Kathak exponent Munna Lal Shukla at the workshop. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, June 25: Kathak exponent Munna Lal Shukla has accused the state government of being insensitive towards classical artistes.

Speaking on the shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan’s poor economic condition, Shukla said: “If this can happen to an eminent artist like Bismillah Khan, who is a national heritage, one can imagine what will happen to other artistes.”

Shukla is in Ranchi to conduct a 10-day workshop on kathak, organised by a local music school, Dharitri Kala Kendra. The workshop began on Tuesday.

Shukla,who is the head of the department at Delhi’s Kathak Kendra, expressed sadness over Bismillah Khan’s plight. “A man of his stature is facing such hardhsip. He does not have enough money for his treatment. The government has honoured him with a Bharat Ratna, but what about his medical expenses?” he asked.

“We artistes only get assurance from the government. Merely giving the artistes awards will not do. The government should make sure that they get financial support,” Shukla said.

On the cultural mileu in Jharkhand, Shukla, who is also the nephew of Pandit Birju Maharaj, said: “There are many talented artists in the state. All that is needed is proper exposure. The government should make an effort to hone the skills of these artists.”

He said: “Contrary to the general perception, the new generation is not influenced by the Western culture. They are interested in classical music,” Shukla said.

On the recent trend of fusion music, he said: “For me fusion is confusion. Art should be confined to certain limits. Otherwise it becomes a khichdi. Is our culture so poor in terms of substance that that it needs to borrow from Western music? I do not subscribe to fusion music.”