Sangita Vadyalaya to remain in Chennai

This is the only institution of its kind in Asia to preserve ancient musical instruments and exhibit many replicas.

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad closed the petition after recording the letter sent by Assistant Director (C & P), Ministry of Textiles, that the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Handicrafts), Handicrafts Service Centre (DCMI), at Chennai, would be retained at its place along with instruments.

The letter stated that as the shifting of ancient rare musical instruments museum, a prideful culture heritage for South India, was strongly objected to by social activists and others, the competent authority has given consent that it should be retained at its place along with instruments for the time being.

When the petitioner’s counsel seeking to direct the Development Commissioner for Musical Instruments (DCMI) to permanently retain the musical instruments at Sangita Vadyalaya in Anna Salai, the bench refused to entertain the plea.

“We are not inclined to issue any such directions. In the light of the letter, dated June 6, 2019, directing retention of rare musical instruments by the DCMI at Chennai, instant writ petition is disposed of,” the bench said.

The petitioner, P Subramanian, president, Southern Handicrafts Industry Association, had submitted that Sangita Vadyalaya was founded by the legendary B Sambamurthy and declared open by the former President Rajendra Prasad in 1963. It was initially housed at Raja Annamalai Mandram before being shifted to its current location on Anna Salai.