LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Vol.18 No. 2 February - 2017 LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD The year gone by 2016 was historic for Bhavan Bengaluru Kendra for several reasons. Eleven states across the country were brought under its ambit for holding traditional arts events, economically weak artistes and rare and fading arts given prominence. If this served the cause of arts and artistes, two outstation mega culture festivals in remote places brought the finest of performances to a new and awed audience. Both projects, under the umbrella of Infosys Foundation, marked the beginning of a new and exciting journey for Bhavan, testings its limits of organizational skills and reach. It was a huge learning curve, the planning and execution of the projects involving 1 bhavanblrhns50@gmail.com

choice of arts, artistes, networking, coordination, logistics and technical support. 2016 was a game-changer for traditional performing and fine arts, the year itself beginning with a vibrant nature painting exhibition by differently-abled artist Anu Jain. Anu has no legs and only rudimentary elbows. Her world, expected to be gray and bleak, was instead colourful and full of life, as seen in her paintings. Hence Bhavan considered this an auspicious beginning for the year s activities; it did turn out to be so. The three-day Lakshmeshwara Utsav at Gadag in the precincts of the Someshwara temple in March, was a runaway success, drawing thousands of audiences every day. The maiden attempt of the Bengaluru Kendra in putting up such a huge event in a remote location opened up uncharted terrain in its organizational skills. One of the aims of Bhavan is to take art to the people, an objective that was well met in the monthly cultural programmes held at the Indian Institute of World Culture, Bengaluru. The 2010 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan- Infosys Foundation venture achieved a landmark century April last, having provided a platform to over 500 artistes. The well-entrenched programmes, transparent in their 2

conduct, encouraged Infosys Foundation to donate more funds for the Kendra to hold pan-india concerts. Besides West Bengal, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Karntaka, the Infosys Foundation Cultural Outreach Programme was spread to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan, with Bengaluru as the nodal centre. Fanned out across 11 centres, 91 programmes have been held since inception May last, bringing 1065 artistes on to stage. A steady audience is being cultivated through these programmes. On the academic front, the first batch of 55 students of 3 Bhagavadgita classes received their diploma certificate after a three-year study course. For the past four years, June has come to be identified as a period of celebration of India s glorious past, in her literature, arts and philosophy, the Bhavan-ISKCON collaboration of national conferences attracting scholars from all over India and abroad. Veda Samvada (2013), Upanishad Sandesha (2014), Mahapuranas (2015) and Mahakavyas (2016) have been signature events in retracing India s heritage, the conference on Mahakavyas proving to be of interest to a larger audience. Bhavan believes that identifying with regional ethos

The stunning stage and backdorp of Anupu festival is an essential part of cultural and national integration. Karnataka Rajyotsava is celebrated with a truly native flavour. The Bengaluru Kendra tied up with Rotary Club District 10, to put up a grand evening of celebrating Kananda language and culture through music and dance. Curtains were drawn on major events with the conduct of the Anupu festival in December on the banks of Nagarjunasagar dam in Telangana. This was a fairy tale event, the three-day cultural programmes against the backdrop of a Buddhist monument completely blanketing out the technical world and replacing it with a dazzling show of traditional arts, all 4 drawn locally. It was a fitting finale to an eventful year, when Bhavan stepped into the realm of a mega event manager and traditional arts got a new lease of life. Other outings were of no less value the Pallavi Chandrappa birth centenary, presentation of the B. Saroja Devi National Award to Parvathamma Rajkumar, Dasara Gombe Habba, visit of Justice B. N. Srikrishna, former vice-president, BVB Worldwide to the BVB-BBMP Public school a flagship venture of the Bengaluru Kendra, and the book launch of Rich Tradition, Richer Heritage authored by Bhavan President Sri Sunderlal G. Mehta --enhanced the dimensions of the Kendra s activities. - Jyothi Raghuram

PULIGERE UTSAV - 2017 Sri. Binod Hampapur, EVP & Global Head - Talent & Technology Operations, Infosys, inaugurates Infosys Foundation Puligere Utsav at Lakshmeshwar, Gadag Dist. Shehnai recital : Maruti Bhajantri, tabla : Keshav Joshi Hindustani vocal : Ayyappayya Halagalimath, tabla : Keshav Joshi, harmonium : Guruprasad Hegde 5

