Delhi Resources

Books and Language

Hindi Book Centre
A large collection of Hindi novels, non-fiction, and reference books.

National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
A large collection of Urdu novels, non-fiction, reference books, and children’s books.

Kutub Khana: Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu
Urdu novels, reference books, and children’s book.

Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi, India’s national academy of letters is an organisation committed to promoting Indian literature, in all its richness and diversity, throughout the world.

Ghalib Academy
The Academy was established in 1969 on the death anniversary of Ghalib and was inaugurated by Dr. Zakir Hussain, India’s third president.  The Academy has a museum, auditorium, and a library (which contains books and materials related to Ghalib).  Seminars about the Urdu language are hosted here as well.

Urdu Academy
The Urdu Academy is committed to promoting the expansion and appreciation of the Urdu language and literature in Delhi.  This development process is done through mushairas, cultural programs, and seminars that are organized for different occasions.  Financial assistance is provided to disadvantaged Urdu writers so that they are able to publish their work.  Scholarships are awarded to Urdu students through its educational and training program.

Music, Arts & Drama

Sangeet Natak Academy
India’s national academy for music, dance and drama and the first national academy of the arts established by the Republic of India. Created in 1952 as the apex body specializing in the performing arts of the country, the Academy offers advice and assistance to the Government of India in formulating and implementing policies and programmes in the field. Additionally, the Academy hold part of the responsibility of the state to foster cultural exchange among various regions in India, and between India and the world.

Sahitya Kala Parishad
The cultural wing of the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for music, dance, drama, and fine arts has been engaged in the task of nurturing and fostering the arts and creating a cultural and artistic awareness in the Capital since its inception in 1968. The Parishad has been pursuing multifarious activities in order to enrich the cultural ethos of the Capital and inculcate an artistic awareness amongst the people of Delhi through its various schemes and programmes. With the establishment of Language Academies, the main thrust of the Parishad is performing, visual and plastic arts.

Kathak Classes
Kathak Dance classes for the general public and for certification.

National School of Drama
Established by the Sangeet Natak Academy in 1959, the National School of Drama became an independent entity in 1975. Fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the school has two performing wings. The first is aimed at graduates, providing a platform for them to perform and produce artistic theatre. The second promotes theatre for children between 8 and 16 years old.  The school also runs extensive programs and literary forums and has a publication section.

AIIS’ Archives and Research Center for Ethnomusicology
An excellent library and vast collection of recorded Indian music that has been carefully documented.  A project that the center has been working on is retrieving recordings of Indian music abroad to add to their growing collection that now contains recordings that date as far back as the 1930s.

AIIS’ Center for Art and Archeology
This center researches South Asian cultural history. The center’s library holds an extensive collection of books, maps, and journals that cover art, archaeology, and cultural history.