‘Triveni’
is devoted to Art, Literature, and History. Its main function is to interpret
the Indian Renaissance in its manifold aspects.
‘Triveni’
seeks to draw together cultured men and women in all lands and establish a
fellowship of the spirit. All movements that make for Idealism in India as well
as elsewhere, receive particular attention in these columns. We count upon the
willing and joyous co-operation of all lovers of the Beautiful and the True.
May
this votive offering prove acceptable to Him who is the source of the
‘Triveni’–the Triple Stream of Love, Wisdom and Power!
…………he
that laboureth right for love of Me
shall
finally attain! But, if in this
Thy
faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure!
–THE
SONG CELESTIAL
By K. RAMAKOTISWARA RAU*
With the revised British offer on the one side and
the Bombay decisions of the All India Congress Committee on the other, Indian
politics enters on a new phase. One provincial legislature after another has
been dissolved and preparations are afoot for elections to the assemblies at
the Centre and in the Provinces. A Constituent Assembly, which will also
function as a treaty-making body, will emerge from the new legislatures
sometime in May of next year, though the manner of constituting this body has
been left, like so much else in the British offer, vague and undefined. The
importance of the coming elections has been realised by all thinking men in
India, for even the proposed interim Government at the Centre will be formed in
consultation with representatives of the provincial legislatures. Political
parties and groups are anxious to determine-so far as elections on a restricted
franchise can determine–the country’s destiny. There is an eager looking
forward to the elections and to what lies beyond them.
The Congress, as the leading political organisation, and as the spearhead of resistance to British Imperialism, is launching the campaign of the fundamental issue of Indian independence and the immediate transfer of power. Other parties might keep communal or sectional interests in the forefront of their programs or seek to impose conditions before aligning themselves with the fighters for freedom; but the Congress, claiming to represent the nation as a whole, can have no mental reservations. Its aim is as noble as its methods are pure. Organising the coming elections is but a part, albeit an important part, of its programme. The forces of progress must be so marshaled as to make the winning of Indian independence to signal for the independence of all those that are oppressed and downtrodden. It was in this context that the Congress sent its greetings to the Nationalists of Indonesia and Indo-China who are refusing to bend under the yoke of Dutch or French imperialism. To lovers of freedom everywhere, the Congress extends its hand of fellowship; whatever sacrifices it may be called upon to make will eventually benefit the cause of human liberty. Its nationalism is thus the prelude, and the necessary background, to an exalted internationalism, and its basic concepts of truth and non-violence must usher in a new era in international relations.
It is right that the Communists should resign from
the Congress. After August 1942, the divergence in aims and methods between
them and the Congress became acute. While the Congress was in prison and could
not even function as a legal body, the Communists of India spread themselves
all over the land, built up their strength, and used every means to discredit
the Congress and destroy its influence. For three years, they went on
unchecked. Sailing under Congress colours and confusing people’s minds with
their slogans, they preached the gospel of a ‘people’s war’, conveniently
forgetting that the people of India and their accredited leaders were opposed
to all effort in favour of a war which they considered an Imperialist one.
Thinking primarily of Russia and her interests as a world-power, and ignoring
the predominant claims of Indian nationalism, the members of the Communist
Party of India put themselves entirely out of court. No great political
organisation, much less the Congress, fighting a powerful Imperialist power,
could tolerate this divided allegiance. The Communists are entitled to function
as an independent political party, with their own organisation and program,
their own flag and slogans. They can, if they are so minded, go before the
country and contest the coming elections on their party ticket. They have very
wisely–and before the Congress could finally decide to expel them–gone out of
the Congress. Their position is now clear, and the electorate can declare
whether it has any faith in the ultimate ideals or the immediate policies of
the Communists. In particular, the electorate will judge the propriety of the
Communists allying themselves with a reactionary communal organisation like the
Muslim League, as against the progressive Nationalist Muslims who are
challenging the League’s sole right to
represent the Indian Muslims.
At Jaipur in Rajputana, and under the auspices of
the P. E. N. India Centre, a Conference of leading Indian writers is meeting on
the 20th of this month. Srimati Sarojini Naidu, who succeeded Sri Rabindranath
Tagore as the President of the India Centre, will preside over the session.
