The structure is listed in a list of 775 heritage sites under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi notified in 2010. A portion of the gateway leading to Chandni Chowk’s Katra Neel collapsed on Friday morning. While no one was injured in the incident that took place around 9:30 am, resident welfare association (RWA) members and locals said that a tragedy was averted in the area that sees heavy footfall. Anil Pershad, one of the owners of Chandni Chowk’s Chunnamal Haveli that stands adjacent to the gateway, and vice-president of the Katra Neel RWA, said the gate collapsed at around 9:30am. Harish Mehra, the RWA president, said the association has been writing to the municipal corporation, police and other stakeholders such as the local legislator for many years, seeking an intervention for the gate’s conservation. “Authorities should step in and enquire about the reasons behind the collapse and proactively take steps for its repair and conservation. The gateway leads to three schools. People including children, mothers, senior citizens, and hordes of people commute through the gateway. On a daily basis, over a lakh people cross the gateway,” he said. The gateway dates back to the 19th century, according to INTACH’s a listing by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and comprises of a single bay with a pointed-arched opening that leads to the Katra Neel cloth market. The structure is listed in a list of 775 heritage sites under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi notified in 2010. Locals say that the gateway witnessed revolts during the country’s freedom struggle, particularly during the Quit India movement in 1942. A board that identifies the gateway as “Katra Neel Inqualabi Darwaza” also hangs precariously on the gateway. Following Friday morning’s incident, the area around the gateway was cordoned off and traffic through the gateway restricted. Residents say that the gateway has not seen any conservation efforts despite appeals and is deteriorating with each passing day. Pershad said while the RWA was willing to take necessary steps to preserve the gateway, it would require the involvement of heritage experts. “Such buildings are fragile and need the involvement of heritage experts and agencies. As part of the second phase of the Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Project, facade improvement needs to be undertaken by the agencies involved. We don’t know when the process will start,” said Pershad. Historian and author Swapna Liddle said the incident was unfortunate and highlighted the need to protect the cultural markers of the city. “The gateway is an important landmark. It is associated with the national movement and occupies an important place in the city’s history. It serves as a memorial in popular memory and should be taken care of by appropriate agencies,” said Liddle.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/portion-of-gateway-to-iconic-katra-neel-in-chandni-chowk-collapses-101666983532978.html, November 1, 2022

Fortunately, the art is still surviving in remote rural areas where concrete houses are not being constructed, she adds.However, there are some women artists who are trying to preserve the art for future generations.Koshaliya Devi Sharma 81 of Baran city has painted over 140 Mandana designs on wooden boards, of which 100 were preserved by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage INTACH in its central library.

Koshaliya Devi also sang folklore attached with various Mandana designs and these were recorded by INTACH for its collection. Once a popular folk art, Mandana designs that used to adorn mud walls of homes in rural Rajasthan are quickly disappearing. Reason: The rapid urbanisation with the construction of concrete houses. Mandana designs are mainly drawn on mud smeared walls with white lime liquid called ''khadiya'' by rural women on auspicious occasions like Diwali, Holi, birth and wedding ceremonies.

The designs include pointed stars, six-petal flowers, lotus and swastika. Sita Devi Sharma (85) says the folk art that was once used to decorate walls and doorsteps disappeared as people started constructing concrete houses at her Talwas village, around 30 km away from Bundi. There is hardly a single Mandana painting drawn on house walls in the village now as locals have constructed concrete houses and buy wallpapers and wall paintings for decoration, says Sita Devi’s son and village development committee member Mulchand Sharma. Another Mandana artist, Bhagwati Saxena of Bundi too expressed disappointment over the disappearance of the ages-old art form. Fortunately, the art is still surviving in remote rural areas where concrete houses are not being constructed, she adds. However, there are some women artists who are trying to preserve the art for future generations.

Koshaliya Devi Sharma (81) of Baran city has painted over 140 Mandana designs on wooden boards, of which 100 were preserved by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in its central library. Koshaliya Devi also sang folklore attached with various Mandana designs and these were recorded by INTACH for its collection. Besides, she has also set up Rajasthan School of Mandana Art, where at least 26 women are currently being imparted training under the supervision of Koshaliya Devi.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/entertainment/2224393-rajasthan-growing-urbanisation-takes-toll-on-mandana-paintings, November 2, 2022

When many old Indian cities are seeing architecturally rich heritage buildings being pulled down Sambalpur in western Odisha has been renovating many of its legacy buildings and monuments over the past few years. After the restoration of the Rani Mahal of the 17th century fort on the Mahanadi River and the renovation of the house where Assamese novelist, poet, playwright Lakshminath Bezbaruah lived in Sambalpur, it is the turn of the colonial era Victoria Town Hall.

Victoria Town Hall According to an entry, in the Bengal Gazetteer: Sambalpur, by LSS O’Malley, the Town Hall was built in 1904 to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria with subscriptions raised for the purpose. Post-independence, it was renamed after noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. Although the building housed educational institutions and government offices in various phases, it was losing its architectural finesse with time.

