A report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General has exposed the Archaeological Survey of India as an unprofessional body that is utterly incapable of protecting the country’s museums and monuments

Sample this! October 2013: The Archaeological Survey of India, one of the most coveted agencies in India, started excavating at the fort of the former king, Raja Rao Ram Baux Singh in Daudia Khera village at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh in search of gold supposedly worth Rs30,000 crore, and all based on a dream of a sadhu. Where other nations invest money in excavations only after research and geographical surveys, the premier national excavation agency, which operates under the Union Ministry of Culture, relies on the dreams of seers.

If you found that rollickingly laughable, the dents get more visible when one browses through the recent Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report that states that when asked to give details of past excavations, the ASI could not give any details about any of the 458 excavations that had been approved in the past five years. If you wanted to search for evidence of mismanagement and fraudulent investments, one needn’t go far. The CAG also found out that out of the sample of 1,655 ASI protected monuments it investigated, 92 were absolutely untraceable. Yes, you read it right. Untraceable! And the ASI was supposed to be the agency at the forefront of protecting and maintaining ancient monuments. Such is the pathetic condition of the existing monuments that a tourist rarely would like to spend time and money visiting any but a handful. Only 116 monuments out of 3,500 monuments have ticket counters; and these have generated only a measly Rs95.64 crore in the last five years, averaging around Rs20 crore per year. Out of this amount, two crore rupees is contributed by Taj Mahal alone, followed by Agra Fort that contributes one crore rupees annually.

If monuments were distressing, the less said about Indian museums the better. In Western nations, museums are the places parents take their children to on weekends. Schools have museum visits as an essential part of the overall learning experience. Not so in India; and the reason is not far to find. Most national museums in India have now reached a pathetic state of maintenance, and most even lack basic amenities and facilities. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has found around eight national museums in India that are in a state of distress and at no point are close to global standards. Most of our museums are closed since ages or are under renovation since decades. Many museums lack any notable artefacts; and for those artefacts that are there, most descriptions are absent. More than 50 per cent of our museums (a very conservative estimate, literally) are today more like dump yards with dirt and filth decorating the antiques. Even the roads and paths leading to these museums and monuments are spotted with heaps of garbage with no maintenance in the vicinity.

Regular thefts of antiquities are something that is a norm in these museums. The above-mentioned CAG report documents that “ASI did not even maintain a database of the total number of antiquities in its possession... 131 antiquities have been found to be stolen from various museums /sites/monuments...with the ASI completely ineffective in recovering them.”

Compare this to the museums that are maintained across the globe like The Louvre, which was established in 1793 and experiences more than five million footfalls every year. Likewise, in the UK, major museums and galleries invest more than 1.5 million pounds annually and their turnover is nothing less than 900 million pounds. A case in point is the Canadian Museum of Nature, which generates a total revenue of $6,129,000, backed by the Canadian Government, which has pitched in $26,666,000 for the museum’s support. Compared to this, websites of Indian museums are shameful. For example, the website of the Indian Museum, Kolkata, is worse than websites that are nowadays created by school children as projects in schools. And the National museum website is like a celebrity — it gives a special appearance once in a blue moon.

How many Indian museums feature in the global top 100 list? None. Museums of countries like France, the US, the UK, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Brazil, China, Australia, Japan, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Israel and others find themselves permanently in the list of the most-visited museums in the world with a visitor count of 9,720,000 for the museum that tops the list and 6,45,000 for the one that ranks 100th on the list. What can be more depressing for a nation like ours, which claims cultural heritage forms a part of its fundamental identity, than to have crumbling museums and vanishing monuments?

Monuments like the ancient copper-plated temple and ancient cave temples of Basohli are today reduced to ruins. The much-touted Tanjore Royal Palace is now a broken down ghost building with gutter water, stench, shrubbery and vandals populating the whole palace. The ‘famed’ Mahatma Gandhi Museum in Madurai (containing the original blood-stained cloth of Mahatma Gandhi when he was assassinated) has his original letters and microfilms eaten away by rats.

The moot point here is just not about the theft and sorry state of our monuments but also about the approach. Rationally, for a country having more than 5,000 museums and monuments and a body like the ASI (that is completely handicapped and unprofessional), it is important to replicate the system that is practiced all across the world. National heritages like Eiffel Tower, The Yellowstone Ecosystem, Victoria Falls, The Tower of London, Blenheim Palace and all others are professionally maintained by private companies or through the public-private-partnership model. India has experimented rarely with such models, but has not sustained the same.

Taking the entire essence to the next level, these global museums and monuments also get involved in public education. These famous museums regularly conduct educational seminars and workshops for students and citizens and make them conversant with the national culture & heritage, and also with the latest scientific developments. Such events are rarely, if ever organised by the Indian authorities.

The Government should immediately take the help of professionals and private companies to rebuild our museums and monuments. These sites not only vividly speak volumes about our culture and heritage but can form a strong economic backbone. Well-maintained and marketed museums and monuments are able to generate heavy tourist footfall, which in consequence generates an economic upswing for those regions. All in all, an ‘Incredible India’ campaign would not reap results till our authorities do not check the ground reality. India needs to position itself beyond the Taj Mahal and tigers. (The author is a management guru and honorary director of IIPM Think Tank)

The Pioneer, 1st November 2013

Till a few months ago, the only noticeable attributes of the house simply known as 2-MTC were its mildewed walls, weather-beaten façade and a pervasive sense of disrepair. The bungalow that is one of the four that Sir Edwin Luytens designed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan precincts had turned decrepit.

The windows were boarded, the design altered, water seepage left its impressions along the walls and the house that served as a home to dignitaries and a boarding house for several others could no longer be identified as a Lutyens’ design.

“The house served as a guest house; but over the years, owing to its age and inattention the structure had become dilapidated. It was hard to imagine sunlight streaming in through the French windows that were boarded, the rooms were musty and it looked nothing like the bungalow that Lutyens would have envisaged,” said an official of Rashtrapati Bhavan involved in the restoration of the bungalow.

The restored 2-MTC will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday and used as a guest house.

Restoration work on the property was carried out as part of the ongoing reclamation work in the estate. “Work with what you have,” was the brief to the team by Omita Paul, Secretary to the President, who is spearheading the restoration work.

“That was our real challenge. Apart from spending on the civil and electrical work, the whole exercise of restoring the rooms, giving them a fresh look had to be done with the resources at hand,” the official said.

While the Central Public Works Department carried out the civil and electrical repairs, the official who is part of the President’s Secretariat went scouting for furniture, artwork and furnishings in the 340-room house on the Raisina Hill.

Old and prized furniture, some designed by Lutyens himself, was salvaged and fixed, sepia-tinted photographs of former Presidents, visiting foreign dignitaries and of momentous occasions captured in Rashtrapati Bhavan have been put on the walls; old carpets, some as old as the structure itself have been restored by master craftsmen and artefacts that are part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan collection have been put on display.

“Every nook and cranny in this house now has a bit of history,” the official said.

The Hindu, 1st November 2013

Holy smoke arising from Hindu funeral pyres, Muslim cemeteries and Buddhist temples are responsible for almost a quarter of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming on the Indian subcontinent and the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, a new study has claimed.

Researchers have long suspected that the rituals of religious devotion in India, Nepal and South Asia, may be a factor in the level of brown carbon and soot which pollutes the air in the region, but until now little work has been done to quantify the size of the problem.

According to researchers from US state Nevada's Desert Research Institute and the Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University in Chhattisgarh, the impact is "huge" - 23 per cent of particles from human burnt fossil fuels in the atmosphere and a major source of carcinogenic volatile organic compounds, a report in the Telegraph said.

Between 2011 and 2012, the researchers measured emissions from marriage ceremonies, funeral cremations, incense sticks in temples and graveyards, and found mango bark, cow dung, camphor, leaves, vermillion, and cow urine being burned.

They identified fourteen "deadly" volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, benzene, styrene and butadiene, they told Nature magazine.

They discovered that funeral pyres emitted large amounts of 'brown carbon aerosol' gases, regarded as the second largest contributor to global warming, which absorb sunlight and give out heat.

Their dark particles settle on snow and glaciers causing them to warm and melt.

Much of this pollution is overlooked because it is shrouded by human loss and religious worship and identity, but the research team has warned the scale of its environmental damage demands further study.

"There are three million religious places of worship in India alone and over 10 million marriages take place every year in this country according to the 2011 census.

"When these results were multiplied to fit these scales, the quantum of emissions was just baffling," researcher Shamsh Pervez said.

The India Today, 1st November 2013

Water body Hauz-e-Shamsi, around which many of the events of the Phool Walon Ki Sair take place in Delhi, is cleaned only once a year at this time during the Sair. Otherwise, it remains choked and dumped with trash

In our series on the state of water bodies in Delhi, we have covered the Satpula of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq, the Neela Hauz and the once beautiful lake between Kishangarh, Vasant Kunj (Pocket A) and Mehrauli. Many of the water bodies of the first Delhi have, unfortunately, been quietly erased from existence and from memory, filled up and built over, without leaving a single trace that might betray the fact that they ever existed.

Within this overall bleak scenario there is a ray of hope in the form of the Hauz-e-Shamsi, the man-made lake created by diverting a couple of streams to fill a natural depression on the orders of sultan Shams-ud-Din Altamash (ruled 1211-1236) around 1230. Within a couple of years the Hauz must have begun to overflow during the monsoons, and then an overflow channel called the Jharna was created to carry the excess water to the Yamuna through the Naulakha Nala.

The Hauz continues to this day as a decent sized water body and the centre of one of the few inclusive traditions of Delhi that has managed to survive the sustained onslaughts on our shared heritage. The Jharna around which Akbar Shah II had built a water tank and two pavilions, as rain shelters for the ladies of the palace, is today the site where the floral offerings made on the occasion of the famous festival Phool Walon Ki Sair are prepared.

The Hauz-e-Shamsi is the site around which many of the events of the Phool Walon Ki Sair, the inclusive tradition referred to above, are organised. A cultural festival, an evening of Qawwali, a wrestling match and a very popular fair, the like of which you can only witness in a small-town come-together around the Hauz. The one event that was a major attraction organised at the Hauz till a few decades ago was the famous swimming competition that has regrettably ceased to be.

Originally, the Sair began as an event of thanksgiving at the release of Mirza Jehangir, the younger brother of Bahadur Shah Zafar and the favourite of his father Akbar Shah II, from the custody of the British. Mirza Jehangir had been arrested and kept as a prisoner at Allahabad for trying to assassinate the British resident Archibald Seton and was released after almost two years. His mother offered a floral chaadar at the shrine of the Chishti Saint Qutub-ud-Din Bakhtyaar Kaaki and a floral fan and canopy at the temple of the ancient temple of Jog Maya as thanksgiving and fulfilment of vows. The popular festival has therefore come to represent both the spirit of anti-colonialism and of inclusiveness.

Gradually, the event grew into a largely spontaneous week-long festival of processions, shows and competitions. Aside from the visits to the shrine and the temple, the rest of the action took place in the open spaces around the Hauz. The Sair continued till it was disrupted in 1857, revived again to continue till 1940 when it was stopped once again by the British in the 1940s, to be revived again in 1961.

The Hauz, for long considered sacred by the old residents of Mehrauli and of Delhi is nowadays a receptacle of trash originating in the houses of those who live all around the Hauz in houses built on land which was occupied by the Hauz not too many years ago. A thick covering of water hyacinth now keeps the Hauz choked for most of the year and despite court orders to save the Hauz, it is only in the run up to the Sair that the Hauz and its surroundings including the Jahaz Mahal and the Jharna are cleaned up once a year. The effects of the cleanliness drive last no more than a week or 10 days and then it is back to trash and rubbish as usual. The streams that fed the Hauz have dried up, built over or choked. The Jharna no longer functions, the Naulakha Nala, surreptitiously connected to a sewer line, is now a carrier of untreated sewage from Mehrauli.

It is heart-breaking to see that such a rich tradition that continues to involve thousands every year, is gradually getting mired in official apathy and the grand monuments that used to hum with activity through the year have gradually fallen victim to neglect. Both the Hauz and the Jharna are treated through the year as nothing more than rubbish dumps and no one, including the residents of Mehrauli, seems to bother. Can’t we evolve mechanisms where the local people, the government and civic agencies come together to protect and preserve these monuments that symbolise our shared struggles and our syncretic traditions.

The Hindu, 2nd November 2013

An increasing number of volunteers at the National Museum in the Capital are enjoying sharing its many facets with visitors

With a collection of over 200,000 objects that span a period of more than 5,000 years of cultural heritage, the National Museum in the Capital is one of the largest in the country.

And acting as a bridge between the vast wealth of information of the museum and visitors are volunteers who guide groups of people through the museum’s many collections.

“The love of history makes me come here day after day and volunteer my time to guide visitors through these fascinating corridors that provide a glimpse into the past,” says Poornima.

Several graduates like her, housewives or simply lovers of art and history have undergone a short term course launched earlier this year by the museum to become volunteers.

They are trained to provide a general introductory tour that might be of interest to a first time visitor to the museum. The conducted tour lasts for 90 minutes, and introduces the visitor to the highlights of the museum. The tours are held at prefixed times on working days of the museum.

Starting from the Harappan civilisation to the Indus Valley civilisation and the Gupta period, the tour takes the visitors through a gallery marking the history of the Indian scripts, showing how each letter of each language transformed over the years. On display are gems such as the remains of the skeleton of a middle aged woman from the burial grounds of Harappa with shell bangles and pots that signify the final rituals in that day and age.

Statues of women dot through out the tour where they are seen to be wielding swords, breastfeeding children, dancing, as huntresses and one is even shown to be flying.

There is an entire section on currency, from the barter system to cowries to credit cards that depicts through clay models how different forms of coins used to be moulded, punched, casted and marked.

The armoury section awes with its display of the sword of Aurangzeb, a dagger used in battle, the bow of Bahadur Shah Zafar and the battle axe of Nadir Shah.

Towards the end of this hall, on one side is a massive elephant and on the other a horse. “This shows that Indians used to consider the elephant to be the royal carriage for important persons as opposed to the horse as seen by the British. So when the British first came to India and mounted horses, they were not given quite the importance they expected to be showered with,” explains Poornima.

The musical instruments section is a must for lovers of music. On visiting it one realises the many kinds of drums that different regions of India have – duff, tabla, marfa and pakhawaj (Uttar Pradesh), Pambai, Udduku and Kanjira (Tamil Nadu), Khol, waist drum, Chadchadi and Chatpati (West Bengal), Damru (north India), Jheer and Naqqara (Rajasthan), tambourine (east India) and nagara (Delhi).

And at each corner the guide offers interesting snippets about the galleries and objects. This they are able to do because they have been equipped with skills and knowledge needed to conduct free guided tours through the Volunteer Guide Training Module. This course is aimed at broadening one’s understanding of the museum and the collection. The two month course with 12 sessions (of 2 hours each) scheduled on weekends, is taken by art historians, curators and experts. There are also sessions to improve one’s communication skills, how to handle groups with ease and comfort. Several people who can keep aside four hours every weekend for the training module and later commit four hours every month for a minimum of nine months to lead tours, signed up for the programme.

Also, the museum as we know it today had an interesting beginning. The blueprint for establishing the National Museum in Delhi was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946. An Exhibition of Indian Art, consisting of selected artefacts from various museums of India was organised by the Royal Academy, London with the cooperation of Government of India and Britain. The Exhibition went on display in the galleries of Burlington House, London during the winter months of 1947-48. It was decided to display the same collection in Delhi, before the return of exhibits to their respective museums. An exhibition was organised in the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s residence), New Delhi in 1949, which turned out to be a great success. This event was responsible for the creation of the National Museum.

The success of this Exhibition led to the idea that advantage should be taken of this magnificent collection to build up the nucleus collection of the National Museum. State Governments, Museum authorities and private donors, who had participated in the exhibition, were approached for the gift or loan of artefacts, and most of them responded generously. It was inaugurated in 1949 and the Museum continued to grow its collection through gifts, while an Arts Purchase Committee collected artefacts.

The Statesman, 2nd November 2013

NDMC plans to start renovation of Gole Market soon. The civic agency recently won a case against the shopkeepers in the market and made 34 of them vacate the heritage building. It is now keen on starting the Gole Market development project and turn the building into a museum.

"We have managed to get 34 shopkeepers to vacate the property which belongs to NDMC. A case was filed against us. We are pursing the matter and will get it resolved soon. Our aim is to get the property vacated as fast as possible,'' said a senior NDMC official.

Sources say the redevelopment project has been on hold for over six years due to pending court cases. Till recently, shopkeepers at Gole Market were paying a rent between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000. They claim the rent of the alternate sites suggested by the civic agency is between Rs 25,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh.

NDMC officials say, the building is in a dilapidated condition and needs urgent repair as the pavement and staircase are completely broken.

"We need to ensure the structural stability of the building. The plan is to restore the old grandeur. We have old maps and building plan of the heritage structure,'' said an official. The civic agency had given the contract to start the work, but the work could never begin as traders approached the Delhi high court in protest. The contractor too is camping near the heritage site as he couldn't start the work due to the only court case.

Constructed in 1920s, the market was part of Sir Edwin Lutyens' design of New Delhi. It had become a prominent art and cultural centre as several renowned artists worked from there. In 1948, Bhavesh Sanyal, a celebrated artist, had opened his studio in Gole Market. Despite strong protest from shopkeepers, the civic agency managed to evict 34 of them. "We are just waiting for the court order as some shopkeepers have approached the court against NDMC's eviction notice,'' said an official.

The Hindu, 2nd November 2013

The draft management plan drawn up by the wetland experts was ignorant about these fundamental issues. The challenge was to improve the age-old management plan developed by the locals, to come up with a co-management plan for the ecosystem and then try to implement it~ Dhrubajyoti Ghosh

It has been more than a decade that the wetland ecosystem to the east of Kolkata was enlisted as a Ramsar site; it meant that it became a wetland of international importance. Ramsar conditionalities require a management plan to be formulated within six months of such enlistment. There is no such management plan in the public domain that has been approved by the government.

There is, however, a draft management plan drawn up by a Delhi-based NGO. The scientific credentials of this NGO are not the main criteria for consideration of what might be an acceptable report. The more important point is that no one from the local population, within the 12,500-hectare wetland boundary, with more than 100,000 people, has been known to have ever enquired about this document that essentially is all about their survival as a community.

This raises an important point about the indifference that the host community has towards a formal document that Ramsar bureau considers as an essential first step. The second is the bureau’s indifference to the fact that the management plan is not in place. One wonders what the vice-like grip that its own bureaucratic structure has over its voice that prevents it from asking questions of the state government. Long live the protocols of the inter-governmental treaties. Wetlands may perish for all that they care.

The Statesman, 2nd November 2013

The riverbed was full of slush and mud. Even the sandbanks were full of huge hollows because of the plunder of sand. We could see, a little away, two country boats filled with sand plundered from the river.

In the early 1940s, the Periyar river looked alive, especially on a Full Moon day, its waters shimmering like quicksilver. During March-May, the houses, on either side of the river, sheds, deserted shops and even vacant kennels were teeming with people from faraway places. Some came in large sampan-like boats with pullers and oarsmen and those were anchored on the sandbanks.

Men and women and children happily lived in the boats, whose inside was roomy enough for women to perform their chores. Cooking was done on the sandbanks. On one side of the river, there were acres and acres of sand which dazzled under the sun.

My grandfather used to say that the origin of the river was in the forests of Malayattoor and water flowed down caressing innumerable herbs and thousands of rare medicinal plants so that, when it reached Alwaye, it contained in abundance the elixir of life! He firmly believed that this river would give him good health and longevity. But he died at the age of 59.

From March onwards, all coastal villages of Ernakulam experienced extremely hot weather followed by drought and scarcity of drinking water. Most of the wells dried up and those that didn’t had water that was brackish. That was the reason why people from those areas left for Alwaye in boats and they remained there till the onset of monsoon.

My grandfather had a beautiful house by the side of the river, and the view from there was stunning. On moon-lit nights, I used to go to the terrace and look at the river and the vast sandbanks, with the dozens of boats anchored there. From where I sat, the boats looked like some huge primeval predators searching for prey. The river looked serene and even at the dead of night, people enjoyed bathing in it, and you could hear people washing their clothes on the riverside.

In the morning, the cavalcade of bathers began. Grandmothers herding their grandchildren, with oil dripping from their young bodies, and maids carrying fresh clothes, towels and soaps, in tow, was a beautiful sight. By 7 a.m., the sandbanks were filled with people of all hues and ages, oil oozing from head to feet in everyone. Nobody was in a hurry to do anything; and everyone was careful not to do anything foolish.

The river seemed to know everything about each person. I am sure it warned everyone to shed all bitterness and hatred with his clothes on the sandbank and enter the waters with his mind clean. The river was more for the mind than for the body. When you take a dip in it, you realise the truth. You blissfully forget all worldly cares and come out with the determination to take on life with all its malevolence.

The river carried with it a faint aroma of saffron. Its bed was full of pebbles, with no trace of dirt. The water flowed so fast that, if you floated, it would take you 10 feet away in two seconds. The people who lived in the boats were always in the river, I mean the menfolk. The women cooked food, tended the children and gossiped with other women in nearby boats.

From 1970, we stopped going to Alwaye during summer. In 1980, we sold away the house which had witnessed, along with us, so many happy years. For some years, I had no occasion to visit Alwaye and see the river. In 2001, I went there to attend a marriage. As the wedding reception was held only in the night, I decided to bathe in the river. My wife and son were with me. My God, the sandbank was bare and bald. Nobody was found taking bath. Some persons who were sitting around and playing cards warned us, “Nobody bathes in the river now. It is not water that is flowing in the river, but poison.”

The riverbed was full of slush and mud. Even the sandbanks were full of huge hollows because of the plunder of sand. We could see, a little away, two country boats filled with sand plundered from the river.

Even the countenance of the river has changed. Just then, a terrible stench enveloped the whole area. Even the players stopped their card game and were looking at something huge floating in the river and coming towards us. Some crows were pecking at something sitting on the object. The stench became overpowering. Someone from the riverside shouted: “chatha pothu varunneeee” (here comes the carcass of a buffalo)

The Hindu, 3rd November 2013

In a tussle PWD wants to fell around 1,500 trees for three elevated roads; on the other hand, forest dept wants the agency to first relocate trees if possible

New Delhi: The public works department (PWD) and the forest department have locked horns over a proposal to cut trees for an elevated road project on the Outer Ring Road in west Delhi.

The PWD wants to cut 1,476 trees for three elevated roads — Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh, Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk and Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk — for the project. Hearing a petition that most of these trees are on service lanes while the project is coming up on the central verge, the National Green Tribunal had stayed the cutting of trees in June this year.

The forest department wants the PWD to first relocate, wherever possible, the trees and then go ahead with cutting them in a phased manner. Since relocation of trees would take several months, the PWD has said it is going to cut trees and that the forest department can charge them the security amount.

In August, the green tribunal had allowed cutting of 167 trees but only on the central verge. When the PWD again requested for cutting 75 trees, the tribunal in September said: “PWD can translocate/remove 75 trees only if they are coming in way of construction on the central verg

e, subject to verification by forest department. It would first permit translocation, wherever possible, followed by felling.” The forest department has admitted that these 75 trees are not directly linked with the construction of the central verge. “The central verge construction will push traffic on to service lanes, requiring felling of 75 trees,” the inspection report said. It further stated that the “PWD first translocate 21 trees. Felling of the rest of the trees can be taken up systematically, at regular intervals in consultation with the tribunal”.

