Members of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) participated in a heritage walk as part of the national conservation body’s foundation day. The event on Saturday started from the 7th Century Parasurameswar temple and culminated at Subarnajaleswar temple, leading to the Lingaraj Market Complex, behind the Anantavasudev Temple. Apart from the INTACH members, student heritage club members, 15 from the Einstein Engineering College, 15 from Geeta Institute of Technology and Management (GITM), and five from Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management (IITTM) participated. Speaking about the purpose of the heritage walk and the backdrop of INTACH as nation’s first private conservation body, other than the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), state convener of INTACH and former DGP AB Tripathy narrated the eventful journey of the organisation and how students should also learn about our tangible (visible) heritage and must develop a keen interest to know the essence of `Bharat’ and our culture and traditions. Convener, Bhubaneswar chapter, Anil Dhir, co-convener Adyasha Das, eminent danseuse Illeana Citaristi, brass metal artefacts collector Sudarshan Sahoo, members of Bhubaneswar Book Club, Guinness World Records holder “Paperman” Shasanka Shekhar Das, matchbox collector Taranisen Pattanaik and several members of INTACH were present. During the heritage trail, the members discussed the genesis and development of the various influences on the temple architecture and forms of the Kalingan temple architecture and how INTACH is documenting various temples and monuments across the state. The conservation issues of several temples, including the unscientific use of plaster on the surface of the Kedargouri temple was also discussed. INTACH members urged the students to visit the monuments and learn about their architectural details and document them so that in future it would also help them in understanding the monuments in a better way and also work like a conservation volunteer.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sankranti-is-festival-of-gratitude-youth-should-involve-in-conservation-of-festivals-intach-convenor-svs-lakshminarayana/articleshow/106738405.cms?from=mdr, February 1, 2024

The 'Maratha Military Landscapes' of India, a remarkable collection of fortifications that showcase the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers, has been chosen as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The 'Maratha Military Landscapes' of India, a remarkable collection of fortifications that showcase the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers, has been chosen as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle. This announcement was made by the Ministry of Culture on January 29, 2024.

The nomination includes a series of 14 fortifications, which are strategically located across diverse geographical regions such as hills, seashores, and islands. These forts, developed between the 17th and 19th centuries, represent an extraordinary example of military architecture that integrates with the landscape and terrain of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, the Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern Ghats.

The twelve component parts of this nomination are Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Out of the more than 390 forts in Maharashtra, these 12 have been selected for their historical significance and unique architectural features. Eight of these forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, while the remaining four are under the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.

The 'Maratha Military Landscapes' is nominated under cultural criteria (iii), (iv), and (vi) of the World Heritage List, which include bearing exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition, being an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural ensemble, and being associated with events or traditions of outstanding universal significance.

India currently boasts 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with Maharashtra alone housing six, including five cultural and one natural site. The 'Maratha Military Landscapes' were added to the Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2021 and, if successful, will become the sixth cultural property from Maharashtra to be included in the World Heritage List.

https://www.orissapost.com/ancient-maritime-lamp-post-found-in-puri-village/, February 2, 2024

The wetlands added are Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve and Aghanashini Estuary from Karnataka; and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest from Tamil Nadu. Five more Indian wetlands have been added to the global list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of such highly recognised waterlogged ecosystems in the country to 80, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on January 31. Of the five wetlands added to the Ramsar list, Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, and Aghanashini Estuary are in Karnataka and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest are in Tamil Nadu. The aim of the Ramsar list is "to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands, which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life, through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits".

Mr. Yadav said the emphasis Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put on environmental protection and conservation has led to a paradigm shift in how India treats its wetlands. "This reflects in the Amrit Dharohar initiative envisioned by PM Modi," he said. "Powered by 5! Met with Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, in Delhi today. With two days to go for #WorldWetlandsDay, India today increased its tally of Ramsar Sites from 75 to 80," he posted on X. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the treaty was signed on February 2, 1971.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/five-more-indian-wetlands-added-to-ramsar-list/article67795594.ece, February 2, 2024

The India National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage -INTACH- has started a new chapter in Ferozepur by taking a historic step to promote art, culture and heritage in India, under which many efforts will be made to promote tourism and protect the historical and tourism places of Ferozepur said Educationist and Historian Dr. Anirudh Gupta who has been nominated as the Convener INTACH Ferozepur Chapter, on release of a poster of the event.

Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman participated in the function as the chief guest, while Punjab convener Retd Major General Balwinder Singh, National Director Retd Group Captain Arvind Shukla from New Delhi and Archana Tyagi were also present on this event. DC Rajesh Dhiman said that the efforts made by INTACH to promote the historical places here by launching the Ferozepur chapter in the border district are commendable. He said that whatever work will be done by the INTACH about tourism, the district administration will extend full support.