INTACH, which had successfully renovated the other two buildings, was entrusted to turn around the town hall. If all goes according to plan, the town hall will be house a museum which will focus on the life and culture of western Odisha, media reports said. Sambalpur is famous for its eponymous sari and it is expected the museum will contain displays about the making of the saree and its specialities. According to reports, the museum is likely to be opened in December this year.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72240/colonial-era-town-hall-in-sambalpur-renovated, November 2, 2022

Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Mann on Wednesday called upon students to become ambassadors of the Punjabi language, art, and culture to promote the rich cultural legacy of the state across the country. Addressing the students and academicians at Apeejay School here during ‘INTACH Quiz Competition’, the minister said the Punjab Government would soon start quiz competitions across the state wherein questions about the state’s culture, language, art to be asked from the participants and winners would get a cash reward.

The minister further stated,”We should be proud of our language, culture, and heritage as our roots are deeply connected with it. We should never forget our cultural identity. Our mother tongue Punjabi is the richest and sweetest language across the globe,” she said, adding that to preserve and spread this language across the globe strenuous efforts need to be made by one and all.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/government-to-hold-quiz-contests-on-states-art-culture-minister-447105, November 3, 2022

Archaeologists have come across a 170-year-old rare inscription carved on a block of wood at a temple in Odisha's Puri district. A three-member team of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) chanced upon the finding during a survey of archaeological remains at Delang area in Daya-Ratnachira river valley. An engraved wooden platform around 170 years old was found in Paschima Somanath temple in Harirajpur village located near Khurdagada Fort, which was the capital of the Bhoi dynasty, INTACH project co-ordinator Anil Dhir said. Deepak Kumar Nayak and Bikram Nayak were other members of the team. "The inscription reads 'Ramachandra debanka 44 ankare tolaa' or the temple was constructed in the 44th regnal year of King Ramachandra Deva III," Deepak Kumar Nayak said. As per 'Khurda Itihasa', a book written by eminent historian Kedarnath Mohapatra, the Bhoi dynasty had four rulers, each named Ramachandra Deva. Of them, only Ramachandra Deva III had ruled for above 44 regnal years (from 1817 CE to 1854 CE), while the others had shorter reigns. It is clear the wooden platform was constructed during the reign of Gajapati Ramachandra Deva III around 1852-53, he said. The wooden block was originally installed in the 'Bhogamandapa' in front of the main shrine but later kept in a subsidiary temple, Dhir said. "Copper and rock-cut inscriptions last for a long time but wooden inscriptions wither away. Finding a wooden inscription in such a pristine condition is rare," he said. The temple is located close to the site where an Utkal University team led by Kishore Basa had unearthed two skeletons and archaeological artifacts a few years ago. The findings suggest early settlement of the area, Dhir said. He said many artifacts and archaeological remnants of early period temples have been found in the area. "Unfortunately, most walls of the Khurdagarh Fort have crumbled and the stone blocks have been carted away. The natural moat, which existed on three sides of the fort, is now being filled up. The team has also discovered ancient step-wells in the vicinity," he said. The INTACH team suggested that a detailed survey of the area should be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or the state Archaeological Department and the existing heritage should be protected.

https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2022/10/23/ces7-od-archaeology-inscription.html, November 4, 2022

The Government Girls’ General Degree College in Ekbalpore will host a heritage food fest, Khana-e-Kidderpore on November 22, as part of the World Heritage Week. A women’s college located in Kidderpore, a neighborhood sitting on the southwest edge of Kolkata, is planning to use food as a medium to culturally join the Muslim-dominated area with the mainstream, and build bridges between communities. The Government Girls’ General Degree College in Ekbalpore, one of the pockets of Kidderpore, will host a heritage food fest, Khana-e-Kidderpore, on November 22, as part of World Heritage Week. The event,which will include talks and panel discussions, would essentially celebrate the wide variety of food that Kidderpore still boasts of, even though many in Kolkata associate the neighbourhood only with biryani and kebabs.

A women’s college located in Kidderpore, a neighborhood sitting on the southwest edge of Kolkata, is planning to use food as a medium to culturally join the Muslim-dominated area with the mainstream, and build bridges between communities. The Government Girls’ General Degree College in Ekbalpore, one of the pockets of Kidderpore, will host a heritage food fest, Khana-e-Kidderpore, on November 22, as part of World Heritage Week. The event,which will include talks and panel discussions, would essentially celebrate the wide variety of food that Kidderpore still boasts of, even though many in Kolkata associate the neighbourhood only with biryani and kebabs.

“From pice hotels selling multifarious traditional Bengali food to Awadhi kebabs, biryanis and pulaos, from traditional Bengali sweets to halwa puri and mawaladdu, from fish fry to bakharkhani and nan khatai, from litti chokha to dalvada and German bread, Kidderpore area has developed as a culinary basket of southwestern Kolkata,” Antara Mukherjee, an assistant professor of English at the college and the brain behind the festival, told The Hindu. The event is being held in collaboration with the West Bengal Heritage Commission, INTACH, and popular initiatives such as Know Your Neighbour and Break Free Trails. It will include the release of a local food map and a cooking competition, with local students being asked to prepare their favourite family desserts — a way of preserving recipes. “This women’s college opened six years ago, the result of a long struggle by the people of Kidderpore. When I joined at the time, coming from Chandannagar, I came with a lot of pre-conceived notions about the neighbourhood. But things began to unfold for me as I interacted with the people and discovered a whole new space,” said Dr. Mukherjee. “You can call this event our reciprocal gesture to the neighbourhood.”