But while the relocation is yet to begin, the PWD on October 30 informed the forest department that: “PWD is going to fell 54 trees out of the 75… work has been totally stopped because of non-felling of trees. You’re requested to send a demand letter for us to deposit security amount. Please treat the matter as most urgent.” The Hindustan Times, 3rd November 2013

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamlingdidn't jump with glee when an officer told him earlier this week that global travel guide Lonely Planet had named his state the "best region to visit in 2014". He'd been working towards the goal for too long to feign surprise.

Sikkim was the first Indian state to frame an eco-tourism policy with the help of Japanese and American experts. It started popularising village tourism a few years ago and aggressively developed tourist destinations and circuits and a bunch of activities to attract tourists. This is precisely what Lonely Planet has recognized: the sustainable community-based tourism model that Sikkim has successfully developed in less-developed areas of the state.

Sikkim actually tweaked central projects like the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) to develop village and eco-tourism. For instance, additional funds were provided to IAY beneficiaries to build an extra room and western-style toilet for tourists. "We then sponsored family members to undergo training in housekeeping, cookery and other aspects of hospitality at hotel management institutes," says Sikkim tourism minister Bhim Prasad Dhungel. These rural home stays are a big draw for foreign tourists as well as the nature-loving Indian tourist. There are trekking trails, bird and nature walks and camping sites being developed around these family resorts, says Dhungel.

A fair amount of adventure tourism is also being promoted — white water rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering , trekking , para-sailing , skiing among them . What also adds to the region's charm is that it is a largely crime-free state and its people are hospitable and warm. A bird sanctuary at Pelling in the west, butterfly parks in the north of the state, and a red panda circuit are the new projects being developed. High-altitude lakes like Gurudongmar and Tsangu are being redeveloped and will feature in high-mountain circuits. "Our forest cover has increased substantially, from 44.06 % in 1995 to 47.59% in 2009 and we will increase it to at least 50% in a few years," says Dhungel.

Sikkim's aim to become a totally organic state by 2015 is also pulling in the discerning traveller, a fact acknowledged by Lonely Planet. The state is already completely plastic-free and has been careful to promote only green industries.

Interestingly, Sikkim is also aggressively developing itself as a pilgrim destination, both for Hindus and Buddhists. Take the case of the char dham at Solophok near Namchi in the state's South district where replicas of the temples at Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka and Rameshwaram have been erected on a seven-acre site. Last year, it attracted nearly one lakh tourists. A park at Ravang with a 137 .5 ft-high statue of Buddha, a 150 ft-high statue of the Padmasambhava, and a couple of other such structures are coming up in other parts of the state.

Sikkim's tourism vision is unique because it is backed by the development of local infrastructure. "You cannot promote tourism when there's poverty and discontent. That's why, along with new tourist spots, we're also striving to fast-track development in remote mountainous areas," Chamling had said some time ago to STOI. The Times of India, 3rd November 2013

Check out the property hoardings that dominate the Bangalore cityscape. Real-estate developers would have you believe that they are setting up a tropical paradise in the suburbs. The words 'lakeview', 'lakefront', and 'lakefacing' feature prominently; the accompanying images are often of a father and son fishing in a stream, or a couple lolling on a sunny, grassy bank as rosycheeked children splash around in the shallow waters of a clear lake. These lakes were a part of a centuries-old network of waterbodies that excessive urban development is choking out of existence in Bangalore. The irony is hard to escape.

"They sell these apartments as 'lakeview' properties. In a few years, the lake itself is gone, but the name remains," says Arbind Kumar Gupta, a citizen activist working for the rejuvenation of the city's lakes. Gupta has banded together with others to set up the Save Bangalore Lakes Trust, an umbrella body for activist groups working to conserve Bangalore's 190 waterbodies.

Several of these groups have seen unprecedented success in engaging with the local government and civic agencies. They have not only created greater awareness in the city about these dying lakes but also managed to rescue some of them from silting, encroachment, and rampant, unregulated sewage disposal.

"There is no point in saying that you can't engage with the government, that it is too difficult, that 'we pay our taxes, why should we do the government's job' . To say that the government is not receptive is to give it a free hand," says activist and documentary filmmaker Priya Ramasubban.

In the 1970s, Bangalore had around 270 thriving lakes or wetlands. The city's unique undulating topography allowed the formation of natural troughs where water collected and complex ecosystems emerged. These lakes were a part of the lives of the people who lived around them. Many of these lakes are in outlying areas that were semi-rural till a few decades ago.

The lakes provided drinking water so they were cared for and protected. There was extensive vegetation around them that sheltered the catchment areas. As the city grew and spread, the farmlands in these areas were sold as SEZs or residential plots. The catchment areas shrank, and the lakes started drying up. Some of them turned into marshes and drains.

Bangalore's lakes have a unique feature which is called raja kaluve, a complex network of storm-water drains, partly natural and partly man-made, which ensured that water from one overflowing lake automatically emptied into another in the neighbourhood. This network was damaged by rapid urban development. Of the 190 lakes that are still in existence, at least on paper, most are half their original size and filthy.

The Kaikondrahalli lake is an exception. Situated on Sarjapur Road, one of Bangalore's busiest IT corridors and an area crammed with housing complexes, this 48-acre lake was going the way of most city lakes till a few concerned citizens stepped in. In 2009, Ramasubban, a resident of the area, decided to fight for the lake's survival. She roped in other like-minded individuals, among them Ramesh Sivaram, an environmental engineer, and Dr Harini Nagendra, an ecologist who works with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.

The team started haunting the offices of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) and other government bodies such as the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, to drum up interest in the cause. In 2008, the BBMP had already made a list of lakes to rejuvenate, and an open-minded and proactive government officer, BE Satish, chief engineer of lakes at BBMP, listened to the Kaikondrahalli citizens' group and accepted their ideas and suggestions. He even scrapped the agency's plan to start boating facilities in the lake and a landscaped garden around it to preserve the diverse ecosystem.

The Times of India, 3rd November 2013

513, HAVELI HAIDER QULI DELHI

It is lost in the maze of shops in Chandni Chowk. It doesn't have a special name either, numbered as it is like the other homes and shops in Haveli Haider Quli. But step inside, look around its courtyard and rooms, and meet its owner, 90-year-old Lala Narayan Prasad, and you'll know that 513, Haveli Haider Quli, is no ordinary home.

Its historical value begins with the commercial complex that obscures it. Haveli Haider Quli was a large swathe of land that Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah had rewarded one Haider Quli Khan, a porter (quli in Urdu), for saving his son's life. Many decades later, portions of that land were sold to several families who built their homes on it. One such home was built by Lala Jugal Kishore, who founded Indraprastha School, Delhi's first school for girls. Today, his grandson, Prasad, lives here with his 93-year-old sister Sarla Sharma who "took part in the Quit India movement". "My father, Lala Jagdish Prasad, was involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Lord Hardinge. He was never convicted though," he says. The Lalas have been munshis, or chartered accountants. According to the family tree that Prasad shows us, he descends from Raja Garhmal Shah of Sohna, Haryana. One of his ancestors later shifted to Delhi and joined the Mughal court.

The house is "designed like a fort". It has two entrances. The arched main gate is studded with big nails and has a two-kilo-heavy latch. A smaller gate leads to a staircase, which in turn, takes one to the three storeys above. There is a hidden staircase for women, "reflecting the purdah system". "I have been offered Rs 10 crore for this house, but as long as I am alive, I will live here," says Prasad. The Indian Express, 3rd November 2013

On the banks of River Shimsha, is the non-descript town of Maddur. The etymology of Maddur dates back to the Mahabharatha when it was called Arjunapuri. Years later, when the sage Kadamba Rishi worshipped Lord Narasimha here, the town came to be called as Kadamba Kshetra. 

Between the 16th and the 18th Centuries when this region was being governed by the Palegaras, it is said that gunpowder and explosives used for warfare were manufactured and stored here. 

It was during this period that the town was christened with its current name Maddu-uru, maddu meaning gunpowder in Kannada.

There is also another version which says the town got its name from its presiding deity, Madduramma, who has a small temple inside the town.

In the quiet lanes of Maddur are a string of ancient temples like the Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple, Varadaraja Swamy Temple and the Madduramma Temple that showcase its rich legacy. 

The Ugra Narasimha Swamy Temple is a marvel etched in stone. As the story goes, during the Dwapara Yuga (the third of the four ages described in the scriptures of Hinduism) Pandava prince Arjuna requested Lord Krishna to display the ugra (angry) avatara (incarnation or form) of Lord Narasimha. As the ugra avatara was too powerful to be seen by the naked eye, Lord Brahma, at the behest of Lord Krishna, created a statue of Lord Narasimha in his ugra avatara. 

This is the story behind the unique Narasimha Swamy statue that depicts Lord Narasimha with eight hands and three eyes. 

Lord Narasimha is holding a shankha (conch) in one hand, a chakra (disc) in another, pasha and ankusha (instruments or weapons) in two other hands. The statue depicts the victory of good over evil where Lord Narasimha is slaying the asura (demon) Hiranya Kashyipu and wearing the asura’s gut as a garland. Flanking the statue of Lord Narasimha are statues of Garuda to the left and Bhakta Prahlada to the right. 

Other beauties
There are several other beautiful idols inside the temple including one where Yashodha is feeding Bala Krishna. The temple also has statues of Sowmya Nayaki (Shreedevi), Narasimha Nayaki (Bhoodevi), Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya. In another unique presentation, Anjaneya Swamy is seen covering his mouth with his hand as he bows in respect to Lord Rama.

Behind the Narasimha Swamy temple is the ancient temple of Varadaraja Swamy. The temple dates back to the reign of the Hoysalas. 

The Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana was a disciple of Sri Ramanujacharya, the proponent of Vishishtadvaita philosophy, who advised that the king’s mother should offer prayers at the Varadaraja Swamy temple in Kanchipuram in order to regain her vision. 

As his aged mother could not travel, King Vishnuvardhana ensured that sculptors from Kanchipuram came to Maddur and recreated the idol of Varadaja Swamy. It is said that the queen mother offered prayers to Varadaraja Swamy every day and on the 48th day her prayers were answered. 

King Vishnuvardhana’s mother’s sight was restored this way. The 12 feet tall idol etched in black stone stands tall against the grey stone walls of the temple.

From its crunchy Maddur vadas to being named the tender coconut capital of India, the small town of Maddur has made a name for itself. The next time you stop over Maddur for some sumptuous vadas, do take a walk down the alleys of history. 

Even when you leave the town, the stories from Maddur and its ancient temples will linger on.

The Deccan Herald, 5th November 2013

Archaeology Capital of the Saluva kings, Bhallatakipura is now home to almost impenetrable evergreen forests. Seemingly forgotten by civilisation, this ancient town has many monuments of historical and cultural value, says Manjunath Sullolli 

The history and archaeology students of Hampi Kannada University camped at Gerusoppa for 10 days recently to study the ancient town. Besides studying the area, they also cleaned the monuments spread over a kilometre, surrounded by the cane forests of Honnavar. 

On the bank of the Sharavati, a small hamlet under Nagare revenue village (24 kilometres by road from Honnavar or 35 kilometres from the world famous Jog Falls), is a place of antiquity with the remains of ancient town, mounds, enclosures, hundreds of small wells and several Jain temples. One has to traverse thick evergreen forests on the way to this place. Before a decade and in earlier days this place could also be reached by sailing on the Sharavati!

The place is mentioned in several inscriptions as Nagire, Gerasappa, Kshemapura and Bhallatakipura, and the old, deserted town is called Nagarabastikeri now. 

On one bank is the present village and on the other is the old town with its historical remains. The name is derived from geru (Semicarpus anacardium Linn) in Kannada (soppu being leaf), whose fruit is called bhallataki in Sanskrit, and that is why the place name has been Sanskritised as Bhallatakipura. This was the capital town of the Saluva Kings of Gerusoppa from the early 14th Century and continued to be so till 1606 AD. In 1623 AD, the Italian traveller Pietro Della Valle visited Gerusoppa and described it as once a famous city, the seat of Pepper Queen Channabhairadevi, and that the Sharavati was the most beautiful river he had ever seen. In 1845, Captain Newbold also studied and recorded this ancient town. Hundreds of wells could be found in this area. There are many small temples in ruins. Treasure hunters have severely damaged several temples around. Many temples remain encirled by the cane and green trees. Many wells have begun disappearing now. 

Of the many monuments here, the Chaturmukha Basti is the chief one, a beautiful structure built in Vijayanagar style with chaturasra plan. It is only monument being protected and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today. The renovation work was undertaken during 2007-08 by the then superintendent of archaeology Dr Venkateshayya. It has four entrances from four directions and all these lead to the garbhagriha which has four separate images facing the four entrances. The temple is built in grey granite. Each hall in front of the garbhagriha has four thick pillars with square bases and overhanging brackets, which has a lotus. There are animal motifs like rows of makaras and swans at the bottom of the wall at the exterior. 

The dwarapalakas carved in relief on each side of the four doors of the halls wear tall crowns and each hold a club entwined by a cobra. Beside them on walls are empty niches crowned with beautiful miniature temple shikhara models. The temple structure is over a jagati (platform) measuring almost a metre in height. There are four images in the garbhagriha of the Tirthankaras seated in padmasana. One of these has been damaged lately. The engravings in this basti of the dwarapalakas and other mural designs appear refined and are well executed. Within the precincts of this temple there are five other ruined temples built of laterite in which there are a few images and incriptions. 

The Vardhamana basti has a fine black stone image of Mahavira in sitting posture. There are three inscriptions nearby. The first, of 1378 AD, seems to record a grant by Honnappa Setti of Chandrapur (Chandavara) under the Gerusoppa chieftains. The second inscription on a nishidhi stone at the same place is dated 1392 AD and records the death of Ramakka, wife of one Yojanasetti who’s stated to have built the Chaityalaya of Anantatirtha at Gerusoppa. The third inscription, also on a nishidhi stone, in 14th Century characters records the death of Shantaladevi, daughter of Bommarasa and Queen of Haivanarasa. Nearby is the basti of Neminatha, whose pedestal has an inscription with two verses in Kannada. There are also remains of an an­cient temple, perhaps of Venkataramana with a garbhagriha, with the deity missing. The Parshwanath Basti has a rich collection of innumerable stone images like Veerabhadra, Kapalika, Revanta, Ganapati, Tiruthankaras etc. There is a Mahasati stone and the remains of a dilapidated temple with many broken images strewn all over. 

Even today, many treasure hunters dig up the temples here. There is an urgent need to survey the whole area. A serious excavation and research effort by the departments concerned are bound to unearth more of our rich historical legacy.

The Deccan Herald, 5th November 2013

The Sharavathi backwaters quietly lap at your feet; Colonel Hill’s column solemnly surveys the erstwhile seaport; the Ram Tirth lies above serenely while the Saraswat Brahmins go about their business in the Chitrapur Mutt nearby. Honnavar is an amalgamation of all that’s beautiful, says BVPrakash

The sea coast of the State extending over a 300-kilometre stretch is dotted with many a township endowed with the  beauty of the beach. Often the sea is met by one of the west flowing rivers from the mountains of Malnad which only adds up to the charm of the place. Honnavar, which sits between the sea and the river is one such dreamy town. As you drive over the long bridge you will be spellbound by the breathtaking beauty of the wide Sharavathi rushing to meet the Arabian Sea.  You will also come across quite a few tiny islands in the river which presents a heavenly view. But it is not just the sea and   river that Honnavar is all about. The town conceals in its folds a few interesting locales of different sorts–natural, historic and religious. It would need a couple of days at least to go around discovering some of these points of interest.

Honnavar is a very ancient town with mentions about the place at various points in time historically. It is said this place had been referred in the works of Greek writer Periplus in 247 AD itself. Later references have also been made, be it in the Jain Ramayana in 10th Century or in the account of Ibn Batuta, explorer and scholar of Morocco, who referred to this place as the city of Hinaur during his visit here in 14th Century. During this period a large population of Muslim community of an Arab origin lived here under the rule of Jamal ud-din Muhammad Ibn Hassan who was a feudatory chief under the Vijayanagara kings.

In those days Honnavar was also an important port through which overseas trade flourished. Its hinterland extended as far as Goa in the north and to Hubli in the east. In later years as the region was taken over successively by Hyder, his son Tipu, followed by the East India Company, the importance of Honnavar as a trade centre faded gradually and it became another taluk of the present Uttara Kannada district. It is, however, gaining importance more as a travel hub with a mixture of interesting sights sprinkled in. It was these spots around Honnavar that prompted me to devote a couple of days to discover what was in store.  

To begin with, the backwater cruise across the Sharavathi was taken up with priority. Similar to such cruises in the neighbouring state of Kerala, a journey to one of the islets on the blue, wide river fringed by green palms was an exhilarating experience indeed. The cruise on a simple country motor boat starts from the jetty close to town. In fact, it is the daily mode of commuting for many residents of the islands.

The next point of interest was the Ram Thirth on a hill three kilometres north of Honnavar. Ram Thirth is a holy pond in a valley surrounded by high mountains covered with green foliage. About 50 steps lead to the floor of the valley. Legend has it that Lord Rama and Laksmana had a dip in this pond on their way during their exile. As a memory a temple of Rameshwara  was built at the top of the hill. A huge peepul tree believed to be hundreds of years old is also in the courtyard. The view of the valley  and hills is panoramic. On the way back just a kilometre before the town is a historic place. 

Called Colonel Hill memorial, it is a small hillock right beside the highway with a gradual muddy path to go up. At the top is a plateau with a pillar in the centre. This 30-foot column was erected on January 20, 1845 by the Bombay Presidency under East India Company in memory of Colonel Hill, a commandant who died here. The base of the pillar bears the record of the same. The few  benches around the pillar invite the tired visitor to relax while enjoying the sweeping sea views. 

Kasarkod is a tiny hamlet about six kilometres south of Honnavar with the twin attractions of a waterfall and the sea. The spot is called Apsarakonda, a moderate hill with temples, ponds and a 25-foot thin waterfall. Further beyond you have one of the finest and isolated beaches. 

The last destination was an excursion to Shirali town about 35 kilometres south known for the famed Shri Chitrapur Mutt.  Founded around 1757 by Saraswat Brahmins, this religious institution follows the Advaitha school of thought as propagated by Adi Shankaracharya. The presiding deity is Bhavanishankar, the form of Lord Shiva with Parvathi. There are smaller shrines for Bhuvaneshwari, Ganapathy and Shankaracharya and also samadhis of previous heads of the Mutt. The museum with old sculptures, books and palm leaf manuscripts is worth visitng.

Not to be missed is the pond in the Mutt complex called Shivalinga Sarovara. Apart from religious pursuits the Mutt is also doing excellent community service through health care, education etc.  Paying obeisance at the Mutt culminated my two days of discovering a few of the little wonders of Honnavar.

The Deccan Herald, 5th November 2013

The first National Institute of Disaster Response (NIDR) will be set up on the outskirts of Kamptee in Nagpur district.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials said land had been allotted and the Union Home Ministry was set to approve the Rs 190-crore project.

The world-class facility would train future battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), central and state forces and units from foreign countries, NDMA Vice-Chairperson M Shashidhar Reddy said.

Spread across 61 hectares in two villages, NIDR will conduct live simulation exercises for a wide range of natural and man-made disasters.

"Disaster response requires a different kind of training infrastructure. The institute will become the main training centre for NDRF and state disaster response forces. There will be special focus on search and rescue at collapsed structures and response to chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear disasters," Reddy said.

He said Nagpur was centrally located and also had other training institutes such as National Civil Defence College and National Fire Service College. "Nagpur will become a hub for disaster training," Reddy said.

He said the institute would bolster the global disaster management standing of India. "We received expressions of interest from several SAARC countries. India has acquired a special place in Southeast Asia because of our response to a wide range of disasters," said Reddy.

"NIDR will be a residential facility that will train 50 individuals at a time. The best Indian and international experts will be recruited to conduct training. NIDR has been modelled on the best institutes in Europe and the US. NDMA officials of the rank of inspector-general and above will also be a part of the faculty," said Alok Avasthy, Commandant, 5th Battalion, NDRF, who has been following up with the state government on behalf of NDMA.

"On October 4, we had a meeting with Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. We have sent an EFC (expenditure finance committee) note to the Home Ministry for approval. Once land is handed over, we hope to lay the foundation stone by the year end," he said.

The Indian Express, 6th November 2013

In a remarkable turnaround since last year when the migratory Amur falcon was ruthlessly hunted in their thousands in Nagaland, not a single bird has been killed this year at their famed roosting site in the Doyang reservoir in Nagaland.

According to the Amur Falcon Protection Squad (AFPS) ' a group of former hunters, along with the Nagaland Forest department staff are patrolling these areas to keep the birds safe. The heartening development has been possible due to the concerted efforts of the communities, NGOs and the Government authorities. The Hindustan Times, 7th November 2013

Better coordination between officials of the Manas National Park and the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan has improved management of the parks to a large extent and the flow of tourists, particularly from abroad, is likely to increase if the Governments of India and Bhutan can work out modalities to establish tourist routes involving both the parks.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Field Director of the Manas National Park Anindya Swargowari said that as there is no physical barrier between India and Bhutan and the National Park stretches to both the countries, improved coordination between the parkofficials of both the countries is beneficial to both the parks. He said that the officials of the Royal Manas National Park often come to India for sharing information and vice versa, and during the last tiger census also, all the relevant information was shared to avoid double counting of tigers. There was a time when the Manas National Park was closed for tourists and most of the camps inside the park were winded up because of militant activities, but the situation has now changed and efforts are now being made to make the park more attractive for tourists. Swargoyari said that a number of tourists visited the park after getting relevant information in the website and new tourist routes have also been opened in the park and steps have been initiated to repair the roads. He said that due to disturbance, the UNESCO had declared Manas as a World Heritage Site in Danger in 1992, but in 2011, the “in danger” tag was withdrawn and tourists have started coming to the park again. He asserted that Manas is now safe for tourists and last year around 16,000 tourists including more than 200 foreigners visited it. “We expect that the number of tourists will increase this year as we have opened only on October 27 and tourists have already started coming in. The flow is likely to increase after the school examinations are over,” he added.

The Assam Tribune, 7th November 2013

Antique pieces hold a special place not only due to sentiment, but also because they are durable and bring out the contrast in a modern home. Explore this market to create a harmonious look, says Radha Prathi.

When we are ringing out the old and ringing in the new, we must not forget that old is gold! We are witnessing the changing face of urban India in which old buildings are giving way to new ones in both the residential and commercial sectors. Though it is heart rending to see vintage buildings being torn down for various reasons, we could immortalise them in parts by re-using the building material wherever possible.

In fact, we have a thriving market for these old and antique pieces. Old and used foundation stones, doors, windows, cupboards, railings, trellis, gates and rare varieties of terracotta and ceramic tiles are picked up by a lot of builders. They find it a matter of pride to incorporate these materials to give an old world touch to their buildings.

