History and Art & Culture articles in News for UPSC IAS Prelims 2024
PM in Egypt: What is the Heliopolis Memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1?
June 24, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “PM in Egypt: What is the Heliopolis Memorial for Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1?” published in Indian Express on 23rd June 2023
What is the News?
The Indian Prime Minister will pay his respects at the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt.
What is Heliopolis Memorial?
The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial is part of the larger Heliopolis Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
This memorial commemorates the memory of 3,727 Indian soldiers who died fighting in various campaigns in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War.
What was the role of the Indian Army in West Asia in the First World War?
Indian troops of the expeditionary forces sent from India played a major role in West Asia in the First World War.
The Indian troops played a key role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt and in Palestine, where Indian cavalry participated in the Battle of Haifa, commemorated in New Delhi in a war memorial.
Indian soldiers also played a key role in Mesopotamia in the First World War.
PM gifts Biden Yeats’ ‘Ten Principal Upanishads’: What are Upanishads? Why was Yeats interested in them?
June 23, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “PM gifts Biden Yeats’ ‘Ten Principal Upanishads’: What are Upanishads? Why was Yeats interested in them?” published in Indian Express on 23rd June 2023
What is the News?
The Indian Prime Minister has gifted several gifts to the US President which includes the first edition print of the book The Ten Principal Upanishads from 1937.
The Ten Principal Upanishads, translated from Sanskrit by Shri Purohit Swami, a scholar of Hindu scripture and Irish poet WB Yeats is considered to be one of the best translations of the Upanishads.
What are the two categories of Hindu scriptures?
There are broadly two categories of Hindu sacred texts: shruti (loosely translated as “the revealed”) and smriti (“the remembered”).
The first category is considered to be the most authoritative and consists of the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva) and accompanying texts. These include Brahmanas (ritual texts), Aranyakas (“forest” or “wilderness” texts), and Upanishads (philosophical texts).
The second category of Hindu scriptures is less authoritative – in many ways, they are considered to be derived from the first – but more popularly known. These include the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Dharmashastras, Puranas and all other post-Vedic scriptures.
What are the Upanishads?
The Upanishads date back to roughly 800-500 BC. They are also known as the Vedanta – as they signal the end of the total Veda – speculate about the ontological connection between humanity and the cosmos.
They serve as foundational texts in many traditions of Hindu theology and have hence attracted far more attention than the Vedas themselves.
Upanishads also discuss concepts such as transmigration, which have today become central to Hindu tradition.
The Upanishads were given particular importance in Hindu theology by 8th-century Hindu scholar Adi Shankara, whose interpretations synthesized the Advaita Vedanta tradition.
Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic philosophy that has in modern times, under philosophers such as Swami Vivekananda and S Radhakrishnan, become the most dominant force in Hindu intellectual thought.
This philosophy emphasizes on the illusory nature of the transient phenomenal world around us, and puts forth the idea that the brahman is the only and ultimate real.
Much of the Upanishads, in fact, are concerned with the relationship between the atman, or the distinct, unchanging self of an individual, and the brahman, the ultimate reality in the universe.
Archaeologist finds Mesolithic-era rock painting in Andhra’s Guntur
June 20, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Archaeologist finds Mesolithic-era rock painting in Andhra’s Guntur” published in The Hindu on 20th June 2023
What is the News?
Archeologists have discovered a Mesolithic period rock painting in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
What have the archaeologists discovered?
Archeologists have discovered a Mesolithic period rock painting in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
The paintings depicted a person tilling a piece of land. This is an indication of a semi-settled life pattern in which members of this community cultivated crops.
Several other paintings depicted a man catching a wild goat with his left hand while wielding a hook-like implement to control it. Another showed two couples standing with their hands raised while a child stood behind them.
The paintings were made with natural white kaolin and red ochre pigments.
Note: Ochre is a pigment composed of clay, sand, and ferric oxide. Kaolinite is a soft, earthy, and usually white mineral produced by the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar.
What is the Mesolithic period?
The Mesolithic period also called the Middle Stone Age existed between the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), with its chipped stone tools, and the Neolithic (New Stone Age), with its polished stone tools.
The technological hallmark of this period are tiny stone tools or ‘microliths’. In addition, the Mesolithic people also used non-microlithic tools made of flakes and blades.
Mesolithic people made a number of technological innovations like bow and arrow for hunting; querns, grinders and hammer stones for grinding and pulverizing plant foods like roots, tubers and seeds; and regular use of fire for Indian Mesolithic Cultures roasting meat, tubers, etc.
Gilgit Manuscripts: National Archives of India organizes exhibition “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” on the occasion of 75th International Archives Day
June 13, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “National Archives of India organizes exhibition “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” on the occasion of 75th International Archives Day” published in PIB on 11th June 2023
What is the News?
The Minister of State for Culture has inaugurated an exhibition under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) titled “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat”.
What is Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat Conclave?
The conclave is being organized to commemorate the treasured heritage of India’s linguistic diversity as a Nation.
During the conclave, the National Archives of India has made available the Gilgit Manuscripts.
Note: India is blessed with extraordinary language diversity. According to an estimate out of 7,111 languages spoken globally, about 788 languages are spoken in India alone.
– India is thus one of the four most linguistically diversified countries in the world, along with Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
What are Gilgit Manuscripts?
The birchbark and clay-coated Gilgit manuscripts are the oldest surviving manuscripts in India.
These manuscripts include both canonical and non-canonical Buddhist works that throw light on the evolution of Sanskrit, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, Manchu and Tibetan religion-philosophical literature.
They are used for the study of the history and development of Buddhist thought and writing is invaluable.
These manuscripts can be dated back to the 5th to 6th Century A.D. and are written in the Buddhist hybrid Sanskrit language of the Gupta Brahmi and Post-Gupta Brahmi script of that period.
The manuscripts were discovered in three instalments in the Gilgit region of Kashmir.
Women learn to make Bagh print bags under ‘Safe Tourist Places project’
June 10, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Women learn to make Bagh print bags under ‘Safe Tourist Places project’” published in the Free Press Journal on 8th June 2023
What is the News?
MP Tourism Board in association with district administration Dhar recently launched a training camp on manufacturing sustainable bags based on Bagh Print. The training was aimed at providing livelihood skills to participating women and promoting eco-friendly substitutes for plastic bags.
What is Bagh Print?
Source: Google Arts & Culture Bagh printing in Madhya Pradesh is a specialised form of wooden hand-block printing, originally practised across the regions in the Indus Valley.
Origin: The Khatri community of dyers of cloth lived along the Sindhu, or the Indus, because of their need for plenty of clear water to wash and prepare their textiles.
A branch of the Khatris became settlers in the village of Bagh in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh and started practising Bagh prints.
The craft, as well as the village, derive their names from the river ‘Baghini’ that flows through the village.
Salient features:
Weaving and hand block printing process associated with the geometric designs, imaginative use of red and black natural colours. They also take advantage of the chemical properties of the river and the effective use of colours results in Bagh Prints in a unique art form.
In this printing technique, the cloth used is cotton and silk cloth. The designs are patterned by skilled artisans. They are created using natural dyes, which are eco-friendly and non-hazardous.
On completion of the Bagh printing process, the printed fabric is subject to repeated washing in the flowing waters of the river and then dried in the sun for a specific period to obtain a fine luster.
When Roman merchants and soldiers came to Madurai to trade in pepper
May 29, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “When Roman merchants and soldiers came to Madurai to trade in pepper” published in The Hindu on 25th May 2023
Contents
What is the News?
This article discusses the historical trade routes between Roman merchants and the city of Madurai (Pandya Dynasty).
What are the historical trade routes between Roman merchants and Madurai?
The Roman traders used to take advantage of the monsoonal winds blowing in the Arabian Sea to reach the ports in Kerala.
It was a 45-day journey from a port in Egypt to Musiri in Kerala. From there, they would make the journey by road to cross the Western Ghats.
Cumbum pass and Thandikudi pass: Excavations in this area had yielded silver coins engraved with the bust of Caesar Augustus.
These routes would have been treacherous as they curved their way around the thick shola forests that covered these ghat sections.
Shencottah Pass: This route was taken by traders of precious stones. Wealthy Romans adorned themselves with pearls sourced from Korkai and other precious ornaments from the region.
Post-trade, these traders took the land route to reach the ports on the east coast — Alagankulam, Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam, Kayalpattinam, Korkai, Mamallapuram, Nagappattinam, Periyapattinam and Devipattinam.
About the trade between Romans and Pandyas
Various poems of the Sangam Literature talk of how the tall and burly ‘yavanas’(Romans) rubbed shoulders with the local inhabitants.
The ‘yavanas’ brought with them their rich and glossy pottery known as Arretine Ware which was much sought after by the kings. They also brought with them gold. Some historians say they introduced the people to wine made from grapes.
To buy pepper from its source, a trading centre was established at Thandikudi as early as the 13th Century.
An early form of corporate social responsibility initiative can be traced to the fact that traders constructed tanks and temples during their journey so as to create an atmosphere of goodwill among the local population.
