Journey
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1947
The Kendra’s journey began on the midnight of the country’s Independence on 15th August, 1947, when Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram, the Founder of the Kendra, organised an all-night long musical soirée at her residence in New Delhi to celebrate this historic event.
1947
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1957
This was the landmark year for Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. In 1952, Bharatiya Kala Kendra was formally registered as a Society, as Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. In 1957, the Kendra produced its first flagship production, Shri Ram, which is presented annually to date. SBKK’s Dance Company, since then, has become the largest professional residential dance company in India.
1957
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1964
Through the Kendra’s College of Indian Classical Music & Dance, SBKK has played a notable role in the revival of the Kathak dance style. In fact, the national institute for teaching Kathak – Kathak Kendra – was originally a department of SBKK until 1964. Thereafter, as a service to her country, our Founder, Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram, donated this unit to the Government of India.
1964
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1977
The name 'Shriram', as an extension of philanthropic endeavours of the illustrious industrial house of India, was inscribed to the nomenclature of the institution when the new campus was built on Copernicus Marg.
1977
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1980
The Kendra’s Shri Ram was moved out of Feroz Shah Kotla Grounds into its premises. To enable this, a full setup, including an open-air stage, was constructed on the central air lawns where the Kendra’s flagship production is presented.
1980
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2010
To honour its Founder-Patron, Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram, the Kendra instituted a Lifetime Achievement Award in her name. The recipients of this award are eminent dignitaries, such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vidushi Girja Devi, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Vidushi Kishori Amonkar amongst others.
2010
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2022
This is the year when SBKK’s dance group was retitled 'In House Productions & Programs'. To further professionalise the skills of the artists in the Dance Company, a structured programme for the training of these artists has been initiated and the training has already commenced. The Kendra looks forward to moving itself towards a wider arena of dance-dramas being produced, keeping in mind its traditionality in today's formats.
2022