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Founder of Centre for Performing Arts:
Prof. Rev. N. M. Saveri honoured with prestigious award
Rev. Professor Nicholapillai Maria Saveri, Director of Thirumarai
Kalamandram (Centre for Performing Arts) has been honoured and presented
with the "Northern Province Honourable Governor's Award - 2007" for the
tremendous contribution he has rendered in the sphere of Art and
Culture, particularly in the field of drama for the past 42 years.
The "Centre for performing Art" which was founded in 1965 by
Professor Rev. Fr. N. M. Saveri as a theatre group in Jaffna under the
name "Thirumarai Kalamandram" with the aim of using arts to promote
social awareness among youths has done yeoman service in the field of
drama and now it stands not merely as an institution - a Kingdom of
Mathematic Wisdom, but also as a resilient tradition and an indomitable
spirit destined to remain strong and sound for millennia.
The Thirumarai Kalamandram which conducted its cultural activities
with the help of the young people brought together from villages and
towns in the Northern Province expanded its activities in the late 1980s
and opened new branches in the region.
It also took a new name "Centre for Performing Arts" that reflected
the growing reach and diversity of its programmes. In 1990, the "Centre
for Performing Arts" opened a co-ordinating office in Colombo to expand
the work in the South of Sri Lanka where it is now known by the
additional name "Ranga Kala Kendraya".
Since then the Colombo office has become the co-ordinating Centre for
branch programmes all over Sri Lanka and in a dozen cities in Asia,
Europe, North America and Australia.
The Colombo office is the hub for regional and national programmes,
information and public relations. In 2002, reflecting the increased
scope of its work the "Centre for Performing Arts" improved its
structures and became an official NGO, certified by the Ministry of
social services.
The "Centre for Performing Arts" remains one of the few cultural
organisations that embrace all Sri Lankan ethnicities and languages
bringing people together to learn and play and develop deep
understanding and appreciation of each other's traditions.
The CPA productions provide opportunities for new connections to
develop each other's inter-cultural activities and also communities
where different ethnic groups live in mutual isolation, ignorance and
mistrust.
At the same time the CPA performances have provided tens of thousands
in the audience with messages about the terrible impact of violence and
the foundation for peace in mutual respect.
For this reason the "Centre for Performing Arts" continues to have
strong partnership with other organisations such as humanitarian
agencies and also with writers and articles committed to peace.
In fact, Professor Rev. Fr. N. M. Saveri was honoured with the
"Catholic Media Award" for his selfless, admirable and inestimable
service in the promoting of peace through inter-cultural activities.
Further, he has been honoured as a Council Member of the University of
Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo.
He was awarded "Kalai Thoothu" title by Catholic Spiritual
Institution, Germany 1997, Appreciation Award for Saiva Siddhantha works
at world Saiva Conference, Canada 1999, he was also Awarded "Kalai Gnana
Vithakar" title by CPArts Centre Britain 2005, "Kalai Sudas" title by
Valigamam North Cultural Forum, 2006, Past President of Tamil Sangam,
Rome 1960-61.
Professor Rev. Fr. Saveri has also found time to diligently study and
master several languages such as Tamil, German, English, French,
Italian, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Further, his main
focus is to bring Sri Lanka ethnicities and language to a place where
there is understanding and appreciation of each other's traditions and
values.
The "Centre for performing Arts" has provided thousands of people
with the message of peace, hope and tolerance.
In fact, Rev. Fr. Saveri's vision, mission, spirit and tenacity has
inspired many well-known artistes like Somalatha Subasinghe, Miranda
Hemalatha, Jehan Perera, Jerome De Silva and late Professor
Sarachchandra.
Rev. Fr. Saveri has been working as a Cultural Ambassador since 1965.
He has to oversee over 5000 artistes in several countries including
Switzerland, Norway, India, Canada, England, Germany, and Australia.
CPArts is an International Organisation with over 10,000 permanent
members.
Undoubtedly there can be supreme technical skill, originality,
intelligence in a person and yet there can be an absence of genius.
Initially the word genius signified an attendant spirit and animate
powers that gives to a very few human beings the secret of radiance.
Further, the ordinary man casts a shadow, but the man of genius casts
light.
To find genius and happiness united is nearly an impossible task.
But, in Professor Fr. N. M. Saveri we find a happy blend of both.
He is in fact an extraordinary combination: a scholar of exceptional
breadth and depth, a prolific writer, a clever exponent of saiva
Siddhanta, a historian, an imaginative director, a devoted priest, a
wise and generous friend and perhaps above all a sincere and genuine
human being with a deep sense of commitment to human ideals.
Kalabhooshanam Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar
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