Jamshedpur, Feb. 4: The Milanee, the oldest socio-cultural club in the city celebrated it�s the 105th anniversary on Sunday. The Bistupur-based club completed its 105 year�s journey today.
The celebrations kicked off early in the morning with a flag hoisting ceremony by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha president Abhay Singh among the presence of club members. Shekhar Dey, president of The Milanee was also present and took part in the cake cutting ceremony in the morning.
“It is really a proud moment for the club. Very few organisations have completed their journey over a century and Milanee being one of the few such organisations shows its commitment towards the society and culture,” said Singh in his inaugural address today.
Dr ShantiramChakraborty established the Milanee Hall in 1914. The Milanee is an ample truth in this regard what was a receding dream and a modest endeavor to begin with, stands today. Half a century later as the pioneering institution of its kind in this Steel City, providing the forum for cultural and recreation amenities for one and all. What it is today is the result of years of concerted and untiring efforts of many with determination and broad imagination behind them.
In its pursuit of a great cultural heritage it was conceived that performing arts could survive only by devotion and dedication of true artists. Many great artists like PanditRavishankar Sitar All Rakha others have performed their mastery and music on the stage of the Milanee.
Mahatma Gandhi spun the charkha on its stage. The legendary PrithvirajKapoor performed with a teenaged ShashiKapoor here and NetajiSubhashChandra Bose addressed a large gathering here during his tenure as the president of Tata Workers� Union.
Formed by a handful of like-minded citizens in Sakchi, today Milanee is not only the oldest but also one of the most well managed socio-cultural organisation in the city.
�Milanee first started at a small quarter in Bistupur and later shifted to a place where today stands the Yashkamal complex in Bistupur. It was in 1960 that the present structure came up. Before that there was a three-storeyed opera house on the spot,� said an official.
The club has about 500 members. It was earlier known as Sakchi Dramatic Club, Milanee was formed after Oriya Dramatic Club and SaraswatSammilani merged with the former in 1920. That explains the name Milanee. The foundation stone of the present day building was laid in 1921 when India was still struggling for independence.
Today, the members after the inaugural functional also offered floral tribute to their former members who played an important role in the formation of the club and sustaining it. A health check up camp was also organised in association with Meditrina Hospital within the premises of the club. A prize distribution for children’s competition held in January was also organised today.
Latter in the evening singer Lipika Chatterjee and SaReGaMaPa fame Soumen Nandi performed for the art lovers.