AIMA History and Timeline
Inception:
In 1974, Guruji Dr T V Gopalakrishnan instituted the Chembai Memorial Music Center in memory of his beloved mentor, teacher and Mahaguru Shri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. It was re-registered as a Charitable Trust and re-christened as the Academy of Indian Music & Arts (AIMA) on June 27, 1984.
AIMA was formed with the vision of propagating the Gurukula system of learning to all those who wished to learn an art form as practised by Mahaguru Chembai and Guruji Dr TVG. As AIMA grew, Guruji Dr. TVG created a specialized methodology to revive and rebuild the declining standards of music education.
Academy of Indian Music and Arts (AIMA) stands tall as a state-of-the-art music academy to attain in-depth knowledge and mastery in multiple genres of Indian music. AIMA has proven to be a haven for music aspirants and practitioners irrespective of economic or social bias. Here, passionate seekers are nurtured/groomed in the art of performance and the art of teaching in the enriching time-tested Gurukulam ethos.
History
With illustrious associations, AIMA has always been true to the cause of its visionary Founder to propagate and preserve Indian arts and culture and to provide support and encouragement to any artiste who wishes to lead a life in arts. Throughout the history of AIMA, its multifarious activities have been testimony to this vision.
Since its inception, in addition to its various activities, AIMA has been conducting music classes for all those who are interested in learning an art form.
1987: In December of 1987, AIMA started the famed 3-day Marghazhi Festival in association with the newly formed Narada Gana Sabha. This event was a great success and saw various future stars taking the limelight.
1988: Continuing the tradition that began the previous year, AIMA in association with the Narada Gana Sabha organized the Marghazhi Festival. The focus of this year’s festival was to promote budding talents. This year AIMA was also recognized by the Government of India as an NGO with 80 G certification and granted IT Exemption for its Charitable and Cultural promotion activities.
1989: AIMA’s logo was created. This would be used till it was modernized in 2021. This year also saw the behemoth 19-day Marghazhi Festival hosted at Narada Gana Sabha. AIMA successfully organized and executed the event which was well attended and immensely appreciated. This festival saw the Maestro Kadhri Gopalnath being introduced by Dr TVG. Radio France crew headed by Jacques Dupont covered and relayed the event.
1990: As a tribute to the brilliant composer, the Swathi Thirunaal Festival was conducted at Narada Gana Sabha on the occasion of his birth anniversary in April. In September, the uniquely themed Vaggeyakara Festival was conducted at the India International Center (IIC), New Delhi, highlighting the works of famed composers. The Marghazhi Festival was well-attended by artistes, patrons, and rasikas bringing to close an event-studded year.
1991: This year AIMA began the humungous task of setting the guidelines for contemporising Music Education, under the direction of Guruji Dr TVG. This project was approved and funded by the Ford Foundation in September. The Marghazhi Festival in 1991 was a monumental event hosted at Narada Gana Sabha. The festivities kicked off with the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri N Janardhana Reddy inaugurating the festival. AIMA honoured artistes for their exemplary contributions to music and arts with the Vadya Ratna and Gana Ratna titles.
1992: In March, AIMA conceived and hosted the Festival of Bani throwing light on the various musical styles of India at the India International Center (IIC). The 3-day festival included concerts, workshops, seminars and LecDems by renowned musicians. This year the Marghazhi Festival was hosted at the Kamaraj Memorial Hall. AIMA honoured a host of musicians and artistes for their contributions. Vocalists Tanjore Shankara Iyer and Smt Mani Krishnaswamy were awarded the Gana Ratna title. Instrumentalists Namagiripettai Krishna, Valangaiman Shanmuga Sundaram Pillai, G Narayana Swamy Iyer, Dr Raja Rammana, and Dr T K Moorthy were honoured with the Vadya Ratna award. In addition to this R S Manohar and Dr P Krishnan were conferred with the titles for their outstanding contributions to theatre and medicine respectively.
1993: This year saw the AIMA office move out from Guruji’s residence to its own rented premises in 1st Cross Street, Indira Nagar. AIMA organized the Sabha Ganam Festival in Delhi. The Ford Foundation Grant was re-confirmed for the project for contemporising Music Education. The AIMA fixture, the December Marghazhi festival was conducted with the usual fanfare and triumph.
1994: The Prodigy Development Project was started. Sponsored by Ford Foundation. Madhu Balakrishnan, Ramesh, AK Devi (Veena), Biju, Shriram(Mrdangam), Ghulam Dasthageer (visually-challenged student for violin), Priya Pothi (Dance) were admitted as residential scholars. The documentation studio and recording room were set up by Mr Emmy and S Raghunathan at the AIMA premises. AIMA has been given permanent registration by FCRA.
