Govt Mulling To Convert Tagore Hall Into Cinema Hall

Artists, cultural organizations, poets, writers in a huddle; hold emergency meet, will submit memo before CS, Div Com Kashmir tomorrow                        Cinema Hall

Owais Gul

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration is mulling to convert prominent Tagore Hall in Srinagar into a Cinema Hall. This comes months after the previous Governor of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State; Satya Pal Malik had rekindled hope of the revival of cinema among the people when he last year announced that a cinema hall would soon come up in Srinagar.

According to the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), it has been learnt that the government is working to turn centre of cultural activities, Tagore Hall into a Cinema Hall.

Although there was no official confirmation in this regard, but the sources said that that the process in this regard has already been started.

Started in 1958 to mark Rabindra Nath Tagore (1861-1941) Centenary Celebrations, Tagore Hall Srinagar was inaugurated by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed in 1961.  Morarji Desai was the chief guest at the time of inauguration. It remains the main centre of Cultural activities in Kashmir even though bigger events are held now in SKICC on Dal Banks.

Many plays, Musical programmes, Theatre Festivals, Mushairaas and Public functions are being held in Tagore Hall. Tagore Hall has a seating capacity of 675 persons.

Meanwhile, Artists, Cultural organizations, poets and writers of Kashmir are up in arms against the possible step by the government, forcing them to hold an emergency meeting today after they came to know about the possible development. The meeting was chaired by a noted historian and poet Professor Farooq Fayaz.

The meeting decided to submit a memorandum before the chief Secretary B V R Subramaniyum, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan and other concerned officials.

Amin Bhat, a playwright and noted anchor told KNO that an emergency meeting was called today after it was partially confirmed that the government is mulling to turn Tagore Hall into Cinema Hall.

He added that Tagore Hall has been a cultural centre for the last 50 years and it was being used for promotion of theatre and other cultural activities. “There are many options left before the government, but the question there is why the only space available for Artists and other people in Kashmir is being snatched and turned into a Cinema Hall,” he said.

Bhat further stated that they in a meeting which was attended by representatives of different cultural organizations have also prepared a memorandum and will submit it before Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and other concerned officials.