CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The main institutions and programmes in this field followed by the Department of Culture are :
(1) Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi and other institutions engaged in literary and cultural activities;
(2) Propagation of culture including financial assistance for performing arts and cultural organisations;
(3) Centenary celebrations;
(4) Gazetteer work; and
(5) Cultural agreements, cultural exchange programmes, in-coming and out-going cultural delegations.
A. THE AKADEMIS AND OTHER CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.-The following programmes were organised towards the fulfilment of the Akademi's aims and objectives :
(1) An all-India seminar on Saratchandra Chatterji, the eminent Bengali novelist whose birth centenary fell during the year, was held at the Regional Office of the Akademi at Calcutta on January 27-28, 1976.
(2) A symposium on the Sources, Authorship and Early Development of the Ramayana was held in Calcutta on February 13, 1976.
191
192
(3) A seminar on Baba Farid, the 13th Century Muslim Sufi-saint-poet was held under the auspices of the Akademi on February 22, 1976, at New Delhi.
(4) A seminar on 'Saint Literature in the Various Indian Languages and Their Underlying Unity' was held at Bombay on February 21, 1976.
(5) A writers' workshop was organised by the Akademi at Madras on March 22-27, 1976, in which writers from Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu languages participated.
(6) A regional seminar on 'The Social Context of Saratchandra Chatterji's Fiction and Its Relevance to Modern Western Indian Literature' was organised at Bombay on August 1, 1976.
(7) A writers' workshop was organised at Bhopal in which thirty poet-translators from seven north- Indian languages, Dogri, Hindi, Kashmiri, Maithili, Punjabi, Rajasthani and Urdu, partici- pated. The week-long workshop was held on Septem- ber 10-16, 1976.
(8) A writers' workshop was organised at Bombay on September 20-25, 1976 in which twenty-one writers from Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi, and, Sindhi took part.
(9) A seminar on 'Reform in Bengali Type Faces' was organised at Calcutta on November 24, 1976.
Besides these seminars and workshops, 62 meetings of the Literary Forum were held in the four offices of the Akademi in which eminent writers, poets, novelists, short-story writers from almost all major Indian languages participated.
The Akademi also organised 14 exhibitions of its publications in New Delhi, Gandhidham, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras,
193
Pune, Kankavali, Bhopal, and Santiniketan, which included participation in the World Book Fair at New Delhi and other Book Fairs held during the period in the country.
Dr. R. S. Kelkar, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, attended the 50th Annual Conference of the Union Academique Internationale at Brussels on June 13-19, 1976, where he moved a proposal for the preparation of an 'Inventory of Ramayana Literature'. The proposal was accepted in principle by the UAI.
The Akademi published 30 new titles in the various languages recognised by it. The Sahitya Akademi also undertook the preparation of an 'Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature' in two volumes during the Fifth Plan period. Considerable groundwork has already been done with the lists of topics, authors and books having been finalised in most of the languages recognised by the Akademi.
The 'Who's Who of Indian Writers', a valuable reference book published by the Akademi more than a decade back was being completely revised and the new edition is expected to go to press in 1977.
Under a new scheme launched under the current Five-Year Plan, a writer from each of the 22 languages recognised by the Akademi is given a travel grant of Rs. 1,000 to enable him to visit a region as different as possible from his own so that he may acquaint himself with another culture, language, and literature.
The Akademi announced its Annual Awards in 17 languages this year. The winners of the awards are :
1. Assamese : 'Sringkhal' (short stories)
by
Bhabendra Nath Saikia
2. Bengali : 'Na Hanyate' (novel)
by
Maitreyee Devi
194
3. Dogri : 'Badnami di Chhan (short stories)
by
Ram Nath Shastri
4. English : 'Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1947) (biography)
by
Sarvepalli Gopal
5. Gujarati 'Aswattha' (poetry)
by
N. K. Pandya 'Ushanas'
6. Hindi : 'Meri Teri Uski Baat' (Novel)
by
Yashpal
7. Kannada : 'Manamanthana' (psychiatry)
by
M. Sivaram
8. Kashmiri : 'Machama' (plays)
by
Pushkar Bhan
9. Maithili : 'Sitayana' (epic)
by
Vaidhyanath Mallik 'Vidhu'
10. Malayalam : 'Jeevithappaatha' (autobiography)
by
Cherukat (C. Govinda, Pisharoti)
11. Manipuri : 'Mamang Laikai Thambal Shatley'
(poems)
by
L. Samarendra Singh
12. Marathi : 'Samaran Gatha'(autobiographical novel)
by
G. N. Dandekar
13. Oriya : 'Thakura Ghara' (short story)
by
Kisori Charan Das
14. Punjabi : 'Ba Mulahaza Hoshiar (novel)
by
Narenderpal Singh
15. Rajasthani : 'Leeltans' (poems)
by
Kanhaiya Lai Sethia
16. Sindhi : 'Jee-a Jharoko' (poems)
by
Laxman Komal
17. Urdu : 'Khak-e-Dil'(poems)
by
Jan Nisar Akhtar
195
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.-Among the important exhibitions organised by the Akademi during the year, mention may be made of the following :
(1) A travelling exhibition of works selected from the Akademi's permanent collection was shown in 5 cities of Gujarat, Panaji (Goa) and a couple of centres in Maharashtra.
