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Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture has been a centre for cultural activities since long. Artists from various disciplines have congregated at the Institute at different times to perform and to teach. A home away from home for them, they have not only enriched the lives of the people at the Institute but have come away enriched themselves. At the Institute, cultural activities are seen not only as a means of self expression but also of expressing God in life - a vibrant, colourful adoration of God.
The Institute regularly organizes attractive cultural programmes. Eminent artists of Kolkata and elsewhere offer solo or group performances quite often.
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| Shakti Centre
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Our cultural unit, offering classes in music, dance and painting had 430 students. The dance and music classes are being conducted by well known and talented artists. The faculty includes Kalyani Roy (Sitar), Siddhartha Roy Choudhury (Sarod), Amar Laha (Piano), Ramen Bhattacharya (Guitar), Sujit Saha (Tabla), Saoli Basu Roy (Synthesiser), Shanti Bose (Dance), Malay Bhattacharya (Katthak), Sucharita Sharma (Bharatnatyam and Manipuri), Kamalini Dasgupta (Orissi), Sudeshna Adhikari (Orissi), Kasturi Sengupta (Bharatnatyam and Mohiniattam), Roma Mondal (Rabindra Sangeet), Swastika Mukherjee (Devotional songs), Ajit Dey (Classical), Shyamal Mukherjee (Classical and Nazrul), Moushumi Ganguly (Classsical and all types of Bengali Songs), Alpana Sircar (Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul), Gopa Roy Choudhury ( Theory), Santwana Roy Choudhuri (Recitation) etc. This unit organizes various cultural programmes.
In the last week of November, 2003, Shakti Centre staged their annual programme. Students of the Centre presented a spectacular show on that date. The show was attended by the parents .
On 11th January, 2003 in the morning , Shakti Centre presented a cultural programme by its students at the open- air stage. It was part of the annual celebration - ASPIRATION.
The Sanjukta Panigrahi Memorial Dance Competition, Madhuri Mukherjee Memorial Devotional Songs Competition and Maya Mitra Instrumental Music Competition were held on
23rd, 24th and 25th January, 2003. respectively. Many competitors from the districts took part. These competitions were a grand success.
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| Language Classes
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The Institute runs language classes in French and English.
The French class, continuing for over 25 years, has met with widespread acclaim. More than 40 students on average per month have attended the French class in the last academic session.
Spoken English classes were conducted as before. An average of 17 students per month attended this class.
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| Yoga Classes
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Yoga classes are being conducted by Bishwasri Monotosh Roy. Enthusiasm for participation in Yogasana continues unabated, the student strength in the past year has been around 39 on an average per month. Classes are held once a week (Wednesday).
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| Library
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Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture has a well-stocked library with books on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The library is functioning smoothly. Apart from the Mother & Sri Aurobindo's works, books on religion, literature, philosophy serve as background reading for a better understanding of Sri Aurobindo's writings. Estimated total of these books is more than 8000. The Library has been given a new look for more readers' convenience. Library now remains open the whole day without any break.
There is a good collection of reference books and a number of rare books. One qualified librarian and two associates see to the efficient running of the library.
The Library has more than 395 members on its rolls with an average of 30 members visiting the library daily.
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| Publication - Books & Journals
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Basudhara has had a facelift which is widely appreciated and is now published twice a year on 15th August and 21st February.
Eminent geologist and devotee Sri Jajati Bhattacharya is the new editor of BASUDHARA. He has succeeded Shruti Ghosh. His interest and involvement with Basudhara in this very short period has been commendable.
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| ASPIRATION ~ Annual Exhibition and Cultural Programme
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Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture hosted ASPIRATION, an important facet of which is the Annual Exhibition of Aurobindo Ashram Products and Handicrafts in the beginning of the year. The products are sourced from Pondicherry and different Ashram Centres in Bengal. Rural artisans also put their work on display.
The celebrations, held from 10th to 18th January 2004, were inaugurated by eminent dancer Sri Govindan Kutty. Smt. K.C. Mehta the Deputy Resident
Commissioner of Nagaland also graced the occasion. West Bengal Centres' Meet was organised in this period.
The inaugural programme was a folk dance by the Naga Troupe. The other programmes featured Manas Chakraborty, Alokananda Roy, Bratati Bandopadhyay, and Satyananda Baul. The last day of the programme featured spectacular dance recitals by Bivabati Devi, Anasua Bandopadhyay and Asimbandhu
Ghose.