During his presentation, Dr. Anirudh Gupta said that of course Ferozepur is industrially backward, but the district's heritage is very rich in historical places. He said that if the district is boosted in tourism, many people from the country and abroad will come here daily apart from increasing the means of trade in the district. At the end of the program, Co-convener and INTACH member Vikramaditya Sharma thanked everyone.

https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=178759&headline=INTACH-inaugurates-Ferozepur-Chapter-to-boost-tourism-in-border-district, February 5, 2024

Today, Chirand is rapidly being consumed by the Ganga. But fresh excavations have opened up a glorious chapter of the history of eastern India, leaving us waiting for more data. he story of continuity and change in a country with diverse ecosystems varies from region to region. It is important to consider the microhabitats and landscapes that shape the cultures and traditions we inherit. Some regions have been occupied for many millennia, resulting in a long history with no breaks or gaps in the chronology. However, there are some examples in archaeology of sites that have been occupied for a long time but have had gaps in occupation; the infamous site of Hastinapura is a prime example of such chrono-cultural history.

There are also examples of a region with multiple sites deciphering the story of continuity and change, the classical example of this would be the sites of Mehrgarh, Nausharo and Pirak, together showcasing the evolution of culture from early farming to the Bronze Age. Therefore, it is not necessary that an individual site will have to give an entire picture of the region’s historicity; there can be multiple sites in a region that can offer you a glimpse of shifts in the cultural paradigm. Chirand, an archaeological site in Bihar, is a combination of these two distinct examples.

The site narrates a regional evolution of society from the Neolithic to the Early Historical period after which it was deserted till the Mediaeval period. But when combined with other sites on the banks of the Ganga, such as Maner, Chechar and Senuar, it provides valuable information on the over-4000-year history of the region.

The Rising Sun of Bihar
Once called the ‘rising sun of the neolithic culture in India’ by archaeologist FR Allchin, Chirand is an archaeological site located in the Saran district of Bihar. The site was first reported after a surface study in the late 1800s— when Mediaeval structures and Buddhist sculptures were found. The initial excavations, conducted in 1962 by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museum, Bihar, lasted for seven field seasons till 1972-73. A five-fold cultural sequence was revealed during the excavation which was broadly categorised as –

Period I – Neolithic (early food-producing period)
Period II – Chalcolithic (Copper-using society)
Period III – Northern Black Polished Ware-associated culture (linked with the rise of ancient republics)
Period IV– Historical period (from 1st century to 3rd century BCE)

Period V– Late Historical
The neolithic society at Chirand settled on the alluvial deposit of the Ganga River in circular houses made of wild reeds. A circular floor about four metres in diameter with a series of open hearths, a few post-holes near the floor and a few burnt chunks of clay with a reed impression are valuable pieces of evidence that speak volumes about neolithic settlement style and social matrix. Bone tools, styli, tanged and socketed arrowheads, bangles of ivory and tortoise bone, and many bone ornaments from the Neolithic phase are indicative of a highly skilled society which focused on utilising animal bones in many ways. Apart from this, beads made of chalcedony, agate, jasper, marble, chert, steatite and faience—which were sources from across the subcontinent—link the settlers of Chirand to the domestic trade matrix. Material like faience must be the result of exchange with the Harappans in the west, whereas agate was probably coming from Gujarat.

The evidence of rice, wheat, barley and masoor at Chirand suggests that people, during Period I, were cultivating cereals and legumes. Fish also was part of their diet. Such a complex society of early farmers in eastern India at around c.2400 BCE is a marker of indigenous growth of culture, which is connected to its contemporary settlements around Chirand and across the Ganga in the west.
Evolution to copper
The inclusion of metal is a sign of evolution, both of society and of technology. Copper was the first metal which slowly penetrated the social fabric in Chirand. This brought about the onset of the Chalcolithic period. The early dates of the Copper Age—which succeeded the early farming period and paved the way for iron—come from the western half of the subcontinent. But this may be a generalised statement because the juncture when the Neolithic ends and Chalcolithic begins might not follow a linear pattern in every microcosm. It can merge in the initial stages before paving the way for a full-fledged Copper Age, just like at Maski, Karnataka. Moreover, in some instances, they co-exist, as we have seen in the case of Burzahom and Harappa. In the case of Chirand, both scenarios stand true. At the site, the Neolithic period slowly transitions into the Chalcolithic period. But when placing the site with its contemporary sites in the same region as Maner, the Neolithic period of Chirand co-exists with the Chalcolithic period of Maner which is dated to 2600 BCE.

The Chalcolithic period in Chirand is dated around c.2000 to 1950 BCE and covers about 5.5m thickness of the total deposit. The copper-using people lived in houses made of reeds and bamboo with mud plaster and floors made of burnt earth. Circular hearths are noted in the earliest levels of the deposit. Secondary burials were also recorded during the excavation. Bone tools continue to make an appearance along with stone beads. A few corroded pieces of copper were excavated along with a few pear-shaped terracotta beads. This phase slowly merges into Period III— the Iron Age.

