Established

October 14, 1966

Status

Registered Society

Location

THE GROVE
1 ELDAMS ROAD,
CHENNAI 600 018, INDIA
Tel:   91 - 44 - 24341778
Fax: 91 – 44 - 24351022
Email: cpraf@vsnl.com

SHAKUNTHALAJAGANNATHANMUSEUM OF FOLK ART
BRAHMA MANDIRAM
6 LINGAPPA STREET
KANCHIPURAM 631501
Tel: 91 - 44 - 27260450, 27230112

DAMAL VILLAGE
ERRATTAI BRAHMIN STREET
KANCHIPURAM DISTRICT

The above properties were gifted to the Foundation by Sir C.P. ’s son, Mr. C.R. Pattabhi Raman

Objectives

To continue the work and ideals of Dr. C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, to serve the interests of the community at large and to promote Indian culture through research and development.

The Foundation’s philosophy is that innovative and specialized education, training and awareness raising within the Indian cultural ethos can bring about development. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the social, economic and cultural life-styles of diverse populations

Mission

• To provide innovative and specialized education within the Indian cultural ethos

• To improve the social, economic and cultural lifestyles of diverse populations

• To strive for excellence

Council of Management

President : Dr. (Mrs) Sarojini Varadappan

Vice President : Mr. V.K. Rajamani

Honorary Secretary : Ms. M. Bargavi Devendra

HonoraryTreasurer : Mr. K. Krishnan

HonoraryDirector : Dr.(Mrs) Nanditha Krishna

Members

• Dr. S. Chinny Krishna

• Mrs. Seetha Muthiah

• Dr. C.K. Raman

• Mr. N. Gopalaratnam

• Mr. A.L. Somaiyaji

• Mrs. Marlene J. Kamdar

• Mr. A. Vellayan

• Mr. Prashanth C. Krishna

Founders

• Mr. S. Loganathan

• Mr.T.S.Narayanaswami

• Mr .S. Viswanathan

• Mr .S.Y.Krishnaswamy

• Mr .S. Narayanaswamy

• Mr .T.V.Viswanatha Aiyar

• Mrs. Rukmini Devi Arundale

Past Presidents

• Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar (1966 – 1974)

• Mr. S. (Chitra) Narayanaswami (1974 – 1990)

• Mr. M. V. Arunachalam (1990 – 1996)

• Mr. S. Viswanathan (1996 – 2001)

• Mr. A.R. Jagannathan (2001 – 2005)

Institutes established by the Foundation

• C.P. Art Centre

• C.P.R. Institute of Indological Research Centre

• Saraswathi Kendra Learning Centre for Children

• The Grove School

• C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
  (a  Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment and Forests set up jointly by the Ministry and the Foundation)
  The above are situated in the Foundation’s campus at Chennai

• ShakunthalaJagannathanMuseum of Folk Art, Kanchipuram

• Rangammal Vidyalaya
  The above are are situated in the Foundation's camputs at Kanchipuram

• Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Memorial Nursery & Primary School, Kumbakonam

Research

C.P.R. INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGICAL RESEARCH (established 1981)

• Reference library of books and manuscripts on Indian history, culture and art

• Archive of original manuscript and documents.

• Research in Indian history and culture

• Courses, seminars and lectures on Indian history, culture and art

Education

SARASWATHI KENDRA LEARNING CENTRE FOR CHILDREN (established 1985)

• Alternative Centre for slow learners, dyslexic, autistic and learning disabled children

• Offers Basic reading and writing, Alternate schooling, Assessment & evaluation, Autism Lab, Soft Room

• Computer & Vocational Education

• Affiliated to National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)

• V.G. Krishnamurthi Science Education Centre

THE GROVESCHOOL (established 2004) (ICSE Syllabus)

EACH ONE TEACH ONE (established 1997)

• Education of poor girls and boys from Standards 7 to 12 at Lady Sivaswami Ayyar Girls Higher Secondary School, Sri R.K.M. Sarada Vidyalaya Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Ramakrishna Mission School & P.S. High School (North)

• Selected students assured of six years of quality education financed by foster parents for education in English and Tamil medium

• 216 girls & 14 boys currently sponsored under this project

PRIMARY EDUCATION

• RANGAMMAL VIDYALAYA NURSERY SCHOOL, Kanchipuram (established 2001)

• DIPLOMA IN PRE-SCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION

• Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Memorial Nursery & Primary School, Kumbakonam (established 1941)

Art and Culture

C.P. ART CENTRE (established 1978)

• 3 galleries conducting exhibitions and demonstrations of arts and crafts

• Art festivals and seminars on contemporary and folk art and topics of general interest

• Workshops and courses on drawing & painting, traditional art & crafts, puppetry

• Lecture-demonstrations and performances of classical and folk music and dance

• Art activities for children

VENNIRULARTGALLERY (established 2004)

• Old bathhouse converted into an art gallery

• Collections of old and antique Tanjore paintings, Ravi Varma oleographs and prints and sketches of old Madras and Tamilnadu

• Crafts by Self Help Groups and Tribals on display

SHAKUNTHALAJAGANNATHANMUSEUM OF FOLK ART (established 2001)

• Situated in Brahma Mandiram, the 400 year-old house belonging to the maternal ancestors of Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar.

• Collections of mural, Tanjore & folk paintings, antique dolls, ancient palm leaves and writing systems, musical instruments, ritual prayer items, traditional lamps, stone & wooden grinders and mills, traditional furniture, ancient cooking vessels, traditional indoor games, antique textiles, Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara stone sculptures and copies of traditional jewellery

Heritage Conservation

• Restoration of 16th century A.D. Varahishwarar temple at Damal

• Conservation of 400 year old building in Kanchi and 200 year old building at Chennai

• Promotion of Sanskrit language and literature

• Inter-School Sanskrit Drama Competitions (annual)

• Revival of folk art forms in schools in Tamilnadu

• Training of Kota, Kurumba, Paniya and Irula tribes of the Nilgiris in their traditional art forms

• Training adolescent girls in traditional drawing and painting to enhance their earning capacity at Mamallapuram by a traditional artist, Shri. G. Thirugnanam

• Yoga for students and the public

Rural Development

WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT

• Training in craft and other income generating skills, project management and administration

• Women’s Craft Bazaars

• Survey on the status of Women of Tamilnadu

• Annual Woman Achiever of the Year Award

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Training given in villages of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh on health, nutrition, first-aid, clean and green environment, project management and administration

• Adoption of Damal village in Kanchipuram district

TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT

• Training of Kota, Kurumba, Paniya and Irula tribes of the Nilgiris in their traditional art forms for income generation

Environment

• Commenced nature and environmental education for teachers and students in 1980

• Established C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre in 1988

• Regional Resource Agency for the National Environmental Awareness Programme (NEAC) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, for Tamilnadu, Pondicherry & Andaman and Nicobar Islands

CLEAN CHENNAI – GREEN CHENNAI

• Teachers and students of Chennai schools taught the history of Chennai, its growth and problems. Project sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

C. P. R. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE (established 1988)

• Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, registered jointly by the Ministry and the Foundation in 1989. Mission : to increase knowledge, awareness and commitment among the public about the environment

• Nodal Agency and Resource Centre for the scheme of Quality Improvement in Schools of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

• Areas of emphasis include environmental education, training of teachers, trainers, NGOs, etc., conservation and restoration of the ecological heritage, land and water management, afforestation, environmental law education and propagation of eco-friendly technologies for sustainable development.