From downstairs to the fifth floor, where the so-called theatre stands in the building of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (VSS), all is not well. Except fourth floor, where the office of President is situated, the building is in a very bad shape. If one visits the theatre, the scene there compels one to say ‘Pathetic’. The profiles of Poet Grace, Suresh Bhat, G T Madkholkar, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Ram Shewalkar, N G Deshpande have gathered dust and one feels as if these stalwart litterateurs are finding themselves helpless. Million dollar questions are--will the new body bring back the glory of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh? Will the premises again witness the chirping of writers, poets, theatre artists, the way those used to when Dhanwate Rang Mandir existed? The cultural interest of generations ended with the fall of Dhanwate Rang Mandir at Jhansi Rani Square, Sitabuldi.

 

The fifth floor where the theatre stands is full of dust with spider webs everywhere. The rooms used for make-up and others, the passages lying as if those have not been cleaned for months together. 33 years have passed since the inauguration of this ‘Sanskrutik Sankul’, but it has failed to attract cultural activities. The idea is bizarre of having theatre of the capacity of 900 people at fifth floor with only two lifts functional. By the time last connoisseur reaches upstairs, he or she would get to see the end of the show.

 

The stage, the chairs, the ladder wear a horrible look. The building too has been kept half constructed with rusted iron bars coming out of the pillars, broken floors becoming visible. The earning sources have almost come to standstill as Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh earns about Rs 25,000 per month which is not fixed. Dr Girish Gandhi is new as far as running the Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh is concerned. He is known as a good planner, organiser, co-ordinator, executor. He has a large public connect and very well knows how to materialise the contacts. Obviously, people have a lot of expectations from Dr Girish Gandhi and his team and are optimistic that he would only be able to clean all the mess and bring the glory back to VSS.