Towards urbanism
If copper marked the evolution of society and a technological shift in metallurgy, iron is credited with leading the society into urbanism. The Iron Age in the subcontinent is a much-debated topic. While the exact date of the introduction of iron is still debatable, its inclusion in the material culture is considered important— so much so that early scholars called the Iron Age the foundation of second urbanism in India. At Chirand, the introduction of iron is coupled with the presence of Northern Black Polish Ware which, like iron, is a product of advanced kilning technique. Iron implements found at the site include sickles, axes, ploughshares, daggers, lances, knife blades, etc. Beads of semi-precious stones and terracotta beads are also part of the material assemblage at the site. Terracotta human and animal figures including the naga figurine are important findings. Copper antimony rods, bone arrowheads, copper-punch marked coins and cast coins were also found during this period. What is interesting is that Neolithic celts [a tool from the period] were also present in this period. A drastic change in settlement pattern was in the building material. Baked brick structures start to appear, with mud walls and rammed floors.

Period III was followed by Period IV—from 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE—which was ruled by the Kushana dynasty. During this period big residential complexes and monastic buildings are reported. Several structural phases are noted, one of which included remnants of a monastic kitchen which yielded a terracotta torso of Hariti. An important discovery of this period was the Kushana copper coin hoard of 88 coins, and a terracotta sealing with the early Brahmi script. Period V is the last phase which revealed that the site was deserted after 3rd century CE and reoccupied after a considerable gap during the late historical and early Mediaeval period. The periodisation is indicated by the recovery of a pot with five gold coins of the Kalachuri dynasty ruler Gangeyadeva dated c.1045 CE, and the presence of an unidentified sculpture from the Pala period.
Continuity and change

At Brahmagiri and Maski, cultures changed and the landscape evolved with time. Similarly, at Chirand, early neolithic farmers co-existed and evolved alongside the copper-using society, and at the same time distinctively showed how easily cultures change and merge at one location. From humble wattle and daub structures emerged rammed floors, community hearths, and burnt bricks, changing the settlement style which eventually became the hallmark of urbanism. The Kushana occupation that follows, is also an example of how the region, and most importantly Chirand itself, is significant – perhaps due to political reasons or maybe just due to trade. Today, Chirand is rapidly being consumed by the Ganga, recently fresh excavations opened up a glorious chapter of the history of eastern India, leaving us waiting for more data.

An earlier version of this article wrongly identified an archaeological site as Chirand. This has been corrected. Disha Ahluwalia is an archaeologist and junior research fellow at the Indian Council Of Historical Research. She tweets @ahluwaliadisha. Views are personal.

https://theprint.in/opinion/bihars-chirand-has-a-4000-year-history-its-the-rising-sun-of-indias-neolithic-culture/1954039/, February 6, 2024