Demolishers of old buildings have mastered the art of dismantling buildings brick by brick in some cases and re-selling them. The materials are priced on a scale that ranges between gratis (free) and a fortune depending on the strength, design, rarity and more importantly based on how much the probable buyer covets for the same.

It is a fact that certain components of the building are supremely sturdy and fit enough to take another lease of life. In such a scenario economics and environmental consideration should prompt us to make the best use of whatever can be re-used.

For the uninitiated, demolishing buildings is an indiscriminate activity. Dignified structures that stood tall with pride are reduced to shambles and are carted away like debris. They are then dumped into the nearest low lying areas or used to clog sewers and thereby unleashing a whole lot of other problems.

One can circumvent these setbacks by following the guiding mantra “Recycle, Reduce and Reuse” in order to be eco-friendly. They say that change is the only constant. If these two guiding forces define urban India today, we can make sense economically and environmentally.

Though the market trend generally accentuates on the durability and the quaintness of the material, it is possible that while buying material from the second-hand market people may end up paying a lot or sometimes may miscalculate the use of a material and thereby incur losses.

It is in the best interest of the construction, that one should consult an architect before binging on the project to use these materials effectively.

On the other hand, it is wiser to get in touch with owners of the buildings to be demolished and strike a bargain with them on the material that could be salvaged and reused. This measure will not only prove to be economical but will also help a person decide on what to recover and what to trash. In fact, the building trash consisting of mortar and broken bricks can be used to pave concrete pathways and mini roads within building complexes. The electrical wiring of the house could be extricated and the functioning lengths could be used for wiring temporary needs. If the wires are beyond repair, remember the copper inside has scrap value and the plastic on the exterior can be turned in for recycling. Similarly, switchboards, plumbing material, fencing material et al can either be reused or repaired to be sold away.

The realty dealers generally attach little or no importance to buildings when selling a plot of land and feel that it is a liability because it involves labour to clear the land and start a new venture. Yet, a clever and cautious builder will never let go of an opportunity to utilise every brick in the best possible way, bringing down his costs and saving a sense of nostalgia for the user.

If the premises in which the building to demolished has a well tended garden or fully grown trees, which have to be uprooted to clear the place, the owners or builders will do well to find the plants a new home. This way they can save them and use the seeds, saplings or cuttings from the parent plant and re-plant them in the new premises once construction is over.

That is not all, when the earth is excavated several feet down to lay foundation to the new structure, the latent earth, recharged during the disuse period will prove to be fertile soil. The local scientific nursery will be only too happy to buy it, or possibly help you to landscape, lay a terrace garden or a lawn for a fee.

Old features incorporated in a new building can also include aspects like miniature models of the old buildings, colour scheme and little reminders like antique lamp shades, brass fittings, name boards, mail boxes and gates to retain the sacredness of the landmark with the twist in the tale.

At the higher end of the scale, contemporary builders are increasingly incorporating second-hand material wherever possible at the behest of their customers. The people at the lower end of the economic scale also scout for reusable material to cut down their cost. Yet, if every new building makes it a point to follow this thumb rule as far as possible, we can pave way to greener buildings.

The Deccan Herald, 8th November 2013

As many as 13 major lakes in the City under the Minor Irrigation Department have been encroached upon by major builders and private persons, according to Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, the minister said the largest extent of encroachment has been identified along Bellandur and Horamavu lakes. He said the department had handed over 24 lakes to various civic agencies in City for maintenance in the last few years.

These include three lakes to Lake Development Authority, three to Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike and 18 to Bangalore Development Authority. However, of these, 13 major lakes were found to be encroached upon in the past few years.

Anti-encroachment drive
The minister said the department will take up anti-encroachment drive on a large-scale in the next few months.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued clear instructions not to spare any one while clearing encroachments. We will ensure that the lakes are cleared of encroachment in the next six to eight months. The lakes will be fenced later,” he said. 

The minister said the department will assist civic agencies in desilting all these lakes. Two companies from Mumbai and Tamil Nadu had made a presentation on removing five to six tonne of weed in 20 minutes. As a pilot project, the department is likely to recommend the cleaning of Bellandur and Varthur lakes

The Deccan Herald, 11th November 2013

Over five lakh waterfowls have started flocking Hokersar, signalling their annual tradition of migration from Siberia, the West Asia Middle East and the Far East. The protected bird sanctuary on the outskirts of Srinagar, which has retained its sobriquet of “The Queen of the Wetlands” against all odds, has been welcoming these winged visitors over a long period of time.

“It’s an unusual spectacle,” Wildlife Warden [Wetlands] Mohammad Maqbool Baba told The Hindu . “Mostly trans-Himalayan avian species, these winged visitors normally reach here beginning November 1. This year, they landed as early as October 20,” said Mr. Baba. He said the numbers crossed 500,000 on November 5. As usual the mallards have dominated the avian convergence, but the grey-leg geese, gadwalls, teals, coots, shovellers, pochards and Brahmani ducks are not lagging behind in number.

Optimum water level and availability of food, according to the sanctuary guards, are the major reasons for the massive concentration of waterfowls. “ There is a marked pattern of migration. Pin-tails and gadwalls arrive first. They arrive in October and November, and fly to Shallabugh, Hygam, Wullar and other wetlands in the valley. They will gather at the sanctuary again when they fly back to Siberia, China, West Asia, and the Philippines,” Mr. Baba said.

Since Hokersar is the only designated Ramsar site (the Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands) in the valley, it is the safest bird sanctuary in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ramsar designation has led to the implementation of better management tools in the last few years. The phenomenal increase in the number of mallards is an example of the impact. “ Around 1996, the mallard was almost on the brink of extinction . This year, the sanctuary has seen a sizeable attendance of the mallard,” Mr. Baba asserted. He admitted the wetland area had shrunk from 14 sq. km. to just 5 sq. km., but said no land encroachment or major biotic interference has taken place after 2002.

Shrinking sanctuary
“Our politicians and bureaucrats have been making eloquent speeches on eco-tourism, wildlife conservation and our bird sanctuaries. But, there has been no major funding . Dozens of illegal hunters and poachers have been seized , but they always go scot free. Nothing has been done to restore the encroached land surface to the wetland. A colony of 7,000 plots is being raised by the government at Rakh-e-Aarth, virtually on the wetland’s entry point,” a retired Range Officer told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.

The official referred to a survey carried out by Dr. Shakil Romshoo of the Department of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Kashmir and pointed out that Hokersar has been reduced to 45 hectares from its surface area of 210 hectares in 1969. “Dr. Romshoo’s study is based on the use of geo-informatics, satellite observations and extensive field observations,” he said.

The Hindu, 9th November 2013

Lakshmi Sharath explores the quieter side of the Kashmir Valley, which is home to some of the most spectacular lakes and a tranquil lifestyle

The flight was hovering around for a while, flying a little low amidst the Himalayas, treating us to a spectacular display of snow and ice. The white was blinding to the eye, but I had no reason to complain. I was lucky to have got the window seat. The flight was late, but it did not matter. It is not everyday that you get such a gorgeous view of the Himalayas. In a short while, however, the flight touched down at the Srinagar airport in Kashmir.

It started drizzling just as I got out of the airport. It seemed like the weather would follow me wherever I go. My taxi driver smiled and greeted me with these words, “Mumbai ka fashion aur Kashmir ka mausam, donon ka koi barosa nahin,” he said, adding that the sun would be shining rather brightly in a few hours. But the drizzle became a downpour. The taxi dropped me by the Nagin Lake and a blinding array of colours greeted me. The shikaras were vying with the rainbow to showcase more hues although the lake and the sky were in unison, sporting shades of grey. The sun had been banished.

Life on a lake
I was ferried to a pretty wooden houseboat, warm and comfortable, and fortunately, I had the entire houseboat to myself. Now, I have stayed in resorts, homestays, forest lodges, inns, but there is something special about staying in a houseboat. It was like being cocooned in a world that is both luxurious and homely, ornate and simple with absolute privacy and personalised service.

And sitting in the cosy balcony, sipping the Kashmiri kahwa rich with saffron and cinnamon, I watched the rain tumble from the grey skies forming ripples on the Nagin Lake. I looked at the infinite spread of water and sky and felt like a tiny microcosm in the universe. The rain battered down the roofs of the houseboats, and even with 200 of them stationed in the lake, it was so still and silent but for the regular rhythm of the rain. I lounged in the living space of the houseboat and picked up a book only to be distracted by a pair of little grebes in the lake. And then I heard that an earthquake had actually rocked the region and tremors were felt while I was still up in the air, hovering the Himalayas.

The rains soon abated and the birds came out. There was a pair of common starling nestling in the neighbouring houseboat. A flock of barn swallows came out to sun themselves, while a trip of common kingfishers were calling out to each other. Another flock of common moorhens were swimming in the waters. A bright red shikara stopped by my houseboat and offered me a ride to Dal Lake. Lying on the ground almost at eye level with the surface of the waters, looking up at the sky and touching the reflections of the mountains on the waters was an unreal experience. The sounds of silence rang in my ears. I was trying to count the ripples on the waters — a bit like counting stars. A night heron looked on, as still as a statue, as I looked for the little bittern. A bright yellow citrine wagtail flew from one leaf to another, floating on the waters.

The boatman took me through a lily pond and we soon had company. Another shikara came by to sell flowers and seeds. He was soon followed by a couple selling jewellery.

Floating markets
A shikara parked under a small vegetation floating in the waters and the boatmen seemed fast asleep. We sailed along through small tracts of floating vegetable gardens growing tomato and bottle gourd. The lake became a canal. We had been sailing in uncharted course, not the usual tourist haunt, a slightly longer route to the Dal Lake. A boat steered by a little girl and her sister passed by us, as the mother sat behind holding a baby. The boat was a virtual nursery filled with little saplings that were going to be planted in the waters. We watched the family at work, as another boat interrupted us carrying more vegetables. In this vast tract of waters, we were in a little canal, jostling each other and creating a mini traffic jam. But then, this was the way of life for these men who lived by the lake.

The waters eventually merged as the canal took us to Dal Lake. From being a lone shikara on the mighty lake, we suddenly burst upon a crowd of tourists in several shikaras, eating, drinking, screaming, buying and singing. It was a floating market with shops selling everything from pashmina shawls to saffron. We had some chai and pakodas and set sail again.

Our last stop for the day was by a small little home on the fringes of the lake. The shikara was anchored by the coconut tree and we went inside a little warehouse where new shikaras were being built. The entire family came out as all the children peeped out to see their new guests. The Kashmiri hospitality was at its best as they welcomed us with tea, and spoke to us about their business. Almost every family here needed a boat or a shikara, some were for tourism and they needed to get a licence apparently, while the others used it to just ferry themselves across the lake or to the various markets floating on the lake.

Twilight had already stolen the evening sky. The clouds turned into black mushrooms hovering around the peaks of mountains, which slowly faded away as the night sky took over. The birds were silent. Tall stalks of plants turned into dark shadows as even the waters reflected the blackness of the sky. We saw the moon steal a glance from above. Slowly the eyes closed as the lake rocked us to and fro and the boatman began his song — a sweet love song, and as he sang the ditty in his gentle voice, we just drifted away to sleep.

The Deccan Herald, 10th November

I had heard a lot about the highly revered pilgrim town of Deshnok, tucked away in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan. On my visit to Bikaner, a couple of months ago, I decided not to miss the experience of travelling to the remote hamlet of Deshnok and seek the blessings of Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga and the reigning deity of the hamlet.

We had set out from Bikaner to travel across the countryside of Rajputs in the early hours of dawn. We were far from the madding crowd of the city and passed through the forgotten hamlet of Palana. As Deshnok approached, I got a glimpse of a host of heritage guest houses and havelis. The town has not emerged out of the time warp and echoes the timeless story of the goddess. 

A historically-rich pilgrim spot, Deshnok is well-known for the fascinating, wondrous shrine of Karni Mata that attracts an incessant steam of devotees round the year. On reaching Deshnok, we stepped towards the shrine complex dotted with a row of sweet sellers and shops selling puja items. We geared up to shop for puja offerings and quickly made towards the shrine.

The medieval shrine of Karni Mata is an architectural treasure in the Rajput history comprising golden domes at its top and massive carved silver door at the entrance. The shrine has rich carvings with animal motifs, latticed windows and projections. Dating back to hundreds of years, the inner premises of the shrine is home to scores of rodents and as mythology puts forth, the rats belong to the family of the deity. This is incidentally the only shrine in the country where rodents are believed to be the incarnation of the goddess and are fed by devotees. Once we were in the shrine complex, we had to make our way through a huge crowd to get a glimpse of the goddess. The morning aarti was on and we were on time to pay our offerings to the deity.

Numerous carvings depicting tales from the life of the goddess were seen on the interiors of the shrine. The inner sanctum of the shrine bears the trident-wielding image of the goddess and is quite crowded at the time when the puja is performed.

It is believed that Karni Mata was a goddess who lived during the 14th century in Deshnok, and performed miracles with her divine power. When she brought her dead son back to life, she was granted a boon that her clan would not descend into the kingdom of Yama, but take birth as rodents. Most devotees visit the shrine to fulfill their wishes. 

Close to the Karni Mata shrine is the temple of Manubaiji, the grand daughter of the goddess. We also visited Aawra Mata, who was worshipped by Karni Mata. Other notable shrines in the premises were Lakshmi Nath Temple with silver doors and colourful statues of many gods on the ceilings.

- The Deccan Herald, 10th November 2013

It will come up at a memorial near Grand Anicut

Ten months after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a memorial for Chola King Karikalan, who built the Grand Anicut (kallanai), the 14-ft statue of the king on his elephant is ready for installation.

The bronze statue weighs between two and three tonnes. The image for the memorial was provided by the State government, and created by Chennai-based sculptor Kishore Nagappa.

In January this year, Ms. Jayalalithaa, while inaugurating a memorial for Colonel John Pennycuick, the British engineer who built the century-old Mullaperiyar Dam, said a similar memorial would be created for the ancient Tamil king near the Grand Anicut.

“The bronze statue depicts the king astride an elephant and pointing to the kallanai. The height of the elephant is 8 ft and the king sitting on it adds another 6 ft,” said Mr. Nagappa, whose father Jayaram Nagappa created the statues of Veerama Munivar and former Chief Minister Kamaraj on the Marina, and Swami Vivekananda at Vivekananda Illam. Mr. Nagappa used ‘sandwich moulding,’ a process that is normally employed to create larger-than-life statues. “First, we create a clay model and this is transferred to a plaster of Paris mould. Then, we create a sandwich model by laying wax in between the two layers of moulds. After allowing the mould to dry, we heat it to melt the wax and draw it out. This process leaves a cavity inside the mould,” he said.

Finally, the important process of pouring the molten bronze into the cavity begins. After allowing it to cool, the statue is chiselled to perfection. Mr. Nagappa said normally big statues are made in segments and welded together.

“While bronze images of Gods are solid pieces, statues are made with hollow insides. Handling and putting up a solid 14-ft statue will be a Himalayan task,” he said.

- The Hindu, 10th November 2013

High-profile visits are not new to this quaint village on the shores Vembanad Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in south India. Villagers are used to bumping into celebrities on roads, in toddy shops, or on canoes sailing into the backwaters. Yet, this time it is different. The guests are royalty. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are expected to arrive here on Tuesday for a three-day stint.

“We do not know whether we will be able to get a glimpse of the royal couple, but their visit is sure to give the tourism industry, the mainstay of the people here, a boost,” said Purushothaman, a farmer.

District Collector Ajit Kumar said the Prince and Duchess, along with their 28-member entourage, would arrive by 5.30 p.m. on November 12 from Kochi by road. They would stay here on November 13 and leave by 11 a.m. on November 14 to Colombo where the Price of Wales would participate in the Commonwealth heads of Government Meet (CHOGM).

The Prince and his entourage would be staying at Kumarakom Lake Resort. The authorities already had three rounds of meetings to take stock of the arrangements for the visit, he said.

“The security aspect has been taken care of by the police. A police office will be opened within the hotel,” he added. Though a journey through the lake on a houseboat had not been scheduled, the boats would be kept ready in case the Prince wanted to go on a boat ride.

- The Hindu, 10th November 2013

Documentary shows advent of Islam in the State was part of spice trade and it imbibed local tradition

One midnight in 2007, Kombai S. Anwar, a film-maker, was woken up by a youth from Keezhakarai in Ramanathapuram district, asking him whether he could help save a 19 century mosque.

The Keezhakarai mosque was built to resemble a temple mandapam, and the local Jamat had decided to demolish it, so that no claim can be made that the mosque was a temple.

But youth in the town were against the demolition. Anwar roped in Raja Mohamed, a former curator of the Government Museum, to establish the fact that the mosque was actually built in Dravidian architecture and has nothing to do with any temple.

“Subsequently, the mosque was renovated. They did not use sand-blasting which has defaced and destroyed many temples,” said Anwar.

Yaathum, a documentary, is Anwar’s effort to trace his Tamil Muslim roots. It has incorporated many such historical incidents, to convey the message that the advent of Islam in the State was part of the spice trade and imbibed local tradition and culture.

Kombai, ensconced itself in the foots of Western Ghats in Theni district, is the native town of Anwar and the film begins with the procession of Lord Vishnu, passing a mosque without silencing the music of nagaswaram and the beats of thavil.

The film, to be released on November 13, had its origins in the debate he had with the late writer Sujatha, who wrote about the persecution and killing of Vaishnavites in the wake of Muslim conquest.

In Madurai, a Muslim family built a fence around the yaga kundam in Puttu Koil, where one of the thiruvilaiyadals of Lord Siva worked as a coolie carrying sand to strengthen the banks of river in return for pittu.

If the mosques in Keezhakarai and Kayalpattinam are designed like a temple mandapam, the structure above the temple mandapam of puttu koil bore designs of a mosque.

The contributions of Muslim Tamil scholars were also well captured in the film. Besides the existing forms, Muslim scholars with their exposure to Arabian and Persian literature introduced new forms in Tamil.

The Hindu, 10th November 2013

Thirteenth century Shamshi Talab in Mehrauli had got eclipsed by public and government apathy. The colonies which surround the lake have been dumping their garbage in it while the rains led to wild growth of hyacinth. The lake was emitting a foul smell through the year. Finally, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)stepped in and undertook a month-long exercise to clean the lake and carry out a campaign to stop locals from dumping garbage in it.

This hauz was built in 1230 AD by Sultan Shamshudin Iltumish. Hauz-i-Shamshi, popular locally as Shamsi Talab, earlier spread over 100 hectares. Over the years, not only has the lake shrunk, but its catchment area too has seen construction.

Prompted by a court case by NGO Tapas for saving Delhi's lakes and water bodies, a local court had ordered that Shamsi Talab should be cleaned at least three to four times in a decade. The order ensured that a boundary wall with a grill was constructed around the lake, This, however, failed to keep the garbage out as locals continued throwing it over the fence and some even breaching parts of the fence.

ASI has now cleaned about 30,000 sq metres of hyacinth and is working on repairing the grill, the height of which may be increased. "We are also tying up with the local RWA to spread awareness among residents against polluting the lake and for preserving its historical sanctity,'' said ASI's Delhi circle chief Vasant Kumar Swarnkar. The lake is considered sacred, particularly by Muslims, as it is said it was built over a footprint that's said to be of the Prophet.

In Phase II of the project, conservation of the chhatri, masjid and smaller heritage structures will be taken up.

The Times of India, 10th November 2013

The Green Police Force, flagged off with much fanfare nearly three years ago, seems to have outlived its utility. 

On December 31, the Karnataka State Tourism department sent notices to district tourism offices, terminating the services of 89 daily-wage home guards, who had been deployed since August 2009. 

The  force was launched by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and former tourism minister Janardhana Reddy in July 2009. Its task was to ensure the safety and security of domestic and international travellers at major tourist centres.

The official reason for the termination — aside from the fact that the force was a drain on the department’s resources — is that it was not of much use. 

The decision has left many green policemen in the lurch, including  Bagalkot men such as Jagadish Mallapur, Shankar Hosur, Sharanappa Tumbaramatti, Suresh Gangal and H M Hombal — whose livelihoods have been sorely affected. Most are now reduced to running from pillar to post in Bangalore, in an attempt to plead their case with any official who will listen.

The group, which recently appealed to Tourism Minister Anand Singh to reconsider the revocation, said that being unemployed had taken a toll on them and their families. They also claimed that a return to their home department would not serve their needs. In addition, fervent attempts by the 89 guards to land a job in alternative organisations, including the Army, have not had much success. 

Narrating their plight, Hosur told Deccan Herald, “As home guards, the government requires our services for 15 days in a year. With that money, it is difficult to sustain our families. When the Tourism department sought our services, we got job security. We could go back to our home department, but there is no guarantee when our services will be required.”

Faulty argument
Refusing to buy their claims, Tourism Director G Sathyavathi said the home guards belonged to the Police department and were not ‘dependent’ on the Tourism department. 

Washing her hands off the issue, she added that they were hired on an experimental basis. 

“The concept was ill-conceived as there was no monitoring of the Green Police’s attendance. Nor was there a clear policy defining their roles and responsibilities. There were complaints that they were not reporting for duty,” she said,  citing her own instances on trips to Mysore when she found personnel absent from work.

According to Sathyavathi, the department was in the process of introducing these aspects in the Karnataka Tourism Trade Facilitation Act, 2012. “There are more security and safety issues at tourist centres. We should have a definitive plan to address these problems.

The Green Police did not have powers under the Indian Penal Code or the Criminal Procedure Code.”

The department has, so far, spent Rs 33.45 lakh on the force, which had been deployed in 30 locations across various tourist destinations in the State.

- The Hindu, 11th November 2013

Social Forestry wing initiative to save Olive Ridley turtles, migratory birds

Migratory birds and nesting turtles may soon find Kerala a safer haven, if the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department succeeds in harnessing the efforts of wildlife enthusiasts for a unique conservation initiative.

The Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department is teaming up with various citizen groups to offer optimum nesting and breeding facilities for the avian visitors and marine turtles.

Named Green Partners, the citizen-centric conservation programme seeks to enhance biodiversity and improve ecosystem services outside forests.

In Kerala, where there is significant wildlife outside forests, creating awareness and gaining citizen support is the best strategy for conservation, says Bransdon Corrie, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry).

Hundreds of Olive Ridley turtles visit the shores of Kerala every year. Guided by an uncanny homing instinct, they travel thousands of kilometres, returning to the same beach where they were born, to lay eggs in the sand.

The Green Partners programme seeks to widen the support base for turtle conservation and improve the capacity of individuals and groups actively involved in the effort. “We hope to do this through a coordinated, scientific effort involving foresters, researchers, NGOs, and citizen groups”, Dr. Corrie told The Hindu.

The Social Forestry wing is organising a workshop at the Mathoottam Forest Complex, Kozhikode, on Monday to enhance awareness among coastal communities and develop scientific protocols for turtle conservation. The workshop, to be attended by experts from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Kerala Forest Research Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature - India, is expected to come up with standardisation of site-specific and strategic plans and create a wider support base for turtle conservation.

According to Renjan Mathew, State director, WWF- India, networking of turtle conservation groups is critical in ensuring the sustainable maintenance of nesting habitats. “Creating awareness among coastal communities and strengthening of the enforcement machinery are equally important,” he says.