Melting pot of cultures
Kidderpore includes the areas of Ekbalpore (where the college is located), Mominpur and Metiaburz. It has been a city within a city, growing around the port in the latter half of the 19 th century, a part of it having already transformed into a mini-Lucknow when Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was made to settle there. Heritage enthusiasts lament that the incidents of crime reported from the neighbourhood in the recent decades, have overshadowed Kidderpore’s rich history and its reputation as a melting pot of cultures.

“The festival is essentially a celebration of the gastronomical plurality of the region — cuisines ranging from Awadhi and Bihari to local Bengali to Anglo-Indian to South Indian. These diverse cuisines not only highlight the rich intangible heritage of the area but also underscore the social diversity that is often overshadowed by stereotypical mindsets nurtured through preconceived notions.” Dr. Mukherjee said. “Moreover, through this event, the college is also attempting to create the scope of sustainability for some of the oldest food and catering enterprises (most still family-run) by inviting eateries to participate as pop-ups, and display their best fare to what we believe should be a sizeable audience from a varied academic as well as social Kolkata diaspora,” she said.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/in-kolkata-a-womens-college-seeks-to-build-bridges-between-communities-through-food/article66124076.ece, November 7, 2022

Hakeem Manzoor, a Papier-mâché artist remembers that day vividly when decided to introduce his art into interiors. “I am into Papier-mâché art for the last 40 years. Earlier I used to work on boxes and other stuff. However things changed 15 years when we introduced Papier-mâché art in the interiors”, said Manzoor.

We have done interior Papier-mâché work in houses and shrines. It all began in 2010 with the Charar-e-Sharief shrine, and then we worked at Peer Dastageer Sahib after the fire incident. We worked on that project till 2014, he said. Adding that he said, “We then did the Papier-mâché work at Ziyarat Naqshband Sahab for one year and then at Khanqah-e-Moula. In 2017, we worked on the project at the Shrine of Hazrat Ameer Kabeer Meer Syed Ali Hamdan for two to three years".

This craft started taking turns in the year 2010 and now the people are appreciating the art, he said. Adding that Manzoor said, The Papier-mâché work on small boxes is almost over and that is the reason why any parent does not his children to take up the art as there is no benefit and money. Also, there is no inclination of government towards that work”. I will give you my example, my son has done graduation and has been working with me as slowly interior Papier-mâché work is taking shape and is giving a small benefit. We have worked extremely hard on the interior Papier-mâché art, Manzoor said.

I think, if the government takes this Papier-mâché interior work at the international level, huge employment can be created here in Kashmir and parents will encourage children to take up the art, he said. My father changed the concept 15 years back because it was exporters who used to earn money while workers used to get a few pennies. My father took a bold step and took the Papier-mâché work to interiors at a different level, said Hakeem Manzoor. The Papier-mâché work we are doing right now is a lifetime work. Our Papier-mâché work won’t get bad in a few years. It is a handmade work. Our biggest support has been an engineer at INTACH Sameer Hamdani, Hakeem said.

"He taught so many things to my father on how Papier-mâché can be introduced into interiors. Our work is going good as in Kashmir people are found of Papier-mâché work”, Hakeem said. Adding that he said I would urge the government to put extra efforts into Papier-mâché work so that it can provide a livelihood to other families like ours. Also, the Jammu and Kashmir government should look over people who have mastered the art of Papier-mâché on boxes. Those people need dire attention from the government as it is high time revive their art and make Papier-mâché work and employment generation tools.

http://brighterkashmir.com/papier-mache-kashmirs-window-to-outside-world, November 9, 2022

The main objective of the workshop was to save vanishing traditional cuisines by infusing them with the mainstream food market and globalisation of local foods. State-run Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) in association with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organised a workshop on inclusion of rural women in mainstream food market at the conference hall of its office ‘Ama Gaon Kudia’ at the national level Pallishree Mela of Baliyatra on Thursday. The main objective of the workshop was to save vanishing traditional cuisines by infusing them with the mainstream food market and globalisation of local foods.

Joint CEO, ORMAS, Cuttack Bipin Rout sensitised rural women entrepreneurs on traditional Odia cuisines such as ‘arisa pitha’ and ‘poda pitha’ and their scope to emerge as a business opportunity. Social activist Kabita Pattanaik helped in triggering the idea of making different ‘pithas’ from millets and other products.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/nov/11/workshop-on-food-by-ormas-2517235.html, November 9, 2022

With the objective of conserving and promoting historical and cultural heritage of Katni district and raising awareness among people about it, the Katni unit of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) organised a Pratham Heritage Quiz 2022 at First Step Nursery School. According to school authorities, 29 teams from seven schools participated in the quiz.

Talking to the media, the school authorities stated Goddess Saraswati was worshipped before commencement of quiz after which tributes were paid to former history department head at Jabalpur University, RK Sharma. This was followed by a written quiz and verbal quiz. The results of the competition were announced. Ansh Shrivastava and Mehek Kevat from Chicago Public School bagged first position followed by students Ujjawal Yadav and Chitransh Solanki of Royal Palm Public School bagging second position. Arpita and Sumit from RC Higher Secondary School finished third in the competition. Ansh and Mehek have been chosen for the state level quiz.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/katni-quiz-on-heritage-organised-at-school, November 10, 2022

“We told police to either hand them over to the state archaeology department or give them to the state museum for display in the coin gallery section,” says ASI official. LUCKNOW An earthen pot containing 129 British-era silver coins was found during digging in a house in Bhim Nagar area in Lucknow’s Yahiaganj on Monday.

