Company leader. Raising an objection, Mr Sinha dashed off a letter saying that the motive behind the appointments seemed to be Mr Mishra's ''vested interests'' as the latter did not take either the Board of Trustees or Mr Sinha into confidence.

''The matter will be deliberated at a soon-to-be-held Board meeting,'' said Mr Mishra.

Meanwhile, the Sanskritik Morcha -- comprising litterateurs and intellectuals -- denounced the matter as the Secretary's ''wantonness'' and urged Governor Balram Jakhar to maintain the democratic form of this Culture Department undertaking.

Minister of State for Culture Lakshmikant Sharma said that he would speak to both office-bearers.

During the tenure of the predecessor Congress regime, the then Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said, ''the Bhavan should not expect assistance from the government but arrange its own finances.'' For a considerable period, the Bhavan's units did not have full-time directors. Recently appointed Repertory Company head Sanjay Mehta has resigned.

Former trustee and retired IAS officer Ashok Vajpeyi recently said, ''the Congress and BJP both ruined this art institutuion. The difference was only in degree.'' More UNI