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The Kendra was established on May 2, 2004.
NEWS & EVENTS
The Nilgiris Kendra conducted their annual Summer Festival of classical music and dance in Coonoor on June 13, 14 and 15, 2025. The festival began with a Carnatic music concert by Mrs. Amrutha Murali, accompanied by R. K. Shriram Kumar on the violin and Delhi S. Sairam on the mridangam. The second day saw a Kathak performance by Hari and Noopur Chetana of Bangalore, along with some of their senior students. On the last day, Harinie Jeevitha presented a Bharatanatyam dance recital. Brigadier Krishnendu Das, Commandant, Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington was the Chief Guest and spoke about the activities of the Kendra and the work of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The festival drew a large crowd and was greatly appreciated by everyone.
Padma Vibhushan Dr. M. R. Srinivasan, widely acclaimed as the architect of India’s nuclear power generation, died in Ooty on May 20, 2025. He was 95. His funeral was conducted on May 22 with state honours. He was the Chairman Emeritus, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nilgiris Kendra.
Dr. Srinivasan joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) at the age of 25 and began his career working with Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, who initiated the nuclear energy programme in India. In his distinguished career over the decades, Dr. Srinivasan held many posts as the Chief project engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station, Director of DAE’s Power Projects Engineering Division, Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and the Founder chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India. As many as 18 nuclear power units were set up during his tenure. He served as senior adviser at the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1990 to 1992, and was a member of the Planning Commission of India from 1996-1998. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
When the Nilgiris Kendra of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was started in May 2004, he graciously agreed to be the Chairman of the Kendra. In spite of the many demands on his time, Dr. Srinivasan kept himself fully informed of the many activities of the Kendra, providing insightful advice and suggestions. Though he stepped down a few years ago, he continued to take interest in the activities of the Kendra, providing guidance and support. He is survived by his wife Geetha, son Raghu and daughter Dr. Sharada. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
The Nilgiris Kendra conducted the annual Tyagaraja Aradhana on February 9, 2025. Shri Anish Menon, Carnatic vocalist and music teacher from Coimbatore and a student of Malladi Brothers, presented an informative lec-dem on the Divya Nama and Utsava Sampradaya kirtanas of Shri Tyagaraja. The function was attended by music lovers from various parts of Nilgiris district.
Kulapati Munshi Award 2025
The Nilgiris Kendra presented the Kulapati Munshi Award for 2025 to Dr Meenakshi Venkataraman. The award ceremony was held on March 29, 2025.Dr Meenakshi Venkataraman has a Ph.D. in Entomology and is an ecologist. She is a Complex Regional Pain warrior as she suffers from the problem of chronic pain and has also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Dr Meenakshi joined Dr Anubha Mahajan’s Chronic Pain India, and in collaboration with other organisations, managed to make the Rights for People with Disability Act of 2016, add the pain scale as a measure for evaluating disability. The work of the team also saw the listing of 21 invisible diseases being given a forum at the 2024 International Purple Festival in Goa. In recognition of her work by the President of India, she was invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2025 for the ‘at home’ reception, and again in March 2025, to meet the President. Meenakshi is an active member of the Rotary Club of Nilgiris West, and has been involved in the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group. She has created citizen science programmes on the river Bhavani and Jal Shakti, involving Rotary International clubs and local administration. Her community outreach includes work on farm-to-fork organic farming models in Hosur and introducing organic protocols for horticulture and biocontrol through DST grants.
The award was presented by Mrs Geetha Srinivasan, Vice Chairman of the Nilgiris Kendra, to Dr Meenakshi Venkataraman for her contributions in these diverse fields.
The Kendra was able to revive its annual summer festival of music after a gap of two years. Ms. Aishwarya Vidhya Raghunath presented a classical Carnatic music concert on June 11, 2022. This was followed by a violin concert on June 12 by Sri R. K. Shriramkumar, accompanied by Sri K. Arun Prakash on the mridangam, two of the foremost artistes in Carnatic music today. Both concerts were very well-attended and greatly appreciated.
The Nilgiris Kendra conferred the Kulapati Munshi Award on Radhika Shastry, a citizen of Coonoor.
During the COVID pandemic, she turned her energies towards improving the healthcare infrastructure in the district. With the wholehearted support of her café patrons and local residents she took the initiative to distribute 40 oxygen concentrators to various medical centres in the district. She helped set up an oxygen plant in Govt. Lawley hospital, Coonoor with ACT grant. She sourced six AmbuRX ambulances customised to suit the terrain of the district. These are deployed in various hospitals at Coonoor, Ketti and Kotagiri. She spearheaded the construction of a completely new casualty ward, ICU and the first-ever paediatric ward at Govt. Lawley Hospital, Coonoor. She also promoted a vaccination drive with 2000 vaccines being provided free of charge, sponsored by Caterpillar through United Way, Chennai.
A moment of great pride was when Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi, praised her in his programme, Mann Ki Baat, recognising her invaluable contribution.
At the ceremony conducted at the Coonoor Club, the award was conferred on Ms. Shastry by Dr. M. R. Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nilgiris Kendra. In her acceptance speech, she commended the support given by her team and that of the doctors from Lawley Hospital, as also the patrons of her niche eatery, Cafe Diem. She also emphasised the need for public participation to ensure the betterment of the district.