The police reported the matter to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) so that the value of the coins could be ascertained, said officials. “On Thursday, our team inspected 129 silver coins dating back to the British era. We told the police to either hand them over to the state archaeology department or give them to the state museum for display in the coin gallery section," said Aftab Hussain, superintending archaeologist, ASI.

ADCP (west) Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said Gyan Singh, a resident of Yahiyaganj in Bhim Nagar, was getting construction work done in the house. Workers engaged in digging came across a pot buried in the soil. After unearthing the pot, they found silver coins in it, said cops. The ADCP said these coins will be deposited in the state treasury after verification.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/129-british-era-silver-coins-unearthed-in-lucknow-house-101668100808581.html, November 12, 2022

The discovery of coins dating back to the 16th century has brought limelight to a Catholic village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The coins were discovered after Aasai Thambi, an officer of the Department of Archaeology, began excavation in Punnaikayal, a coastal village in Tuticorin district in the sourthern state of India from November 1. Thambi discovered 14 copper coins from the shore, near St Xavier’s Church, the local parish church. Studies have shown that the greenish coins dated back to the 15th or 16th century, says Micheal Leoraj, a local social activist. The excavation also unearthed pieces of Chinese ceramic pots, a well’s cover, and some tiles. The official also found the skull of Henrique Henriques (1520–1600), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and the first European Tamil scholar. He mastered Tamil and wrote several books, including a dictionary. Henriques is called the Father of the Tamil Press because of his efforts to print Tamil, the first non-European language, in moveable type. He died February 22, 1600, at Punnaikayal and his mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica in Tuticorin. Now, Punnaikayal, a parish under the diocese of Tuticorin, has 12,000 people whose ancestors had accepted Catholicism when the Jesuits arrived there in the mid-16th century. Three of Father Henriques’ books were discovered in various libraries in the world, says Father Amuthan Adikal, a native of the village and the author of a book called “Punnaikayal in the History.” The Jesuit missionary composed grammar and dictionary in Tamil, which, though never printed, were widely used by other Europeans. The excavation began after the people of Punnaikayal under the leadership of the village head, took the initiative to collect evidence of its Portuguese links. They approached the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a research. They submitted a petition to Thangam Thennarasu, the state minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology. The villagers have pleaded with Aasai Thambi to continue the excavation to unearth the printing press. Related documents are handed over to the officer by the village leader and the local parish priest. Historians say further research would lead to the discovery of more evidence as Punnaikayal was one of the oldest ports, with a toll booth. According to history, the place once housed the first hospital, first seminary, and the first printing press. Punnaikayal was once the headquarters of the Dutch colonizers.

https://www.indiancatholicmatters.org/tamil-nadu-16th-century-coins-discovered-near-catholic-church-in-tuticorin-district/, November 14, 2022

Nature enthusiasts participated in the heritage walk organised by INTACH Madurai around Arittapatti village in Melur taluk on Sunday. The State government recently declared Arittapatti the first biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu with a view to protecting its vast ecosystem. Madurai-based ornithologist T. Badri Narayanan said the village was surrounded by seven hillocks and was rich in water resources though there was no river running close by. He said the village housed three important raptors — Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle.

A member of Arittapatti Ezhumalai Pathukappu Sangam, A. Ravichandran, elaborated on the many distinct features of the village and how a nearby hillock was protected from mining. The participants were in for a surprise when they spotted an owl emerging from its roost on a hillock. INTACH’s co-convenor Vani C. Senguttawan and others were present.

Over 110 students from the Department of History, Lady Doak College, went on a field visit recently to learn the history, biodiversity and cultural heritage of Arittapatti. A press release said many students and professors had been engaged in research on the many aspects of the village and their importance in society.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/heritage-walk-taken-out-at-arittapatti/article66193040.ece, November 19, 2022

The Srinagar City is surrounded with the heritage sites, but the non-implementation of the law to preserve these sites have resulted in reduction of such places in the past two decades as the survey conducted by INTACH, J&K Chapter has revealed progressive loss of heritage sites in the City. “In the past two decades, a total of 12 per cent of the heritage sites or buildings have been dismantled completely while six per cent are either in danger of disappearance or have been found in advance state of decay,” Chairman INTACH, J&K Chapter, Muhammad Saleem Beg said. He said that a total of 349 sites were identified and categorized as Grade I properties in the 2003 listing while only 49 percent out of them are in good or fair conditions. “We recently conducted a survey again for the smart city project and we have found that 51 per cent heritage sites as per 2003 listing are either dismantled completely or showing signs of deterioration.

Besides, six per cent out of them are in danger of disappearance or in an advanced state of decay,” he said. Beg further added that in 2010, a law was formed with regard to the preservation of the heritage sites, but was not implemented on the ground so far, which led to the demolition of the heritage buildings and poor condition of others as well. “Had the law been implemented, all the heritage sites would have been in good condition in Srinagar,” he said. The situation is because of the lack of seriousness as well as the accountability on the ground, he said and added the City is progressively losing the heritage sites every year, but there is a need to implement the law concerning the heritage sites. Chairman INTACH, J&K Chapter while divulging the details said that during the new survey conducted recently, a total of 17 new sites have been added in the Grade I category.

