GHMC issues closure notice to Lamakaan

The cultural centre of Hyderabad likely to lose its space that is freely available for budding artistes

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has issued a notice to shut down one of the most vibrant cultural centres of Hyderabad.

Lamakaan that is originally a quaint house built innovatively retaining beautiful rocks and a small courtyard with greenery around, just like it used exist decades ago in the city of Nizams.

Farhan Ashhar founded the non-profit cultural space that over the past five years has been hosting thousands of events related to art, literature, theatre, music and dance. “We are not so rich. This place belonged to my uncle, who stayed single until his death. In his memory, we dedicated Lamakaan to the city’s art and culture,” shares Farhan.

The trustees Farhan, Humera and Elahe Hiptoola stayed true to the concept and have been giving not just the space but also sound and light facility free of cost to the organisers, who are mostly young and budding artistes. There is also a small canteen that serves tea, samosa and a few Hyderabadi specialties at a modest cost.

Over the years, many young theatre and art groups have benefitted from the facility and it has been the inspiration to a couple of other such venues in Hyderabad. Owing to the popularity of the space, several established artistes and literary personalities too visit the space.

It has also been regular venue for startup meets and organic bazaars. The centre has been quite progressive in its attitude and in the process has also courted controversy at times, especially when they had provided space for events like Transgender Carnival and staging of the play Agnes of God.

According to Farhan, neighbours have been complaining to the GHMC based on reasons like the culture of the peaceful residential area being changed, and girls being found to be smoking on the premises. Last week, the GHMC gave a notice for closure of Lamakaan stating that the space has been creating nuisance and disturbance in the neighbourhood, much to the chagrin of scores of art lovers who expressed their displeasure on social media.

Farhan is quite distressed. He says, “We are being troubled on regular basis on flimsy grounds. There are barricades obstructing the entry that have come up. And now this notice! We do not charge for the space. Even the canteen has acquired the necessary trade license. Most of the days, the events are done for a small group and the sound levels are quite less. Such spaces are needed in a city like ours.”

He is running from pillar to post trying to get support for Lamakaan and judging by the responses on social media, he is likely to have a huge support from the Hyderabad art fraternity.