Cultural Heritage Young Leadership Programme
Ministry of culture to launch Cultural Heritage Young Leadership Programme
The Union Minister of Culture Kumari Selja has issued the following statement enlisting the new initiatives of the Union Ministry of Culture at a press conference in New Delhi today.
“Ministry of Culture mandated to undertake activities ranging from protecting and encouraging cultural endeavors at the grassroots level to promoting cultural exchanges internationally, is also responsible for preserving India’s ancient heritage as well as encouraging contemporary creative art forms.
In the recent past some path-breaking, innovative and meaningful steps have been initiated by the MOC culminating in schemes which not only aim at involving the underprivileged sections of the country in the cultural processes, but also supporting deserving artists as well as sustaining research and development in the field. Details of some of these new initiatives as well as landmark achievements are as below:
INDIA ELECTED TO THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
India is one of the 9 new State Parties elected for 4 years on the World Heritage Committee (WHC), the elections for which took place on the 7th November, 2011 at the 18th Session of the General Assembly of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The elections for the Committee were closely contested. India received 111 votes at the elections which was second highest after Japan.
Being part of the WHC enables India to participate actively in matters related to the World Heritage Convention which includes scrutiny of dossiers etc. for inscription on the World Heritage List.
COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
· Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore Celebrations
The 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore is being commemorated under the direction of a National Committee headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister and National Implementation Committee chaired by Hon’ble Finance Minister. Several programmes and projects relating not only to performing arts but also academic endeavours and creation of durable assets in the form of Tagore Cultural Complexes have been taken up. The celebrations of Tagore commemoration are in full swing and a number of cultural events and workshops with Government support have been organized.
Exhibition of original paintings of Rabindranath Tagore are being organized in different countries like USA, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, Rome etc. This is for the first time that the original works of Tagore have been exhibited.
The paintings of Tagore have also been depicted digitally and a special compendium of Rabindra Chitravali in 4 volumes containing about 2000 images of his works has been brought out. This is perhaps for the first time that the almost the entire work of an artist in visual art has been digitally unified. Similarly, the chronological anthology of Tagore’s writings is being complied in Vishva Bharati with financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Culture has received proposals for installation of Tagore busts during the commemoration year of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore from Indian Missions abroad. One such bust has already been installed in the University of Lausanne in Switzerland which was unveiled by H.E. President of India in October, 2011. Two more Busts would soon be installed in Israel and Columbia and will be unveiled by dignitaries from India.
A screening Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Shyam Benegal for selection of films and documentaries on Tagore for production with financial assistance from GOI. The Committee has approved a few proposals including one from Shri Rituparno Ghosh for a documentary titled “Home and the Word” and one from Shri Budhadeb Dasgupta for producing 13 short films on 13 poems of Tagore. The production of films is at different stages. It is planned that all these films would be released during the commemoration year itself.
Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting have collaborated for preparing a collection of six DVDs containing Tagore’s Stores and films like “Khudito Pashan” (Hungry Stones), “Teen Kanya” (Three Daughters), “Kabuliwala”, “Ghare Baire”, “Char Adhyay”(Four Chapters) and biography of Tagore with a special feature “Natir Puja” by Satyajit Ray with sub-titles in English. This set of 6 DVD pack was released during the inaugural programme on 7th May, 2011. The DVD collection is being sub-titled in 8 major foreign languages for distribution in the international arena through Indian Missions abroad. This is likely to be completed by December, 2011.
Twenty-nine proposals for Tagore Cultural Complexes have been given in-principle approval. Detailed project reports are under preparation. These will be modern auditoria with most modern specifications. This is a continuing scheme during this commemoration year and more proposals are pouring in.
