MARGAO
Former Member of the Goa State Cultural Development Committee and Entertainment Society of Goa, Vishal Pai Cacode, has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seeking urgent intervention to revive and reorganise Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
Once envisioned as South Goa’s premier cultural hub, Cacode said the institution now suffers from administrative decay, infrastructural neglect, and autocratic functioning and has called for the dissolution of the current committee and the formation of a high-level Task Force comprising reputed Goan artists, cultural administrators, and civil society representatives.
“This Task Force be mandated to conduct a detailed audit, recommend structural reforms, and design a roadmap to transform Ravindra Bhavan into an inclusive and vibrant cultural institution,” he said, stressing the need to initiate regular training programmes in theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and Goan folk forms with a focus on children and youth participation.
A major concern highlighted in the letter is the politicisation of the executive committee, dominated by appointees lacking any experience or sensitivity in the field of art and culture. “This has resulted in directionless leadership, arbitrary decisions, and an alarming disconnect from Goa’s creative community. Cacode accused the current Chairman, Rajendra Talak of misleading the public by shifting blame to the PWD, when official Assembly records show that the Directorate of Art and Culture directly funds and oversees the institution,” he said.
He added: “Despite the expenditure of multiple crores on repairs, key facilities like the Pai Tiatrist auditorium and Black Box remain closed due to ongoing structural issues. The most recent round of roof repairs, ironically undertaken just before the onset of monsoons in May 2025, led to mass cancellations of tiatrs and events, causing deep distress and losses to the tiatr fraternity.”
Criticising the lack of consultation with stakeholders before initiating such disruptive works, Cacode further raised concerns over centralised and opaque auditorium booking practices, with cultural groups alleging preferential treatment, arbitrary rejections, and last-minute cancellations under Talak’s autocratic control. “The absence of transparency and grievance redressal has created a climate of fear and hostility, alienating local artists,” Cacode stated.
He said the failure to honour local legends by commemorating anniversaries of Salcete’s eminent artists, along with the tone-deaf decision to feature non-Goan film maker on Goa Statehood Day, point to a deep cultural disconnect. He emphasised that the institution must return to its original mission to nurture, promote, and celebrate Goa’s artistic identity from the grassroots up.
