Pandarika Vitthalotsava
Pandarika Vitthala is a 16th century scholar who has contributed immensely to Indian Art and Culture. Hailing from Karnataka, Pandarika was an authority in music, dance, rhetoric and lexicology of both the South and the North, in both experiential and texual traditions. He has composed Sadraga Chandrodaya, Ragamanjari, Ragamala, Nartananirnaya and Dutikarma Prakasha. Emperor Akbar, impressed with the profoundity and versatility of this scholar performed the golden tulabhara (weighing against gold) for Pandarika and bestowed the title of `Akabariya Kalidasa’.
Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, the Governor of Karnataka-inaugurated a cultural festival and international seminar on October 4-5, 2002 in the memory of Pandarika in Bangalore. In his keynote address MahamahopadhyayaDr. R. Satyanarayana, the conceptualiser of the seminar, explained the structure of the festival, which was divided into textual and experiential. While scholars discussed the textual aspects, renowned artists performed in the evening demonstrating the textual nuances at a practical level.
Shri K.H. Ranganath, Hon’ble Minister for forest and Environment, Karnataka represented Shri S.M. Krishna Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnatka, who was unable to attend the function. The Chief Minister’s message acknowledged the contribution of Pandarika to society and compared him to an enduring bridge of national integration between the past and the present. Shri. T.N. Chaturvedi, in his inaugural address, greatly appreciated the idea of the festival and seminar. He urged the Centre to also explore and document the marginalised art forms including folk arts. Radhika Nandakumar presented a Bharatanatyam performance in the evening.
The next day, Dr. N. Ramanathan, Head of the Dept of Music, University of Madras spoke on `Sadragachandrodaya of Pandarika Vitthala’ Dr. Emmie te Nijenhuis from Netherlands who heads a research institute `Sarasvati Bhavan’ spoke on `Comparative study of Raga chapters of Pandarika Vitthala’s works with contemporary Treatises’. Dr. Anradha Jonnalagadda, Reader (dance faculty) Hyderabad Central University, spoke on `Nartyadhikarna of Nartananirnaya’. In the second session, moderated by Dr. N. Ranganathan, vid. Akella Mallikarjuna Sharma, former Principal of Govt. Music College, Hyderabad spoke on `Novel talaprasthas of Pandarika Vitthala.’
The second presentation was by Bangalore K. Venkataraman, well known ghatam vidwan. He spoke on `Treatment of Mrdanga and Tala (cymbals) in Nartananirnayaa.’ The third presentation was by Prof. T.S. Satyavati, well-known artiste of Bangalore.
She spoke on `Tala descriptions by Pandarika Vitthlala. The fourth presentation was by (Prof.) Dr. Indrani Chakravarti, Vice Chancellor, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh (Chattisgarh) on `Veena keyboards of Pandarika Vitthala. The third session of the seminar was moderated by Prof. Indrani Chakravarti. Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao, one of the greatrest repositories of traditional knowledge, spoke on `Ragamala paintings and Pandarika Vittala’s Ragaragini description.’ Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh, who is the only avadhani to perform in eitht different languages spoke on `Raga and Rasa in Pandarika Vitthala’s Works.’
Prof. R. C. Mehta, former Principal of Music College of Baroda and Secretary, All India Musicological Society spoke on `Searching for relatedness of Pandarika Vitthala to the Contemporary Music of the Akbar’s court’ and Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal, art historian and Prof. of art at Chitrakala Parishat, Bangalore spoke on `Dootikarma Prakasha and Sheegra Bodhini Namamala of Pandarika Vitthala. `Two lecture demonstrations one by Vid. Nandakumar who demonstrated while explaining `Treatment of some intervals and scales by Pandarika Vitthala’ and the other by Smt. Aloka Kanungo, an Oddissi dancer-choreographer from Kolkotta on Bandha Nritya formed the last session. Hon’ble Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Sri H.N. Ananth Kumar was the Chief Guest at the valedictory. By organising the Pandarika Utsav, IGNCA has made a significant contribution to the field of musicology he said. He hoped that the expert team of Prof. Krishna Bhat, Prof. N.R. Shetty and veteran scholar and journalist, M.V. Kamath as members of the committee would visualize and conceptualize the dream of establishing a center of international excellence in arts at Jnanabharati, Bangalore.
With the Union Government having bestowed an initial amount of R. five crore and with ten acres of land bestowed by the Karnataka government it will be auspicious, he said, to begin construction onVijayadashami. He suggested that the essence of the festival can be disseminated through festivals commemorating musicologists, and organising workshops and performances by artists at various towns.
Sr. H.M. Revanna, Hon’ble Minister for Sericulture of Karnataka, in his Presidential address expressed his pride in belonging to Mgadi taluk, of which Sathnur is part. The delegates visited Sathnur.
A Photographer’s tribute to the victims of terrorist attack in the US last year.
IGNCA hosted an exhibition of photographs by Shri Kamal Sharma. Mr. Sharma, a sportsphotographer, was on a visit to the US when the WTC attacks took place. He captured in the camera the agonizing moments of the tragedy. IGNCA, which affords space for photography in the sphere of the Arts hosted the exhibition, which was inaugurated by Mr. Arun Jaitley, former Union Minister on September 9, Mr. Kapil Dev was the Chief Guest at the function. (Photographs on inside back cover).
[ Newsletter | List of Newsletter ]