Pracheen Kala Kendra: A Brief Profile

DELHI/NCR, India - Dec. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- INTRODUCTION

Pracheen Kala Kendra is a philanthropic non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation and dissemination of Indian classical arts as well as imparting quality education, training and conducting examinations in the field of performing and visual arts since its inception in 1956.  It has got a network of more than 3500 affiliated centres situated all over India and abroad including the USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kuwait, UAE, South Africa, etc. The student strength of over 2.60 lakh (two lakh sixty thousand) makes it the largest organization of its kind in present times.

Having its Headquarters in Chandigarh, an enormous sister set-up in Mohali and a zonal office for the eastern region at Kolkata, the Kendra is committed to provide learner’s access to the classical arts irrespective of their age, religion, gender and region keeping in mind the fundamental values of Indian philosophy and spirituality.

Besides, the Kendra undertakes various cultural activities and organizes a number of programmes of classical music and dance not only in Chandigarh but also in various other Indian states/cities.  Holding of seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. are some of its main functions.

ORIGIN & GROWTH

The Pracheen Kala Kendra was established at Chandigarh in 1956 by late Sh. M.L. Koser with the patronage of the then Punjab Governor C.P.N.Singh and the Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon and Chairman of the now defunct Punjab Legislative Council Kapoor Singh. The aim was to provide facilities for education, training, research, holding of examinations exclusively for the subjects pertaining to arts including the performing and visual arts. A year later, it was registered under the Registration of Societies Act XXI, 1860. From a humble beginning over half a century back, the Kendra has now grown into an internationally acclaimed institution of learning now aiming to gain the status of an “Open University” of music and dance in times to come, thanks to the foresighted approach of the Kosers – late Sh. M.L. Koser and Kathak wizard Smt. Shobha Koser - who together made this organization known worldwide. Now, Sh. Sajal Koser, who holds the office of the Secretary of the Kendra, is excellently carrying forward the legacy of his father late Sh. M.L. Koser and is committed to bring the Kendra to greater heights. Smt. Shobha Koser is holding the charge of Treasurer-cum-Registrar of the organization.

EXAMINATIONS & THEIR RECOGNITION

The Kendra has the professional competence and infrastructure for holding various grades of examinations in Indian Classical Music (both vocal & instrumental), Classical Dances and Fine Arts (Painting) and it awards the certificates and diplomas of Prarambhik (elementary), Bhushan (intermediate), Visharad (B.Mus.), Bhaskar (M.Mus.) and Churamani (Research) to the successful candidates.

The excellence achieved by the Kendra in conducting these examinations and the confidence created by its track record of maintaining high quality and reliability have prompted various State Governments, Education Boards and Universities to accord recognition to its certificates and diplomas as one of the requisite qualifications for the purpose of appointment of teachers/ lecturers in schools/colleges as well as taking admission in higher courses of study under their respective jurisdictions.

ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES

The Kendra undertakes various cultural and educational activities for fulfilling its aims and objects. It organizes All-India Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan for the last 41 years uninterruptedly where almost all the legendary artists of Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental) and dances have performed from time to time. For the last seven years, legends in the field of music/dance are felicitated with “Guru Madan Lal Koser-Guru Shobha Koser Award” worth Rs. 1.00 lakh instituted by the Kendra in recognition of services of its founders. With the aim to provide a platform to budding/talented as well as established artists, it holds Monthly Baithak on 11^th of every month and Special Programmes.

The Kendra also holds Convocations at different cities of India where successful students of Visharad final and Bhaskar final are awarded diplomas before distinguished audience.

The Kendra has the tradition of honouring eminent personalities from various walks of life for their outstanding achievements in their own domain which contribute to the art & culture in general. The seminar and symposium forms an integral part in arts education. It works as bridge between the learned scholars and the educated elites as well as serves as authentic source of information and knowledge for students and researchers alike. With this in view, the Kendra holds number of seminars/symposium at its own as well as at the instance of Central Government/State Governments involving eminent scholars, artists, musicologists, intellectuals from the fields of music and dance.

It also organizes Workshops and lecture-demonstration sessions for the benefit of students.  Regular training and hobby classes are also run at its premises. It awards scholarships to brilliant and indigent students.

The Kendra also maintains a well-equipped library and well-resourced audio-video archive which contains the most comprehensive collection of audio & video recordings of exceptional live performances of reputed and eminent maestros of our times for the benefit of students. The Kendra stands among those few cultural and educational institutions which provide Hostel facility to foreign as well as Indian students with the spirit of independence and freedom. The Kendra has also auditoriums and conference hall for holding performances and conferences, meetings, etc. The Kendra is also approved by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for imparting lessons in Kathak dance to foreign students on ICCR scholarships.

CONCLUSION

It hardly needs to be emphasized that the Kendra has registered rapid strides in its chosen areas of activities for which the institution could rightly be proud of. It is indeed a success story written with the ink of hard-work, perseverance and above all the sincerity of purpose and goal which has seen Pracheen Kala Kendra grow into an international institution of repute and reliance over the last five decades.