India’s first National Museum of Epigraphy is being set up at the famed Salar Jung Museum adding another feather in Hyderabad’s historical cap. The museum, under the Union Ministry of Culture, is the first of its kind in the country, which have information about the writing, scripts and languages using multimedia installations. G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region, will lay the foundation stone for the unique museum on Monday. The cost of the project is about Rs 5 crore. Salar Jung Museum authorities had earmarked about 6000 sft area exclusively for the National Epigraphy Museum in the existing museum building and the work on the project is going on. Ashish Goyal, IIS is the Director of the Salar Jung Museum. The space was allotted for the museum during the tenure of the past director of the museum A Nagender Reddy. Union Finance Minister in her budget speech last year had announced setting up of Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (Bharat SHRI), a digital epigraphy museum with digitization of one lakh ancient inscriptions in the first stage. The Bharat SHRI will be setup by the Archaeological Survey of India. “It will be a unique and first of its kind museum in the country. The project was announced during my tenure and I am happy it is taking shape. It will house epigraphy materials in digital etc. form, from all over the country,” Nagender Reddy told Siasat.com. In the undivided Andhra Pradesh, the government had officially started the epigraphy section on December 2, 1964 in the Dr YSR A P State Museum of the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Hyderabad. It is located in Public Gardens. The Epigraphy section was asked to collect lithic, copper plate inscriptions, palm leaf manuscripts and paper manuscripts by conducting village to village survey in the districts and to publish the collected material. During epigraphically survey the Department of Archaeology and Museums has collected 5375 estampages belong to the different dynasties and which had ruled the Andhra desa which are primary sources for reconstructing the history of Andhra Pradesh. So far the Department has published inscriptions collected from three districts– Kadapa in three volumes, Kurnool in two volumes, Anantapur one volume. Palm leaf manuscripts The Department has collected palm leaf manuscripts that belong to different periods. The life of the palm leaf manuscripts is only 300 years. Paper manuscripts In olden days people used the handmade paper nearly 200 years ago. In those days, Itihasas, Ayurveda and other traditional and devotional writings were available on paper manuscripts. Now, 150 years old paper manuscripts are available. Epigraphy is Greek word Epigraphy is the study of writings engraved on stone, metal, wood, shell and other materials known as “inscriptions” or “epigraphs.” It is derived from two Greek words—epi meaning on or upon and graphie meaning to write. Though engraving is the chief characteristic of an epigraph, there are some exceptions where old writings in ink on rocks, boulders, etc., are also accepted as epigraphs. A person who is engaged in the decipherment and interpretation of the epigraphs is called an ‘epigraphist’. Across India and world, a lot of importance is now given to epigraphical studies. Recently, Dr MCR HRD IT’s Centre for Telangana Studies, Hyderabad, took the initiative to collect and compile all published inscriptions belonging to Telangana State and placed them in chronological order. This is a work of a total of four volumes. Volume-I – Pre-Kakatiya Telangana – includes the inscriptions from first century AD to those of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana – overlords of Telangana. Volume-II – Imperial Kakatiyas – include inscriptions from early Kakatiya to first imperial ruler Kakatiya Ganapati Deva. Volume-III – Decline of Kakatiya’s – includes the inscriptions of Rudrama Devi and Pratapa Rudra-II. Volume-IV Post-Kakatiya Telangana – includes inscriptions of rulers that succeeded the Kakatiyas which will help and fulfil the needs of the scholars and historians engaged in the historical research of Telangana State. Devender Malothu (Research Scholar) of Department of History and Tourism Management, Kakatiya University who studied inscriptions of the Satavahanas, the Ikshvakus and Vishnukundins reported from the Telangana region throws light on socio-economic, religious and political conditions of those times. Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India came into existence in the year 1886 at Bangalore. British who were the first to realise the importance of inscriptions for the reconstruction of our country’s history, opened a separate branch under their administration for the collection of inscriptions. Since then, the Epigraphy Branch has not only collected thousands of inscriptions, but also edited and published them. After some years this branch was shifted to Ootacamund in 1903 and functioned there till 1966 and thereafter, it was shifted to Mysore where it continues to function. Later, a separate branch for the study of Arabic and Persian inscriptions was established at Nagpur in the year 1950. Further, to accelerate systematic survey of Sanskritic and Dravidian inscriptions, two zonal offices were established at Lucknow and Chennai respectively in 1990. Eminent epigraphists Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India was headed by many eminent German, English and Indian scholars including Dr. E. Hultzsch, James Burgess, Rao Bahadur Venkayya, C.R. Krishnamacharlu, H. Krishna Shastri, Hirananda Sastry, B.Ch. Chhabra, N.L. Rao, Dr. D.C. Sircar and Dr. G.S. Gai. The importance of the inscriptions lies in the fact that they generally offer information about personages and events of Indian history, about which nothing is known from any other source. Apart from being vital political documents, inscriptions are endowed with great cultural significance. Epigraphy provides slices of history In a Vijayanagara inscription we are told that the emperor settled the disputes between a Vaishnava Jeer and a Jaina teacher by making them agree to be friends and raise no points of dispute. Special privileges like the bride and bridegroom riding a horse in procession being allowed by royal command is also gathered from inscriptions. Inscriptions also throw light on other social customs. For instance, the Brahmadesam inscription refers to the sati committed by a queen of Rajendra Chola I. The Mandasor inscription records the repairs carried out in the year 473-74 A.D. by the guild of silk-weavers to the temple of the Sun God (Dipta-rasmi). There are some inscriptions which inform about the prevalence of the tradition of dance and music. Perhaps the earliest reference to a dancer is found from an inscription from Jogimara cave (3rd century B.C.). It mentions one Sutunuka, the temple-dancer (devadasi) and her lover Devadatta, a sculptor from Varanasi. Sanskrit continued to be employed in the inscriptions of all parts of India along with regional languages in the subsequent centuries. The copper-plate charters of the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandavas are written in both Sanskrit and Tamil languages. Kannada is used in inscriptions from about the 5th century A.D. Inscriptions in Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, appeared in later period. They are slices of history mirroring their times and life.

https://theprint.in/opinion/bihars-chirand-has-a-4000-year-history-its-the-rising-sun-of-indias-neolithic-culture/1954039/, February 9, 2024

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is organising an all-India poster competition titled ‘My Monument Search’ for students in classes VII-IX. The competition aims to promote appreciation, exploration, and cultural education among children. The Mangaluru Chapter of INTACH and Canara High School, Urwa, are the local hosts for this competition, scheduled to take place at Mizaar Govinda Pai Memorial Hall at the school on February 24 at 2 p.m. Students from all schools in Mangaluru and surrounding regions can participate.

Spot registrations will be accepted. Each school may send a maximum of 10 students, accompanied by one or two teachers. The poster should depict one lesser-known heritage building of the region, such as a fort, a palace, a place of worship, an old pond, katte, civic building, educational institution or places associated with famous personalities.

