Social
Vision and Policy
Kālai Kāviri is a 'temple of arts' which has been fostering
the traditions of Tamil Nadu such as Bharatam, Carnatic vocal music
and instrumental music (on the veena, mridangam, violin and
harmonium). Until recently only people belonging to a particular caste, and
most usually a particular faith, had the opportunity to learn these arts. However, Kālai Kāviri College of Fine Arts has set a new trend
by providing others with the rare opportunity of learning these arts, whatever
their caste or creed.
Statistical Evidence
The number of students who passed through Kālai Kāviri from 1990 - 2002 has
been 734, the numbers growing annually to the present roll of some 260 students.
These 734 have been analysed according to their backgrounds and futures. The
results show Kālai Kāviri to be an agent of both social change and cohesion.
Rural/ Urban Proportions
Art is integral to the lives of rural people in India. It finds a place in
all their activities, their family functions, their work and their hobbies
and pastimes. However, while the people of cities tend to consider it an honour
to have arangetram, the people of villages are inclined to hesitate about dancing
on the stage. Even so, Kālai Kāviri has performed its Temple Programmes in
many villages and many village girls have been inspired to learn Bharatam and
Carnatic music. As a result, at Kālai Kāviri rural students have proved to
be more numerous, at 56 per cent of the 734 as against 44 per cent from cities.
Caste
Caste is something peculiar to Indian Society. Its categories have also been
recognised by the government because people had been classified as 'high',
'middle', 'low' and 'untouchable' on the basis of caste. Previously, it was
generally assumed that fine arts such as Bharatam and Carnatic music were exclusively
for the upper caste people.
Kālai Kāviri has broken this tradition and given the 'untouchables' a means
of excelling in these arts. Those who are officially known as 'backward caste'
students outnumber at 69 per cent the 'forward caste' students at 31 percent. Indeed, in many art schools, former students of Kālai Kāviri
who originate from the lower castes now teach many forward caste students. Is
this not a remarkable revolution?
Full-time schools for Bharatha Natyam and classical music which are run by
the Tamil Nadu government are few. Otherwise, teaching is traditionally on
an individual basis by a few experts, without objective standards being set,
and generally for those who can afford open-ended fees for the long periods
of training. Kālai Kāviri has sidestepped this tradition, as our figures show.
Income Levels
When the incomes earned by the parents of the students of Kālai Kāviri are
analysed, they show what inroads the College has made into the former situation.
The proportion of students having parents with low or nil income totals 65
per cent, far exceeding the 35 per cent proportion of students' parents with
middle or higher incomes.
Creed
India is a secular country. Even though people belonging to various religions
live in a spirit of brotherhood they have their own codes and conventions.
Generally in India, people whose affiliation is Christianity or Islam do not
accept women dancing on the stage but our statistics show a radical change.
In India as whole - and the state of Tamil Nadu is close to the national average
- 80 per cent of Indians are Hindus, only 2.3 per cent are Christians. However,
the statistics for our 734 students analysed show 53 per cent are Christians
and 46 per cent are Hindus. This suggests that Christians can be as proficient
in Bharatam as Hindus and as accepting of it (the Christian figures
even include 41 members of a religious congregation, mainly Sisters). Our figures
indicate Kālai Kāviri's commitment to an open policy of admissions in our sometimes
divided society.
Regional Cohesion
Kālai Kāviri is able to symbolise both national integration and international
openness. Of the 734 students, 589 have come from the state of Tamil Nadu and
70 from other states (including 10 from Pondicherry) and 75 students from the
four other countries of Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Mauritius.
Employment Prospects
Is there employment opportunity for those who have studied Bharatham and music?
Art is not just a pastime. When we look at the number of the employed students
with a degree from Kālai Kāviri we can easily understand that fine arts plays
a key role in helping them stand on their own feet. Of the former students
of Kālai Kāviri 61 per cent work as Music/Dance teachers in government/private
institutions, 17 per cent of former students have established their own schools
and earn adequately by training students. A further 5 per cent are involved
in running institutions in foreign countries or work there.
In these various ways, Kālai Kāviri is not only a
temple of arts but an ambassador of social change and cohesion.
Prof. M. Joseph Irudayaraj
(edited version of chapter in Resurgence 25th Anniversary
handbook)