PULIGERE UTSAV Kolata by Virupakshappa B. Guranavara and troupe Hindustani vocal : Kaivalya Kumar Gurav, tabla : Sridhar Mandre, harmonium : Dr. Sudhanshu Kulkarni Bharatanatya by Ratika Nrutya Niketan, Dharwad. 6

PULIGERE UTSAV Kathak by Noopur Performing Art Centre, Bengaluru. Sitar recital : Shrinivas Joshi, tabla : Anant Hegde Hindustani vocal : Kiran Hanagal, tabla : Sridhar Mandre, harmonium : Guruprasad Hegde 7

PULIGERE UTSAV Hindustani vocal : Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi, tabla : Sridhar Mandre, harmonium : Dr. Vyasamurthy Katti Bharatanatya by Nritya Nikethana, Udupi. 8

PULIGERE UTSAV Bharatanatya by Nrutyanjali Nrutya Samsthe, Pune. Sitar & flute jugalbandi : Mohasin Khan and Raghunath Badi, tabla : Ravikiran Nakod 9

PULIGERE UTSAV Hindustani vocal : Poornima Bhat Kulkarni, tabla : Vishwanath Nakod, harmonium : Vyasamurthy Katti Hindustani vocal : Jayatheerth Mevundi, tabla : Uday Kulkarni, harmonium : Guruprasad Hegde Bharatanatya by Natyadeepa, Sirsi. 10

PULIGERE UTSAV Bharatanatya by Bharathanjali Academy for Performing Art, Davanagere. Dr. M.S. Murthy, Chairman, Karnataka, Lalithakala Academy, inaugurating the art camp 11

PULIGERE UTSAV Artists with their works Audience throng in thousands An aerial view of Someshwara temple 12

BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN'S M.P. BIRLA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CELEBRATES KULPATI K M MUNSHI JI'S BIRTHDAY THROUGH A SYMBOLIC VANAMAHOTSAVA EVENT ON 30TH DECEMBER 2016 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's M.P. Birla Institute of Management celebrated Kulpati K M Munshiji' birthday through a symbolic Vanamahotsava event, an event initiated by him 66 years ago, on 30th December 2016 at Bhavan's Bangalore Kendra. Dr. B N Vishwanath Former Professor University of Agricultural Sciences and President Garden City Farmers was the Chief Guest. Sri. H N Suresh Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Bangalore Kendra and Dr. G S D Babu Director M.P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research were the Guests of Honour. Prof. K L Ramadas Joint Director (HR), MPBIM presided over the event. MPBIM students planted 2000 saplings on the Metro Corridor January 2016 and intend to make it an annual event. BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN'S M.P. BIRLA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, BENGALURU CONDUCTED INTER COLLEGIATE MARKETING EXHIBITION ON 13TH JAN, 2017 Sri. Hitesh Kumar Bajpai Managing Director, Balajee Fraternity Manufacturing Co. Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Rajdeep Manwani, Academician and Motivational Speaker, Sri. Krishna Byre Gowda, Hon'ble Minister of State for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, Chief Guest at the event, lighting the lamp, Dr. N S Viswanath Director & Principal, Sri. Pranab Pani Chairman & Managing Director MTMC Medi-Info Pvt. Ltd., are seen. 13

BVB-INFOSYS FOUNDATION CUTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAMMES : NOV-DEC 2016; JAN 2017. Rasa Leela Man-Bhanjan by Rupa & troupe, held on Nov 5th, at Bhubaneshwar Ninety one programmes have been conducted and 1053 artistes have performed & approximately 31000 people have witnessed the programmes since the launch of BVB- Infosys Foundation Outreach Cultural Programme. Notable programmes like Rasa Leela, Ghudki Nata, Prahallada Nataka, Odissi Sangeeth and Mogul Tamasha were held at the Odisha Kendra ; Charadupinni Kali and Ottanthullal in Kerala; Chiratala Bhajana, 14 Karrasaamu, Tatvaalu and Dappu Gathulu, Kinnera Vaadyam, Kommu Vaadyam in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana; Sarhad Na Sur and Rang Kusmbal at Gujarat and an extinct art - Nat - Nati in Rajasthan. ODISHA 03/10/2016 Rasa Leela Man Bhanjan: As a dramatic form, it is popular in the coastal areas of Odisha. Rasa Leela is devotional in spirit and content. The young actors play and sing

