"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
