Theatre personality Prasanna went on a fast on Sunday, ‘World Theatre Day’, in Mysuru, demanding autonomy for cultural institutions.
“Seeing the insensitive remarks made by Hiremagaluru Kannan at the recent valedictory function of the Bahuroopi theatre festival at Rangayana, Mysuru, I took an impulsive decision to go on a fast demanding autonomy for cultural institutions, the lack of which is at the root of the problem in institutions like Rangayana,” Mr. Prasanna said.
“We are demanding that all institutions of cultural production and expression be given complete autonomy. It is the Government’s responsibility to fund cultural production and expression; not only art, but handlooms and all other forms of culture. But the government, bureaucrats, and politicians have no business dictating terms to cultural institutions. We are saying out with cultural politics, as it has historically only done more harm,” he added..
Mr. Prasanna said the one-day fast was only the start of a long movement: “We are open to everyone from the Congress to the BJP to join us in this movement and give up control over these institutions and give them autonomy.”