(2) An exhibition of copies of frescoes and murals in India was inaugurated in Moscow on 26th August, 1976, under the Cultural Exchange Programme with that country.
(3) The Twentieth National Exhibition of Art was inaugurated on October 16, 1976 at New Delhi by the late President of India, Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
(4) In collaboration with the National Museum, New Delhi, a special function was organised on August 28, 1976 on the occasion of the centenary of Ananda Kentish Coomarswamy under the presidentship of the Union Education Minister, Prof. Nurul Hasan. The exhibition of Coomarswamy's books and photographs along with a special exhibition of miniature paintings at the National Museum was held on the occasion.
The Akademi brought out the following two publications during the period under report :
(i) Lalit Kala Contemporary No. 21, devoted to multimedia manifestations, covering collage, constructions in wood, metal and other materials like enamel, etc.; and
(ii) Lalit Kala Contemporary No. 22, dealing with the linear mode.
45 paintings, 17 sculptures and 10 graphics and drawings, valued Rs. 1,37,972 were added to the Akademi's permanent collection.
196
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.-Significant activities of the Akademi during the period under report are as follows :
The Akademi presented programmes of dance and, music on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs in honour of several visiting dignitaries, notably, His Excellency Mr. Amir Abbas Hoveyda, Prime Minister of Iran, Mr. Manea Manescu, Prime Minister of the Government of Socialist Republic of Romania, Mr. Todor Hivkov, President of the State Council of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Pal Losonczi, President of the Presidential Council of the Hungarian's People's Republic,
The following programmes were expected to be organised before the end of the year :
(i) Folk Arts Festival in Madras
(ii) Festival of Contemporary Indian Ballet
(iii) Round Table on "Theatre Workshop--As a Method of Training in Theatre'
Under the scheme of awards to artists cash awards are given each year to the outstanding artists. The value of each award is Rs. 5,000. 14 artists were proposed to be given awards during 1976-77. The Awards Presentation Ceremony is likely to be held shortly. A 5-7- day Festival of Music, Dance and Theatre will be organised on this occasion featuring some of the award-winning artists.
Several additions were made to the Akademi Tape Archives. The following films were also shot: 'Lai Harouba' at Manipur; 'Bhishma Vijaya' and voice-training demonstration by Professor Ashok D. Ranade.
Four issues of the Akademi's quarterly journal, 'Sangeet Natak'- Nos. 37, 38, 39 and 40 were brought out. Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan's book, second edition of 'Classical Indian Dance in the Literature and the Arts' was under print.
197
182 gramophone records were added to the Disc Library of the Akademi. The Book Library also added 322 new volumes to its acquisitions.
The scope of the Plan scheme relating to Documentation, Research and Archives was extended to bring under its fold the dissemination of cultural knowledge amongst the general public by producing audio- visual materials like discs, slideskits, photographic albums, monographs, etc. The Documentation Unit of the Akademi covered the following forms of folk and traditional performing arts, which were documented in the shape of 16 mm movie film, recording on audio-tapes and still photographs: Prahlad Nataka and Bharat Leela of Orissa; Lairik Thiba Haiba of Manipur; Chandayani of Madhya Pradesh; Folk Music of Himachal Pradesh; Lai Harouba of Manipur; Bhisma-Vijaya; Yakshagana Ballet; Interview with Professor Ranade on Voice-culture.
Besides documenting the above forms, the unit remained engaged, in preparing two short films, namely, 'Chayanatak' and 'Tribal and Folk Dances of India' Part I using the archives material.
The major objective of the Plan scheme for Research Unit in the Science of Music is to conduct studies in the areas of musical scales and psychological responses to ragas. Further research is to be continued on tonal characteristics of musical instruments such as flute, sarangi, nagaswaram, mridangam and tabla. Research is also to continue in the physics, physiology and psychology of music. A symposium on Musical Scales was scheduled to take place in Bangalore. Research assignments were also worked out for carrying out research in the Laboratory of the Akademi on the Sruti Veena.