Another workshop will be held in the last week of November to evolve a scientific approach to bird roosting and nesting conservation initiative.

• Green Partners programme seeks to enhance biodiversity
• Workshop to evolve scientific approach to bird conservation

The Deccan Herald, 11th November 2013

As the nation celebrates the 125th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Maulana Azad, his mausoleum near the historic Jama Masjid lays in a neglected state, surrounded by squatters.

Speaking to The Hindu , heritage activist Firoz Bakht Ahmed, also grand nephew of Maulana Azad, said: “If we compare the mausoleum of Maulana Azad with the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, it is in a pathetic state. Let us not forget that during the Partition, Maulana called upon fellow Muslims and persuaded them not to cross over to Pakistan through his famous couplet.”

Noting that Maulana was a major contributor to the Indian freedom movement, Mr. Ahmed said: “Following my PIL in the Delhi High Court in 2005 to open the lock of the mazar and prevent illegal squatters from encroaching the walls of the mazar, the then Justice Vijender Jain ordered the mausoleum to open and beautify it for visitors at the Jama Masjid complex… But today the mazar is in a deplorable state. The place where Maulana Azad delivered his historic “Quit India” address to the nation has now become a haven for drug addicts and anti-social elements.”

On a black marble a part of Maulana’s historic address of 1940 has been inscribed: “I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the invisible unity that is Indian nationality. I am indispensible to this noble edifice and without me this splendid structure of India is incomplete. I am essential element which has gone to build India. I can never surrender this claim.”

The mazar of the country’s first Education Minister is surrounded by street vendors selling bags, T-shirt, shirts, jeans, and shoes. The stained and damaged red sandstone walls of the mausoleum is a reflection of government’s apathy towards its conversation.

Mohammad, a vendor who hails from Bihar, sells garments right outside the mausoleum. “We know this is the mazar of Maulana Azad, an iconic figure. But we have to earn our livelihood. On November 11, it is Maulana’s birth anniversary and we have been told by the authorities to stay away that day.”

The vendors allege they have to bribe policemen to allow them to set up shops around the mazar. “Most of them pay a monthly amount ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs. 20,000. So, they work from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily to pay this amount to the police,” said one of them. The local police refuted the allegations.

A gardener with the Central Public Works Department, which maintains the mazar, said squatters use the park — where the mazar was built — to rest in the evening.

Stating that the mausoleum is not protected by it because it protects only national monuments, a senior Archaeological Survey of India official said: “A monument has to be 100 years old. So, once the mazar completes a century we might be entrusted with the responsibility of its upkeep.”

The Hindu, 11th November 2013

As we shift from one technology to another, R.V.SMITH looks at the role the good old typewriter played in our history

Typewriters are fast becoming obsolete because of the use of computers though Russia has begun reusing them to avoid computer leaks and the Indian High Commission in London has asked its staff to do so too. A local news story disclosed that the typists at the various courts in Delhi are ruing the day when they will lose their livelihood, unless they switch over to computers. Some of them are too old to do so, while the younger ones hope to master PCs and laptops by the year-end. However the attachment to typewriters lingers, though it is becoming extremely difficult to buy spare parts as most manufacturers have already called it a day, probably making the inventor, Christopher Sholes, turn in his grave.

Kabaris are buying typewriters at Rs.150 each but the wooden ones used for training and first made by Henry Mill in 1714 have disappeared altogether. One learnt to type on an Underwood typewriter in the 1950s, then switched over to Remington (who patented the machine in 1873) before buying a Hermes portable from a colleague, who in turn had bought it from a sports journalist going to Hong Kong. Then father died and his portable machine was inherited by this scribe, though half the lettertops were missing and one had to guess them from long practice. Ruskin Bond uses a typewriter with a missing letter which he has to write by hand in his articles. Interestingly, Queen Victoria took to the typewriter in her last years, though Countess Caroline of Italy used a crude one much earlier in 1808. One tale about typewriters, however, needs to be retold. In the 1930s the agents of the Maharaja of Patiala commissioned 12 typists to type out the report prepared against the romantic ruler at the behest of the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon. The Viceroy had reacted to the goings-on at the royal court in Patiala, which were termed orgies. Besides Lord Willingdon, his wife too had a grouse against the Maharaja, who had denied her the use of his summer palace.

The Maharaja’s agent got wind of the planned action against him and approached their contacts in the Viceroy’s Office in Delhi, who passed on the secret files to them for the relevant pages to be typed out in an all-night exercise. The files were replaced the next morning and the Maharaja sent his memorandum to King George V, his friend. The king was furious against the Willingdons and the Maharaja earned a reprieve. In gratitude he rewarded the 12 typists whose marathon effort had saved him. One of them was Sushil Chand.

One has yet to hear a computer tale of this kind. Meanwhile one continues to type despite the onset of the dreaded writer’s cramp, like old Sushil Chand. But in his heyday he typed so fast that the table rattled and those sitting near him thought there was an earthquake in the Central Ordnance Depot, Delhi Cantt. Unlike him, Muzaffar was a slow, plodding typist who sat outside the former Pakistan High Commission Passport Office on Alipur Road, opposite the now demolished Ludlow Castle. Old, bearded men and women in burqas sat around him with their papers to be made legible enough for inspection. Those who could only sign their names in Urdu took the help of passers-by to read out and explain the typed application in English. Muzaffar spent the entire day on the pavement in summer, winter and the rainy season, obliging as many customers as he could until the shadows began to lengthen and he had to leave for home in Mori Gate. But before that he carefully tied the typewriter, which was the only means to earn his bread, to the carrier of a rickety bicycle on which he pedalled just as slowly as he typed.

Quite unlike him was Paras Nath, typist of a notary at the Tis Hazari Courts. He had to type only short affidavits as fast as he could to cater to a longish queue of eager applicants. There were others like him but he was the most sought-after it seems, and when he died suddenly in an accident, the young man who took his place found it hard to cope with the rush. Paras Nath’s tale does not end here. His Remington machine became the bone of contention between his two sons who had to contest its possession in court, egged on by their wives. Eventually the elder son won the case. However, Sushil Chand’s wife, who died an octogenarian, never forgot to tell the story of the Maharaja of Patiala and the 12 typists, when her husband spent a memorable night that was shrouded in secrecy and brought him an amount he never earned again. May be Mrs Chand’s grandchildren still keep the tale in circulation. But for how long as the typewriter has finally had it day after many a memorable moment, like the letter typed out by Queen Victoria for lifelong provision for her Urdu tutor, Munshi Abdul Karim after her death. But the Queen’s wishes were not honoured by Edward VII, who disliked the Munshi for his intimacy with his mother. Before signing off this requiem it’s worth mentioning that an eccentric US writer (one forgets his name as reported in the 1960s) got himself buried along with his typewriter. It was certainly not Hemingway who, like Charles Dickens, believed that the spirits of dead writers inspired him to churn out his masterpieces. That makes one wonder what would have happened had Shakespeare used a typewriter!

- The Hindu, 11th November 2013

Delhi's Red Fort seems to have become the focal point of the attention of the culture ministry. Union culture ministerChandresh Kumari Katoch has spoken of bringing in expertise from Czech Republic to help in conservation of the 17th century citadel in a bid to restore its former glory. 

The minister was speaking at inauguration of an exhibition on Czech castles at Red Fort which will be open to visitors till January 12, 2014. On Thursday, Katoch said India, like Czech Republic, has a legacy of forts and palaces and mentioned that six hill forts in Rajasthan have recently made it to the world heritage list. 

"Czech Republic is famous for its conservation work in forts and palaces. You could definitely help us here and give us some ideas as we are also planning to restore the Red Fort to its former original glory," Katoch said. Archaeological Survey of India and the National Museum in Czech Republic also signed an MoU to this effect. ASI is banking on the vast experience of Czech architects, who are considered the best in the world in this field, to help them with Red Fort's conservation. 

"There are some areas of concern such as a high pollution level. We would be very happy to lend out expertise as we have done similar projects in Iraq, Egypt and Sudan," Ambassador of Czech Republic Miloslav Stasek said. 

Red Fort's conservation has been going on for years, but sources said the culture ministry is not satisfied with the efforts. It wants more focus on Red Fort in terms of conservation and visitor facilities. 

The exhibition presents a selection of old and current images of 37 most interesting castles and chateaux of Bohemia and Moravia, two of the historic areas that make up Czech Republic. It will stay at Red Fort till January and then tour through various cities of India and neighbouring countries—Thimphu (Royal Textile Academy, February-March 2014), Kathmandu (April-May 2014), Leh (Leh Palace, June-July 2014), Kolkata (Currency Building September-October 2014), Mumbai (Nehru Science Centre, November 2014) and Panaji (Kala Academy, December 2014-January 2015)—constituting the largest presentation of Czech Republic here.

The Times of India, 11th November 2013

The Catholic Church in Kerala has toughened its stand against recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees for the protection of the Western Ghats and its ecology, saying that implementation of the proposals would put the farmers in the State’s high ranges into peril, including their massive displacement.

A pastoral letter issued by Mar Mathew Anikkuzhikkattil, Bishop of the Idukki Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church on Sunday and read out in all the parish churches under the diocese after the Sunday Mass asked farmers and people of the high ranges to deal with political parties and leaders supporting the panel reports in an organised manner.

Observers interpret the stand of the Church, which has so far been supportive of the Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala, and the pastoral letter on Sunday as indications of a change in its approach towards the current regime and parties in it. The CPI(M)-led Opposition LDF has already held shutdowns in two districts in protest against the panel reports.

The diocesan circular warns of strong resistance to any kind of attempts to implement the proposals of the K Kasturirangan panel on the Western Ghats at the peril of farmers and families that made a living out of their small farmlands on the slopes of the mountains ranges. It also says that parties supporting the proposals would be given a fitting reply in the next election.

In an indirect reference to the Kerala Congress (M), the Church-backed third biggest constituent of the ruling front, the pastoral letter said elected representatives of political parties that claimed to be supporting the farmers’ cause should relinquish their positions in the Government and join the agitation against the Gadgil-Kasturirangan reports.

The pastoral letter also expressed concerns at the delay in the distribution of Pattas (title deeds) for the “small pieces” of lands held by settler families in the high ranges. It said the farmers would be forced to adopt harsh agitation methods including blocking Ministers on the roads if the Pattas were not distributed at the earliest.

Reports from Idukki, where the Church and farmers fear that thousands of small farmers would be evicted or rendered unable to continue cultivation if the proposals of the Madhav Gadgil or Kasturirangan committee are implemented, say that the pastoral letter is an indication of a plan to intensify agitations over the issue.

As part of this, a vehicle campaign would be held in Idukki district from November 25 to 29. There are also plans to organize several awareness camps at village levels. The pro-CPI(M) Karshaka Sangham has also planned to intensify its agitation against the proposals of the two committees.

The Catholic Church and several farmers’ and political organizations have been up in arms ever since the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil submitted its report in 2012 and the committee headed by Planning Commission member Kasturirangan filed its proposals some months back.

Those opposing the proposals to save Western Ghats say that the categorisation of the mountain ranges into three ecologically sensitive zones by Gadgil panel and inclusion of 123 villages in the regions that would have to be given special attention for protection of ecology would lead to large-scale eviction of farmers and stoppage of farming activities.

However, Gadgil himself and those who are supporting his proposals have been challenging the protestors to show even a single proposal in the report which implies the displacement of farmers from the high ranges. Gadgil says that his report is not against farmers but it is certainly against the mafias operating in the stone quarrying and real estate sectors.

Both the Congress and Left parties in the State are supporters of the save-Western Ghats proposals in principle but political compulsions are forcing them to act hypocritically on the ground. However, some Congress MLAs belonging to the so-called Green Group are firm that the proposals should be implemented at any cost.

- The Pioneer, 11th November 2013

After around 20 days and over eight metres of excavation, the Archaeological Survey of India is yet to find any trace of gold in Daundiya Kheda village of Unnao, where a local seer Shobhan Sarkar has been claiming the presence of gold treasure in the ruins of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh's fort. With only and bones being found at the site so far, the ASI is set to close the excavation if and when the team finds natural soil in the second trench as well.

So far, the ASI has excavated up to 4.6 metres in the second 2.10mX4.25m trench and has found cultural deposits, said P K Mishra, superintending archaeologist, Lucknow Circle, ASI. "We are still excavating and are finding cultural deposits such as black-slipped wares," said Mishra.

The ASI had started digging a second trench adjacent to the first one on November 1.

"We will also dig in the second trench till we find natural soil and then we will stop the excavation work at the site," Dr Syed Jamal Hasan, Director (Exploration and Excavation), ASI told The Indian Express.

Hasan said that after the excavation work stops, the team will bring the artefacts, mostly pieces of potteries and bones, to the Lucknow office and start the detailed analysis of the objects found, comparing them with similar archaeological evidences found at nearby archaeological sites. "It might take another one month to prepare the preliminary report on the excavation," he said.

Hasan also denied that the excavation at Daundiya Kheda was started based on the reports by the Geological Survey of India.

The Indian Express, 12th November 2013

Not many know about its existence though hundreds of people pass it each day. Tucked away in a corner of dargah ofKhwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, this 12th century baoli or stepwell stayed locked for almost two decades with tonnes of garbage and construction waste dumped into it. Only the unauthorized constructions which surround the desolate structure and the dargah management had access to it, and they used it as a massive dustbin.

Finally, 25 days ago, its doors were unlocked and work started to free the baoli of garbage. Already, waste till a depth of 5 metres, or roughly 600 cubic metres, has been removed and workers estimate that same quantity is still to be pulled out. Work has slowed down as a week after the clean-up operation started, the baoli sprang to life and a few feet of water appeared. Sources say this unprotected structure measures 29.25 m east to west and 12.8 m north to south. "It is 22.85m deep and consists of three stages, divided by galleries without balustrades," said an Intach official.

"We had been writing to authorities for several years about this problem but no action was taken," said Fauzan Ahmad, manager of the dargah . "We complained not just about the waste but also about the illegal constructions around it, some of which is continuing even now. Till the 1990s, people used to bathe in the baoli. But for the past two decades, it has been lying locked. Three levels are visible as of now and one level lies hidden under the waste," he said.

The cleaning work has been undertaken up by the irrigation and flood control department on behalf of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation. Officials said that after the work is complete, the baoli will be handed over to the agency concerned for further restoration work.

"We are removing 3,000-4, 000 bags of waste each day. The work has to be done manually since no machines can enter this area. The access is too narrow and we have to keep in mind that this is a heritage structure. We cannot afford to damage it in any way. Around 8-10 men dig up the waste using pickaxes and manually fill the bags," said a worker.

Sources said initially it was presumed that about 650 cubic metres of waste would be removed from the baoli but the work is expected to go on much longer as a lot more remains to be cleaned.

"We have already reached the limit set out in the contract, but there is much more waste to be removed. We have found everything here, from plastic plates to clothes, shoes, construction waste, utensils etc. A week after the digging work began, the place started filling up with water. This slowed down the work as we have to keep draining the water constantly in order to have a clear area to work. It will take another 10 days or more to finish the work," said a labourer.

The Times of India, 12th November 2013

The recommendation of the Kasturirangan panel that 37 per cent of the Western Ghats be defined as ecologically sensitive area (ESA) with no commercial activities taking place there has raised the hornets’ nest in Kerala. This recommendation works out to around 60,000 square kilometres spread over the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. But in Kerala alone, around 132 villages, comprising 33 per cent of the state’s geographical area, will fall in the ESA.

While the environment ministry had declared that they required time to implement this key recommendation of the Kasturirangan panel, the Kerala government convened an all-party meet October-end which constituted an expert committee to study the recommendations.

It is no secret that the committee, along with the state government, find these recommendations “impracticable”. The state is planning to intimate the Centre on its view after taking to people living in these ESAs though the Kasturirangan panel had clearly stipulated that villages falling under ESA will be involved in decision making on all future projects.

Environmentalists in the south are aghast at the Kerala government’s decision to appoint yet another committee. A. Latha with the Chalakkuddi River Research Centre, which is opposed to the Athirappilly Hydroproject, complained that political parties were simply buying time because they are afraid of losing their votebank.

“Both political leaders and the Catholic Church are misleading people through false campaigns. Constituting one more committee means they have no concern for the ecology of the Western Ghats,” she said.

The panel has also recommended a prohibitory regime on interventionist activities that would prove destructive to the environment of this ecologically-sensitive region, including a strict regime in place for clearances for dams and also to ensure an uninterrupted 30 per cent ecological flow for its rivers. Cumulative studies to assess the impact of dams on a river and ensure that the minimum distance between projects is maintained at three km and that not more than 50% of the river basin is affected was another recommendation.

- The Asian Age, 13th November 2013

When a group of Japanese delegates on a global leadership program were first told about their trip to India, they were fascinated.

Soon after their arrival, the delegates from Hitachi in association with Imagindia, an independent think-tank, were driven through the narrow bylanes of village Rajokri in Delhi to Jeevashram animal shelter and veterinary hospital on Tuesday. The reason: to spend a few hours doing community service.

The delegates were grouped into pairs along with NCC cadets from a nearby school to learn about animal welfare and participate in a cleanliness drive adjacent to the shelter. Silvia Jhakhar, one of the organisers, said, "Many animals brought to this shelter have been abandoned, or were injured in accidents. The idea was to make them aware about letting wild animals be the way nature intended them to be."

They were told about "Neela", the peacock that damaged its foot while landing on an "electric wire", two emu birds who were injured in a medical test, abandoned and finally rescued, the friendly dogs "Kaalu and Blue" that no one wants to adopt; numerous others who have lost their limbs but have found friends in each other in this shelter. "I know about dog shelters in Japan but I have never seen a livestock shelter like this. It has been a great learning experience," Hisako Katayama, a delegate, said.

The delegates, along with school cadets, participated in a cleanliness drive in a traditional baoli (pond) near the shelter. "All the garbage is dumped outside the school and across the roads in Rajokri and no one really bothers. We gathered to clean some of these areas," Eliese Steiner, an organiser, said.

Armed with gloves, a bucket and a gunny bag, these delegates spent two hours collecting garbage from the dry pond and placed the bags at civic agency's disposal site. "We were coordinating the drive in sign language due to the language barrier. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience as the idea is to learn new things," Atsshi Jigami said.

- The Indian Express, 13th November 2013

It is two months since a calamity of unprecedented magnitude hit Uttarakhand on June 16, but the authorities are still struggling to put life back on track in the state where over 140 roads including major national highways are blocked and over 300 villages still cut off from the rest of the country.

Though foodgrain supplies had reached almost all the villages in the affected areas with the help of choppers during the prolonged relief operations, a large network of roads to remote villages are still damaged or blocked and mules and horses are the only option to transport rations, authorities here said.

"Vast stretches of roads running into hundreds of kilometres and a large number of bridges have been completely washed out in the tragedy and we cannot expect things to get back to normal anytime soon," the state's Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre Executive Director Piyush Rautela said.

Frequent rains at most places is another factor hampering road restoration work which alone can bring life back to normal in the affected areas, he said.

Considering the massive damage caused by the calamity to roads and the vagaries of the weather hampering reconstruction work, it may take people in affected areas months to resume their lives on a normal basis, he said.

"However, BRO has undertaken the task of completing road restoration work by September 30 and let us hope it is able to meet the deadline set by the state government," he said.

A report from the DMMC said 143 roads including major national highways like Rishikesh-Kedarnath NH in Rudraprayag district, Rishikesh-Badrinath NH in Chamoli district, Rishikesh-Yamunotri and Rishikesh-Gangotri NH in Uttarkashi district are still blocked by debris containing huge boulders falling over frequently from hills following landslips.

Despite 385 bulldozers, JCBs and nearly 6000 PWD personnel engaged in the exercise of clearing the roads and reconnecting the villages, about 322 of them are still cut off from the rest of the country, the DMMC said in its report.

- The Indian Express, December 21, 2014

The foundation for the church, believed to be the oldest situated at Trimulgherry in the Cantonment area, was laid in 1853

The 162-year-old Church of South India Garrison Wesley Church, which was meant only for British Army officers before Independence, has been restored to its original shape nd is all set to regain its glory. The cornerstone for the heritage church, believed to be the oldest situated at Trimulgherry next to the post office in the Cantonment area, was laid in 1853 and completed in 1881. During last monsoon, the rafters of the church gave way prompting repairs.

Painstaking effort The church built with lime and mortar has a hoary past and its construction was taken up only after Rev. William Burgess came from Madras in 1878. A Kanyakumari-based firm that specialises in conservation architecture and worked on heritage sites was assigned the task of restoring the church to its original shape. According to Mr. Thomas, who represents the firm, a mixture of eggs, jaggery, herbs, aloe vera leaves, fine lime powder and lime mortar were ground with jute to prepare the concentrate that was used for the finishing job. An amount of Rs 1 crore was spent on restoration work.

D. Sudesh Kumar, secretary of Pastorate Committee, told The Hindu on Saturday that there is a tragic tale to its construction. Lillian Burgess and Arthur Burgess, wife and son of Rev William Burgess had set sail from London with the bell to be fixed in the newly constructed church. But the ship they were travelling sank in the sea and the bell was never installed. Even today, there is no bell in the Church, which now has over 250 families worshipping every Sunday.

Rev William Burgess was assisted by Rev Charless Walker Posnett, who later went on to oversee construction of the imposing Medak church, according to Rev Jyothy Sunder, Presbyter in charge of CSI Garrison Wesley Church. The renovated church is being re-dedicated at a ceremony on Sunday by the Moderator of Church of South India Rev Dyvaashirvadam.

- The Indian Express, 14th November 2013

History was crafted out of "facts", said the British historian E H Carr. Facts, which were like "fish on a fishmonger's slab". What is "official" history, whose history it documents and whose it skips, has been a concern for historians the world over for several decades now.

A bunch of Indian documentors, who believe there are other fish in the sea than official histories acknowledge, will gather in Bangalore on Monday and formally inaugurate the country's first Oral History Association of India (OHAI). From discussing how life was for Indian freedom fighters in Cellular Jail on the Andamans to looking at memories of 1984 riots and the Bhopal gas tragedy, the conference will be a broad palette for documentors and historians.

Says Rama Lakshmi, a journalist with the Washington Post and a member of OHAI, "It is a surprise that India, which takes pride in its deep-rooted oral traditions and culture, took so long to allow oral history to establish itself as a discipline." Lakshmi says suspicions among established historians about oral history remain, and work was happening by Indians in oral history but in separate silos. Now, all of them would have a forum. What oral history does is acknowledge that history is fluid and we need to accept and celebrate that.

Lucknow-based Pramod Srivastava, Chairman of OHAI, says the conference has more meaning in the digital age and increasing democratisation of the virtual space. " In due course, it will give subaltern historians independence from sole dependence upon folklore, folk tales and so on, for writing history of the people. An oral historian may also document their remotest subjects through video-conferencing and archive it digitally for centuries to come. The availability of such archives online will help oral historians worldwide."

While in the US and the UK, oral historians gained ground several decades ago by exploring hidden or suppressed histories of marginalised communities, tribes and original inhabitants, it had a radical and often subversive tone. Two international oral historians of repute will be among the participants at OHAI. One of them is Alessandro Portelli, an Italian scholar who has highlighted Nazi killings in Rome, as well as the suppression of killings of leading trade union activists by bringing to light memories of survivors. The other prominent participant is Czech scholar, Miroslav Vanek, currently the President of the International Oral History Association.