TAGORE AWARD FOR UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD
· The first Tagore Award for promoting values of Universal Brotherhood, announced by the Finance Minister in his budget speech this year, will be declared/given on 7th May, 2012, the day of closing ceremony of the 150th year of Tagore Commemoration events. Later it will be given every year on the same date. The Award carries an amount of Rs one crore (convertible to foreign currency) and will be given to individuals, associations, institutions or organisations and is open to all regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The code of procedure has been finalized and uploaded on the website of Ministry of Culture. The nominations are being invited from the eminent persons as per the ‘code of procedure’ by Ministry of Culture.
· Swami Vivekananda
The 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is being commemorated under the directions of a National Committee headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister and National Implementation Committee chaired by Hon’ble Finance Minister.
An amount of Rs. 100 crores has been sanctioned for the Vivekananda Value Education Programme to R K Mission, Belur Math. Apart from this commemoration related proposal from various organizations are being supported by this Ministry through financial assistance. A proposal for establishment of “Swami Vivekananda Indian Ministry of Culture Chair” in University of Chicago, USA by grant of an endowment is also under advanced stage of sanction.
Other approved proposals which have been approved include production of a film on Swami Vivekananda at an estimated cost of Rs. 70 lakhs by Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT), renovation of 4 historical monuments by ASI at an estimated cost of Rs. 12.42 crore, upgradation of Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama (Vrindaban) hospital at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.70 crore, grant to Shree Ramakrishna Ashrama (Kalahandi) for carrying out various commemorative activities and for addition to their existing building with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 3.01 crore, grant to Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, Barrackpore for construction of an auditorium with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 1.36 crore, grant to Government of Assam for undertaking commemorative activities with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 53.19 lakhs.
In addition, many proposals are under active consideration. Few notable of them are - construction of Swami Vivekananda Cardiac Care and Diagnostic Centre at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 20.21 crores by Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan (Kolkata), grant to R.K. Mission Institute of Culture (Kolkata) for taking up various commemorative programmes at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 6.17 crores, grant to R.K. Vivekananda Smiriti Mandir (Khetri) for conservation of their building at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 0.73 crores, grant for the renovation of Metropolitan Institution (Kolkata), a school, where Swami Vivekananda is stated to have studies at an estimates cost of approx. Rs. 1.10
The Union Minister of Culture Kumari Selja has issued the following statement enlisting the new initiatives of the Union Ministry of Culture at a press conference in New Delhi today.
“Ministry of Culture mandated to undertake activities ranging from protecting and encouraging cultural endeavors at the grassroots level to promoting cultural exchanges internationally, is also responsible for preserving India’s ancient heritage as well as encouraging contemporary creative art forms.
In the recent past some path-breaking, innovative and meaningful steps have been initiated by the MOC culminating in schemes which not only aim at involving the underprivileged sections of the country in the cultural processes, but also supporting deserving artists as well as sustaining research and development in the field. Details of some of these new initiatives as well as landmark achievements are as below:
INDIA ELECTED TO THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
India is one of the 9 new State Parties elected for 4 years on the World Heritage Committee (WHC), the elections for which took place on the 7th November, 2011 at the 18th Session of the General Assembly of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The elections for the Committee were closely contested. India received 111 votes at the elections which was second highest after Japan.
Being part of the WHC enables India to participate actively in matters related to the World Heritage Convention which includes scrutiny of dossiers etc. for inscription on the World Heritage List.
COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
· Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore Celebrations
The 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore is being commemorated under the direction of a National Committee headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister and National Implementation Committee chaired by Hon’ble Finance Minister. Several programmes and projects relating not only to performing arts but also academic endeavours and creation of durable assets in the form of Tagore Cultural Complexes have been taken up. The celebrations of Tagore commemoration are in full swing and a number of cultural events and workshops with Government support have been organized.
Exhibition of original paintings of Rabindranath Tagore are being organized in different countries like USA, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, Rome etc. This is for the first time that the original works of Tagore have been exhibited.
