Safety & Sabhas

Svaapana · Post by **Svaapana** » 30 Dec 2008, 15:16

This is not a new topic! To the best of my knowledge rasikas have expressed their opinion on earlier occasions. Still I feel it is worth repeating.
There are some sabhas that seem to care for the safety of the artistes and the audience. But there are others who seem to be less concerned. Sri Parthasarathy gana sabha is one of them. It is surprising to note that this sabha has been operating since 1900 but is yet own its own auditorium.
I attended a couple of concerts; one of them had a full house. My concern is that the sabha organises music concerts in a makeshift hall, with no EXIT signs, I did not see any fire extinguishers and there is a canteen just adjacent to the main hall. There are only two visible exits leading to a very narrow road. Mind you for major concerts they add few more rows of chairs blocking the only passageway available. I shudder to think of what would happen if there were some disturbance in the middle and people panic.

jananee · Post by **jananee** » 30 Dec 2008, 15:44

You are right Svaapana. If there is any emergency in Parthasarathy sabha I think more confusion will be caused by the stampede of people. Like u pointed out even the passage way was blocked with chairs making it impossible to walk out. It is scary to think what the consequences would be in case of any crisis.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 30 Dec 2008, 18:52

Thankfully, there are few smokers, and fewer smoulders among the carnatic audience!

But there is always electricity, which is able to take to fire any time it chooses, especially when wiring is as it is here.

I do not take this matter at all lightly really, but I think I said all that I had to say about it last time around.

A swift recap of my views:

While Chennai and its people do not care for safety in general, the sabbhas and the music audiences will not. Such things will be noticed by the NRIs, the foreigners and the visitors: it will not even occur to the rest.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 30 Dec 2008, 20:25

It is also strange that given the average age of kutcheri going audience, few sabhas make any effort to ensure their premises are elderly and disabled friendly. My grandparents accompany me for nearly all concerts and without someone to hold on to, they wouldn't be able to go to most of these places alone! I found KGS (the steps in the last few rows) to be rather perilous and Parthasarathy Sabha has that one steep step in front that is terrible and I saw so many old people nearly trip on it. Negotiating the narrow rows going to the end where non-reserved seats are located in the Music Academy is bad as well. There should be an empty corridor in the middle of the balcony somewhere for people to cross over easily to either end.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 30 Dec 2008, 20:27

Svaapana, BTW, I wouldn't mind having this discussion every single year if it means somebody will finally sit up and take notice!

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 30 Dec 2008, 20:41

Safety to auditory apparatus a separate thread?

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 30 Dec 2008, 21:09

safe-tea can only be seen in some canteens, i think

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 30 Dec 2008, 23:24

Erode Sir, brilliant!