Sumitra Charat Ram Biography 
Sumitra Charat Ram was noted Indian arts patron, impressario and the founder of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. She founded SBKK in the year 1952. She played a key role in the revival of performing arts of which her steps for revival of Kathak needs special mention. She played a significant role in establishing Kathak Kendra and its revival in the post-independence period. For her contributions to the arts, in 1966, she was awarded the Padma Shri Award by Government of India.
Sumitra was born in Meerat on November 17, 1914 on a Diwali day. Her parents are Raja Jwala Prasad and Rani Bhagyawati and she was youngest of their 7 kids. Her father was Chief Engineer of Canals and Irrigation of United Province. Her elder brother Dharma Vira was a Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India, governor of Punjab, West Bengal and Karnataka and a recipient of Padma Vibhushan. Sumitra was married industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of DCM Shriram Group, son of Lala Shri Ram. It was after her marriage that she got involved with the revival of Indian art forms.
In 1947, she took a small loan from her father in law to start Jhankar Committee in Delhi. It was art patron Ravi Shankar who gave her this valuable suggestion. After independence, when princely states were abolished it left a large of number musicians and dancers without patronage. Jhankar provided patronage to leading musicians and artists by organizing shows for music as well as dance forms. She established Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra in 1952 with leading musicians and artists as teachers. Noted Hindustani vocalist Naina Devi was appointed as its director. National Institute of Kathak Dance or Kathak Kendra was started in 1955 to promote Kathak.
Published: N/A
Updated: December 26, 2013