Ghudki Nata by Nilakantha Tarai troupe held on Dec 5th, at Bhubaneshwar on stage. This art was patronised by temples, Vaishnavite kings and zamindars. 17/10/2016 Ghudki Nata & Odissi Sangeet; Ghuduki is an indigenous string musical instrument. This dance form has been named after the instrument. Normally the dancers also sing, playing the cylindrical shaped wooden instrument. One side of this instrument is covered with lizard skin. The male partner who is the central character works out various rhythmic patterns by playing his fingers on the string and the female partner dances intermittently. The contents of the Prahalhad natak by Guru.Sj.Simanchal Patra & troupe held on Nov 21st, at Bhubaneshwar 15

Odissi Sangeeth by Guru Dr. Ramhari Das, held on Nov 21st, at Bhubaneshwar songs are in question and answer form. The partners make the interrogatory form quite humorous. 07/11/2016 Folk Theatre Dance Form Prahallhad Natak : A dance drama written around 1860 AD in Odiya attributed to Raja Rama Krishna Dev of Jalantra, now in Andhra Pradesh. This play was originally enacted over seven nights. Now it is restricted to one. An important aspect of this play is the use of the mask of Narasingha. The mask is worshipped in the kotha ghara or in the temple. All artistes and musicians who participated in this play were amateurs. 21/11/2016 Odissi Sangeet : Odissi music is a genre of classical music shaped during the time of Oriya poet Jayadeva, who composed mesmerizing lyrics. Odissi Sangeeta by Guru Nimakanta Rautray & troupe held on Dec 5th, at Bhubaneshwar 16

Mogul Tamasha by Sanket Cultural Association, held on Dec 19th, at Bhubhaneshwar 05/12/2016 Odissi Music: Odissi Sangeeth was presented by Guru Panditgopala Chandra, a teacher, singer, researcher and author of many books on Odissi music. 19/12/2016 Mogul Tamasha : This is a satirical play on the moghuls; peculiarly the tradition of the play is confined to few villages surrounding the town of Bhadrak in Odisha where there is concentration of Muslim population. Mogul Tamasha is multilingual. It has songs and dialogues in Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Oriya and Bengali. The play continues with the characters coming to the stage one by one. Enough humour and satire is provided through dialogues KERALA 02/12/2016 Charadupinni kali : It is performed in the suburban areas under Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram District in Kerala. This is a folk dance similar to Thiruvathira Kali which itself is an elegant group dance by womenfolk of Kerala. 17

Charadu Pinni Kali by Vithura suhruth nataka kalari & balbhavan, held on Dec 2nd, at Thiruvananthapuram Ottanthullal presented by Kalamandalam Nandakumar held on Dec 17th at Wadakancherry 17/12/2016 Ottanthullal : Kalyana Soungandhikam story (Sheethangan Thullal) is taken from the Vanaparva episode of Mahabharata, where Draupadi expressed her desire to obtain the saugandhikam flower which has a sweet fragrance. Bhima promises to bring them to her. 18

Chiratala Bhajana Karrasaamu & Tatvaalu by artistes from Karimnagar, Ramagundam & Ananthpur, held on Dec 21st at Hyderabad ANDHRAPRADESH & TELENGANA. 21/12/2016 - Chiratala Bhajana, Karrasaamu and Tatvaalu; This folk art is known only to the conventional practitioners of rural areas. Chiratala Bhajana was performed in its original form by artistes from Karimnagar District. The group held a pair of wooden pieces chiselled and riveted with jingling bells and metal pieces that produced metallic and rattling sounds. Karrasaamu is a popular folk form of rural Telengana. 22/12/2016 - Dappu Gathulu, Kinnera Vaadyam and Kommu Vaadyam : Dappu is made of goat skin and is a tambourine-like drum beaten with sticks, creating a rhythm that is softened only by the ankle bells that the 16-20 dancers wear. Dappu Gathulu, Kinnera Vaadyam & Kommu Vaadyam by artistes from Karimnagar, Mahaboobnagar & Ananthpur, held on Dec 22nd, at Hyderabad 19

