INTACH Nagaland Chapter in collaboration with Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA), organized a bamboo mat weaving workshop for school children under the INTACH initiative ‘Learn a Craft’ to create awareness on fading craft traditions and skills on October 14. According to a press release, the workshop started with a short programme presided by the INTACH State Convener, Sentila T Yanger followed by a presentation from Dr Tolto Metha, NBDA, who spoke on bamboo tagged ‘Green Gold’ and its diversification, various usages and applications.

Vote of thanks was delivered by Mefutiba Longkumer, Co-Convener Nagaland Chapter. Thereafter, the students and teachers were given a tour of the bamboo centre by Kevin Solo, NBDA. The bamboo workshop was conducted by resource person Amenla an expert bamboo weaving artisan. Altogether 75 students from the following schools- Christina Memorial Higher Secondary School, Charis High Academy, Delhi Public School, Christian Higher Secondary School, and Bethesda Higher Secondary participated and individually crafted bamboo mats in the workshop, the release stated. Meanwhile, INTACH Nagaland Chapter thanked Tarep Imchen, Team Leader NBDA, team members and resource person Amenla, for the collaboration support and cooperation towards the success of the workshop.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/dav-centenary-public-school-mandi-427859, October 1, 2022

Natyashala, the last of the three buildings built by Jnanpith awardee Shivaram Karanth in Balavana in Puttur in Dakshina Kannada, will be restored by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Mangaluru chapter. The restoration of Natyashala has been taken up jointly by the Dakshina Kannada district administration and the Kannada and Culture department at a cost of ₹38 lakh.

The laying of the foundation stone for this work will be among the events to be held at Balavana as part of Shivaram Karanth’s 121st birth centenary celebrations on Monday. Puttur Assistant Commissioner Girish Nandan, who is also member-secretary of Balavana Development Committee, said INTACH, Mangaluru, which has expertise in restoring old buildings, came forward to restore Natyashala, where Shivaram Karanth had training sessions on Yakshanga and other art forms.

“Few days ago the proposal was approved by Deputy Commissioner K.V. Rajendra,” he said. The INTACH, Bengaluru chapter, first restored the old house of Mr. Karanth in 2017. It then restored the adjoining reading room of the author in October 2021. Minister for Kannada and Culture and Energy V. Sunil Kumar had urged the Mangaluru chapter of INTACH to take up restoration of Natyashala.

Among the other programmes being held as part of the birth centenary, include presentation of Balavana award to K.V. Akshara, a theatre director and head of Ninasam theatre group, Heggodu. It will be presented by Mr. Kumar. Fisheries Minister S. Angara and Puttur MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor will participate in the event. There will be a seminar around noon on ‘Karantaru and Rangabhoomi’ and a Bharatanatyam recital by students of Vishwa Kalaniketana from Puttur at 9.30 a.m. An hour-long Yakshagana ‘Panchajanya’, will be staged by different Yakshangana artists at 2 p.m. In the birth centenary celebrations in Mangaluru, the Kalkura foundation will present Karanth award to K.V. Rao, director of Pilikula Regional Science Centre. There will be a talk on Shivaram Karanth by writer and former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University B.A. Vivek Rai at Pattumudi Souda in Kodiyalguttu at 10 a.m.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/intach-mangaluru-to-take-up-restoration-of-natyashala-in-balavana/article65988662.ece, October 1, 2022

To promote a better understanding of the earth’s dynamic processes and the critical role it plays in the sustenance of life on the planet and to inculcate a sense of responsibility among the students at the crucial stage of their upbringing, INTACH Kashmir Chapter collaborated with Kashmir Harvard Institute in organising an awareness workshop on International Geodiversity Day. The workshop began with a short film on geodiversity prepared by UNESCO that virtually created an ambiance correlated with the theme of the workshop. It was followed by a presentation from a specialist geology and climate change expert, Dr. Rayees Ahmad, who is a Professor in Kashmir University. It elucidated the different elements that comprise the geodiversity and emphasised upon the significant role it plays in the sustenance of life on the earth. In the second session, a painting competition was convened by an eminent artist, Masood Hussain which encouraged the participants and up-scaled their level of enthusiasm. Among a group of 20 participants, three best paintings were awarded by the artist Masood Hussain. “INTACH is actively involved in organizing events promoting preservation and conservation of tangible and intangible heritage across the country. The Kashmir Chapter too, as a part of its mandate, organizes workshops and events to disseminate and advocate the significance of our heritage in all the forms we have; tangible, intangible and natural as well. The present workshop on geodiversity aimed to raise awareness of the critical link between geodiversity and all of life, and to evidence how geoscience education provides sustainable solutions to the challenges of resource extraction, disaster risk reduction, mitigation of climate change, and biodiversity loss,” a statement read.

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/city/intach-organises-workshop-on-international-geodiversity-day, October 3, 2022

In partnership with INTACH and Adabi Markaz Kamraz (AMK), Meeras Mahal Sopore celebrated Meeras Day on Sunday in honour of the deceased Atiqa Bano's fifth death anniversary. A vast array of supporters and campaigners for heritage and culture were present on this occasion including INTACH Kashmir Chapter Convener Mohammad Salim Beg, Span foundation New Delhi Chairperson Jaspreet Kour, Commissioner Secretary Jal Shakti department Dr GN Itoo, Chairperson Municipal Council Sopore Masarat Kar, President Adabi Markaz Kamraz Mohammad Amin Bhat; Chairman Civil Society Sopore Rashid Parveen, President Traders federation, Executive members of Adabi Markaz Kamraz & veteran writers & intellectual Ghulam Nabi Aatish and Shahnaz Rashid. On this occasion, the participants stressed upon the need to preserve the Heritage Mahal Sopore.

