Manipal Academy of Higher Education Cultural Coordination Committee is working with an objective of giving a holistic approach to professional higher education. The Committee intends to create an atmosphere, which is intellectually and aesthetically stimulating for the community on the campus.

In the pursuit of its objective, cultural and intellectual activities are held. In addition, the Committee also organises workshops, seminars, lectures, demonstrations and stage performances on various topics relating to Humanities for the community of Manipal Academy of Higher Education and the general public.  The activities are informal and are intended to sensitize the academic world to other dimensions of human experience and knowledge, with the hope that this would enrich the lives of students and make them aware of their social responsibilities and understand the implications of their actions.

The Committee’s activities are also aimed to orient them towards standards of equality, justice and a humanist culture.  These activities are held throughout the year and eminent people in their respective fields are invited from all over India and abroad to take part in these programmes. 

Some of the areas picked by the Committee to provide exposure to the students are:

1. Local theatrical arts
2. Literature, music, painting, cinema and other fine arts
3. History and philosophy of science
4. Cultural responses to globalization
5. Ecology and environment
6. Culture, religion and philosophy
7. Functional knowledge of local and foreign languages

All students who are interested to participate in these events can contact their Institutional Staff Cultural Coordinator, who is the link between the University Cultural Coordination Committee and concerned institution. Students can register their names to receive communication on email regarding various programmes organized by the Committee. Upcoming artistes in the field of classical music, dance etc. can also utilize the opportunity provided by the Committee to showcase their talents by registering their names with the Institutional Cultural Coordinator.

Cultural Coordination Committee is headed by the Chairperson, who is also an Additional Professor in the Dept. of Biochemistry, KMC Manipal; Director, Student Affairs is the Vice Chairperson, one among the staff cultural coordinators from constituent institutes is elected as Secretary and all other Staff cultural coordinators are members of this committee. This committee is the main link between the college and University in the field of cultural activities. The main responsibility of this committee is to ensure smooth conduct of UTSAV – Manipal Academy of Higher Education Inter College cultural festival, selecting Manipal Academy of Higher Education team to participate in Inter University Cultural festivals and organizing various cultural programmes on the campus.

UTSAV – The Annual Inter College Cultural Festival is the flagship cultural event held in the University. Students from all the constituent colleges of the University and also students from our campuses at Bangalore, Sikkim, Nepal, Malaysia and Dubai are invited to participate in this gala event. This is a week- long programme wherein students showcase their talents by participating in various competitions like Creative Writing, Classical Instrumental, Vocal and Dance, Pot Pourri, Cultural Parade, Light Music, Cartooning, Quiz, Painting, Collage, Debate, Extempore, Mime, Street Play, Rangoli, Mimicry, Western Dance / Music, Clay Modeling, Installation, Anthakshari, Fashion Show, Poetry, JAM, MAD ADS and Creative Dance.

MEGA EVENT – Houses popular shows and performances by celebrities.

SPIC MACAY – Indian Classical and folk music and dance performances/ lecture demonstrations by artistes of international repute are held. There is an active chapter of SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth), which is functioning under the Cultural Coordination Committee and is part of a national network of chapters. SPIC MACAY introduces traditional Indian culture to the youth of this country with the hope that the wealth of knowledge, wisdom and beauty that it encompasses will become an integral part of their lives. Classical Indian music and dance, carrying with them generations of wisdom, are the chief mediums for creating a cultural awareness in students. The greatest living exponents of these art forms travel to schools and colleges throughout the country demonstrating and teaching Indian culture. This provides an opportunity for the students to interact with the artistes and benefit from their experience. SPIC MACAY has no racial, regional, political or religious affiliation. All are welcome to its fold.

GUNJAN - is a forum exclusively dedicated to Indian music floated with the aim of bringing together music enthusiasts on a common platform to enjoy and appreciate music regularly.

The forum promotes the following genres of Indian Music:

• Hindustani Classical Music
• Carnatic Classical Music
• Semi-classical Music
• Ghazal, Sufi, Quawaali
• Devotional Music
• Light Music

Under this forum, only local artistes are invited to perform. This is also a platform for talented staff and students of the University to exhibit their talents. Since the idea is to bring musicians and music lovers closer, the performances take the form of chamber concerts and not stage.

Manipal Film Study Centre - Aims at making available world cinema which is non-mainstream and engages members of the University family in serious study of film language, film theory and film criticism by organizing film shows, film festivals, film appreciation courses etc.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Literary Club - This Club is a wing of Cultural Coordination Committee and was officially inaugurated on 5th February, 2008 by Dr. M.S. Valiathan, at counseling hall, Manipal.edu building. This club was a brain child of Late. Prof. M.V. Kamath, former Hon. Director of MIC and former chairman of Prasar Bharati. 

Activities of the Literary Club include, book or poem reading sessions by the authors and/or readers, discussions about various literature related activities, workshops / seminars on literature writing etc. Students and teaching staff from various colleges under Manipal Academy of Higher Education represent their college and are enrolled as club members. Members contribute with their creative work in literature, and discuss events for the future, during meetings held by the club. Any literature loving person at Manipal Academy of Higher Education can become a member of this club.

PHOTO GALLERY

Dr. Shobha U Kamath
Chairperson, Cultural Coordination Committee & Additional Professor in Biochemistry
91-820-2922008
shobha.kamath@manipal.edu;  ccc@manipal.edu

Dr. Geetha Maiya
Vice Chairperson, CCC
91-820-2922601
geetha.maiya@manipal.edu

Dr. Sambit Dash
Secretary, Cultural Coordination Committee
9986104763
sambit.das@manipal.edu

Chandrashekar Rao
Management Executive
91-820-2922825
chandrashekar.rao@manipal.edu

*WE ARE CLOSED ON EVERY THIRD SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS OF A MONTH