Braj kala Kendra is an approved NGO exclusively committed and devoted for the preservation and development of Braj Culture, Art, Literature, Heritage of Shri Krishna, Buddha, Jain Culture & great saints of Braj. It is the oldest cultural organization of Braj and working since more than 60 years.
The origin of Braj Kala Kendra starts from the year 1943 under the name of Braj Sahitya Mandal which was also formed with same objects as that of present Braj Kala Kendra under the presidentship of Shri Prabhu Dayal Mittal along with close cooperation of Shri Ram Narayan Agrawal (Founder of Braj Kala Kendra) as its secretary. Later on, Pandit Bal Kishan Sharma and Seth Ram Baboo Lal ji of Hathras had also been its president. It was at that time Honorable Prime Minister of India
Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru donated a cheuqe of Rs 200 on 5th January 1950 to its the then President Shri Bal Kishan Sharma. At one of the conventions of Braj Sahitaya Mandal was held in Hathras on 4th April 1952 under the Presidentship of Seth Ram Baboo Lal ji. The then President of India Honorable Dr. Rajendra Prasad came to Hathras & inaugurated that convention. Later on during the course of time, Braj Sahitya Mandal was transformed in to Braj Kala Kendra in the year 1960 with the same team of Seth Ram Baboo Lal ji , Seth Govind Das Ji & Shri Ram Narayan Agarwal “ Bhaiya Ji”. It was registered in Delhi in 1962 and was inaugurated on 23rd February 1963 by Shri Morarji Desai the then Finance Minister of Govt Of India under the Presidentship of Padma Bhushan Seth Govind Dass. Seth Govind Das was the Founder President of Braj Kala Kendra and lifelong Member of Parliament apart from being the speaker of the then Lok Sabha.
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| Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru donated a cheuqe of Rs 200 on 5th January 1950 |
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| Honorable Dr. Rajendra Prasad at Hathras & inaugurated that convention on 4th April 1952 | |
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| Seth Govind Das Ji, Sri Morarji Desai, Sri Ramnarayan Agrawal, Sri Rambabu Lal Ji, Sri Radhakrishna Khandelwal,a speech of Sri Nawab singh chauhan, Pooranchand khandelwal in right. | |
BKK is regularly organizing various cultural programs, seminars, exhibitions & festivals of Braj & also events in memory of great Saints, Poets of Braj to name a few as Swami Haridas, Soordas & Raskhan. It is also working for the Yamuna cleanliness drive and making all efforts for this purpose. It is having support & cooperation from institutions like Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) & India International Centre, Delhi. BKK is making all efforts to make Braj Academy get established by the Government of U.P. & Delhi.
Founders of Present Braj Kala Kendra
Shri Ram Narayan Agarwal “Bhaiyya Ji” was the founder of Braj Kala Kendra. He worked in many capacities mostly as secretary for the entire tenure of Braj Sahitya Mandal since 1943-1960. He served as working president for Braj kala Kendra since its inception i.e. 1960 till his life time 2003. He was a great writer, Poet, Critics, Research Scholar, and a very knowledgeable Orator of Braj Literature, Art, and Heritage. He started a Braj Bhasha Programme on Akashwani of All India Radio in the early era of 1950s which continued up till 1980. It was the most popular Programme being broadcasted under the name “Braj Madhuri” at the Prime Time of early morning on All India Radio. During this program itself Shri Ram Narayan Ji became popular by the nick name of Bhaiya Ji “He was decorated with many Awards from various Government of U.P, M.P. , Rajasthan & Center Government as well. He was given a great public reception at this occasion a Abhinandan Granth under the name Braj Lok was published with 300 Pages…
Then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Bajpeyi presenting Kala Bhushan Samman
to Shri Ram Narayan Agarwal in November 1998
Patron of Braj Kala Kendra
Seth Moti Lal Ji is the Patron of Braj Kala Kendra because it was Seth Moti Lal Ji, Shorawala, who gave a presentable dignified shape to the existence of Braj Kala Kendra. Seth Moti Lal Ji Shorawala was a very well-known personality of not only Mathura but also in nearby area. He was a great devotee of Braj Art and Culture. He was a also a Philanthropist. In the year 1998 he donated a land of 4,000 sq. yards, to Braj Kala Kendra which is valued at rupees 8 crores, located at a very stretegic point in Mathura City for making a splendid permanent place for development and preservation of Braj Culture. Presently an auditorium of 600 capacity and different structures for various cultural purpose are nearing completion.