Ghulam Nabi Atish delivered the keynote speech on Meras Mahal and Atiqa Bano, and columnist Dr. Maroof Shah read an independent paper on Atiqa Bano's contribution to revitalising the cultural and heritage aspects. A group interaction between netizens of Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora spoke heart out and paid rich and glorious tributes to Atiqa Bano. Mohammad Salim Beg, Convener Kashmir Chapter INTACH called the event historic and enlisted the public's aid in preserving its artefacts. "We as the members of this society have to work collectively for the upliftment of the Meeras Mahal and carry forward the movement of late Atiqa Bano of preserving our culture and heritage.

The people of Sopore should come forward and we hope that this place will soon become a famous spot for tourists and literary circles," he added. The audience was given the assurance by Mohammad Amin Bhat, President of Adabi Markaz Kamraz, that it would contribute to the preservation of Kashmir's rich cultural heritage. He said that the effort initiated by the Atiqa Bano needs to be preserved, and future generations should be tied to our lovely heritage.

"It was a solo effort by late Atiqa Bano, and now it is our obligation to preserve it, document it, and make it available on a website as well," Bhat added. On this occasion, the MEERAS AWARDS were given to Ghulam Nabi Atish, Shahnaz Rasheed, and Waheed Jeelani for their outstanding contributions to the preservation of cultural heritage and creative services. The Meeras Mahal Museum of Ethnography was curated and managed by late Atiqa Bano, an extraordinary activist, educationist and public servant from Sopore.

She had started collecting objects of historic and ethnic value as an enthusiast over years, her commitment and perseverance for promoting the culture of Kashmir became the driving force behind establishing the Meeras Mahal Museum, literally meaning the 'Heritage Palace'. The collections in the museum largely consist of objects of daily relevance, used by Kashmiris in the past. The museum is home to more than 7000 artifacts that provide an ethnographic lens into the rich cultural heritage of the Kashmir valley, especially its hinterland. Most of these artifacts are items of everyday use that were a common sight in Kashmir up until the end of the twentieth century.

The Meeras Mahal museum collection has been classified into: Terracotta, Wood work, Wicker and Grass ware, Metal (including Jewelry), Stone, Textiles and Manuscripts. The Meeras Mahal Museum is the only museum in Kashmir besides the government-run Sri Pratap Singh Museum, which houses more pertinent objects that give local residents direct access to information about their recent vernacular past.

http://risingkashmir.com/meeras-mahal-sopore-intach-amk-commemorate-ateeqa-banos-death-anniversary, October 5, 2022

The place where we live, the places that we visit and the food that we eat, has its roots in geodiversity in some form. But rarely do we think or look into the past to understand its connection to geodiversity, said D. Rajasekhara Reddy, convenor of INTACH, Vizag chapter. Speaking to The Hindu, he said keeping that in view USESCO has decided to observe October 6, as International Geodiversity Day, and this year will be the first year, when we would observe the day, globally. Being a geologist and former professor from the Department of Geology, Andhra University, he said, geodiversity is everywhere.

“If we consider the beach stretch from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam, we can classify the stretch into four segments that have potential geodiversity features,” he said. At Bheemunipatnam, we have the Gosthani river merging into the sea and it can be classified as Estuarine Beach, which has its specific geophysical features. The surface features of Bheemunipatnam beach differs from the Thotlakonda beach, which is classified as Rocky Beach. Thotlakonda Beach has many wave-cut features such as the natural rock-cut bridge.

The Tenneti park beach is a paleo wave-cut platform, as the beach might have sunk millions of years ago from the adjoining mountain level and the RK Beach is a sandy beach, he said. According to him, many do not know about these features and their importance. He also pointed out that the creation of a park at Tenneti park or cutting down mountains to build structures, without understanding the geoheritage importance, is a faulty way of doing something in the name of development.

“We must learn to strike a balance between development and preservation, as geodiversity is directly linked to biodiversity and the authorities concerned should understand that the ‘present is the key to the past’. If we can understand the past, it is a window to the future,” he said. The geologist also said tourism cannot be developed at the cost of destroying geodiversity. Eastern Ghats is 1,600 million-years-old. The Borra Caves is around 1,300 million-years-old and the volcanic ash deposit in Araku valley is at least 74,000-years-old, which had travelled all the way from Toba island of Indonesia. These sites cannot be destroyed in the name of tourism and that is why UNESCO is promoting ‘enlightened tourism’, as every place is unique in its way.

The idea is that tourists should be educated about the geoheritage, geodiversity and biodiversity, he said. Speaking about INTACH, he said that the trust has over 4,000 schools as members and some operate heritage clubs. INTACH also has 227 chapters across the country and the schools come under Heritage Education and Community Service. INTACH Heritage Academy also offers certificate and diploma courses. Exhibition

As part of Geodiversity Day, INTACH and Andhra University are holding an exhibition at the Department of Geology showcasing ancient rocks, fossils and features of geodiversity on Saturday. On October 2, a clean-up programme at Erramatti Dibbalu and a geoheritage walk at the same place will be organised in association with the Eastern Naval Command. On October 1, geologist Dhananjay M. Mohabe will be conducting a zoom meeting on the theme ‘Story of Indian Dinosaurs’. The details can be had from the website geodiversityday.org

http://risingkashmir.com/meeras-mahal-sopore-intach-amk-commemorate-ateeqa-banos-death-anniversary, October 6, 2022

The Mangaluru chapter of the Indian national trust for art and cultural heritage (INTACH), in association with Art Kanara Trust, will launch a unique project of sketching of Mangaluru’s rivers by city artist Jeevan Salian on the world rivers day on Sunday. The function will be held at 8.45 am on Sunday at BMS ferry point at Bengre here, a release said. Yatish Baikampady, campus director of Amrita Vidyalayam, Boloor will be present on the occasion.

