Dedicated to Guru Ammanur Madhav Chakyar

At a time when a bulk of the country’s students will be enjoying their summer vacations the500 young delegates attending the National Convention of SPIC MACAY, may experience a life changing event. These students willspend a week witnessing performances and attending workshops by maestros of Indian classical music and dance, leading folk artists, talks by eminent people from different fields, screening of classic films, craft workshops,yoga, and other events at this year’s convention. The 24^th National Convention 2009 will be held at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom and  AKG Memorial Hall, Palayam , Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 24th to 29th May 2009 .

Many eminent artistes have already confirmed their participation in the convention. These include  Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Dr.N.Ramani , Shri T.N. Seshagopalan, Guru Raman Kutty Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, Us. R.Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Shahid Parvez to name a few. Along with these classical performances, there will be talks  by Smt. Anjolie Ela Menon and by Smt. Aruna Roy, screening of classic films directed by Akira Kurosawa and Sh.Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Delegates will also have the opportunity to learn from leading exponents in various art forms by participating in intensives (workshops). The Gurus for this year’s intensives include, Us.Abdul Rashid Khan(Vocal), Guru Raman Kutty Nair and Guru Kalamandalam Gopi (Kathakali) ,Su. Kapila Venu (Kutiyattam), Pt.Ram Kumar Mishra (Tabla), Shri Guruppa Chetty (Kalamkari) and others..

“Today we are so linked up with the outward world through internet, television and the mobile phone. This weeklong ‘Retreat’ will provide an opportunity to the young person to connect inwardly.” asserts its founder Dr. Kiran Seth, Professor at IIT Delhi.

One of the highlights of this convention will be Yoga from ( 4 am to 7 am daily) by Yoga Acharyas of Vivekananda Kendra , Kanyakumari. There will be folk forms from Kerala like Ottanthullal, Theyyam , Karagattam from Tamilnadu and Prahllad Natak by Krushan Chandra Sahu from Orissa.

The convention will be a platform for witnessing the performances by maestros and getting an insight into our cultural heritage, its values and ethos. Participants will experience a rare opportunity to spend these days with eminent Gurus imbibing from them, values and thought processes which have made them great. The convention is a humble effort to celebrate our composite heritage. Students of schools and colleges are invited to participate.

For details contact:

ManishNarang (Delhi)  M-09818336000 Email:mknarang.nsit@gmail.com

C.S.Pancham(Palaghat) Email:cspancham@hotmail.com

Santosh S Menon (Palaghat)    M: 09447277837 E mail: chinmayapallavur@ hotmail.com