User:Ravirajcbe

‘The Revolution of bringing Fine Arts to the common man’.

RAVIRAJ, B.Sc.,B.F.A., M.B.A., M.A (JMC)., M.V.A., M.F.A., ====

 Artist / Art Educationalist / Art Director / Set Designer / Author (Art Books) / Administrator / Editor & Publisher 


 * Director, - LALIT KALAKSHETRA,
 * Chairman, - ‘KALAGRAM’ Art & Culture Development Centre,
 * Principal, - RAVIRAJ COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS, (Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University)
 * President, - COIMBATORE ART FOUNDATION,
 * Chairman, - ‘NRITHYA’ CENTRE OF ARTS
 * Chairman, - ‘PRANAVA NADHA SABHA’ Music club of Coimbatore
 * Editor, - Art Beats & Kalaimalar.
 * Publisher, – VIGNESH PUBLICATIONS

 Recipient of “State & National Awards”

 Phone:          +91 422 4368902

 Mobile:        9677741086

 E Mail:        raviraj_lalit@yahoo.co.in, lalitkalakshetra1992@gmail.com

 Website:       www.lalitkalakshetra.com

 Resi:          Plot No.5, Radhika Avenue, P N Pudur, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore – 641 041. Tamil Nadu. India.

 Office:        Lalit Kalakshetra, 83, Sambandam road west, R S Puram,Coimbatore – 641 002. Tamil Nadu. India.

 College Campus:  Raviraj College of Fine Arts, “Kalagram”, Raj Bhavan, 4-1 – Attukkal Road, Thondamuthur. Coimbatore Dist. Tamil Nadu, India.

 Studio:         Site No.3, Bharathi Gardens, Kalveeram Palayam, BharathiarUniversity Post, Coimbatore – 641 046. Tamil Nadu. India.

In the service of our Nation – Propagating India’s Heritage, Art and Culture!

Family & 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.

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.

As a guru / Art 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…

TO THE SOCIETY…
 * Established Fine Arts more for enlightenment and achievement
 * Enfold people, irrespective of religion of region, caste or creed
 * Succeeded in taking classical art forms to the villagers and Folk art forms to the elite
 * Designed programmes to ensure religious harmony.
 * Conceived every programme to match the taste and temper of a variegated audience
 * Caused a silent revolution by making the marginalized professionals and promoters of Visual and Performing arts.
 * Ignited young minds to explore and exhibit their latent talents by organizing art and cultural competitions for students

FIRST TIME IN TAMIL NADU – Innovative Measures …
 * 11th January 2009 – Founded “Ovia Sandhai” – First of its kind in Tamil Nadu for the welfare of Artists and to establish the art market in and around Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry with the help of Thiru. Shankar Vanavarayar and Thiru. Padma Bhushan Dr. N. Mahalingam
 * 3rd December 1998 - Founded the first and the only Institution in South India for –Fine Arts – Art Master Training, Visual Communication and Bharathanatyam – collaboration with Avinashilingam University Community College, Coimbatore
 * 28th July 2008 – Founded the first and the only Institution in Tamil Nadu offering – Off Campus Course in Fine Arts (BFA) – Painting & Bharathanatyam in collaboration with Bharathiar University, CCII, Coimbatore.
 * “KALAGRAM” – Established First of its kind in Tamil Nadu – An Art and Cultural Tourism Center at Thondamuthur, Attukal road, Coimbatore. Kalagram: Showcases artisans, folk and classical performers, music and crafts.  Art Exhibitions, Craft Exhibitions, trainings, Residential workshops, collaborations with artisans are an essential part of Kalagram.  It aims to promote people to voluntarily visit and sell at the center with facilities and expertise to improve their ideas for better marketing thus offering an interactive center for living traditions in a changing society.  Proposed Plans are, Heritage center; Art for Peace; Nature cure center; Art & Music Therapy; Yoga & Meditation center; Open air auditorium for daily shows; Museum; Art Gallery and Craft park – Construction under process – Dedicated to Public!

