Guru Shyama Charan Pati at the meet. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, May 19: The art and culture department has decided to construct a dhamkudiya building near the Morahbadi ground in the capital to serve as a training centre to develop art and culture in the state.

Teachers will be hired to impart training in Kathak, Chhau, Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. There are also plans to set up a museum to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state.An auditorium will also be built to conduct state and national-level meets on art and culture.

These announcements were made by art, culture and youth affairs minister Sudarshan Bhagat at the inauguration of a 10-day workshop on the Seraikela’s chhau dance in the capital. This workshop will be organised at the Ramkrishna Mission auditorium.

Guru Shyama Charan Pati, the internationally acclaimed teacher of chhau dance, will teach the dance form. Speaking on the occasion, Bhagat said: “The chhau dance has proved its mettle in the international arena as well. But this form of dance is not popular with the residents of the capital as well as the people of the other parts of the state. Chhau dance is fast losing its touch. It is our responsibility to preserve this form of art.”

“Jharkhand is a rich land in terms of minerals and art and culture. But the people are not serious about it. They are fast going towards the western trends. We have to bring them back to their roots,” he added.

Art and culture department secretary N.N.Pandey said: “We are planning to develop this art form from the school-level. We will direct the schools to hire teachers to teach the students. We have to save Chhau dance from extinction. The department will also make a list of the popular artists of the state to give them national and international exposure.”

“We will be holding several workshops and seminars on the different forms of art and culture in the state,” Pandey added.