“With the addition of new 17 sites, the City has a total of 307 heritage sites at present, which need to be preserved and protected following the implementation of the law,” he said. “The central government recently came up with an industrial policy under which the heritage sites have been declared as industry as well. The government has said that it will provide a 30 per cent incentive for any activity to be started at the heritage sites. However, the J&K administration has unfortunately failed to recommend any single case to the central government so far, which would have helped in preserving the heritage sites,” he said. He added that there is a need to create awareness, ensure regulation and preservation of the heritage sites and steps in this regard are imperative at this juncture. (KNO).

https://kashmirobserver.net/2022/11/26/srinagar-losing-heritage-sites-reveals-survey/, November 20, 2022

Calcutta Rowing Club (CRC), founded in 1858, received a heritage plaque on Saturday from the Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (Intach), Kolkata Chapter. CRC is a Grade One heritage structure listed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. "We are celebrating World Heritage Week from today (Saturday) to create awareness regarding conservation and preservation of heritage.

This club is the oldest rowing club in the east and so we are honoured to felicitate CRC with our plaque," G M Kapur of Intach said. The digging of the man-made lake started in 1924 and finished in 1928 when CRC shifted to its final destination.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/calcutta-rowing-club-receives-heritage-plaque-499694, November 20, 2022

Persian-heritage of Kashmir is enriching: Saleem Beg. Prominent cultural conservation organization, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is aiming to bring back the lost legacy of Persian heritage-celebrating Kashmir’s cultural legacy—urging people to identify the Persian treasure across the Kashmir region. According to the organisers, the weeklong exhibition, Insha-i- Darab, is scheduled to be held at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar.

The event is being organised by Nighat Shafi Pandit in association with Help Foundation and Drabu Family. The event curators have urged people, especially those who are culturally sensitive to preserve and share their family archives. “We at INTACH Kashmir are committed to celebrating our cherished common heritage with the community at large,” cultural activist and convenor, INTACH, Kashmir, Saleem Beg, told Greater Kashmir.

Genesis of Insha-i- Darab
Recollecting the genesis of the Insha-i- Darab, Beg says that a call from Nighat Shafi Pandit somewhere in early this year was an eye-opener as she had gotten a hand on a cache of manuscripts, which proved intriguing. The manuscripts forgotten and locked in an old rusty suitcase had been acquired by her from the family of Khwaja Muhammad Amin Darab some years back. “Though the trunk had already been examined before my visit, yet somehow had failed to excite the interests of the examiners.

Yet, she persevered, safe in the knowledge that the trunk at the very least enshrined a cherished memory,” he says. Beg along with expert Pirzada Muhammad Ashraf while revealing the archives of the last major Persianate poet of 20th century Kashmir, Khwaja Muhammad Amin Drabu, say it was a treasure trove “INTACH found this personal archive to be rich cultural value and a memory that unfolded the life and times of Darab Saheb, his scholarly pursuits, interest in educational and craft merchandise,” Beg says. “We mined into the collection and examined folio after folio and assembled a selection into a thread that gives an insight into his life and also the times and the then prevailing cultural and literary landscape." Beg further says that it brought into limelight his way of engaging with the community, scripting for their invites, writing marsiya on the passing away of eminent persons and verified tarikhs on deaths qita-i tarikhs or inscribing the verse on the inauguration of a shrine or mosque. religious and educational activities.

Khwaja Muhammad Amin Darab
The first half of the twentieth century marks a steady eclipse of Persian in Kashmir, after its prominence as the language of the court, religion, literature, historiography and elite culture for more than five centuries. In this world of steady decline, Khwaja Muhammad Amin with the takhalus under the penname ‘Darab’ emerges as one of the last transmitters of traditional Muslim learning, grounded in Persian adab (literature). Born in Narwara, Srinagar, Darab belonged to a prominent Kashmiri family of traders and landowners: the Drabus.

His father, Khwaja Nur-ud Din, aside from being a trader in the city, was also well versed in Persian adab, as is evident from the qitah-i-tarikh (chronogram) he wrote in Persian on the birth of Darab. Moulvi Ibrahim in his short sketch on the life of Darab, postulates that the father must have also served as the first tutor of his son. This is a tradition which we also observed in other literary families of Srinagar, especially in the nineteenth century.

The last quarter of the 19th century marks a transition in Kashmiri society, with the colonial education system of teaching in English making headway in the city, especially through schools run by Christian Missionaries. To counter this, Mirwaiz Rasool Shah (d. 1909) opened a madrassa, which in the early part of the twentieth century took the shape of a High School. Though the Darbu family had emerged as strong followers of the Mirwaiz family and would remain so, yet we have no account of Darab getting enrolled in any school. His education was based on the traditional maktab system operating in the city, though from his letters it emerges that he also acquired a working knowledge of English. “Darab’s lifelong interest in Kashmir’s contribution to Persian adab is best highlighted in his meticulous documentation of the works of one of Kashmir’s greatest Persianate poets, Ghani Kashmiri,” Beg says. “Published in 1980 under the title “Diwan-i Ghani”, the volume reflects Darab’s desire to preserve and promote this historical link between Kashmir the land and Persian the language.”