The poster should be made on A3-sized paper and feature a suitable slogan. It should be accompanied by a write-up of approximately 200 words on A4-sized paper, describing the selected heritage building’s history, myths, stories, architecture, present condition, and three steps for its protection and promotion. The write-up and slogan can be in English, Hindi, or any major regional language. Participants must create the poster and write-up at the venue. The programme will last approximately three hours, with 90 minutes allocated for drawing and 30 minutes for writing. Entries will be treated as individual entries; group entries. The organisers will provide the paper for writing and drawing at the venue. Certificates will be given to all participants, and prizes and trophies will be awarded to 100 regional winners and 10 national winners. Additionally, the 10 national winners will get to undertake a sponsored educational trip, according to Subhas Chandra Basu, convener of the INTACH Mangaluru chapter, a release said.
Call 8762368048 for details, E-mail:[email protected].

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/intach-poster-competition-for-school-students-in-mangaluru-on-saturday/article67871885.ece/, February 12, 2024

The Odisha Chapter of Indian National Trust For Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has discovered the remnants of a Buddhist site near Ganeswarapur village in Tangi Tehsil of Cuttack district. he Odisha Chapter of Indian National Trust For Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has discovered the remnants of a Buddhist site near Ganeswarapur village in Tangi Tehsil of Cuttack district. The site, with scattered Buddhist archaeological remains, was found near a small mound inside a rice field at the far end of the village. The five member team of Dr Biswajit Mohanty, Ritu Pattanaik, Deepak Kumar Nayak, Suman Prakash Swain and Anil Dhir conducted a preliminary survey of the archaeological remains found at the site. The site is just 150 metres away from the Birupa embankment. “The present and ancient floodplains of the Birupa River are dotted with numerous Buddhist sites on both the banks. The discovery of a large headless Abalokiteswar image, nearly six feet in height , lying on the ground near a small wooded grassy mound is an important find. Although the head is missing, the iconography closely matches with the Abalokiteswar images found in nearby Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri. The excavated Buddhist Stupa in the nearby Rameswar village is placed across the river, where the images are now being worshiped by the villagers as Hanumancheswara Mahadev”, said Deepak Kumar Nayak, Co-convenor of INTACH’s Cuttack Chapter. This discovery further indicates the fact that Buddhism flourished in the region in ancient times. The exact period can only be ascertained after a systematic archaeological excavation, however, comparing the broken Abalokiteswar image with such images found at other places it can be approximately assigned to a period prior to the 9th Century CE”, researcher Anil Dhir said. The existence of a Buddhist Stupa or temple, which had the large images, was buried under the silt due to the frequent flooding of the Birupa. The disfigured images lying at the site and at a small shrine made a few metres away are also indicative of the destruction by iconoclastic invaders during the Afghan-Mughal period. Local lore has it that the other two temples in the village i.e. Panchupandava Temple and Tareswara Temple too were demolished by Kalapahada’s barbarian invasion in the 16th Century CE, observed Dr Biswajit Mohanty. The remains of a base of a temple and many odd shaped kiln-baked bricks suggest that either a temple or a stupa is buried in the mound. The team also discovered a large number of broken potsherds which included both Red and Blackware. Gopal Behera, the Convener of the Cuttack Chapter is writing to the ASI, the State Archaeology Department and the Culture Directorate to send experts to the spot for further detailed surveys.

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/intach-discovers-ruins-of-ancient-buddhist-site-in-odisha-1503270174.html, February 13, 2024

INTACH brings the five empires back to the banks of the Hooghly in West Bengal through years of planned approach and collaborations. The days of the Raj might be over, but the romance lingers on. Nowhere is this more evident than along the banks of the Ganga (Hooghly) between Kolkata and Tribeni. This 60km stretch, which saw the growth of the colonial settlements of five nationalities (Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, French and British), is packed with architectural treasures, some well preserved, others falling to ruin. The settlements - Bandel, Bankibazar, Hooghly, Chinsurah, Chandernagore, Barrackpore, Serampore - have become mere suburbs of Kolkata. INTACH is trying to revive interest in these forgotten settlements by promoting heritage tourism here. The strategy is two-pronged - generate enough interest to draw in the tourists and then use the revenue for preservation and conservation.

In fact, INTACH had begun work on identifying the areas around Kolkata that would interest heritage and culture tourists almost two decades ago. That culminated in a report called "Evolution of Euro-Indian Urbanisation on the West Bank of Ganga in Bengal". This project was re-launched and the organization is focusing its energies on promoting specific areas for heritage tourism. To attract tourists, INTACH has also proposed a river cruise down the Ganga. The proposal is indeed ambitious, for INTACH plans to link the river cruise with maintenance and preservation of heritage sites along the route.