Musical programme based on ancient folk instruments from desert,designed by Kaushal Chhaya, held on Nov 19th at Ahmedabad GUJARAT 19/11/2016 - Sarhad Na sur : A unique programme based on instruments and vocal, it was a different experience where ancient folk instruments such as jodiya pava (dual flute), morchang, santar, mandolin, nobat and shehnai were presented. 20/11/2016 Rang Kusmbal- Folk Literature : Ancient Gujarati folk stories in the form of songs and katha vachikam were presented with a flavour of ancient times. 04/12/2016 - Sakhi a devotee : This programme was performed by the students of Kalamandir Performing Arts. The presentation was about a love story of Lord Krishna and Radha. It was about divine love depicted through classical dance. Literature based Gujarati folk stories by young students of Sukhdev Gadhvi, held on Nov 20th at Ahemedabad 20

Sakhi A Devotee - Classical dance by Kalamandhir Performing Arts, held on Dec 4th, at Ahmedabad RAJASTHAN 15/12/2016 - Nat - Nati Kalabazi : Here the artistes display their skills in acrobatics and various acts of balancing, concentration and coordination involving synchronous movements of all participants This is an ancient art of Rajasthan which is on the verge of extinction. Nat -Nati - Kalabazi by Jahar Singh and Rajki held on 15th, Dec at Jaipur 21

BHAVAN-BBMP PUBLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL DAY - 2017 LKG children welcoming the audience Nursery children confidently dancing on stage 22

BHAVAN-BBMP PUBLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL DAY - 2017 Goa dance by LKG children. UKG kids salute the nation. Thumbelina, a musical, by children of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. 23

BHAVAN-BBMP PUBLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL DAY PICTURES - 2017 Dr. Rukmini Krishnaswamy, Director, Spastics Society of Karnataka, Bengaluru, inaugurating the 5 th annual day on Dec 23. Principal Pushpalatha S. is also seen. Vaayu the Deity of Life : Grades 4,5,& 6 enact a play, bringing history and mythology together. 24

BHAVAN-INFOSYS FOUNDATION OUTREACH CULTURAL PROGRAMME : DEC 2016. veena-venu-violin veena : Shubha Santhosh, venu : Vani Manjunath, violin : Prema Vivek mridanga : Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma, ghata : Phaneendra Bhaskara on Dec 24 at Indiranagara Sangeetha Sabha, Purandara Bhavana, Bengaluru BHAVAN-INFOSYS FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES AT IIWC, BENGALURU DEC 2016. Carnatic music by Adhiti B. Prahlad & party on Dec 9. 25

PANDANALLUR MUTHAIAH PILLAI ENDOWMENT PROGRAMME ON DEC 29 AT BVB. Bharatanatya by Chinmayee Kamakotika Venkatraman, a disciple of Guru Revathi Satyu Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kalabharathi : Mohiniattam Five-year Diploma Course JOIN NOW : LIMITED SEATS Admissions are open for Mohiniattam Classes at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The classes will be held on Saturday between 4pm - 6pm by Guru K.P. Shruthi 26

Sat 6.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall 04 Gauri Shankar Endowment - an evening of Kathak recital by students of Guru Anjana Gupta Tue 11.00 a.m. - 07. BVB -Infosys Foundation Outreach programme : Sugama Sangeetha Artists : Vocal : Harish Narasimha Tabla : M.C. Srinivas Keyboard : Dushyanth Rythempad : Gururaj Co-vocalist : Vidya Mohan Venue : G.R. Education Institution, Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru PROGRAMME : FEBRUARY - 2017 Sat 6.00 p.m. - KRG Hall 11. Dr. N.S. Anantharangachar Memorial Endowment Lecture by Prof. Lakshmi Tatachar Topic : Dr. NSA s contributions to Vishistadwaitha Vedanta and Srivaishnavism Fri 6.00 p.m. - 10. A musical feature on Vidushi Sharada Dasi s Geetha Sinchana Music direction : Vidhushi M.L. Bharathi Vocal : by the students Venue : Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. (in association with Infosys Foundation) Sat 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall 11. Horizon series - Kuchipudi dance Artist : Kalaimamani Guru Smt. Sailaja ( Academy of Excellence in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatya) (in association with Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Fri & Sat 10.00 a.m. - Khincha Hall 24 & 25. A two-day National seminar about Art and Philosophy with reference to Kannada cinema, Sri.T.S. Nagabharana, Coordinator. In collaboration with Indian Council for Philosophical Research, New Delhi

BOOK POST February - 2017 28 JYOTHI RAGHURAM