‘The Triple Stream’

‘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^*

A NEW PHASE

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 ground, to an exalted internationalism, and its basic concepts of truth and non-violence must usher in a new era in international relations.

A CORRECT DECISION

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.

THE WRITERS’ CONFRENCE

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.

SRI NAGARJUNA SILPA KALA PEETAM

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.