Distinguished English writers like Herman Ould and fraternal delegates from
China and other countries will shed lustre on a gathering unique in every
respect and bound to exert a beneficent influence on the literary progress of
modern India. Addresses on topics of outstanding importance by Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir S. Radhakrishnan and Sir Maurice Gwyer and a symposium on
the recent developments in the various Indian literatures are some of the
highlights of this session. From Jaipur must radiate a better understanding of
the literary achievements in the Indian languages, and a keener appreciation of
the function of literature as a sweetening and ennobling influence. Great
things are always achieved first in the realm of thought and imagination; as
leaders of the race, the poet and the creative artist, sense them long before
their realisation in the objective world. The dreamers of dreams and the sober
scholars and philosophers of India assembling at Jaipur must spread peace and
joy where strife and ill-will are rampant, for the makers of harmony, in word
and thought, are the heralds of the new age.
Such of us as are unable to join the festive
gathering must be content to send forth loving thoughts for the success of this
effort to establish the primacy of the written word when it is wedded to great
meaning and rich emotion.
The scheme for a school of painting and sculpture
at Macherla, near Nagarjunakonda, in the Guntur district; is rapidly taking shape.
A beautiful plot of land, three acres in extent, on the banks of the
Chandrabhaga, has been secured as a gift. Buildings are being constructed to
house the teachers and students. The formal inauguration of the Silpa Kala
Peetam was celebrated on the 4th of September, with Silpacharya Sri Promode
Kumar Chatterjee of Calcutta as Principal. A Chitrasala (studio and art
gallery) in memory of the late Sri Mutnuri Krishna Rao has been designed by the
Silpacharya. The construction of this Chitrasala is expected to finished in
about six months. Meanwhile, work has commenced in the classes with a few
students, and more are likely to join. From small beginnings his Centre of art
will grow and attract artists from all provinces. The following information
supplied by the Principal must be welcome to readers of Triveni.
Painting and Sculpture are the two main branches of
Art to be taught here. There will be courses of Drawing, Painting, Design in
Indian Technique and style, human figure studies, Portrait from life, and
composition, Nature study out-door. Modeling in clay, casting in plaster of
Paris, generally called plaster-casting, and the Sculpture courses are arranged
among with the above courses.
For ‘advanced’ students the course is full three
years. By ‘advanced’ we mean that the applications should have a fair knowledge
in pencil-drawing or colour use, an eye for observation, and these will be
ascertained by an examination before admission. For beginners, the course is
five years, starting from Elementary Drawing from copies, and then from Nature
as well.
The working hours in the peetham will be four hours
a day for students, two hours for each period in a particular branch, and for
five days in a week. Students are expected to study at home or out-door freely
with out the aid of the teacher on Saturday only, or study books on art and
allied subjects. Until the Kalapeetham Library opens, the students are expected
to secure books from other sources for themselves. For Sundays it is of utmost
importance that the students should rest their eyes as our climatic condition
demands.
During each working year, the advanced students are
to stay and spend three months, January, February and March, in Nagarjunakonda
proper, along with the teacher to study work, observe and enjoy the famous
historic site. This object is invariably to be taken as the most important item
of their education within this Kalapeetam.
The School remains closed for two months for
summer, a week and a half in Christmas season, and a day for each prominent
local celebration according to the general rules of holidays observed in
schools and colleges within this province.
Boarding, Lodging, etc.: – Free lodging will be
provided in the hostel. The boarding expences must be born by the students. No
tuition fees are charged. Apart from the boarding charges of about Rs. 20 per
month, a sum of Rs. 50 per year will be needed for brushes, papers, colours
etc. Furniture and drawing-boards will be provided by the school.
Applications for admission should be made to the
Principal, Sri Nagarjuna Silpa Kala Peetham, P. O. Macherla, (Guntur District).
As a Vice-President of the Nagarjuna Vignana
Samiti, which manages the Kala Peetam, I am greatly interested in its progress.
Funds are coming in, but it is not possible to approach prospective donors
individually. I am therefore making this appeal to friends of Indian Culture
everywhere to help the institution by remitting their donations by Crossed
Cheques in favour of “K. Ramakotiswara Rau” and posting them to Narsaraopet,
(Guntur District). A donation of Rs. 100 (one hundred) entitles the donor to be
enrolled as a permanent member of the Vignana Samiti. All donations will be
acknowledged by special receipts posted to the donors, and also in the page of Triveni.
*October, 9.