User:Raviraj India/sandbox

Raviraj Born on 9th November, Shri. S. Raviraj hails from Hasthampatti in Salem District of Tamil Nadu. His parents are '''Shri. J.B.Seshachalam, mother Smt. Ranilakshmi'''. His early education was perfunctory but Raviraj’s love of drawing was evident even at this stage.

Shri. Raviraj began his primary education at Chennai and moved to Namakkal. He completed his school education from Government high school, Namakkal. After high school, he studied B.Sc., (Botany) at Aringar Anna Arts College, Namakkal (1981); M.B.A (1985);  B.F.A., - obtained First Class with Distinction – Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai (2006);  M.A (JMC) (2007);  M.Phil., Bharathiar University (Educational Technology)(2011);  M.V.A (Painting)- Karnataka State Open University, Mysore (2014); M.F.A (Painting) Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

He started off by painting cinema hoardings and sign boards. He first came into limelight as a painter in the late1980’s. In 1996, Shri. Raviraj’s first solo exhibition was held at Coimbatore and soon became popular.

Early life
Born on 9th November, Shri. S. Raviraj hails from Hasthampatti in Salem District of Tamil Nadu. His parents are Shri. J.B.Seshachalam, mother Smt. Ranilakshmi. His early education was perfunctory but Raviraj’s love of drawing was evident even at this stage. Shri. Raviraj began his primary education at Chennai and moved to Namakkal. He completed his school education from Government high school, Namakkal. After high school, he studied B.Sc., (Botany) at Aringar Anna Arts College, Namakkal (1981); M.B.A (1985);  B.F.A., - obtained First Class with Distinction – Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai (2006);  M.A (JMC) (2007);  M.Phil., Bharathiar University (Educational Technology)(2011);  M.V.A (Painting)- Karnataka State Open University, Mysore (2014); M.F.A (Painting) Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. He started off by painting cinema hoardings and sign boards. He first came into limelight as a painter in the late1980’s. In 1996, Shri. Raviraj’s first solo exhibition was held at Coimbatore and soon became popular. He married '''Smt. Nirmala Raviraj in 1991 and has a son Mr. Vigneshraj (b.1992) - Daughter in law Mrs. Vidhya Vigneshraj and Grandson Mr. Viyaanraj.V.'''

Early Cultural Education
Apart from mastering the art of Painting, Shri. S. Raviraj is also trained in Music under Shri.Krishnamoorthy sir and Bharathanatyam under Smt. Vimala Chandrasekar at Shivanjali. He underwent rigorous training for three years in Bharatha Natyam and Vocal Music under the able tutelage of eminent teachers. He has also been closely associated with other great masters in the field. But unfortunately he was not able to continue his Music and Dance training. Completed his Tamil Nadu Government Technical Teacher’s certificate course in 1984.

Career
Shri. S .Raviraj, first began his career as an Art teacher at Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Kodaikanal and Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan’s Gandhi Vidhyashram. There he taught Visual Arts. From 1986 to 1995 he served as an Artist-cum-Photographer at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Communication Center, Coimbatore. During this time he established Lalit Kalakshetra in 1992 with 2 masters and 4 students. He resigned his job in 1996 and went to Saudi Arabia and worked as an Art Director at Dar Okaz Advertising  - Printing & Publishing, Jeddah for two years. After returning from Saudi Arabia he started educating students in a high standard of Visual Art. Now, under Shri. Raviraj’s meticulous training over 1000s of students are well placed all over India, Singapore, England, Germany and the United states of America. Many of his students have been recipients of Government of India Scholarships and Central Government Awards. His disciples have participated in major Art shows at the National and International level. 38 years of distinguished service & exceptional achievements in Fine arts…

Awards, Honours and Recognitions
AWARDS for the outstanding contribution to the Art Shri. S. Raviraj has received several awards for his outstanding contribution to the Art as a Painter, Director, Author of Art books, Set Designer, Photographer and as a guru.

& many more Awards……

Honours
- Invited as a member to Award Selection Committee on 11th Dec 2013 by Tamil Nadu Government, Department of Art & Culture to Select Awardees at Collector’s Office. - Given speech on “ Tamizh Ilakkiyathil Oviyakalai” to All India Radio – Akashvani – and it was broadcasted on: 7.1.1990 at 9.16 p.m. - Nominated as a Art & Cultural Committee Member to Kendriya Vidyalaya, Government of India, Dept. of Education, Air Force Station, Sulur from 6th Aug. 2014. - Invited as Guest of Honour to Camel Art Foundation – Regional Art Award Function held at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Art University (JNTU) at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh on 18th January 2014. - U.S. Embassy in India – U S Consulate General Chennai – has selected Lalit Kalakshetra (our premises) as one of the centre in India to conduct Dance Workshop (Fastest Feet in Rhythm – Pandit Chitresh Das & Emmy Award winning Tap Dancer Jason Samuels Smith) on 12th February 2013. - As a Co-coordinator for Coimbatore Vizha - Art & Culture – Organised “South Indian Artists’ Camp” at Coimbatore 2013. - As a Curator, Organised South Indian Artists’ Camp held at ‘Kalagram’ Thondamuthur, Coimbatore in 2014 - Workshop on Text book writing – State Council of Educational Research and Training, SCERT, Chennai – 8th to 10th January 2018.

Titles
Kalai Chudarmani 	-	Govt of Tamil Nadu. Oviathilagam		- 	Rotary Club of Namakkal Ovia Kalaimamani	-	United Painters Association