LALIT KALAKSHETRA: (1992…)
 * Effected a meaningful move from Gurukula ( Non-formal training) system to a systematic structured curriculum
 * Formed the first institution in the State giving intensive training in Fine art, Music, Dance and Crafts together – all in under one roof Nurturing individual’s Talent
 * Shaped students with little knowledge for Fine Arts into talented Artists / Artistes.
 * Translated the dreams of those denied of opportunities into realities.
 * 3rd December 1998 - Founded the first and the only Institution in South India for –Fine Arts – Art Master Training, Visual Communication and Bharathanatyam – collaboration with Avinashilingam University Community College, Coimbatore
 * Facilitated the studies of poor students by offering scholarships / concessions and uplifted their social and economic status.
 * 28th July 2008 – Founded the first and the only Institution in Tamil Nadu offering – Off Campus Course in Fine Arts (BFA) – Painting & Bharathanatyam in collaboration with Bharathiar University, CCII, Coimbatore.

LALIT KALAKSHETRA AWARDS: Recognised and acclaimed the selfless and dedicated service of Artists, Artistes and Scholars.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ART: PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: SERVICE TO MUSIC: Founder of “Pranava Nadha Sabha”, Music Club of Coimbatore, which is open to all music lovers, Musicians and Music Students. (Meet with public 3rd Sunday of every month). It provides learning opportunities and interactive workshop with visiting artistes; Participatory programmes for Children; social events and home concerts; conducting music contests and Annual Music Festival to encourage and promote Indian Youth. The Sabha also awards, prizes and distinctions by recognizing individual artistes for outstanding achievement in the field of Music.
 * 11th January 2009 – Founded “Ovia Sandhai” – First of its kind in Tamil Nadu for the welfare of Artists and to establish the art market in and around Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry with the help of Thiru. Shankar Vanavarayar and Thiru. Padma Bhushan Dr. N. Mahalingam
 * Wrote several Art Books – out of which – “Fundamentals of Pencil Shading”, “Free hand drawing from flat examples” and “Cartooning” are very popular and record sales.
 * Founder of “COIMBATORE ART FOUNDATION” – Founded the ‘Coimbatore Art Foundation’ for promotion of art among Indian Youth, which also gives away, ‘CAF Award’ to the budding artists.  – The CAF is open to all Indian Artists, Art Lovers and Art Students. It provides learning opportunities and interactive workshop / demonstrations with visiting artists; Participatory programmes for children; Conducting Art competitions to rural village students, general students and Senior Citizens to encourage and appreciate art; Screening of popular art and craft films.
 * Editor of “ ART BEATS” – a quarterly Art Journal – which features on forth coming events on art, art shows, art book reviews, National and International art contests, step by step learning methods, interviews with eminent artists, Art quiz etc., and a separate page for Music and Dance.
 * “KALAGRAM” – An Art and Cultural Tourism Center at Thondamuthur, Attukal road, Coimbatore. Established First of its kind in Tamil Nadu – Kalagram: Showcases artisans, folk and classical performers, music and crafts.  Art Exhibitions, Craft Exhibitions, trainings, Residential workshops, collaborations with artisans are and essential part of Kalagram.  It aims to promote people to voluntarily visit and sell at the center with facilities and expertise to improve their ideas for better marketing thus offering an interactive center for living traditions in a changing society.  Proposed Plans are,  Heritage center; Art for Peace; Nature cure center; Art & Music Therapy; Yoga & Meditation center; Open air auditorium for daily shows; Museum; Art Gallery and Craft park – Construction under process

SERVICE TO DANCE: Founder of “NRITHYA” – Center of Arts. This center welcomes all Dance lovers, Dancers and Dance Students (All Dance forms of Folk and Classical only) – (Meet with public 4th Sunday of every alternative month). Learning opportunities and interactive workshop with visiting artistes; Participatory programmes for Children. Nrithya also offers workshops, screening of popular dance films, master classes and training sessions for both teachers and students in addition to competitions. Dance festival for young and up coming talent will be conducted every year. It awards prizes to talented artistes.

HUMANITARIAN WORKS: Raviraj is involved in more than half a dozen Philanthropic Projects aimed to helping needy people. Giving Art Education to Tribal, Rural, Elite, Orphanage, special Childs and also for Cancer Patients

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.