Most of these theatre forms of folk arts are slowly disappearing after independence as Hindi films have become more popular with the masses.

By Monidipa Dey
Folk art has a long history in India, and as the very name suggests gives voice to the common people and showcases a range of popular beliefs (both religious and non –religious types), while also airing the feelings and views of the common man. The concept of folk art culture used for showcasing popular expressions is mentioned in the Maitrayee Upanishad, and is represented by songs, dances, and various forms of dramas that are now collectively known as performing arts. The philosophical theory behind Indic folk culture is based on Charbaka/ Lokayata concept, which is said to be the inner voice or logic of the common man. To summarise it, folk culture or performing arts is the most perceivable characteristic of the ideological trends of the common people of a certain era. India has various regional forms of folk culture, and here we will take a brief look at some of the popular ones:
Jatra in West Bengal

In the 18th century a popular culture was seen developing in Calcutta that showcased traditional Bengal folk culture but enjoyed urban patronage, which was known as the Jatra paala. Jatra originated from the religious rituals of songs and dances, popular in the Bengal village festivals. In the songs and dances composed for the Jatras, the most important element in them were the conversations among the different characters taken from Hindu epics, which were given melodramatic interpretations by the actors, and were loved by the audiences. The Jatras were performed in round or square flat grounds with the audience sitting in a circle around them. Various musical instruments were used in these jatras, like drums and tanpuras in the early years; while by the late 19th century western instruments became an integral part of the jatra orchestra. A leading jatra figure in the mid- 19th century was Gopal Uday (1817-1857), who introduced a new style where dialogues were written in short verses along with songs that evoked emotions that matched beautifully with the poor people who came to watch his paalas, making him the most popular jatra man of his times. Gopal Uday was also popular for introducing the popular Khemta naach, performed mostly by men at that time. An interesting theme in these jatra paalas were the jatra duets, which provided sarcasm based comic relief, and involved couple figures such as the dhopa-dhopani (washerman and his wife), methor-metharani (the sweeper and his wife), etc. Later many people like Motilal Roy started using Jatras to raise awareness on nationalism issues and keep people united against the British. In the first half of the 20th century these Swadeshi Jatras played a significant role in raising the patriotic fervor and instilled a strong sense of nationalism among the common Bengalis.

Yakshagana of Karnataka
Quite similar in concept to the Yatras, is the Yakshagana, which are also presentations of Epics and Puranic stories in the form of theatrical performances which involve music, songs, dances, and dialogues. The word Yakshgana literally translated means the songs of the demi-gods. These performances started sometime during the 11th century during the Vaishnava Bhakti movement in the coastal areas of Karnataka. Later in the 13th century, Narahari Thirtha started Dashavatara performances, which gave a full form to what is now known as the Yakshagana of modern Karnataka. In Yakshagana, men play the roles of both male and female characters, and they are adorned with colourful costumes and elaborate headgears, the latter being differently designed for different characters. The prasangas or stories are enactments of various stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranas, involving various historical or semi-historical legendary heroes, while in the background a group of musicians known as Himmela play the music using drums, pipes, and organs. Comic relief is added to these religious narratives through performances of the Hasyagar. Traditionally, Yakshagana is performed within a temple complex in the open air from sunset to sunrise, and the stage or rangasthalla is decorated with mango and banana leaves, flowers, etc, to give a colourful festive feel.

Tamasha of Maharashtra
Tamasha is a popular folk art that originated in rural Maharashtra, and was conceptualised like the Bengal Jatra to entertain the masses, mostly comprising labourers and farmers. Tamasha was created by Ram Joshi (1762 – 1812 CE), a man well versed in Sanskrit and Marathi. Joshi along with another well known Marathi writer Moropanta, created a form of singing known as Lavani, which forms at the core of Tamasha. Lavani is a musical dance performance by women moving to the beats of the dholki, attired in gaudy paithini sarees, and wearing heavy ghungroos. Tamasha is a form of theatre, with a heavy focus on music and dance. It is famous for carrying lyrics with a double meaning, with soft erotic themes and dance movements, for which there is a tendency among the Maharashtrian elites to look down upon this folk art. Tamasha can be categorised into two main popular forms: dholki bhaari and sangeet baari, of which the latter is the older form and has more songs and dances than theatrics.

