Rangayana: Government Brings Curtain Down on High Drama

Dharwad: Curtains came down on the high drama that was going on at Dharwad Rangayana for a last few months with the state government acting decisively. It has accepted the resignations of 12 repertory artists and has asked the director to start the process of selecting new artists.
The drama unfolded with the appointment of Ramesh Parvinaikar as the director of Dharwad Rangayana by the Yediyurappa government after terminating the tenure of Pramod Shiggaon, the incumbent director in September last year.Those who were aspiring for the post along with some other local artists strongly opposed Ramesh’s appointment saying that he had no experience or expertise in theater. Their contention was that Ramesh was a BJP functionary and hence was appointed. Ramesh had said he was a theatre lover and organizer and would work taking everybody into confidence.
However, the local theatre leaders were not ready to relent. Meanwhile, the government had appointed 12 repertory artistes and a technician to Dharwad Rangayana for a period of three years. Egged by the protesting theater activists, the newly appointed artistes also raised a banner of revolt against Ramesh and accusing him of being non-co-operative and lacking in administration skills, all of them had resigned enmasse in March this year. Along with them one technician too has resigned to his post.
Ramesh had denied these allegations and had claimed that he looked after them as his pals. He said he had issued notices to the artists who were undisciplined. “They were not following the minimum discipline. Some were remaining absent without intimation and permission. To discipline them, I had to issue notices,” Ramesh said.
After trying for a rapprochement unsuccessfully he had forwarded their resignation to the government. Last week, the government has accepted the resignations of all the 12 repertory artists and has issued direction for new recruitment.