CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The various institutions set up by Government to promote and develop cultural activities within the country proceeded apace with their programmes during the year. In its effort to promote cultural relations with other countries, the Ministry is also responsible for entering into Government-level cultural agreements and sponsoring bilateral or unilateral programmes in the field of culture. This chapter sets forth a brief account of all these programmes.
THE NATIONAL AKADEMIES
Sahitya Akademi An outline of the activities of the Sahitya Akademi, an autono- mous organisation set up by the Government of India, in March, 1954, during the year is given below:
As part of the nation-wide celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of Independence, the Sahitya Akademi has sponsored a volume on Indian Literature Since Independence in which the literary trends in each of the Indian languages recognised by the Sahitya Akademi will be sur- veyed by a competent authority. The volume is expected to be pub- lished by March, 1973.
The Sahitya Akademi organised a gathering of poets from the eastern Indian languages on May 21, 1972 at the National Library, Calcutta to coincide with the bi-centenary celebrations of Raja Rammo- hun Roy's Birthday. Sri Armada Sankar Ray, the veteran Bengali author and Sahitya Akademi award
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winner presided over the symposium in which a number of distinguished poets from Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Maithili. Manipuri, Oriya and Urdu took part.
The Eastern Regional Office of the Sahitya Akademi at Calcutta organised a special function on September 30, 1972 when Prof. Suniti Kumar Chatterji, the President of the Sahitya Akademi, formally pre- sented Prof. M.U. Malkani, the veteran author in Sindhi with the fellowship of the Akademi in the presence of a distinguished gathering of authors and literateurs. Dr. H. I. Sadarangani read the citation in Sindhi.
The Sahitya Akademi organised a series of five seminars in the various parts of the country to pay homage to the memory of Sri Aurobindo whose birth-centenary was celebrated all over the world during the year. To meet a long-left need and to accelerate the Akademi's programme in Marathi, Gujarati, and Sindhi, a regional office of the Sahitya Akademi was established at Bombay this year.
The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi has selected the following books for the Akademi Awards 1972:
S. Language Title Author Nature of
No. work
1 2 3 4 5
1. Assamese Aghari Atmar Kahini Syed Abdul Malik Novel
2. Bengali Shesh Namaskar Santosh Kumar Novel
Ghosh
3. Dogri Phull Bina Dali (late) Vats Vikal Novel
4. Hindi Buni Huyi Rassi Bhawani Prasad Poetry
Mishra
5. Kannada Shoonyasampadaneya S.S. Bhoosnurmath Com-
Paramarshe mentary
6. Kashmiri Suyya Ali Mohammad Drama
Lone
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1 2 3 4 5
7. Malayalam Oru Desathinte S.K. Pottekkat Novel
Katha
8. Marathi Jevha Manus Jaga Godavari Parulekar Autobio-
Hoto graphy
9. Oriya Manohdasanka Katha Manoj Das Short
O Kahini stories
10 .Punjabi Mittar Piyara Sant Singh Sekhon Drama
11. Sindhi Aprajita Guno Samtani Short
Stories
12. Tamil Sila Nerangalil T. Jayakanthan Novel
Sila Manitarkal
13. Telugu Sri Sri Sahityamu Sri. Sri. Poetry
Publication During the calendar year 1972 the Sahitya Akademi published 50 new books and 3 reprints.
Lalit Kala Akademi Among the important exhibitions held in the country and abroad in which the Akademi took part, mention may be made of the following:
(i) The National Exhibition of Art inaugurated by Shri G. S. Pathak, Vice President, on the 24th January, 1972 at New Delhi, comprising 83 paintings, 19 sculp- tures and 32 graphics by 134 artists.
(ii) An exhibition entitled "Recent Art in India" containing 38 works by 10 artists was sent to Belgrade. Budapest, Bratislova, Prague and Bucharest under the Cultural Exchange Programme.
(iii) A collection entitled 'Exposition of Indian Con- temporary Art' was shown in South American countries.
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(iv) A collection of 54 original works by 49 artists representing '25 Years of French Painting' was organised in India at Delhi, Madras, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bombay by the Akademi with the cooperation of the Embassy of France.
(v) To popularise the interest in art, an exhibition entitled 'Exposition of Lalit Kala Akademi Collection III was sent to Chandigarh, Amritsar and Udaipur.