Persian in Kashmir
According to Professor Mufti Mudasir Faroooqi, among several centres of Persian learning that emerged in the Indian subcontinent following the establishment of Muslim rule, Kashmir enjoyed a distinct position. “Kashmir’s cultural ties with Persia, as some archaeological findings suggest, date back to ancient times. But it is with the beginning of the Muslim rule in the fourteenth century that Kashmir became a great centre of Persian scholarship, creating a fertile ground for the growth of native writers and attracting distinguished men from Iran and the rest of India,” he says. “Because of its strong cultural, religious, literary and even climatic affinities, Kashmir came to be known as Iran-e-Sagheer (little Iran). During Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin’s rule (1420–70) Persian received an unprecedented impetus.

Himself a poet and a great patron of learning, he is credited with establishing a daar-u-tarjama, or a translation bureau, where scholars translated texts from Sanskrit and other languages into Persian and from Arabic and Persian into Sanskrit and Kashmiri.” Pertinently Persian also gained immense importance with the arrival of Sufis and preachers from Persia and Central Asia, who poured into the Valley to disseminate the Islamic faith. The most important of these was Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani, the famous Sufi saint and missionary who, in the words of Allama Iqbal, laid the foundations of this ‘little Iran’. From the fourteenth to the late nineteenth century, Persian was not only the language of administration but the primary language for all kinds of writing: historical, literary, religious and political. Kashmir can rightfully boast of its poets, theologians and historians who produced great masterpieces in Persian.

From Muhammad Amin Uwaisi (d. 1484) known to the Kashmiris as Woosi Saeb to Muhammad Amin Darab (1891-1979), Kashmir’s Persian poets have made a rich contribution to literature and many have been acclaimed for their craftsmanship in Iran too. It was with the beginning of the Mughal rule in Kashmir in 1589 that Persian reached its zenith. Many Iranian poets travelled to different Mughal courts and some, finding the Indian climate appallingly inclement, visited and settled in Kashmir. It may be recalled, INTACH Kashmir, has been involved in mapping, documenting and preserving the cultural heritage of Kashmir for over decades.

Some of the major programmes that we initially engaged with related to the built heritage of the region. These include the Conservation of Aali Masjid, Amar Singh College, and Mughal Gardens as well as the reconstruction of the Dastgir Sahab Shrine, Khanqah-i-Maulla and other projects of similar nature. “Nevertheless, despite its limited resources INTACH has actively engaged in efforts to preserve and promote both Tangible as well as Intangible Heritage of this culturally rich land,” Beg says.

“Additionally, to promote a better understanding of the past, numerous exhibitions were curated on Calligraphy, Urban Spaces, Sacred Architecture and Manuscripts in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi. We have been on the lookout for the archival, oral and textual material which to our understanding though scattered and undocumented, is available in individual or institutional possession. This material is an important resource that helps in unravelling the rich cultural legacy of Kashmir. The present exhibition is a significant effort in this direction.”

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/city/insha-i-darab-in-search-of-persian-legacy-in-kashmir, November 21, 2022

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Jammu Chapter in collaboration with Dharmarth Trust and JMC’s Urban Forestry Division conducted maiden heritage walk, photo exhibition of heritage temple, cleanliness drive and other activities at here in historical Shri Raghunathji Temple to celebrate ‘World Heritage Week’, today.

The students of School of Hospitality & Tourism Management-University of Jammu and NSS students of GGM Science College participated in the event. Advocate Ajay Gandotra, President J&K Dharmarth Trust was the chief guest, who flagged off the heritage walk along with SM Sahni (KAS Retd), convener and Dr CM Seth co convener of INTACH J&K, Ashok Kumar Sharma (SSP Retd) Secretary Dharmarth Trust, Kirpal Singh Life Member INTACH, Dr Suvidha Khanna and Prof Deepali Mahajan senior faculty members. The priests conducted a heritage walk and showed each and every part of Raghunath ji Temple which is the heritage temple of North India and is the pride of Jammu.

SM Sahni briefed about the importance of Shri Raghunathji Temple as a heritage site and for being the biggest temple of undivided North Indian States, while Dr CM Seth threw light on the vision of Maharajas to make Jammu as North India’s Kashi. Ajay Gandotra said that the Trust is managing about 114 temples in Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haridwar. He threw light on the role of Trust in preserving the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked students to consider this temple as a marvel of the rich heritage of the region and also feel the essences of its religious significance and the popularity which this site enjoys among the visitors coming from within the country and even abroad. He asked the students to visit other temples of the Trust and explore marvelous architecture.

Later, an art workshop was conducted in which more than 100 heritage temples of J&K were showcased. Administrative Officer Dharmarth Trust, Manmohan Singh and Assistant Manager Raghunath ji Temple, Sandeep Kumar were also present.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/intach-holds-heritage-walk-photo-exhibition/, November 22, 2022

The only way to get the UNESCO World Heritage City tag for Hyderabad is to have a streamlined process of checks and balances for conservation and restoration works of the city’s heritage. This was stated by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) at a presser to demand improved conservation norms. “We are delighted that the region’s conservation methods have been acknowledged in the Asia-Pacific region. But we want adherence to conservation norms by the State.

There should be a transparent method to hire conservation firms and peer reviews of completed projects,” said INTACH-Hyderabad convenor Anuradha Reddy. The State government and its officials have shown renewed interest in heritage with a buzz about working towards the coveted UNESCO tag.

