The Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA)


a brief introduction



Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA), was founded in 1958 by Shrii P. R. Sarkar for the upliftment of art, as a method of self-realization and as a service to humanity. 




Artists and writers have been subjugated by commercial interests and yoked to state propaganda all over the world. True creativity in art is not supported financially and often suffers from political harassment.




Under RAWA, genuine artists and writers have organized themselves for the promotion and encouragement of talented individuals. RAWA rejects the motive of art for art's sake. The slogan of RAWA is "Art for Service and Blessedness." RAWA encourages the fine arts amongst the public by organizing art exhibitions, literary symposiums, cultural programs, essay competitions, debates, etc.




RAWA has been established in order to see that the genuine artist is not hounded out of society. It proclaims that all genuine artists and writers should unite and expand the consciousness of the public and enlist their sympathies.




The word "Renaissance" has not been used merely in the sense of revival of learning but in a wider context, i.e., the transformation of life and society through new adventures in literature, poetry, art and the study of other humanities and sciences.


A true renaissance is a renaissance in all fields, in all spheres of life, physical, mental, and spiritual. A spiritual renaissance without a renaissance in the mental and physical worlds would be one-sided and would retard the development of the physical and intellectual side of life. Spiritual development is dependent on the proper development of intellect and the provision of the physical necessities of life.


For example, if a man is not able to secure enough food for his family, he will be unable to develop any interest in spiritual practices; if he lacks an understanding of the fine arts, his mind will become crude and his appreciation of the subtle aspects of life will atrophy; and if he neglects his intellectual development, his spiritual progress will be retarded.




Human urges and impulses are volcanic in nature. If they are thwarted, they become perverted and the individual's life becomes a nightmare. If these impulses are properly channeled, they uplift human life to a higher plane. Besides satisfying his biological needs, man must endeavor to live on the aesthetic, moral and spiritual planes.




Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA) provides an outlet for our writers and artists to realize their innate spiritual potentialities. The supreme trait in art or literature is its spiritualizing quality. Whether art or literature is discursive, imitative, mechanical, organic, conceptual, anticonceptual, representative or non-representative in nature, the touchstone of great literature resolves the psychic crisis of a particular civilization, nation or the whole world through its aesthetic creed.




In the world of today, we find the artist driven more and more into isolation from the society. In the commercialized society, the mechanization of life has almost submerged the individual's talent. With the passing of the patronage of art into the hands of the business classes, the standards of artistic and literary excellence have come down. A commercialized society demands commercialized entertainments, and this has led to a degeneration and decadence of art and literature. Even the academic standards are falling because of the encroachment of vulgar and cheap types of entertainments. The sham and the phony in literature and art, through the sycophancy and flattery of officials and industrialists, command the market. Governmental control of art and literature has benefited the pseudo artists who are willing to do obseisance to the state, to the detriment of sincere writers and artists.






RAWA has the following objectives:





1) To promote the ideal of "service and blessedness"




2) To improve the psycho-spiritual development of society through art and literature




3) To suggest solutions to the outstanding problems of human society through art and literature




4) To inculcate the ethical and spiritual values of life in the human society




5) To create a proper psychological environment for the establishment of universalism by staging a powerful crusade against all sectarianisms




6) To arrest the trend of excessive commercialization of modern art and literature, and to create a healthy trend of utilizing both art and literature for the growth and evolution of human civilization




7) To create a strong moral movement through art and literature against all sorts of immoral forces responsible for the degradation of modern society




8) To provide encouragement and opportunity to the new generation of writers and artists by creating a a powerful literary movement based on the higher values of life




9) To attend to the various social, political, and economic handicaps confronting talented writers and artists




10) To inculcate a positive philosophy of life in the society, which is presently haunted by a negative and pessimistic outlook








RAWA consists of the following Sub-Sections:




Artists' and Painters' Association


Dramatists' and Cinema-Artists' Association


Musicians' and Dancers' Association


Writers' Association


Journalists' Association







RAWA Artists' and Painters' Association




Functions:



1) To raise funds through public collections 


for the economic security of the artists.


2) To impart proper training in the higher art and painting of members and to search for markets.


3) To act as a liaison between the member-artists and institutions patronizing fine arts and paintings and those devoted to training in fine arts.


4) To make provisions for the employment 


of the member-artist.


5) To deal with socio-political problems 


confronting the member-artists,


6) To arrange for mass education to arouse public interest about art and to change the attitude about art.








RAWA Dramatists' and Cinema-Artists' Association (including Photography)




Functions:



1) To produce progressive dramas, films and plays in conformity with the ideology of RAWA, thereby fighting against obscene plays, dramas, films and photography.


2) To construct theatre halls, cinema halls


and studios on a Cooperative basis.


3) To train the younger generation in staging dramas, films and plays.


4) To fight against all sorts of corruptions 


in the field of drama and cinema.


5) To raise funds through public collection in order to provide the poor and at the same time talented actors and actresses with financial help.


6) To encourage the open air theatre, folklore 


and folk songs.








RAWA Musicians' and Dancers' Association




Functious:



1) To produce progressive music, songs and dances in conformity with the ideology of RAWA, thereby fighting against obscene music and dance.


2) To construct theatre halls and studios 


on a cooperative basis.


3) To train the younger generation in producing 


music and dance.


4) To raise funds through public collection to subsidize performances, recordings, written music and choreography of economically handicapped musicians and dancers.


5) To search for employment for unemployed musicians, singers, and dancers.









RAWA Writers' Association




Functions:



1) To conduct a weekly literary sitting to 


find the best talent.


2) To raise funds through public collection to publish the books of economically handicapped writers.


3) To act as a liaison between writers 


and magazines or periodicals.


4) To inspire the members to write progressive literature for the psycho-spiritual development of the human race and to take effective steps to boost up universal brotherhood.


5) To fight against the immoral tendencies in literature and to take effective steps for the enrichment of literature and language.


6) Mass education for the development 


of a new attitude towards literature.


7) To search for literary talents among the younger generation through educational institutions.









RAWA Journalists' Association




Functions:



1) To create new journalists through proper training.


2) To search for employment for unemployed journalists.


3) To fight for the just causes and grievances of journalists.


4) To fight for absolute freedom of the press.


5) To keep the member-journalists informed about the different systems of journalism of the world.


6) To provide economic protection to other 


economically handicapped journalists.


7) To fight against sectarianism, communalism, casteism, and to promote the cause of universalism through the use of the press.


8) To make journalism an effective medium for mass communications and the right type of social, political and economic education.