Students from Mahalasa college of visual art in the city will participate in the function. World rivers day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September every year to increase public awareness about rivers and to encourage their conservation. Situated between the rivers Nethravati and Phalguni, Mangaluru city has a strong association with rivers. ‘Kudla,’ the local Tulu name of the city, means ‘meeting point of two rivers.’

The INTACH project, titled ‘Earth, River and Beyond,’ will explore Mangaluru’s heritage through sketching and drawing and attempt to document the natural setting with an illustrated monograph of selected sketches of riverside locations by Jeevan Salian, a young artist and art teacher from the city. The project, which will last two months, will include workshops with schoolchildren at various heritage sites in the city. An exhibition of the original sketches and photographs will be held at the Kodialguthu centre for art and culture at Ballalbagh in the city, the release said. PTI MVG ROH ROH.

https://theprint.in/india/intach-to-launch-project-to-sketch-mangalurus-rivers/1141058/, October 7, 2022

Did you know that that about 18,000 years ago, the sea was 50 km away from the spot you are standing today? The question posed by D. Rajasekhar Reddy, INTACH’s adviser for geo-heritage and convener of its Visakhapatnam Chapter, left the participants of a ‘geo-heritage walk’ organised on Thursday at the Mangamaripeta beach surprised.

The walk organised by the INTACH’s Vizag Chapter and Eastern Naval Command (ENC) marked the UNESCO’s International Geo-Heritage Day, which is observed on October 6 every year. Professor Rajasekhar explained the participants that every site, including the beaches, have geo-heritage values and they need to be protected. “Blessed with ample geo-diversity, the beaches in Visakhapatnam are unique. The 25-km coastal stretch from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam exhibits a lot of diversity in material content, beach geomorphic features and straightness of the coastline, which are the outcome of centuries of natural process and response system,” said prof. Rajasekhar. He pointed out that towards north of Bheemunipatnam, the Gosthani River joins the Bay of Bengal.

It is estuarine beach system and the corresponding features include well-developed sand dunes. Further south, towards the central part, it is a rocky beach while towards the southern end towards the Ramakrishna beach, the coastline is sandy. Showcasing various features at the Mangamaripeta beach, he explained how sea water over the years had contributed in the formation of features such as natural bridge, stacks, sea caves, serpentine hoods, sheath structures and wave-cut platforms. “All these features are the result of continuous hydrodynamic actions of sea waves, tides and currents on the rocks and the nature and orientation of their weaker planes such as the foliation planes, joints, fractures and mineral susceptibilities,” explained prof. Rajasekhar. The hydrodynamic forces continue to exert pressure on the rocks and keep modifying them, he said. About 150 members from the ENC and their families and INTACH members took part in the geo-heritage walk.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/preservation-of-rich-geo-diversity-of-vizag-beaches-is-need-of-the-hour-says-expert/article65976802.ece, October 10, 2022

A unique museum showcasing the life, tradition and culture of Western Odisha will come up at the century-old Victoria Town Hall here by the yearend, an official said on Monday. The hall constructed in 1904 has been renovated by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) giving it a new look.

http://www.uniindia.com/new-museum-to-showcase-western-odisha-s-culture-tradition/east/news/2843820.html, October 11, 2022

As part of International Geodiversity Day, INTACH Visakhapatnam and Eastern Naval Command organised a Geoheritage Walk at Mangamaripeta Beach. UNESCO celebrates the day to educate people about the unique geodynamic processes operating within the domain of beaches, which produce attractive features. INTACH Visakhapatnam took up the initiative on Mangamaripeta Beach as part of INTACH’s resolve to celebrate the International Geodiversity Day throughout India.

Dr. D. Rajasekhar Reddy, Advisor Geoheritage and convener of Visakhapatnam Chapter, provided a synopsis of distinctive beaches. According to him, from Visakhapatnam in the south to Bheemunipatnam in the north, there is considerable variability in the material composition of the 25-km beach; whether with regard to beach geomorphic characteristics, coast-line angle, and other factors. Gosthani River reaches the Bay of Bengal in the north and displays an estuarine beach system, along with associated features, such as well-developed sand dunes. The southern end, like at Ramakrishna Beach, has sandy beaches while the central portion of the beach is rocky.

The Geoheritage Walk had been taken on the rocky beach near Mangamaripeta, where there are notable promontories and related rocky beach features, including a natural bridge, stacks, sea caves, serpentine hoods, sheath structures, wave cut platforms and so on, all well exposed. Those who participated in the Geoheritage Walk included 150 Indian Navy personnel, members of their families and INTACH members.

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/071022/geoheritage-walk-highlights-mangamaripeta-beach.html, October 11, 2022

While this traditional craft is popular for its objet d’art, a book documents its architectural heft. Srinagar-based Mohammed Yousuf Lone was in Class IX when he won the first prize for a painting of a rice field. Later, this talent would win the arts graduate a government-sponsored training at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai. Lone returned to join School of Designs, a Kashmir handicrafts initiative from the ’50s, as assistant designer.

