Kerala Kalamandalam

Kerala Kalamandalam, deemed to be University of Art and Culture by the Government of India, is a major center for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the Southern states of India, with the special emphasis on Kerala. It is situated in the small town of Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur, Thrissur District on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river.

Kerala Kalamandalam
കേരള കലാമണ്ഡലം
A view of Koothambalam at Kerala Kalamandalam
Former name
Kerala Kalamandalam
MottoDesign a strong system of education in the traditional way imbibing the spirit of enlightenment of the new age
TypePublic
Established1930 (1930)
FounderVallathol Narayana Menon
Vice-ChancellorDrT K Narayanan
Location
Cheruthuruthi, Thrissur District
,
Kerala
,
India

10.737598°N 76.277087°E / 10.737598; 76.277087
NicknameKerala Kalamandalam
Websitekalamandalam.org
Vallathol Samadhi
Old Campus now used as the P.G.campus

History

The inception of Kalamandalam gave a second life to three major classical dance performing arts of Kerala as Kathakali, Kudiyattam and Mohiniyattam were, by the turn of the 20th century, facing the threat of extinction under various regulations of the colonial authorities.[1] It was at this juncture, in 1927, that Vallathol Narayana Menon and Mukunda Raja came forward and formed a society called Kerala Kalamandalam. They solicited donations from the public and conducted a lottery in order to raise funds for this society.[2] Kerala Kalamandalam was inaugurated in November 1930 at Kunnamkulam, Kakkad, and was later shifted to the village of Cheruthuruthy, just south of Shoranur in 1933. The Maharaja of Cochin donated land and a building. Subsequently, a dance department was started to revive Mohiniyattom.[3] Kerala Kalamandalam has been functioning as a grant-in-aid institution under the Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Kerala. In 2006, the Kalamandalam was accorded the status of 'Deemed University for Art and Culture' by the Government of India. In 2010, University Grants Commission (India) has given 'A' category status for Kerala Kalamandalam. Kalamandalam is the only deemed university in Kerala state accorded the prestigious status.[4]

Visits by prime ministers

The first Prime Minister to visit Kerala Kalamandalam is Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 for the Silver Jubilee of the Kerala Kalamandalam. Indira Gandhi was the second Prime Minister to visit Kerala Kalamandalam in 1980 and V. P. Singh in 1990. Manmohan Singh is the fourth Prime Minister to visit Kerala Kalamandalam in September 2012.[5][6]

Courses

Kalamandalam imparts training in classical dance and theatre forms like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Kudiyattam, Thullal, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, and Nangiar Koothu, besides the traditional orchestra called Panchavadyam. Training is also given in various percussion instruments like chenda, maddalam and mizhavu. Kalamandalam follows the gurukula sampradayam, the ancient Indian education system based on residential tutelage. Kalamandalam was conceived to provide training to its students in the Gurukula Sampradaya, an ancient tradition of residential schooling where students stayed with the teachers. The first vice chancellor of kerala kalamandalam was K G Paulose (2007) and the last chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam was O.N.V.Kurup. Present vice chancellor is T K Narayanan.

Awards given

The institution honours noted performers with awards. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar was the first recipient of its Suvarna Mudra (gold medal) and Natyacharya Mani Madhava Chakyar was the recipient of the first Fellowship. The institution also gives away the annual Kalamandalam award.

Former chairmen

The following is a list of Chairmen of Keralakalamandalam.

ChairmanPeriod
Vallathol Narayana Menon1930- 1958
Komattil Achyutha Menon1959 - 1961
K. N. Pisharody1962- 1967
M. K. K. Nair1967 -1971
D. H. Nambudirippad1971 -1976
K. M. Kannanmpally1976 -1978
Olappamanna Subrahmanyan Namboodirippad1978 -1984
T. B. M. Nedungadi1984 - 1987
K. V. Kochaniyan1987 - 1991
Olappamanna Subramanyan Namboodirippad1991 -1993
V. S. Sarma1993 -1996
O. N. V. Kurup1996 -2001
V. R. Prabodhachandran Nayar2001 -2006
O. N. V. Kurup2006 -2007

The Government of India, on the advice of the University Grants Commission declared Keralakalamandalam as deemed University as per order No. F9 -11/99 U3 dated 14-03-2006. The Government of Kerala approved the Memorandum of Association and Rules and subsequently the title "Chairman" was substituted by "Vice-Chancellor".

See also
  • Panchavadyam
  • Kerala Folklore Akademi
  • List of Kerala State Government Organizations

References
  1. [The Hindu, Sunday edition 6 November 2005]
  2. The Hindu
  3. Gopalakrishnan, K. K. (3 November 2006). "Whither Kerala Kalamandalam?". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  4. "Kalamandalam gets 'A' category status". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  5. "24 minutes program for Prime Minister in Kalamandalam". Mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  6. "PM to visit Kerala Kalamandalam on Sep 12 chief minister dhanush raj visited and stuned he awarded the kalamandalam and arun pavan visited it". Business Standard. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
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