The Gaya Renaissance centre and (above) its patrons Sanjay and Durba Sahay. Pictures by Suman

Gaya, Aug. 2: One of the few good things to happen on the cultural scene of the state is the establishment of Renaissance.

A brainchild of Sanjay Sahay, the cultural centre strives to groom talented artistes and provide a platform to the stalwarts of the Indian cultural scene. Performances are given before an appreciative audience who is familiar with the finer points of the performing arts.

For the centre’s president, Sanjay Sahay, Renaissance is a passion. He invested a fortune in the centre, without any expectation of monetary gain. Sahay’s dream will come true only if culture gets a new lease of life in Gaya.

Gaya had been a well-known cultural centre in the not too distant past with big names like thumri player Dhelan Bai, Ramuji and others. But the downfall of the Gayawal pandas and the erstwhile Nawabs brought the cultural scene to a near standstill.

According to panda leader, Sadanand Gurda, besides promoting local artists, Gaya has also extended patronage to artistes like Begum Akhtar, all-time great ghazal singer Ustad Allah Rakha Khan and Jaddan Bai (mother of Nargis and Sanjay Dutt's grandmother).

The dilapidated structure of Jaddan Bai’s haveli now waits for its fall in the Panchaiti Akhara locality of the town.

But Renaissance has broken the cultural deadlock.

Visitors to Renaissance, who include foreign diplomats and Australia-based jazz performer Arthur Gracias, are of the unanimous view that facilities at the centre are seen to be believed. They felt that the centre’s echo-free sound system and standard size stage, lighting arrangements and special effects are the best, at least, in eastern India.

Renaissance, besides encouraging young artists to brush up on their skills, has also produced nearly six plays, on its own. Janch Partal, Tafteesh, Kalchakra, Vinod and Gawah are few of them.

According to Sahay, about 100 local artists have already got training and exposure through the centre. And the process continues. Vijay Kumar, one of the better-known passouts of the National School of Drama, and an acting genius in his own right, is a regular at the Renaissance centre.