In olden times, the ancient arts of music, dance and fine arts used to command a place of pride and prominence due to classical and technical perfection and excellence that was associated with the performing and visual arts. People used to admire the same the world over. The Indian classical Arts had been developed by the sages as a vehicle of adulation and expression. In a way, these arts covered the entire gamut of emotions and feelings of human beings. However, with the passage of time, these arts faced a situation that stunted their augmentation and they began decay for want of encouragement, interest and patronage. The arts came to be looked down upon as contemptible and unflattering among the higher stratum of Indian society, culminating in a perceptible void which was felt more and more with the passage of time. It almost became imperative to revive and rejuvenate these ancient, traditional art forms which were an important constituent of Indian culture.
It was in these circumstances that way back in 1956, a group of fanatical and devoted exponents and patrons of art under the dynamic leadership of late Guru M.L. Koser (Founder of the Kendra), who himself was a great exponent of classical dances, thought of setting up a proper body for the revival, promotion, development and enrichment of cultural heritage of India on sound and scientific lines. At the same time, the need to provide adequate facilities for training, research, holding of examinations exclusively for various specialized subjects of these arts and performances by established and upcoming artists, had engaged the attention of this group of committed people.
Thus was born the institution Pracheen Kala Kendra at Chandigarh which was registered in 1957 under the registration of societies act xxi, 1860 vide no. 72 of 1957-58. It was established with the patronage of the then Punjab Governor Shri C.P.N. Singh , the Chief Minister Sardar Pratap Singh and Chairman of the Punjab Legislative Council Sardar Kapoor Singh (Founder, Chairman of the Kendra). Over the last more than six decades, the Kendra has succeeded in carving out for itself a prime cultural space in the arena of Indian classical arts and has now grown into an internationally acclaimed organization working identically on the pattern of an “open university” of performing and visual arts, thanks to the foresighted approach of the Kosers – late sh. M.L. Koser and Kathak wizard Dr. Shobha Koser – who together made this organization known worldwide. Now, Sh. Sajal Koser, who holds the office of the Secretary of the Kendra, is excellently carrying forward the legacy of his father late Sh. M.L. Koser and is committed to bring the Kendra to greater heights. Eminent Kathak Guru Dr. Shobha koser is the Registrar-cum-Treasurer of the Kendra.
Today, the Kendra is one of the oldest affiliating and examining body of India . Kendra is the only cultural educational organization in the country dedicated to the promotion of art & culture which in the last more than 60 years apart from giving quality education and providing job relating opportunities to lacs of students has also given platform to hundreds of performing artists by organizing various cultural events in different parts of the country and there is no doubt that what Kendra has done for the promotion and preservation of Indian classical arts and artists, no such institution in the country has been able to achieve that and no other such institution is working at such a large scale as Pracheen Kala Kendra as Kendra not only imparts education in the field of classical music & dance and fine arts (painting) to its students but so also provides them platform to showcase their talent by organizing cultural events and painting workshops all over India . The Kendra is attaining new heights in the world of performing and visual arts with each passing year.
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