Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Leftist writer and lyricist Kaifi Azmi is missing from Kala Panchang - the annual calendar of activities of culture department for year 2021-22. Azmi's name was added to the list of personalities commemorated by the department when Kamal Nath was the chief minister.
The Kala Panchang, which was released to media recently, lists all the events, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, camps and festivals to be organised by the department, its various academies, Swaraj Sansthan and Bharat Bhawan from April 2021 to March 2022. They number around 2,000. About 30 events have been added to new 'Panchang', which was released by the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday.
As per calendar, the department will be organising memorial functions and events on the birth or death anniversaries of Maithili Sharan Gupt, Shivmangal Singh 'Suman', Shrikrishna 'Saral', Bhartendu Harishchandra, Pandit Nand Kishore Shukla, Virendra Mishra, Ramvilas Sharma, Omprakash, Balkrishna Sharma Naveen, Ram Tamkrakar, Naresh Mehta, Maharshi Aurobindo and Rajshekhar.
Many of new activities listed in Panchang will be held in Indore as state culture minister Usha Thakur represents Mhow constituency in Indore district. No wonder, the department decided to organise Ahilyabai Festival in Mhow.
Other new events added include Bal Film Samaroh, Ram Vilas Sharma Smriti Samaroh and programmes centred on Bhartendu Harishchandra, Acharya Ramchandra Shukla, Baiju Bawra, Nupur, Anushriti, Bhander Utsav and Vasant Utsav at Sidhi. Janapav Utsav at Mhow, centred on Parshuram is also listed in the Panchang.
None of the activities planned for April, May and June could be organised due to Covid-related ban on cultural activities. In July, too, the government is unlikely to allow reopening of auditoria and cultural events.
Tourism
For the first time, tourism-related activities have also been added to Kala Panchang. They include Heritage Run in Dhar-Mandu, Monsoon Marathon in Pachmarhi and cycle safari in Satpura mountain ranges. The department will organise events related to 75th anniversary of India's Independence.