The popular merchant guilds in ancient Tamil Nadu were Ainootruvar, Mani Grammathar, Pathinen Visaayathar and Anjuvannam. These guilds had members who were not only traders but also those who had ships with their own army of soldiers.
What was the significance of Madurai?
Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, was built around the Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, which many believe was built in the first Century CE.
The city of Madurai was built in the form of a lotus on the southern banks of the Vaigai river. Like the unfurling petals of the lotus, various streets, exclusive for trades, radiated from the centre.
‘Sengol’ to be installed in the new parliament: Significance of the sceptre, first given to Nehru
May 25, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “‘Sengol’ to be installed in the new parliament: Significance of the sceptre, first given to Nehru” published in the Indian Express on 25th May 2023
Contents
What is the News?
The Home Minister recently said that the upcoming inauguration of the new parliament building will also see Prime Minister installing a historic sceptre (Sengol) from Tamil Nadu next to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s seat.
What is Sengol?
It is derived from the Tamil word “Semmai”, meaning “Righteousness”. A ceremony was performed during the Chola dynasty, in which the transfer of power from one king to the other was sanctified and blessed by high priests. During this, the symbol (for the transfer of power) used was the handover of the ‘Sengol’ from one King to his successor.
The newly crowned ruler would be given the Sengol with an order to rule his subjects fairly and justly.
Why was the Sengol given to Nehru?
According to the official document, just before Independence, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, asked Nehru about “the ceremony that should be followed to symbolise the transfer of power from British to Indian hands”.
The soon-to-be prime minister went to consult C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India. He explained the details of Sengol and its associated ceremony.
How was the present Sengol made?
Source: Indian Express Once Nehru agreed to perform the suggested ceremony. Rajaji was tasked with the responsibility of arranging a sceptre.
Subsequently, he reached out to Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam, a well-known mutt in Tamil Nadu’s Tanjore district, for help and its leader commissioned the manufacturing of the Sengol to Chennai-based jewellers.
The present one was constructed by two men — Vummidi Ethirajulu and Vummidi Sudhakar. The sceptre measures five feet in length and has a ‘Nandi’ bull on top, symbolising justice.
How Sengol ceremony took shape during independence?
The sceptre is a “significant historical” symbol of Independence as it signifies the transfer of power from the British to the Indians. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru accepted Sengol on August 14, 1947, through the Adhinam of Tamil Nadu. It was a sign of the shift of power from the Britishers to the people of our country.
A song was played during the ceremony. It was composed by the 7th-century Tamil saint Tirugnana Sambandar — a child prodigy who lived only 16 years.
For Santiniketan, Unesco World Heritage status has been a decade-long wait
May 13, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “For Santiniketan, Unesco World Heritage status has been a decade-long wait” published in Business Standard on 13th May 2023
What is the News?
The International Council on Monuments and Sites, a UNESCO advisory body, has recommended that Santiniketan be included in the list of World Heritage Sites.
If selected, Santiniketan would be the second cultural symbol from West Bengal to be included in the UNESCO list.
In 2021, UNESCO included ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ in its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
What is Santiniketan?
Santiniketan is a renowned cultural and heritage place located in Birbhum District, West Bengal.
It holds historical significance as it was the home of Rabindranath Tagore, where he lived and composed many of his literary works, including songs, poems, and novels.
It was originally an ashram built by Debendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) where anyone, irrespective of caste and creed, could come and spend time meditating on the one Supreme God.
Santiniketan includes the entire Visva-Bharati University Campus, the core ashram area and the Uttarayan complex.
The core ashram area includes Patha Bhavana (the first school set up by Tagore in 1901), Upasana Griha (prayer hall, locally known as the glass temple), Kala Bhavana (institute of fine arts), Sangit Bhavana (institute of music) and Santiniketan Griha (the first house bought by Tagore’s father Debendranath).
The Uttarayan complex includes five houses of Tagore and a museum.
Santiniketan is also adorned with splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings created by renowned artists such as Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose (one of the pioneers of modern Indian art) and Ramkinkar Baij (master sculptor and painter) among others.
Uttarakhand’s ancient Tungnath temple to be declared a national monument
May 9, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Uttarakhand’s ancient Tungnath temple to be declared a national monument” published in Indian Express on 9th May 2023
What is the News?
The central government has issued a notification declaring the ancient temple of Tungnath as a monument of national importance.
What is Tungnath Temple?
Located in: Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand
It is the only ancient ‘Shivalaya‘ of its kind located at the highest point above sea level in Asia.
It is one of the Panch Kedars and is believed to have belonged to an ancient era almost 1000 years old.
It was built in the North Indian style of architecture and has a dozen shrines of other Gods surrounding the temple.
It is believed to have been discovered by Adi Sankacharya.
What are Panch Kedars?
Panch Kedar refers to a group of five sacred shrines of Lord Shiva located in the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand.
They are the subject of many legends that directly link their creation to Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
The five temples are Kedarnath Temple, Tungnath Temple, Rudranath Temple, Madhyamaheshwar Temple or Madmaheshwar and the Kalpeshwar Temple.
Delhi to launch ‘haunted walk’ tomorrow; first trip to Malcha Mahal
May 9, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Delhi to launch ‘haunted walk’ tomorrow; first trip to Malcha Mahal” published in Indian Express on 8th May 2023
What is the News?
The Delhi Tourism Department is all set to launch its much-awaited ‘haunted walks’ and the first destination is the Malcha Mahal.
What is Malcha Mahal?
Malcha Mahal is located in Delhi.
It was built in 1325 by the then Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq and was, for long, used as a hunting lodge.
It later became the residence of the descendants of the Nawab of Awadh. It is said that it came to be known as ‘Wilayat Mahal’ after Begum Wilayat Mahal of Awadh, who claimed that she was a member of the royal family of Oudh. She was given the palace by the government in 1985.
The monument is not Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)-protected and, therefore, no attention was paid to it in all these years in order to conserve it.
In 2019, the Delhi government received a proposal from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to restore the Mahal.
Who are Meiteis: Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state
May 4, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state” published in Indian Express on 4th May 2023
What is the News?
The Manipur government has imposed a curfew in most of the districts and suspended mobile internet services in the entire state after a mass rally organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) turned violent.
The rally was organized in protest against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
Who are the Meitei community?
The Meiteis are the largest community in Manipur.
Language: They speak the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), one of the 22 official languages of India and the sole official language of Manipur State.
Distribution: The Meiteis are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
– There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Clans: They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry.
Religion: A majority follow Hinduism while more than 8% are Muslims, locally known as Pangals.
Festivals: The various types of festivals that are the most significant, and are celebrated with great joy by meiteis are Lai Haraoba, Cheiraoba, Yaosang among others.
– The Manipuri martial art Thang-ta is a combative sport which had its origin in the Meitei knights during the king’s rule
Copper plates decoded by Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute sheds light on celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika
May 3, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Copper plates decoded by Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute sheds light on celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika” published in The Hindu on 3rd May 2023
Contents
What is the News?
Researchers at the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) have decoded the copper based inscriptions.
The inscriptions have revealed that the celebrated Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika was a daughter of Chalukyan Emperor, Pulakeshin II of Badami (in modern Karnataka).
Who was Shilabhattarika?
Shilabhattarika was an ancient Sanskrit poet.
She is considered a leading figure of the Panchali literary style, which maintains a balance between words and meaning.
According to Rajashekhara, the Panchali style can be traced to the works of Shilabhattarika and possibly in some of the works of the 7th-century poet Bana.
Sharangadhara-paddhati, a 14th-century anthology, praises her and three other female poets for their great poetic genius and erudition.
One of the most iconic songs of the noted Marathi poetess Shanta Shelke, “toch chandrama nabhat” (it is the same moon in the sky), draws inspiration from the verses of Shilabhattarika.
What did the researchers find out about Shilabhattarika?
Researchers have found that Shilabhattarika was the daughter of Chalukyan Emperor, Pulakeshin II.
This finding marks a notable shift in the historiography of Badami Chalukyas by placing Shilabhattarika as having lived in the 7th century CE rather than the current theory which believes that she was the wife of 8th-century Rashtrakuta ruler, Dhruva.
Who was Pulakeshin II?
Pulakeshin II was the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi (present-day Badami in Karnataka). He ruled from 610-642 CE.
He defeated Harshavardhan of Kanauj in a battle near the banks of the Narmada River in 618 CE.
– Note: Badami Chalukyan rulers affixed the title of ‘Satyashraya’ (translated as “patron of truth”) to their names, the only ruler to be known purely by this title was Pulakeshin II.
Hemis Monastery and Thiksey Monastery: 100 delegates visit monasteries in Ladakh for pre-G20 meeting
April 29, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “100 delegates visit monasteries in Ladakh for pre-G20 meeting” published in TOI on 27th April 2023
What is the News?
More than 100 delegates from 30 countries as part of the pre-G20 meeting have visited the Hemis and Thiksey monasteries.
What is Hemis Monastery?
