‘I want to establish connect of SCZCC with society’

 

 

No doubt, South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) is doing fantastic work as far as art connect is concerned. But its present Director, our own Nagpurian who himself is an artist Dr Deepak Khirwadkar is trying to establish this great institute’s connect to people, to society. Khirwadkar has completed 3 years and because of his tremendous contribution in taking SCZCC to a new height, the Union Ministry gave him two years extension.

 

He spoke about his plans with ‘The Hitavada’ for taking SCZCC further up. Khirwadkar said, “The Centre has initiated many new and innovative programmes such as felicitation of senior artists and playing Centre’s theme song in Sanskrit at the start of each programme, arranging flower decoration workshop, brass band competition, presentation of ‘Geet Ramayan’ in Ayodhya, musical programme on ‘Swatantryaweer Sawarkar’ at cellular Jail in Andaman, ‘chitrakruti painting work shop’ at Rajbhavan, Mumbal, ‘Gondhal Mahotsava’ at Mahurgad, celebration of Republic Day, International Yoga Day, Women’s Day, Best from Waste workshop for gainful utilisation of scrap material, Kite Festival, Octave - The North-East Festival with participation of folk artists from North-East region of India etc. in which thousands of grass root level/upcoming artists participated and were benefitted with financial assistance.” Now, pandemic is there so traveling is not allowed. But before that Khirwadkar used to visit maximum places as he wanted to ensure his personal presence and that made all difference.

 

During his presence, he interacted with his own officers, artists, people visiting the workshops and got to know several things which he tried to implement in SCZCC’s activities. With Union Ministry asking SCZCC to hold cultural programmes based on patriotic themes, Khirwadkar made it a point to follow it in a scrupulous manner. “We conducted such programme at the birth place of Netaji Subhashchandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary at Cuttack in Odisha wherein Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnayak as well as Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present. We also held similar activity at Tanjavur, Karnataka where the event was on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” informed Khirwadkar. On the instructions of Union Ministry of Culture, SCZCC had conducted the Maha Aarti Programme of Narmada river at Gwari Ghat, Jabalpur. It was attended by none other than President of India Ramnath Kovind.

 

“SCZCC has successfully participated in ‘Kumbha Mela’ at Prayagraj in 2013 with participation of over 150 artists from all member states of the Centre. The Centre has also worked as Nodal office for ‘Rashtriya Sanskruti Mahotsava-2019’ successfully organised with a very short notice at Jabalpur, Sagar and Rewa. SCZCC is now trying to increase revenue generation for itself with concepts like establishment of ‘Khau Galli’, ‘Mrugnayani’- MP Government handloom showroom on lease rent basis, etc,” added Khirwadkar. n