AKADEMIES AND NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA
For preserving, fostering and developing the creative arts-literary,
performing and plastic-the Government of India has set up three National
Akademies, viz, Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Lalit
Kala Akademi. The National School of Drama has also been set up for pro-
moting dramatic arts. The activities undertaken by these organisations dur-
ing the period under report are described in the paragraphs that follow.
Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi The main activities of the Sahitya Akademi are : popularising writers
and language-literature beyond their language boundaries through transla-
tions, literary awards to outstanding books of literary merit and fellowship
honours through its publication programme; assessing literary trend
encouraging experiments in the various Indian languages through its various
journals; encouraging younger generation writers through its various work-
shops; travel grants and other schemes. The Akademi is now compiling a
detailed Encyclopaedia of Indian literature with the help of over 1,000
writers belonging to its 22 recognised languages.
During the year the Akademi organised the following Seminars :
(i) International Seminar on Subramania Bharati to mark the birth
centenary of the Tamil Poet in January, 1983 at New Delhi
on the theme 'Poetry and National Identity'.
(ii) Seminar in honour of Fakir Mohan Senapati, the Oriya Writer
on the theme 'Social Realism in Indian Novels, in May, 1983
at Bhubaneswar.
(iii) Seminar on G. V. Raman Pillai, the noted Malayalam historical
novelist on his birth centenary, on the theme, 'Vision and
Craft in Historical Fiction' in September, 1983 at Trichur.
(iv) Seminar in honour of Narmadashankar, the distinguished
Gujarati writer on his birth centenary on the theme. 'Social or
Literary Trends in the Social Life in the 19th Century' in
December, 1983 at Surat.
Workshops The literary workshops were held at Madras, Bombay and Calcutta on
the art and craft of Book Reviewing. Another workshop was held at
Bhopal on Short Story in the North Indian languages in April, 1983.
The Sahitya Akademi Annual Awards were presented to 22 Indian
writers in the languages recognised by the Akademi.
The Akademi published several new titles in its 'Makers of Indian
Literature' series and translations and reprints of earlier monographs were
published in major languages. About sixty new publications are proposed
to be brought out in 1983-84. Noted publications include 'Who's who of
Indian Writers-1983. 'The Epic Beautiful' and English verse rendering
of the Sundara Kand of Valmiki and 'Asian Variations in Ramanaya' (being
the papers presented at the Second International Seminar on the Ramayana
in 1981).
Six issues of Indian Literature (English Journal) and four issues of
Samakaleen Bharateeya Sahitya (Hindi Journal) were also published during
the period.
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi The Sangeet Natak Akademi is a national institution which is chiefly
responsible for promotion and growth of Indian music, dance and theatre
arts, maintenance of standards of training in the field of performing arts,
revival and preservation, documentation and dissemination of classical,
tribal and folk art forms of music, dance and drama and recognition and
award to outstanding artists. The Akademi has two constituent units namely
(1) Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, and (2) Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance
Academy, Imphal, where training is imparted in Kathak Dance and Mani-
puri Dance respectively.
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Presenting, collaborating, participating and subsidising cultural pro-
grammes is one of the items of work undertaken by the Akademi for promo-
tion of performing arts. The Akademi is holding monthly programmes in
Delhi. The important programmes undertaken during the current year are
as under : -
(i) Panel discussions on the play 'Hayavadana';
(ii) Performance of the play 'Hayavadana' in Marathi directed by
Smt. Vijaya Mehta;
(iii) Conferring of Fellowship on Pandit Ravi Shankar and present-
ing the award to Shri Vijaya Raghava Rao;
(iv) Illustrated talk by Shri Vijay Tendulkar through slides-the
Faces;
(v) Lecture Demonstration by Miss Aban Bana on Eurthythmy;
(vi) Programme of choral music by Calcutta Youth Choir and
Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, New Delhi on the occasion of the
International Music Day celebrations on 1st October, 1983;
(vii) Lecture Demonstration by Shri M. K. K. Nayar on Goethe's
Faust in Kathakali;
(viii) Performance of Dr. Faust in Kathakali by Mankompu Sivasan-
kara Pillai and party from Kerala;
(ix) Production of Dance-Drama "Chaitanya Mahaprabhu" by
Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal;
(x) Programmes-Dance, Drama and Music;
(xi) Festival of Modem Contemporary Ballet;
(xii) Festival of Young Dancers by Kathak Kendra;
(xiii) Maharaj Kalka Bindadin Kathak Mahotasava by Kathak Kendra,
'The Akademi also organised five music festivals during the year in five
different States under the Scheme of organising Musim Festivals.