(vi) Another exhibition called 'Exposition of Lalit Kala Akademi Collection-III' was organised by the Akade- mi in Kanpur, Varanasi and Jabalpur.
(vii) An exhibition in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Indian Independence, entitled '25 Years of Indian Art' was inaugurated by Shri D.P. Dhar, Minister for Planning, on the 2nd December at the Lalit Kala Galler- ies New Delhi and it lasted till the 25th December. It was a historical survey of the post-Independence era including 192 works by 127 artists, assmebled by Shri K.K. Hebbar. Conducted tours were arranged by the Akademi for the visitors.
Shankar International Children's Competition This year about 75,000 children took part in the competition which continues to receive financial assistance from the Government.
Review Committee The Review Committee which was set up to review the working of three National Akademies and Indian Council for Cultural Relations submitted its report to the Government on July 3, 1972.
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Building Grants to Cultural Organisations The Scheme covers all organisations primarily working ill the cultural fields of dance, drama, music, fine arts, indology, litera- ture, other than religious institutions, public libraries, museums, municipalities schools and universities. Four institutions have been given first instalment of the grant and twelve institutions have been given second and third instalments of grant during 1972-73.
Propagation of Culture Among College and School Students Under this scheme one refresher course was arranged by Delhi University on behalf of the Department during this year for the teach- ers from various colleges. Besides, the Delhi University has been assigned the task of production of material like tapes, slides, sculp- ture, painting etc.
Financial Assistance to Dance, Drama, Theatre Ensembles The scheme is to provide a maximum help to performing troupes in the country which have been working in the field through pure voluntary efforts over 10-15 years. Financial assistance to ten well- known Dance, Drama and Theatre Groups in the country has been given for sustenance and development activities during this year.
Sangeet Natak Akademi The significant activities during the year of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body set up in January, 1953, are briefly indicated below :
(a) Programmes and Projects--Important programmes during the period are :
(i) A programme of two concerts of Indian classical music and dance organised in August, 1972 at Delhi to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of India's Independence.
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(ii) Lecture demonstration by Prof. A. Lobo on "The Discovery of Four Fundamental Dramas."
(iii) The fourth meeting of the Secretaries of the State Sangeet Natak Akademies convened by the Central Akademi at Panaji in May, 1972. A tentative programme of recording folk and tribal music of different regions has been chalked out.
(iv) Some famous plays as presented on the stage have been recorded full length.
(v) 496 new books and 108 discs added to the library.
(b) Exhibitions and Festivals
(i) A seven-day theatre festival dedicated to late Shri Mohan Rakesh was organised between December 25-31, 1972 in Delhi. The festival highlighted the recent contributions to Indian Theatre in different language groups, specially by young theatre groups.
(ii) Photographic exhibition relating to the traditional and folk theatre, dance and music was organised at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Allahabad and Lucknow.
(iii) In collaboration with Air India, an exhibition of selected Indian folk musical instruments was organised at Amsterdam, Holland.
(iv) An exhibition of masks and puppets was held and coinciding with this, a four-day festival of masked dances and puppet theatre was also organised.
Documentation Under its regular programmes, the Akademi Documentation Unit visited different regions and documented in the shave of movie, tape- recording and photographs, the various forms of folk and traditional dance, drama and music like "Krishna Parijat" in Mysore, "Dashavatara" in Goa. Rasa dance of Himachal Pradesh etc.
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Cultural Relations with other Countries India continued her efforts to develop and strengthen cultural relations with other countries. Besides entering into cultural agreements and drawing up cultural exchange programmes, incoming and outgoing delegations-performing and non-performing-constitute a significant part of these activities, an account of which for the year is given in the following paragraphs:
Cultural Agreement.-Indo-Bangla Desh Cultural Agreement was signed in Dacca on December 30, 1972. The Agreement provides for cooperation between the two countries in the realm of culture, art and education, including academic activity in the fields of science and technology. The objectives of the Agreement will be achieved through cooperation between universities and institutions of higher learning, exchange of scholars, professors, experts, artists and sport teams, encouraging touristic visits, holding international film festival, and exchange of films, documentaries, radio and TV programmes, publication of books. establishment of cultural and educational institutions etc.
The Cultural Agreement with the G.D.R. was signed on January 15, 1973.
