His globally-acknowledged
and monumental contributions in promoting
the Fine Arts of our sacred land, realized
through his vision, creativity, genius,
commitment and prophetic perspective,
make him unparalleled. His outstanding
manifestations of Art in every expression,
in visible forms of cement and mortar,
in human resources and in invisible
forms of value-based quality, speak
for the power of human spirit.
As a pedestal for his
visionary goals he founded 'Kalai Kaviri'
the Arts & Communication Centre in 1977
and maneuvered through his strategy.
Rev. Msgr. S.M.George
effected a unique revolution of bringing
the prestigious Indian fine art forms,
which were once the pride of only the
elite and the rich, to the access of the
common man, also proving that the socially
less-privileged are equally talented and
deserving. He founded KALAI KAVIRI SCHOOL
OF FINE ARTS offering systematic and personalized
Part-Time training in Bharathanatyam in
1983 and in South Indian Classical Music
in 1988, for school-going children.
Eager to promote the
traditional arts through systematic training,
Kalai Kaviri started a Dance School in
1983 offering Part-TimeDance (Bharathanatyam)
Course. Further, Full-time Dance Courses
and a Music School offering Part-time
Courses in South Indian Classical Music
were started in 1988. In 1990, Full-Time
Bharathanatyam Diploma Course was affiliated
to the Bharathidasan University which
authentically recognized the high standard
and quality of training offered here.
Affiliation to the full-time Vocal, Veena
Violin and Mirudangam Courses by the Bharathidasan
University followed in 1992. The full-time
Post-Diploma Course in Bharathanatyam
also was affiliated to the University
in 1993.
He gave free training
to deserving and talented children. Children
from all economic and social categories,
specially children of vendors, daily-wagers,
cobbler, tea-shop keepers, washer-men,
fishermen, children from suburban villages
and handicapped children came forward
to learn dance and music, in the Part-Time
courses. This empowerment of these groups
of students, is a historical and uphill
task in our society. A number of Dalit
students who passed through the portals
of Kalai Kaviri would bear testimony to
this historical reality. This is a Silent
Revolution - a Socio-Cultural Change.
Beyond the Gurukula tradition
of many centuries Rev. Msgr. S.M.George
obtained academic authentication of university
degrees for the Indian fine art forms
to the level of doctoral studies, the
highest peak of academic excellence. Over
centuries the Indian Fine Arts are taught
to the students only through Gurukula
system. This system exists in very few
places and there has been a dearth of
patrons or gurus to keep alive these most
precious art forms. Rev. Msgr. S.M. George,
in order to perpetuate these art forms,
brought them into the academic realm of
University Education and started KALAI
KAVIRI COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS in 1996, offering
Degree courses, approved by the Government
of Tamilnadu and affiliated to the Bharathidasan
University. He was the Secretary & Principal
from 1996 to 2003.