Hemis Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in Ladakh. It is situated on the western banks of the Indus River.
It belongs to the Red Hat Sect or Drukpa lineage of Buddhism.
The monastery is famous for its 2-day religious ceremony known as the Hemis Festival.
What is Thiksey Monastery?
The Thiksey monastery is located in Thiksey at Ladakh. The monastery is affiliated with the Gelugpa sect or Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism
The monastery is notable for its resemblance to the Potala palace in Lhasa, Tibet and its annual Gustor Festival
The Maitreya Temple is one of the most popular attractions in the monastery. The temple houses a tall statue of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha).
Call to protect historically significant structures at Thirunelly temple
April 29, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Call to protect historically significant structures at Thirunelly temple” published in The Hindu on 27th April 2023
What is the News?
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to conserve the historically significant structures, including the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’, at Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelly in Wayanad,Kerala.
What is Thirunelly Temple?
Thirunelly Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord Maha Vishnu.
Located in: It is located on the sides of Brahmagiri Hill, a part of the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges in the Wayanad district of Kerala.
It is also known as the Sahyamala Kshetram and Kashi of the South.
Architecture: The temple is a fine specimen of classical Kerala temple architecture.
– The inner sanctum is surrounded by a tile-roofed structure and there is an open courtyard around the sanctorum.
– Along the outer wall of the temple is a cloister made of granite pillars cut in cubical style. This part of the temple architecture is slightly unusual for a Kerala temple.
Significance: Thirunelli is also the only temple in the world where devotees can perform all the rituals related to one’s life, starting from birth to death and life after death.
– The rituals in this temple are performed on the banks of stream Papanashini, which originates from the Brahmagiri hills.
– There is also a sacred rock near the river called Pinnappara where ritual offerings to the spirits of the departed are made (known as bali).
Tamil Nadu’s Manamadurai pottery gets GI tag
April 25, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Tamil Nadu’s Manamadurai pottery gets GI tag” published in The Hindu on 25th April 2023
What is the News?
The Manamadurai pottery has recently been given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
What is Manamadurai Pottery?
Manamadurai in Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu is known for pottery making.
The Vaigai River enriches the clay used for the Manamadurai pottery. A unique type of clay is also sourced from other water bodies to make these pots.
The pot is painted in different colours. While making these pots, the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sun and air are used.
What is the Vaigai River?
Hakki Pikkis caught in Sudan conflict: Why this tribe of bird catchers travels to Africa from Karnataka
April 22, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Hakki Pikkis caught in Sudan conflict: Why this tribe of bird catchers travels to Africa from Karnataka” published in Indian Express on 22nd April 2023
What is the News?
More than 181 members of the Hakki Pikki tribal community from Karnataka are stuck in violence-hit Sudan, even as the government is making efforts to bring them back.
What is Hakki-Pikki Tribe?
‘Hakki-Pikki’ is one of the major tribal communities in Karnataka.
In Kannada, the word ‘Hakki’ stands for ‘bird’ and ‘Pikki’ stands for the verb ‘to catch’. Therefore, the community is known as the ‘bird catcher,’ which is their traditional occupation.
The community migrated from Northern India – mainly Gujarat and Rajasthan to Karnataka. According to the 2011 census, the Hakki Pikki population in Karnataka is 11,892.
Language: Despite being surrounded by Dravidian languages and living in southern India, the community speaks an Indo-Aryan language. Their mother tongue was designated ‘Vaagri’ by scholars.
– UNESCO has listed ‘Vaagri’ as one of the endangered languages.
Rituals and Customs: Hakki Pikkis in Karnataka follow Hindu traditions and celebrate all Hindu festivals. They are non-vegetarians. The eldest son in a family is not supposed to cut his hair so that he can be identified easily.
– The tribe prefers cross-cousin marriages. The society is matriarchal, where the groom gives dowry to the bride’s family
Occupation: Hakki-Pikkis are renowned for their indigenous medicines. The community resided in the dense jungles for a long time and created its own plant and herb-based medicine systems.
-Their herbal oil business took off, and now the tribe members go to many places across the globe to sell their products.
– In 2021, the Hakki-Pikki tribes came into the limelight after they survived the Covid-19 pandemic.
Madhya Pradesh’s Gond painting gets GI tag
April 17, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Madhya Pradesh’s Gond painting gets GI tag” published in The Print on 15th April 2023
What is the News?
The Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
What is Gond Painting?
Gond painting is a traditional art of Madhya Pradesh that belongs to the Gond tribe.
Patangarh village of Dindori district is famous for Gond paintings, where there is an artist in every house.
Their work is famous in the state and abroad for its unique style, theme, and motifs.
Features: Initially, Gond Paintings started as a traditional art form that could be seen on the mud walls of the houses. However, by the early 1980s, it gradually shifted to canvas and paper.
– Gond Painting is often described as an “On Line Work” as it is created out of meticulously drawn lines which convey a sense of movement to the still images.
– The paintings showcase the beauty of nature, including trees, plants, animals, the moon, sun, river, drains, God, and Goddesses.
– It also portrays daily life activities such as food, plough making, and even how the king used to fight.
– Another interesting feature of this art form is the use of bright colours, such as yellow, red, white and blue.
Bihu Dance: PM gets into Bihu mood after world record show
April 15, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “PM gets into Bihu mood after world record show” published in The Hindu on 15th April 2023
What is the News?
The Prime Minister in Assam was greeted with over 11,000 Bihu performers who had set two Guinness World Records – the world’s largest performance of traditional Bihu dance and the largest performance by folk musicians.
What is Bihu Dance?
Bihu dance is a traditional folk-dance popular across Assam. It is especially performed during Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, the spring festival that marks the arrival of the Assamese New Year in mid-April.
The earliest depiction of Bihu dance is found in the 9th-century sculptures found in the Tezpur and Darrang districts of Assam. Bihu is mentioned in the inscriptions of the 14th-century Chutia King Lakshminaryan as well.
How is Bihu dance performed?
The Bihu dance is known for its lively attributes of joy with quick movements. Performing dancers usually wear bright colourful traditional costumes. The red colour of the costume signifies fertility, ripe season and harvest.
The dance is usually performed by men and women dancers whirling and spinning to traditional songs of Assam.
With forming the groups, the Bihu dancers move and dance in circular directions, often clapping hands with enthusiasm and swinging their arms. They often jump while singing the cultural sagas.
What the Uttaramerur inscription, recently referred to by PM says
April 15, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “What the Uttaramerur inscription, recently referred to by PM says” published in Indian Express on 15th April 2023
Contents
What is the News?
The Prime Minister has referred to the Uttaramerur inscription in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, while discussing India’s democratic history.
What is Uttaramerur Inscription?
Uttaramerur lies in the present-day Kanchipuram district in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is known for its historic temples built during Pallava and Chola rule.
The famous inscription from Parantaka I’s reign is found on the walls of the Vaikunda Perumal Temple.
What does the Uttaramerur inscription say?
The inscription gives details of the functioning of the local sabha, i.e. the village assembly.
A sabha was an assembly exclusively of Brahmans and had specialized committees tasked with different things.
The inscription details how members were selected, the required qualifications, their roles and responsibilities, and even the circumstances in which they could be removed.
Qualifications: It includes ownership of a certain amount of land, having a house, being between the age of 35 and 70 and “knowing mantras and Brahmanas” (from the Vedic corpus).
– An exception can be made on land ownership if the person has learnt at least “one Veda and four Bhashyas”. One must also be “well-versed in business” and “virtuous”.
Selection procedure for the Sabha: It says there were 30 wards. Everyone living in these 30 wards would assemble and select one representative for the village assembly.
– All those eligible and willing would write their names on palm leaf tickets following which, the representative would be chosen based on an elaborate draw of lots, conducted by priests in the inner hall of the building where the assembly meets.
Disqualification: The inscription lists several factors which disqualify someone and their family like:
– Not having submitted accounts while previously serving on a committee.
– Committing any of the first four of the five ‘great sins’ (killing a Brahman, drinking alcohol, theft and adultery).
– Being associated with outcastes, and eating ‘forbidden’ dishes.
Is Uttaramerur inscription an example of democracy?
Uttaramerur inscription gives details of local self-governance, on closer inspection. But it is far from a truly democratic system.
Not only does it restrict sabha membership to a tiny subsection of land-owning brahmans, but it also does not have true elections. Rather, it chooses members from the eligible pool of candidates through a draw of lots.
However, this does not mean that this inscription should not be cited as a precedent for democratic functioning.
The inscription gives details of a system of local self-government, outside the direct authority of the king. The inscription is like a constitution – it describes both the responsibilities of members of the sabha as well as the limitations to the authority of these members.
Hence, if the rule of law (rather than rule by personal diktat) is an essential component of a democracy, the Uttaramerur inscription describes a system of government which follows just that.
Pattanam Site: No idols, no arms: the Pattanam mystery
April 6, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “No idols, no arms: the Pattanam mystery” published in The Hindu on 2nd April 2023.
What is the News?
