HUBBALLI: Six years after silence engulfed the ancestral home of legendary Hindustani vocalist Padma Vibhushan Dr Gangubai Hangal following her demise, plans of her relatives to set-up a full-fledged museum for displaying antique musical instruments, rare photographs, and gramophone records, have remained only on paper.
Reason: The state government has not allotted space for the museum causing much anxiety among the late singer’s kin particularly after the recent theft of Padma awards of the late Dr K V Puttappa.
A small museum was set up at the residence of the late Dr Gangubai Hangal here in 2005. Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj had opened it in a limited space. Various awards received by her during her long and illustrious career have been preserved in the museum.
Over 120 classical and folk music instruments used by her for 6-7 decades, around one thousand mementos of gold, silver and sandalwood belonging to her were also stored in the house.
The family also compiled more than 300 photographs of legendary artistes who visited the city. The family members are now forking out thousands of rupees for its maintenance.
“We need an excusive museum dedicated to Hindustani music, but the government is not providing space in the music school ‘Gangubai Gurukul’ where more than 10,000 square feet space is falling vacant even five years of setting up of the music school. Therefore, the museum should be into pilgrim centre for music lovers if the concept of smart city has to materialize,” said late Dr Gangubai’s grandson, Manoj Hangal.
The music school ‘Gangubai Gurukul Trust,’ set up by the government is receiving funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore every year. But, family members claimed that they have not received any funds for maintenance of the museum run by them.
They also charged that the gurukul, where legendary musician was laid to rest, is being run by the people who have no knowledge about music.
They charged that bureaucratic apathy has affected functioning of the gurukul, which was established with the objective of promoting classical music.
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