Sumitra Charat Ram

Sumitra Charat Ram (17 November 1914 – 8 August 2011) was a noted Indian arts patron, impresario and the founder of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) established in 1952. She played a key role in the revival of performing arts, especially Kathak in the post-independence era, with the establishment of Kathak Kendra.

Sumitra Charat Ram
Born(1914-11-17)17 November 1914
Meerut, United Provinces
Died8 August 2011(2011-08-08) (aged 96)
Known forFounder Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (established 1952)

She was the wife of industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of Shriram Group. In 1966, she was awarded the Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour, by Government of India

Early life and background

She was born on Diwali day in 1917 to Raja Jwala Prasad and Rani Bhagyawati in Meerut in United Provinces, now in Uttar Pradesh. Her father was Chief Engineer of Canals and Irrigation of United Province (U.P). She was youngest of her six siblings, brothers Dharam Vira, Kanti Vira, Satya Vira and sisters Yashoda and Sushila.[1]

He elder brother Dharma Vira (1906–2000) joined ICS (1906–2000) remained Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India, was a governor of Punjab, West Bengal and Karnataka. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

Career

After her marriage with industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of DCM Shriram Group, son of Lala Shri Ram, she gradually became an art patron. In 1947, upon the suggestion of Ravi Shankar, she took a loan of Rs. 10,000 from her father-in-law, and started Jhankar Committee in Delhi. At the turn of independence of India, princely states were abolished, which also left a large of number musicians and dancers without patronage, thus in the coming years, Jhankar provided patronage to leading musicians and artists of the time by organising musical concerts and dance performances, this included, Siddheshwari Devi, Ravi Shankar, Hafiz Ali Khan, Baba Allaudin Khan, Shambhu Maharaj, Sunder Prasad, Birju Maharaj, Durga Lal and Aminuddin Dagar.[1][2]

Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi founded by Sumitra Charat Ram in 1952

She established Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, a performing arts and music school in 1952, where noted gurus of the time, were teachers,[2] and noted classical singer Nilina Ripjit Singh, later known as Naina Devi as its director.[3][4] Through 1950s, SBKK remained focal point for top dancers and musicians of the period, especially leading gurus of Kathak gharanas, and Delhi became a centre for cultural revival as well new creative burst in performing arts.[5] National Institute of Kathak Dance or Kathak Kendra was originally established as the Kathak wing of the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, in 1955, and was later taken over by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama in 1964.[6]

In February 2011, the first 'Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement' established by Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra was award to Pandit Birju Maharaj .[7]

Awards

For her contributions to the arts, in 1966, she was awarded the Padma Shri Award, fourth highest civilian honours, by Government of India.[8]

Personal life

Charat Ram built companies like Shriram Pistons, Jay Engineering, Usha International and Shriram Industrial Enterprises Ltd. (SIEL). He died on 16 May 2007, at the age of 89, beside his wife he was survived by his sons Deepak and Siddharth, and daughters Shobha and Gauri.[9] Her father-in-law Lala Shri Ram had established educational institutions like Lady Shri Ram College (established 1956), Shri Ram College of Commerce (established 1926). Shri Ram School in Delhi, was founded by Manju Bharat Ram, wife of Arun Bharat Ram, Lala Bharat Ram's son.[9]

She died on 8 August 2011 in New Delhi, after a brief illness at the age of 96. She was survived by centenarian sister, and her children and grandchildren.[2] Her daughter Shobha Deepak Singh, continues to run Bhartiya Kala Kendra.[10]

Bibliography
  • Sumitra Charat Ram (1995). The essence of memories: a collage of renowned industrialist Dr. Charat Ram's life and work. Oxford & IBH Pub. Co. ISBN 978-81-204-1042-8.
  • Ashish Khokar; Sumitra Charat Ram (1998). Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra: a history : Sumitra Charat Ram reminisces. Lustre Press. ISBN 978-81-7436-043-4.

References
  1. Ashish Khokar (9 August 2011). "Sumitra Charat Ram: Doyenne of art patronage dies". narthaki.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  2. "Sumitra Charat Ram passes away". The Times of India. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. Ashish Khokar (1 January 1998). Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra: a history : Sumitra Charat Ram reminisces. Lustre Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-81-7436-043-4. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  4. "A Tale of Two Women: In search of their own songs". The Telegraph. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  5. Pallabi Chakravorty; Nilanjana Gupta (21 August 2012). Dance Matters: Performing India on Local and Global Stages. Routledge. pp. 526–. ISBN 978-1-136-51612-2. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  6. Massey, p. 29
  7. "Pt. Birju Maharaj felicitated". The Times of India. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  8. "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013.
  9. "Dr Charat Ram passes away". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  10. "Taking Centre Stage". Indian Express. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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