Cultural troupes were sent to different States throughout the, country
under the Scheme of Inter-State Exchange of Cultural Troupes in Colla-
boration with various State Governments/Akademies.
The Akademi had identified 74 institutions for giving block grants for
the ensuing five years with effect from the year 1982-83 and till 1986-87.
In addition, grants were sanctioned to 192 Institutions/State Akademies
on Ad-hoc basis during the year under report.
Documentation and Dissemination Recording was done, of Yusuf Hussain Khan (Vocal), Nissar Hussain
Khan, Zafar Hussain Khan & Party (Vocal), C. R. Vyas (Vocal), Kritis
and Padas of Shri S. Pinakapani Smt. Kesarbai Kerkar, Panel discussion
on the play 'Hayavadana'.
The Akademi undertook production of a documentary film on 'Bhoota
Nritya' which was being directed by Shri. B. V. Karanth. The Akademi
has plans to produce mort documentary films on various folk, tribal and
traditional performing arts. The Akademi also continued its programme
of acquiring prints of documentary films on performing arts from the Films
Division and other eminent producers for its archives.
The prints ordered are
'Krishnattam' by Adoor Gopala Krishnan (from the Films Division),
Bhand Pather, 35 mm print of Smt. Balasaraswathy from National Centre
for the Performing Arts, Bombay, Film on 'Dhrupad' by Shri Mani Kaul
and Tragada Bhavai by Shruti Daishan Sampati Sansthan.
The Akademi has placed orders for acquiring 5 sculptures of eminent
musicians from Shri Sharbari Roy Choudhury of Santiniketan. The Aka-
demi has other proposals for acquiring more prints as well as for making
films on eminent musicians/dancers during the year. The Akademi is
planning to produce LP Records and Cassettes.
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Promotion and Preservation of Under this scheme, the following training programmes were continued-
Rare Forms of Traditional
Performing Arts
(i) Koodiyattam training under guru Mani Madhava Chakiar (9
students).
(ii) Koodiyattam training under guru Ammannur Madhava, Chakiar
(10 students).
(iii) Dhrupad training under
(a) Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar
(b) Pandit Siyaram Tiwari
(c) Pandit Ram Chattur Mallick
(iv) Sarangi training under Pt. Ram Narain.
(v) Been training under Ustad Asad Ali Khan.
(vi) Pakhwaj training under guru Purushottam Dasji.
(vii) Training in Ashtapadi singing under the supervision of Shri
G. Sankara Pillai.
(viii) Training in Nav Janardhanam under Shri Nataraj Ramakrishna.
(ix) Training in puppetry under the supervision of Shri K. L. Rama-
chander (Tolpava Koothu, glove puppets of Kerala).
These training programmes are continuing activities. Initially the pro-
grammes are approved for one year and extensions are granted after review
of the training programme, if necessary.
Except Ashtapadi singing and Nav Janardhanam the other training pro-
grammes are likely to continue.
In addition, the Akademi has been imparting specialised training in the
fields of Kathak and Manipuri dances through its two constituent units,
namely, the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur
Dance Academy, Imphal.
Assistance to Young Theatre This Scheme was introduced during 1979-80. Under this scheme, the
Workers Akademi organised one National Street Theatre Workshop at Bhopal in
which eminent directors and observers participated. Street plays were
presented in various parts of the city. The Akademi also planned organis-
ing two zonal festivals at Bangalore and Lucknow.
Preservation and Promotion of The Scheme aims at training, renovating puppets etc., organising festival-
Puppetry cum-workshop on puppet theatre and preparing films on puppetry.
