CHAPTER I CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Principal institutions and programmes of the Department of Culture are detailed in this and the subsequent chapters. This chapter brings from the following activities
(i) Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and other Institutions engaged in literary and Cultural Activities;
(ii) Cultural Agreements, Cultural Exchange Programmes, In-coming and Out-going Cultural Delegations and the Jogjakarta Conference on cultural policies of Asian Nations;
(iii) Shankar's International Children's Competition, Building Grants to Cultural Organisations, Propagation of Culture among College and School students, and Financial Assistance to Dance-Drama and Theatre Ensembles;
(iv) Cultural Scholarships, Cultural Talent Search Scholarships Scheme, Financial Assistance to Writers, Artists etc. Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Promotion of Indian Languages and the Gazetteers;
(v) Gazetteers.
Sahitya AkademiThe Akademi organised a number of meetings of its informal literary forum at its headquarters and regional offices.
A special fellowship function was arranged by the Sahitya Akademi's Regional Office, Calcutta, at the District Library, Jorhat, Assam on 20th September, 1973 when the Chief Minister of Assam presented the fellowship of the of the literary development in Nilambi Phookan.
A symposium volume surveying the literary development in various Indian languages sponsored by the Sahitya Akademi as part of the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of Indian Independence, was released at a special function, held in New Delhi
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on 8th November, 1973 by Dr. Karan Singh, Union Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation.
The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi has selected the following books for the Akademi Award, 1973 :
Sl. Language Title Author Nature of work
No.
1. Gujarati Kavi Ni Shraddha Umashankar Joshi Critical Essays
2. Hindi Aalok Parva Hazari Prasad Essays
Dwivedi
3. Kannada Aralu Baralu V. Sitaramiah Poetry
4. Maithili Naika Banjara Brajkishore Novel
Verma, (Mani-
Padma'
5. Malayalam Balidarasanam Akkitham Poems
6. Manipuri Imphal Ama-
sung Magi Gling
Nung sit Ki Pacha Novel
Phimbham
7. Marathi Kajalmaya G.A. Kulkarni Short Stories
8. Oriya Samindra Snana Guru Prasad Poems
Mohanty.
9. Punjabi Kal, Aj Te Harcharan Drama
Bhalak Singh
10. Sanskrit Sri Tilakaya- (Late) M.S. Aney Epic Poem
shornayah
11. Sindhi Pyar Ji Pyas Govind Malhi Novel
12. Tamil Verukku Neer Rajam Krishnan Novel
13. Telugu Mantalu C. Narayana Poetry
Manavudu Reddy
PublicationsDuring the year, the Sahitya Akademi published 13 new books.
Lalit Kala AkademiAmong the important exhibitions held in the country and abroad in which the Akademi took part, mention may be made of the following:
1. "25 Years of Indian Art"--an exhibition organised in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Indian Independence and held first in Delhi in December, 1972, was taken to Madras and Bombay during this year:
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2. "Exposition of Lalit Kala Akademi Collection III"-an exhibition organised to spread better appreciation of contemporary Indian art in small towns was shown at Vijayawada, Raipur, Nagpur Srinagar, Jammu and Santiniketan.
3. The Akademi, in collaboration with the Embassy of Austria, New Delhi organised a rare exhibition of gra- phics and drawings entitled. The Vienna School of Fan- tastic Realism', from the 19th to 27th of February.
4. An exhibition entitled 'Changing Image-I' was held from July 3 to August 2, 1973 at the Lalit Kala Gallery, New Delhi. It displayed 74 paintings and 16 sculptures, selected from the permanent collection of the Akademi.
5. A collection of sculptures for Indian participation in the second International Small plastics Biennial, Budapest was compiled and sent to Budapest on 30.7.1973.
6. The most important event of the year was the National Exhibition of Arts 1973. The prospectus for this exhi- bition was printed and sent to artists and art institutions during July-August. The 19th National Exhibition of Art was inaugurated by Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhayay at the Lalit Kala Galleries on 31-10-1973 and the exhibition was on view till 18-11-1973. The exhibition comprised 292 works by 206 artists-163 paint- ings, 73 graphics and drawings and 56 sculptures-which were selected out of 1788 works submitted by 799 artists from all over India. The award winners this year were artists Satish Gujral, Anupam Sud, Jeram Patel, Santosh and A. Ramachandran.
7. The Akademi organised an exhibition entitled 'Con- temporary Arts of Bangladesh, which was inaugurated by Prof. D.P. Yadav, Deputy Minister, Department of Culture, at the Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery on 22.11.73. It consisted of 115 works of Art by 44 Bangladesh artists. The exhibition lasted till the 29th.
