Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya (IKSV) is a state public university in Khairagarh, in the Rajnandgaon region of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It is dedicated to higher education and research in the performing and visual arts, particularly Indian classical music, dance, and fine arts, and is among the earliest universities in Asia established exclusively for the arts.
| Name | Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Focus | Music, dance, fine arts, theatre |
| Location | Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh, India |
| Country | India |
| Language of instruction | Hindi and English |
Overview
The university was founded as a specialised institution to preserve and develop Indian classical traditions in music and the allied arts at the university level. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in vocal music, instrumental music, dance, theatre, and fine arts, and conducts research, examinations, and cultural activities through its faculties and affiliated colleges.
Background
Khairagarh, a former princely state in central India, has a long association with patronage of Hindustani classical music. The university was established by the erstwhile ruling family of Khairagarh as a memorial dedicated to the arts, and it became a state university in independent India. After the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, IKSV came under the jurisdiction of the new state government and continues to function as one of its principal cultural institutions.
Academics
The university organises its teaching through faculties covering the major branches of the performing and visual arts. Typical areas of study include:
- Hindustani vocal and instrumental music
- Karnatak music
- Indian classical dance forms such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Manipuri
- Theatre and dramatics
- Painting, sculpture, and applied arts
- Musicology and research studies
It awards degrees including Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), Master of Music (M.Mus.), Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy in arts disciplines. The university also affiliates colleges of music and fine arts in Chhattisgarh and conducts their examinations.
Campus and culture
The main campus is located in the small town of Khairagarh, which has developed a distinct identity around the university. The institution hosts cultural festivals, classical music conferences, lecture-demonstrations, and performances that draw artists and scholars from across India.
Significance
IKSV is recognised as a pioneering institution for arts education in India, providing an academic structure to disciplines that were traditionally transmitted through the guru–shishya tradition. Its alumni include performers, teachers, and researchers active in Hindustani music, classical dance, and the fine arts, and the university has played a notable role in shaping arts pedagogy in central India.
Related topics
- Khairagarh
- Rajnandgaon district
- Chhattisgarh
- Hindustani classical music
- Indian classical dance
- List of universities in Chhattisgarh
- Education in India
References
- Wikidata entity: Q6025027
- Government of Chhattisgarh, Department of Higher Education — list of state universities