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| Tagore Birthday Celebration
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The birthday of Rabindra Nath Tagore was celebrated on May 9, 2003 at 6 p.m. with more than 40 famous Rabindra Sangeet Artists performing on that auspicious evening.
Smt. Roma Mondal directed the programme.
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| Darshan Celebrations
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On April 24, 2003, the Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry for permanent stay was celebrated. Eminent artist Sri Dilip Roy offered a recital of devotional songs. There was Darshan meditation followed by distribution of the message.
On 15th August, 2003, Sri Aurobindo's Birthday was celebrated. The School students presented a Cultural Programme and Abhirup Guha Thakurta offered Devotional songs. There was Darshan Meditation and lunch prasad.
On 24th November, 2003, Sri Aurobindo's Siddhi Day was celebrated and a steady stream of visitors came to pay their homage.
On 21st February,2003, The Mother's 125th Birth Anniversary was celebrated. The School students presented a Cultural Programme and Roma Mondal offered Devotional songs. There was Darshan meditation and lunch
prasad.
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| Regular programmes organized by the Institute during the year
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Regular classes and discourses were held.
Speaking on Fridays, Prof. Biswanath Roy completed his discourses on 'The
Mother' and started on the 'Four Aids".
Dr. Sikha Mukherjee spoke on the 'Gita' on the last Saturday of every month.
Dr. Roma Choudhury spoke on the 'Veda' every second Saturday.
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| Other important Ashram dates
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On 4th April, 2003, Sri Aurobindo's arrival at Pondicherry was celebrated. Mitali Sengupta offered a Bhajan Recital.
Sri Aurobindo's Relics Installation Anniversary was observed on June 24, 03. Mohan Singh offered devotional songs.
Special meditation was organised to celebrate Mahastami, Bijoya, Lakshmipuja and Kalipuja respectively.
On 17th November, 2003, the Mother's withdrawal from the physical body and on 20th November,2003, the Mother's Mahasamadhi Day were observed with respect. Meditation was arranged on both the days. Aparna Majumdar offered devotional songs on 17th November.
On 5th December, 2003, Sri Aurobindo's withdrawal from the physical body was celebrated with respect, Meditation was arranged on that day.
On 9th December, 2003, Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi Day, there was special meditation.
On January 1, 2004, there was Special Meditation in the morning followed by songs by Aniruddha Singha.
Golden day was celebrated on Feruary 29, 2004. Alok Roy Choudhury offered a vocal recital.
On March 29, 2004 , the Mother's first arrival in Pondicherry was celebrated. Kaushiki Bandopadhyay offered Devotional Songs on the occasion.
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| Other Programmes organized by the Institute during the year
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Bengali New Year's Day was celebrated on March 14, 2003. There was meditation with the voice of P.K. Bhattacharya and Rajashri Bhattacharjee offered a vocal recital.
The Institute observed for the first time a day of tribute to famous composers Atulprasad and Rajanikanta Sen, Dwijendralal and Dilip Kumar Roy, on July 5,03. Dr. Gobinda Gopal Mukhopadhyay was the Chief Guest and many
renowned artist offered homage through songs. Swastika Mukhopadhyay directed the programme. Dr. Sudhir Chakraborty spoke on the occasion.
Srimat Anirban's 108th Birth Anniversary was celebrated on July 9, 03. Dr. Rama Ranjan Mukherjee and Dr. Supriyo Bhattacharya spoke on the occasion. Aniruddha Singha, Apala Basu and Nupur Chhanda Ghosh offered songs.
On September 8, the Birth Anniversary of Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Gopinath Kaviraj was celebrated.
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| Galerie La Mere
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One of the most attractive art galleries in Kolkata, Galerie La Mere is so named to pay tribute to the Mother and was opened in homage to her wonderful artistic sensibilities. An eminent painter herself in the early twentieth century in Paris, she belonged to the famous Impressionist school.
The art gallery situated in the premises of the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture hosts numerous exhibitions of paintings by renowned painters of Bengal, all through the year. The gallery remains open for visitors everyday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Galerie La Mere hosted five exhibitions during this period.
A# Solo or Special Exhibitions:
#1 Exhibitions of photographs by Sri Amal Sengupta :
An exhibition of photographs of Sri Amal Sengupta was held in the gallery from September 7 to 23, 2003. Sri Sengupta is an acclaimed photographer of our times and had the privilege of taking photographs of many famous personalities in the cultural area. Eminent phtographer Nemai Ghosh inaugurated the exhibition and Pandit A.T. Kanan was present as Guest of Honour.