Recent excavation has revealed that the Pattanam Site in Kerala was a thriving urban centre from the 5th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D., with its peak phase from 100 B.C. to A.D. 300. At present, the excavation has uncovered less than 1% of the site so far.
About Pattanam Site
Located in: Central Kerala
Pattanam is part of Muziris, ‘first emporium’ of the Indian Ocean. It is an example of the Greco- Roman classical age coming into direct contact with an ancient South Indian civilisation.
Note: The name Muziris is believed to have originated from the Tamil word “Muciri”, which means “the land of seven rivers”.
Significance: It is the only multi-cultural archaeological site on the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. The excavations have unearthed over 45 lakh sherds (ceramic fragments). Of these approximately 1.4 lakh belongs to the littoral regions of the Mediterranean, the River Nile, the Red Sea, the western and eastern Indian Oceans, and the South China Sea. Further, the recent findings also include the seal of a sphinx, native to the ancient Greek city of Thebes.
What are the key findings on Pattanam Site?
No Idol Worship: The site is devoid of any idols of gods and goddesses or grandiose places of worship.
No Social Hierarchy: Evidence for institutionalized religion or caste system in ancient Pattanam is also absent. This suggests that there was a secular ethos prevalent in society.
No Weaponry: The absence of sophisticated weaponry also stands in contrast with some other Pattanam-contemporary sites. This suggests that the people of Pattanam may have been peace-loving people who did not harbour religious and caste boundaries.
Cremation and Burial Practices: The burial practices were confined to fragmentary skeleton remains. The burials were of a “secondary” nature. In this, the dead were cremated first and the osseous remains were ceremoniously buried later.
People of widely differing backgrounds were buried the same way, which also highlights the prevalence of a secular society.
Connected to nature: Material evidence from Pattanam site strengthens the belief that Pattanam society may have lived in harmony with nature, like several indigenous societies. Pattanam society also not viewed people as separate from nature. This had the positive fallout of living life in an ecologically responsible manner.
Kathua’s ‘Basohli Painting’ gets GI tag
April 5, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Kathua’s ‘Basohli Painting’ gets GI tag” published in The Times of India on 3rd April 2023.
What is the News?
The world-famous ‘Basohli Painting’ from Kathua district has obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. This is the first time in the history of GI registration that the Jammu region got a GI tag for handicrafts.
About the Basohli painting
Originates in: Basholi region of Jammu and Kashmir
Style: It is popular for its miniature art style with vivid, evocative colours, bold lines, and deep-set facial patterns.
Patronage: The Basholi painting style flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries under the patronage of local rulers and wealthy merchants.
Themes: The portraits of local rulers, Radha-Krishna, and Madhava-Malati love themes and themes from the Bhagavata Purana.
Significance: It is considered the first school of Pahari paintings.
Salient features of Basohli painting:
-They have perfect geometrical patterns, bright colours and glossy enamel.
-The figures in the paintings are shown clad in rich costumes, stylised faces and large bulging eyes lending unique individuality to these paintings.
-These are painted on paper, cloth, or wood using natural pigments and dyes. Ochre yellow, brown, and green grounds are the predominant colours.
Assamese Gamosa: How a ‘hybrid’ gamosa sparked protests across Assam
April 1, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “How a ‘hybrid’ gamosa sparked protests across Assam” published in Indian Express on 1st April 2023
What is the News?
A newly formed Bangla Sahitya Sabha Assam (BSSA) used a hybrid creation — an Assamese gamosa and a Bengali gamcha, each cut in half and sewn together — to felicitate guests at a function.
Due to this, protests broke out in different parts of the state, particularly by Assam nationalist organizations and student groups, claiming that this creation was an insult to the Assamese gamosa.
What is Assamese Gamosa?
Source: Assamese Gamosa/Gamusa or Gamucha is one of the most recognisable cultural symbols of Assam.
Features: It is a white rectangular piece of cloth with embroidered red borders.
– The red border is called the “anchu” and is believed to be a sign of Ahom strength. “Anchu” was derived from a certain red flower which was also known as “anchu”.
Made up of: While most Gamosas are made of cotton, few utilized in special occasions are made from Silk too.
Uses: It is mostly used as an article presented to guests, elders, family or friends on special occasions as a sign of respect. No important ceremony or event is complete without the Gamosa.
– It also has a special relationship with the Vaishnavite culture in Assam. The axon, the main place of worship, is considered incomplete without one.
GI Tag: Assamese Gamosa received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2022.
Stolen Chola-era Hanuman idol brought back to India
March 24, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Stolen Chola-era Hanuman idol brought back to India” published in The Hindu on 24th March 2023
Contents
What is the News?
A rare variety bronze idol of Hanuman which was stolen from a Chola-era temple in Ariyalur district a decade ago and auctioned in Australia was finally retrieved by Tamilnadu Police.
About the Chola era
Sources of Chola Kingdom
Who are the important rulers of Chola empire?
Vijayalaya: The Chola Empire was founded by Vijayalaya. He took over the Tanjore kingdom in the 8th century and led to the rise of the mighty Cholas by defeating the Pallavas. Tanjore was hence made the first capital of the eminent Chola Empire.
Aditya I: He succeeded Vijayalaya to become the ruler of the empire. He defeated king Aparajita and the empire gained massive power under his reign. He conquered the Pandya Kings along with the Vadumbas and establishes control over the Pallavas’ power in the region.
Rajendra Chola: He succeeded the mighty Rajaraja Chola. Rajendra I was the first to venture to the banks of the Ganges. He was popularly called the Victor of the Ganges. His new empire capital was called the Gangaikondacholapuram where he received the title of ‘Gangaikonda’. This period is referred to as the golden age of the Cholas. After his rule, the kingdom witnessed a widespread downfall.
Administration and Governance
The massive kingdom was divided into provinces which were known as mandalams.
Separate governors were held in charge for each mandalam. These were further divided into districts called nadus which consisted of tehsils.
The system of rule was such that each village acted as a self-governing unit during the era of the Cholas.
The Cholas were ardent patrons of art, poetry, literature and drama; the administration was seen investing in the construction of several temples and complexes with sculptures and paintings.
The king remained the central authority who would make the major decisions and carry out the governance.
Getting it right: a historian’s effort to document the life of Bhagat Singh
March 23, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Getting it right: a historian’s effort to document the life of Bhagat Singh” published in The Hindu on 23rd March 2023
What is the News?
Prime Minister has paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas)
What is Shaheed Diwas?
Shaheed Diwas also known as Martyrs’ Day is observed on March 23rd in India to honor and pay tribute to the three Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence from British rule.
The three freedom fighters who are remembered on this day are Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru who were executed by the British government in 1931 in Lahore (now in Pakistan).
These three brave souls were hanged to death by the British government on March 23, 1931 in Lahore (now in Pakistan) for their involvement in the assassination of British police officer John Saunders.
Who was Bhagat Singh?
Bhagat Singh was born in 1907 in Lyallpur district (now in Pakistan), Bhagat Singh grew up in a Sikh family deeply involved in political activities.
He belonged to a generation that was to intervene between two decisive phases of the Indian national movement – the phase of the ‘Extremism’ of Lal-Bal-Pal and the Gandhian phase of nonviolent mass action.
CGetting it right: a historian’s effort to document the life of Bhagat Singhbution:
In 1924 in Kanpur, he became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association, started by Sachindranath Sanyal a year earlier. The main organizer of the Association was Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.
In 1928, HRA was renamed from Hindustan Republican Association to Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).
In 1925, Bhagat Singh returned to Lahore and within the next year, he and his colleagues started a militant youth organization called the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
In April 1926, Bhagat Singh established contact with Sohan Singh Josh and through him the ‘Workers and Peasants Party’ which brought out the monthly magazine Kirti in Punjabi. For the next year, Bhagat Singh worked with Josh and joined the editorial board of Kirti.
In 1927, he was first arrested on charges of association with the Kakori Case, accused for an article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel).
To take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police. However, the revolutionaries mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders. The incident is famously known as Lahore Conspiracy case (1929).
Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a bomb on 8th April 1929 in the Central Legislative Assembly, in protest against the passing of two repressive bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.
Bhagat Singh was re-arrested for the murder of J.P. Saunders and bomb manufacturing in the Lahore Conspiracy case. He was found guilty in this case and was hanged on 23rd March 1931 in Lahore along with Sukhdev and Rajguru.
Do you know India’s geoheritage sites of Jhamarkotra and Zawar?
March 20, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Do you know India’s geoheritage sites of Jhamarkotra and Zawar?” published in The Hindu on 20th March 2023
Contents
What is the News?
Society of Earth Scientists (SES), a group of independent researchers bridging the gap between earth science and society, organized the International Geodiversity Day in October 2022.
As part of this, the researchers visited Geo-heritage sites namely: the fossil park at Jhamarkotra and metallurgical remains at Zawar.
What is a fossil park at Jhamarkotra?
The fossil park at Jhamarkotra is located in the state of Rajasthan.
It hosts stromatolites dating back 1.8 billion years, exhibiting a variety of textures and sizes.
