C. Sivarama Murti

Who was C. Sivarama Murti?

C. Sivaramamurti or Calambur Sivaramamurti, was an eminent art historian and Sanskrit scholar. His entire life has been devoted to the study and exposition of various aspects of Indian art. Author of several monographs, he has surveyed the panorama of Indian art as archaeologist, numismatist, epigraphist, historian and scholar. A sculptor and an artist in his own right, he has often illustrated his book with his own sketches.

After a brilliant academic career, C. Sivaramamurti entered the museum profession as curator for Archaeology in the Madras Museum. He then joined the Archaeological Survey of India as Superintendent, Archaeological Section, Indian Museum, Calcutta, whence he came over to the National Museum as Keeper and rose as Assistant Director and finally became the Director. Closely associated with the International Council of Museums he was on its executive committee and was Chairman of the Indian National Committee of ICOM. He conducted pioneering research and wrote extensively on various subjects during his tenure at the Indian national Museum.

Eminent arachaeologist, zoologist and student of archaeology, Frederic Henry Gravely, along with the Curator Dr. C. Sivaramamurti, ensured in 1938 that the antiquities and industrial art collected by the Museum was organized effectively, into a collection that exists even today. His monumental book L'Art en Inde originally published in French earned the Dadabhai Naoroji Award. The book is available in German, English, Spanish and Italian. Dr.C.Sivaramamurti was the first fellow of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fundwhen it was instituted, as he was specially chosen by the Trustees of this Fund in an endeavour to set a standard to Indian scholarship.He did a special exhaustive study of Nataraja,the dancing form of Siva, in all aspects as represented in Art,thought and literature.The product of two years of efforts was a monumental work,"Nataraja in Art,Thought and Literature", which he dedicated to his parents. Nataraja in Art, Thought and Literature is acclaimed as his major achievement. First published 1974, it was 412 pages with 22 colour plates and over 250 monochrome illustrations. Nataraja as a theme represents life force itself. The ancients visualised Nataraja as a manifestation of the cosmic energy symbolising the three aspects of creation, preservation and destruction. Chapters include: Natya, The Significance of Siva's Dance, Karanas Presented in Siva's Tandava, Karanas Presented by Vishnu as Krishna, The Vedic Roots of the Concept of The Great Dancer, Nataraja Pictured in literature, Varieties of Nataraja as Described in Silpa Texts, Nataraja Form in Sculpture and Painting, The Nataraja Concept Beyond Indian Frontiers.