Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, May 5: The grandeur of Indian tradition and culture is set to come alive with Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal here expected to open soon.
Managed by founder Vijaynath Shenoy, a retired bank employee, the Heritage Village aims at restoration and conservation of traditional buildings and objects of art, craft and other artefacts of aesthetic interest that are several decades old.
The Heritage Village is also considered as one of the largest and unique museum for folk arts. The village building is located in six acres of government land, about one kilometer away from Tiger Circle in Manipal.
Vijaynath Shenoy’s passion made him convert his own home in Manipal into the Hasta Shilpa Museum. He has been working since 1997-1998 on this ambitious project. The old houses at the museum, some even 100-year-old, tell beautiful stories. There are 28 such traditional houses in the Vijayanath’s project, out of which eight have been completed.
The eight historical houses that have been renovated are Kunjur Chowkimane, Sringeri house, Vidyamandira of Ramchandrapuram Math, Kamal Mahal of Kukanoor, Deccani Nawab Mahal, Vaderahobli house, Byndoor-Nelyadi house, Mangaluru Christian house, Mudhol Palace Durbar hall and Nandikeshwar shrine. Kunjur Chowkimane is 192 years old. Shenoy has spent Rs 10 lac for its renovation. While searching for such traditional houses, he found that nearly three houses had been accidently destroyed.
Gallery of traditional and folk painting, Narendra Babu Gallery and traditional textiles gallery are also on the anvil.
A sum of Rs one crore was given as grant during the tenure of former DC Reju. Shenoy has spent Rs 15 crore on restoration work and Rs five crore is required for the completion of work.
The 81-year-old Shenoy feels a little let down as he is not able to complete the project. But he wants to preserve the tradition and contribute this heritage for the next generation. He has sacrificed his whole life to set up this village, and has even spent his prize money on this project. He walks all over Karnataka in barefoot to collect materials for his mission.
At present, six members are working with him but they require six more to look after the sculptures. Raja Ravivarma’s painting gallery will be open to public viewing soon. There are 129 paintings in the collection.
The remaining 20 houses will be completed within six months. All traditional houses are based on social and domestic setting.
The Heritage Village will open for public viewing on a trial basis from the second week of May till May 30. A maximum of 15 persons would be allowed at a time. Children aged below 12 are not allowed.
Visitors availing the Heritage Village tour would be shown the interiors of eight structures including one open air museum, exteriors of fourteen structures and several streetscapes along the way.
Heritage Village Trustee Harish Pai has helped Shenoy in his preservation work.