The idea of starting a dance institution in Delhi was raised by Sundari K.

Shridharani, a former
student of dancer Uday Shankar, in 1950[1][5] when she had just moved to Delhi after marriage.
The name 'Triveni Kala Sangam' was coined by flautist, Vijay Raghav Rao and literally meaning
"confluence of arts".[2] It started in one room above a Coffee House in Connaught Place, Delhi,
with two students under noted artist K. S. Kulkarni. Soon her efforts got noticed, and Pandit
Nehru allotted her the land for the institution. Gradually, she organized a small group of people,
started organizing concerts, and collecting funds. Guru Rajkumar Singhajit Singhjoined Triveni in
1954, as Head of the Manipur Dance Section, and later in 1962, founded the ‘Triveni Ballet’ of
which he was Director and Principal Dancer.[6]
An American architect was commissioned to design to multi-purpose complex of art
galleries, chamber theatre, library, photography darkroom, staff quarters, classrooms over just
half an acre of land. Finally construction began around 1957 and eventually on 3 March 1963,
the present building was inaugurated.[2]

Main entrance and Shridharani Art Gallery facade on the left.

Triveni was one of the first buildings by noted American architect, Joseph Allen Stein (1957-
1977) in India,[7] who also designed several important building in New Delhi, like India
International Centre and India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road. Designed in modern
architecture style, the complex is noted for its " multiple spaces for multiple purposes" and use
of jali work (stone lattices), which was to become Stein's hallmark.[8][9]
Art Heritage Gallery was founded in 1977, by noted theatre personality, Roshen Alkazi, wife of
theatre director Ebrahim Alkazi.[10] It was a period before a host of commercial art galleries
opened up across Delhi, and especially in South Delhi, even then Triveni managed to maintain
its "non-commercial" approach to art.[11] Roshan ran the gallery for over 40 years till her death in
2007. Today Ebrahim, although in his eighties, continues to be its Director.[10][12]
The Tea Terrace restaurant at Triveni Kala Sangam became a popular space for artists, student
and intellectuals to meet and especially known for food specialities. It remained popular through
the 70s and 80s, and even when other art centers started coming up across Delhi[13][14] Over the
years, Triveni has remained the only public institution with no membership or ticketed shows.[15]
Sundari K. Shridharani, the Founder and Director of Triveni, was awarded the Padma
Shri by Government of India in 1992.[16] She was also praised for the degree of her support for
the arts, and her help for those with disadvantaged backgrounds: lowering rates in the Triveni
cafe to make it more affordable, allowing artistes to hold classes on the premise rent-free, and
waiving fees for economically disadvantaged students.[17] She died on 7 April 2012 in New Delhi,
at the age of 93, and her son Amar Shridharani is the General Secretary of Triveni