Sumitra Charat Ram
| Sumitra Charat Ram | |
|---|---|
| Born |
17 November 1914 Meerut, United Provinces |
| Died | 8 August 2011 (aged 96) |
| Known for | Founder Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (estb. 1952) |
Sumitra Charat Ram (17 November 1914 – 8 August 2011) was a noted Indian arts patron, impresario and the founder of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) established in 1952. She played a key role in the revival of performing arts, especially Kathak in the post-independence era, with the establishment of Kathak Kendra.
She was the wife of industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of Shriram Group. In 1966, she was awarded the Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour, by Government of India
She was born on Diwali day in 1917 to Raja Jwala Prasad and Rani Bhagyawati in Meerut in United Provinces, now in Uttar Pradesh. Her father was Chief Engineer of Canals and Irrigation of United Province (U.P). She was youngest of her six siblings, brothers Dharam Vira, Kanti Vira, Satya Vira and sisters Yashoda and Sushila.
He elder brother Dharma Vira (1906–2000) joined ICS (1906–2000) remained Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India, was a governor of Punjab, West Bengal and Karnataka. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
After her marriage with industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of DCM Shriram Group, son of Lala Shri Ram, she gradually became an art patron. In 1947, upon the suggestion of Ravi Shankar, she took a loan of Rs. 10,000 from her father-in-law, and started Jhankar Committee in Delhi. At the turn of independence of India, princely states were abolished, which also left a large of number musicians and dancers without patronage, thus in the coming years, Jhankar provided patronage to leading musicians and artists of the time by organising musical concerts and dance performances, this included, Siddheshwari Devi, Ravi Shankar, Hafiz Ali Khan, Baba Allaudin Khan, Shambhu Maharaj, Sunder Prasad, Birju Maharaj, Durga Lal and Aminuddin Dagar.
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