Art Matters: The Deval Club

Kolhapur: At a time when public interest in classical music and dance is declining, the Deval Club in Kolhapur continues to defy this trend.

Established more than a century ago, the club is fiercely protecting the principles on which it was founded: Art and culture are universal and cannot be the prisoners of any political or religious belief.

The sanctity of the Devalaya was destroyed early this year when the statue of Alladiya Khan, a very prominent Indian classical singer, installed in front of the club was damaged following communal tension in the district. The statue was restored overnight but the city's music lovers are now planning to move it to a safer location.

Everyone from the legendary Bhimsen Joshi to tabla maestro Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, sarod ustad Amjad Ali Khan to Kumar Gandharva have sung and played their hearts out at the Deval Club... and the music lives on.