"India's
precious heritage of music, drama and dance is one which
we must cherish and develop. We must do so not only
for our own sake but also as our contribution to the
cultural heritage of mankind. Nowhere is it truer than
in the field of art that to sustain means to create.
Traditions cannot be preserved but can only be created
afresh. It will be the aim of this Akademi to preserve
our traditions by offering them an institutional form..."
.
-
Maulana Azad
28
January 1953, at the inauguration of Sangeet Natak
Akademi