It’s here that he was inspired by head craftsman Ali Mohd Banka, who practised papier-mâché. Lone soon found himself veering towards the technique in his spare time, working on miniatures, Mughal figures and flowers. Today, the 90-year-old national-award winner is the teacher who taught his own family and many others to preserve the art of papier-mâché in Kashmir.

https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/papier-mache-used-on-walls-ceilings-artworks-8208818/, October 13, 2022

The city of Visakhapatnam is known for being the home of the Eastern Naval Command, having the largest integrated steel plant and a 1,000-year-old Simhachalam temple. But one thing that put this once sleepy fishing town on the global map was the sinking of the Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Ghazi off the coast of Visakhapatnam on December 4, 1971. Ever since December 4 is celebrated as Navy Day and a monument ‘Victory at sea’ adorned by an eternal flame stands tall on Beach Road. But the sinking of PNS Ghazi is a known story and in fact in 2017, Sankalp Reddy had done a film The Ghazi Attack, starring Rana Dagubatti, Atul Kulkarni and Kay Kay Menon. Though many controversies shroud the sinking of the Pakistani submarine, the common theory that stands good was that the boat was sent by the Pakistani navy to sink the Indian Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant.

Wrong feeding of intelligence inputs and some clever manoeuvre by the then chief of the ENC Vice-Admiral N. Krishnan and the top brass of the Indian Navy and RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) led Ghazi to Visakhapatnam, which was apparently sunk by INS Rajput, an R-Class destroyer, with depth charges. The story is, however, disputed by many. Whatever may be the mystery, Ghazi was sunk on the night of December 4-5, 1971, and still lies with its 93 men onboard, including 11 officers, a few hundred metres below the surface, just a few nautical miles off the coast of Visakhapatnam. PNS Ghazi is not the only submarine that lies on the floor of the Bay of Bengal, near the Visakhapatnam coast.

During the Second World War, a Japanese submarine with the Imperial Japanese Navy number RO-110 was sunk off the coast of Rambilli village on February 11 or 12, 1944. The submarine was sunk by HMAS Launceston and HMIS Jumna, using depth charges. The RO-110 was a mid-size coastal submarine, and was launched on January 26, 1943, at the Japanese port city of Kobe. With its base at Penang, Malaya (Malaysia), the submarine was assigned for patrol duty in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. But during its short stint of about one year, it created havoc and was dreaded by the allied naval contingents that passed through this region. As per the naval records, on December 14, 1943, it torpedoed a British 4800-ton armed merchant ship Daisy Moller, which was en route from Bombay to Chittagong via Colombo and Vizagapatam (Visakhapatnam, as it was then called).

The ship was sunk off the coast of Katrenikona village in Amalapuram Mandal, then part of East Godavari, now part of Dr. Ambedkar Konaseema, after the recent bifurcation of the districts in AP. There are stories that only 14 out of the 127 crew survived and another version says that only 16 had survived out of 71 crew. As per the naval records, about 13 of the 16 came ashore somewhere near the Krishna River Delta region, after drifting for about 80 nautical miles and three were rescued by the fishermen. There is also a theory that after hitting the ship with torpedoes, the submarine had surfaced and it rammed into the lifeboats and also opened machine gun fire on the marooned sailors and officers, which the Japanese deny and there is no confirmation on it. As per research by Mr. Edward Paul, history chronicler of Visakhapatnam and member of INTACH-Vizag Chapter, between February 11 and 12, 1944, RO-110 had attacked a convoy of the allied forces that was bound for Calcutta via Colombo, and a British merchant ship Asphalion was hit by two torpedoes released from the Japanese submarine. Though six crew members had died in the attack, the ship did not sink.

Thereafter, the submarine was chased by the warships HMAS Launceston and HMIS Jumna, and finally the hunter was hunted off the coast of Visakhapatnam. As per Mr. Paul and a retired officer from the submarine arm of the Indian Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy on March 15, 1944, declared Ro-110 to be presumed lost with all 47 men onboard. We have two submarines lying at the bottom of the sea close to our coast and apart from investigating Ghazi briefly, we have not touched the Japanese submarine, as we (naval personnel) believe that they are the final resting place for the brave souls and we let them rest in peace, said the submariner.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/visakhapatnam-a-graveyard-for-submarines/article65962564.ece, October 15, 2022

The Chennai circle of Archaeological Survey of India has hit gold in terms of history, heritage and culture. Excavations in the nondescript village of Vadakkupattu which is five kilometres from Oragadam on the outskirts of Chennai have revealed a treasure trove of relics – tools, toys, gold beads, sculptures, coins among others — not belonging to one but four eras, of which the oldest dates back to 12,000 years. Among the findings the most important are from the Mesolithic period or the Middle Stone Age, that is 12,000 plus years. These include scrappers, cleavers, choppers, hand axes, and stone fragments numbering in hundreds just 75 cm below the surface. Talking to TOI, M. Kalimuthu, Superintendent Archaeologist, Chennai Circle, said: “This looks like a place where ancient people made stone tools for hunters and gatherers.” As per the researchers the moderate size and sharpness of the tools found shows that the ancient people made them by removing flakes from stones and that they are from the Mesolithic period. Kalimuthu told the media the large variety stone tools points to a large number of people living in the area. At an upper layer of the same pit the 20-member ASI team which included surveyors, researchers, and labourers found Roman amphora sherds, rouletted pottery and glass beads besides beads, gold ornaments, terracotta toys, coins, pot sherds and bangle pieces belonging to the Sangam era, that is 2,000 years ago. This objects, according to the experts indicate active trade and commerce. The surrounding area yielded sculptures and stone carvings which belong to the Pallava period– from 275 CE to the late era of 897 CE. Many of the sculptures were made of sand stone and weathered over a period of time. Included among these were statues of Vishnu and a Shivalinga. Stressing the importance of this archaeological site, Kalimuthu told TOI: “It is unique to find stone tools, artefacts and ornaments belonging to four different eras at a single place."

