Gandhi Seva Sadan
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Gandhi Seva Sadan is a Kathakali institution located in Perur village, some 12 kilometres east of Ottapalam in Palakkad district of north-central Kerala in southern India. It was founded in 1953 by the (late) Gandhian and freedom fighter K. Kumaran, equally known for his unflagging devotion to the promotion of the arts.
Having celebrated its golden jubilee, Sadanam Kathakali and Classic Arts Academy is one of the four oldest schools providing training in the classical dance-drama of Kathakali in the traditional residential (gurukula) style. The most prominent among today's Kathakali exponents from Sadanam have all had tutelage under Padma Shri Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair.
Located in a green, silent locality on the banks of the river
Not far away from its main campus, the academy has an impressive indoor-cum-outdoor auditorium that plays the venue for Sadanam's functions during special occasions like anniversary celebrations and the Pattikkamthodi Jayanti (28 September).
Sadanam has been listed in the official tourism sites of the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, India.[1] Details of the courses offered by the traditional Kathakali training centre can be accessed at http://trainingcentres.keralatourism.org/centre_details.php?id=19[permanent dead link]. Its contributions to the culture of Kerala and its history figure in performance videos that have been documented as a heritage in association with UNESCO. These videos can be accessed at http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/heritage/performing-arts/kathakali/gandhi-seva-sadan-503.php. Its long-standing reputation and contributions to the traditional art form has also earned it recognition as an institution of higher learning by the Government of India.[2]
Gandhi Seva Sadan also runs a teachers training institute, a senior secondary school (affiliated to the CBSE) and a computer training center under its management.
Life profile of founder K. Kumaran
Gandhi Seva Sadan was founded by Kollaikal Kumaran, son of Madathil Narayanan Nair and Kollaikal Devakiamma. He finished his schooling from the government high school in his native Thiruvilwamala and joined Government Victoria college, Palakkad, in the year 1941 for his intermediate.
While in college, Kumaran followed
During a second conviction in Bellary jail, Kumaran was subjected to torture and put in iron fetters under the order of Col. Howe. He was released in 1944. Soon after this, he went to
Gurus at Sadanam
Sadanam has a tradition of inviting the greatest of gurus of Kathakali and
Sadanam has had several prominent exponents in its faculty, the longest-serving among them includes the late Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair. The students have earlier also had training under veteran gurus like the late Thekkinkattil Ramunni Nair,
Currently, Kumaran's son and versatile artiste Sadanam K. Harikumaran is the principal of Sadanam. Kathakali master Narippatta Narayanan Namboodiri is its director. Kalanilayam Balakrishnan, Paara Narayanan Namboodiri and Kalamandalam Satheesan are among the senior instructors.
See also
- Kathakali
- Classical Indian dance
- Arts of Kerala
- Mohiniyattam
- Kutiyattam
- Māni Mādhava Chākyār
- Nātyakalpadrumam
- Thulall
- Panchavadyam
- Kerala Kalamandalam
References
External links
- Kathakali events at kathakali news. Archived 10 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine