About The CD-ROM

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is a premier national institution engaged in the pursuit of knowledge of arts and culture. It has several activities such as research, publication, training, documentation, dissemination and networking and has grown as the largest repository of information pertaining to the arts in India. the Centre defines "arts" in a broad-based framework to include every aspect of life and creativity from architecture, sculpture, music, dance, literature, pottery, puppetry, weaving and embroidery to rituals, belief systems, myths, fairs, and festival - in short, it includes any activity with an aesthetic import.

IGNCA seeks to provide a forum for creative and critical dialogue between the diverse art-forms on the one hand, and between the arts and current knowledge systems on the others. Its objectives are: (i) to serve as a major resource centre for the arts, especially primary material, written, oral, auditory, audio-visual, pictorial, etc.; (ii) to undertake research and publication programmes of reference works, glossaries, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, fundamental texts in the arts, humanities and cultural heritage; (iii) to establish tribal and folk arts collection for undertaking, promoting and facilitation systematic scientific studies in this area.

The Cultural Informatics Laboratory of IGNCA has been engaged in applying the benefits of digital technology for the service of India's diverse art traditions and heritage. The projects the multimedia lab reflect the inter-disciplinary approach of the Centre. Since multimedia is a powerful tool for digital storage of material, it is considered a suitable medium to reflect this holistic approach. The technology combines virtual walkthrough, audio, video, text, graphics and animation within a platform and has the potential to allow users to see or hear the past. CIL employs an integrated methodology to develop interactive multimedia applications to access diverse media viz architecture, sculpture, iconography, epigraphy, textual sources, music, dance, painting, festivals, rituals, oral (living) traditions, etc., to create state-of-the-art interactive systems. Some projects are planned in collaboration with research institutions and experts doing pioneering work in this area. Technology is helping scholars and educationalists to carry out research and reduce time and effort in library and field work.

The present CD-ROMs on Ajanta is an attempt to provide comprehensive knowledge and visual experience on Ajanta, a major heritage site of India, included in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage monument. From view point of technology, the site poses challenges, as the caves are endangered due to ravages of time. The valuable murals are a serious concern for the conservationists photography restrictions have been imposed as a conservation measure albeit for this reason the photographs in this CD-ROM are taken in the available lighting condition.

The identification of Jatakas and scenes from the life of the Buddha and other devotional and ornamental depictions are based on the identifications by Dieter Schlingloff and Monika Zin.