Jhamarkotra’s fossils are phosphate-rich because the trapped sediments were mainly phosphate minerals.
What are stromatolites?
A stromatolite is a layered sedimentary rock formed by microorganisms.
As such, stromatolite fossils preserve the record of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae – the earliest life on the planet.
These organisms developed the ability to photosynthesize and make their own food. By doing so, they pumped vast amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere of primordial Earth, allowing most other life to develop and flourish.
Stromatolites are sometimes called ‘alligator-skin rocks’ because of their unusual texture.
What is Zawar?
Zawar is an interesting geo-heritage site that lies some 40 km south of Udaipur. It is the world’s oldest known zinc-smelting site.
The discovery here of earthen retorts – brinjal-shaped, long-necked vessels – is particularly significant. Their presence here suggests Zawar had a unique zinc-smelting legacy.
Note: Zawar’s zinc-smelting operations date back 2,000 years.
Difficult to allocate public fund to art and culture: Centre
March 20, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Difficult to allocate public fund to art and culture: Centre” published in The Hindu on 20th March 2023.
Contents
What is the News?
Recently, the Culture Ministry has said that it might not be “tenable” for a developing nation like India to allocate a considerable proportion of its public fund to the promotion of art and culture.
About the issue
A parliamentary committee has made an observation that the allocation of the Ministry of Culture was just 0.075% of the total Budget this year. This was in sharp contrast to countries like China, the U.K., U.S., Singapore and Australia which spend roughly 2%-5% of their Budget on the promotion of art and culture.
Why India’s public fund to art and culture is less?
In response to the parliamentary committee observation, the Ministry has said that a) A majority of the amount spent on art and culture in the countries mentioned by the committee are sourced from non-government sources which is not the case in India, b) The ministry is able to increase its budgetary outlays over the years except during the COVID-pandemic period where priority was given to other social sector Ministries, and c) India experiences high disparity in elementary rural infrastructure like health, education and transportation, it might not be feasible to allocate a considerable proportion of its public fund.
Read more: Monuments in India: issues and Challenges How India is promoting public funding of art and culture?
The report submitted by the Department Related Standing Committee on Transport Tourism and Culture said that the “culture should be an area where a large part of expenditure needs to be sourced from non-government sources”.
Based on that, the Ministry is working on innovative methods to maximise the participation of non-government organisations. For instance, the ministry has unveiled the Monument Mitra scheme. Under this scheme, the government aims to hand over around 1,000 monuments under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the private sector for their upkeep.
A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves
March 11, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves” published in the Livemint on 11th March 2023.
Contents
What is the News?
Ajanta caves tells the story of the rise and sudden demise of the Vakataka empire, but also of the zenith of Buddhism as a state religion in India.
What is the political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves?
Trade activities: Mediterranean trade was passing through the ancient port cities of Kalyan and Sopara on the Konkan coast. Ujjain was also heavily involved in the east-west trade.
The bulk of the Indian Ocean trade also migrated further south down the Konkan coast, and the interior Deccan region became increasingly reliant on local agriculture.
Rise of Vakataka empire: In the fifth century, a branch of the Vakataka empire rose with its capital in Vatsalguma (present-day Washim in Maharashtra). They controlled much of the area from the Konkan coast to the western part of the Deccan plateau through a network of local feudatory kings.
By the late fifth century, during the reign of Harisena, their most illustrious emperor, the Vakatakas had regained control of the old oceanic and overland trade routes. The economic conditions facilitated more lavish Buddhist building work to begin in Ajanta.
About Ajanta caves
Ajanta is an elegant complex of viharas (monasteries), shrines and chaitya-grihas (stupa-halls).
Salient features:
-The colossal Buddhas at the heart of every shrine-sanctuary sat enthroned in a manner that easily echoes a king seated among his courtiers, attended to by Bodhisattvas, vidyadharas, yakshas and nagas. This also reinforces the narrative settings of the Mahayana sutras, with the Buddha revealing new teachings in a vast court of Bodhisattvas, Brahminical gods and other divine beings.
Read more: What are Ajanta Caves? What is the evolution of Ajanta Caves?
Early caves(9-12, except 11): The first caves had been excavated around the first-century BCE-first century CE, when the area was part of the large Satavahana empire. These caves have modest viharas with the main focus on devotion. Both caves 9 and 10 feature some of the oldest paintings at the site.
Caves(1-8, 11 and 14-31) from the reign of Harisena(460 CE-477 CE): Unlike the older ones, these caves are clearly of royal commission: by Harisena himself, his minister Varahadeva, and Upendragupta, the feudatory king of the Ajanta area.
These caves have superlative artworks which were created over just 15-20 years. These clusters hold the bulk of the surviving painted murals. The walls are illustrated with scenes from various Jataka tales.
The walls also depict a snapshot of the Vakataka court including the portrayal of Janaka’s gorgeous palace, the depiction of the women dancers and musicians, etc. In short, this period remarks the mixing of the kingly and the divine in art form.
Note: Cave 1 is a vihara with a Buddha shrine. This is the only cave that was built as a donation by Harisena. The dark-skinned Vajrapani(“pre-Chalukya” tradition) to the Buddha’s left and the light skinned Avalokiteshwara (“Gupta tradition”) to the Buddha’s right are understandably considered two masterpieces of the ancient world.
What are the later developments?
-Soon after Harisena’s death, the Vakataka empire came to a sudden end. Ajanta itself was almost immediately abandoned and subsequent Buddhist centres moved to Aurangabad and to Ellora. This is visible from the caves and shrines at Ajanta which were still unfinished.
–Buddhism continued to be a major force in the region, especially at sites like Kanheri, close to the trading ports.
13th-century temple discovered at Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district
March 4, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “13th-century temple discovered at Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2023.
What is the News?
13th-century Hindu temple ruins have been recently unearthed in a hillock in the Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. The architectural features of the ruins reveal a style that is contemporary to a temple at Vallur, built by the Kayastha rulers.
About Kayastha rulers
The Kayasthas (1239 AD – 1297 AD) were subordinates to the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty. In the history of the Kakatiyas, the Kayastha played a prominent role both as loyal subordinates and traitors.
They ruled the region with Vallur as the capital. Some rulers of this community were – Ganagaya Sahini (1239 – 1258 AD), Jannigadeva (1258 – 1268 AD), and Ambadeva II (1272 – 1294 AD).
The last ruler was Trupurari II (1294 – 1297 AD).
About Pushpagiri Kshetram
Pushpagiri is referred to as Hari-Hara Kshetra, as there are a number of temples dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu. It is located on the banks of the Pennar river.
The hillock, also known as Pushpachala, is famous for the chain of temples dedicated to the pantheon of Hindu gods such as Chennakesava, Umamaheswara, Rudrapada, Vishnupada, Trikooteswara, Vaidyanatha, Subrahmanya, Vighneswara and Durga Devi.
Pushpagiri is also called the second Hampi due to its beautiful architecture.
Sisupalgarh: Land mafias damage rampart of ancient fortified city of Sisupalgarh
March 4, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Land mafias damage rampart of ancient fortified city of Sisupalgarh ” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2023.
What is the News?
Land mafias have damaged a portion of the wall of the fortified ancient city of Sisupalgarh.
What is Sisupalgarh?
Sisupalgarh, believed to have been built around the 7th to 6th century BCE, served as the capital of the Kalinga kingdom(present day Odisha). It was an important centre of trade and commerce during ancient times.
Located near: the city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
Significance: It is considered one of the largest and best-preserved ancient fortifications in India. The fortifications are over 2,000 years old and date back to the 3rd or 4th century BC.
It was declared a Centrally Protected Monument under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904.
What are the unique features of Sisupalgarh?
Design and Construction: In the shape of a complete square that was surrounded by defensive walls.
Dimensions: Each side of the Sisupalgarh spreads over half a mile, and the interior is full of stone ruins and sculptures. The walls of the fortification are a little over nine meters (30 feet) tall.
Note: The fortification was carried out in the 4th to 3rd century BCE, when King Kharavela took up the repair of the city 2,100 years ago.
Gateways: There were eight gateways into the city, two in each of the four sides of the wall. The gateways were connected by streets in a grid-like arrangement with the palace in the center.
The gates were elaborate structures made of brick and stone.
Town planning: There is evidence of stone-lined reservoirs that were likely used for harvesting rainwater.
Intelligent traffic management, pedestrian-friendly pathways, grand gateways with guard houses, wide roads, and a vast open space were some of the key features of this ancient city.
Capacity: The city is believed to have a population of around 20,000 to 25,000.
What is Lavani, and why is Maharashtra’s folk dance form in controversy?
February 18, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “What is Lavani, and why is Maharashtra’s folk dance form in controversy?” published in Indian Express on 17th February 2023
What is the News?
NCP leader has directed members of his party to not organize public shows in the name of Lavani.
What is Lavani?
The word Lavani comes from ‘lavanya’ or beauty. It is a folk song-and-dance performance that is popular in Maharashtra.