- The Indian Express, 14th November 2013

Centre comes out with clear cut procedures to avoid disputes

The Centre has identified three major challenges that need to be addressed with regard to sharing of Krishna and Godavari rivers between Telangana and the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

The first is the allocation and protocol of sharing of surplus water of the Krishna, including inter-basin transfer through Polavaram and the Dummugudem-Nagarjunasagar tail pond project.

The second is an institutional mechanism to ensure availability of water as per the award given by tribunals. The third concern is completion of projects, where land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement and execution of works may fall in both the States.

In a five-page note on river water sharing issues, the Centre has come out with clear laid down procedures to avoid disputes over sharing of river water. Acknowledging that a number of projects based on surplus water were coming up on the Krishna, benefiting both Telangana and Seemandhra, it pointed out that some were taken up in anticipation of inter-state river basin transfers to the Krishna with the completion of the Polavaram project and the Dummugudem project.

After bifurcation, there would be serious problem for release of water for various projects in the event of deficit flows in the Krishna.

At present, there are no protocols for release of water to projects as all are located within one State and the decision to release water is taken by the Chief Minister.

The report expressed fears that it would not be possible for the newly-formed State of Telangana and residuary State of AP to meaningfully adjudicate these issues on a season to season basis.

Therefore, the Union Ministry of Water Resources is advised to commission a technical study, freeze all allocations to each project based on surplus water and evolve an operational schedule or protocol for release of water in the event of deficit flows. It specifically mentioned that the exercise should be completed and notified before the reorganisation of the State.

The note identified 11 irrigation projects, whose administration, maintenance and operation of the head works would be under the supervision of the proposed board.

- The Hindu, 14th November 2013

Amur falcons Naga and Pangti, which were satellite-tagged in Nagaland, were on Thursday tracked flying over the Arabian Sea, the most difficult stretch of their migratory routes, after passing over Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra towards their final destination in South Africa.

The third falcon, Wokha, was tracked flying over the Bay of Bengal.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and head of the Forest Force, Nagaland, M. Lokeswara Rao told The Hindu that the tracking began soon after the three birds were released on November 6 after satellite tags with an antenna and solar panel, weighing five grams, had been fitted on their back by a team of scientists.

“For the scientists, the arrival of Amur falcons in Nagaland on their long migration from Mongolia to South Africa is still a mystery. On their return flight, they will fly over Bangladesh and Myanmar after entering India but skip Nagaland. I asked this question to the team of scientists who carried out the satellite tagging. But they had no answer,” he said.

Since November 7, Naga, a male, had taken the route of Wokha in Nagaland, Assam, Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka before entering the airspace over the Arabian Sea. During the same period, Pangti, a female, took the route of Wokha, Assam, Bangladesh, West Bengal, the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra before beginning the journey over the Arabian Sea. Wokha, also a female, followed Pangti’s path and was tracked flying over the Bay of Bengal way behind the other two. The movements of all three birds are being monitored by scientists in Hungary, filtering satellite data through a dedicated website.

Every year, from October to November, a large number of Amur falcons arrive in the northeast, especially in Nagaland for roosting, from Southeastern Siberia and northern China en route to their final destinations — Somalia, Kenya and South Africa. Amur falcons travel up to 22,000 km a year — one of the longest distances of migration. This is the first time Amur falcons in Nagaland were satellite-tagged and their movements to South Africa are being monitored.

Joint mission

The tagging was a joint mission undertaken at Pangti village in Wokha district by two leading scientists from MME/BirdLife Hungary, Peter Fehervani and Szabolcs Soil; Nick Williams, Programme Officer — Birds of Prey (Raptors), Convention on Migratory Species Office Abu Dhabi, United Nations Environment Programme; R. Suresh, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Nagaland Forest Department. Pangti villagers helped the scientists in trapping the falcons and fitting the satellite tags.

The Hindu, 15th November 2013

Kashmir’s art of ceiling making has survived decades of modernisation to make a comeback. It is now the most preferred design of art connoisseurs for their dwellings, writes Swati Kapur

Khatamband is an art of making ceiling, by fitting small pieces of wood (preferably walnut or deodar wood) into each other in geometrical patterns. The process is not done through machines but is painstakingly hand crafted and that too without using any nails.

Processed wood is cut into panels and fixed onto the ceiling in floral and geometrical designs. The story of the origin of Khatamband in Kashmir is interesting.

It is believed that Khatamband was brought to Kashmir during the 14th Century by famous saint Shah-i-Hamdaan who visited the Himalayan valley along with many followers that also included Khatamband artists from Iran. These artisans passed on this art to local Kashmiris. Architect Bilal Sheikh says, “Khatamband got popular in Kashmir because of its beauty and quality of insulation. The Khatamband is entirely made of wood and it preserves warm internal temperatures during the bitter winters of Kashmir". Later, Mirza Hyder Douglat worked hard in spreading the art throughout Kashmir. A finished ceiling comes alive in unique geometrical patterns. With hardly any nails used, this ceiling can easily be dissembled and re-assembled at another place.

Khatamband used to be the domain of shrines, palaces, houseboats and royal houses, but now, every other person wants it for their house.

Status symbol

There are more than 160 designs for the Khatamband in Kashmir, but today’s artists can only reproduce about 100. Artists have, however, greatly compensated the lost designs with newer ones, where they experiment with mirror, colour combination and other things and there is no limit to their creativeness.

It’s an expensive art form and therefore not many people invested in it for a long time. In fact, the mid-nineties saw the art gradually fading away owing to its expensive proposition.

Its traditional customers had been houseboat manufacturers, but that was a long time back – for the last decade, no new houseboat has been made!

To overcome this, local artists who had preserved the art for centuries decided to share it with their disciples. This way they could cut down on the prices as labour was now available in plenty and since people’s standards of living had gone up, Khatamband could once again be introduced as a fine living and decor statement. Once again Khatamband became a sort of status symbol in Kashmiri society.

Also. its insulation from cold added to its value. The use of electric motors and electric saw has also reduced the time consumption, besides providing compact flawless geometrical shape.

Foreign demand

Export is the artists’ biggest hope and that’s what they relied on. There are many Kashmiri artisans, who work for about three months outside in different states of India, fitting various houses, hotels and other malls using their creative genius. As per the current trend, visiting tourists instantly fall in love with the ceiling and irrespective of the price, order one for their home too.

Kashmiri expats too like to have it in their home as a sentimental reminder of their roots. With tourists from USA, Australia and European countries ordering Khatambad ceiling, it is definitely making for some positive drawing room conversation.

Mohammad Ismail Najar of Cherari Nambal, Safakadal, J&K, a frail old man says that the art has been passed on to him and his three sons are carrying it forward. But life isn’t easy. Once, Ismail got a time-bound order worth Rs 80,000 with an advance payment of just Rs 10,000. He availed an advance from a bank and somehow completed the order on time.

Some corporates have now started to endorse the art. J&K Bank’s National Business Center at BKC, Mumbai, is adorned with various such art forms. Khatamband finds a special place in the interiors of this office space.

MS Wani, President and Visual Brand Custodian at J&K Bank, says, “The hands that decorated the abodes of the richest remained empty”.

Despite having such a great potential in the interiors industry, J&K’s finest handicraft of Khatamband faces challenges at various fronts. The biggest being the lack of requisite and timely finance. With prices of the required timber rising, the craftsmen receive only 10 per cent of the advances for the order they get, while the rest of the payments are made only after the completion of the work.

Discouraged by this, the coming generations, especially the poor ones, are losing interest in this ingenious craft. The children of the existing craftsmen are hesitant to adopt it as a profession. Considering this, the J&K Bank has devised specialised schemes to revive the dying art.

“To further increase its patronage, we made a small attempt by first adopting this art as one of the key elements in the interior designing of our business units and offices. We also make it a point to carry a part of this art wherever we go across the country and even beyond the borders,” he says.

Art forms were patronised by the royals and that’s how they were preserved. In modern times, with chic designs ruling the roost, it’s for those discerning art conscious people to endorse dying Indian art forms.

The Deccan Herald, 15th November 2013

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has prohibited six States from carrying out developmental activities in the 60,000 sq km of ecologically sensitive area of Western Ghats. This comes in the wake of its recent approval to the report prepared by the K Kasturirangan-led panel on the ecologically fragile area. It had recommended prohibition on development activities in 37 per cent of natural landscape that is rich in bio diversity.

The Ministry in its order to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa , Maharashtra and Gujarat stated the “directions will come into force with immediate effect and remain in force till further orders. In case of any violation, appropriate legal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 shall be taken”.

The direction clarified that prohibited activities include mining, quarrying, sand mining, building thermal power plants and construction projects covering an area of 20,000 sq m and above. Further, township and area development projects with an area of 50 ha and above or with built up area of 1,50,000 sq m and above will also not be allowed in these areas. All red category industries have also been strictly banned in the identified part of the Western Ghats landscape.

As per the recommendations of Kasturirangan panel, non-tolerance policy will be taken towards such activities which have unprecedented threats, said the ministry sources.

The 37 per cent of Western Ghats landscape, identified by the 10-member High Level Working Group under Kasturirangan as Ecologically Sensitive Area, has low forest fragmentation and low population density. It contains protected areas, world heritage sites and tiger and elephant corridors.

Environmentalists, however, fear that Central Government’s directives and acceptance of the Kasturirangan report will exclude 63 per cent of the area from conservation. This is likely to worsen the onslaught on the global biodiversity hotspot and virtually lead to its desertification.

The Kasturirangan panel was constituted to examine the detailed Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report prepared under Gadgil’s leadership. The ministry has said that it would soon constitute a high-level committee to monitor the implementation of the committee report in a time-bound manner.

- The Pioneer, 15th November 2013

Repeated human interference at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida has rendered several species of migratory birds homeless, forcing them to find a new habitat. The unavailability of water from the Okhla Barrage until a few weeks ago and the recent Chhath Puja have left the park devoid of any winged visitors.

Just when the nearly-parched sanctuary was revived, with the UP Irrigation Department finishing its repair work at the Okhla Barrage and releasing water, the recent encroachment by devotees to perform Chhath Puja in the sanctuary forced the birds to abandon the place. The sanctuary, which usually attracts over 30 species of migratory birds in November alone, is currently home to none. The sanctuary, where noise and human population is regulated so as not to disturb the birds and other creatures residing there, was literally turned into a ‘ghat’ on the days of Chhath Puja with thousands of devotees flocking to the park to worship the Sun god.

“On November 9, scores of worshippers came inside the sanctuary to perform Chhath Puja for which they need a water body. Not only was the fresh water in the park polluted by their offerings, but they also burst crackers early in the morning which forced all the birds to flee,” said TK Roy, ecologist and environmentalist.

The incident clearly reflects the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities who were on the defensive about the issue. “Apart from our officials, two policemen were deployed in the sanctuary on the day of Chhath. But, the crowd was huge and they did not enter the sanctuary from the main gate. They let themselves into the park through Gate Number 2 which is towards Mayur Vihar Phase II. However, we have taken notice of the issue and will take necessary measures next time,” an official said.

Unfortunately, all the merry-making during Diwali and Chhath Puja in the Capital came at the cost of other inhabitants of the city. Following the noise, air and water pollution from crackers and religious rituals, nearly a dozen species of migratory birds have abandoned the sanctuary looking for a more habitable place.

Birds like Northern Shoveler, Graylag Goose, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Brown-headed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and Coots which flew into the sanctuary from Siberia, and North and Central Asia have all left the park heading towards the Surajpur Bird Sanctuary in Greater Noida and the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Gurgaon.

“After Diwali a smog was hanging over the city and visibility was low. This was because of the air pollution caused by the hazardous gases released during the bursting of firecrakers. The climate plays a very important role in migration of birds. Sadly, there are none left in the sanctuary now,” Roy said. Birds like Common Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Temmincks’ Stint and Eurasian Spoonbill which thrive only on water have also left the place due to water pollution after the Chhath festivities.

November 1 onwards, the parched Okhla Bird Sanctuary got a new lease of life with fresh water from the Yamuna gushing into the park. Nearly a dozen species of migratory as well as water birds had returned to the sanctuary then. However, by November 10, officials failed to find even a single species of such birds.

“After the intervention of the UP Wildlife Department, the UP Irrigation Department was forced to complete its repair works at the Okhla Barrage nearly 15 days before schedule. Hence, the wetland came back to life only to witness another disaster,” Roy added. With the fall in pollution levels, nearly three species of migratory birds (in substantially smaller groups) have returned to the sanctuary now.

- The Pioneer, 16th November 2013

The rented house where the country’s first Prime Minister was born no longer exists

In the warrens of Mirganj — amid its crumbling facades, stained walls and cries of the marketplace, red-light areas with crowds of sex workers and pimps — remain forgotten history. This pocket of Allahabad is popularly perceived with stigma and draws public attention mostly for negative reasons — for instance, the media zoomed into it when two jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force were shot dead after they got into a quarrel with a sex worker.

It does not receive half the attention it deserves for being the place where Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first Prime Minister, was born.

Mirganj, itself, does not appear to regard its Nehru connection with much enthusiasm. On Thursday, when the entire nation celebrated Children’s Day to mark his birthday, it was just another day at Mirganj — business as usual. Only a single square — named Jawahar — and unverified narrations stand as reminders of the fact that a man of Pandit Nehru’s stature was born here.

Ravindra Dang, whose garment shop is located on the ground floor of the historical Kesar Vidyapeeth school — the most identifiable building in the locality — says “the stigma attached to the site could have been a deterrent” to any plans the State or Centre may have had to construct a memorial to mark the location of Nehru’s birth.

The rented house where Pandit Nehru was born in 1889 — 77 Mirganj — built in a densely populated area, has no existence today. It was demolished in 1931 by the municipality as part of its development drive, much after the Nehrus moved out. Its exact location today is unknown but locals pointed to a blue building as the most probable site.

After gaining some success in his legal profession, Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal’ father, moved out of thebasti to a posh location at 9 Elgin Road, close to the historical Alfred Park. As he gained further prominence, in 1899, Motilal shifted to what is today known as Swaraj Bhavan, a sprawling bungalow in the northern part of the city.

“The land for it was initially gifted to Sheikh Faiyaz Ahmed by the British for his services to them during the 1857 revolt and the structure came up in 1862-64,” says S.P. Mal, Assistant Director, Anand Bhavan Museum. The building was then purchased by the son of the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, in 1888, who then sold it to Raja Jai Kisen Das in 1894. Motilal Nehru, a flourishing lawyer then, purchased it for Rs.20,000. He gifted the building to the Congress in 1930 and Swaraj Bhavan served as the headquarters of the Congress till Independence. He built a new two-storied building adjacent to Swaraj Bhavan and named it Anand Bhavan, which is today a bustling museum.

Besides being one of the many last vestiges of the Nehru-Gandhi family, the Anand Bhavan also stores a replica of the two-storied 77 Mirganj. While Mirganj has a thriving flesh trade today, it is not known if a red-light area existed in the locality or its vicinity when the Nehrus lived there. “It used to be a crowded place so naturally it was ideal for a red-light area,” says Mr. Mal. However, Rajesh Purohit, director of Allahabad Musuem, says the concept of a red-light area came much later.

Besides a failed attempt, there have been no efforts to build a memorial at the site, says Mr. Mal. Interestingly, the last time the Congress won the Lok Sabha seat from Allahabad was in 1984. Their candidate was none other than homeboy and actor Amitabh Bachhan. His speech, as interestingly, was delivered atop the Kesar Vidyapeeth, a stone’s throw from where the Nehrus once lived.

The Pioneer, 16th November 2013

Elephants continue to be mowed down by speeding trains all over the country. Either there is complete lack of coordination between forest officials and the railways or that precautionary measures are being simply ignored

Indian Railways, once the nation’s pride, has degenerated to a level where one can hardly think of it without experiencing a gnawing feeling of shame and anger. Safety standards have fallen. Maintenance is dismal. Standards of courtesy and service are awful. Corruption has assumed gargantuan proportions, leading to the exit of a Minister in charge of it under less than edifying circumstances and a situation in which it could not for some time find an untainted incumbent for the post of the Chairman, Railway Board.

It is hardly surprising that wallowing in its malodorous mess, the railways will have neither the time nor the inclination to think of the safety and well-being of one of India’s finest and most majestic animals, the elephant. Yet another instance of its apathy is provided by the accident in which the Jaipur-Guwahati Kabiguru Express ploughed into a herd of 40 elephants in West Bengal’s northern district of Jalpaiguri on Wednesday evening, killing, according to a West Bengal Forest Department official, at least five elephants, and a calf, on the spot. Another estimate puts the number of deaths at 10, besides as many seriously injured.

The actual figure may be known in a couple of days as some of the injured elephants may die in forested areas. But it is a national shame and tragedy even if the total is no more than 10. The stretch of railway line between Siliguri and Alipurduar stations is well-known both for elephant paths going across railway lines and accidents leading to elephant fatalities. Speeding trains killed as many as six elephants in the area between January 1 and March 5 this year. Seven elephants were killed in a train accident in Jalapaiguri district on December 29, 2012. The total number of deaths is shocking. West Bengal's Forests Minister, Mr Hiten Burman, told the State Legislative Assembly on June 21, 2012, that of the 63 elephants that died in the State between January 2010-2012, 49 and 14 died in North and South Bengal respectively. Of the 49 deaths in North Bengal, 22 were from railway accidents, while accidents claimed seven of the 14 fatalities in South Bengal.

Animesh Basu, a wildlife activist and coordinator of the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, spoke for all elephant-lovers when he said, referring to Wednesday evening’s accident, “It is an irony that elephants are being killed by speeding trains in north Bengal on regular intervals, even though it has been declared as the heritage animal in India and an elephant cub is the mascot of Indian Railways.” West Bengal, however, accounts for a part of elephant deaths from accidents. Constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Elephant Task Force submitted its report, ‘Gajah: Securing the Future for Elephants in India on August 31, 2010’. According to the report, train accidents had killed 39 elephants in Assam, 24 in West Bengal, 21 in Uttarakhand, 15 in Jharkhand, four in Uttar Pradesh, five in Tamil Nadu, three in Odisha and two in Kerala, between 1987 and 2007. The report recommended several steps to prevent road and rail accidents. Besides site-specific short and long-term mitigation measures, these included the announcement of the principles of forest area, railway track and highway management, the grant of mining licences and rules governing the drawing and maintenance of power cables through forest areas. On the basis of the report, the Centre declared the elephant as the National Heritage Animal.

Implementation, however, has been half-hearted, with the railways being particularly insensitive to the task of protecting elephant corridors cutting across tracks. After the accident in Jalpaiguri, Mr Hiten Burman, said that the railways had repeatedly ignored requests from his department to reduce the speed of the trains in areas where there were elephant crossings.

He was right in emphasising the need for reducing speed. Animal Equality, an animal rights organisation in Britain, has outlined a number of steps for protecting elephants in letters to the Ministers for Railways and Environment and Forests respectively. The recommendations include equipping trains with automatic speed governors which would be activated once trains enter forests where the maximum speed should be 20-25 kmph on even tracks and 40-45 kmph on steep tracts.

The Kabiguru Express was travelling at a speed of 80 kmph when it hit the herd. Even worse was the case of Coromondal Express which killed five elephants and a calf while travelling from Howrah to Chennai on December 30, 2011. It was, according to Mr Bijoy Kumar Hota, Khallikote forest range officer, travelling at a speed of between 115 to 120 kilometres per hour considering the impact, which scattered the bodies of the elephants hit here and there around the track, and pieces of carcasses over a distance of half a kilometre!

What is particularly shocking is that the accident on December 30 occurred in an area where, as in Jalpaiguri district, elephants cross the railway line regularly. There were as many as 10 signboards, warning that it was an ‘elephant crossing zone’ between Rambha and Huma stations where the accident occurred. As in several other cases, the railways and the Odisha Forest Department traded allegations as to who was to blame, with the latter claiming that the railways had been informed in time and the elephants could have been saved had the train driver been warned on the wireless, and the former claiming that the forest department’s information came at the time of the accident, which left no scope for a message to be sent. Even if there was a delay, the fact that the Cormondal Express was travelling at a very high speed through a highly sensitive area, indicated an utterly cavalier attitude toward elephants.

There has clearly to be a change in the mindset of the railways, and the recommendations regarding a speed limit should be promptly implemented, as should be some of the other suggestions like installing in trains scintillating head lamps with halogen/LED bulbs which would help to illuminate much longer stretches of tracks, fitting them with water cannons to remove animals refusing to budge from tracks, and installing in them radar sensors to detect animals on tracks, determine the train’s distance from these, and act as instant auto-brakes for preventing collisions. All this will cost money. But India’s National Heritage Animal merits the expenditure.

The Pioneer, 16th November 2013

Located at the southern edge of the Malwa plateau, Indore served as the capital of the erstwhile Holkar principality. Now the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, it has retained its history and culture.

One of the city’s prime attractions is Rajwada. Located in the heart of Indore, this unique seven-storied palace, built in 1766, has a blend of Mughal and Maratha architecture. The palace has a temple and a small museum, showcasing the antiquities of the Holkar dynasty. The lower three stories are made of stone and the upper of wood, which made the palace vulnerable to fire accidents. The palace has been gutted thrice, the last time in 1984, and was renovated by the Holkar family, using the original blueprint. Rajwada has stood the test of time audaciously and still gives a glimpse of the city’s prosperous past.

Lal Baag Palace is arguably one of the best examples of lavish residences in central India, the beauty of this palace is bound to leave one awestruck. Construction began in 1886 and was completed in 1921 under Tukoji Rao Holkar III. Italian marble columns, a choicest collection of Roman paintings, grand chandeliers, Persian carpets, Belgian stained glass windows and stuffed game trophies of tigers and leopards give a hint of the lavishness that once was the hallmark of this palace. Indian lifestyles were also taken into consideration as the palace has a separate Indian-style dining room and bathroom.

The Lal Bagh Palace was the residence of the Holkars till 1978. It is now open to the general public. Photography is prohibited inside the palace.

Indore has its fair share of historic temples, the Khajrana Temple being one of them. Built in 1735 by the austere and spiritually inclined queen Ahilyabai Holkar, it is one of the oldest temples of Indore. The eyes of the deity here are said to be made of diamonds, and the ceiling is silver-plated.

The other major temples are Kaanch Mandir (Glass Temple), Bada Ganapati Temple (which houses one of the largest statues of Lord Ganesha, 25 feet in height), Annapurna Temple and Gommat Giri Temple.

If there’s food for the soul in Indore, there is also food for the body. Sarafa is a food haven that opens at 8 pm and closes at 4 am. The place boasts of a variety of authentic Indian street food, especially catering to one’s sweet tooth. Another intriguing food market is the Chhappan Dukaan, a group of 56 small shops, selling a range of fabulous food. These spots are most certainly to be visited by the foodie.

Indore has easy connectivity, rich cultural integrity and culinary diversity that are draws for the tourist. Other places of interest in Indore include the Central museum, the Zoo and Town Hall. Attractions nearby include Ujjain, Mandu, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar. Indore is well connected by air to all the metros and to all major cities by rail. The best season to visit is from November to March.