The organisation projected a yearly cost of around Rs 52 lakh to operate the river cruise, while the estimated yearly revenue from ticket sales has been pegged at Rs 72 lakh. To attract potential partners, INTACH and the Central Ministry of Tourism made a documentary tracing the history of the region. G.M. Kapur, convenor of the Kolkata Chapter of INTACH, says, "A lot of interest has been generated among tour operators. People from the US have also shown interest.

But for the project to take off, we need help from the state government, which was not forthcoming." INTACH is also looking at the countries that originally built these settlements for help. Kapur had said, "Foreign embassies are also keen on this project. There is no question of the project not happening." That dream is being realized with support pouring in from agencies and organisations from all over the world. A Symposium titled “Re-Embracing Heritage: Environment, Craft and Community” was conducted by the INTACH Hooghly Chapter in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and funded by the AHRC (UK) and British Council recently. The organisation regularly holds competitions and virtual seminars to build awareness. At the moment, the Hooghly chapter of INTACH has taken up the baton to organise workshops and leading visitors on heritage tours. You can look forward to heading out on a sunset cruise down the Ganga to relive the days of the Raj or walk among the colonial past replete across these Bengal towns. Contact: [email protected]

https://www.outlooktraveller.com/experiences/heritage/the-raj-quintet, February 14, 2024

The Heritage Education and Communication Service division of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is organising an all-India poster competition titled ‘MY MONUMENT SEARCH’ for school students in classes 7-9. The competition aims to promote appreciation, exploration, and cultural education among children, who will be the torchbearers of our nation. The Mangaluru Chapter of INTACH and Canara High School, Urva, are the local hosts for this competition, scheduled to take place at Mizaar Govinda Pai Memorial Hall, Canara High School, Urva, on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM. The inaugural session will feature guest speaker Rajalakshmi K., DDPI (Development) and Principal of the District Institute of Education and Training, Dakshina Kannada, in the presence of Indumathi, Headmistress of Canara High School, Urva.

Details of the competition
Students from all schools in Mangaluru and surrounding regions are invited to participate. Spot registrations will be accepted. Each school may send a maximum of ten students from classes 7-9, accompanied by 1-2 teachers. The poster should depict one lesser-known heritage building of the region, such as a fort, palace, place of worship (temple, gurdwara, church, mosque, etc.), old pond, katte, civic building, educational institution or places associated with famous personalities. The poster should be made on A3-sized paper and feature a suitable slogan.

It should be accompanied by a write-up of approximately 200 words on A4-sized paper, describing the selected heritage building's history, myths, stories, architecture, present condition, and three steps for its protection and promotion. The write-up and slogan can be in English, Hindi, or any major regional language. Participants must create the poster and write-up at the venue. The programme will last approximately three hours, with 90 minutes allocated for drawing and 30 minutes for writing. Entries will be treated as individual entries; group entries and incomplete entries (without a write-up) will not be accepted. All entries must include the student’s full name, class, school name, and address in block letters.

The organisers will provide the paper for writing and drawing at the venue. Participants must bring their own art materials, including pens, pencils, paints, brush and collage materials. Certificates will be given to all participants, and prizes and trophies will be awarded to 100 regional winners and 10 national winners. Additionally, the 10 national winners will get to undertake a sponsored educational trip, according to Subhas Chandra Basu, convener of the INTACH Mangaluru Chapter. For further information, please contact Subhas Chandra Basu, convener of the INTACH Mangaluru Chapter. Mobile: 8762368048; E-mail: [email protected]


https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1169602, February 15, 2024

The remnants of a Buddhist site near Ganeswarpur village in Cuttack district dating back to 9th Century CE were discovered by INTACH team. The site, with scattered Buddhist archaeological remains, was found near a small mound inside a rice field at the far end of the village. A five-member team from INTACH’s Odisha chapter recently visited the site located just 150 metres away from Birupa embankment to conduct a preliminary survey and document the archaeological remains. INTACH’s Cuttack chapter co-convenor Deepak Kumar Nayak said the present and ancient floodplains of Birupa river are dotted with numerous Buddhist sites on both the banks.

The discovery of a large headless Abalokiteswar image, nearly six feet high, lying on the ground near a small wooded grassy mound is important, he said. Although the head is missing, the iconography closely matches Abalokiteswar images found at the nearby Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, Nayak said. The excavated Buddhist stupa in the nearby Rameswar village is placed across the river, where the images are now being worshipped by the villagers as Hanumancheswara Mahadev. INTACH’s Odisha chapter convenor Anil Dhir, a heritage expert, said the findings further indicate the fact that Buddhism flourished in the region in ancient times.

The exact period can only be ascertained after a systematic archaeological excavation, he said. By comparing the broken Abalokiteswar image with such images found at other places, it could be approximatetly assigned to a period prior to the 9th Century CE, he added. INTACH team member Biswajit Mohanty thinks that the Buddhist stupa, which had large images, was buried under the silt due to frequent flooding of the Birupa. The disfigured images lying at the site and a small shrine are also indicative of the destruction by iconoclastic invaders during the Afghan-Mughal period.