In this, women dancers wearing nine-yard-long sarees in bright colours, make-up and ghunghroos perform on dholak beats on a stage before a live audience.
Historical significance: Lavani has a history going back several centuries, and it attained particular popularity in the Peshwa era in the 18th century.
– Traditionally, performances were held in front of kings or lords, and for the entertainment of tired soldiers resting during breaks in fighting.
Types: There are several sub-genres of Lavani, of which the most popular is the Shringarik (erotic) kind, in which the lyrics are often teasing with sensuous dance steps and delicate gestures employed to convey erotic meaning.
What is the basis for criticism against Lavani?
The sensual component in Lavani has long been frowned upon. For instance, in 1948, the then Chief Minister of Bombay banned Lavani performances.
Towards sustainability: Arunachal’s Apatanis use a unique, integrated cultivation method; it needs encouragement
February 17, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Towards sustainability: Arunachal’s Apatanis use a unique, integrated cultivation method; it needs encouragement” published in Down To Earth on 17th February 2023
What is the News?
The Apatanis Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh practices a distinctive form of agriculture where rice and fish are grown together.
About Apatani Tribe
The Apatani tribe is one of the major ethnic groups of the eastern Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh.
The major festivals of Apatanis are the Myoko, Dree, Yapung and Murung. People here believe that these traditional festivals ensure better productivity and well-being.
Apatanis are known for their effective traditional village council called bulyañ which supervises, guides and has legal oversight over the activities of individuals that affect the community as a whole.
They work by addressing the conscience of the people rather than by instilling fear of the law and by promoting the prevention of unlawful activities rather than by punitive actions.
What is the Integrated rice-fish cultivation practised by Apatani Tribe?
Apatanis practice a unique form of agriculture called Integrated rice-fish cultivation where rice and fish are grown together. This is a low-input and eco-friendly practice.
In this type of cultivation, fish almost depend on the natural food sources of the rice fields and thus, farmers hardly need to use any supplementary fish feeds.
– The farmers sometimes use household and agricultural wastes and excreta of domestic animals like pigs, cows, and goats to make farming more sustainable and organic.
Source of irrigation: The water sources in these high-altitude rice fields are mountain streams and rainwater dripped down during the monsoon season. Bamboo pipes are being used to distribute water from the networks of earthen irrigation channels.
Tools: Ancient and old-fashioned agricultural technologies are utilized for cultivation. Modern tools like tractors and power tillers are not affordable as well as inaccessible to the farmers.
Benefits: Fish improves rice productivity (by 10-15%) by controlling the growth of algae, weeds and insects, providing nutrient input through fish excreta and promoting tillering of the rice through the movement of fish inside the field.
Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE
February 10, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE” published in The Print on 9th February 2023
What is the News?
Researchers have found that a three-year drought may have led to the fall of the Hittite empire in the Middle East 3000 years ago.
What is the Hittite Empire?
The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian (modern-day Turkey) people who formed an empire between 1600-1180 BCE.
The Hittites manufactured advanced iron goods, ruled over their kingdom through government officials with independent authority over various branches of government and worshipped storm gods.
They became the main geopolitical rivals of ancient Egypt during its glittering New Kingdom period.
The empire had long proved itself to be resilient against regular sociopolitical, economic and even environmental challenges such as the threat of drought. However, around or shortly after 1200 BCE, the empire collapsed.
Why did the empire collapse?
Researchers examined long-lived juniper trees that grew in the region at the time.
They found that a series of droughts around 1198 and 1196 BCE may have brought down the empire.
This research shows how extreme climate change can push populations beyond their adaptation limits and centuries-old resilience practices.
‘Victory City’: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated
February 10, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Victory City: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023
What is the News?
Salman Rushdie released a new novel “Victory City” – a fictionalized story of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.
About Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty.
The kingdom expanded from a strategic position on the banks of the Tungabhadra river with Hampi as its capital.
The kingdom reached its peak under Krishna Deva Raya (reign 1509-1529), a period in which it enjoyed military superiority to its rival kingdoms such as the Bahmani Sultanate, the Golconda Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha.
At its peak, the kingdom stretched from Goa on the Konkan coast to parts of southern Odisha in the east and all the way to the very tip of the subcontinent in the south.
Economy: The economy of the kingdom was largely dependent on agriculture, and trade thrived in its many ports on either coast.
– Traveller Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi chronicled how the ports of Mangalore, Honavar, Bhatkal, Barkur, Cochin, Cannanore, Machilipatnam and Dharmadam saw traders from Africa, Arabia, Aden, the Red Sea, China and Bengal and also served as shipbuilding centres.
– The empire’s principal exports were pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, myrobalan, tamarind timber, anafistula, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, musk, ambergris, rhubarb, aloe, cotton cloth and porcelain.
– Coins were minted by the state as well as by merchant guilds using gold, silver, copper and brass, and their value depended on material weight.
Architecture and Literature: Literature in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, as well as Sanskrit, was produced in the kingdom with new writing styles and methods emerging.
– Vijayanagara architecture is a vibrant combination and blossoming of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles.
– The Prasanna Virupaksha temple of Bukka I and the Hazara Rama temple of Krishna Deva Raya are striking examples of Vijayanagara’s characteristic style and intricate artistry.
– Vijayanagara’s capital Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its sophisticated fortifications as well as innumerable temples and other architectural marvels.
– From accounts of foreign travellers, by the beginning of the 16th century, Hampi-Vijayanagara was probably the second-largest urban settlement on the planet (after Beijing).
The sacred Shaligram: 140 mn-year-old stones to be used for the idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya
February 9, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “The sacred Shaligram: 140 mn-year-old stones to be used for the idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya” published in Indian Express on 9th February 2023.
What is the News?
Two sacred Shaligram stones arrived in Ayodhya for crafting the idols of Lord Ram and Janaki at the Ram Temple.
What are Shaligram Stones?
Shaligram Stone is a fossilized ammonite, a type of mollusk that lived millions of years ago.
It is found in the sacred rivers of the Himalayas, particularly the Gandaki River in Nepal.
The stone is considered to be a representation of Lord Vishnu, one of the primary deities in Hinduism, and is revered as a sacred object.
Historically, the use of shaligrama stones in worship can be traced to the time of Adi Shankara through the latter’s works.
The statue of Vishnu in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Thiruvananthapuram and Badrinath Temple of Garhwal region, and that of Krishna in Krishna Matha of Udupi and Radha Raman Temple of Vrindavana are also believed to be made from shaligrama stones.
Significance: Shaligram Stone is used in Hindu rituals and is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and blessings to those who worship it.
– It is also used as a talisman to ward off negative energies and protect the wearer from harm.
Stone-age carvings found in Aravalis in Gurugram
February 8, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Stone-age carvings found in Aravalis in Gurugram” published in TOI on 7th February 2023.
What is the News?
Various Paleolithic paintings found in the Aravalli hills and the latest discovery of stone carvings in the Badshahpur area of Gurugram has widened the trove of history in the Gurugram region.
What has been discovered by Archaeologists?
Archaeologists have discovered petroglyphs (an image that is carved into a rock) in the Badshahpur area of Gurugram.
The petroglyphs discovered in the area include graffiti and hand and footprints of humans and animals engraved on quartzite rocks.
Archaeologists believe that these carvings are more than 10,000 BP(before present) old.
Note: The Paleolithic era spans from about 25 lakh years to 10,000 BP (before present, the carbon dating marker that archaeologists use with 1950 treated as the base year).
About Aravallis as a pre-historic site
The Aravallis have been a subject of pre-historic research for several decades.
Paleolithic paintings have been discovered in the region earlier. In 2021, the archaeological department discovered a 5,000-hectare site in Faridabad’s Mangar, where cave paintings were found along with rock shelters and tools.
Dhamaal: The incredible story of how East African culture shaped the music of a state in India
February 8, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Dhamaal: The incredible story of how East African culture shaped the music of a state in India” published in Down To Earth on 7th February 2023.
What is the News?
The story of Dhamaal performance traditions by Siddis reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in a world shaped by human movement and history.
What is Dhamaal?
Dhamaal is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance traditions.
It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat.
Usually, Dhamaal songs and dances are performed by Siddis to celebrate the anniversary of the birth and death of spiritual leaders.
They are performed in two ways — Dance Dhamaal and Baithaaki Dhamaal. The Baithaaki Dhamaal is performed in the sitting position and the Dance Dhamaal is performed in both sitting and dance positions.
The spiritual songs that are sung during the Dhamaals are known as zikrs.
Who are Siddis?
The term Siddi refers to Afro-Indians — Africans who mixed with Indians through marriage and relationships.
They crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived in India during the 1200s, 1300s and 1400s.
They were transported by Islamic invaders and Portuguese colonisers as enslaved people, palace guards, army chiefs, harem keepers, spiritual leaders, Sufi singers, dancers and treasurers.
The Siddis are followers of Islam. Today, the majority of Siddis are found in the west and southwest of India, in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana states.
