Hyderabad|India|March'2009: The First Dr. Nataraj Ramakrishna Lecture on Arts & Culture was delivered by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan at the University of Hyderabad on 12th March 2009. Present at the lecture was the well known Dance exponent Dr. Nataraj Ramakrishna himself. Dr. Kapila spoke on the topic – Arts in the University System.

In her lecture Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan stressed upon the importance of Arts & Culture in the University System and pointed out that its establishment as an integral academic component in the University system is a recent tradition. She talked extempore on various dance forms and their origin. She stressed that pure textual tradition has no relevance to the modern study of dance, without linking it to the sociological and historical contexts. She criticized that culture and tradition are reduced to cultural programmes in the educational institutions. She has words of praise to University of Hyderabad for having cluster of disciplines of Arts, Fine Arts in its system of education. She emphasized that every tribal and folk dance should be transformed into a classical dance.

Prof. Seyed E Hasnain, VC, University of Hyderabad presided over the lecture. Prof. Vinod Pavarala, Dean, S N School of Fine Arts, Performing Arts & Communication welcomed the gathering and also introduced the speaker, Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan. Prof. J Anuradha, Head, Department of Dance introduced Guru Nataraj Ramakrishna.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hasnain said that it was an honour to institute an annual lecture in the name of Guru Nataraj Ramakrishna at the University of Hyderabad, an institute with which Guruji was associated for a long time. He also told that the presence of Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan on the University campus for delivering this lecture was a rare honour.

Guru Nataraj Ramakrishna later donated his most valuable Gold Lotus which he received as an honour towards his contributions to Andhra Natyam, to the University of Hyderabad.
 

Reachout's News Bureau
 March' 2009