The writer is a doctor and a travel enthusiast

The Pioneer, 17th November 2013

Around two dozen farmhouses have come up illegally in the Aravalis without prior government approval while hospitality and adventure companies have built tourist facilities including swimming pools in the restricted zone, particularly in Roz Ka Gujjar adjoining Damdama lake.

After conducting surveys of the violations in areas falling under the Aravalis in Gurgaon and Mewat districts, Haryana State Pollution Control Board has filed an affidavit before National Green Tribunal mentioning the irregularities and violations of norms. These include construction of rooms, palatial complexes, digging of tube wells and building of boundary walls.

The violators includes top urban planners, industrialists, entrepreneurs, businessmen, NRIs, celebrities, retired defence officers. Majority of them are from Delhi.

While some violations are major in nature such as construction of farmhouse, in most cases, property owners have gone for construction of additional rooms, boundary walls and concrete roads.

As per Aravali notification of May 1992 issued by the ministry of environment and forests, certain activities are restricted in specified Aravali ranges, which cause environmental degradation. It said activities like cutting of trees, construction of dwelling units, farmhouses and sheds must get prior approval of the central government. Restricted zones include all forests, common hills, water bodies.

After the NGT took up the case of green violations suo motu based on a TOI report, the HSPCB constituted five teams to conduct surveys. The teams conducted detailed surveys along with representatives of revenue department to identify violations in areas including Raisina, Aravali Retreat, Golden Height and Roz Ka Gujjar, where most of the farmhouses are located.

The teams found 310 violations of the notification in which cases have already been filed in the special environment court. The survey teams also reported that most violators had made repeat violations by carrying out construction after cases were filed against them. The teams also identified 103 fresh violations.

The Times of India, 17th November 2013

Thomas Smith shows us how much is lost when a city reinvents itself in the cause of tourism, says Rakhshanda Jalil

The Hidden Heart of Agra

Author: Thomas Smith Publisher: SP Print, Rs 250 Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore likened the Taj Mahal to a teardrop on the face of time. Such is the effect of this emblem of love and passion that this mausoleum of white marble has enthralled viewers down the ages. Such too is the effect of the Taj that it has quite eclipsed the many other gems hidden in the city and deterred many a visitor to go looking for other, lesser-known but no less beautiful monuments in this historic city beside the Yamuna river. At long last we have someone who can hold us by the hand and take us deep into the hidden heart of the city. That this guide and chronicler, Thomas Smith (1910-1995), is no more is a pity. But his book, The Hidden Heart of Agra, a collection of essays retrieved from old and tattered manuscripts, speaks to us over a half-century after they were first written. Edited and compiled by his sons, RV and NR Smith, the book is a labour of love. And like all labours of love, it requires a willing suspension of disbelief. It requires of its readers to believe that such a city once existed.

Smith’s writing glows with erudition and knowledge, born of an eclectic reading culled from a variety of sources as well as an intimate knowledge of the city of Agra, its people, places and passions — qualities passed on to his son, RV Smith, the indefatigable chronicler of Delhi, the other great city in upper India with a glorious heritage. Having long been an admirer of RV Smith’s columns and essays on Delhi, I picked up his father’s book on Agra with some excitement. It turned out to be a delightful and engaging reading, a bit like a tantalising smorgasbord of vignettes: On the city’s many little-known monuments, its myths and legends, its pirs and poets, the many communities that once lived here in peaceful co-existence. Covering a range of subjects, the essays are written in what is obviously a Smith family legacy, a felicitous turn of phrase combined with a liberal sprinkling of facts and generous supply of anecdotes.

Here is a sampler: “As a part of the territorial Army, we were in camp for annual exercises way back in 1928. There were contingents from various places and each contingent was tented separately and well apart. When they all came together, they formed an interesting heterogeneous group.”

On the meteoric rise of one Munshi Abdul Karim in Victorian England: “Abdul Karim, 24 years of age, tall and slim, smart and clever, was employed as a clerk at the Central Prison, Agra, where his father was serving as a doctor, when he was selected for the assignment. The Queen engaged an English tutor for him, but soon he had Victoria as his own pupil. He instructed her in sociology, religion and language.” And on the Italian nuns who came to Agra in 1903 and set up foundling homes and schools: “The parable of the mustard seed comes true for organisations like the Franciscan Clarist Sisters, which under the dynamic leadership of Mother Benigna, has mushroomed in India during the past 80 years, well deserving the encomiums showered on it.”

Of special interest are the essays on the Christian presence in Agra, such as Akbar’s Church which is believed to be the oldest Christian place of worship in northern India, the many tumble-down cemeteries, the tombs and cenotaphs of the domiciled community in Agra, and lively portraits of merchants, mercenaries and missionaries who adopted ‘native’ manners. Bearing ample testimony of Thomas Smith’s diverse interests, there are essays on the rich tradition of Urdu poets and ‘sukhan-nawaaz’ in Agra, the sufi shrines and dargahs as well as ‘qissas’ about the thugs and dacoits who preyed on wayfarers.

Mutatis Mutandis... only the necessary changes are made or so claim town planners and architects of urban renewal. The Hidden Heart of Agra shows us how much is lost in the process when cities reinvent themselves in the cause of tourism. The reviewer is the author of the book, Invisible City: The Hidden Monuments of Delhi

The Pioneer, 17th November 2013

Indonesian actor Olivia Zalianty tells Madhur Tankha about the urgent need to heal the world

Through films and voluntary projects, Indonesian actor Olivia Zalianty has, over the past decade, been spreading awareness about the need to save Mother Earth from environmental degradation. In the pursuit of a pollution-free world, she now endeavours to encourage children in her own country to make short films on conservation of the earth.

Olivia, who has also worked for rehabilitation of drug addicts, said children need to express their joys, apprehensions and rights through creative medium like films or performing arts.

“We need to channelise children’s energy into something creative and productive. Children across the globe need a platform which gives them an opportunity to express themselves. This is the reason why I decided to become the brand ambassador of Bol, an Indian organisation working with kids on education and creativity across the globe. Bol’s Green Child project seeks to sensitise children from 22 countries on conservation and encourage them to come up with out-of-box ideas and make their own films on conservation of earth,” said Olivia.

Stating that the organisation has been set up to extend to the children an opportunity to use popular mediums to express their opinions on issues concerning them or society at large, Olivia said the Green Child project seeks to identify and nurture children for a pollution-free world.

“We teach children, whether Indian or Indonesian, the art of conserving nature. And we disseminate knowledge on the melting of ice in Antarctica, an alarming rise in sea levels, tsunami or sudden cloudbursts.”

Pointing out that India and Indonesia share the same cultural heritage and linguistic traditions, the actor said Indian mythological epics have had a deep influence on Indonesians.

“A majority of the people in Bali are Hindus. But the majority in our country are adherents of Islam. As far as entertainment is concerned, Hindi films and serials have been quite popular. Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor are household names and peppy Hindi film songs a rage.”

As far as her career as an actor is concerned, Olivia is all set to play the role of a mute girl in an Indonesian film, which seeks to create awareness about the need to respect nature and not to encroach upon the habitat of animal species.

“The film is about children who travel to the Komodo Islands. We will create awareness about the Komodo dragon, a large species of lizard. There is lot of fascination for this large lizard and through this film we are telling people not to encroach its habitat.”

Laced with martial arts and comedy, the film will be shot in the eastern parts of the island country.

The Times of India, 18th November 2013

In the course of preparing Nalanda's nomination for Unesco's list of world heritage sites, the Archaeological Survey of India has found new facts which, it claims, showsNalanda University having existed from 5th century AD to 12th-13th century AD.

ASI's additional director general BR Mani said he was hopeful of Nalanda making it to the list, claiming that Nalanda was an important centre of art and culture even before the university came into being. "We will be able to show continuous existence of Nalanda University for 800 years," he told TOI.

Mani said in monastery number one, a big seat was found on the eastern end of a courtyard. "After doing in-depth study of visual structure level, we can definitely say that the seat belonged to teachers and the courtyard is where students sat for classes," he said, adding that 11 identical monasteries was further proof that an organized university, the first in the world, existed at the site.

Mani said existence of a furnace during excavation and evidence of metal in them pointed to teaching of how to make metal sculpture. "It was a metal smelting furnace," he added.

About two kilometres from Nalanda is a place called Juaffardih. Mani carried out excavation here in 2006 and found evidence of pottery dating back to 6th century BCE. Next year, he said, when the excavation was resumed, evidence of even earlier period was found showing that the origin of Nalanda was from an earlier period. A monastery dating back to the Ashoka period i.e. 3rd century BCE was found in Kulik village, the birthplace of Modaglayan, one of the earliest disciples of Buddha.

Mani is also excited about the discovery of a panchayatan temple (a temple at the centre and four subsidiaries on four sides) where one after another subsidiary temples can be seen. He also talked about a chariot temple - like Konark temple of Odisha - dating back to 6 BCE. He said in 2004, when the temple was exposed further, four wheels of the chariot were found.

- The Times of India, 18th November 2013

Drishti Vij had gone to Lodhi Gardens for an afternoon stroll with her friends, like she does on most weekends. That was until she found a couple of students painting a trashcan with pictures of sparrows. "So we asked the children and they told us we could do it too. Now, here, we are painting our own masterpiece," she says.

Vij was among the many people who had gone to spend a casual day at the park, but ended up creating their own artwork on the garden's many dustbins. The event, organised by Delhi Street Art, has a simple aim — to add more colour to the garden by turning its dustbins into canvasses of public art.

"I was at the gardens for my morning run, when I saw authorities replacing the old dustbins with identical ones. I didn't understand the point of the exercise. And then it struck me — why not do something interesting with the bins?" Yogesh Saini, the man behind the project, said. "So I morphed art I downloaded from the internet on the bins and took the pictures to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The project director liked the idea and obtained all permissions for the project the same day itself — and that's how we got started," he says.

O P Mishra, Project Director, NDMC, says, "We started out with the park, but now we are thinking of expanding it to other things too. We may now look at walls, subways, Metro pillars. The idea is to involve the citizens too so they feel a sense of ownership."

So far the outfit has conducted the event thrice — on September 14, 21 and November 16 — and painted 90 bins. While Saini had provided the material to paint for the first event, NDMC has been helping him with the logistics since the second event.

- The Indian Express, 19th November 2013

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has stopped the excavation it started at Daundiya Kheda village in Unnao on October 18 after local seer Shobhan Sarkar claimed a treasure was hidden at the site.

The ASI on Monday

began filling the two trenches it dug in the ruins of the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh.

The excavation, however, established that the site, so far known to have historical evidence till the Kushan period (first century AD), also has relics of a period at least till 8th century BC.

"The work has been completed. The most important finding of the excavation is that the site holds relics of a period up to at least 8th century BC," said Syed Jamal Hasan, Director (Exploration and Excavation).

He said the ASI had drawn the conclusion based on potteries found at the site.

"The exact date of the potteries and other evidence can be arrived at only after a closer examination," Hasan said, adding, "The excavation was not for gold. The significance of the site is archaeological."

He said after the trenches are filled in the next few days, the archaeologists would return to their Lucknow office and start examining the evidence. "We expect a preliminary report on the excavation in a week or ten days, though a detailed report will take time," said Hasan.

Meanwhile, Shobhan Sarkar and his disciples said after the ASI gives them in writing that it is closing the excavation, the seer would use his own resources to find the "treasure" within 48 hours. Sarkar has refused to disclose the exact location of the "treasure" unless he is promised it will be deposited in Reserve Bank of India.

- The Indian Express, 19th November 2013

Normal life in Kerala was thrown out of gear on Monday in the 12-hour Statewide shutdown sponsored by the CPI(M)-led Opposition LDF in protest against the Central move to implement certain proposals of the K Kasturirangan committee for protecting the Western Ghats even as the Catholic Church hit the streets to oppose the panel’s recommendations.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday asked the LDF to explain why it was observing the hartal, which cost the State Rs 900 crore. The Statewide shutdown started at 6.00 am on Monday but the 48-hour “Stay on the Streets” agitation sponsored by the High Range Protection Committee, an outfit of settler farmers actively backed by the Church, against the Kasturirangan committee proposals, began on midnight Sunday bringing all public activities in the mountainous district to a screeching halt.

Chandy alleged that the Left was proving its hypocrisy over the Western Ghats report as State CPI(M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier written to him in favour of Kasturirangan committee’s proposals. While considering a petition, the Kerala High Court criticised the sponsors of the hartal by asking them to explain what advantages it would bring to the State.

“Have those who sponsor this hartal read the Kasturirangan panel report?” the court asked, adding shutdowns would only slow down the State’s progress. Protests had been going on in Kerala’s settler-dominated areas since Thursday against the panel’s proposals.

In several places, these agitations had given rise to violent incidents like torching of public vehicles, destr-uction of Government offices and attacks on police.

In Idukki and Wayanad districts, Monday saw the second shutdown in three days over the same issue. The Left-sponsored shutdown was total and relatively incident-free in all districts of the State except northernmost Kasaragod, where it did not have much impact as private buses plied. In all the remaining 13 districts, shops, commercial establishments and industrial houses remained closed while public vehicles kept off the roads.

In Kochi, the State’s commercial capital, industrial areas went out of function while port activities remained suspended. Incidents of stone-pelting on vehicles of pilgrims bound for the Lord Ayyappa shrine of Sabarimala were reported from Kochi city and the suburban towns of Kakkanad and Thripunithura.

The hartal, however, did not affect the pilgrimage. In fact, the hill shrine saw the heaviest rush of devotees in the first three days of this year’s annual pilgrimage that started on Saturday. Pilgrims said that they had not encountered any major problems with respect to travel or availability of food on the way.

Streets of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city, wore a deserted look on Monday and the work of the administrative nerve-centre, the State Secretariat, was hit as attendance of employees was skeletal. Only five members of the Cabinet, including Chief Minister Chandy, attended office at the Secretariat on Monday.

The Government had made tight security arrangements by deploying additional police personnel in areas believed to be vulnerable in the context of the violent incidents that had occurred since Thursday. Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said compensation would be extracted from those who indulged in destruction of public property.

In Idukki, the district with the largest number of settler farmers, normal life came to a standstill due to the 48-hour “Stay on the Streets” struggle proved total with farmers, political parties and the Catholic Church joining in agitation for which children, women and Christian priests and nuns came out on the streets.

The authorities have deployed over 2,500 policemen in the district to ensure security especially as the agitators have threatened to lay siege to the power house at Moolamattam, the power processing centre of the giant Idukki hydel project, in the second leg of their struggle. People were seen preparing food on the streets as part of their resolve to stay outside for 48 hours.

- The Pioneer, 19th November 2013

Alaka Sahani: How did you get involved with restoration and conservation of films?

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur:Thanks to my guru Gulzar saheb, I went to study direction at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. That’s where I got a chance to meet P K Nair, then the director of National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune. He had taken up the task of preserving films as he realised that the country is losing films almost every hour. By the time he started NFAI in 1964, we had lost 70-80 per cent of our heritage. We made 1,700 silent films and of those, only five or six complete films remain.

After I left FTII, I had forgotten all about this until around four years ago. I saw an interview of Martin Scorsese and he said that across the world, people were preserving their heritage by restoring great films in a laboratory called L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy. They host a festival there in June-July, called Il Cinema Ritrovato, in which restored films are screened. After watching these films at the festival, it made me wonder about our own cinematic heritage.

Sankhayan Ghosh: Tell us about the making of Celluloid Man.?

Celluloid Man took three years. Nair saheb had said he would do the film only if it wasn’t about him. It was a long battle we fought with the NFAI, for eight-nine months, to get permission to shoot there. While making Celluloid Man, I read about Scorsese wanting to restore Uday Shankar’s Kalpana (1948). He tried convincing the Indian government for two years that Pandit Ravi Shankar had asked him to restore Kalpana, which was made by his brother. I thought this film would pave the way for preservation and restoration in India. The battle to get Kalpana from NFAI was a turning point. I collaborated with Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation recently to restore Sri Lankan filmmaker Lester James Peries’s film, Nidhanaya, which is a first for Sri Lanka. I was also a patron for the restoration of Hitchcock’s silent film, Lodger, that was done by British Film Institute.

Alaka Sahani: While restoring movies, what is the process followed?

Like a work of art, you have to correct it frame by frame. A team of researchers is set up to study the background of the film, whether people who were part of the film are alive, what were the colours like, what were the impression people had of the film and so on. When Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard was being restored, Scorsese would say the colour of the roses in the scene were not correct because a particular kind of rose was brought in from Milan. So, they had to keep redoing the frames until they got the colour right. You need an artist, a film historian looking into the restoration process.

Meenakshi Iyer: You mentioned that there aren’t enough artistes to oversee the preservation work in this project. How do you aim to bridge that gap?

SSD: When we decided to set up our own foundation, we did think whether others would join us or not. Through Celluloid Man, talks and meeting film families, we have been telling them how important it is to preserve (films). It is time now for individuals to do it and contribute themselves.

Irawati Harshe: This happens also because there is a lack of awareness. We are trying to look at ways and means through our foundation to take it forward through education. So, though there are labs and there are technical people, we need people who are well versed with the art of restoration as opposed to just the technical process of restoration. So yes, this kind of work force needs to be built up in India.

Smita Nair: How do you decide which movie needs to be restored?

SSD: The condition of the material that is available dictates the priority of preservation and restoration and some classic Indian films do not even have an original camera negative surviving. Some films are on the verge of extinction. As I am funding the foundation from my own pocket as of now, we can’t do too much yet. But we have chosen around 10 films that we thought need immediate attention. We are trying to raise funds to restore the films. The big step was to convince the families of the filmmakers. We had to convince them that their original material would not be touched and they would get a fresh restored print of the film.

P Vaidyanathan Iyer: Do copyright issues create a problem in the film restoration process?

SSD: In India, copyright is a complex issue. For instance, as in the case of Kalpana, there was initially a dispute. People found it hard to believe that Scorsese’s foundation put money into it and that there was no money earned. It was his love for cinema. Mayura Janwalkar: On an average, how long does it take to restore a film?

Kalpana was restored in six months. It depends on the condition of the source material. Any film needs 4-6 months at least because it not just about pictures, but sound too. There are various things that have to be taken into account, such as image resolution. One has to carry out several tests before you go ahead with the final restoration.

Dipti Nagpaul D'Souza: Are you not seeking help from the film fraternity?

SSD: We have approached some people. Some don’t have the time, some haven’t given it a thought. Actually, it comes from the fact that filmmaking in India over the years has only been seen as a business and never as an art form.

Kevin Lobo: Have you got any positive feedback from any filmmakers?

Irawati Harshe: They are impressed by the passion but we’ll see. I am sure there’s something there. Every country must have started like this at some point.

Kevin Lobo: What are the other sources of funding?

SSD: The main sources we are looking at are people from the fraternity and several big companies that we hope will come forward realising the value of our cinematic heritage. Cinema has had a powerful influence on India’s culture and we are not just talking about feature films. Films formulate our thinking, way of life, the way we look at each other, the way we form relationships. It has to be given heritage

status. Kevin Lobo: Is there a plan in place for building an ecosystem needed for restoration?

SSD: The government should have a national plan to save Indian films. It is important that public-private partnerships are formed for this with the film industry playing an active part. And of course greater public access is essential. We must accept that it is only through the efforts of the film community and the support of the public can significant progress be made to save films. IH: We are hoping that as we meet more people from the industry and studios, maybe we will be able to spread awareness. Also, we would like to propose to the government to introduce courses on restoration at the university level. Such courses are not offered in India.

Dipti Nagpaul D'Souza: Why is digital not the best format to preserve movies?

SSD: Film was done on a chemical and there’s a certain quality of a chemical, which gives a certain kind of resolution. Film gives you separation of colours, digital technology doesn’t. Film has lasted for 100 years, we know that for sure. We do not know that about digital because it is always changing.

Sankhayan Ghosh: Why aren’t organisations such as National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Films Division doing something about it?

SSD: NFDC has done restoration of their films. Films Division hasn’t got the funds yet to do restoration on their own.

Srinath Rao: What role can television play in film restoration?

IH: They could screen the restored film. It could be part of a revenue model, they could opt for pay-per-view. Or if, they have a ‘classics’ television channel, the films could be shown on that channel.

Alaka Sahani: The education model that you were talking about... how do you want to go about it?

IH: The idea is to educate students, and by students I don’t mean just children but students of cinema and people at large about the language of moving images and our cinematic heritage.

SSD: We want to reach out to schools. We are in the process of formulating educational modules for India. (Transcribed by Amruta Lakhe, Meenakshi Iyer, Sankhayan Ghosh & Kevin Lobo)

- The Indian Express, 19th November 2013

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Assam government to hold a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Petroleum Ministry to find out ways to protect animals of Kaziranga National Park from traffic on the National Highway stretch that comprises its southern boundary, and set a deadline of December 10 to come up with the ideas.

The four-member principal bench of the NGT headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar in its order issued in New Delhi on Tuesday also asked the Assam government to state whether underpasses or fly-overs could be built on the 18-km stretch of the National Highway that stands on as many as four animal corridors in order to facilitate free and safe movement of wild animals, as also about steps to check speed of vehicles in that stretch.

The orders came as part of the on-going case filed by Rohit Choudhary, who had pleaded for ensuring compliance of an environmental clearance of the MoEF way back in 1991 in which it had also called for diverting NH-37 or creating an alternative highway currently passing through Kaziranga.

Interestingly, that MoEF order had largely remained uncomplied with by various agencies including the Assam government and the public sector Numaligarh Refinery that has come up close to Kaziranga, leading to high rate of animal deaths on the highway as well as other environmental problems.

The Assam government, which had earlier submitted a list of a series of measures to reduce traffic on the highway, had also referred to constructing underpasses and fly-overs in portions of the highway stretch that currently obstructs at least four natural animal corridors.

- The Indian Express, 20th November 2013

Facing heat from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for its plan to cover a large part of the Shahdara link drain in east Delhi to build a Dilli Haat, the Delhi government has said it will turn an area as big as 600 metres x 45 metres on the drain into “a green oasis.”

In its counter-affidavit submitted to the NGT but not yet taken on record, the government said the stormwater drain was an imminent threat to environment because of mosquitoes, flies and insects.

It said the project would enhance the biodiversity and ecological sanctity of the area. A park on either side of the proposed Dilli Haat and a rooftop garden are proposed to be constructed.

Petitioner Manoj Misra of the NGO Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan argued that the drain, an existing greenway, should not be covered as concretisation would make removal of sludge difficult and lead to more gaseous emissions and stink due to reduced oxygenation. “It is absurd and illogical to talk of artificially creating greenery after destroying the existing one,” Misra said.

The green tribunal had on October 21 stayed the Delhi government’s plan to cover the drain. On Tuesday, it said the stay would continue till the matter was heard next on December 10.

The green tribunal sought to know if any study or survey was carried out to know the consequences before deciding to cover natural canals, now drains. It also wanted to know if environment clearance was needed for such projects.

The petitioner said construction was bound to cause serious environmental issues, including flooding. Covering would reduce recharge of millions of litres of stormwater every monsoon and destroy the peripheral greenery, it was contended. “Apex planning body UTTIPEC had in February 2010 decided drains would not be covered. It also said drains should be

cleaned and developed for non-motorised connectivity,” the petitioner said. The link drain in east Delhi helps carry the runoff during rains and prevents flooding.

