Kusumagraj memorial row takes a new turn

Kusumagraj memorial row takes a new turn
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NASHIK FEBRUARY 1: The row over the proposed memorial for Gyanpith Award winner Marathi litterateur, Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar alias Kusumagraj, took a new turn with the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) wresting control of the project. The general body of the NMC recently resolved to take the responsibility of finishing the project from the Kusumagraj Pratisthan though it agreed to include a member from the pratisthan in a committee to be set up for the purpose. The civic corporation has finalised a 9,000 square metre plot it owns along Gangapur Road for the memorial.

Following the death of Kusumagraj on March 10, 1999 the then chief minister, Narayan Rane, during his visit to Nashik on the same day, had announced that the State Government would construct a memorial at the cost of Rs 5 crore and would promptly release the first instalment of Rs 50 lakh.

However, even six months later the money was yet to come following which the chairperson of the Kusumagraj Pratisthan, retired justice ChandrashekharDharmadhikari, made a public appeal for contributions for creation of the memorial. Last October, the State Government issued directives to the NMC to dereserve a plot of land along Trimbak Road for the memorial. The NMC refused to comply on grounds that the plot had been reserved for a childrens' park, a swimming pool and a planetarium.

Meanwhile, the Vilasrao Deshmukh Government came to power and its cultural affairs minister, Ramkrishna More, sprung a surprise in December. More, on a visit to Nashik, stated that the previous government had not made any written commitment for Rs 5 crore for the memorial project and had intention of releasing only Rs 50 lakh as a one-time contribution. He said that the DF government would release the money, provided the site was finalised.

The NMC later proposed the Gangapur Road plot which was approved by the pratisthan assuming that it would be entrusted the work of executing the project. NMC, however, had different ideas declaring that a committee appointed by it (notthe pratisthan) would execute the project.

The corporation's move has come as a blow to the pratisthan which had, soon after the death of Kusumraj, had attempted to be the sole arbiter for his works. Earlier, it had issued an appeal asking people to seek its prior permission before using any of the poet's works. It had to back off following widespread criticism.