PM Modi meets IGNCA Trustees Ahead of Foundation Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Trustees of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to discuss various aspects relating to further popularising India’s diverse culture. The Chairman of the IGNCA Trust, Ram Bahadur Rai, and Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, along with 14 members of the Trust, called on the Prime Minister ahead of the institution’s 39th Foundation Day celebrations.

Addressing the delegation, the Prime Minister referred to the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum and said that what was once a centre of power has now been transformed into a centre of culture. He reiterated that earlier the North and South Blocks symbolised centres of power, but this has now changed. He further said that a sense of history is essential and that cultural organisations like IGNCA have played a crucial role in kindling this sense of history among people. The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of understanding Bharat through a feeling of ‘Swa’. In a post on X

, the Prime Minister said, “Met Trustees of IGNCA and discussed various aspects relating to further popularizing India's diverse culture. We also explored ways to bring more people into this journey, strengthen outreach through digital and grassroots initiatives and support artists and scholars in preserving and promoting our rich heritage.”

On the occasion, Ram Bahadur Rai said that in the ten years since he assumed the Chairmanship of IGNCA, the institution has transitioned from an elite body into an institution of every Indian, evolving into a democratic centre of culture for the people of the country. Other trustees echoed similar sentiments and collectively described the last decade as a period of cultural renaissance that has been smooth, free of controversy and successful in all respects.

The 39th Foundation Day celebrations of IGNCA commenced with the inauguration of three exhibitions by Ram Bahadur Rai, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi and members of the Trust, including noted lyricist and poet Prasoon Joshi. IGNCA, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, is celebrating its 39th Foundation Day from March 19 to 21, 2026.

As part of the celebrations, the Kalakosh Division organised a programme for the release and discussion of the eighth volume of the book series

Kalātattvakosha

. The volume was released by Prof. Sudhir Lall, Prof. Arya Bhushan Shukla, Prof. Maruti Nandan Tiwari, Prof. Rajnish Kumar Mishra and Prof. Omnath Vimali.

The Foundation Day celebrations mark a major showcase of Indian art, culture and traditions, presenting diverse cultural expressions through classical dance, folk arts, traditional practices and curated exhibitions. On March 19 at 7 PM, renowned Nritya Guru and cultural scholar Sonal Mansingh presented ‘Natya Katha – Devi’.

On March 20 at 7 PM, noted Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Subrahmanyam will present a special dance-theatre performance based on the Bhagavad Gita, depicting its philosophical messages through movement and expression.

The concluding day on March 21 will feature India’s diverse folk traditions and martial arts, beginning with the Bagurumba dance of Assam, followed by Nati dance from Himachal Pradesh, Talwar Raas from Gujarat, Kalaripayattu from Kerala, the Kabir singing tradition of Madhya Pradesh, and concluding with Sufi and Kabir musical performances.

The Foundation Day celebrations reflect IGNCA’s continued commitment to the preservation, promotion and dissemination of India’s cultural traditions while providing a platform for dialogue across diverse art forms and highlighting the confluence of tradition and contemporary expression.