8. In collaboration with the British High Commission, the Akademi arranged an exhibition of the great British Sculptor, Henry Moore's world photographs, reproductions and four original bronzes.
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9. The Akademi also organised an exhibition entitled 'Japanese Contemporary Paintings' from 20th to 31st December, 1973.
10. A broad based committee was constituted under the auspices of the Akademi and a Director was appointed, to prepare for the Triennale (International Art Exhibition) to be held in February 1975.
Sangeet Natak AkademiThe significant activities during the year of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, are briefly indicated below:
(a) Programmes and Projects(i) During the year, the Akademi presented a num- ber of programmes of dance and music on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs, in honour of several visiting dignitaries, notably, Mr. Edward Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Unit Haluk Bayulken, Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkey, the Pakistan delegation, Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, Prime Minister of Cuba, the King and Queen of Nepal, Mr. L. I. Brezhenev of USSR, Dr. Gustav Husak of Czechoslovakia & Mr. Norman E. Kirk Prime Minister of NewZealand.
(ii) 292 books and 180 discs were added to the library.
FestivalsTo mark the centenary of Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, the Akademi sponsored music concerts, seminars etc. on a modest scale at Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow and Madras.
DocumentationThe documentation unit of the Akademi under one of its regular programmes visited different regions and documented in the form of movie, tape-recording and photographs, the various forms of folk and traditional dance-drama and music. About 55 hours of recordings were made, 4000 feet of movie film and 500 frames of still photographs both in colour as well as in black and white were exposed.
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AwardsThe Akademi has selected the following eminent artists for awards during 1973:
Music
1. Smt. Gangu Bai Hangal Hindustani Vocal
2. Shri B.S. Raja Iyengar Karnatak Vocal
3. Shri E. Sankar Sastry Karnatak Instru-
mental (veena)
4. Shri Vishnudass Sharoli Creative Music
Drama
1. Shri Ajitesh Bandyopadhyay Direction
2. Shri Sova Sen Acting (Bengali)
3. Shri Kalyanam Raghuramiah Acting (Telugu)
4. Shri Dadu Raghu Saroda (Indurikar) Traditional Theatre
Tamasha
Dance
1. Smt. Kumbakonam K. Bhanumathi Bharata Natyam
2. Shri Vellingzhi K. Nanu Nayar Kathakali
3. Shri Kavingal Chathunni Panikkar Kathakall
4. Shri Leichombam Koireng Singh Manipuri
Review CommitteeThe various recommendations of the review committee on the Akademis (Khosla Committee) and the views of the Akademis on those recommntdations were examined by Government so that decisions can be taken in 1974-75.
Institutions and Organisations Engaged in Literary and Cultural
Activities and Special Cultural StudiesDuring 1973-74 some important institutions like the Institute of Traditional Cultures, Madras, Asiatic Society, Calcutta, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay, Numismatic Society of India, Varanasi, Islamic Culture Board, Hyderabad, Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust, Amritsar etc., have been given financial assistance. The working of the Institutions like Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta, Asiatic Society, Calcutta and Indian Academy of Philosophy, Calcutta have been reviewed by visiting committees.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, is an, Institution engaged in research on Buddhism. The Institute is being aided both by the Sikkim Darbar and the Government of India. Each of these Governments has increased its contribution from
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Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh a year for the maintenance of the Institute. Under the Scheme of "Award of Fellowships at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology" Gangtok, two fellows have been selected for the year 1973- 74.
Daira-tul-Maarif-il-Osmania, Hyderabad Diara-tul-Maarif-il-Osmania, Hyderabad, is an Institution engaged in the publication of Manuscripts in Arabic and Persian. In so far as Government of India in the Department of Culture is concerned, the Institute has been in receipt of a grant of Rs. 50,000 a year. The working of the Institute was reviewed by a visiting committee. According to the recommendations of the Reviewing Committee, it is proposed to increase the annual grant to Rs. 60,000/-. In addition, it is also proposed to give Rs. 30,000 during 1974-75 to the Institute for construction purposes.
School of Buddhist Philosophy, Leh The School of Buddhist Philosophy, Leh, was established in 1959 as an autonomous organisation. It has courses leading up to Uttar Madhyama qualification. The entire expenditure on the School is borne by the Government of India. The School has started functioning in the new building constructed in Leh. It is proposed to construct a hostel for students and staff quarters during the Fifth Plan period.
Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute, HyderabadThe Abut Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute, Hyderabad, has been established with the, object of conducting research in History, Philosophy, Culture, Languages and other allied areas of study.
On the recommendations of a Review Committee, the Institute is receiving an annual grant of Rs. 12,000 for the following purposes :
(a) Research fellowships
(b) Supervisor allowances
(c) Research equipment
(d) Publication charges etc. It is proposed to review during 1974-75 the working of the Institute for deter- mining the pattern of grants to be paid in future.
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Cultural AgreementsThe following Cultural Agreements were concluded during the year:
(i) Indo-GDR Cultural Agreement was signed in New Delhi on the 15th January, 1973. It was signed by Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister- of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of the Government of India and by Mr. Klaus Gysi, Minister of Culture of the G.D.R. on behalf of the Government of German Democratic Republic.
(ii) Indo-Mauritius Cultural Agreement was signed in Port Louis, on the 6th February, 1973. It was signed by Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of the Government of India and by Hon. Mr. Verasamy Ringadoo, Acting Prime Minister of Mauritius on behalf of the Government of Mauritius.
(iii) Indo-Iraq revised Cultural Agreement was signed in Baghdad on the 19th April, 1973 and it supersedes the Agreement signed in 1954. It was signed by H.E. Shri K. R. P. Singh, Indian Ambassador in Iraq. and H. E. Mr. Hisham al-Shawi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Republic of Iraq on behalf of his Government.
(iv) Indo-Belgium Cultural Agreement was signed at Brussels on 21st September, 1973. It was signed by Shri K., B. Lall, Ambassador of India in Belgium on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Renaat Van Elslande, Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of his Government.
These Agreements generally envisage strengthening of relations with other countries in the fields of education, culture and arts, science and technology, sports, public health, radio, television. These will be effected through visits of professors, writers, artists, scientists, technical specialists and experts, grant of scholarships for higher studies and exchange of books and publications, and of performing artists as well as art exhibitions.
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Proposals for concluding Cultural Agreements with the following countries are under active consideration :
(1) Democratic Republic of Vietnam North, (2) Syria, (3) Sudan, (4) Lebanon, (5) Zurie, (6) Rwanda, (7) Italy, (8) Argentina, (9) Senegal and (10) Guyana.
Negotiations are also at various stages for entering into Cul- tural Agreements with the following countries :
(1) Cambodia, (2) Malaysia, (3) Thailand, (4) Sri Lanka, (5) Fiji, (6) Algeria, (7) Spain, (8) Venezuela, (9) Mexico and (10) Uruguay.
Cultural Exchange ProgrammesA number of Cultural Exchange Programmes were drawn up during the year (1) Indo-Arab Republic of Egypt Cultural Exchange Programme for years 1973 to 1975 was signed at New Delhi on the 9th March, 1973, (2) Indo-Afghan Cultural Exchange Programme for 1973 and 1974 was signed at New Delhi on the 2nd April, 1973, (3) Indo-Yugoslav Cultural Exchange Programme for 1973 and 1974 was signed at New Delhi on 2nd August, 1973, (4) Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1973-74 and 1974-75 was signed in France on 5th October, 1973, (5) Indo-Hungarian Cultural Exchange Programme for 1974-75 was signed at Budapest on the 28th September, 1973 (6) Indo-Iran Cultural Exchange Programme for 1974 and 1975 was signed at New Delhi on the 12th December, 1973. In functions held at the Capital the programmes (i.e. in case of A.R.E. Afghan, Yugoslav, Iran) were signed by (1) Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of Government of India and H.E. Mr. Mohammed Hassan El Zayyat, Foreign Minister on behalf of the Government of A.R.E; (2) Shri D. P. Yadav, Deputy Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of the Government of India and H.E. Mr. Mohammed Khalid Roashan, Deputy Minister, Ministry of information and Culture, Republic of Afghanistan; (3) Shri Mohan Mukerji, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture and Ministry of Education & Social Welfare on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Bragoslav Pejio, Charge d' Affaires, of Yugoslavia on behalf of the Government of Yugoslavia; (4) Shri I. D. N. Sahi, Secretary, Department of Culture and
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Ministry of Education and Social Welfare on behalf of the, Government of India and H.E. Mr. Mohammed Neazzami Goudarzi, Ambassador of His Imperial Majesty the Shahanshah Aryamehr in India, on behalf of the Imperial Government of Iran; and those held in the capitals of the other Governments (i.e. in the case of France & Hungary) by (i) Shri Mohan Mukerji, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Yven Delahaye, Director General of Cultural Relations on behalf of the Government of France; (2) Shri I.D.N. Sahi, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Social Welfare & Culture on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. E. Roske, Chairman, Institute of Cultural Relations on behalf of Government of Hungary. The Programmes generally envisage cooperation in various fields of Science, Technology, Education, Art and Culture, Films, Radio, Television, Electronics, health and Sports etc. etc.
