AUSPICIOUS DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN THE MUSIC AND DANCE HISTORY OF PONDICHERRY

October 28, 2005

The PONDICHERRY MUSIC AND DANCE ARTISTES ASSOCIATION had an auspicious start on the eve of the Navarathri (Durga Puja) celebrations on November 3rd 2005. The association that has a representative membership from all music and dance institutions of Pondicherry held its inaugural function at the Sri Sringeri Sivaganga Mutt’s

Saradha Temple premises in Pondicherry.

Amma, Kalaimamani MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI lit the traditional lamp to kick start the camaraderie charged evening. She was also later honoured along with the most senior and eminent music and dance Gurus of Pondicherry.

The noted musicologist Kalaimamani Tanjore BM SUNDARAM presided over the function and expressed his pleasant surprise at the coming together of so many musicians and dancers of Pondicherry. He pointed out that, “When there are two musicians, there are three views!!”

“Artistes of Pondicherry will be an example of unity” opined the noted educationist and economist Dr M RAMADASS who is Pondicherry’s elected representative to the Indian Parliament. He extolled the benefits of music and advised the association members to create a learned and appreciative audience for these classical arts of India that need to be rejuvenated in the modern times.

The association was officially inaugurated by the honorable chief minister of Pondicherry Shri N RANGASAMY who offered all assistance to the association in its mission of creating a cultural revolution in Pondicherry.

Shri AM KRISHNAMURTHY, member of the Pondicherry legislature expressed his deepest regards for the spiritual nature of Indian music and assured all support for the noble efforts of the association.

The director of the Pondicherry Kendra of All India Radio, Thiru Srinivasan spoke of the need to support the music world and explained how this was earlier taken up by All India Radio and now new organizations must take up the responsibility after the part 50 years

Senior most eminent music and dance Gurus of Pondicherry who were honoured by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries on the occasion included Shri Krishnamurthy, Kalaimamani V Manikannan, Kalaimamani I Pattabhiraman, Shri Keshavan, Shri Balasundaram, Shri T R Krishnamurthy, Smt Kamala Pasupathy and Smt Shanti Gopalakrishnan. Amma, Kalaimamani Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Kalaimamani Smt Jayashree Narayanan were the dance Gurus honoured by the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Smt Shanti Gopalakrishnan presented an exhilarating Carnatic vocal concert on the occasion that was followed by a dance performance by students of Kalaimamani Smt Jayashree Narayanan.

The inaugural function was followed by a nine day NAVARATHRI MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL 2005 organised by the Pondicherry Music and Dance Artistes Association with the cooperation and encouragement of the management of the Sri Sringeri Saradha Temple. More than 300 artistes performed during the ten day celebration that had more than 35 performances by senior and junior music and dance artistes of Pondicherry. The camaraderie that was displayed by the artistes throughout the ten days was heart warming and it is hoped that this will herald the dawn of a new era in the music and dance

history of Pondicherry.

Office bearers of the association include Kalaimamani Dr Arimalam S Padmanabhan (President), Kalaimamani Shri K Rajamanikkam (Vice President), Sangeetha Bhushanam Shri V Jagatheesan (Secretary), Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani (Joint Secretary), Sri N V Sathyamurthy (Treasurer), Sri AL Ramasamy (Joint Treasurer).

Active members of the executive committee include Shri VS Balamurali, Smt Lalitha Rajulu, Shri Thovalai V Shivakumar , Shri K Kichenane, Shri D Saravanan, Shri S Soundaravadivelu, Shri S Janarthanan, Shri S Suresh Kumar and Shri M Angappan

The noble aims and objectives of the Pondicherry Music and Dance Artistes Association are:

To form a nucleus of people devoted to the Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, colour or condition.

To preserve, cherish and propagate the unique cultural heritage of India through the traditional fine arts of classical music and dance

To foster national integration as well as social and religious harmony through the fine arts thus transcending all man made barriers.

To propagate and promote the traditional fine arts of classical music and dance in the union territory of Pondicherry

To take necessary steps in order to obtain benefits for the local artistes from various art and culture departments / bodies / institutions under the state and central governments

To work towards the upliftment and development of the classical music and dance artistes of Pondicherry

To create a conducive and innovative environment to facilitate the conduct of traditional music and dance performances in various government functions as well as temple and other public celebrations

To bring about the unification of all the Pondicherry based music and dance artistes under one representative banner

To facilitate and coordinate the integration and interaction between music and dance artistes practising these historically and culturally interwoven art forms

To create a healthy interest amongst the general public of Pondicherry in regard to the traditional fine arts of classical music and dance

To create an awareness about the greatness of these traditional fine arts amongst the younger generation of Pondicherry

To encourage the budding artistes and students of these traditional fine arts and to help further their artistic development

To conduct various interactive programmes and competitions in different age groups for the purpose of developing a keen interest in these fine arts

To conduct various monthly performing events as well as lecture demonstrations for the general public of Pondicherry in order to create and sustain interest and awareness amongst them for these art forms and to introduce them to the nuances of these great arts

To conduct such performances in neighboring and surrounding rural areas of the union territory of Pondicherry

To felicitate and honor the eminent and deserving local artistes of classical music and dance in an appropriate manner

To support and sustain the aged and economically weak local music and dance artistes

To prepare a comprehensive directory of music and dance artistes of Pondicherry and issue identity cards to such artistes

To conduct regular symposia and seminars on music and dance related topics

To conduct regular workshops and other skill enhancing activities for the music and dance artistes of Pondicherry

To receive donations, gifts and legacies from those sympathetic to the objects of this Association when such benefactions are unencumbered and unrestricted.

To form, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the State of Pondicherry, an association legally empowered to receive and disperse such donations, gifts and legacies as a non-profit association.

We at Yoganjali Natyalayam the cultural wing of Ananda Ashram, offer our unstinted support to the attainment of these noble aims of the association and pray our Guru Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj who was a great Rasika (lover of the fine arts) to bless us all so that we can become true vehicles of these divine artistic and cultural treasures of mother India.

All music and dance artistes of Pondicherry as well as music lovers are welcome to join the Pondicherry Music and Dance Artistes Association which is a registered Non-profit association and is located at 6, 5th Cross, Velmurugan Nagar, Pondicherry- 13. Contact telephone number is 0413-2241402