https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/12000-year-old-stone-tools-discovered-near-chennai-by-archaeological-survey-of-india-53178.html, October 17, 2022

Officials in the ASI stated that while the remains were visible to anyone visiting the specific regions of the reserve, the exploration is nonetheless significant because it is the first time that all remains have been officially documented by the agency. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday (September 28), reported 26 Buddhist caves in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, after a month-long exploration conducted this summer. Besides the caves, which date back to the 2nd-5th century BCE, other archaeological remains of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, such as chaitya-shaped doors and cells containing stone beds, were also reported by the ASI team. We look at the findings, what they signify, and how it does (or doesn’t) change our understanding of the region: The exploration The exploration was conducted between May 20 and June 26 this year by the ASI’s newly formed Jabalpur Circle, under the direction of its Superintending Archaeologist, Shivakant Bajpai and a dozen team members including archaeologists, archaeological analysts, photographers and forest guards. The team covered nearly 170 sq km within the reserve’s core area. “In the exploration, remarkable archaeological remains came to light, adding a new chapter in the history of Baghelkhand,” said the ASI. Baghelkhand, which is said to derive its name from the Vaghela Rajput kings of the 14th century, covers the northeastern regions of Madhya Pradesh, and a small area of southeastern Uttar Pradesh. The findings The 26 caves that were found are associated with the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, ASI said, adding that these date back to the same time as the Ajanta caves in Aurangabad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides the caves, the team also found the remains of 26 temples, two mathas, two stupas, 46 idols and sculptures, 26 fragments and 19 water bodies, according to the report signed by Bajpai. It also mentioned a Buddhist pillar fragment containing a miniature stupa carving, dating to the 2nd-3rd century CE, and 24 Brahmi inscriptions from the 2nd-5th century CE. The temples are from more recent times — the Kalachuri period (9th-11th century), while the water bodies range between 2nd-15th centuries CE. The report says that the places Kaushami, Mathura, Pavata (Parvata), Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa are mentioned in the Brahmini inscriptions, while the inscribed names of kings include Shri Bhimsena, Maharaja Pothasiri and Bhattadeva. Other explorations at the reserve This was the first phase of the current exploration by ASI, which covered the expanse of the Tala Range. In the coming phases, the ASI will survey the remaining ranges of the Bandhavgarh forest, Khitauli and Magadhi. Tala, Khitauli and Magadhi comprise the three main zones of the national park, which together cover an area of 716 km. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968 and became a tiger reserve in 1993. The ASI stated that explorations in the region had been undertaken for the first time since 1938, under the command of ASI archaeologist NP Chakravarty. Competing claims It has recently been claimed that the findings of another historian, Professor Nayanjot Lahiri of Ashoka University, predate those of the ASI, and were not acknowledged by the agency. “The work of Professor Nayanjot Lahiri of Ashoka University precedes the claims of ASI as evidenced in a peer-reviewed publication appeared in Current Science. Prof Lahiri’s findings were communicated in February 2022 and were accepted for publication in June 2022. It was published online on June 20, 2022, and came out in print on September 25, 2022. Prof Lahiri and her students, who worked very hard to discover various archaeological sites in Bandhavgarh, including several caves which have Buddhist footprints, wish that ASI had duly acknowledged their work,” said a statement by the university on Thursday (September 29). In the article titled ‘Exploring the forest and mapping its archaeology: Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, India’, published in Current Science, Lahiri and co-authors MB Rajani, Debdutta Sanyal and Samayita Banerjee write: The archaeology of historical India has usually been perceived through the lens of cities and states, leaving forest tracts to a large extent unexamined. This article considers the historical signature in a segment of the Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve… in order to understand how histories of occupation in jungles and wilderness where no settlements presently exist can be studied.” They write that their survey — done in four phases, from March 2021 to June 2022 — involved a combination of ground-level investigations using GPS devices along with an analysis of satellite images, and added that “the earliest archaeological markers in Bandhavgarh are cave shelters of the 2nd century”. Announcing the findings, the Ashoka University website states: “About 81 rock-cut shelters were located by us in an area of 5 kilometres – as the crow flies. Of these, 44 caves bear the numbers of the Forest Department while 37 caves are unnumbered. About 26 caves have inscriptions, with a few of them having more than one epigraph. A few also had carvings in their interiors and occasionally, on the cave exterior… The caves can be dated to the 2nd Century CE as can be gleaned from the inscriptions etched on their walls. These inscriptions, written in Brahmi script, in the Prakrit language, also tell us that they were built as resting spaces for merchants and traders.” The significance of the findings Officials in the ASI stated that while the remains were visible to anyone visiting the specific regions of the reserve, the exploration is nonetheless significant because it is the first time that all remains have been officially documented by the agency. They add that while digital documentation and videography has been done, metal signs cannot be placed for visitors as they may be harmful for animals living inside the tiger reserve. NP Chakravarty, “mainly focussed on exploring and documenting the inscriptions”, the ASI report says, adding, “because of which, not much is known about the architecture of the caves”. While smaller expeditions have been conducted in this region since then, no significant report is available in the public domain, the agency claims. The new Bajpai report clearly lays out all that has been added to the Chakravarty report — as many as 35 temples have been documented in the reserve, of which 26 were done during the latest expedition. Also, the number of documented caves has increased from 50 to 76, two mathas and two stupas have been reported, another 24 inscriptions have been found (50 in total), the number of reported sculptures have increased to 56 from the previous 10, 20 additional fragments and another 19 water bodies have been found, above the eight previous ones.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/significance-of-archaeological-survey-of-indias-recent-findings-in-the-bandhavgarh-tiger-reserve-8182735/, October 17, 2022

We are no strangers to India’s numerous cultural heritage sites. Popular in India and all over the world, these cultural sites are loved by all and form a very important part of our identity. Just like these cultural heritage sites, India is also home to unique geological sites, also known as geological monuments or geo-heritage. These geological monuments offer insights to the history of earth science. They, in a way, mark Earth’s evolutionary history. We have 34 such monuments, officially known as National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India. Geological Survey of India (GSI) is the body that identifies and protects these sites. We bring you some of the most popular geological monuments amongst them all.

