 CHAPTER X
CULTURAL AFFAIRS

10.01. This chapter deals with the cultural programmes of the Ministry and is divided into five sections : (1) The National Akademis; (2) Assistance to Cultural Organization; (3) Museums and Art Galleries; (4) Archaeological Survey of India, and (5) National Archives of India.

A. THE NATIONAL AKADEMIS

10.02. Sahitya Akademi:

The Sahitya Akademi was set up to work actively for the development of Indian letters and to set high literary standards, to foster and coordinate literacy activities in all the Indian languages and to promote the cultural unity of the country through them.

(a) Publications : These include such important publications as (1) Who's Who of Indian Writers (already published); (2) National Bibliography of Indian Literature (1900-1953) (in 4 volumes-Vol. I and 2 published); (3) Histories of Literatures in the various Indian languages (10 volumes inclusive of translation alreay published); (4) Contemporary Indian Literature (a symposium surveying literary trends in different languages already published in 8 (languages); (5) anthologies of poetry, short stories, one-act plays, essays, and folk- songs in each of the major Indian languages (33 volumes already published); (6) selections of distinguished poets and authors in Indian languages (16 already published); (7) short informative bio- graphies of eminent Indian writers (24 already published); (8) bi- lingual and multi-lingual dictionaries (I already published); (9) two volumes of Contemporary Indian Short Stories in English translation; (10) three volumes of periodicals selections from Indian

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from Indian poetry, transliterated into Devanagari and translated into Hindi; (11) four homage volumes relating to Tagore Birth Centenary; (12) eight volumes of select writings of Tagore transliterated into Devanagari; and (13) select writings of Gandhiji All Men Are Brothers in translation (8 volumes already published).

(b) Other publications of the Akademi comprise translations of literary classics-both old and modern-from one, Indian language into other languages of which 247 volumes have already been published; translations of important foreign classics into all Indian languages of which 108 volumes have been brought out; selected works like critical editions of Kalidasa's works, collected works in Urdu by the late Maulana Azad and comprehensive anthology of Sanskrit literature; and the Akademi's journals, namely, Indian Literature, Samaskrita Pratibha (in Sanskrit) and the Monthly News Bulletin.

(c) Seminars, Conferences, etc. : A number of seminars, conferences and literary meets were organised by the Akademi to bring together the writers of all Indian languages and to provide them with an opportunity for free exchange of ideas.

(d) Awards: Annual awards of Rs. 5,000 each are given to outstanding book of literary quality in each of the major Indian languages. The Akademi has already made 137 such awards up to 1967.

(e) Languages Recognised by the Akademi : Besides the languages enumerated in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India, the Sahitya Akademi has recognised Maithili and English (as written by Indian authors) for the purposes of its programme.

(f) Election of the First Fellow: The Sahitya Akademi conferred its first Fellowship on Dr. S. Radhakrishnan at a simple ceremony at Madras held at his residence on 10th September, 1968.

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10.03. Lalit Kala Akademi:

Lalit Kala Akademi was set up in 1954 to foster and coordinate activities in the sphere of visual and plastic arts and to promote thereby the cultural unity of the country. Centering round the promotion of visual and plastic arts, the main programme of the Akademi consists of organising exhibitions, bringing out publications, granting recognition and financial assistance to art organisations, copying frescoes and giving awards to artists.

(a) During the year under review, two exhibitions were organised. The first was an exhibition of paintings of Semyon Chukov, a reputed Russian artist. Sponsored under Indo-USSR Cultural Exchange Programme, the exhibition was displayed in Delhi and Madras during November-December, 1968. The second, an exhibition of Modern French Tapestries and Stained Glass, was held in Calcutta, Madras, Bombay and Delhi during the period December, 1968 to February, 1969.

(b) Quite a few significant publications on contemporary art and under ancient series were brought out. They included monographs on Sanyal, Venkatappa and Ram Kumar, and Leaves from Indian Paintings- Portfolios, and Raagmala Paintings besides the journal (Lalit Kala), picture post cards, catalogues, etc.

10.04. Sangeet Natak Akademi:

The Akademi was set up by the Government of India in 1953 with the object of coordinating the activities of regional or State Akademis of music, dance and drama, promoting research in the fields of the performing arts; encouraging and exchanging ideas, enriching techniques between the different regions of the country in regard to the arts of music, dance and drama as well as fostering cultural contacts between India and other countries.

The important activities of the Akademi during the year included five performance by eminent Indian artists and visiting foreign artists; a lecture demonstration on 'Kathak'; a programme of folk plays; an exhibition of folk and tribal musical

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instruments; a seminar on the development and preservation of folk musical instruments; and a conference of secretaries of the State Akademis to discuss the programme for the development of dance, drama and music in the country and to ensure collaboration in such activities in these fields. Besides, a scheme for survey and documentation of folk and tribal music, dance and drama was taken in hand.