Proposals for concluding Cultural Agreements with Malaysia, Uruguay, Syria, Belgium, Argentina, Cambodia, Senegal, Chile. Venezuela, Iraq, Spain, Syria, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana. Zaire, Sri Lanka. Thailand. and Mexico are under negotiation.
Cultural Exchange Programmes.-A number of Cultural Exchange Programmes were drawn up during the year; (i) Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme was signed at New Delhi on February 14, 1972, formulated in pursuance of the Cultural Agreement which India and France entered in 1966. (ii) Indo-USSR Cultural Exchange Programme for 1972-74
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was signed at New Delhi on March 13, 1972. (iii) IndoFederal Republic of Germany Cultural Exchange Programme for 1972-74 was signed on April 26, 1972 in Bonn, (iv) IndoCzechoslovak Cultural Exchange Programme for 1972-74 was signed in Prague on May 3, 1972. (v) Indo-Bulgaria Cultural Exchange Programme was signed at New Delhi on June 1, 1972. (vi) Indo-Mongolian Cultural exchange Programme was signed in Ulan Bator on September 13, 1972. In functions held in the Capital the programmes with France and USSR were signed by the Secretary, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare and that with Bulgaria was signed by the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education & S.W. on behalf of the Government of India; and by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo- tentiary of France, Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR, and First Vice-President of the Committee for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign countries, Bulgaria, on behalf of their respective gov- ernments; and those held in the capitals of other countries (viz. in the case of F.R.G. & Czechaslovakia) by the Secretary, Ministry of Education & S.W. and in the case of Mongolia by the Foreign Secretary on behalf of the Government of India and Head of the Cultural Section of the Foreign Office of FRG, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czechoslovakia, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia, on behalf of their respective Governments. The programmes generally envisage cooperation in various fields of science, technology, educa- tion, art and culture, films, radio, television, electronics, health and sports etc.
Cultural Delegations (In-Coming) To promote mutual understanding and goodwill and to foster closer relations with foreign countries, a number of cultural delegations and art exhibitions are invited to visit India every year under the various lndo-foreign Cultural Exchange Programmes and the Cultural Activities Programmes of the Department of Culture.
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The cultural delegations invited to visit India from foreign countries consist of performing delegations, non-performing delegations, journalists, educationists, officials, musicians, writers, painters, scholars, indologists etc. and art exhibitions comprising painting, contemporary paintings, theatre art, photographs graphic arts, posters etc.
Till December 15, 1972, 22 Cultural delegations (6 performing, 2 exhibitions and 14 non-performing) from Romania, GDR, Czechoslovakia, Bangla Desh, Bulgaria, USSR, Yogoslavia, Thailand, Poland, South Korea, Nepal and Bhutan visited India.
During the period from 16th December, 1972 to 31st March, 1973 about 15-20 cultural delegations from different foreign countries are expected to visit India.
Outgoing Delegations Performing delegations sent abroad included
(a) 13 member dance/music ensemble consisting of Kumari Yamini Krishnamurti (Bharatanatyam), Pandit Ram Narain (Sarangi) and Shri N. Ramani (Flute) visited F.R.G. for participation in the India Week Festival at Munich and visiting France. 6 member dance/ music troupe of Kumari Yamini Krishnamurti also participated in the Festival of Indian Dance and Music arranged by the Sanskrit Centre of Indian Art, London.
(b) 18-member dance/music troupe comprising Smt. Damayanti Joshi (Kathak), Smt. Navana Jhaveri (Manipuri) and Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman (Violin) visited the G.D.R., Poland and the USSR.
(c) 16-member dance/music ensemble comprising Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi (Orissi), Smt. Krishnavani Lakshmanan (Bharatanatyam) and Ustad Abdul Helin
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Jaffar Khan (Sitar) visited Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi and Smt. Krishnavani Lakshmanan also visited Yugoslavia.
(d) Full return economy air fares were paid to a 9- member dance/music ensemble of Km. Uma Sharma, for participation in the Festival arranged by the Sanskritik Centre of Indian Art, London in June, 1972. The troupe also visited Madrid.
(e) As part of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations Programme two delegations (i) a 17-member troupe to Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji etc. and (ii) a 20- member troupe to Trinidad, Guyana, Venezuela etc. are being sent in 1972-73, by this. Department.
Under the Cultural Exchange Programmes, many eminent Indians visited foreign countries, amongst these were :
(a) Prof. K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Vice-President, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, for participation in the Round Table Conference held at Rheims in France.