Indo-Japanese Mixed Commission MeetingA meeting of the Indo-Japanese Mixed Commission to discuss the programme of exchanges for Indo-Japanese Cooperation in the fields of Higher Education, Art and Culture, Radio, Television and Press, Sports, etc. was held on 23rd October, 1973 in New Delhi, The Indian Delegation was led by Shri Mohan Mukerji, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture and the Japanese delegation by Mr. S. Hori, Director General, Cultural Affairs Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indo-Japanese Mixed Commision exchanged suggessions and proposals for the consideration of their respective Governments.
Advisory Committee for Cultural Delegations A Committee was constituted to advise Government about performing groups or, artists as well as exhibitions and painters, sculptors and graphic workers to be sent abroad and also to propose the programme of incoming performing groups and exhibition.
Cultural Delegations (Incoming) 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 Indo-Foreign Cultural Exchange Programmes and the Cultural Activities Programme 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. Art exhibitions comprising paintings, theatre art, photographs, graphic arts, posters etc. are also.received from, abroad.
Till December 15, 1973, 17 Cultural delegations (6 performing, 8 non-performing and 3 exhibitions) from Japan, U.S.S.R., Romania, G.D.R., Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Australia,, Ceylon, Burma, Bangladesh, Yugoslavia and Greece, visited India.
During the period from 16th December, 1973 to 31st March, 1974 about 34 cultural delegations from different foreign countries are expected to visit India.
Performing Delegations Abroad (Outgoing)(a) 16 Member dance/Music ensemble consisting of Smt. Dipali Nag, Smt. Begum Akhtar (Light-Classical Singers) and Shri Birju Maharaj (Kathak Dancer) visited USSR and Czechoslovakia.
(b) 42 Member folk dance troupe consisting of Manipuri Dancer Troupe, Kinnaur Folkdance troupe from Himachal and Panchavadyam group of Kerala Kala Mandalam, Kerala, visited Tunisia, Bulgaria, Spain, Romania, Libya and Malta. They participated in the folk dance Festivals in Tunisia and Bulgaria.
(c) 4 Member dance/music troupe led by Smt. Indrani Rehman visited F.R.G. during January, 1974 for giving performances there.
Other Delegations Abroad (Outgoing)Under the Cultural Exchange Programmes/Cultural Activities Programmes the following eminent Indians went abroad :
(a) Shri R. K. Singhajit Singh, Choreographer to USSR. Poland and the F.R.G. for discussion and contacts with his counterparts.
(b) The Government of India sponsored the participa- tion of 15 scholars in the 29th Session of the International Congress of orientalists at Paris. Prof. Satish Chandra, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission was nominated Leader of these participants. In addition, at the recommendation of the
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Government, the Indian Council of Social Science Research, sponsored three scholars and the Indian Council of Historical Research sponsored two scholars to this Congress.
(c) Three scholars Shri Umashankar Joshi, Dr. Namwar Singh and Dr. Niharranjan Ray went to France, G.D.R. and Hungary. Dr. Niharranjan Ray visited USSR prior to his visit to France.
(d) Smt. Vijaya F. Mehta, Theatre expert went to G.D.R. and USSR to supply stage craft and to meet and discuss problems of mutual interest with her counter- parts.
(e) Shri V. D. N. Sahi, Reader in English at Allahabad University and eminent Hindi poet and writer visited Yugoslavia, Mongolia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, F.R.G. and USSR for contacts and discussions with his counterparts.
(f) Shri Habib Tanvir, Member of Parliament and a threatre expert visited Iran for participation in the Afro-Asian Latino Theatre Conference, held at Shiraz, Shri Som Benegal, theatre expert also participated in the said Conference.
(g) Dr. Kumar Bimal, Director, Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad, and eminent Hindi poet went to F.R.G., Czechoslovakia and the USSR for discussion, contact and exchange of views with his counterparts.
(h) Smt. Dina Pathak and Smt. Tripti Mitra, Gujarati and Bengali actresses went to the G.D.R. for parti- cipation in the 17th Berlin Festival of Theatre and Music. After the Festival Smt. Pathak visited Czechoslovakia and Smt. Mitra went to the USSR to study theatre craft and to undertake lecture tour etc.