As they settled in India, they preserved and practised their African ancestral socio-cultural traditions — and also adopted local Indian traditions.
Shumang Leela: The art of gender-bending
February 1, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Shumang Leela: The art of gender-bending” published in The Hindu on 29th January 2023.
What is the News?
A traditional style of theatre art called Shumang Leela from Manipur has entertained and informed audiences for centuries.
What is Shumang Leela?
Shumang Leela is a traditional form of theatre in Manipur.
Shumang Leela translates to “courtyard performance”. It is performed in an open courtyard surrounded by spectators on all four sides.
The tradition is believed to be descended from Lai Haraoba, a ritual of the Meitei community of Manipur.
The plays serve as a medium to spread awareness among people of social, political and economic issues. Shumang Leelas may also discuss moral values, unity and integrity.
In this play, the roles of women are all played by men, called Nupi Shabis. In the case of women’s theatre groups, the roles of men are played by women.
Today, Shumang Leela is of two types: 1) Nupa Shumang Leela, performed only by men and 2) Nupi Shumang Leela, performed only by women.
Padma award is an honour for the Etikoppaka toy craft, says C.V. Raju
January 28, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Padma award is an honour for the Etikoppaka toy craft, says C.V. Raju” published in PIB on 27th January 2023
What is the News?
Shri C V Raju from Etikoppaka village, Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh has been conferred with Padma Shri for preserving the traditional method of making Etikoppaka toys.
What are Etikoppaka toys?
Etikoppaka toys are traditional toys made by artisans of Etikoppaka village located on the banks of Varaha River in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Features: Toys are made of soft wood and lacquer color. Coloured with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer,roots and leaves. The way of toy making is also known as turned wood lacquer craft.
– The artisans mainly use the wood from trees known as ‘ankudu’ (Wrightia Tinctoria) that is soft in nature.
– These toys have no sharp edges. They are rounded on all sides and hence present little chance of injury to children.
GI Tag: In 2017, the Etikoppaka toys acquired a Geographical Indications(GI) tag.
Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, and criticism of the holy book
January 28, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, and criticism of the holy book” published in Indian Express on 28th January 2023
Contents
What is the News?
Bihar Education Minister has said that the Ramcharitmanas spreads hatred in society.
What is Ramcharitmanas?
Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas.
It is divided into seven chapters (Kand) that tell the story of Lord Ram from birth to his becoming King of Ayodhya.
The Ramcharitmanas is based on the Ramayana, sage Valmiki’s great epic. It is the holiest book of the Indo-Gangetic region and among the world’s most-read holy books.
Who is Goswami Tulsidas?
Tulsidas was a Brahmin whose original name was Ram Bola Dubey. He composed the Ramcharitmanas on the bank of the Ganga in Varanasi.
Tulsidas lived in the time of Emperor Akbar, and some believe that he was in touch with Abdurrahim Khan-e-Khanan, the son of Akbar’s commander Bairam Khan, and they possibly exchanged some poetic communication as well.
Which portions of Ramcharitmanas are criticized?
The main criticism is of a chaupai in Sundar Kand. Lord Ram is on the coast, but the Sea is refusing to make way. When the Lord threatens to dry the Sea out, he says, imbeciles, illiterates, shudras and women sakal tadana ke adhikari. While the Geeta Press Ramcharitmanas translates “taadan” as shiksha (education), some critics say it means beating or reprimanding.
In Uttar Kand, Kagbhushundi (the crow) tells Garuda, the king of birds: Lower castes like Teli, Kumhar, Chandal, Bheel, Kol and Kalwar, etc. become sanyasis by tonsuring their heads after their wife dies or they lose their wealth.
Later, Kagbhushundi says, Educating a lower-caste person is like feeding milk to a snake. This was the line that the Bihar Minister mentioned.
Puri’s Jagannath Temple: Why non-Hindus and foreigners can’t enter here
January 23, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Puri’s Jagannath Temple: Why non-Hindus and foreigners can’t enter here” published in Indian Express on 22nd January 2023.
Contents
What is the News?
The Odisha Governor has backed the entry of foreign nationals inside the world-famous Jagannath Temple in Puri.
What is Lord Jagannath Temple?
Lord Jagannath Temple is located in Puri,Odisha. It is also called the White Pagoda.
It is one of the four dhams (char dham) where Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, is worshipped along with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra.
The temple was constructed by a famous king of the Ganga Dynasty Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva dating back to the 12th century.
Only Hindus are allowed inside the shrine to offer prayers to the sibling deities in the sanctum sanctorum.
Why are non-Hindus not allowed inside the temple?
It has been the practice for centuries — even though there is no clearly articulated reason for it.
Some historians believe that multiple attacks on the Temple by Muslim rulers might have led the servitors to impose restrictions on the entry of non-Hindus. Others have said that this was the practice from the time the Temple was built.
How can Non-Hindus then worship Lord Jagannath?
Lord Jagannath is also known as Patitabapan which literally means “saviour of the downtrodden”.
So all those who are barred from entering the Temple because of religious reasons get the privilege of a darshan of the Lord in the form of Patitapaban at the Lion’s Gate.
Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag: Assam CM
January 23, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag: Assam CM” published in The Hindu on 23rd January 2023
What is the News?
Assam chief minister has said that Charaideo Moidams (pyramids) is India’s nomination for UNESCO’s world heritage site status in the cultural category for 2023-24.
Note: There is currently no World Heritage site in the category of cultural heritage in the northeast out of the 32 listed in the country.
What is Charaideo Moidams?
Charaideo commonly known as ‘Pyramids of Assam’ was the original capital of the Ahom Kings.
Charaideo remained the symbolic center of Ahom Kingdom even though the capital of the kingdom moved many times.
Built by: It was built by Chaolung Sukhapa the founder of the dynasty in about 1229 CE.
Located at: This place is located at the foothills of Nagaland. It is situated at a distance of around 30 KM from the historical Sivasagar town in Assam.
Features: It contains sacred burial grounds of Ahom kings and queens and is also the place of the ancestral Gods of the Ahoms.
– Some 42 tombs (Maidams) of Ahom kings and queens are present at Charaideo hillocks.
Architecture: It comprises a massive underground vault with one or more chambers having domical superstructure and covered by a heap of earthen mounds and externally it appears a hemispherical mound.
Archaeological Survey of India all set to begin Excavation at Purana Qila again
January 18, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Archaeological Survey of India all set to begin Excavation at Purana Qila again” published in PIB on 18th January 2023.
What is the News?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is all set to begin excavation at Delhi’s Purana Qila again.
What is Purana Qila?
Purana Qila is the 16th-century fort. It was built by Sher Shah Suri and the second Mughal emperor Humayun.
The walls of the Purana Quila are made of enormous red stones having minimal ornamentation and decoration.
The major attractions inside the fort are the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque of Sher Shah Suri, Sher Mandal (a tower, which is traditionally associated with the death of Humayun), a stepwell and the remains of the extensive rampart which has three gates.
What did the earlier excavations at the site reveal about Purana Quila?
Excavations have revealed that the Purana Quila stands at the site of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas.
Purana Quila is also the only place in Delhi, which has cultural deposits of the last 2,500 years in its various layers, from the pre-Mauryan to the modern era.
The findings and artefacts unearthed in earlier excavations comprise painted grey ware, belonging to 900BC, an earthen pottery sequence from Maurya to Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, Rajput, Sultanates and Mughal periods.
Roman secret to durable architecture? Self-healing concrete
January 14, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Roman secret to durable architecture? Self-healing concrete” published in Down To Earth on 13th January 2023.
What is the News?
New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and laboratories in Italy and Switzerland have discovered the secret behind Roman construction abilities.
What was the secret behind ancient Roman construction abilities?
Source: The Hindu The ancient Romans were masters of engineering, constructing vast networks of roads, aqueducts, ports and massive buildings, whose remains have survived for two millennia.
Many of these structures were built with concrete: Rome’s famed Pantheon, which has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome and was dedicated in 128 CE is still intact.
For many years, researchers assumed the key to the ancient concrete’s durability was based on one ingredient: Pozzolanic material, such as volcanic ash from the area of Pozzuoli on the Bay of Naples.
Under closer examination, the researchers found the ancient samples also contain small, distinctive, millimeter-scale bright white mineral features, which have been long recognised as a ubiquitous component of Roman concretes. These white chunks often called “lime clasts” originate from lime, another critical part of the ancient concrete mix.
The lime casts were earlier thought of as evidence of sloppy mixing practices or poor-quality raw materials.
On close examination, they found the Romans employed a Hot mixing method and used quicklime in conjunction with or instead of slaked lime for producing concrete.
What is the hot mixing process?
During the hot mixing process, the lime clasts created a brittle structure with a reactive calcium source. The calcium would travel through the lime clasts, react with water and quickly fill any cracks.
Based on these findings, the team has now concluded that Hot Mixing was actually the key to the super-durable nature.
Juna Khatiya Site: Gujarat’s Harappan necropolis reveals death rituals of 5,000 years ago
January 14, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Gujarat’s Harappan necropolis reveals death rituals of 5,000 years ago” published in The Hindu on 13th January 2023.
