Krittika Arts Space: The evolution of a multifaceted centre for culture at Santiniketan
Krittika Arts Space is a labour of love that has been built adjacent to the Santiniketan Asrama. The founders, Shrabani and Shahjahan cherished a dream that the space would facilitate the new horizons of artistic endeavour and unite them with uninhibited thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore.
A dream that was envisioned in the days of tutelage, has come to fruition with much struggle and devotion and is growing every day. The seed was sown by their mentor and artist par excellence K. G Subramaniam. It is he who christened the space as “Krittika”— the brightest constellation. Their daughter also bears the same name. The couple have desired to encapsulate the brightness of the constellation in both their art space and their daughter.
The arts space’s location right next to the Asrama foregrounds a basic principle that the space holds close to its heart— it should not be seen as separate floating identity, rather it cherishes its position as an organic extension of Rabindranath Tagore’s aesthetic ideas.
The arts space has already made a name for itself as a unique venue for exhibitions and workshops. It is also playing a pivotal role in providing the teachers and students with a platform to have a dialogue and enrich themselves. Apart from Fine Arts, Krittika Arts Space also hosts frequent literary meets and special lectures that stimulate the minds of those who seek to extend their boundaries of knowledge. Krittika Arts Space has housed legendary singers like Mohan Singh Khangura and popular Rabindra Sangeet singer Sugata Majumder, current and former students of Sangit Bhavana and the talented professors who teach music at various departments of Visva Bharati. As a testament to their commitment to upholding varied and multifarious culture of Bengal, Krittika Arts Space has convened sessions of deliberations on rebel-poet Kaji Nazrul Islam for last two years and has provided a platform to those who have sought to pursue and keep alive on Kaji Nazrul Islam’s artistic splendour at Santiniketan. Purabika Mukhopadhyay, Lalbihari Rakshit, Shipra Jash, Pradip Kabiraj are few to name who have found a haven in this art space for their cultural celebration of Kaji Nazrul Islam.
Krittika Arts Space has a special corner in the heart of the present author as it has also lent constant support to various cultural activities carried out by Sabuj Abujh, a congregation of children. Sabuj Abujh and Krittika Arts Space have become quite integral to each other’s existence. Sabuj Abujh holds their various cultural celebrations— Briksharopana, Sharodotsav (the Autumnal Festival), stages frequent play and their rehearsals at the safe and encouraging environment provided by Krittika Arts Space.
Therefore, as a resident of Santiniketan it would not be unfair to declare that a space like Krittika Arts Space has been an important addition to the cultural canvas of Santiniketan and wish it a long and flourishing life.
-Manas Bandopadhyay