Fellowships were awarded for Dikshitar's compositions (Karnatak Music), Koodiyattam of Kerala and Bhagawata Mela of Tamilnadu.
Under the Plan scheme for Promotion and Preservation of Rare Forms of Traditional Performing Arts, assistance' was
198
Provided to the following forms: Chhau dance of Seraikella, Dhrupad singing of UP, Bhagawata Mela of Tamilnadu, Chandayani of Madhya Pradesh, Koodiyattam of Kerala and Pavakoothu of Kerala.
Two new ballets were produced during the period by the Ballet Unit of the Kathak Kendra. The Ballet Unit of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy also produced two new ballets during the year.
National School of Drama.-The National School of Drama and Asian Theatre Institute, a constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi was registered as a new society known as the National School of Drama.
The objectives of the School are to maintain and develop studies and training in the fields of acting, direction and production of drama,, conducting and promoting research and survey in classical, technical and modern drama, fostering culture and academic contacts whithin India as well as with other countries through exchange of personal and research material.
The School and its Repertory Company was engaged in a large number of productions. For the period ending November, 1976, the School and the Repertory Company gave more than 74 performances of their various productions. Over 35 performances were given by the School in which only students of the School were participating, Some of the important productions of the School and the Repertory Company were 'Nautanki', 'Laila Majnoon' (Hathrasi Swang Style), 'Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Surya Ki Pahli Kiran Tak', 'Look Back in Anger', 'Aadhe Adhure', 'Chaar Yaaron Ki Yaar', The Lover', 'Chakra', 'Bichchhu', 'Danton's Death' and 'Charpai'.
The School also invited a number of eminent persons for delivering lectures and for giving demonstration for the benefit of its students.
199
Indian institute of Advanced Studies, Simla.-The following publications of cultural importance were brought out by the Institute :
(i) Indian Civilisations : the First Phase--Problems of a Source Book
(ii) Understanding Indian Civilisation-A Frame- work of Enquiry
(iii) Planning Conference Report on Dissent, Protest and Reforms Movements in Indian Civilisation.
Apart from the above, monographs by Dr. C. R. Deshpande and Dr. B. N. Saraswati and Proceedings of Seminar of Dissent, Protest and Reform Movements-1975 were in the press.
Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi.-The Council has been following the programme of publishing books of cultural interest. The Council was engaged in preparing a 'Source Book on Indian Culture' covering the ancient, mediaeval and modern periods of Indian history in three volumes. Vols. I and III were compiled and made ready for press. Vol. II was under compilation.
It was decided that an additional project on the 'Source Book on Indian Culture' in one volume covering important aspects of the three periods of history should be prepared for the use of foreign scholars in order to highlight the cultural heritage of India. This work is likely to be completed by June, 1977.
School of Buddhist Philosophy, Leh.-The School of Buddhist Philosophy, Leh, an autonomous organisation fully financed by the Government of India, was established in 1959 with the objective of containing the flow of lamas to Lhasa for training in Tibetan Buddhism. Its objectives include imparting education in modern and classical Tibetan courses on the monastic pattern and preparing the local youth for adjusting themselves with the modern trends. The School, is managed by a board of management comprising scholars of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan
200
language, a representative of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a representative each of the Ladakh Gompa, Association, Ladakh Buddhist Association as members with a senior officer of the Department of Culture as chairman.
Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi.-This Institute was established in November, 1967, by the Government of India for protecting the cultural life and the linguistic traditions of the Tibetan refugees. The institute receives an annual grant of Rs. 6.5 lakh for its over-all activities. It prepares its students for the following courses related to Tibetan Buddhism :
(i) Purva Madhyama
(ii) Uttar Madhyama
(iii) Shashtri
(iv) Acharya
(v) Vishishtacharya
(vi) Vidyavaridhi
At present there are about 250 students on the rolls of the Institute and 20 teachers including the principal. It was decided to register the Institute as a society and to affiliate it with the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi.
Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok.-The Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, is engaged in research and development of Tibetology, i.e., Chhos. The Institute runs mainly on grants from the Government of Sikkim and the Government of India. Both contribute Rs. 1 lakh each annually for its maintenance. Besides the maintenance grant, the Department of Culture gave a grant of Rs. 1 lakh during 1976-77 for publication of the Tibetan manuscript, 'Rinchen Terzod'.
Daira-tul-Marrif-il Osmania.-The Daira-tul-Marrif-il Osmania, Hyderabad, is an institution engaged in the publication
201
of manuscripts in Arabic and Persian. The Department of Culture has been giving the institution a grant of Rs. 50,000 annually. This annual grant was increased to Rs. 90,000 on the recommendations of a Review Committee set up by-the Department.