Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was founded by Kulapati K.M. Munshi in 1938 with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi as a Trust and Society to serve and promote best of our heritage in terms of culture, classical music, performing arts and education From humble beginnings, it has grown into an Institution of National Eminence and has by now pan-Indian presence. It has 120 Centres within India and 7 overseas including London and New York .
For the services rendered by the Bhavan, it has been recognized by Government of India as an "Educational Institution of National Eminence" and is the recipient of "Communal Harmony Award (1999)", "Rajiv Gandhi Award for National Integration (1992)" and above all "International Gandhi Peace Prize (2002)".
To commemorate its 73rd Foundation Day, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan organized successfully a three-day festival of Music & Dance - "Bhavan's Sangeet Samaroh" from 6th to 8th November, 2010 at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi.
During the three day festival, eminent artists namely Smt. Shovana Narain (Katthak), Shri Ulhas Kashalkar (Hindustani Vocal), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Smt. Alarmel Valli (Bharat Natyam), Smt. Sudha Raghunathan (Carnatic Vocal), Pt. Dhruba Ghosh (Sarangi) and Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia (flute) presented the best of vocal instrumental music and dance to the discerning audience.
The novelty of the programme this year was the morning session on 7th November, 2010 in which Ustad Amjad Ali Khan presented the morning ragas.
The feature of the Bhavan's Sangeet Samaroh-2010 has been the institution of "Bhavan's Sangeet Shikhar Samman" which consists of a Citation, a scroll and a purse of rupee one lac. The first Samman was conferred upon Padma Bhushan Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar- the noted Dhrupad Gayak on 8th November, 2010 by Shri H.N. Dastur, Executive Secretary & Director General, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The function was well attended and the choice of the artists was widely appreciated.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has also decided that it will be an annual feature and continue to confer this Award every year to an Eminent Artist in the field of Dance/Music/Instrumental Music to promote Indian Culture.
We also brought out a Souvenir - "Swar Bharti-2010" on this occasion. The theme for the Souvenir this year is "The Origin and Evolution of Indian Classical Music Instruments". Articles from eminent musicologists, critics and practitioners of classical music appear on various instruments in this Volume. The Souvenir as intended has become a collectors' item.