Varkala cliffs in Kerala
Varkala cliffs, the most popular attraction of Varkala beach in Thiruvananthapuram district in Tamil Nadu, are the stunning red cliffs that stand adjacent to the Arabian Sea. These cliffs are Cenozoic sedimentary formations and stand out not just because of how they look, but also because they are the only beachside cliffs you will find in any of the beach areas in Kerala. Officially, they are known as the Varkala Formation.

Lonar crater in Maharashtra
Lonar crater is located in Buldhana district in Maharashtra. Back in the Pleistocene Epoch, a large meteorite hit the region and formed this gigantic crater, also known as an astrobleme. Earlier, because it was a crater, people thought that it was a volcanic crater. But no, it’s just a silly old meteorite crater. Due to the presence of water in the crater, it is also called Lonar Lake. Here, the water is both salty and highly alkaline. Basalt rock pillars of St. Mary’s Islands in Karnataka St. Mary's Islands, off the coast of Malpe in Udupi district, Karnataka, is home to four islands. One of them is the Coconut Island, and it is here where you will find India’s only interlocking basalt rock columns.

Ramgarh crater in Rajasthan
Ramgarh crater, also known as the Ramgarh Structure, is a meteor impact crater. The 3.5 km diameter crater is located in Kota plateau, near Baran district in Rajasthan. Did you know that there are three such craters or astroblemes in India? Lonar in Maharashtra, Dhala in Madhya Pradesh, and this one in Rajasthan. Also, Kuno National Park is a mere 50-60 km from Ramgarh crater.

Tirumala Natural Geological Arch in Andhra Pradesh Also, simply known as the Natural Arch in Tirumala hills, Tirumala Natural Geological Arch is one of a kind in India. Just one km away from the Tirumala temple, this geological arch is popular among the locals. Locally, the arch is called Silathoranam.

National Fossil Wood Park in Tamil Nadu
National Fossil Wood Park was established in 1940 but has been in existence for the last 20 million years, and is located in the Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu. Here, at the park, you will find several petrified wood fossils (petrified wood are those wood fossils that have turned into stone). Though there are nine areas marked for fossils, only a small area of 247 ac is open to the public.


https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/diwali-long-weekend-our-favourite-trips-for-this-year/photostory/94913678.cms, October 19, 2022

India's textile traditions have a significant social and cultural footprint on communities, many of which even have their identities tied up with the textiles they weave. Each region in the country has its own textile tradition which is unique. This living legacy has been passed down through generations, and includes the vocabulary and knowledge used to describe both the style and the end result.

In order to raise awareness about this intangible heritage, UNESCO released a publication that documents 50 iconic and exclusive heritage textile crafts of India. Among the 50 are the following: Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu, Himroo weaves from Hyderabad, Bandha tie and dye weaving from Sambalpur in Odisha, Khes from Panipat, Ilkal embroidery from Karnataka, Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Thanjavur, Kunbi weaves from Goa, Mashru weaves from Gujarat, Patola from Gujarat, Himroo from Maharashtra, and Garad-Koirial from West Bengal.

According to UNESCO, one of the major challenges to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in South Asia is the lack of proper inventory and documentation. With Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textiles, UNESCO hopes to bridge the gap in documentation. The book also looks at the reasons for the dwindling popularity of the textile traditions. Apart from highlighting these endangered textile crafts, the publication also recommends ways to revitalise them - from policy to grassroots micro-interventions. “Textile crafts represent a very significant share of the Indian cultural heritage and have dazzled the world for centuries.

Despite the pressures of industrial mass production and competition from new countries, it is essential that these iconic heritage crafts are taken stock of and promoted as contemporary treasures," says UNESCO New Delhi Director, Eric Falt. “It is my hope that India will consider expanding its register of elements inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by nominating one of the textile crafts featured in this publication. No textile practices from India have been included in the list so far and an inscription in the list would be due recognition of the talent and diversity of the country’s extraordinary weaving traditions."