The famous cultural personalities whose photographs were exhibited were :
Amir Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Begum Akhtar, Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Udai Shankar, Alokananda Roy, V.G. Jog, Bahadur Khan, Indranil Bhattacharjee, Purabi Mukherjee, Usha Ranjan Mukherjee, Manas Chakraborti, Ullhash Koswalkar, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Siddheshwari Devi, Kumar Prasad Mukherjee, A. T. Kanan, Jainul Abedin, Amiyo Ranjan Banerjee, Mira Banerjee, Purnima Sen, Joya Biswas, Arun Bhaduri, Sutapa Talukdar, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Amit Mukherjee, Manilal Nag, Girija Devi, Aloka Kanungo, Kaveri Sen, Rani Karna, Bismillah Khan, Malabika Kanan, Bare Gulam Ali Khan, Asish Khan, Maya Chatterjee, Pandit Jasraj, Kalyani Bandopadhyay and Amala Shankar.
#2 Solo Exhibition of Sri Rabin Mondal :
A solo retrospective exhibition of Rabin Mondal, was held in the gallery from October 12 to 26, 2003. The thirty-six exhibited paintings were made in the period of 1956 to 2003. Eminent actor Soumitra Chatterjee inaugurated the exhibition and Sri Tapan Bandyopadhyay, Director of Culture, Govt. of West Bengal was present on the occasion. The exhibition created a stir among the art lovers of the city. Part of the exhibition was also filmed by Sri Buddhadev Dasgupta for the film he was making on the life of the artist.
#3 Solo Exhibition of Sri Ramananda Bandyopadhyay :
A solo exhibition of Sri Ramananda Bandoyopahyay was opened in the gallery from February 2, the birthday our beloved Joyadi and continued till Feb 16, 2004. A total of thirty - six paintings and drawings of Sri Bandyopadhyay, a great master of the Bengal School was exhibited during this period. Ms. Lee Alison Sibley, wife of American Consul General in Kolkata, inaugurated the exhibition.
B Exhibition by Female Artists :
" Parama " an exhibition of female artists only was held in the gallery from February 21 to March 7, 04. The exhibition is organized every year to observe the Birth Anniversary of The Mother. It was inaugurated by Smt. Mahasweta Devi . The participating artists were as follows :
Anita Roychowdhury, Anjali Sengupta, Arati Das, Arpita Basu, Arunima Chowdhury, Bageshree Datta, Bandana Nandi Majumdar, Bhaswati das, Chandrima Roy, Dipti Chakraborti, Geeta Maiti, Kabari Banerjee, Krishna Bandopadhyay, Monami Chowdhury, Nabaneeta Banerjee, Pala Sengupta, Santosh Rohatgi, Rupa Rajbongshi, Shakila, Shanu Lahiri, Sheila Kapur, Shibani Sengupta, Shyamashree Basu, Sohini Dhar, Stuti Sinha, Suktisubhra Pradhan,Swati Mukherjee, Tapati Sarkar, Uma Siddhanta.
C. Group Exhibitions :
Group Exhibitions "FREEDOM " (15.8.03 - 31.8.03) "DURGA" (25.9.03-10.10.03)and "LA MERE ANNUAL" (7.1.04 - 21.1.04) were held at Galerie La Mere.
The list of participating artists were as follows :
Amal Chakladar, Aditya Basak, Atin Basak, Amit Sarkar, Ashoke Mallick,Amitava Dhar, B.R. Panesar, Bageshree Datta, Biswarup Datta, Debabrata Chakraborty, Dipti Chakraborty, Goutam Chowdhury, Arunima Chowdhury, Hiran Mitra, Kishore Chatterjee, Manoj Mitra, Niranjan Pradhan, Suktisubhra Pradhan, Rabin Mondal, Ramlal Dhar, Sohini Dhar, Paritosh Sen, Parthapratim Deb, Sanatan Dinda, Tapan Mitra, Tapan Ghosh, Sanat Kar, Shakila, SuhasRoy, Shyamal Datta Roy, Siddhartha Sengupta, Munindra Rajbongshi, Nandadulal Mukherjee, Nabaneeta Javed, Dipali Bhattacharya, Ganesh Haloi, Narayan Chandra Sinha, Noor Ali, Ramananda Bandopadhyay, Krishna Bandopadhyay, Samir Aich, Goutam Basu, Bijoy Chakraborty, Panchu Gopal Datta, Isha Mohammad, Santanu Bhattacharya, Bishnupriya Ganguly, Tanmoy Bose, Uma Siddhanta,Shanu Lahiri, Wasim
Kapur.
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