The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Off-campus degree in bharathanatyam launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Off-campus degree in bharathanatyam launched

By Our Staff Reporter

C. Thangamuthu, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, handing over the accreditation document to the Bishop of Tiruchi, Rev. Antony Devotta, at a function held at Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts on Wednesday. — Photo: R.M.Rajarathinam.

TIRUCHI, NOV.25. Under the aegis of its Business Development Centre, Bharathidasan University, on Wednesday commenced an `off-campus' degree programme in bharathanatyam providing its collaborating partner, the Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts, a dominant role in designing the programme and curriculum, and freedom in offering the programme.

The Kalai Kaviri College announced its plans to offer Bachelor as well as Master of Fine Arts through its proposed off-campus centres at Bangalore, Cochin, Hyderabad, Toronto, Paris and Colombo.

The degrees will be given in the names of the university and the college. The university expects the first ever off-campus programme to be a harbinger of future associations between affiliating bodies and affiliated institutions.

Terming the initiative to be qualitatively better than distance education programme, the Vice-Chancellor, C. Thangamuthu, said it would have the flexibility of distance education and the rigours of regular programme.

The courses will be a boon to those who had an initiation into bharthanatyam early under the gurukula mode to gain theoretical knowledge and an academic recognition. In due course, the qualification would be relaxed for those with a background and aptitude to master bharathanatyam.

Dr. Thangamuthu suggested that the college offer certificate programmes in `appreciation of fine arts' and `appreciation of performing arts' to help the people accentuate their enjoyment with a knowledge of nuances such as `ragas' and `talas.' It would go a long way in disseminating the country's rich heritage.

He indicated that the university was open to the idea of courses such as MCA being offered on an inter-collegiate basis, to pass on the benefit of combined faculty expertise to the students.

He handed over the course accreditation document to the Bishop of Tiruchi, Rev. Antony Devotta. He also inaugurated a Ph.D. programme (regular) in music on the occasion.

The Director of the College, S.M. George, thanked the university for fructifying the college's efforts. The Principal, Sr. Margaret Bastin, observed that music, which had become all pervasive in life, offered abundant scope for research.

Among the emerging areas were `physics and music', `music and anthropology', `music and education', and `music and mass media.'

She spoke of how music therapy replaced anaesthesia in minor operations.

M. Krishnan, Coordinator, Bharathidasan University Business Development Centre, R. Kalaikkovan, Director, M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, and Fr. A. Susai Alangaram, secretary, Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts, offered felicitations.

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