“There are conservation guidelines and standards for materials to be used. If there is a scientific approach, then the restored buildings will last for a long time. Otherwise, we will get temporary gloss followed by big problems,” said S.P. Anchuri, an engineer and architect associated with INTACH.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/stick-to-conservation-norms-for-heritage-tag-says-intach/article66204550.ece, November 25, 2022

Fifty students from various departments of Apeejay College of Fine Arts went on a historical trip to Vishveshvaranand Vishwa Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Vedic Ideological Studies, Hoshiarpur. This one day trip was organised in collaboration with INTACH. The main purpose of this trip was to acquaint the students about Indian art, culture, philosophy and to give them a tour of the Research Centre.

Visveswarananda Vishwabandu Institute of Sanskrit and Vedic Research Center was chosen for this historic journey located on the Hoshiarpur to Una Road in District Hoshiarpur as this institute is popularly known as Sadhu Ashram and is also a Research Center. Moreover, it is recognised as a Regional Centre under Panjab University, Chandigarh, and is India's second largest museum Research Centre, Vedic Institute and library. Ancient scriptures, manuscripts, coins, seals and statues are kept here and almost one to 1.5 lakh handwritten Pandu scripts are also here.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/budding-author-interacts-with-mates-455895, November 26, 2022

A powerhouse of talent and skills, Odisha is home to many craft skills, with every street and bylane bustling with artisans who churn out heritage paintings, textiles, embroidery and more, made with a diverse range of products. One unique craft is not only mesmerising but also eco-friendly: coir handicrafts. Derived from the nuts of coconut palms, coir is exceptionally tensile and environmentally friendly. Called 'Kalpvriksha' or the all-giving tree, this natural fibre is artistically moulded into various shapes and sizes, birthing a unique coir craft that Odisha is famous for.

Different communities sustain their livelihoods in the city of Puri with coir craft work. This coir craft is practised chiefly by rural women folk in various areas. Raghurajpur village, about 10km from Puri, is a stunning artisan village responsible for safeguarding various traditional arts, including coir craft. In 2000, the area was developed as a heritage village by INTACH. It soon became a major rural tourist destination of the state, where residents were also trained to take domestic and foreign tourists on a heritage tour of the village. The abundance of coconut plantations allows the men and women in this village to work with coconut products. Many of these artisans are farmers who use coir as an additional source of income.

The Making Of Coir Coir is traditionally processed from coconut husks. It is cured in saline or freshwater for 8-10 months by a process called "Retting", which increases the fibre's flexibility, strength and durability. The coir fibre is sorted while the product's design (toys, household items) is drawn on paper. If the finished article is small, the coir is simply moulded by tying it with threads into the desired shape. The design is imprinted on cardboard for more significant items, over which the coir is pasted using a combination of glue and water. Many of the items are made in parts, all of which are assembled at the end of the day to bring the final product to life. If the product needs stiffness, it is dipped in diluted glue. It can take up to 5-6 hours for the final product to dry up. Most of these coir products take the shape of horses, crocodiles, dinosaurs, giraffes, monkeys, elephants, and houses, for which coloured wool is used in ornamentation. Many products also use wooden beads and bells to make them attractive. Earlier, raw coir fibre was separated using hands; today, the process is mechanical, bringing down the price point.

Growth Initiatives While income from the craft was limited, many NGOs are working towards uplifting the artisans today. A scheme by the government called "Coir Vikas Yojana" aims to promote the development of domestic and export markets, skill development and training, empowerment of women, employment/entrepreneurship creation and development, enhanced raw material utilisation, trade-related services, welfare activities for the coir workers, among other agendas.

Orissa Rural and Urban Producers' Association (ORUPA) is another voluntary effort towards encouraging and helping Odisha's handicraft and handloom artisans to keep the traditional art forms alive. Getting there: Raghurajpur is only 10km by road from Puri. So you must book a car or an auto-rickshaw for travelling to and fro. Puri can be reached by road, rail or air. The closest airport is the Bhubaneswar Airport, which is 53 km away.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72383/the-making-of-coir-crafts-in-odisha, November 28, 2022

Nestled in the Aravali Ranges, the sleepy Hajipur Dadikar village in Rajasthan’s Alwar district is now buzzing with activity as historians and tourists flock to take a look at the pre-historic rock paintings in its hills depicting scenes of dance, hunting and animal figures. Discovered in 2001, the paintings are spread over an area of 10-12 sq km. District Tourism Officer Tina Yadav said rock paintings in the hills of Hajipur Dadikar have been included in the list of tourist places in the district.

"Dadikar has emerged as a new tourist point in recent years. Tourists from more than 50 countries have visited this place," Tejpal Gurjar, a local tourist guide said. He said the rock paintings depict swastika, lion, elephant, sword, peacock, fish, sun, shepherd grazing goats, fighting animals, animal skins and other wild animals. Tractor-trolleys are used to take the tourists to the last motorable point and from there the trekking starts.

“The site is now getting popular. Several tourists who come to Alwar, which is famous for the Sariska tiger reserve and other sites like Silisedh, reach Dadikar for trekking and for the rock paintings,” he told PTI. According to the guide, tourists from Australia, America, Mexico, England, France, Thailand, Poland, Ireland, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, Spain, Sri Lanka, Japan etc.

have undertaken trips to the hills to see the rock paintings. Nirvana Bodhisattva, the founder of Nirvanavan Foundation, who has been living in Dadikar for nearly 30 years, said the government should make every possible effort to preserve the site. “This is a historic site and many people have started visiting it. The government should make all efforts to preserve it,” he said. Dr Neeta Dubey, member of the Indian National Trust for Art Culture and Heritage (INTACH), an organisation working on heritage conservation, said the subjects of the prehistoric rock paintings in Hajipur Dadikar are human figures, scenes of dance after hunting, scenes of hunting with nets, animal figures like bulls, lions, elephants, goats, nilgai etc.