Tamasha, which was avoided by the elites, was performed by the lower caste communities and the audience was also from the same social strata. Companies that organise tamashas are known as phads, and each phad is akin to a close knit family, and the artists are called kalavanths, and this form of performing art has been going on from the time of the Peshwas. Previously, men played the roles of both male and female, but with changing times women joined the Tamasha, and this art soon became famous for bringing out the glamorous side of their women actors who danced sensuously attired in bold and expensive zari lined saris. Traditionally tamasha had dancers known as Nachya, a poet known as Shahir who was also the Sutradhar, and a Vidushaka or jester. Besides financial difficulties and dwindling audiences, currently another damaging impact on this dying Maharashtrian folk art is the public insistence on the nachyas to dance to Hindi film music instead of the old songs written specifically for the tamasha.
Nautanki of Uttar Pradesh

Nautanki, like the previous three, is also a form of theatre that combines songs, dances, stories, witty dialogues, humour, and melodrama. It originated in the late 19th century in Uttar Pradesh, was originally known as Svang, and was mainly popular among the lower class communities. Songs were held in the open, on makeshift stages, and performed in villages, towns, cities, bazaars, factory gates, etc. One of the most famous songs in the 1890s was titled Shehzadi Nautanki (based on a Punjabi folk tale), which gave Svang its new name: Nautanki. Kanpur, which was an important Nautanki centre, developed a distinctive style, known as the Kanpur shaili. Of the two popular nautanki styles, the Hathras shaili was closer to the original svang style that emphasised on Hindustani classical songs; on the other hand Kanpur shaili focused on the acting styles with emphasis on facial expressions and dialogues. Nautanki, which was originally an all male performance, later saw many women joining the show. Nautankis were a part of popular annual melas, and they would declare themselves with a pair of nakkaras, which would play the characteristic nautanki beat that could be heard and recognized from miles around.

All nautankis (Hathras or Kanpur shailis), would always start with a vandana to devi Saraswati and Ganesha. The sutradhar would then present a musical summary of the entire story, after which the show would start. Nautankis right from their start reinterpreted various literary works, which included stories passed through oral traditions, Persian love stories, Sanskrit dramas, and stories from the epics.

Some of the popular stories enacted were that of Shirin Farhad, Raja Harishchandra, Bhakt Prahlad, Laila Majnu, Bansurivali, Heer Ranjha, and Dahiwali. Plays based on historical characters were also staged, such as Prithviraj Chauhan, Rani Durgavati, and Amar Singh Rathore, etc. Most of these theatre forms of folk arts are slowly disappearing after independence as Hindi films have become more popular with the masses. It is time for the central and state governments to support these art forms and provide these performing arts with much-needed patronage by spreading awareness about their importance to bring audiences back to theatres. With support from the government and general public, these traditional drama forms can be revived for good.

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/jatra-tamasha-yakshagana-and-nautanki-a-look-at-indias-traditional-folk-drama-forms-on-world-theatre-day/2221647/, April 1, 2021

Usually performed by two or four boys, the Cockfight dance represents the age-old tradition of hosting cockfights to entertain the king

Karan Kaushik
Twenty-five-year-old Mangmo Longkan has always been intrigued by Arunachal’s vibrant performing arts. Longkan’s relationship with dance began when he was a teenager trying to discover his talents. The Tai Khampti boy has been performing popular dances of Arunachal for the last eight years. His talent has taken him to several places across India where he and his fellow dancers have enthralled audiences with their colourful performances. In January 2020, Longkan was also part of the dance group that performed at a grand event in neighbouring Myanmar. Dance is his life and it is the only thing he knows. He feels an immense sense of pride every year when he gets to perform at the Itanagar Statehood Day function. Arunachal Pradesh is well-known for its rich culture and tradition and performing arts are an integral part of it. The state celebrates its dance forms during the many festivals that are observed here with great pomp and fervour. For the Khamptis, their dance-dramas — known as ka pung, where 'ka' means dance and 'pung' means story — are a reflection of their Buddhist culture.

And these are mostly based on mythology, religion and classical folktales. Folk dances in Arunachal marks important festivals like Khamsang, Sangken, Potwah, Poi Lu kyong, Poi Lu Kyong Kammathan, among others. Some of the dances that Longkan performs include Kaa-Toe or the Golden Deer Dance, Kaa Kingnara Kingnari or the Peacock Dance and Ka Poong Tai, the main dramatic art form of the Khamptis. But it is the Kaa Kong Tou Kai or Cockfight Dance that he enjoys the most. Usually performed by two or four boys, the dance represents the age-old tradition of hosting cockfights to entertain the king. The dancers get draped in breeches and headgear (huge, and shaped like the head of a cock) and the dance is performed to the beats of kongpat (drum), paiseng (cymbals) and mong seing (gongs).

