Kalahrdaya

KALAHRDAYA
(The Heart of Art)
The Universal Home of Art and Culture
Bakeshwar, O.N.G.C. more, Nepalganj, 24 Parganas South, Kolkata – 7000103 

Kalahrdaya is a Jesuit Institution dedicated to the Artistic, Cultural and Spiritual development of children and young adults with a definite priority on the education of the rural and underprivileged girl children. Kalahrdaya serves specially the Dalit communities around the place. ‘Option for the poor’ is the prime focus of Kalahrdaya.

A Short History of Kalahrdaya

The seed of Kalahrdaya was planted in 1985 at Dhyan Ashram (Kolkata) and sprouted in 1996 in Gyan Manch (Kolkata) and first planted in 2001 in Satya Nilayam (Chennai) and replanted in 2006 at Shanti Nir (Kolkata) and finally relocated in 2010 at this much desired heart of the village Bakeshwar, near a tiny town called Nepalganj in South 24 Parganas District in West Bengal, India. It is about 20 kilometers away from the metro city, Kolkata.

The Objectives

  1. To impart an integrated human formation through excellent artistic and cultural education/training of the children and youth. It is also to contribute to the growth of an individual’s holistic development and wellness to make her/him effective in contributing their mite to social progress, national integration, international understanding, unman unity, peace and harmony.
  2. To develop artistic excellence in the young from their young age with the English dictum in focus “Catch them young” and make them grow. It is the most effective way for grooming new generations of artistically excelling persons. The dictum “catch them young” holds true not only for worldly pursuits but also transcendental pursuits of knowing the Divine as Beauty, Truth and Good. “Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient, so new! Too late have I loved you” (Confessions of St. Augustine X, 27).
  3. To help the children and youth to grow into excellent human beings who are aesthetically vibrant.

Activities

Kalahrdaya imparts training in Indian classical dance, music, painting, sculpture, karate, kalaripayattu, yoga and fitness, tailoring and embroidery and languages. There are about 300 students on the roll at present. The beneficiaries of Kalahrdaya are above 90% Dalits and most of them belong to ‘Below Poverty Line’ section of the society. The artistes of Kalahrdaya have travelled nationally and internationally to exhibit their talents and won laurels for themselves and the institution. Kalahrdaya imparts training with the help of a professionally trained staff.

Motto

The motto of Kalahrdaya is Sathyam vada Dharmam chara, meaning speak truth and live righteous.