He said two temples in the village, Panchapandavar temple and Tareswara temple, were demolished by Kalapahada’s barbarian invasion in the 16th Century CE. The remains of the base of a temple and many odd-shaped kiln-baked bricks suggest that either the temple or a Stupa is buried in the mound, Mohanty said. The INTACH team also discovered a large number of broken potsherds, which included both red and blackware. The INTACH’s Cuttack chapter will soon the draw the attention of the ASI, the State Archaeology department and the Culture directorate of Odisha government to send experts to the spot for further detailed surveys of the ancient site.

https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/intach-team-comes-across-ruins-of-ancient-buddhist-site-859423?infinitescroll=1, February 16, 2024

In a bid to empower rural Punjab, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Punjab Chapter, organised a one-day skill development workshop titled ‘Turning Trash to Treasure’ at Vidya Mandir School, Hoshiarpur. Spearheaded by professor Manjeet Paintal, associated with INTACH and advisor to the Indian Council of Social Welfare, Punjab, the event saw active participation from 50 girls belonging to various villages in Hoshiarpur. The workshop aimed at equipping young girls with essential skills. These girls, already undergoing a six-month training program in beauty, culture and computer education were introduced to artistic skills to enhance self-reliance and confidence. An art and craft expert, Preeti Sanghvi, a world record holder in turning trash to treasure, facilitated the workshop. INTACH state convener Maj Gen Balwinder (retd) said they would continue organising such programmes to help foster self-reliance and social upliftment among girls.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/intach-organises-skill-development-workshop-593295, February 17, 2024

In a recent update from Andhra Pradesh, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is making efforts to secure UNESCO recognition for the annual 'Paruveta' festival. The fest, also known as the ‘mock hunting festival’, is celebrated at the Sri Narasimha Swamy temple in the town of Ahobilam. INTACH aims to have the festival to get an 'intangible cultural heritage' title by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). For those who don’t know, intangible cultural heritages encompass traditions, festivals, and skills passed down from ancestors through generations. The Paruveta festival also is one of a kind heritage festival that signifies communal harmony.

During the festival, the deity from the temple's inner sanctum is taken to the 32 Chenchu tribal villages surrounding Ahobilam town for a duration of 40 days. The matter of UNESCO recognition for this centuries-old festival is currently under review by the Sangeet Natak Academy, the designated nodal agency for such deliberations. As far as the origin of the festival is concerned, it dates back to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha, the man-lion, in Ahobilam. Legend has it that Narasimha married Maha Lakshmi, who was reborn as Chenchulakshmi, a tribal girl. Historical records, such as the Kurnool District Gazetteers from 1881, document various beliefs of the Chenchu tribes, including their reverence for Ahobila Narasimha as their brother-in-law and their tradition of inviting Him home on the day of Makar Sankranti. The 'Narasimha Deeksha,' observed during the Paruveta festival, is distinctive to Ahobilam. While Paruveta rituals are commonly observed in many temples during Vijayadasami or Sankranti, at Ahobilam, it extends for a 'mandala,' lasting forty days.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel-news/will-paruveta-festival-celebrated-in-andhras-ahobilam-get-unesco-recognition/articleshow/107888730.cms, February 18, 2024

Traces of early period civilization have resurfaced in the bed of the Kuakhai River near Cuttack City. Several archaeological remains were discovered by a team led by Deepak Kumar Nayak, Co-Convener of Intach’s Cuttack Chapter. The remnants of an old settlement that once flourished near the Balimangala Debipitha, near Uttampur Village of Cuttack’s Sadar block have resurfaced recently in a large area spread over the sand dunes about 200 metres from the present embankment. The presence of a large number of early period earthenware was reported to Intach, and Deepak Nayak, along with heritage enthusiasts of Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) Group and the Silver City Cuttack Public Charitable Trust made a recce visit to the spot. The team found a large number of fragmented pieces of red ware, black ware, grey ware, rings of mud well and bone pieces from a small mound like structure inside the river. Pieces of sculpted images that were unidentifiable were also discovered. According to Nayak, the site has a lot of historical significance as it is situated midway between the Barabati Fort and Chudanagada Fort in Barang. Similar pottery and ware have also been found in the ongoing excavation work being carried on inside the Barabati Fort by the Archaeological Survey of India. The type of potteries found are very much identical to those found in the excavated sites at places like Khalakatapatana, Manikapatana and Sisupalagada. It has been established that significant maritime trade happened in the waterway of the Kuakhai River in early centuries. Goddess Balimangala, a form of Goddess Mangala, was an important deity of the old mariners of Odisha. There are many villages and temples with the nomenclature in the Mahanadi delta. According to Anil Dhir, the Convener of Intach’s Bhubaneswar Chapter, the find is suggestive that there was either a riverside port or a large settlement in the place which had been abandoned due to frequent flooding. The present Balimangala temple on the embankment too was at the spot where the finds have been made, it was relocated about 150 years ago. A small scale archaeological excavation in the riverbed is required to determine relevant history associated with these finds. “We will write both to the ASI and the State Archaeology to make a survey of the spot”, Dhir said. Rashmiranjan Pradhan of the Silver City Cuttack Trust said that this recent discovery reveals a lot on the maritime traditions related to the ancient city of Cuttack. The find area is spread over a large portion of the river bed, and a team of volunteers will make further search for locating more artefacts. Dr. Biswajit Mohanty is of the opinion that the remnants have resurfaced due to the river bed erosion happening because of the rampant sand mining being done up stream. The Mahanadi and its delta system have rich archaeological remnants spread on its river bed and banks. During Intach’s Recent Comprehensive Survey of the Mahanadi Valley, many new sites and heritage structures have been reported and documented. The report also had details of 63 submerged ancient temples in the Mahanadi. This treasure trove of artefacts is being destroyed and vandalised by illegal sand mining. Dr. Mohanty is of the opinion that the Government of Odisha should not grant any sand lifting lease without prior clearance from the State Archaeology, ASI or Intach.

