Workshops nurture artistic taste: Prakash Raj
Inauguration of ‘Beyond the Score - Rhythm’ workshop at St. Aloysius University
Mangaluru: Renowned film and theatre artist Prakash Raj opined that workshops conducted in colleges play a significant role in nurturing an interest in the arts.
He was speaking after inaugurating the four-day workshop, ‘Beyond the Score - Rhythm,’ by playing the drums at the St. Aloysius Deemed University campus on Thursday.
"During my college days, our Kannada lecturers encouraged us to critique poetry along with learning the syllabus. This helped me cultivate an interest in literature. It is heartening to see such workshops happening at Aloysius College, celebrated like a festival. It is essential to develop an interest, faith, and understanding of the arts at a young age," he remarked.
Last year, the university organised a cultural festival under the banner of ‘Nirdiganta.’ A similar event is scheduled for February this year. Prakash Raj extended his best wishes for the success of the workshop and encouraged everyone to celebrate art.
Speaking as the chief guest, St. Aloysius Deemed University Vice-Chancellor Rev. Dr. Praveen Martis said, “Life becomes more fulfilling when we listen to the rhythm of our hearts.”
Introducing the event, Anush Shetty mentioned that the four-day workshop would focus on teaching participants to play various musical instruments, guided by resource persons.
Prominent personalities such as Christopher D’Souza, resource persons Shrikant Swamy, Munna Mysuru, and Krishna Chaitanya, were present during the event. The programme was hosted by Sweedal D’Souza.
The ‘Rhythm’ workshop is jointly organised by the St. Aloysius Deemed University’s Theatre Studies Centre and ‘Nirdiganta,’ led by actor Prakash Raj, and will run from today until January 5.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
ALSO READ: Budget session: Law Min. HK Patil introduces Microfinance bill in Karnataka assembly
“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