10.05. Fellowships and Awards:

The Akademi fellowships selected and the Akademi awards made during 1968 are as below:

        
        Fellowship:              Shri Kalicharan Patnaik
        
             Awards:
        
             Music     Hindustani (instrumental)     Shri Mustaq Ali Khan
                                                     (Sitar)
                  Hindustani (vocal)            Smt. Moghubai Kurdikar
                  Karnatic (vocal)              Sh. Alattur Srinivasa Ayer
                  Karnatic (instrumental)       Shri K. S. Narayanaswami
                                                (Veena)
        
             Dance  Kathakali                   Shri Kurichi Kunjan Pani-
                                                 icker
        
                  Bharata Natyam                Smt. Kamala
        
                  Kuchipudi                     Dance Guru Shri Chinta
                                                Krishnamoorty
        
                  Kathak                        Smt. Damayanti Joshi
        
        Drama      Playwriting (Bengali)        Shri Badal Sarkar
        
                   Playwriting (Hindi)          Shri Mohan Rakesh
        
                   Acting (Gujarati)            Shri Jawsant Thakur
        
                  Traditional Threate 'Jatra'   Shri Phani Bhusan Vidya-
                                                binode
        
        Plays         Malayalam                 Aswamedham by Shri
                                                Thoppil Bhasi
        
                       Oriya                    Asanta by Shri Pranbadhu-
                                                kar

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B. PROGRAMMES OF ASSISTANCE FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

10.06. Inter-State Exchange of Cultural Troupes:

Introduced in 1959, the scheme is designed to promote the emotional and cultural integration of the country. Under this scheme cultural troupes selected by the State Governments are enabled to visit other States/Union Territories so that they can project their culture to the people of other States. Andhra, Pradesh, Gujarat, Mysore, Assam, Orissa, Haryana, Punjab, U.P., Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, West Benfal and Goa participated in the scheme during the year.

10.07. Visit of Cultural Troupes to Forward Areas for the Entertainment of Armed Forces:

Under this scheme which was initiated in 1963, selected cultural troupes are sponsored to visit the forward areas both in the Ladakh and NEFA sectors for the entertainment of armed forces stationed there. During 1968-69 troupes from Punjab and Gujarat were sponsored for the purpose.

10.08. Shankar's International Children's Competitions :

This competition, organised annually at the capital, is financially assisted by the Ministry for arranging the Children's Art Competition, Children's Art Exhibition, On-the-Spot Painting Competition and Publication of Children's Art Album, and prize distribution. The Competition is run by the Children's Book Trust. New Delhi.

10.09. Building Grants to Voluntary Cultural Organisations:

From 1968-69, the scheme of building grants to voluntary organisations working primarily in the fields of dance, drama, music, fine arts, indology and literature has been revived. Under this scheme the Government gives grants to voluntary cultural organisations to the extent of 50 per cent of the approved expenditure, excluding the cost of land, subject to a maximum of Rs. one lakh per organisation.

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10.10. Financial Assistance to Eminent Writers, Artists etc. in Indigent Circumstances :

Originally introduced during 1952-53, the scheme was revised in April, 1961. All grants under the scheme are given on a sharing basis--State and Central Governments bearing the expenditure in the ratio of 1:2. Expenditure on grantees from Union Territories is borne entirely by the Central Government. During the year 148 artists and writers were assisted.

10.11. Institutions Engaged in Literary Activities:

Under the scheme, financial assistance is given to such institutions as are engaged in literary development. During 1968-69, a few institutions like Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta, Daira tul Maarif-il- Osmania, Hyderabad, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay were helped.

C. MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES

10.12. The Central Government continued to maintain and develop museums of national importance, besides extending financial assistance to State and private museums for their improvement and re- organisation.

10.13. Central Advisory Board of Museums:

The Central Advisory Board of Museums consists of representatives of the Central and State Governments and nominees of important museums in the country. A meeting of the Board was held at Bhubaneswar on 1st November, 1968.

10.14. Re-organisation and Development of Museums:

Under this scheme, financial assistance is given to museums for such items as minor building extensions, equipment, publications and training of museums' staff. On the basis of priorities laid down by the Central Advisory Board of Museums, proposals were invited from the museums in the country and, grants-in-aid were sanctioned. Financial assistance is also given to a few scholars, selected every year, for research in museology, The assistance includes a monthly allowance, of Rs. 250, an

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amount of Rs. 1,000 per year as travel grant and Rs. 500 for the purchase of equipment and books.

10.15. Museum Camp:

The sixth Museum Camp on Technique of Exhibition and Documentation with reference to Arts and Cultural Anthropology' was held in the State Museum, Lucknow, from 25th November to 4th December, 1968. It was attended by delegates from all over the country.

