Members of the Vishwakarma community in Mysuru staged a sit-in on the steps of Kalamandira on the morning of the Vishwakarma Amarashilpi Jakanachari Samsmarana Day after invited elected representatives failed to arrive for the official commemorative event.
The programme, jointly organised by the District Administration, the Kannada & Culture Department and the Mysuru City Corporation, was due to begin at the Mini Theatre on the Kalamandira premises at 10.30am. By noon none of the elected officials who had been officially invited had turned up, triggering anger among community leaders who had made arrangements for the ceremony.
Vishwakarma community protest Mysuru
Community representatives described the absence of elected officials as an instance of official apathy. After waiting and expressing their displeasure inside the venue, they walked out and staged a demonstration on the theatre steps, calling for accountability from the Deputy Commissioner, the local MP and other representatives.
MLC C.N. Manjegowda arrived subsequently and was immediately surrounded by leaders who questioned political and administrative indifference towards the commemoration. His attempts to placate the protesters were unsuccessful at first.
Minutes later, Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda arrived at Kalamandira. Following extended discussions with community representatives, he succeeded in persuading them to return to the hall. The programme commenced at about 1pm, once tensions had eased and leaders were satisfied that their concerns had been heard.
Despite the reopening of the event, community members made their frustration clear. Several leaders stated that this was not the first time elected representatives and officials had neglected the Amarashilpi Jakanachari commemorative occasion. They urged a sustained commitment from public officials to attend and support cultural events that honour local artisans and heritage figures.
The event was attended by MLC Dr D. Thimmaiah, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr P. Shivaraju, Kannada & Culture Joint Director V. N. Mallikarjunaswamy and Assistant Director Sudarshan, alongside MLC C.N. Manjegowda and MLA K. Harishgowda. Community leaders praised those officials who participated but reiterated demands for better respect and timely presence from elected representatives in future.
Organisers and community representatives emphasised the cultural importance of Amarashilpi Jakanachari, a sculptor celebrated in Karnataka’s heritage, and framed the protest as an effort to protect the dignity of such commemorations. They called on the District Administration and political leaders to ensure that invitations to culturally significant events are honoured in future, both as a mark of respect and as a demonstration of public accountability.
The demonstration was peaceful and concluded once assurances were given by attending officials that the concerns would be conveyed to higher authorities. The episode highlights local tensions over political representation and the expectations communities place on elected officials to participate in and support cultural remembrance.
Key Takeaways:
- Vishwakarma community staged a sit-in at Kalamandira after invited elected officials failed to attend the Jakanachari commemorative event.
- MLC C.N. Manjegowda and Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda later engaged with protesters, allowing the programme to begin around 1pm.
- Community leaders criticised repeated official negligence towards the Amarashilpi Jakanachari event and demanded greater respect for cultural commemorations.