Principal of the Government Higher Secondary School Bhaveda, Alwar, Dr. Komal Kant Sharma said information about the rock shelters and rock paintings of Hajipur Dadikar area was given to archaeologist Premlata Pokrana by a bank worker, which was based on information given by shepherds. An extensive research work was then carried out in this area.PTI KBM SDA IJT DV DV.

https://theprint.in/india/pre-historic-rock-art-in-aravali-hills-puts-rajasthan-village-on-tourist-map/1238001/, November 28, 2022

The Museum of Christian Art (MoCA), the first of its kind in Asia, is housed in the 17th-century Convent of Santa Monica, a heritage building of significant historical and architectural value that is close to UNESCO World Heritage Monuments in Old Goa. It was established in 1994 in partnership with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi, and the Portuguese Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It was shut for renovation for the past five years and reopened to the public in May 2022.

The artefacts at MoCA are noted for their antiquity and distinct Indo-Portuguese influence and are acknowledged globally as a perfect symbiosis of two cultural manifestations, Indian and European. This has drawn visitors and study experts from all over the world, including India. The almost 200-item collection from the 16th to the 20th century has been organised by type—sculpture, metalwork, embroidered textiles, painting, furniture, and books. More than 450 years of Portuguese Goa is represented in the collection, with one of the earliest items being a chalice and paten from the late 16th century. Here's a glimpse at what you can see at the museum.

The Sculptures
Look out for a 17th century sculpture of the Infant Jesus, The Good Shepherd which is carved from a single piece of ivory. It is the treatment of the pedestal which makes this an exemplary piece of Indo-Portuguese hybrid art. The depiction of the subject is unusual when compared to European representations. Lush green foliage of a symbolic Tree of Life surrounding this peaceful scene would have once been part of the original, now missing. Another gorgeous piece is the pristine white sculpture of the Madonna as the Nirmala Matha or immaculate mother. Once agan, it is a reflection of the Indo-Portuguese artistic traditions that evolved over four centuries.

The Textiles
The museum houses a variety of rich textiles like the lavishly worked Bishop's Cope, which showcase the high level of skill that Indo-Portuguese embroidery art achieved. An 18th century chasuble displays the influence of highly worked princely Mughal vests with their elaborate Zardozi-laden designs and motifs.

The Paintings
Among the collections is a 17th century depiction of The Holy Family Blessed By The Holy Trinity - a Flemish-style painting on wood of the Virgin Mary’s coronation to which the Holy Family has been added is a striking example of Indo-Portuguese art.

The Metalworks
Among the collection of metal carvings is that of an infant Jesus in a canopy bed. A delicate example of the Indian silversmith’s art, the bed has lavishly used Indo-Portuguese pearl motif, and a star-shaped floral motif on the sides of the bed. The latters suggests the white flowers of Carissa carandas that grows wild in the hills of Goa.

Events
MoCA also organises events and talks from time to time. For instance, they screened the film Painted Hymns - The Chapels of Santa Monica which documents fading 17th-century murals in a poetic form. Last year they had organised an exclusive series of illustrated talks conducted on Christian art.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72478/5-reasons-to-visit-the-museum-of-christian-art-in-goa, November 29, 2022

The United States Mission in India commemorated 20 years of cultural collaboration with the country through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) projects. The event was organised at the Sunder Nursery by the US Embassy in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS), and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The organisers released a monograph documenting the endangered musical traditions of western Rajasthan, followed by a live performance by Langa and Manganiyar artists.

"India’s rich cultural heritage has had a profound impact on the United States, and on the world. We’re proud to have helped to preserve aspects of this heritage by investing more than $2 million over the past two decades for the documentation, conservation, and restoration of 23 key historic sites and intangible heritage properties in India," US Chargé d’Affaires Patricia Lacina said at the event.

Some of the projects in India include the restoration of the Sunderwala Burj, Batashewala Mughal tomb complex, and the Arab Serai complex gateway - all located within the UNESCO World Heritage site Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi. The AFCP has also supported the recording and transcribing of endangered folk music of western Rajasthan’s Langa and Manganiyar communities; and the preservation of palm leaf manuscripts and rare books at the United Theological College in Bengaluru.

Public outreach The AFCP was established in 2001 to "demonstrate American values and respect for other cultures". Since its creation, the AFCP has provided financial support to more than 1,100 projects in 133 countries around the world. Talking about India's continuing efforts in preserving heritage and culture, Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi said that India has been running similar projects in countries across the world.

"This kind of public outreach every country does in their respective ways, especially India. We have been part of the solution, more than being a part of the problem. So whether it is Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, or Combodia, India has been doing the same and preserving culture and heritage all around. Efforts from the US Embassy, especially under the Ambassadorial funds is a very welcome step," Lekhi said. A US Embassy website page, featuring details on AFCP project sites across India, was also launched on the occasion.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/us-embassy-celebrates-20-years-of-cultural-collaboration-with-india/article66204583.ece, November 30, 2022