Civic agencies said residents complained the noxious fumes caused pipes to leak, rendering fridges and air-conditioners defunct. The Delhi government termed the petition premature, frivolous, misleading, incorrect and misconceived. It said the petitioner was making bogus and vague allegations without any merit and basis.

- The Hindustan Times, 20th November 2013

The draft recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats have triggered a protest in areas of Kerala where prohibitory and regulatory steps are proposed. Syrian Catholics, who had migrated to these areas half a century back from Central Kerala, form a major chunk of farmers in the villages in the Western Ghats. In the recent decade, Muslims have invested their Gulf money in the hills mainly for real estate and commercial purposes.

Hence, in these communities seeing red, there are religious and political formulations at play. Involved are the Kerala Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League, and the CPM, all leading the protests, all with an eye on vote banks. The state government has failed to point out that a lot of the panic is due to a misinformation campaign, with the Church, political parties and media all doing their bit.

The fact is that going by the panel, the only activity that would be affected in the region is mining of sand and granite for construction. Given the region's thousands of legal and illegal quarries, it's no surprise that there are many quarters not too enthused by this. But those who believe that these quarries should be phased out have been held back by the fear of spiralling prices of construction material should these quarries shut. Neither the state government nor political parties or religious groups has bothered to enlighten the public on the rumours being spread: that farmers would be evicted in a phased manner; that their land would be converted into forest tracts; that houses would have to be painted green; or that land transactions would be hit.

While the draft has recommended that all red-category industries be banned, there are few such industries in these 123 villages. Although the industries in the orange category too will face action, the committee has stated there will not be complete prohibition.

- The Indian Express, 20th November 2013

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has stopped restoration work ofKedarnath Temple, which was ravaged by the flash flood in June, after the doors of the sanctum sanctorum was closed due to snowfall and severe winter.

"The structural conservation as well as chemical preservation work has been stopped since November 2 due to snowfall and severe winter conditions at the site and the ASI team has returned from the temple site. Also, it was not possible to work at the site as the temple gates closed for worship on November 5," an official statement said. The work would resumed next year in consultation with the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), it said.

The ASI, in first phase, has removed parts of debris deposited on the southern, western and eastern side.

- The Times of India, 20th November 2013

The iconic Town Hall in Chandni Chowk, which has been a picture of neglect ever since the municipal corporation moved out of the building, is set to get a new lease of life.

A grant of Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for the Town Hall redevelopment plan on the condition that the state-level project management agency (SLPMA) will prepare the project report. The North corporation said the work on the project will begin soon.

The corporation has decided to turn the building into a museum-cum-recreational centre recreating the ambience of the Raj. "We are working on every element that will go into making it a heritage spot, which will be internationally acclaimed for its originality and uniqueness. We will achieve this without touching the original structure of the Town Hall," North corporation commissioner P K Gupta said.

Mayank Sharma, additional commissioner and chairman of the project, said the North corporation's plan for the building is final and the SLPMA will prepare the project report for implementation. "By the end of November, we will have a cost performance report and after placing it before the standing committee we will have a detailed project report ready in three months. The following six months will be taken up in tender process. The project will be completed in two years' time," Sharma said.

Sharma also said the building adjacent to the Town Hall, where corporation had offices, will be transformed in to a boutique hotel. "The boutique hotel will have five-star facilities except a swimming pool, which will be there within the main Town Hall premises," Sharma said. The corporation has received funds of Rs 50 crore from the Centre to develop the integrated circuit that includes Shahjahanabad. The Town Hall part of the project includes the Mughal lifestyle museum, showcasing the different cultural aspects of that era such as cuisine, performing arts, craft, rituals and story-telling traditions. The cost of the project would include building restoration, landscaping, parking and the construction of a tourist information centre.



- The Indian Express, 21st November 2013

The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group (an enterprise of Bharat Hotels) has expanded its foot-prints in Kolkata. Asia’s first luxury hotel — The Great Eastern was unveiled as The Lalit Great Eastern on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of Lalit Suri. Incidentally, the erstwhile The Great Eastern also started on this very date, 173 years ago.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Chief Minister of Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, and Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The property will open in two phases.

The heritage landmark was initially established on November 19, 1840 by David Wilson, a baker from Hertfordshire. It was the favourite haunt of the city’s elite, members of the royalty and well-known personalities from across the world like Mahatma Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain who referred to it as the ‘Jewel of the East’ and the best hotel East of the Suez. After being bought over by The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, it went through extensive renovations and restorations and now unveiled as The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata. This magnificent heritage property is the epitome of luxury and is a landmark for the city of Kolkata.

Jyotsna Suri said, “It’s a memorable day for all of us at The Lalit family. The restoration of this iconic hotel has been a labour of love, painful and time consuming but extremely rewarding.”

The hotel as it stands today is an amalgamation of the styles of three different eras of history — Victorian (1837-1901), Edwardian (1901-1910) and Contemporary (2006 onwards) reflected in Heritage Block I, Heritage Block II and the New Block respectively. The main lobby of the hotel is in the New Block. The classic century old piano here has been restored to its original glory. Manufactured by the MF Rachel n Company, Germany it was the pride of Maxim’s the legendary bar Heritage Block II, reflecting the Edwardian era is five-storied with an atrium lobby and 95 rooms and suites of various sizes. The corridors are dotted with restored furniture and connected from one floor to the other by the original spiral staircase.

- The Pioneer, 21st November 2013

Pramod Kapoor put together some rare paintings, manuscripts and maps of the Mughal era in his latest exhibition. He shared some interesting stories withIknoor Kaur For two years, 730 days and over 17,000 hours, Mazhar Ali Khan, one of the known artists of the Mughal era, stood atop the Delhi Gate and painted a panoramic view of Old Delhi. Till date the painting is known to be the only record of almost every possible building in the area during the 1840s. In another instance an unknown artist, in 1847, made a rare map of Old Delhi which looked exactly like a satellite image. The map was artistic and so well detailed that every lane and street was clearly visible. Several other artists like these existed in that era, but were buried under the sands of storm. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in association with Roli Books and the British Library put together some of these rare paintings, manuscripts and maps in an exhibition called The Mughals: Life, Art & Culture. It will be inaugurated today at the Twin Art Gallery.

Everything put on display in the exhibition is from the British Library, says the exhibition’s curator Pramod Kapoor. “First of all, the British Library is not a museum, so there is nothing on display. Everything is on the shelf and is a part of the collections. So these are very rare manuscripts, books, paintings and maps. Secondly these are all from the Mughal period. There is everything from Temür to Bahadur Shah Zafar. It is the first time India will get an opportunity to see this material because one, they have never been on display and two, they are only available in London,” he explained.

The paintings of that time mainly include portraits of the emperors, views of Delhi and the life in Mughal courts. Though most of the paintings of that time are masterpieces, few of these artists are known. Most of the paintings are without undersigns. “Those days there was not one painter, there were many. All the paintings were usually commissioned by the Mughal emperors. So the names of all the painters were not important. It used to be the prerogative of the emperor to give the painters name or not. It was like the Khajuraho sculptures — the name of the people who have made those sculptures is not known because in India we didn’t have this system of inscribing paintings with names. However, having said that there are paintings which have names, Mazhar Ali being one of them,” he elaborated.

Among the manuscripts there are few prominent ones. Kapoor shared, “There is a book on archery. It is a guide to archery because it was very important to know the art in those days. Then there was one on pigeon flying. The Mughals were very fond of pigeons. There is also one called Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi by Metcalfe which has paintings of all the major monuments, some that exist today and some that don’t. We also have a recipe book by Shah Jahan, a love story called A Book of Affairs of Loveby a Hindu poet in Persian and a book on how to make fragrances and soaps.” Kapoor feels that the maps are the most interesting of the lot because they look more like artworks. “One can’t tell that these maps were merely for work. These maps were actually used for administration,” he said. The exhibition has displayed these works on the walls with trilingual subtitles. “The captions are in English, Hindi and Urdu,” Kapoor signed off.

Khan Jahan Bahadur was one of the principal Mughal military commanders of the 17th century and a key player in the Emperor Aurangzeb's war against the independent Hindu Maratha leader Shivaji. During his lifetime he held prestigious posts including the governorship of the Deccan as well as Allahabad and the Punjab.

By Hunhar, c1690

The Mughals prized elephants above all other animals for their strength and courage. In writing about imperial elephants, the court historian Abu'l Fazl says, “This wonderful animal is in bulk and strength like a mountain; and in courage and ferocity like a lion. It adds materially to the pomp of a king and to the success of a conqueror; and is of the greatest use for the army.” Elephants were also used to execute prisoners by trampling them to death.

Lucknow or Faizabad, c1770

The Pioneer, 21st November 2013

Shah Jahan’s recipe book, a route map from Delhi to Quandhar, a river front map of Agra, a bird’s eye view of the Red Fort and other Mughal miniatures are some of the rare exhibits that will be displayed in the Capital from November 22 to December 31.

Titled ‘Mughal India: Life, Art and Culture’, the exhibition was on at the British Library in London in March this year.

It will trace the evolution of Mughal art and empire between the 16th and 19th Centuries.

The exhibition is scheduled to be inaugurated by Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

It is an initiative by Roli Books in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.

The Hindu, 22nd November 2013

Cookbooks belong in a kitchen and not an art show, but when the exhibition in question centres round the Mughal dynasty, it may be difficult to ignore the delicious culinary legacy they've left behind. So it's not surprising that a British Library show devoted to Mughals includes a copy of Nuskhah-yi Shah Jahani, or Shah Jahan's recipe book. With recipes for delicate pilafs, succulent kebabs and spicy samosas, the manuscript shows how Persian and Hindu styles of cooking melded together in the imperial kitchens.

Fusion went from food to faith during Akbar's reign. The exhibition has a rare illustrated manuscript of the translation of the Mahabharata commissioned in Persian by Akbar. Called the Razmnama-the Book of Battles-the translation was ordered in 1582 to make the epic widely accessible. The literal Persian version-a collaborative project between Hindu and Muslim scholars-was turned into elegant prose by the poet Faizi.

These and many other rare manuscripts, maps and paintings are displayed in the show that spans the entire arc of the Mughal Empire-from Babur's victory over the Sultan of Delhi in the Battle of Panipat in 1526 to 1858 when the emperor and poet Bahadur Shah II was exiled to Burma. The first outing for these treasures was in London, after which an edited version travelled to Kabul. A collaboration between Roli Books, which is celebrating 35 years in publishing, and the British Library has now brought them to Delhi's Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The works are digital facsimiles or "wonderful surrogates" as John Falconer, lead curator at the British Library, describes them. "We would have loved to bring the originals but it would have been hugely expensive." But thanks to technology, one can still be awestruck by the exquisite details packed into a few square inches of painted parchment.

In a departure from tradition, one artist has even tried his hand at erotica, capturing the sexual antics of Muhammed Shah (grandson of Bahadurshah I, if you've forgotten your Mughal history). Known as Rangila, he is pictured making love (This painting was left out of the Kabul show and no prizes for guessing why). Among other gems is one that shows the festival of Holi in gorgeous red and yellows, a natural history drawing of a pangolin, and a beautifully illustrated pigeon-fancier's manual.

The aim of the show-comprising some 200 works from the British Library's own collection-was to really show the wider story of Mughal culture-from science and poetry to politics and daily life, says Falconer. "There are books on mathematics, astronomy and a very early atlas. These highlight contributions of scientists of that time," he adds.

But the highlight of the display is a 5m-long panorama of Delhi made in 1846 by artist Mazhar Ali Khan. Large parts of the idyllic green city, as seen from Red Fort, were destroyed in the 1857 uprising. Helpless in stopping the destruction, Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of Delhi, expressed his sadness through verse..."Delhi was once a paradise, Where love held sway and reigned; But its charm lies ravished now, And only ruins remain."

The exhibition ends with the only known photograph of Zafar, taken by Robert Tytler and Charles Shepherd in May 1858, which shows a wan-looking emperor reclining on a charpoy.

'The Mughals' is on at the IGNCA till December 31.

The Times of India, 22nd November 2013

In continuation of its efforts to conserve India's last apes, the International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department has successfully translocated two eastern Hoolock gibbons from Dello village in Arunachal Pradesh to a safer and more suitable habitat in the Mehao WIldlife Sanctuary in the State.

The translocation of the Hoolock gibbons necessitated as the habitat for these gibbons in the area had degraded to a large extent, said WTI project leader and primatologist Kuladeep Roy while adding that this is the sixth such incident where Hoolock gibbons are translocated from Dello area.

“The gibbons are completely arboreal in nature and require a lot of trees for sustenance, mobility and survival. Now there are only isolated clusters of trees remaining in the area, if any at all. This restricts gibbon movement often forcing them to descend from the high tree tops to the ground where they can't move with ease and instances of conflict and predation arise,” he explained.

Hoolock gibbons are the only apes found in India, with their distribution restricted to the country's northeast region. Two species have been identified here - eastern Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and western Hoolock gibbons (Hoolock hoolock). They are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

This was the fourth leg of the Mehao Gibbon Translocation Project making it the sixth family to be shifted. The last move had been carried out almost a year ago in December 2012 where a family of three Hoolock gibbons had been moved from the Dello village. “Gibbons essentially live in strong familial units. Capturing every family is extremely difficult to begin with and the more complex the terrain, the more laborious and cautious the operation becomes. Every single capture and release carried out by the IFAW-WTI team has been meticulously planned ensuring as little stress to the gibbons as possible,” said Ipra Mekola, member of the Arunachal Pradesh State Wildlife Advisory Board.

Roy said that several awareness programmes are also being held all year round in Dello village by the conservation team to sensitise the locals towards the plight of the gibbons in a bid to reduce conflict and to encourage afforestation and salvage the remaining habitat for these apes.

“Earlier in 2013, one of the female gibbons we had translocated gave birth in the wild which was a huge success since this is a major indicator of a successful rehabilitation. It meant that the gibbons are feeling completely at home in the release site,” said Sunil Kyarong, the Regional Head of Arunachal Pradesh for WTI.

The Pioneer, 22nd November 2013

The writer peeks into the past of Paharganj, which has witnessed many historical events in the journey of Delhi

Paharganj’s chequered past is not so well known. Before the Railways divided the area, there was a direct road from it to the Red Fort on which such personalities as Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq went by palanquin to meet the Mughal emperor. Being the ustad who wetted Bahadur Shah Zafar’s poety, he in his lifetime enjoyed a status higher than that of even Ghalib, whose unconventional poetry did not enjoy the patronage of the high and mighty and it was left to the hoi polloi to hail the poet as a trendsetter. Zauq’s house in Paharganj cannot be traced now nor his grave, which was demolished by vandals in 1947 and a public latrine built over it for refugees from Punjab. But of late the place has been cleared of this monstrosity and a memorial erected to mark the last resting place of the Badshah’s ustad, though God knows where his bones are interred. This is unfortunate as he was a great lover of Delhi who even rejected a lucrative offer from the Nizam to settle down in Hyderabad with the oft-quoted comment, “Kaun jaye Zauq per Dilli-ki-gullian chod kar”. There were others of note living in Paharganj, like the descendants of Ghaziuddin Khan, ancestor of the Nizams and the builder of the Ghaziuddin Madarsa at Ajmeri Gate, the first such institution of its kind in the 18th Century. From the side of the gate the road led to Jhandewalan, past the bazaar which was the last habitation point on the Paharganj ridge before the rocky formation that marked its boundary was cut down and Karol Bagh came into being.

Paharganj, located just west of New Delhi Station, literally meaning Hilly Market, was once an important suburb of Shahjahanabad. It was one of five main bazaars of Delhi, and the only one outside the Walled City. Besides, it was the principal grain market in the 17th Century and had the custom house of the emperor, for collecting taxes, according to research done by heritage activist Surekha Narain. In the Mutiny papers it was referred to as Jaisinghpura or Shahganj. Muin-ud-Din Hussain Khan, a cousin of Mirza Ghalib was the thanedar or the SHO of the Paharganj police station during that time and is supposed to have helped in saving Sir Theophilus Metcalfe’s life during the uprising by sheltering him. It was in disguise that the hated Metcalfe escaped from the thana to eventually find refuge in Rajputana, which was not affected by the First War of Independence.

In 1920, when Lutyens was assigned to build New Delhi, Paharganj saw a facelift of sorts. Imperial Theatre, an archaic landmark, was built in 1930. When Imperial Cinema started showing films in 1933, the audience took its time to come in for the (then silent) shows. Screenings didn’t start at fixed times, but had to wait for enough people to come in. Those waiting for the hall to fill up were entertained by dancing girls, performing in front of the screen. Early in its history, cinema drew the same moral censure as the tawaif’s bordello. Paharganj saw the bloodiest riots in 1947, a metamorphosis when one community was forced to desert its roots and the other fled from Pakistan to make a new beginning here. Many took up the food business and soon became known for their products. Some of the famous names established since 1947-48 in the eatery business are still doing well even when the third generation has taken over. Pehalwan da Hotel and Sitaram Bhaturewala are among them.

During the hippie movement in the 70s, the area became a regular part of the hippie trail, with backpackers and college students looking for modest accommodation near Connaught Place. The legacy continues even today, with its budget hotels, cafes and restaurants, specialising in global cuisines, and a horde of cyber cafes. Of late actors and actresses from the West like Kate Winslet of The Titanic fame have lodged in Paharganj during their sojourn in Delhi. The area has shelters and homes run by Salaam Balak Trust, an NGO for street and working children. A heritage walk was held on November 23 to make the new generation aware of the area’s past.

Ram Nagar at the eastern end of Paharganj was the first organised colony for officers of the Controller & Auditor General of India. It was outside the old city and came up in the 1930s. The area belonged to Ram Swaroop, an ice factory owner who was a friend of Ram Saran Das, according to the latter’s son, V.K. Gupta. Ram Saran Das belonged to Bulandshahr and came to attend the 1911 Durbar. In 1913 he was transferred to Delhi as an officer in the Controller & Auditor General’s office and initially lived in Bazaar Sita Ram. He was also instrumental in building Birla Mandir and obtained special permission from Lord Willingdon, the Viceroy, to build Ram Nagar. The place was called Ram Nagar after Ram Swaroop and Ram Saran Das. No. 11 Ram Nagar was the first building built in 1934 by Ram Saran Das. These two may be regarded as the first colonisers of Delhi who lent a semblance of modernity to decaying Paharganj, whose bridge was once known as the place where missing persons could be found.

The Hindu, 25th November 2013

One of the last patches of pristine forest land adjoining Delhi may be lost soon if the draft regional master plan for the national capital region (NCR) 2021 is passed in its current form-a "limit of 0.5% on constructions" in the natural conservation zones such as Aravalis has been deleted from it.

The minutes of the sixty-first meeting of NCR Planning Board suggest that the Haryana government itself has pitched for removal of this restriction and inclusion of guidelines to control development activities in such eco-sensitive zones.

This will open up places like Mangar for real estate development, possibly destroying one of the most important groundwater recharge zones near Delhi.

Mangar, located off the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway and largely under private ownership, is not categorized as forest land but has all the features of a forest, including thriving wildlife, say villagers and environmentalists. It also acts as a wildlife corridor for animals from the Asola Bhatti sanctuary, which has got a protected area status long ago. Mangar can also act as a buffer zone for the sanctuary.

Mangar, which was once common land, was privatized under "dubious" circumstances after 1980s, claims environmental analyst Chetan Agarwal. Soon, villagers sold off huge tracts to real estate developers and other companies. However, not much construction took place in the area due to certain policy safeguards, which may go with the new master plan.

Nestled in the middle of this dense scrub forest is a centuries old sacred grove called Mangar Bani. Spread over 200 ha, Bani comes alive with peacocks and other birds chirping away, very old dhau and guggal trees leading up to a shrine. The play of light and shade inside this densely forested patch creates a surreal experience.

Local people say no one dares to even break a branch inside Bani. "Villagers have been worshipping Bani for centuries now. I fear that some day even this will be sold off and the precious forest will be destroyed," says Sunil Harsana, a former secretary of the village development committee who wants a "protected area" status for the hills of Mangar.

Not everyone in the village, however, agrees. Harsana has been threatened several times for attempting to halt real estate development. "I had to go away from the village for some days because they were after me. They don't understand how such constructions will impact the forest and our lives," he adds.

Two large real estate companies already own more than 100 ha in these hills and a part of Bani, says Agarwal. There are proposals to make amusement parks and resorts; farmhouses have already come up. "There is not a very high demand yet for land here, perhaps because people are not sure about the status of this land. The government should protect Bani from real estate projects. But villagers want to sell the land away," said local property dealer Shyam (name changed).

Despite having a forest cover of just 3.5%-way lower than the national average of about 20%-neither the Haryana government nor the Union environment and forests ministry had made any effort to identify the area as a forest. However, earlier this year, the ministry asked the state government to make geo-referenced maps of all natural and recorded forests in the area.

The Times of India, 25th November 2013

The seer who dreamt of a goldtreasure buried on the premises of a fort in Unnao district — and was proved wrong — has offered to dig again on a personal security of Rs 10 lakh and even court arrest if further excavation is also a failure.

After the Geological Survey of India and theArchaeological Survey of India failed to dig out 'hidden gold' at Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh's fort in Daundiya Kheda village in Unnao, seer Shobhan Sarkar's emissary Swami Omji Awasthi called a press conference on Sunday and demanded an amendment in theIndian Treasure Trove Act so excavation work could be carried out and the recovered gold be handed over to the Reserve Bank of India. The press conference was called on Sarkar's behalf.

"We've already dispatched letters in this regard to Prime MinisterManmohan Singh, urging for an amendment in the act and granting us permission to further continue the excavation work individually," Awasthi said. "We're ready to deposit a security of Rs 10 lakh and will also bear all the expenses related to the security deployment. If we fail to dig out gold, the seer is ready to go to jail."

Awasthi said they had met the jail minister on November 20, apprised him about Sarkar's wish and were assured of a positive response from the state government. "Besides, our talks with minister of state for agriculture Mahant Charan Das are under way and we expect a positive reply from him too," he said. "Also, we'll soon file a request petition with the honourable Supreme Court in this regard."

Awasthi also sought transparency in the excavation work and asked the government to allow live media coverage of the excavation.

The Times of India, 25th November 2013

Anubhati Vishnoi

An Environment Ministry panel has denied permission to state governments to build new roads and widen existing ones in Wildlife Sanctuaries and other Protected Areas, where animals continue to die in road accidents.

The report of the panel, noting roads have "detrimental ecological effects on both terrestrial and aquatic natural ecosystems", emphasised that roads and highways should bypass National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Instituted in June by the Jayanthi Natarajan-led Ministry of Environment & Forests to frame a comprehensive guideline for construction/ repair or roads passing through PAs and design the best practices for such roads for wildlife conservation, the sub-committee of the National Board of Wild Life (NBWL) has recommended guidelines like avoiding new roads in National Parks and core Tiger Habitats and maintaining and repairing existing roads without widening them.

The same rules apply to Sanctuaries and Reserves but culverts, and resurfacing of damaged road sections with stone chips, can be considered for approval, the report states.

Method of such road construction, such as blasting, borrow-pit digging and their impact on wildlife should be a criteria for consideration. The same guidelines apply to roads within 1 km of National Parks/ Core Critical Tiger Reserves/ Wildlife Sanctuary, the report says.