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/72126/unesco-has-documented-50-traditional-textiles, October 21, 2022

Jodhamal quizzers once again proved their mettle in the quizzing arena by clinching the winning trophy in the city round of ‘INTACH Quiz; competition, today. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was founded in 1984 in New Delhi with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India. Today INTACH is recognized as one of the world’s largest heritage organizations, with over 190 Chapters across the country. In the city round held on October15 at Jodhamal Public School, a total of 40 teams from different schools from Jammu participated including KC Public School, Jammu Sanskriti School, APS Nagrota , APS Jammu Cantt, APS Akhnoor, APS Bari Brahmana and Jodhamal Public School. Four teams qualified for the stage round after appearing in the written prelims comprising 20 questions on cultural heritage of India and Jammu and Kashmir. Advitya Mahajan and Saannidhay Gupta of Jodhamal won the city finals with Jodhamal quizzers leading the tally with highest points. The other three teams to qualify for the finals were APS Akhnoor, Jodhamal Public School and KC Public School. The quiz was conducted by Sanjay Pandey. The entire programme was coordinated by Mubeen Butt. Team Jodhamal comprising Naunidh Singh and Kushagar Singh Sambyal bagged the second position. The winners of the city round will now be participating in the State round. The event was presided over by the State convener of INTACH Jammu Chapter SM Sahni, Co-convener C M Seth and Co-convener Kuldeep Wahi.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/jodhamal-shines-in-intach-quiz/, October 24, 2022

A three member team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) have identified a wooden inscription engraved about 170 years back in the Paschima Somanath Temple of Harirajpur village in Delanga Tehsil of Puri district. The team comprising of Project Co-ordinator Anil Dhir, Project Assistant Deepak Kumar Nayak and Bikram Nayak chanced upon the discovery during the survey of the Archaeological remains and monuments in the Daya-Ratnachira River valley.

Harirajpur is near Khurdagada, the Fort which was the capital of Bhoi Dynasty. According to Deepak Nayak, the wooden inscription written in Odia tells us about the 44th Anka (Regnal year) of King Ramachandra Deva III. Inscribed on the carved and decorated wooden block are the words ‘ରାମଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଦେବଙ୍କ ୪୪ ଅଙ୍କରେ ତୋଳା’ (‘Ramachandra Debanka 44 ankare Tolaa’) which denotes that the temple was reconstructed during the 44th regnal year of the king. Deepak has earlier discovered many undocumented rock inscriptions all over the state. According to the “Khurda Itihasa” 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), the others having shorter reigns. So it is clear that it was during 44th Anka of Gajapati Ramachandra Deva- III, sometime in 1852/53 when this wooden Mandapa was constructed by him in front of Paschima Somanath Temple. The inscriptions are engraved on a wood block which was originally installed in the Bhogamandapa in front of the main shrine. With the wooden structure had crumbled down, this inscribed wood block was kept in a subsidiary temple before it was spotted by the INTACH team. According to Anil Dhir, finding a carved wooden block in pristine condition is rare. While copper plate and rock cut inscriptions last a long time, wooden inscriptions are rare as being organic, they deteriorate and wither away. There are very few wooden temple in the State which have wooden inscriptions. This temple is very near to the spot where the Utkal University team led by Dr. Kishore Basa had unearthed two skeletons and other archaeological artefacts a few years back.

The findings of the study were indicative of very early settlement in the area. Dhir further said that many artefacts and archaeological remnants of early period temples are found in the area. Unfortunately, most of the fort 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. A proper and detailed survey of the area by the ASI or the State Archaeology should be undertaken as it will yield a lot and the existing heritage should be protected.

https://orissadiary.com/heritage-wooden-inscriptions-discovered-by-intach-near-khurda/, October 24, 2022

As part of the International Geodiversity Day celebrations, INTACH Vizag and ENC organised a Geoheritage Walk at Mangamaripeta Beach on 06 October 2022. About 150 personnel from Naval Station Bheemunipatnam and their families along with INTACH members attended the Geoheritage Walk.

https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/international-geodiversity-day-celebrations-intach-vizag, October 25, 2022

The Jhinjhir Polo over the Jalaka river was the first suspension bridge of Eastern India. It was on the Old Jagannath Sadak at Mathani village near Basta in Baleswar district. Just 750 meter from the present highway, the remains of the once grand bridge can still be seen. Completed in 1905, it was constructed on the lines of the Hanging Bridge of Punalur, Kerala, which had been designed by Scottish engineer Albert Henry in 1897.

It was based on English engineer Brunel’s original design and was an engineering marvel of its time. It was named “Jhinjhir” because of the supporting iron chains that hung from the stay cables. The Jalaka was a turbulent river for most of the year and crossing it was dangerous. A wooden bridge that was in place was washed away frequently.

The pilgrims on the Jagannath Sadak used to be held up at both the ends for days. The suspension bridge was chosen as setting up a pier would have been difficult in the soft clay bed. The remains of the old bridge were discovered by this writer, who works for the INTACH, when he surveyed the Old Jagannath Sadak in 2010. The INTACH team cleared the overgrowth of vegetation on it and the two ruined towers emerged. There are many legends attached to the Jhinjhir Polo. The old folk of the village say people were afraid to cross the bridge as it swayed. The pack animals, both bullocks and horses, were reluctant to cross it because it was unstable. The animals had to be coaxed across. Local lore has it that after the bridge was completed, four elephants were made to crisscross the bridge for a full day to test its strength. The two towers at either ends bore the weight of the bridge. The deck of the bridge was initially made of thick wooden planks which were supported by suspension chains attached to two multi-stranded cables. The chains were bolted with huge nuts; and steel hangers joined the chains to the deck.

The suspension bridge got washed away during a flash flood in July 1928. Some of the villagers still have pieces of the original chains that were used in the bridge. A new arched bridge was built slightly upstream in 1930 which is still in use. The old plaque which was installed in the left tower had indecipherable writing on it. It has since disappeared. The twin towers of the bridge were of non-cement construction, made of stone blocks, bricks and lime masonry. The towers still stand at the two ends. However, the fast-flowing river has made them bend backwards.