(i) S/Shri Narendra Sharma and Krishnan Nambudiri choreographers and dance directors visited USSR and Czechoslovakia to get acquainted with Cultural Ins- titutions, Ballet and folk dance Training Schools etc. Shri Sharma may also visit F.R.G. for the same purpose.
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Travel Subsidy Partial return economy class air fare was given to Shri Reoti Saran Sharma for participation in the 15th World Theatre Congress, Moscow.
Travel Grant Return economy class air fare was sanctioned to 15 artistes selected by the Sanskritik Centre of Indian Arts, London, for participation in the Festival of Indian Art at London.
Transferred Items of the Indian Council for Cultural RelationsThe Indian Council for Cultural Relations under "Transferred Items" sent five Cultural Delegations abroad. These included, Begum Akhtar, the famous vocalist, Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi, the well-known Odissi dancer, and Shri Indraneel Bhattacharji, the well-known sitar player to Kathamandu on the occasion of Indian Independence Day Celebrations 1973, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal troupe of dancers and puppeteers to Bhutan, who gave a number of folk dances from different regions of India, Kumari Kum Kum Mathur, the Odissi Dancer, and Kumaris Revati and Asha, the Bharatnatyam dancers, to Sikkim, a performing arts delegation led by Smt. Bindhya Basini Devi, a folk singer from Patna to Mauritius in November 1973, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, the well-known Kathank Dancer and Smt. Kanwal Sidhu (Vocalist) with supporting accompanists to Afghanistan in November 1973.
Prizes consisting of Indian handicrafts and books were sent for award to the prize-winners in the Essay competition held in Arab Republic of Egypt, Sikkim, Bangladesh, Trinidad. Zambia, The Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Brazil, Madagascar, Turkey, Thailand, Guyana and Kenya.
Four Afghanistan scholars, M/s Mohd. Musa Qasmi, Ajaib Gul Dilshad, Gulam Ali Hyder and Mohd Asif, who are in receipt of ICCR scholarships to study Indian Classical Music since April 1971, are continuing with their training for a further period of three years.
Under the, Book Presentation Programme, books were dispatched to Afghanistan," Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Fiji, France, Guyana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Peoples' Republic of Mangolia, Muscat, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Sri-
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Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States of America, USSR, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Bangladesh. Australia, Greece, Iran and Singapore for presentation to various universities and institutions.
Art objects for presentation were dispatched to Argentina, France, Guyana, The Philippines and Hungary.
Jogiakarta Conference on Cultural Policies on Asian NationsThe UNESCO organised a Ten-day conference on cultural policies of Asian nations at Yogjakarta (Indonesia) in December, 1973. The Indian delegation was initially led by Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, and later by Shri Mohan Mukerji, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture, who along with Prof. S. C. Dube, Director, Institute of Advanced Study, Simla, and Dr. Smt. Kapila Vatsyayan, constituted the Indian delegation for the entire conference. Shri Salman Haider and the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Shri Mahmood Ahmed, were members of the delegation for part of the Conference. The conference laid emphasis on measures for coexistence of Asian Cultural traditions and modern technology, the need for closer ties among Asian nations and establishment of regional institutions for facilitating training of experts and exchanges of experience.
Shankar's International Children's CompetitionThis year about 1,50,000 entries were received for this com- petition which continues to receive financial assistance from the. Government.
Building Grants to Cultural OrganisationsThe scheme covers all organisations primarily working in the cultural fields of dance, drama, music, fine arts, indology, litera- ture, other than religious institutions, public libraries, museums municipalities, schools and universities. Due to financial strin- gency, no fresh applications were invited for consideration for assistance under the scheme during the current, year. However, the institutions selected in the past, continued to receive the installments of grants as admissible under the scheme.
Propagation of Culture Among College, and School Students Under this scheme, one refresher course was organised by the Delhi University for-teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas from
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different parts of the country. Besides, the work of preparation of educational kits for being supplied to the schools and colleges covered under the scheme, is proceeding apace.
Financial Assistance to Dance-Drama and Theatre Ensembles The scheme is to provide for maximum help to performing troupes in the country which have been working in the field through purely voluntary efforts during the last 10-15 years. Financial assistance, to twelve well-known Dance-Drama, and Theatre groups in the country have been given for sustenance and development activities during this year.
