INDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE: CULTURAL POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

INDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE: CULTURAL POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

When India became independent, the task before her was to realize and deepen the national unity for which Gandhiji dedicated his life and also to preserve the richness of its diversity. Considering the stupendous problems before the nation, it has to be conceded that a fair measure of success has been achieved in fulfilling the two – fold task. In less than two decades of freedom India had attained a degree of unity that had never before been achieved in her long history. A conscious attempt has been made to forge this u unity at the cultural s well as political levels. The integration of ‘native states’ into the Indian nation, the establishment of the three central academies of literature, music and fine arts the acceptance of Hindi as the national language, the recognition of the unifying role of English – these are only some of the steps in the direction of cultural consolidation. What is more important behind these practical steps is the deep love of the Indian people for their common heritage, consciousness of their unity which has manifested itself in moments of crisis and their will to advance as a nation.

The richness and diversity of regional cultures has bound opportunities for self – expression. The reorganization of states on linguistic and cultural lines has been an extremely significant step in this direction. The important point is that, by the large, the Indian people have not looked   upon diversity as an evil to be shunned. On the contrary, they have with increasing knowledge of the innumerable folk forms and regional traditions, come to regard it as a treasure to be cherished.

It was fortunate for India that in her hour of freedom the mantle of leadership fell on the shoulders of a man like Jawaharlal Nehru. Not only did Nehru love Indian culture, deeply but he was also like Tagore, completely imbued with the ideal of unity in diversity. This is borne out not only by the books he wrote but also by his speeches which were collectively published under the significant title. “The Unity of India”. Nehru carried to the remotest corners of this land the massager of confidence and taught the common man to take pride in his own culture.

Preservation of cultural heritage of the country, inculcation of art consciousness among the people and promotion of high standards of performing and creative arts, are some of the objectives of the state policy. In keeping with this, the Central and State Governments strive for the promotion of art and culture through national and regional academics of art, dance, drama, music and letters.

At the initiative of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 -1964), a number of Buddhist institutions were started in India. Amongst them were the School of Buddhist philosophy, led, and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, which are fully financed by the Department of Culture. The centre of culture Resources and Training was set up in 1979 as an autonomous organization fully financed by the Government. The centre has taken over the scheme of propagation of culture among college and school students. India has cultural agreements with 62 countries.

The Indian council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi established in 1950 as a corporate body under the Ministry of External Affairs, strives to remote and strengthens cultural relations and mutual understanding between Indian and other countries.

Nehru had a vision of the future and pride in the past. He was opposed to all that was conservative and obnoxious in Indian culture and patroshised its progressive and artistic aspects. The traditional art forms, classical and folk, Indian dance, music literature, painting, sculpture, art heritage, etc. Were all given encouragement? The three Academies set up by the Government of India in 1945 are engaged in promoting and providing patronage to Indian are and literature. As a result of the Government if India’s policy to promote and protect traditional art forms there has been a great revival of interest in folk and tribal music which has been brought to the stage in the cities. To promote music, the Sangeet Natak Academic awards fellowships to scholars, performers and teachers. The national school of Drama, New Delhi, set up in 1959, which is fully financed by the Government of India, imparts training in dramatic arts. All India Radio has contributed to creating an awareness and appreciation of Indian music – classical, light classical, folk and tribal. Young artists of outstanding promise in the age group of 18 – 28 are awarded 75 scholarships every year for advance training in music, classical forms of Indian dances, traditional theatre, drama and painting, talented children in the age group of 10 =-14 are awarded 100 scholarships every year for developing their talent in various fine arts, such as music, dance, painting, sculpture, etc. To provide basic financial support to outstanding persons for creative works in various fields of the performing plastics and literature arts various schemes have been introduced.

The government of India has taken special care to develop museum which are the repositories of cultural, historical, technical, industrial or other kinds of material. Since independence a number of important museums have been seet up. There are 375 museuiums in the country. The National Museum, established in 1948, in one of the premier museums in the country and its main activities are in the fields of acquisition, exhibition, publication and conservation. To develop global appreciation for Indian art and culture, the Government of India has been organizing the ‘Festival of India’ in important world capitals, since 1978.

In short, the Government of India’s cultural policy has been directed towards achievements of our objectives: (I) preservation and promotion of India’s rich cultural heritage; (II) creation of cultural awareness in the country: (III) preservation of unity in diversity in order to p remote national integration; and (IV) promotion and porayal of cultural outsider India through ‘Festivals of India’ and cultural agreements with various countries.

To preserve and promote India’s rich cultural diversities the Government of India has established regional cultural centres representing each cultural zone. Indira Gandhi National centre of Art and culture had also been established in New Delhi as an archive and repository of Indian art and culture.