The paintings of Tagore have also been depicted digitally and a special compendium of Rabindra Chitravali in 4 volumes containing about 2000 images of his works has been brought out. This is perhaps for the first time that the almost the entire work of an artist in visual art has been digitally unified. Similarly, the chronological anthology of Tagore’s writings is being complied in Vishva Bharati with financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Culture has received proposals for installation of Tagore busts during the commemoration year of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore from Indian Missions abroad. One such bust has already been installed in the University of Lausanne in Switzerland which was unveiled by H.E. President of India in October, 2011. Two more Busts would soon be installed in Israel and Columbia and will be unveiled by dignitaries from India.
A screening Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Shyam Benegal for selection of films and documentaries on Tagore for production with financial assistance from GOI. The Committee has approved a few proposals including one from Shri Rituparno Ghosh for a documentary titled “Home and the Word” and one from Shri Budhadeb Dasgupta for producing 13 short films on 13 poems of Tagore. The production of films is at different stages. It is planned that all these films would be released during the commemoration year itself.
Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting have collaborated for preparing a collection of six DVDs containing Tagore’s Stores and films like “Khudito Pashan” (Hungry Stones), “Teen Kanya” (Three Daughters), “Kabuliwala”, “Ghare Baire”, “Char Adhyay”(Four Chapters) and biography of Tagore with a special feature “Natir Puja” by Satyajit Ray with sub-titles in English. This set of 6 DVD pack was released during the inaugural programme on 7th May, 2011. The DVD collection is being sub-titled in 8 major foreign languages for distribution in the international arena through Indian Missions abroad. This is likely to be completed by December, 2011.
Twenty-nine proposals for Tagore Cultural Complexes have been given in-principle approval. Detailed project reports are under preparation. These will be modern auditoria with most modern specifications. This is a continuing scheme during this commemoration year and more proposals are pouring in.
TAGORE AWARD FOR UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD
· The first Tagore Award for promoting values of Universal Brotherhood, announced by the Finance Minister in his budget speech this year, will be declared/given on 7th May, 2012, the day of closing ceremony of the 150th year of Tagore Commemoration events. Later it will be given every year on the same date. The Award carries an amount of Rs one crore (convertible to foreign currency) and will be given to individuals, associations, institutions or organisations and is open to all regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The code of procedure has been finalized and uploaded on the website of Ministry of Culture. The nominations are being invited from the eminent persons as per the ‘code of procedure’ by Ministry of Culture.
· Swami Vivekananda
The 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is being commemorated under the directions of a National Committee headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister and National Implementation Committee chaired by Hon’ble Finance Minister.
An amount of Rs. 100 crores has been sanctioned for the Vivekananda Value Education Programme to R K Mission, Belur Math. Apart from this commemoration related proposal from various organizations are being supported by this Ministry through financial assistance. A proposal for establishment of “Swami Vivekananda Indian Ministry of Culture Chair” in University of Chicago, USA by grant of an endowment is also under advanced stage of sanction.
Other approved proposals which have been approved include production of a film on Swami Vivekananda at an estimated cost of Rs. 70 lakhs by Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT), renovation of 4 historical monuments by ASI at an estimated cost of Rs. 12.42 crore, upgradation of Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama (Vrindaban) hospital at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.70 crore, grant to Shree Ramakrishna Ashrama (Kalahandi) for carrying out various commemorative activities and for addition to their existing building with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 3.01 crore, grant to Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, Barrackpore for construction of an auditorium with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 1.36 crore, grant to Government of Assam for undertaking commemorative activities with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 53.19 lakhs.
In addition, many proposals are under active consideration. Few notable of them are - construction of Swami Vivekananda Cardiac Care and Diagnostic Centre at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 20.21 crores by Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan (Kolkata), grant to R.K. Mission Institute of Culture (Kolkata) for taking up various commemorative programmes at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 6.17 crores, grant to R.K. Vivekananda Smiriti Mandir (Khetri) for conservation of their building at an estimated cost of approx. Rs. 0.73 crores, grant for the renovation of Metropolitan Institution (Kolkata), a school, where Swami Vivekananda is stated to have studies at an estimates cost of approx. Rs. 1.10
Comments