Objectives
Set-up in 1987 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, as a center for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts. ‘The Arts’ encompass a wide range of subjects – from archeology and anthropology to the visual and performing arts, enveloping them in a complementary and non-demarcated vision. In its functioning, the IGNCA has met its mandate and continues to work in this direction. It deals with research in the arts especially written, oral and visual; compilation of dictionaries and encyclopedia concerning the arts, folk and tribal art; relationship between the arts and contemporary ideas in philosophy, science and technology.
Major Activities and achievements
Since its inception, the IGNCA has several achievements to its credit. The Kalatattvakosa series, of which 6 volumes have been published, has become a major reference tool for scholarship in the fundamental concept of Indian arts. The Kalamulasastra, a series of publications of annotated text and translation of fundamental text, of which 21 works in 43 volumes have been published with original translations, glossaries and pictoral illustrations on rituals, Puranas, music and dance, architecture and sculpture, and other arts and aesthetics., etc, is another major contribution of the IGNCA. The IGNCA has also published the works of Ananda Coomaraswamy, Roman Rolland, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi and Banarsi Das Chaturvedi.
Detailed studies have been done on Santhals of West Bengal and Orissa, Meities of Manipur, Angami Nagas in Nagaland; Gujjars and Gaddi communities of Rajasthan.
It has over 2.5 lakhs manuscripts in microfilm in Sanskrit, Pali, Persian and Arbic and it has digitized over 1.5 crore pages of these manuscripts and many more outside its collection. It houses the audio cassettes of R.C. Rangra, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s recordings, Lance Dane’s collections on sculptures and figures in various media, Raja Deen Dayal’s original photographs and Elizabeth Sass Brunner’s paintings, etc.
The Cultural Informatics Laboratory of the IGNCA has pioneered the use of digital technology in the field of culture and it has lent its expertise to the Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum, National Manuscript Mission and other organizations under the Ministry of Culture.
11th Plan and Annual Plan 2007-08
A sum of Rs. 147.75 crores has been proposed for various activities of IGNCA during 11th Plan. A sum of Rs. 50 crores has been provided for the annual plan 2007-08. Out of this, about Rs. 33 crores will be required for the building project and maintenance.
Building Project
In the year 1985 the Union Cabinet approved the construction of Building Complex for IGNCA at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 crores. There were 8 Buildings in the original plan, however till date Kala Nidhi/Kala Kosa building is nearly completed. It was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister. Another building Sutradhara has been brought up to the basement level. In June 2006 a decision was taken at the level of PMO that Kala Nidhi-Kala Kosha would be fully completed and Sutradhara will be capped at ground level. CPWD has been entrusted the work. They have put forth an estimate of Rs. 33 crores. Funds are to be given to IGNCA through the Plan grant.
Steps being taken to improve the functioning of the IGNCA
Adequate allocation of funds:
The Government is committed to improve the functioning of the IGNCA and to restore its position as the pre-eminent organization for the arts, both nationally and internationally. In the 11th Plan, Rs. 50 crores have been provided for dedicated schemes and projects that would enlarge the already existing longstanding projects of the IGNCA in different fields. With the infusion of funds, it is expected that the pending activities that could not be taken up in the past due to paucity of funds would now be completed quickly. Both human and physical infrastructure would be enhanced.
Completion of Building:
The Government has also decided to get the 2 buildings completed through the CPWD for which funds have been earmarked in the Annual Plan. The Government is also committed to provide funds for maintenance of the IGNCA. This would substantially reduce the financial burden on the IGNCA in the years to come.
Construction of Building
A concert hall of 2000 seating capacity is planned to be constructed for which spade work has started.
Reconstitution of IGNCA
The IGNCA Trust has been reconstituted on May 17, 2007 with the following Members:-
Dr. Karan Singh
Dr. (Mrs) Kapila Vatsyayan
Shri Ratan Tata
Shri Salman Haider
Dr. Roddam Narasimha
Prof. A. Ramachandra
Shri C. Ghare Khan
Shri Kanti Bajpayee
Shri Anil Baijal
Dr. K.K. Chakravarty, Member Secretary
AD/SL