Hubballi: The late Hindustani vocalist, Gangubai Hangal's family has decided to launch an agitation on March 5 against the way the Gangubai Gurukul is being run.
Taking serious exception to the nomination of politicians and bureaucrats to the Gangubai Hangal Gurukul Trust, the family claims irregularities are on the rise in the premiere music institute and it dropped four students because of their caste.
The Gangubai Gurukul was established in 2011 in memory of the legendary singer at a cost of Rs 7 crore to teach Hindustani classical music in the guru-shishya tradition.
The students enrolled at the institute are provided food and accommodation by the government and are taught by five nationally acclaimed teachers. But the trust’s failure to hold any music programme has angered the singer’s family.
“Undivided Dharwad district has produced seven Hindustani vocalists of national repute including Kumar Gandharva and Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi. But the Gangubai Gurukul has been functioning like an anganwadi.
Also, Karnataka students are discriminated against in the selection process We will launch a protest against the administrator for dropping four students from the Gurukul. They have threatened to commit suicide as a result," said Gangubai Hangal's grandson, Manoj.
Denying the charges, Gangubai Hangal Gurukul Trust administrator, Bhadrinath Laxmeshwar claimed there was no discrimination against Karnataka students during the selection.
“In fact 11 of our 26 students are from Karnataka. The four students were dropped as they have failed the eligibility test. But they have another opportunity to join the institute by attending the audition test in April,” he added.