Both the towers are in very bad conditions. The right-bank tower is crackled in two places and may disintegrate in the river. The left tower is totally engulfed by a banyan tree. The foundations of both towers have been revealed by the erosion of the riverbed. This remains of this forgotten historical bridge in one small corner of Odisha should be properly preserved. The bridge had been listed and documented in the report made by the INTACH. In fact, there are 27 bridges of the Old Jagannath Sadak which are still in use. The oldest at Jaleswar was recently demolished in spite of protests. The bridges of the Old Jagannath Sadak are engineering marvels, which have survived the ravages of time and, like other monuments, are testimony of the engineering skills of early times.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/jhinjhir-polo--odisha---s-forgotten-suspension-bridge.html, October 26, 2022

INTACH Heritage Quiz 2022 final was held today at the Conference Hall, Directorate of School Education. The Quiz Program was chaired by Pu P. Rohmingthanga, Convener, INTACH (Mizoram Chapter). He said that the heritage of the ancestors should be preserved. Dr H. Lalthlangliana, Director, School Education, Mizoram, who inaugurated the programme, advised the students to preserve and promote their national heritage as they are the future leaders of the country. The quiz competition was conducted by Pi Zorinpuii, Teacher, Govt. INTACH Headquarters, New Delhi will send the awards to the winners.

https://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/post/intach-heritage-quiz-2022-final-pawl-7-leh-pawl-10-inkar-zirlai-te-intihsiak, October 28, 2022

At present, few other works on the surroundings of the building besides the electricity wiring is underway. The century-old Victoria Town Hall in Sambalpur which was renovated by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will be developed into a museum by December this year to showcase the life, tradition and culture of western Odisha. While the renovation of the building was completed recently, articles are being sourced for the museum at present.

INTACH has been entrusted with the responsibility of collecting the articles for the proposed museum. Member of INTACH, Sambalpur Chapter Deepak Panda said, “The renovation work of the Victoria Town Hall building was completed around three months back. At present, few other works on the surroundings of the building besides the electricity wiring is underway. However, as INTACH had given a proposal to the government to develop a museum in the building, the former has been asked to collect articles for the same. We have already started collecting the articles for the proposed museum.”

Panda further said old Sambalpuri saree designs, traditional loom, ornaments and musical instruments of western Odisha apart from household items and articles used in games of the region which are on the verge of extinction will be showcased at the museum. This apart, recovered old artefacts of the region will be showcased at the facility. A loom has already been procured for the upcoming museum. “We have urged people to contribute to the museum. If they have any article or piece of history, they can reach out to us. The museum will be handed over to the government by December this year,” he said. For the heritage building, the kings, zamindars and businessmen had contributed `9,417 way back in 1902,” Panda said.

Victoria Vignette
Victoria Town Hall foundation laid in 1902
JB Leven Thorpey had designed the building
Inaugurated in 1904 by Chief Commissioner of Central
Province JP Hewety.
The British government, kings, landlords and businessmen of the region had contributed funds
The Zilla School, Women’s College and erstwhile Trust Fund College, once operated from the building

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/oct/28/sambalpurs-victoria-town-hall-shapes-up-into-museum-2512528.html, October 30, 2022

The redevelopment of Vasant Udyaan, a DDA park in south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, is the story of an audacious imagination at work. For years, this area, next to Nelson Mandela Road and flanked by a forest, was a crime black spot. What was once a seasonal rivulet flowing through the area had deteriorated into a putrid nullah full of raw sewage. The park itself was an open-air lavatory sprawled around the ruins of the only extant garden-enclosed waterworks built by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq 650 years ago. While the open-air defecation was linked directly to the absence of toilets in the slums, the sewage was coming from the elite apartments in the area, the adjacent village, and the government colonies around Basant Lok, which had not been connected to sewer lines for more than 40 years. A group of concerned citizens from neighbouring Munirka Enclave appealed to all RWAs in the area to create a people’s collective — RWAs for Vasant Udyaan — to take these issues to the relevant government departments. They appealed to Anil Baijal, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, who took great interest in the project. The critical element, as the citizens’ group soon realised, was to find a way to negotiate the maze of government bodies with overlapping mandates. Collaborative effort With the help of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), the slum pockets were provided community toilets with septic tanks. DDA Landscape and Horticulture departments collaborated with the RWAs to redesign the park and forest, balancing attributes of Tughlaq-era gardens with modern-day urban requirements. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in association with INTACH, renovated the waterworks, while Delhi Jal Board and erstwhile South Delhi Municipal Corporation laid pipes that connected the colonies to the city’s sewage lines. The nearby Jaypee Hotel and Vasant Kunj Sewage Treatment Plant provided free treated water to irrigate the park. The park is today a tribute to this collaborative effort — core elements of its historical heritage remain intact; all, including pets, are welcome; CCTV cameras, the first in a DDA park, have been installed; and the MoU between Jaypee Hotel and the municipal corporation for free treated water has emerged as a model for potential collaborations to irrigate water-starved parks elsewhere in Delhi. Crime is down to zero, and the park is a haven for families and children residing in both the colonies and the slums. The community has taken ownership of this park — it has shown corporates ways to contribute to solving the city’s environmental problems and provided the government with a blueprint for action if they would only break out of departmental silos. The creation of Vasant Udyaan is an invaluable lesson that efforts to address issues of water, sanitation, health, heritage conservation, governance and community development cannot be viewed in isolation. More importantly, it has shown citizens of Delhi tangible, doable ways to redefine their relationship with the city, by being its active members and making its social spaces free, green, and truly vibrant. (Avinash Kumar is director, Citizen Action for Water Sustainability (CAWS). Bipasha Majumder is an independent researcher and writer).

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/how-citizens-corporates-govt-worked-together-to-resurrect-a-tughlaq-era-garden/article66079372.ece, October 30, 2022