The Committee said the Wildlife Institute of India should formulate detailed guidelines for roads through these areas.

The Committee has sought views of the state governments.

The report suggests ban on night traffic to save animals from disturbance, regulations on timing and volume of traffic, no stoppage, adherance to speed limits and setting up speed-breakers, no honking and no littering in PAs.

Measures like retaining natural animal tracks across roads, underpasses and other structures and no road construction/ repair between 6 pm and 8 am were also recommended so that the animals are not disturbed. Standing Committee members called for a blanket rule to have only two-lane roads in PAs and their vicinity.

The Indian Express, 25th November 2013

To fans of kitsch, a painted truck is a veritable art gallery. In its designs and decorations, they can decipher hidden meanings of sociocultural and regional significance. In a prison in Glasgow, however, inmates have responded to truck art in a more basic way. "They found it macho and created truck art-inspired works of their own," says Delhi-based arts curator Minhazz Majumdar.

Majumdar's arts organisation Earth and Grass has collaborated with Glasgow Museums to develop a collection of Indian works as part of a project that won the museum a grant of one million pounds from the UK-based Art Fund, a fundraising charity for the arts.

"In Glasgow, the South Asian diaspora community does not visit museums or art galleries in any numbers, and I wanted to acquire a capsule collection of contemporary art that I hope would appeal to this community in ways that the existing 19th century colonial industrial art does not," says Patrician Allan, curator, World Cultures of Glasgow Museums.

The project focused on three regions — Bengal, Punjab and Assam — because most of the diaspora of Glasgow come from these regions. Moreover, the museum also has a South Asian collection dominated by works from these regions. They wanted to tell the Indian story differently as well. "We did not want to represent Punjab through typical artefacts such as phulkari. We focused on truck art instead. Globally, Pakistan is known for its beautiful truck art but we wanted to highlight the truck art from Punjab," says Majumdar. Among other works are dhokra statues from Bengal and contemporary sculptures from Assam. Besides truck body parts with painted icons of lions, eagles and sceneries, there are life-sized statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Rani Laxmibai made in dhokra. "Bengal is not traditionally known for dhokra. We came across Ramu Karmakar and Subho Karmakar, a father-son pair who are among the few artists working in this tradition. They create works that are traditional in inspiration, continuing what their

The Indian Express, 26th November 2013

Remember the mesmerising number ‘Khawaja mere Khawaja’ from Bollywood film Jodha Akbar. It is inspired by the life of 12th-13th century Sufi saint Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti.

Even politicians, including those in saffron robes, prefer to kick-start their election campaign after paying their obeisance here at the mazaar (tomb) of the Sufi saint, who promoted understanding between the Muslims and non-Muslims.

But the virtuous atmosphere of tolerance evaporates as soon as the majestic Nizam gate, the main entrance to the shrine, is crossed and people meander into the same shells of religion, caste, sub-caste, etc. as they walk through the Dargah Bazaar, dotted with 400-odd shops selling souvenirs.

And this division is palpable as you find your way through the congested lane – here it is Hindus vs Muslims, Sindhis vs Vaishyas, et al.

Till some years ago, Jains owned a major chunk of the huge Lakhankotri residential area. But as their families and finances grew, they moved to bigger locations, selling their property to Muslims, who mostly live around the dargah and today either run guesthouses or work as khadims (meaning servitor, but in this people who escort pilgrims to the dargah).

The fissures that were simmering since the Babri Masjid destruction in 1992 came on the surface after the Ajmer blast of October 2007. Narendra Modi’s plunge into national politics has deepened the divide.

A khadim said, “We were always confident that nothing would happen to Hindu-Muslim unity. The involvement of Hindu religious leaders shocked us.” (The police picked up Bhavesh Patel and named RSS leaders complicit in the case.)

The twists and turns in the case gave fodder to the two communities to blame each other in a city where the RSS has been active from the days of the freedom movement.

Sindhis by and large own the Dargah Bazaar and their connection with the RSS dates back to 1947.

A shopkeeper said: “The RSS, active those days in the Sindh side of Pakistan, helped us settle here.”

Local people claim the RSS’s controversial Trishul Diksha programme started here. Pravin Togadia, a Bajrang Dal leader, was arrested by the Ashok Gehlot government for displaying and distributing tridents to volunteers in 2003. The government has since banned the display, distribution and possession of tridents.

Move further, the two big business communities of Ajmer – the Sindhis and the Vaishyas – have also been locked in a fierce battle for decades for political supremacy. While the Sindhis want to retain their more than 50-year hold on Ajmer politics – they held the Ajmer North constituency since Independence – the Vaishyas, who are sizeable in number, are resisting their marginalisation.

Before the 2008 elections, both had staged agitations, and issued veiled threats in several memorandums sent to political parties. The Vaishyas finally succeeded in 2008 as the Congress conceded their demand for candidature. SR Goyal, president of the Agarwal Association, had then said, “Eight per cent Sindhis (after delimitation) have been politically controlling the seat for over 50 years. We asserted and as a pressure tactic even fielded our own candidate.” However, the Vaishya candidate failed to win the seat.

Once again in 2013, the Sindhi winner, Vasudev Devnani, and the Vaishya runner-up, Gopal Baheti, are in the fray.

The spiritual journey is indeed short-circuited by discordant notes.

The Hindustan Times, 26th November 2013

In the sweltering sun a group a school children are sitting on dharna in the heart of Idukki town, 300 km from Thiruvananthapuram, raising slogans. A few metres away farmers are on a 48-hour fast. The Kerala hills are on the boil because people fear they will be thrown out of their land once the state government implements the Kasturirangan panel report on measures to protect the ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats.

Political parties and the Catholic church are in a race to whip up passions. “Kerala will be another Kashmir,” thundered Idukki archbishop Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil. And Thamarasserry bishop Mar Inchananayil went a step further. “Jallianwalla Bagh will be repeated here.” Kannur MP K Sudhakaran of the Congress has threatened to resign if the farmers are displaced. And ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) chief whip PC George wants to behead officials who dislocate farmers.

Last year, the Union environment ministry had set up an expert panel under Madhav Gadgil, following an uproar that the Western Ghats, a UNESCO world heritage site, is shrinking alarmingly due to human interference. When all six states opposed the Gadgil panel recommendations vehemently, another committee was constituted under former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan. The Kasturirangan panel had made some changes in the zonal classification and reduced the ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) to 37% from the 64% estimated by Gadgil.

The majority of the ESAs are inhabited by Christians. “No serious effort has been made to dispel our fears. We are not against protecting the environment but it should not be at the expense of poor people who settled there long ago,” said the Idukki bishop. The state had witnessed a complete shutdown last Monday and violent clashes are now a matter of routine in the hills. The worried UDF government is in a hurry to distribute a Malayalam translation of the report to dispel their fears. But it hasn’t achieved the desired results. Though chief minister Ooomen Chandy has reiterated that his government would not evict a single person, his pleas fell on deaf ears. The Kerala high court, hearing a PIL recently, also wanted to know whether those on strike had read the report and what they achieved by calling frequent shutdowns.

Though the Kasturirangan report is a toned-down version of the Madhav Gadgil committee report, it does not mention anywhere that farmers and other settlers would be evicted from the fringe areas of the forests. Rather, it recommends severe restrictions on mindless quarrying, deforestation and mining to save the ecologically sensitive biodiversity hotspots. And these areas cannot have buildings and constructions exceeding 20,000 square feet in area or industries and big townships. But all of this has failed to convince agitating residents, who see it as a ploy to evict them. Political parties and church outfits have fuelled the fire.

“What the state is witnessing is organised muscle-flexing to loot natural resources. It is sad that responsible political parties and religious outfits are playing into the hands of the quarry and real estate mafias,” said green activist John Peruvananthanam. For the CPI(M), which wants to curry favour with the church, which always supported the Congress-led dispensation, it turned out to be a golden opportunity. With the general elections round the corner, it wants to exploit it. And the Congress has advised its leaders not to lock horns with religious leaders over the issue.

The Hindustan Times, 27th November 2013

In Jaisalmer both the BJP and the Congress candidates have taken their fight straight inside the four walls of the Jaisalmer Fort. Besides local population who stay inside the protected monument, the tourists visiting the Royale heritage property are being forced to taste the flavour of ‘street’ politics.

From wall posters to long strings of party flags and wall graffiti, every form of campaign material has been put to use to influence the voters in the run-up to the polls. During their visit to the fort many foreign tourists have been prompted to ask their local guides, “Is campaigning permitted inside the protected monument?” Instead of giving them a satisfactory reply, most of the city guides try to avoid the question by claiming, “it is not unusual here. It goes on like this”.

Ironically, the contesting candidates have pasted their posters on the heritage property without inviting any reprimand. A few days ago while participating in a debate on a private news channel, the two rival candidates and their workers came close to exchanging blows outside the main gate of the fort and the situation was brought under control tactfully by the locals present there.

Like the entire State, the desert city is also witnessing a tough fight between sitting BJP MLA Chhotu Singh Bhati and Ruparam Meghwal of the Congress. Ruparam is a retired chief engineer of the water works department. After 1998 the Congress has not won the seat. This time the party has given its mandate to Ruparam to take advantage of the support of the Meghwal community.

By fielding Ruparam on a general seat, the Congress is hoping to wrest the seat from the BJP. The party think tank is banking on the social engineering formula drafted by them keeping in view the percentage of Sindhi-Muslim and Meghwal community voters in mind. This has led to consolidation of Rajput votes in the area in favour of the BJP candidate. Denial of ticket to another strong Rajput candidate Sunita Bhati of the Congress may prove costly for the party despite forging Muslim-Mehgwal alliance.

To win the seat, the Congress is also banking heavily on the local cleric Gazi Fakir. Fakir represents respected Pir Pagaras of Pakistan in this border belt of Rajasthan. Leaders of both the parties in the past have been seeking his support to ensure victory of their party candidates. Fakir’s son, Saleh Mohammad, is contesting from Pokaran Assembly seat on the Congress party ticket for the second term. Shaitan Singh Rathore of the BJP is fighting against him and had earlier lost 2008 elections by less than 500 votes. This time also the candidates are locked in a close fight and banking heavily of cast equations to steal victory.

It is believed Pakistani cleric holds sway over the community members and the local leaders woo his Indian counterpart to earn the support of the Sindhi-Muslims in the area. The majority population of over 2 lakh Sindhi-Muslims in the region are followers of Pir Pagara Aleemdeen Shah and according to political workers in the area they receive directions to support or reject a particular candidate. With just three days left before the campaign comes to an end on Friday evening, the candidates have intensified door-to-door campaign in the remote villages and taking out rallies and organising street corner meetings to reach out to the electorate.

The Pioneer, 27th November 2013

John Noble Wilford

In traditional narratives, Queen Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha, gave birth to him while holding on to a branch of a tree in a garden at Lumbini, in what is now Nepal. Accounts vary as to when this occurred, leaving uncertain the founding century of one of the world's major religions.

Until now, archaeological evidence favoured a date no earlier than the third century BC, when the Emperor Asoka promoted the spread of Buddhism through South Asia, leaving a scattering of shrines and inscriptions to the man who became "the enlightened one." A white temple on a gently sloping plateau at Lumbini, 20 miles from the border with India, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year to read a sandstone pillar documenting Asoka's homage at the Buddha's birthplace.

But new excavations by archaeologists at Lumbini have uncovered evidence of a much earlier timber shrine and brick structures above it — all of which lay beneath the temple that is a Unesco World Heritage site long identified as the birthplace. Dating fragments of charcoal and grains of sand, researchers determined that the lower structures were erected as early as the sixth century BC.

The international team of archaeologists said the lower structures were laid out on the same design as the more recent temple. The timber shrine even had an open space in the center that suggested a link to the Buddha's nativity tradition. Deep tree roots in the centre space may even have been from the tree his mother presumably held on to.

The archaeologists, led by Robin A E Coningham of Durham University in England, reported the findings on Monday in an article published online in the December issue of the international journal Antiquity. This was, they said, "the first archaeological evidence regarding the date of the life of Buddha."

The Indian Express, 27th November 2013

At least 15 avian species found in India figure under the list of Critically Endangered in the latest International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Birds.

These include the Great Indian Bustards, various species of vultures and forest owlets among others. Further, three other bird species now face greater danger than before.

This should be a wakeup call for the conservationists and the Government before it is too late, said the ornithologists. This year marks the 49th anniversary of the Red List, which IUCN compiles from available scientific research on rare living things.

Apart from the GIBs, other prominent species under the critically endangered category include wetland birds - Baer’s Pochard, Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper, non-migratory wetland bird the White-bellied Heron. The grassland species include Bengal Florican, Jerdon’s Courser and Sociable Lapwing amongst others. Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are now considered Extinct for all practical purposes.

Among the three avian species that are said to face greater danger in 2013 IUCN list are River Lapwing and River Tern that have been put from Least Concern to Near Threatened. The Long-tailed Duck on the other hand has been uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable. Continued destruction of wetlands and riverine habitats has been the cause of decline of these species.

According to Dr Asad Rahmani, avian expert, “There is an urgent need to conserve the remaining habitats and species dependent on them, based on insightful scientific field research. Policies that ensure this through sustainable development should be framed and implemented urgently.”

Several studies have revealed that most habitats as wetlands, grasslands and forests are facing severe threats due to the developmental pressures. Drastic loss of grassland habitat over the past decades has severely threatened species such as Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican and Jerdon’s Courser. Further, destruction of deciduous forests in central India has lead to the decline in Forest Owlet numbers. Even destruction of forests in the fragile Western Ghats and Himalaya continue to endanger the existence of many other species. Other reasons include incidence of chemical components as diclofenac for decline in vulture species.

On a global level, IUCN assessed 71,576 species for the report and found that 21,286 are threatened with extinction. About 799 species were declared extinct, 61 were declared extinct in the wild, and 4,286 are listed as critically endangered. The Red List is considered the most important indicator of both the health of species and the ecosystems in which they live.

The Pioneer, 27th November 2013

In Delhi, death often doesn’t put a full stop to lives well lived.

It was predestined. Delhi was, after all, founded on the banks of the Yamuna; the river itself being named after the sister of Yama, the Deity of Death. With the passage of time, Delhi was built and destroyed, built anew and destroyed afresh until it came to be the City of Tombs. Here the dead reside in every nook and cranny, lanes and highways. From the nondescript tomb of Raziya Sultan, the first woman ruler of India, to the much more impressive tomb of the Mughal king, Humayun, Delhi has opened its breast for them all. Humayun’s last resting place has, incidentally, been the precursor to the much more celebrated Taj Mahal in Agra. Just as the Safdarjung Tomb, another garden tomb, near the famed Lodi Garden, is said to be inspired by the Taj!

On the fringe of Old Delhi, you will find Ghaziuddin’s madrasa and tomb; in the heart of the city, we have Muhamad Shah’s tomb which is part of a series of tombs built during the reign of the Sayyids and Lodis. Then in and around Mehrauli, the place once ruled by a succession of Sultanate kings, starting with Qutubuddin Aibak, there are tombs at every step, notably those of Balban and Iltutmish. Not to forget that of Maham Anga, the wet nurse of Akbar. The area, incidentally, brought up the entire empire of the Mughal king, Shah Alam – translated as the Emperor of the Universe!

At many places, the dead are treated as, well, dead and gone. For instance Abdur Rahim Khan-e-khanan tomb near Nizamuddin. At others though, they are venerated. For proof one just has to go to the tombs of Nizamuddin, Amir Khusrau and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, a disciple of Moinuddin Chishti. Then near the historic Jama Masjid lies the tomb of Maulana Azad, the man who built the education system of modern India.

Old and new, medieval and modern, Delhi will always be more than a footnote whenever the annals of tombs will be written.

The Hindu, 28th November 2013

The little-known art form from Rajasthan ‘Kaawad bachana’ is an amazing blend of picture painting, singing and narration of mystical tales.

What a paradox it is in the face of reality shows and daily soaps that have invaded our homes, making traditional art forms like drama, Hari Katha more or less redundant; there is yet another belt in this very land of ours, which lives by its ancient culture alone! If India has an identity to boast of, well, it is the sand dunes of Rajasthan where antique crafts, culture and colours call for attention and appreciation.

What is the Kaawad?

The quaint Kaawad resembles a temple structure carved out of wood with many apertures that open like the doors of a temple and get neatly folded up within the layers of one another. The vintage shrine is painted in bright colours with mythological characters that tell a story within the pictures as each door is unfastened. Atop this temple like structure — which also looks like an almirah for those of us who have no inkling of this curio — is placed a painted face of either the Sun god (Surya) or the patron (a landlord or rajah) which is really big when compared to the other pictures painted on the Kaawad. The doors are supposed to lead to chambers of the sanctum and there can be any number of them from ten to 20. The Kaawad can be anywhere around one foot to three feet and is carried around by mobile narrators called Kaawadiya.

Part of legacy

“We acquire the skill to present the story tuned to folk raga as a parampara (legacy). We are poor people who earn a living by this and since this doesn’t suffice, we work on our land to make both ends meet,” says Pappu Ram who has just returned from a ‘Kaawad bachana’ (Vachan or story-telling through Kaawad). How does he tell the story and are there listeners around in these days of television and laptops?

“We are nomadic and the entire family moves into a village where we stay for two to three weeks, sometimes a month, giving performances at nearby villages. We are a troupe of four Kaawadiyas. We narrate the story of Pandavas, Ramayana, the story of mother goddess, story of Thakurji (Krishna), our local deity Bhomiyaji Maharaj and so on. It is mandatory that our opening statement reveal our genealogy and then we launch into the narration which takes hours. Each door of the Kaawad is opened to the audience and the story told as per the scenes on that door. The narration is continued by my teammate just in case I get exhausted. We go from door to door and since we are expected, donation in kind or cash flows as a matter of fact. We don’t beg; we showcase our ancestral art form. The earnings from Kaawad bachana is meager though at times, the chief patron of the area is generous with a lumpsum,” explains an enthusiastic Pappu Ram, of Bhopalgarh hamlet in Jodhpur.

Parents’ curse

Speaking for his clan which is referred to as ‘Kaawadiya Bhat’, Pappu Ram traces the Kaawadiya ancestry to the mythological character ‘Shravan’ a young boy with blind parents who is accidentally killed by King Dasaratha’s (Ramayana) arrow while he was carrying his parents in a ‘kaawadi’ strung to his shoulder. A curse by the parents who have lost their only support of a son, results in Dasaratha’s separation from his own son Rama. “We are the descendants of Shravan,” he concludes.

Narsi Ram, another Kaawad Bhat says, “We are touring troupes who go out of our native village taking the Kaawad along with us to whoever invites us. Generally we camp at a village and begin story-telling tuned to different raag (folk), collect our earnings and get back. Since we travel by foot, each visit takes a month. And in a year, we are bound to travel two to three times. We begin with an elaboration of the raag, then read our ancestry and dedicate the programme to our hereditary patron, the ‘jajmaan’ and then read the Kaawad. Originally this tradition of story-telling through interpretation of the pictures was on a cloth. Since the cloth paintings get worn and torn with inclement weather conditions, our forefathers shifted to wooden shrines. Carrying these can be irksome but then we get used to the inconvenience. At times we buy the shrines on order from the Suthar but generally they are gifted to us by people,” he details humbly.

Since the Kaavadiyas (storytellers) and their jajmans (hereditary patrons) consider the Kaavad as a sacred shrine, certain rituals are mandatory including donations for the livelihood of the narrator. Essentially a rustic tradition, there is a belief that listening to the stories, while watching the painted pictures purifies the soul and cleanses one of impure thoughts. A synergy exists between the Kaawad maker, the Kaawadiya and the patron which has kept the tradition alive.

The Kaavadiya is nearly a 400 year-old- rustic art form which, like several other oral traditions traces its origin to mythology, Despite the invasion of television into rural homes and computer literacy at the doorstep even at village level, the Kaawad culture is popular still both with the audience as well as the performer. “Though our children are getting educated, we will not give up on this ancient divine art form,” says Pappu Ram with conviction. Here is a confluence of aesthetics of picture painting, singing and narration making for a wholesome treat.

The Hindu, 29th November 2013

India is planning a new tiger sanctuary inside the world’s largest mangrove forest after a previously undiscovered group of the endangered beasts was discovered, wildlife officials have said.

The reserve is planned inside the Sundarbans, a forest that straddles West Bengal’s border with Bangladesh, to protect the tigers from poachers and try to boost their numbers.

“The Indian government has agreed in principle to set up a new sanctuary to protect the tigers in the mangroves,” said Pradip Vyas, director of the government’s Biosphere Sundarbans Project.

India is home to most of the world’s tigers and the Sundarbans, an Unesco world heritage site that spans a total of 10,000 sq km, already has a tiger reserve.

But a survey this year of the forest using hidden cameras found some 22 tigers outside that reserve, prompting government moves to set up the new and smaller sanctuary, Mr Vyas said.

He said the 22 could indicate a boost in overall tiger numbers in India, which is home to 1,706 tigers going by the last census in 2011.

“We have found the presence of 102 tigers, of which 80 were in the tiger reserve project near Sajnekhali and 22 in the forest on the western bank of the river Malta, site of the new sanctuary,” Mr Vyas said.

“What is more encouraging is that six cubs were photographed, besides the grown-up tigers, during the six-month-long census,” he added.

The Asian Age, 29th November 2013

The holiest place for Buddhist pilgrims worldwide, Mahabodhi temple of Bodh Gaya cherished a golden moment when the process of plating its huge spire with pure gold weighing about 300 kg was completed on Friday. The gold was donated by Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand, including the queen of the country.

“Installation of gold plate to the temple spire was over on Friday. The temple now looked sparkling and attractive,” said N Dorjee, secretary of the Buddhist Temple Management Committee.

The first phase of the work involving chemical treatment was completed in August to prepare the foundation for gold plating.The ancient 180-feet structure of the Mahabodhi temple is estimated to have been built between the 5th and 6th century AD.

The Bodh Gaya temple, a world heritage site declared by UNESCO is a holiest temple for Buddhist pilgrims from across the world. The Buddhist devotees throng the temple in large number every year to offer their prayer to the place where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment.

Of late, on July 7 there was a series of bomb explosions allegedly by the Indian Mujahideen operatives inside the temple premises. Last year, some Buddhist pilgrims, including queen of the country had reportedly visited the 1,500 years old Buddhist temple and decided to inlay the temple dome with gold for giving its sparkling look. They also contacted Archaeological Survey of Indian (ASI) officials to get the required permission.

Later, a team of technical experts from Thailand visited Bodh Gaya and took the measurement and requirement of gold for the project.

A team of over 200 officials, experts, technicians, engineers and devotees came to Bodh Gaya in early October and started covering the temple spire with gold.

A team of about 40 Thai commandos too had come along the visiting staff and they continued guarding the gold plating of the temple dome.

Altogether 289 kgs of gold was used in the plaiting the temple spire and all the glittering metal had come from Buddhist country Thailand.

“Thanks to the 289 kg of gold donated by queen of Thailand and Buddhist devotees from the country. The temple has not only become richer but it has a different look now,” said the temple secretary.All the gold was flown in a special plane from Bangkok.

The Pioneer, 30th November 2013