(b) Prof. Lalmani Misra, Musicologist, Banaras Hindu University accompanied by Shri Ishwar Lal Misra, Tabla artists, to the G.D.R. and the USSR for creative meetings and lecture demonstration.
(c) Smt. Amala Shankar, Choreographer to the USSR and the G.D.R., for a study tour and for contacts with her counterparts.
(d) Shri Amrit Rai, Hindi Writer to Romania, Hungary and the USSR.
(e) Smt. Utukuri Lakshmikantamma, Telugu writer and;
(f) Prof. P.N. Pushp, Kashmiri writer, to the G.D.R.,Czechoslovakia and the USSR.
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(g) Prof. A.A. Suroor, Head of Urdu Department, Aligarh Muslim University to Romania, Hungary and the USSR during August-October, 1972.
(h) Prof. S. Bashiruddin, Librarian, Kashmir University, Srinagar, to Hungary and the USSR for participation in the Federation of International Documentation Conference at Budapest, to visit library institutions and to exchange views with his counterparts.
(i) Shri S. Krishnaswami, Musicologist to Czechoslovakia, Poland and the USSR for participation in the Music Festival at Bratislava in Czechoslovakia and to give lecture demonstrations with the help of an exhibition of photographs, slides and tapes of Indian musical instruments during October-November, 1972.
(j) Dr. Prabhakar Machwe and Smt. Durgawati Singh, writers, to the USSR for participation in the SovietArab-India Symposium during October-November, 1972. Thereafter, Dr. Machwe also went to Bulgaria and Sint. Durgawati Singh to Poland.
(k) Smt. Amrita Pritam, Punjabi Poetess, to Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia and France.
(l) Smt. Sheila Bhatia, Theatre Expert to the G.D.R., Poland, Czechoslovakia and the USSR to discuss problems of mutual interest with her counterparts, study stage crafts and also give lecture on Indian Theatre.
Travel Subsidy Partial Return Economy class airfare was given to the following performing troupes except (a) and (b)
(a) A partial Travel Subsidy to the extent of Rs. 51,000 was granted to, the Gandharava Mahavidyalya, New Delhi for participation of their Choir Group in the III International University Youth Choir held by the Lincoln Centre in New York in April-May, 1972.
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(b) 10% of economy airfare was granted to a 20 member Chhau dance group of the Research Institute of Folk Culture East Bengal, Calcutta for their participation in the Theatre-des-Nations Festival, Paris in May-June, 72.
(c) 50% subsidy was given to 6-member troupe of Smt. Sonal Mansingh, the Bharta Natyam/Orissi dancer in connection with their visit to the F.R.G.
(d) 50% subsidy was 'given to 5-member troupe of the Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad for participation in the Unima Festival of puppets at Paris in September, 1972.
(e) Similar 50% travel subsidy for non-performing delegations included Smt. Coomi N. Wadia, Conductor/ Director of Music of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus, Bombay for participation in the International Choral Festival held in New York in April-May, 1972.
(f) Shri K.T. Deshmukh, Director, Rangmanch Centre, Bombay for displaying his exhibition entitled "Shakespeare's Influence on Indian Theatre" at the Shakespeare Festival at Weimar (G.D.R.) during April, 1972. (Additional 50% economy class airfare was also granted to him).
(g) 8/6-member delegation of the Buddhist Society of India, Bombay for participation in the 10th Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists during May, 1972 at Colombo, Ceylon.
(h) All India P.E.N. Centre, Bombay for participation of their delegate Col. Narendrapal Singh in a meeting of the International P.E.N. Executive Committee and Round Table held in Berlin on November 11,1972.
(i) Dr. (Smt.) Savitri Vishwanathan for participation in the Symposum on "Japanese Studies" in Tokyo in November, 72.
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(j) 1 Economy and 2 youth airfares were sanctioned to Acharya Ramanamurti, Central Leather Research Institute, Madras for participation in the UNIMA Festival of Puppets in Paris during September, 72.
(k) Additional 50% return economy class airfare was given to Shri M.F. Hussain, Painter for his participation in the XI Biennale at Sao Paulo in September-November, 1971.
Exhibition Artist Shri Sadashiv Sathe, Sculptor of Bombay was sponsored to the USSR along with his Exhibition of sculptures and Paintings for display there for about five weeks during September-October, 1972 under Cultural Exchange Programme 1971-72.