1995: AIMA conceived and hosted the thematic Creative Music Festival at India International Center (IIC), New Delhi in September. The December Festival was celebrated as the kick-off to the year-long Chembai Centenary Year celebrations. The then Vice President of Indian Shri K R Narayanan inaugurated the festival. Dr Semmanguddi Srinivasa Iyer was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and conferred the title Sangeet Sarva Bhauma.
1996: Concluding a year-long celebration of the Chembai Centenary year, the December festival was a crowning tribute to the Mahaguru. Shri T N Seshan inaugurated the event. The prestigious Sangeet Sarva Bhauma title was conferred upon Dr M S Subbulakshmi. The event was hosted at the scenic New Woodland’s lawns.
1997: AIMA presented the Bharat Darshan Festival in commemoration of 50 years of Indian Independence at the India International Center (IIC), New Delhi. Shri K R Narayanan, the then Vice President of India, was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the festival. Shri Pavan Rangachar, a part of the Ford Foundation Prodigy Development program, debuted at this festival.
1998: During the 5-day Marghazhi Festival, an eminent musicologist from Holland, Dr Emmie Nijenhaus was honoured.
1999: As AIMA grew, the students in our daily community programs saw a significant increase. Empathetic parent volunteers constituted a strong team to help manage day-to-day activities. Scholars from abroad under the Cultural Exchange program by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Government of India joined AIMA as residential students from Mauritius, South Africa, France, Germany, USA and UK. They trained from 1999 to 2001 for a period of 2 years. ICCR also identified AIMA as a Cultural Center and was a designated Academy for the Scholarship Program under the Ministry of Culture. The Marghazhi Festival was hosted at the Asthika Samajam, Alwarpet. Dr John Marr an eminent musicologist, Indologist, Tamil & Sanskrit scholar from the UK was honoured during the festival.
2000: AIMA hosted the Annual December Festival at Asthika Samajan, Alwarpet. The event was widely attended by patrons.
2001: AIMA conceived and conducted its first innovative summer camp. Across the 5-day program, with over 50 children participating, the camp gave
Trust Board and Past Office Bearers.
|
Name
|
TABLE HEADER 2
|
TABLE HEADER 3
|
TABLE HEADER 4
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
Discussion Notes:
In 1974 was founded in memory of the Mahaguru Chembai as Chembai Memorial Music Center was re-registered and re-christened as Academy of Indian Music & Arts and registered as a Charitable Trust. On June 27, 1984. The Founder Trustee Dr T V Gopalakrishnan along with other Trustees Dr M Balamuralikrishna and Shri B Ramnath Parveen Sultana*
1987 – 3 day Marghazhi festival started
Aug 1988 – Marghazhi Dec festival in association with Narada Gana Sabha with a focus on Talent promotion (Narada Gana sabha just formed)
1988 (3/12/88) – Got IT exemption (80G)
1989 – Met with Dr Balamurali for artwork and arrangement for a first 19-day festival in association with NGS.
15/8/89 – Logo was created. Radio France invited by Dr TVG relayed and covered the festival. Shri Jacques Dupont and crew. Kadhri Goplanath was introduced.
1990 April – Swathi Thirunaal festival at NGS
1990 Sept – Vaggeyakara Festival, in Delhi at India International Center.
1990 (25/6) – Ramnath resigned as Trustee. Mrs Radha Goplakrishnan joined the Trust Board as the new Trustee.
Dec 1991 – Marghazhi Festival – Most prestigious function widely attended and very successful. At NGS. CM of Andhra Pradesh inaugurated the festival. Titles of Vadya Ratna and Gana Ratna were awarded. Sept 1991 – Ford Foundation project started. Contemporising music education.
Mar 1992 – Festival of Bani (musical styles) at Delhi at India International Center. 3 day festival with Workshops, Concerts, Seminars and Lec Demonstrations.
Dec 1992 – Margazhi Festival at Kamraj Memorial Namagiripettai Krishna Valangaiman Shanmuga sundaram pillai Tanjore Shankara Iyer – Gana G Narayana Swamy Iyer Gana Ratna and Vadya Ratna awarded to the above.
- Dr Raja Rammana – Vaidya Ratna.
- R S Manohar – Theater
- Smt Mani Krishnaswamy – Gana
- Dr T K Moorthy – Vadya Ratna
- Dr P Krishnan – Vaidya Ratna
1992-93 – Ford Foundation Project was confirmed.
1993 – AIMA Setup separate premises for its functioning at 1st Cross Street, Indira Nagar.
1993 – Mrs Duraisamy Iyengar, Blore and Shri Chembai Sreenivasan co-opted as Trustees.
1993 – Sabha Ganam Festival in Delhi.
