IGNCA Trust Meets the Prime Minister on its 39th Foundation Day
IGNCA’s 39th Foundation Day: A Grand Celebration of Culture from 19–21 March
19th March, New Delhi: The 39th Foundation Day of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) commenced with the grand inauguration of three significant exhibitions. The exhibitions were inaugurated by the Chairman of the IGNCA Trust, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, the Member Secretary, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, and esteemed members of the Trust, including noted lyricist and poet Prasoon Joshi. Prior to this, the Chairman, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, along with the Member Secretary, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, and 14 members of the Trust, met the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
On this occasion, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, addressing the delegation, referred to the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum and said that what was once a centre of power has now been transformed into a centre of culture. He reiterated that earlier the North and South Blocks symbolised centres of power, but this has now changed. The Hon’ble Prime Minister further said that a sense of history is essential, and that cultural organisations like the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts have played a crucial role in kindling this sense of history among people. Adding to this, he emphasised that it is pertinent to understand Bharat through a feeling of ‘Swa’.
The members comprising Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Ex- Rajya Sabha M.P., Shri Harshavardhan Neotia, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Dr. Bharat Gupt, Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Shri Devendra Sharma, Ms. Rathi Vinay Jha, Prof. Nirmala Sharma, Shri Birad Yajnik, Prof. Kuldeep Agnihotri, Ms. Vandana Jain, and Shri Parsoon Joshi met the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
On this occasion, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai said that in the last ten years since he assumed the Chairmanship of IGNCA, the institution has transitioned from an elite institution to an institution of every Indian, evolving into a democratic centre of culture for the people of this country. The other trustees agreed and echoed the same sentiments, collectively viewing the last decade as a period of cultural renaissance. It is also noteworthy that the past decade has been smooth, with no controversy in any sense, and successful in all respects.
Following this, as part of the IGNCA Foundation Day Celebrations 2026, the Kalakosh Division organised a significant programme for the release and discussion of the eighth volume of the important book series Kalātattvakosha. The volume was released by the Prof. Sudhir Lall, HoD Kalakosh, Prof. Arya Bhushan Shukla, Head, Bharatiya Vidya Prayojana along with Prof. Maruti Nandan Tiwari, Prof. Rajnish Kumar Mishra, and Prof. Omnath Vimali. In their addresses, the speakers underlined the importance of Kalātattvakosha in understanding the fundamental concepts of Indian art and described it as an important document of the Indian knowledge tradition. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from scholars, researchers, and art enthusiasts. Prof. Sudhir Lall, delivered the welcome and introductory address, highlighting the background, objectives, and distinctive features of the project and this volume. Scholars and participants present on the occasion described the publication as a significant achievement in the field of Indian art studies and appreciated IGNCA’s efforts in this direction.
Among the special exhibitions organised on this occasion, the photographic exhibition ‘Kaladrishti: A Decade of Vision’ emerged as a major attraction. The exhibition presents, through photographs, a glimpse of IGNCA’s rich journey over a decade from 2016 to 2026. Other exhibitions include ‘Breathing Hides – The Soul of Andhra Puppetry’, a narrative exhibition based on the traditional leather puppetry of Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, an exhibition focusing on the ‘Thewa: Lesser Known of Rajasthan’ has also been curated. These exhibitions introduce visitors to rare and living artistic traditions of India.
It is noteworthy that the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is celebrating its 39th Foundation Day from 19 to 21 March 2026. The Foundation Day celebrations present a grand celebration of Indian art, culture, and traditions. On this occasion, IGNCA is showcasing the many dimensions of India’s cultural expressions through classical dance, folk arts, traditional practices, and curated exhibitions. On the first day, 19 March at 7:00 PM, renowned Nritya Guru, cultural scholar, and former Rajya Sabha Member, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh captivated the audience with her presentation ‘Natya Katha – Devi.’
On the second day, 20 March at 7:00 PM, eminent cultural thinker, Bharatanatyam exponent, and Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam will present a special dance-theatre performance based on the Bhagavad Gita, bringing its philosophical messages to life through movement and expression.
The third day, 21 March, will be dedicated to India’s diverse folk traditions and martial arts. The programme will begin at 4:00 PM with the Bagurumba dance of Assam, followed by ‘Nati’ dance from Himachal Pradesh, Talwar Raas from Gujarat, the ancient martial art Kalaripayattu from Kerala, the Kabir singing tradition of Madhya Pradesh, and will conclude with engaging Sufi and Kabir musical performances.
This Foundation Day celebration stands as a reflection of IGNCA’s continued commitment to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of India’s cultural traditions. It also provides a platform for dialogue across diverse art forms, highlighting the confluence of tradition and contemporary expression.
