Addressing the Foundation Day celebrations of the Kalakosh Division at IGNCA's Samvet Auditorium on Thursday, he remarked, "On Guru Purnima, if a person sincerely questions oneself and accepts the answer that emerges from within, that becomes the truest path of sadhana."

The event was attended by Dr. Sarita Pathak 'Yajurvedi', Bharati College, University of Delhi, as the Chief Guest, and Prof. Omnath Bimli, Director of the Centre for Hindu Studies, University of Delhi, as the Special Guest. Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, along with scholars, academicians and cultural experts, also participated in the celebration.

The programme began with Prof. Sudhir Lal, Head of the Kalakosh Division and Dean of IGNCA, presenting the Division's annual report, outlining its major academic and cultural initiatives over the past year.

The audience was then treated to a screening of the research-based documentary "Ashtanayika", directed by noted filmmaker Sanskar Sudhir Desai, who was present during the event.

Several important publications dedicated to Indian knowledge traditions and cultural heritage were formally released, including:

In his presidential address, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai observed that the Kalakosh Division has established a unique tradition of celebrating Guru Purnima each year with fresh intellectual perspectives.

He described the annual presentation of books, scholarly discussions and reports on the Division's activities as a form of a modern "National Upanishad," reflecting India's continuous pursuit of knowledge.

Drawing a spiritual analogy, he said that just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, a Guru reflects the light of knowledge into the life of a disciple, illuminating the path of wisdom and righteousness.

He further noted that every division of IGNCA functions like a distinguished university in its own right and said the institution's scholarly contributions deserve greater public recognition.

Chief Guest Dr. Sarita Pathak 'Yajurvedi' paid tribute to all her Gurus, describing the Guru-disciple tradition as the foundation of Indian artistic and intellectual heritage.

According to her, mastery in the arts cannot be achieved through technical skills alone. It requires years of disciplined practice under the guidance, companionship and inspiration of a Guru.

She observed that within Indian civilisation, the Guru is not merely an individual but a sacred principle. Since the Vedic era, the Guru-Shishya tradition has remained the cornerstone of India's knowledge systems, with Gurus nurturing each disciple according to their unique abilities and potential.

Highlighting the Kalakosh Division's achievements over the past year, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, cited the publication of the Shukla Yajurveda, the comprehensive documentation of the Fifty-One Shakti Peethas, the continued growth of the Kalakalpa research journal, and the research documentary Ashtanayika as major milestones.

Dr. Joshi remarked that while modern technology offers countless sources of information, only a Guru can impart the wisdom required to apply knowledge appropriately and ethically.

He stressed that reverence for one's Guru remains essential for intellectual growth, spiritual discipline and lifelong learning.

Special Guest Prof. Omnath Bimli described Indian civilisation as a knowledge-centred civilisation where the Guru has always been regarded as the highest medium for transmitting wisdom.

He said that both the Indian Knowledge System and the National Education Policy (NEP) draw inspiration from the Guru-Shishya tradition.

According to him, a true Guru guides the disciple beyond information towards truth, self-realisation and the ultimate purpose of life. He added that Indian education has always aimed at the holistic development of an individual rather than merely imparting professional or academic knowledge.

Filmmaker Sanskar Sudhir Desai revealed that his documentary Ashtanayika represents the culmination of 35 years of research.

He explained that the film seeks to present one of the most celebrated concepts from the Natyashastra in an engaging and accessible manner for contemporary audiences while preserving its classical depth and artistic richness.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Mayank Shekhar, was conducted by Dr. Yogesh Sharma, and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Arvind Sharma.

The Foundation Day celebration of the Kalakosh Division reaffirmed IGNCA's commitment to preserving, documenting and promoting India's rich traditions of knowledge, culture and the arts.

The event also served as a reminder that the Guru-Shishya tradition continues to remain one of the strongest pillars of India's civilisational heritage, inspiring future generations to pursue knowledge with humility, discipline and self-reflection.