LALIT KALA AKADEMI

LALIT KALA AKADEMI

To promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the country, the Government of India established Lalit Kala Akademi (National Akademi of Arts) at New Delhi in 1954. The Akademi has regional centres called Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendras at Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Garhi in New Delhi and Bhubaneswar with workshop facilities in painting, sculpture, print-making and ceramics. It has sub centres in Shimla, Ahmedabad, Agartala and Patna. The Emblem of Lalit Kala Akademi is derived from the time of the Emperor Ashoka. The emblem is a replica of the Ashoka Pillar at Vaishali and was erected by King Ashoka in 3rd century BC after being victorious on Kalinga. Influenced by Greco Buddhist style, this 18.3m high pillar is made of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone, surmounted by a bell-shaped capital. A life-size figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar facing north. The name 'Lalit Kala' inscribed below the emblem in Devanagari script.