New Delhi, Jul 16 (IANS): Joining the pan-India celebrations of Guru Purnima, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) on Tuesday unveiled a statue of sage and theatrologist Bharata Muni who composed the 'Natya Shastra', an ancient Sanskrit text on performing arts.

The unveiling happened on the Foundation Day of IGNCA's Kalakosh division, a department dedicated to the rich body of literature surrounding India's classical arts.

The statue was unveiled by Rajya Sabha MP and classical dancer Sonal Mansingh, IGNCA president and senior journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, and National Gallery of Modern Art director-general and sculptor Adwaita Gadanayak.

Representational Image

The 'Natya Shastra' is the oldest extant literature in the field of dramatic arts.

The black-coloured sculpture, conceptualised by classical dancer Padma Subrahmanyam and sculpted by Bengaluru-based artists T.N. Rathna and S. Venkataramana, represents divine forces and the classical arts tradition of India.

It can now be seen at the IGNCA's entrance.