Government Replaces Board Of Top Arts Body IGNCA, Set Up By Rajiv Gandhi

New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday appointed a new board of trustees to the Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts or IGNCA, the prestigious institution set up in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her son and then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Though the term of the 18 members of the board was coming to an end, the wait was on for the Centre's next move - who would it appoint to leave its mark on the centre considered "influential".

The sprawling centre, spread over 20 acres of land in the heart of the capital, had five trees planted by Mr Gandhi as a mark of Indian culture. It serves as a resource centre for the arts and undertakes research and publication programmes.
 Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, who signed off on the decision last night said, noted journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, a Padma Shri winner, will replace Chinmaya Gharekhan, as the head of the institute.

Among those who have replaced noted art expert like Kapila Vatsyayan are noted dancer Sonal Mansingh.

Justifying government's decision, Mr Sharma said, "It is a continuous process and this is not for first time it has been done. It was done earlier also. IGNCA will see new changes and this will serve the purpose for which it has been created."

Chinmaya Gharekhan, the outgoing chairman, said: "I fully expected this. Every government has done this."