10.16. National Museum, New Delhi:

The Art Purchase Committee for the National Museum met at the Government Museum, Madras, on September 16-18, 1968 and recommended the purchase of about 100 art objects at a cost of approximately Rs. 2,50,000 for acquisition. Some of the outstanding items consist of rare South Indian bronzes and wood carvings. In addition to these purchases, some objects were also secured otherwise. These include: Five Bharhut sculptures of the second century B.C., a phase of art which was unrepresented in the Museum so far, purchased from a Garhi near Satna; two Peruvian sculptures received as gift, one from Shri K. R. Kripalani, Secretary, Sahitya Academy and the other from Mr. Nash Heeramenak; and 23 arms consisting of swords and daggers received as presentation from Mrs. Leela Lakshman, New Delhi. Under the Museums Exchange Programme, (i) a terracotta head from Pawya was received from the M. P. Government; (ii) 4 Gothic sculptures-2 stone and 2 wooden- were received from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA in exchange for two South Indian sculptures sent by the Museum; (iii) 20 sculptures from the reserve collection of the Museum were exchanged with an equal number of Gandhara stone sculptures from the Chandigarh Museum; (iv) 18 stone sculptures were exchanged with 2 bronzes and 2 stone sculptures from the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, Baroda; and (v) a terracotta female bust, belonging to the third century A.D., has been received in exchange from the Bikaner Museum, Rajasthan.

On 22nd March, 1968 in the presence of a large and distinguished gathering, the President of India, Dr. Zakir Husain,

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formally inaugurated the permanent exhibition of the Heeramenak collection of pre-Columbian art.

In honour of the delegates to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development held in New Delhi, the, National Museum put up two special exhibitions in its exhibition gallery, namely, (i) an exhibition of rare acquisitions consisting of stone and bronze sculptures and (ii) an exhibition of miniatures entitled "Sports of Krishna" and "Mughal Miniatures" belonging to the museum collections and used for two films "Radha and Krishna" and "Akbar" produced by the Films Division.

On the occasion of the annual meeting of the Museums Association of India held at the National Museum on February 28, 29 and March 1, 1968, a seminar on the theme, "Museum-the Key-note of Our Time," was organized and was attended by delegates from different parts of the country as well as from the National Museum. A two-day seminar on conservation of cultural property was also held in the Museum on May 24 and 25, 1968. Besides participants from different museums, universities and other specialised agencies, Mr. Norman Brommella, Keeper, Conservation Laboratory of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London was also present. Papers on various aspects of conservation were read and discussed. Mr. Brommella also delivered two special lectures.

The National Museum was visited by several scholars and museologists from abroad, who were invited to give talks in the Museum Auditorium. Facilities were provided to visiting scholars and learned institutions to study the museum collections and to photograph them. Facilities were also extended to the Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, for shooting films on Indian Jewellery and Indian Toys.

Visiting dignitaries, delegations, specialised groups of visitors, and groups of students visit the, Museum in large numbers. Total attendance this year was 3,65,647.

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The Museum brought out two publications during the year, namely, South Indian Paintings by Shri Sivaramamurti and the Chaurapanchasika by Mrs. Leela Shiveshvarkar.

In August, 1968, a theft took place in the, National Museum. New Delhi, which resulted in the loss of valuable items of jewellery and coins. The police recovered 107 items of jewellery out of the 125 stolen and 1,200 grams of gold suspected to be melted out of the stolen coins and the remaining items of jewellery. To strengthen the security arrangements of the National Museum, a number of effective steps have been taken. Others are contemplated. The Central Government has set up a committee of museum experts to go into the organisation and administration of the three Central Museums and also to make recommendations for strengthening the security arrangements in these museums and protected archaeological monuments and sites. Further steps towards greater security of valuables in these museums and protected archaeological sites and monuments will be taken in the light of the recommendations of this committee.

10.17. Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort, Delhi:

The Indian War Memorial Museum, situated in the Red Fort, Delhi, exhibits arms, ammunitions and equipment used in the First World War. It continued to attract a large number of visitors during the year.

10.18. Indian Museum, Calcutta:

One of the largest museums in India, the Indian Museum is governed by a Board of Trustees. This Museum functions with its six constituent section, viz., Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industrial Section.

Under the educational programme of the Indian Museum, a temporary anthropological exhibition under the name "Bibhor, a Tribe of Bihar" was organised within its premises with specimens collected for the section from the cultural environment of the tribe, the Hazaribagh district of Bihar. A series of 12

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lectures by eminent scholars was arranged during the period to enlighten and interest the public in different subjects covered by the museum.

Facility of guided lecture tours was extended to as many as 11,144 visitors. 400 coins were identified for outsiders on request. In some cases, special explanatory notes with photographs of the coins were also furnished. 45 scholars were permitted to consult the coin collection for study purposes.

Under the development scheme of the Indian Museum, the third block of the Pre-history Gallery, entirely a new addition, was completed and thrown open to public on 24th August, 1968. In this block, cultural elements belonging to the different cultural horizons of the Indus Valley Civilization have been presented with the help of modem audio-visual materials like charts, maps or sketches to make the display attractive, informative and educative.

In the re-organisation work undertaken in the Bharhut Gallery, three sculptures were newly introduced. New trilingual labels were also introduced in different galleries of the section. To help. the scholars and interested visitors to view the sculptures kept in reserve, the reserve collection was being re-organised systematically.

CHAPTER X CULTURAL AFFAIRS