Cultural Scholarships
Scholarships to Young Workers in Different Cultural FieldsUnder the scheme 25 scholarships were awarded to young artists of outstanding promise in the age-group 18 to 28 years for advanced training within India in the fields of Hindustani and Karnatak music and Western Classical music, classical forms of Indian dances. traditional theatre drama, painting and sculpture. Each scholar paid Rs. 250/- p.m. and the duration of scholarships is for a period of two years, but in exceptional cases it may be extended for another year.
Cultural Talent Search Scholarships SchemeThis is a Plan scheme under which promising young children in the age-group 10 to 14 years will be provided facilities to develop their talents in the fields of music, dance, painting and sculpture. It has been decided to award 100 scholarships during the current year and 100 new scholarships every year during the Fifth-Five Year Plan. Each scholarship will be tenable for one year at a time and will be renewable from year to year till the completion of the Secondary stage of school education or 18 years, whichever is earlier. The value of scholarships will be Rs. 600 per annum for those children who, will receive specialized training at the place of their residence and Rs. 1200 per annum, for those who will receive training elsewhere. In addition, actual tuition-fee paid will also be reimbursed, to the scholars subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1000 per annum.
Programmes for Assistance for Cultural Activities
Financial Assistance to Eminent Writers, Artists, etc., in indigent
Circumstances The scheme was introduced in 1952-53 and was revised in April, 1961. All grants under the revised scheme are given on
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a sharing basis, the 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. About 1,200 persons are receiving assistance under the scheme. Due to paucity of funds, it has not been possible to consider fresh cases since 1969. It is proposed to reactivise the 1961 scheme from 1974-75 so as to consider fresh cases under it.
Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Promotion of Indian
LanguagesUnder the scheme, which has been in operation from the middle of the Second Five Year Plan, grants upto 50 per cent of the expenditure on approved items are sanctioned for bringing out publications like encyclopedia, dictionaries, books of knowledge, publications bringing out the similarities among the different languages, catalogs of manuscripts and books of cultural, literary, indological, linguistic and scientific subjects. The scheme also provides for purchase of copies of the printed publication in regional languages, and grant for holding multilingual literary conferences, seminars, book exhibitions etc.
GazetteersAs part of the general educational development under the Second Five Year Plan, the Government of India has taken up the work of revising the Gazetters of India. State Governments were also given financial assistance for the revision of District Gazetteers. All the copies of the first volume of the Gazetteer of India, 'Country and People', were sold out and therefore it has been reprinted. Some of its chapters were brought out separately in the form of booklets such as Physiography, People. Languages, etc. which are now running into Second and Third editions. Action has also been taken to bring out a Hindi edition of the volume. Volume II of the Gazetters of India, History and Culture, has also been published. Volume III 'Economic structure and Activities' is in the press, and will be published shortly. Out of 337 District Gazetteers, to be published, the drafts of 205 Gazetteers have been completed.
The project of Who's Who of Indian Martyr has been completed. The third and the last volume in the series was released on 14th August, 1973. It contains the biographical sketches of the martyrs of the Great Revolt of 1857.
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Fifth Five Year PlanThe Central Programmes in the field of Cultural Programme and Gazetters included in the Draft Fifth Five Year Plan are:
Total allo-
S. Name of Programme cation in
No. the Fifth
Five Year
Plan
(Rs. in lakhs)
(1) (2) (3)
1. Grant to Voluntary Cultural Organisation/Institution:
(i) Building Grants 50.00
(ii) Development of Institution engaged in Tibetan &
Buddhist studies 30.00
2. Strengthening the existing institutions and establishing
new institutions of performing Plastic & Literary Arts 50.00
3. (i) Sahitya Akademi
(ii) Sangeet Natak Akademi } 120.00
(iii) Lalit Kala Akademi
4. Propagation of Culture among College/School students 85.00
5. External Culture:
(i) Source Book of Indian & Asian Civilization
(ii) Reconstruction of Indian & Asian Dance Traditions
(iii) Visits or Intellectuals, including Nehru, Gandhi
Lecturers to & from African and Latin American
Countries 144.00
(iv) Incoming and outgoing Cultural Delegations
(v) Exchange of visit of Archivists, Librarians,
Mueseologists etc. and exchange of books,
Manuscripts, records etc.
6. Cultural Talent Scholarships 25.00
7. Establishment of Cultural Complex, New Delhi 35.00
8. Inter State exchange of Cultural Troupes 40.00
9. Assistance to Professional Dance Drama and Theatre
ensembles 100.00
10. Revision of District Gazetteers 72.00
11. Other Programmes 87.00
Total 838.00