Angul: The ‘Soubhagya Manjari Art Centre’ in Palalhada block of this district is facing extinction due to lack of attention and apathy by the local politicians as well as the administration. Close to 70 years ago the centre was set up on 11 decimal of land in 1952. The land was donated by Dhenkanal queen Saubhagya Manjari Pal and hence the centre was named after her.
As days passed by the Saubhagya Manjari Pal Art Centre came to be known as the home for musicians. Many reputed musicians got their initial baptism at this centre only.
Prabhakar Pradhan, one of the most reputed sitarist in Odisha received his training from Guru Sitakant Dev of Deogarh. Later on he became a guru at this centre and trained many others.
Under the leadership of Pradhan and teachers like Hrishikesh Sahu, Bhimsen Sahu, Lalit Mohan Behera, Neelmani Jena, Smriti Ranjan Das and Lingaraj Das, the centre blossomed and became one of the most famous music hubs of Odisha. With time, the centre produced many musicians of repute, people who have got national and international acclaim.
However, after the demise of Pradhan in 1966 the situation turned for the worse. Due to acute financial crisis, the institute virtually closed down. Efforts of music lovers and some local artists were not enough for its revival.
In 2014, the then MLA Mahesh Sahu tried to revive the music institute. He brought in new instruments. But that also failed.
Locals in the know of things stated that government help is required to revive the Saubhagya Manjari Pal Music Centre. “It is impossible to run such a large organisation without government assistance. Even today there is no shortage of resources. If the government intervenes, I am sure the centre will get back its lost glory,” said former table trainer Lingraj Das.
Musician Vivekananda Biswal stated that the centre needs proper infrastructure and teachers to be operational once more.