CHENNAI : A day after the Union ministry of culture appointed N Gopalaswami as the new chairman of Kalakshetra, the former chief election commissioner said he was ready for the huge challenge of heading the 78-year-old cultural institution, here.
Gopalaswami, who was part of the organisation’s governing body for the last eight months, will serve in the capacity of chairman for the next five years.
He succeeds Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who had submitted his resignation on May 21 last after the Modi government came to power.
Describing himself as a connoisseur of arts, who has been steeped in it since childhood, he said he was aware that being a connoisseur of arts was different from heading a cultural institution. However, he added that he had played a considerable role in promoting culture throughout his stint as an IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre and later with the Department of Culture.
“From 1967 to 1992, when I served in various places across Gujarat, I was organising various cultural programmes throughout my stint in the State. Music and dance have been an integral part of my life since my family had a deep interest in it. Later, being associated with the Union Home ministry I had to oversee the nomination of various names for Padma awards. The role entrusted me with the task of ensuring the right representation of artistes,” he said.
Talking about his plans for the institution, he said that he was aware of the problems there. “The institution requires to regain the high-profile status that it once had,” he added.
However, he dispelled speculation about his close association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I have been asked about it by a number of people due to my stint in Gujarat. But I have only met him at an impersonal level in Delhi when he visited the capital as the chief minister, as part of the Gujarat cadre,” he said.