Kala Nidhi Division of IGNCA Celebrates Its 37th Foundation Day

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, observed the Kalānidhi Foundation Day with a formal academic and cultural programme at the Samvet Auditorium, Janpath Building, New Delhi.

Event Overview
- Date & Venue: 27th January 2026, Samvet Auditorium, Janpath Building, New Delhi.
- Occasion: 37th Foundation Day of the Kala Nidhi Division, the first division established at IGNCA.
- Theme: Preserving India’s knowledge traditions and inspiring future generations.

Distinguished Guests
- Chief Guest: Shri J. Nandakumar, National Organising Secretary, Prajna Pravah.
- Special Guest: Prof. Prateek Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Delhi Technological University.
- Distinguished Guest: Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH.
- Chair: Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President, IGNCA Trust.
- Opening Address: Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA.
- Welcome Address: Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh C. Gaur, Director & Head, Kala Nidhi Division.

Key Highlights
- Publications Released:
- Green Wisdom: Manipur
- Roots of Wisdom: Sikkim
- Whispers of the Forest: Arunachal Pradesh
- Illustrated Catalogue of Digitised Manuscripts (Volumes 8–13)
- Kalākalp: IGNCA Journal – Vasant Panchmi Issue 2026
- Exhibition: Crowning Jewels: The Illustrated Rare Books.
- Cultural Presentation: Vasant Utsav, reflecting IGNCA’s integrated approach to scholarship and living traditions.

Key Messages
- Shri J. Nandakumar: Emphasized Kala Nidhi as an intellectual pillar preserving civilizational knowledge, aligned with Bharat-centric National Education Policy.
- Shri Ram Bahadur Rai: Highlighted the role of indigenous healers and the importance of safeguarding traditional knowledge.
- Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha: Stressed examining knowledge beyond colonial frameworks, especially in Sanskrit studies.
- Prof. Prateek Sharma: Spoke on reconnecting with the guru-shishya tradition and integrated knowledge systems.
- Dr. Sunita Reddy: Advocated documenting oral traditions of non-codified healers and establishing knowledge huts at Panchayat level.
- Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi: Called Kala Nidhi the “heart of IGNCA,” noting its contributions to UNESCO recognitions (e.g., Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra under Memory of the World programme).
- Prof. R. C. Gaur: Highlighted Kala Nidhi’s pioneering role in manuscript preservation and digitization, now expanded into the National Mission for Manuscripts (Gyanbharatam).

Significance
- Reinforces IGNCA’s role as a knowledge hub for manuscripts, oral traditions, and cultural heritage.
- Strengthens India’s intellectual ecosystem by integrating traditional wisdom with modern scholarship.
- Expands access through digitization and cataloguing of manuscripts (292,000 documented so far).

✨ The celebration showcased IGNCA’s commitment to preserving India’s civilizational knowledge while making it accessible to scholars, policymakers, and future generations.