Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
 
Mangalore, Mar 10: "The standard of circus and performance of artistes in the state can be improved only if a Circus Academy is set up in the state," said Indian Circus Federation (ICF) joint secretary and Jumbo Circus managing director Ajay Shankar here on Sunday March 9.  

Shankar speaking to media persons informed that the ICF would put pressure on the government of Karnataka to start an academy for circus in the state. He opined that the state had several circus troupes comprising of Kannadiga artistes, for whom the need of the hour is to garner updated knowledge of international circus.
 
Lauding the Kerala government's decision to set up a Circus Academy, he said that with the introduction of this academy in Kerala, the circus industry over there would be on par with the standards of Russian and other European circuses. 

However, deploring the lack of initiatives taken by the governments of various states in the country,  he opined that if such initiatives were taken a few years earlier, the scenario with regard to Indian circus would have matched  international standards.