Gandhi Seva Sadan
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Gandhi Seva Sadan is located in Perur village of Palakkad District in Kerala.
Gandhi Seva Sadan is most popular for its Kathakali and Classic Arts Academy, which is one of the four oldest schools providing training in Kathakali, the traditional "gurukula" style. Many popular artists have arisen from "Sadanam" as it is popularly known. A few names with star value are Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan, Sadanam Krishnankutty, Mattanur Sankara Marar, Cherpulasseri Sivan, and Sadanam Harikumar.
It is also listed in the official tourism sites by the Department of tourism, Government of Kerala, India[1]. Details of the courses offered by the traditional Kathakali training center can be accessed at http://trainingcentres.keralatourism.org/centre_details.php?id=19 . Due to its place in Kerala history and contributions to the cultural arena its performance videos have been documented as a heritage in association with UNESCO. These videos can be accessed at http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/heritage/performing-arts/kathakali/gandhi-seva-sadan-503.php . Its long standing reputation and contributions to the traditional art form has also earned it recognition as an institution of higher learning by the Government of India [2]
Gandhi Seva Sadan also runs a Teachers Training Institute, Senior Secondary School (affiliated to CBSE) and a Computer Training center under its management.
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[edit] History
Gandhi Seva Sadan was founded by Shri. Kollaikal Kumaran, son of Shri. Madathil Narayanan Nair and Smt. Kollaikal Devakiamma. He finished his schooling from Thiruviluamala Government High School and joined Government Victoria college Palakkad, in the year 1941 for his intermediate. While in college he followed Mahatma Gandhi's call for fight against the British for India's independence and took part in Quit India Movement. Quite expectedly he was expelled from the college for this action. He then joined the freedom struggle and was jailed in Alippuram, Bellary for his activities against the "British Raj". Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's call to "Do or Die", Shri. Kumaran managed to escape from Allipuram Jail in 1943. He was arrested in Madras but managed to escape again from police custody. During a second conviction in Bellary jail he was subjected to torture and put in iron fetters under Col. Howe orders. He was released in 1944. Soon after release he went to Mumbai as a full time congress worker and captained the volunteer team for the 1945 AICC session. During this session, he came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi and several other great congress leaders. Mahatma Gandhi believed that India lived in its villages. Heeding to Mahatma Gandhi's call to youngsters to live and die in the villages of India, Shri. Kumaran set forth and put in the place the first modest steps for what was to become a big Institution in his native village Perur. With the help of a small sum donated by few village elders he bought 12 charkas (cotton spinning machines- which was at that time the symbol of the aspirations of an independent India).
[edit] Gurus
Sadanam has a tradition of greatest Gurus of Kathakali and Rasa Abhinaya as its faculty. The stalwarts of Gurus included Guru Kunchu Kurup for Kathakali and authority of Abhinaya, Kutiyattam maestro Nātyāchārya Guru Mani Madhava Chakkiar (who is known as the master who gave eyes to Kathakali) for Rasaabhinaya and Netraabhinaya (both Padma Shri awardees).