1994 – Prodigy Development Project was started. Sponsored by Ford Foundation. Madhu Balakrishnan, Ramesh, AK Devi (Veena), Biju, Shriram(Mrdangam), Ghulam Dasthageer (blind student for violin), Priya Pothi (Dance) were admitted as residential scholars. The documentation studio and recording room were set up by Mr Emmy and S Raghunathan at the AIMA premises. AIMA has been given permanent registration by FCRA.
Dec 1995 – Chembai Centenary Year (inauguration festival)
Sangeet Sarva Bauma (Lifetime Achievement Award) – To Dr Semmanguddi Srinivasa Iyer
VP of India Shri K R Narayana inaugurated the festival.
Sept 1995 – Creative Music (Thematic Festival) at IIC, Delhi
Dec 1995 – Dr Balamuralikrisha resigned due to personal reasons as Trustee.
Dec 1996 – Chembai Centenary year concluding Festival inaugurated by T N Seshan
Sangeet Sarva Bauma conferred on Dr M S Subbulakshmi.
Hosted at New Woodland’s lawns.
1997 – In Connection with 50 years of Indian Independence IIC Festival – Bharat Darshan. Inaugurated by VP K R Narayanan.
Ford Foundation Prodigy Pavan Ranghachar presented to the public during this festival.
1997 – Shri Rao Narayan and Associates were appointed as Auditors
1997 – G Vishwanath co-opted as Trustee (Guruji’s son)
1998-99 – Dec Festival 5 day festival honoured Dr Emmie Nijenhaus eminent musicologist from Holland.
1999 – Decided to induct empathetic volunteers from parents to manage day-to-day activities of AIMA.
1999-2001 – Scholars from abroad under the Cultural Exchange program by ICCR of GOI from residential scholars from Mauritius, SA, France, Germany and the USA, UK.
AIMA was identified as a Cultural Center by ICCR (Indian Council for cultural relations), MoC for the Scholarship Program.
1999 – Affiliation with Kairargar University for Diploma programs. For 2 years. 25 k per annum for affiliation fee.
Dec 1999 – Dec Festival at Asthika Samajan, Alwarpet. Dr John Marr scholar musicologist, Indologist, Tamil & Sanskrit scholar from the UK was honoured.
1999 – Shifted to another place to 25, 3rd avenue Indira Nagar.
2000 – Dec Festival at Asthika Samajan, Alwarpet.
2001 – First summer camp. 5-day program. 50 children participated.
2002-03 – Dec Festival – Kalyanapuram Aravamudan honored with Hari Katha Kalasagara.
Feb 2003 – First Annual Production of AIMA. Siddhi 1 was performed with the participation of over 100 students. Shri Vijayendra Sarawati was the honoured guest and blessed the event. AIMA sees a surge in admissions after the successful completion of the event.
Dec 2003 – Annual Festival at Varashiddhi Vinayakar Temple. Specifically for Expat community giving opportunities to overseas artistes from Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius USA UK
2003 – Dr S Venkateshwaran appointed as Trustee. Vice-chancellor, BITS Pilani.
2004 – Art of Performance was introduced as a Diploma program.
2004 – Festival
2005 – Dec Festival.
2005 – Shifted to LIC Colony.
2006 – Shifted to Karpagam Gardens.
2006 – Admitted residential students from SA Kaminie Katha and Salivahan Siva along with U.Padmanabhan, Manikandan, Sreedhar, Aishwarya Veerappan as part of the prodigy development program were given free training
Malarvizhi and Usha Ayyapan were trained in Life skills. (LiaF)
2 Dec 2007 – Guru Seva 70 at Besant Nagar Vinayakar Temple from here on was the venue.
2008 – Inducted Devie Neithiyar as Executive Director and Trustee.
2009 – Inducted Devie Neithiyar as Lifetime Trustee.
2009 – Basant Music Festival in association with AIR.
2009 – S Venkateshwaran passed away.
2010 – Salary grant applied
2011 – Salary grant approved
2011 – Shifted to Gandhi Nagar.
2012 – no festival
2013 – no festival
Feb 2014 – met auditors to dissolve AIMA. Devie Neithiyar given Director
Mar 2014 – Moved to Perugudi.
June 26, 2014 – Inaugurated the center.
Sept 2014 – Pallikaranai. Opened on Oct.
Dec 2014 – no festival
Feb 2015 – Opened Kriyates branch.
July 2015 – Maitree festival at Kriyates
Sep 2015 – Ganapathy Bappa Morya
Sep 2015 – Navarathri Festival
Dec 2015 – Building in Kriyates for AIMA. opened on 16 d2016
11 Feb 2016 – Siddhi Production at Kriyates.