What is the News?
Excavations at one of the biggest necropolises at Juna Khatiya village (Kutch, Gujarat) show rows of graves with valuable items such as Ceramic pots, beaded jewellery, animal bones etc.
About Juna Khatiya Site
It is located about 30 km from Lakhpat in Kutch district, Gujarat.
It has emerged as one of the biggest Harappan burial sites with the possibility of 500 graves of which about 125 have been found so far.
The archaeologists found rows of graves with skeletal remains, ceramic pots, plates and vases, beaded jewellery and animal bones.
The burials discovered at this site date from 3,200 BCE to 2,600 BCE, predating Dholavira—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and several other Harappan sites in the state.
The site is important because others like Dholavira have a cemetery in and around the town, but no major habitation has been discovered near Juna Khatiya.
The site demonstrates the transition from earth-mound burials to stone graves. The pottery from the site has features and styles similar to those excavated from early Harappan sites in Sindh and Balochistan.
Corbusier’s vision for Chandigarh: The genius & the flaws
January 12, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Corbusier’s vision for Chandigarh: The genius & the flaws” published in Indian Express on 12th January 2023
Contents
What is the News?
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the Chandigarh administration to take a number of steps to preserve Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh.
Who was Le Corbusier?
Le Corbusier was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture.
In 2016, seventeen projects by Le Corbusier in seven countries were inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement. Chandigarh is one of the sites.
What are the key features of Le Corbusier Chandigarh Plan?
Corbusier’s plan would have a heart and a head, where the “head” would contain the Capital Complex and the “heart” the commercial area.
The “hands” would host recreational spaces and academic institutions. His rectangular grid encouraged self-sufficient units, dividing the city into different sectors.
He planned for the city to be built in two phases, where Phase I would contain Sectors 1 to 30 for 150,000 people, while Sectors 31-47 would host a denser population of nearly half a million.
To do this, locals were evicted and refugees shown the door. Records claim nearly 28,000 people had to leave the land. The government bought it all under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, allowing the inhabitants to remain as tenants.
Why has Le Corbusier’s plan for Chandigarh been criticized?
Chandigarh became home to the wealthy and the government officials, the poor were excluded from Corbusier’s master plan.
Critics also mention that besides segregating housing based on income, another flaw was that the wage earners’ location outside city limits made it tedious for them to access jobs.
Hence, there is a saying that Chandigarh is a well-designed city, not a well-planned city.
U.S. Ambassadors fund to help restore Paigah Tombs complex in Hyderabad
January 11, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “U.S. Ambassadors fund to help restore Paigah Tombs complex in Hyderabad” published in The Hindu on 11th January 2023
What is the News?
The US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation will extend financial support of $250,000 towards the conservation and restoration of six of the Paigah tombs.
What are Paigah Tombs?
Paigah Tombs or Maqhbara Shams al-Umara are a necropolis (a large, designed cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments) located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
They were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and belonged to the nobility of the Paigah family who served the Nizam of Hyderabad in various capacities.
Architecture: These tombs are made out of lime and mortar with beautiful inlaid marble carvings. It consists of marvelous carvings and motifs in floral designs and inlaid marble tile works.
– The tombs are the finest examples of the enthralling Indo-Islamic architecture, which is a blend of both features of Asaf Jahi and Rajputana style.
– Stucco work found in Paigah Tombs doesn’t exist anywhere else in India. It has incredible lattice screens, minarets and detailing.
Sagol Kangjei: The ancient polo of Manipur, played on the celebrated Manipur Pony
January 7, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Sagol Kangjei: The ancient polo of Manipur, played on the celebrated Manipur Pony” published in Indian Express on 6th January 2023
What is the News?
Union Home Minister inaugurated a 122-foot-tall statue of a polo player astride a Manipur Pony in Imphal, a project that has been in the works for several years now.
Where did Modern polo originated from?
Modern polo is said to have originated from Sagol Kangjei.
Sagol Kangjei is the name of the game of polo played in Manipur. Sagol means pony/horse, kang means a ball or round object and jei is a stick used for hitting.
In this game, players ride horses, specifically the Manipur Ponies which are referenced in records dating back to the 14th century.
What is Manipur Pony?
The Manipuri Pony is a breed of horse mainly found in the plains of Manipur.
It is one of five recognised equine breeds of India and has a powerful cultural significance for Manipuri society. In the past, it was used for warfare as well as for polo games.
However, the small and dwindling numbers of the Manipur Pony has been a cause for concern.
Jain community protests: What are the issues linked to Jharkhand, Gujarat shrines
January 6, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “Jain community protests: What are the issues linked to Jharkhand, Gujarat shrines’ Scheme” published in Indian Express on 5th January 2023
What is the News?
Members of the Jain community have been staging protests over demands related to two holy sites — Sammed Shikhar on Parasnath hill in Jharkhand and Shetrunjay hill in Palitana of Gujarat.
In Jharkhand, the issue is about Parasnath hill being declared a tourist spot and an eco-sensitive zone while in Gujarat, the row is over the vandalizing of a shrine and related security concerns.
What is Parasnath Hills?
Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in Giridih district of Jharkhand. The highest peak is 1350 meters.
It is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Jains. They call it Sammed Sikhar.
The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty of Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill. For each of them, there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill.
Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old.
The Santhals call it Marang Buru, the hill of the deity. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Baisakh (mid-April).
Every year, thousands of Jains from across the world undertake the 27 km long trek of climbing the hills to reach the summit.
What are Palitana And Shatrunjaya Hill?
Shatrunjaya Hill is a sacred Jain site located in Palitana town, Bhavnagar District, Gujarat.
The sacred site contains hundreds of shrines that were sanctified when Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism, gave his first sermon in the temple on the hilltop.
The Palitana temples on Shatrunjaya Hill were built over a period of 900 years starting from the 11th century. It was Kumarpal Solanki, a great Jain patron, who built the first temples on this site.
It is said that Adinath (also known as Rishabha), the founder of Jainism, meditated beneath the rayan tree at the summit.
700-ft-long mural Wall of Peace thrown open at last
January 5, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “700-ft-long mural Wall of Peace thrown open at last” published in The Hindu on 4th January 2023
What is the News?
The Wall of Peace was inaugurated in Kerala.
What is the Wall of Peace?
Wall of Peace is a great work of modern mural art on the 700-feet long compound wall of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Cherpulassery in Kerala.
The project was named Wall of Peace not only because by reminding people of history and tradition it promotes the beauty of diversity, tolerance and harmonious co-existence but also because the word “peace” is written on the wall in 250 languages.
The wall has a portrait of Mozhikunnath Brahmadattan Namboodiripad, an eminent figure of the 1921 Malabar rebellion. Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the region is also portrayed on the Wall.
What is Mural?
A Mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrates. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage.
The existence of mural paintings in India dates back to the 2nd century BC to 8-10th century AD.
Some of the places where this painting is found include- Ajanta, Bagh, Sittanavasal, Armamalai cave, Ravan Chhaya rock shelter and Kailashnath temple in Ellora caves. The majority of the themes in these paintings relate to religion- Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next
January 5, 2023↓Source: The post is based on the article “50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next” published in Indian Express on 4th January 2023
Contents
What is the News?
According to a submission made in Parliament by the Ministry of Culture, as many as 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments are missing.
What are centrally protected monuments?
The centrally protected monuments are sites which have been declared so under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).
The AMASR Act regulates the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites of national and historical importance that are more than 100 years old.
Under the act, the conservation, preservation and environmental development of the protected monuments are undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI).
How can a monument go missing?
Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham when he realized the need for a permanent body to oversee archaeological excavations and conservation. But the body remained largely dysfunctional in the 19th century owing to the fund crunch.
Even after independence, the focus of successive governments was to uncover more monuments and sites instead of conservation.
So in due course, many monuments and sites were lost to activities like urbanization, construction of dams and reservoirs, and even encroachment
For instance, as per the ASI submission in Parliament, 14 monuments have been lost to rapid urbanization, 12 are submerged by reservoirs/dams, and 24 are untraceable which brings the number of missing monuments to 50.
Is this the first time monuments have been reported missing?
As per ASI officials, a comprehensive physical survey of all monuments has never been conducted after Independence.
However, in 2013, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said that at least 92 centrally protected monuments across the country had gone missing. Out of these 92 monuments, 42 have been identified due to efforts made by the ASI.
The CAG report also said that the ASI did not have reliable information on the exact number of monuments under its protection. It recommended that periodic inspections of each protected monument be carried out by a suitably ranked officer.
What is the process of deleting the lost/untraceable monuments from the protected list?
The deletion requires denotification of the said monument under Section 35 of the AMASR Act, which happens to be a long-drawn process.
Hence, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that the untraceable monuments may not be removed from the list, because once that is done, there would be no imperative to find them.
Instead, the committee recommended that the list of Untraceable Monuments may be maintained as such and if necessary, the AMASR Act be amended to include this terminology.