The training programmes are conducted for the following traditional
puppet threatre forms.
Tolpava Koothu, Ravanchhaya, Gombe-atta, Tolu Bommalatta, Togalu
Gombe-Atta, Sakhi Kundhai, Kundhai Natcha.
Grants are also given for holding puppet shows for school children and
production of puppet figures.
The Akademi continued to provide assistance for these activities during
the year. A national puppet festival depicting various puppet forms pre-
valent in the country was also being planned.
Development of Tribal Culture Under the scheme, the Akademi has been assisting various tribal festivals
in different parts of the country. During the year the Akademi assisted
Kutch Maldhari tribal festival at Bhuj in collaboration with Indian National-
Theatre, Bombay. One more tribal festival organised by Bharatiya Lok
Kala Mandal in Rajasthan was given financial assistance.
Publications During 1983-84, the Akademi brought out three issues of "Sangeet
Natak" journal (Nos. 64 to 66) and two more issues were in the Press
and would be brought out before the close of the year. Quarterly News
Bulletin was also being published. The publications brought out by the
Akademi are :-
"Ayodhyakanda of Tolpava Koothu " by K.L. Krishnamutty
Pulavar;
"Pushti Sangeet Prakash" by late B. P. Bhatt;
"Who's who of Indian Musicians" (2nd Edition) and Monograph of
'Bhaona' were expected to be published before the close of the
year.
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Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi The Akademi is maintaining a well-equipped library and archives of
colour slides and photographic records of contemporary Indian arts. It
accords recognition to art organisations and gives grant-in-aid each year
for promotion of art in the States. The Akademi also brought out a num-
ber of publications. Notable among these are : portfolios of miniature
paintings of Devgarh, Kishangarh and Bundi, monographs of Somanti Hute
Sultan All, B. S. Gaitonde and Jahangir Sabavala. The Akademi brought
out special publications of commemorative volume on Nanda Lal Bose
and Coomarswami Memorial Seminar papers.
The Akademi is presently busy in making preparations for holding of
National Exhibition of Art in February-March, 1984. It has already
organised exhibitions of selections from the National Exhibition of Art at
Lucknow, Chandigarh, Simla and Panaji. An Exhibition of new aspects of
landscape by 10 young British painters, exhibition of works by Bulgarian
artists and exhibition of paintings by 7 German artists were also organis-
ed. The Akademi is also participating in. international exhibition in 2nd
Asian Art Biennial in Bangladesh.
National School of Drama, New The National School of Drama and Asian Theatre Institute was set-up
Delhi in the year 1959, under the Sangeet Natak Akademy. In the year 1975 it
became an independent Registered Society under the name of the National
School of Drama. The main aim of the School is to promote in India a
Vibrant theatre movement of contemporary relevance which would take
root in the traditions and the cultural diversities of the country. During
these twenty six years of its establishment, the School has done a tremend-
ous work in the field of theatre movement and has given a new direction
to the theatrical form of the country. Today the School is linked to com-
parative theatre developments in the World. The School imparts training
in dramatic arts to talented and enthusiastic young theatre workers. Be-
sides the regular classes, the School also continued the following activities ;
1. Putting up performances of plays.
2. Organisation of theatre workshops in different regions to provide
training facilities in the field of drama to those enthusiasts who
cannot afford to spend 3 years at the School for regular training
but are involved in theatre.
3. Putting up theatre exhibitions.
4. Conducting children's theatre activities and other part-time
courses.
During the academic year under review the School and its Repertory
Company were engaged in a large number of performances and other
activities. The School organised a number of extension lectures, workshops
and study tours for the benefit of its students. The workshops to popularise
theatre among children between the age-groups 7 to 14 years were also
held for a duration of about 3 months at Delhi, Betul (M.P.) and Gorakh-
pur (U.P.).
The Pilot Project towards the discovery of Indianness in theatre which
was started at Trichur in collaboration with the School of Drama, Calicut
University under the directorship of Prof. G. Sankara Pillai ended with
great success.