https://orissadiary.com/intach-discovers-traces-of-ancient-civilization-in-kuakhai-river-bed/, February 19, 2024

The India National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage -INTACH- has started a new chapter in Ferozepur by taking a historic step to promote art, culture and heritage in India, under which many efforts will be made to promote tourism and protect the historical and tourism places of Ferozepur said Educationist and Historian Dr. Anirudh Gupta who has been nominated as the Convener INTACH Ferozepur Chapter, on release of a poster of the event. Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman participated in the function as the chief guest, while Punjab convener Retd Major General Balwinder Singh, National Director Retd Group Captain Arvind Shukla from New Delhi and Archana Tyagi were also present on this event.

DC Rajesh Dhiman said that the efforts made by INTACH to promote the historical places here by launching the Ferozepur chapter in the border district are commendable. He said that whatever work will be done by the INTACH about tourism, the district administration will extend full support. During his presentation, Dr. Anirudh Gupta said that of course Ferozepur is industrially backward, but the district's heritage is very rich in historical places. He said that if the district is boosted in tourism, many people from the country and abroad will come here daily apart from increasing the means of trade in the district. At the end of the program, Co-convener and INTACH member Vikramaditya Sharma thanked everyone.

https://www.babushahi.com/view-news.php?id=178759, February 20, 2024

Estampage or stamping is a commonly used term in epigraphy to obtain the exact replica of an inscription that cannot be transported. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up a total of 67,461 estampages of Indian epigraphs for digitisation under the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI) programme. According to culture minister G Kishan Reddy, 29,260 estampages have been digitised so far. In her budget speech last year, finance minister Nirmala Sitharama had announced about setting up the repository, a digital epigraphy museum, and the digitisation of one lakh ancient inscriptions in the first phase.

Estampage or stamping is a commonly used term in epigraphy to obtain the exact replica of an inscription that cannot be transported. During the process, inscriptions are collected from different parts of the country via meticulous village-to-village surveys undertaken by a team of epigraphists. The estampages of the inscriptions are then studied and preserved in various epigraphy branches.

The information is disseminated through publications such as the Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy, brochures, and booklets like ‘Indian Archaeology: A Review’ every year. Replying to a question pertaining to the status of the project in Rajya Sabha during the recently concluded session, Reddy said, “No separate budget has been allocated for the project, and the expenditure is incurred through the allocated funds to ASI. The Survey of India, being the custodian of the epigraphic wealth of the nation, has taken up the project by itself.”

Out of the total outlay for the annual budget, `1,102.83 crore was allocated to the ASI last year for the protection, preservation and conservation of Centrally Protected Monuments or sites and excavations of monuments and archaeological sites. In the recent past, the ASI has discovered significant inscriptions in states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana. One of them was recovered around November 2021 from Shiva temple, Sengalipalayam village in Karur district, on the southern bank of Amaravati river. It was written in Tamil and Grantha scripts of the 9th century CE. Another inscription found on a slab in a cultivated land at Hanagi in Sirivata taluk of Karnataka’s Raichur district, is written in Kannada language. It dates to Chalukya Vikrama year 17 (1093 CE). Conservation of epigraphs Inscriptions are collected from different parts of the country through meticulous village-to-village surveys undertaken by a team of epigraphists. The estampages of the inscriptions are then studied and preserved in various epigraphy branches. The information is disseminated through various publications.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Feb/14/keeping-heritage-alive-asi-digitises-29k-estampages-for-epigraphy-museum, February 29, 2024