A song or two for the reconstruction of Tagore Centenary Hall in Kozhikode

Songs being sung outside the Kozhikode Corporation office on Tuesday as part of a demand for the reconstruction of Tagore Centenary Hall. Lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri, poet P.K. Gopi and other cultural activists are seen.

People who visited the Kozhikode Corporation office or those who strolled through the nearby beach on Tuesday morning were perhaps amused by the songs emerging from a ‘pandal’ outside the gate.

The activists of the Kala Samskarika Samyukta Vedi, a joint forum of over 40 cultural groups in the city, were staging a protest there seeking immediate steps to reconstruct the Tagore Centenary Hall, a prominent venue for cultural performances which was demolished a couple of years ago in view of structural issues. Opening the protest, lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri wondered if commercial interests were behind the delay in its reconstruction. Poet P.K. Gopi, who also spoke, expressed the concerns of cultural activists. The inaugural event was followed by singers rendering popular songs.

Wilson Samuel, president of the Vedi, told The Hindu that there were no proper venues for artistes, singers, and actors in Kozhikode city at present. “The Town Hall can accommodate only 200-odd people. Though the renovated Jubilee Hall is comparatively big in size, the daily rent is ₹40,000, and there is no parking space. The Tagore Hall had a capacity of 1,200 people, and the daily rent was just ₹3,000. The corporation needs to create small affordable and accessible auditoriums across the city,” he said.

Pointing out that the reconstruction was getting delayed possibly due to administrative or technical reasons, James Lazar, functionary of the Bankmen’s Club, said the Corporation should not have demolished the structure before making alternative arrangements.

In a memorandum submitted to the Mayor, the forum functionaries said that the Tagore Centenary Hall used to serve as a solution to the shortage of sufficient halls in Kozhikode city to host events. Numerous world-renowned artistes had performed there. The vedi functionaries urged the authorities to take immediate steps to reconstruct it.

Meanwhile, corporation sources claimed that the previous Left Democratic Front government had approved a detailed project report for the reconstruction works. Though the earlier plan was to get loans from the Kerala Urban and Rural Development Finance Corporation for the purpose, it was dropped due to repayment issues. The civic body is now trying to get Central grants, they added.