Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, devoted to the research, preservation, and promotion of India’s artistic and cultural heritage. Established in 1987, the Centre embodies the vision of Smt. Indira Gandhi, who envisaged an institution that would explore the interconnections among various forms of art and culture, recognising both their individual integrity and their mutual interdependence. The IGNCA serves as a premier resource centre for the study and experience of all forms of art—traditional, folk, classical, and contemporary—integrating knowledge systems across disciplines.

Establishment and Background

The IGNCA was formally registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and its foundation stone was laid on 19 November 1985 by Shri Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, marking the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi. The Centre was conceived as a multidisciplinary and multidimensional cultural institution, embracing the entire spectrum of Indian artistic expressions.
Through its programmes, IGNCA seeks to underpin fundamental research in the arts and humanities and their inter-relationship with fields such as science, physical and material metaphysics, anthropology, and sociology. Its establishment reflects the national commitment to preserving India’s cultural identity while fostering innovation and dialogue between traditional and modern art forms.

Objectives

The key objectives of the IGNCA include:

• To study, document, and preserve India’s diverse art forms and cultural traditions.
• To promote interdisciplinary research across the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts.
• To serve as a resource and reference centre for tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
• To support artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners through fellowships, grants, and scholarships.
• To facilitate dialogue between traditional and contemporary art forms for creative continuity.
• To develop digital archives and public access platforms for education and heritage conservation.

Functions and Powers

As an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, IGNCA functions as the premier national centre in the field of arts, with its headquarters located at New Delhi. It performs the following functions:

• Serving as a major resource centre for the arts, maintaining extensive written, oral, and visual source materials.
• Undertaking research and publication programmes to produce reference works, glossaries, dictionaries, and encyclopaedias concerning the arts and humanities.
• Establishing a tribal and folk arts division with a core collection for scientific study and live presentations.
• Providing a forum for creative and critical dialogue through performances, exhibitions, multimedia projections, conferences, seminars, and workshops that link diverse art traditions, both traditional and contemporary.

Organisational Structure

The IGNCA is governed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by the Minister of Culture, Government of India, with a Member Secretary serving as the executive head responsible for administration. The institution’s headquarters is located at Mansingh Road, New Delhi, with regional centres in Bengaluru, Varanasi, and Guwahati that ensure its nationwide reach and collaboration.

• Southern Regional Centre, Bengaluru (established 2001): Focuses on the cultural heritage and artistic traditions of southern India.
• Varanasi Regional Centre (established 1998): Engages in the publication of the Kalātattvakośa series, a lexicon of fundamental concepts in Indian art.
• North-Eastern Field Centre, Guwahati: Collaborates on programmes related to the culture-rich communities of the north-eastern region.

Divisions and Programmes

The IGNCA functions through six major divisions, each addressing a distinct aspect of Indian art and cultural study:

1. Kala Nidhi (Library and Documentation Division)
   • A multi-form library housing rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and journals on art and culture.
   • Maintains archives of audio-visual materials and field recordings documenting performances, rituals, and oral traditions.
   • Symbolised by the Asoka tree (Saraca Indica), representing fertility and interdisciplinary integration.
2. Kala Kosha (Research and Publication Division)
   • Conducts research on Indian aesthetics, philosophy, and cultural history.
   • Publishes scholarly works such as The Dictionary of Indian Art and Artists and the Kalātattvakośa series.
   • Associated with the Arjuna tree (Terminalia), symbolising clarity, purity, and direction.
3. Janapada Sampada (Folk and Living Traditions Division)
   • Focuses on documenting and promoting India’s folk, tribal, and oral traditions.
   • Conducts ethnographic and field research on regional art forms and community-based cultural practices.
   • Represented by the Nyagrodha tree (Ficus Bengalensis), symbolising growth and rootedness.
4. Kala Darshana (Exhibitions and Programmes Division)
   • Organises exhibitions, cultural performances, and film screenings.
   • Acts as the executive unit transforming research into visual experiences.
   • Associated with the Kadamba tree (Anthocephallus cadamba), representing joy, mirth, dance, and music.
5. Sutradhara (Administrative Division)
   • Serves as the organisational backbone, coordinating all activities and administrative functions of the Centre.
   • Symbolised by the Asvattha tree (Ficus Religiosa), the Bodhi tree, signifying spiritual enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge.
6. Cultural Informatics Laboratory (CIL)
   • Develops digital databases and e-resources to facilitate online access to cultural materials.
   • Implements technology-driven projects such as the National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA) and the Digital Repository of Indian Heritage.

Major Initiatives and Projects

The IGNCA undertakes a variety of national-level projects to preserve, document, and disseminate India’s cultural wealth:

• National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA): A flagship digital preservation initiative for India’s audiovisual heritage.
• Vedic Heritage Portal: A digital platform providing access to Vedic texts, interpretations, and audio recitations.
• Cultural Mapping of India: A comprehensive digital database documenting artists, art forms, and cultural institutions nationwide.
• Mausam Project: An initiative highlighting the historical maritime and cultural linkages among Indian Ocean countries.
• Indian Digital Heritage (IDH): Collaborative projects integrating technology and heritage documentation.

Academic and Public Engagement

The IGNCA actively promotes education, research, and public engagement through a wide range of initiatives:

• Lectures, seminars, and workshops on art, philosophy, history, and cultural studies.
• Collaborations with universities and international institutions for research, exchange, and training programmes.
• Cultural festivals and exhibitions, including Lok Gatha Utsav, Rukmini Devi Festival, and Samvedana.
• Publications such as research journals, catalogues, and translations of classical works.
• Fellowships and scholarships supporting research in visual and performing arts, cultural conservation, and interdisciplinary studies.

Symbolism of the Five Trees of IGNCA

During the inauguration of the Centre, five trees of symbolic significance in Indian civilisation were planted by Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Each tree embodies the essence of one of IGNCA’s core divisions:

• Asvattha (Ficus Religiosa): Symbol of enlightenment and consciousness, associated with Sutradhara.
• Nyagrodha (Ficus Bengalensis): Symbol of rootedness and interconnected growth, associated with Janapada Sampada.
• Asoka (Saraca Indica): Symbol of fertility and creativity, associated with Kala Nidhi.
• Arjuna (Terminalia): Symbol of clarity and direction, associated with Kala Kosha.
• Kadamba (Anthocephallus cadamba): Symbol of joy and artistic expression, associated with Kala Darshana.

Through its comprehensive framework and interdisciplinary vision, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts continues to serve as a dynamic hub for the preservation, study, and propagation of India’s rich artistic and cultural legacy, integrating ancient wisdom with modern research methodologies.