“IGNCA is playing a crucial role in making India through India” Prof. Ramesh Chandra Bhardawaj
New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Kalanidhi Division celebrated its 34th foundation day on Friday on the auspicious occasion of ‘Basant Panchmi’ at Samvet auditorioum, IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi . On this occasion Kalanidhi Division of IGNCA in collaboration with Embassy of Russian Federation in India, Russian House, New Delhi held an International Conference and Film Festival on “ Genius Loci: Literary Museums in Russia and India” . The film festival will take place on 28th January at Russian House, New Delhi at 4:30 Pm. The chief guest at the event was his excellency Mr. Denis Alipov, Ambassador Extraoridanary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in India. The keynote speaker at the event was his excellency Mr. Vladmir Tolstoy, Advisor on Culture to the President of Russian Federation. The guest of honour at the event was Ms. Mugdha Sinha, Ministry of Culture, GOI, MR. A.M. Sholokov, Deputy Chairperson of Committee on Culture, State Duma (Parliament) of the Russian Federation and Mr. Oleg V. Osipov, Director Russian House, New Delhi. The guest of the morning session was Prof. Ramesh Chandra Bhardawaj, Vice- Chancellor, Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal, Haryana. Both the morning and afternoon sessions were chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA. The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, HoD, Kalanidhi Division, IGNCA. In the evening a cultural event “Kshatraa Baalaa” was presented by Prabal Gupta. This is an ode to ‘The Great Martyrs of the Nation’ and this form is an amalgamation of ‘Kathakali’ and modern theatre. This Project is commissioned by SZCC (MoC) as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Earlier in the day subject wise ‘Descriptive E- catalogues of Microfilmed Manuscripts in Kala Nidhi’, IGNCA, ‘Catalogues on Brunners’ Oeuvre from the collection of Kala Nidhi, Cultural Archives IGNCA’ and ‘Kalakalpa journal “Basant Panchmi” issue were released. An exhibition on ‘Aesthetic expression of calligraphy style of “Constitution of India” also opened. On this occasion, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Bhardwaj while appreciating the works of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts said, “If India has to be made through India after thousands of years of slavery then this is the only institution which has been playing and will play an important role.” He also said that the education system which was running in this country for the last two hundred years, continued for 70 years even after independence. That system worked to kill the soul of India. We neglected the question of Indian ‘cultural nationalism’. Prof. Bhardwaj said very strongly that we were engaged in the work of breaking the Indian society into pieces. Indian Socio-political situations and Indian values were distorted by being influenced by the western vision. The biggest question before us is that of national emotional unity. This question can be solved and answered only through the culture of India.
Prof. Sachichidanand Joshi while addressing the gathering said that we have been conditioned in such a way by western education that we live in compartmentalization. He further added that interdisciplinarity is not given its due and in this context added that the divisions of IGNCA are interdependent and work in tandem with each other. Speaking about Kalanidhi division, he said “Kalanidhi is reference point of Indian art and culture”. Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur while giving his welcome address said that “Library is the heart of an academic institution”. He during his speech listed the major works which is happening in the field of art and culture. He informed people in the audience about the work done in the field of literary museum in India and Asia which is apparently a new field and it does archive the rare collection. He also mentioned how kalanidhi division and his own efforts took the shape of “Manuscript Mission”. He further added that efforts are on in documenting the heritage of the country. He listed the challenges too and one of the major challenges is the lack of online digital library. He emphasized on the need of ‘National Register’ in context to culture and heritage. He expressed his gratitude that how IGNCA book discussion and launch events have developed its own place and given a new dimension to the existing scheme of things. In the end Dr. D. R. Gupta extended a formal vote of thanks to the guests and the audience present in the auditorium and to all those who made the event possible.