Presentation of Art Objects As in the past the programme of presentation of Indian Art and other objects abroad, continued :-
(i) Seven handicraft articles worth about Rs. 1,500/- were sent to the Consulate General of India, San Francisco for participation in the the KQED Auction held in the month of May, 1972.
(ii) Sitar, Tabla, Tanpura, Mridangam, Sarod, Flute, Sandalwood elephant and Saraswati, Rajasthan Toran Hanging and Bidri Goblet, etc. are also being sent to Somalia and Switzerland for presentation there under Cultural Activities Programme for the year 1972-73.
Grants A sum of Rs. 70,000/- was sanctioned to the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi for a set of Musical Instruments and stage Equipment to be presented to the Government of Bangla Desh through the High Commission of India, Dacca for the use of the College of Music, Dacca.
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A grant of Rs. 75,000/- was given to the Indian Institute of Advanceed Study, Simla, for executing the third phase of the Plan Project entitled "Source Book of Indian and Asian Civilization".
India Office Library Draft Agreement for arbitration received from the Government of the U.K. has been under examination. The context in which discussion regarding the Indian Office Library had been taking place, has changed in view of the political developments in Pakistan. Renewed discussion between the parities concerned will be necessary.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations The following items were implemented by the I.C.C.R.
Cultural Delegations to Neighbouring Countries Afghanistan.-A twelve-member cultural delegation including Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar (vocalists), Ustad Asad Ali Khan (Beenkar) and Kumari Nalini Malhotra (Kathak and Orissi Dancer) was sent to Afghanistan in connection with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Indian Independence.
Bhutan.-The Sachin Shankar Ballet Troupe was sent to Bhutan on the occasion of the Crown Prince of Bhutan taking over the Governorship of Tongsa.
Ceylon.--Shri V. G. Jog, the well-known violinst was sent to Ceylon to give performances there. He was invited by the Colombo Broadcasting Corporation.
Sikkim.-A Tribal Dance Troupe from Ranchi was sent to Sikkim on the occasion of the Indian Indepence Day.
Nepal.-A cultural delegation including Dr. Sumati Mutatkar (Voealist), Shri Debabrate Choudhry (Sitarist) and Kumari Bijoy Lakshmi Mohanty (Orissi Dancer) was sent to Nepal on the occasion of the Indian Independence Day.
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Presentation of Books and Objects of Art Books were despatched to twenty-one countries for presentation to different universities and institutions.
Objects of art were despatched to eight countries for presentation. to different institutions.
Scholarship to Foreign Students The Council continued to give scholarship to Afghan students for learning Indian Music. The scholarship is for a period of five years with effect from April, 1971.
The Anticipated items during the remaining year include
Outgoing delegations Afghanistan.-A cultural delegation will be sent to Afghanistan in March 1973 on the occasion of the Afghan New Year Celebrations.
Nepal.-A cultural delegation including a dancer and a sitarist will be sent to Nepal on the occasion of the Indian Republic Day.
Sikkim.-A delegation including a troupe of dances will be sent to Sikkim on the occasion of the Indian Republic Day.
Presentation of Books on India and Objects of Art Books will be despatched to thirty.-countries for presentation to different universities and institutions.
Objects of art will be despatched to six countries for presentation to different institutions.
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Financial Allocations
The Financial Provisions for various, Organisations/Programmes
are given below:
(Rs. in 000's)
Sl. Item Provision for Budget
No. 1972-73 Estimates
Original Revised 1973-74
1 2 3 4 5
1. Sahitya Akademi Non-Plan 767 731 774
Plan 275 275 290
2. Lalit Kala Akademi Non-Plan 970 946 12,78
Plan 400 390 350
3. Sangeet Natak Akademi Non-Plan 23,30 22,97 24,38
Plan 400 358 480
4. Shankar's International
Children's Competition 175 175 175
5. Reviewing Committee for
National Akademies . 50 50 -
6. Building grants to cultural
organisations 900 900 11.00
7. Financial Assistance to
Performing Groups(Dance,
Drama and Theatre Ensembles) 700 675 11.00
8. Propagation of Culture
among school and college
students 500 255 510
9. Cultural Delegations from
abroad-Hospitality and
Entertainment Non-Plan 641 641 641
Plan - 12,00 19.00