Ranchi University. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Aug. 10: A unique feature of the tribal community — the akhara — is all set to make its mark on campus, thanks to Ranchi University.

Amphitheatres that resemble a village square — as a meeting place for the tribal community and as a site of cultural performance during indigenous festivals and special days such as Independence Day, Republic Day and the like — will now find pride of place at four of the varsity’s constituent colleges in the hinterland.

To be built at a modest cost of around Rs 10 lakh each, the varsity will set up akharas or open tribal amphitheatres at Simdega College, Gumla’s Kartik Oraon College, Lohardaga’s BS College and Khunti’s Birsa College.

“Yes, we have recently decided to give a typical Jharkhandi touch to the buildings of these rural colleges,” said Ranchi University pro-vice chancellor V.P. Sharan. “We will rope in architects for the design of the akharas and following this, the construction will kick off.”

An akhara will have two semi-circular elevated galleries with seating arrangements partially enclosing a circular tract of open space. The galleries will leave gaps for entry and exit.

Audiences can sit on the raised galleries, which will offer a uniform vantage view of the performances in the middle. Sharan added that they had earlier planned to construct auditoriums.

“But then we brainstormed some more, and decided against such typical urban structures. These colleges are well-known undergraduate hubs in the hinterland with a huge tribal student population. It’s much better to build indigenous structures that inculcate a sense of Jharkhand’s heritage and legacy in the youngsters. Besides, on a practical level, it definitely helps that all the four colleges have huge tracts of land,” said Sharan.

While Simdega College and Birsa College have about 40 acres each, Kartik Oraon College has about 65 acres and BS College has 45 acres.

All four are noted co-educational institutions offering arts, science and commerce subjects, with a student population of around 4,000 in each.

Tribal villages are known to have both kutcha and concrete akharas, which, in the past were the focal points of villages. But the culture of the community, including elders and youngsters, assembling in an akhara on a regular basis is now on the wane with modernity making inroads.

But Ranchi University is bullish about its project, which, varsity officials hope will usher in a new akhara culture on campus. “Our proposed akharas will come up by the end of this financial year only. Once the designs are ready, we will go full steam with their construction. We plan to name them after tribal freedom fighters specific to the regions,” Sharan added.