The cockfight dance is mostly done to welcome the chief guests at important events and is only performed by boys. The performance takes off on a gentle note with the dancers trying to create an atmosphere of initiating a fight and slowly builds up with the tempo. The most striking part are the swirls and jumps that the dancers execute effortlessly. Longkan says that one can pick up the rudiments of the dance within a year with regular practice. He is currently teaching the cockfight dance to his fellow dancer Chow Bijita Mansai, who is already skilled at performing the other dance forms. Mansai is excited to add a new dance to his list. He is confident that he will get better with time. Right now, he is looking forward to performing at several festivals which include the Poy Panchong, Poy Lufra and Poy Bimal.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/71243/the-cockfight-dance-of-namsai, April 1, 2021

Kannada inscriptions dating back to the 16th century were also found

The 16th century quarries that supplied rocks for the construction of Bhramarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple were identified at Srisailam on Tuesday. The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravathi (CCVA) CEO and archaeologist Emani Sivanagireddy said that the quarries on the left side along the road opposite Alluri Sitaramaraju Choultry, close to the temple, could be the sites from where rocks were used for the construction of the main and subsidiary temples, and the huge compound wall between 12th and 16th centuries. Mr. Sivanagireddy said that he identified the quarries during an extensive survey conducted in and around Srisailam as part of CCVA’s programme ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’. The cut marks used for inserting iron wedges to split the stone blocks measuring 3”x1”x1” (inches) were clearly visible at five spots along the road, he added.

Kannada inscriptions dating back to the 16th century were also found there, which were then brought to the notice of Mysuru Archaeological Survey Of India Director (Epigraphy) K. Muniratnam Reddy, for deciphering the contents. Basing on the significance of the finds, Mr. Sivanagireddy has appealed to the Srisailam temple authorities and the Archaeology and Museums Department to protect and preserve the ancient quarries and inscriptions for posterity.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ancient-quarries-of-srisailam-temple-found/article34164932.ece, April 1, 2021

A team of officials of Archaeology, Museum and Heritage Department, led by Assistant Director R Shejeshwar, have discovered a tool, belonging to the Neolithic or New Stone Age, at a farm at Kallahalli in Bhadravathi taluk. The stone axe found in the farm, belonging to K R Venkatesh, measures 17 cm in length and six cm in width and dates back to 2500 BC. Stones, streams were found to indicate that the place was a New Stone Age site. As many as 27 Neolithic sites, including Aanaveri, Ashok Nagar, Nagasamudra, Nimbegondi, Bhagavathi Kere, Mathighatta,Vadderapura, Singanamani, Gonibeedu and B R Project in Bhadravathi taluk, have been discovered in the district so far.

http://www.uniindia.com/tool-belonging-to-neolithic-stone-age-found-in-shivamogga/south/news/2358033.html, April 1, 2021

In a first, the capital city of India is set to get a museum dedicated to the 1947 partition of India in the heart of Delhi. The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TACHT) will be in charge of managing the Partition Museum, a first-of-its-kind in Delhi, which will is going to be set up at the Dara Sikhoh Library in Ambedkar University, located in the Kashmere Gate area of the city. The museum will house yesteryear objects from pre-partition era undivided India including items like a pre-independence electricity meter box from Lahore, sewing machines, hand-made crochet shawls that were exchanged as wedding gifts in 1942, a 1918 land deed for a property in Punjab in the city of Jhang (now in Pakistan) and a refugee card, Times of India reported.

The museum is set to open by August this year with a view to coincide its inauguration with the celebration of the 75th Independence Day of India on August 15. The inauguration of the museum in Delhi will also coincide with the Freedom 75 celebrations announced by the Kejriwal government to mark India’s 75th year of freedom.

The project has been named ‘Dastaan-e-Dlli’, as TACHT chair Kishwar Desai told Hindustan Times and added that the Partition Museum was just one of three museums that have been planned as part of the project. The other two include a museum dedicated to Mughal prince Dara Sikoh and another dedicated to medieval antiquities. The project aims at propagating the museums to better reflect the history and cultural influences of Delhi. While the museum will be a first in Delhi, a Partition Museum already exists in Amritsar and is managed by INTACH itself. It was inaugurated by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in 2017.

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/delhi-to-get-its-first-partition-museum-in-august-ahead-of-indias-75th-independence-day-3612308.html, April 5, 2021

Members of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) appealed to chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday to intervene and protect a portion of the heritage Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library from demolition to make way for a flyover. The front garden and a portion of the Curzon library will have to be demolished to construct an elevated road from Kargil Chowk to NIT Patna proposed by the Bihar Pul Nirman Nigam Limited. “We have to protect this library and if need be we will knock at the door of the court,” INTACH, Patna chapter convenor JK Lal said, adding, they will be writing a letter to the CM requesting him to protect the library and will also go for a public campaign. The state chapter of INTACH held a meeting at the library on Saturday with director Shaista Bedar. State convenor Prem Sharan and member BC Shrivastava were also at the meeting.

"The Khuda Bakhsh Library, a 'Dharohar of Bhartiya Sanskriti ' has been visited by eminent people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Lord Curzon, scientist CV Raman, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, APJ Abdul Kalam and over dozens of Presidents of India, chief justices, foreign heads of states, ambassadors, scholars and litterateurs,” read a statement shared by the INTACH, adding because of such visits, adequate security arrangements are required and constraining the library will hamper.

Talking to TOI over the phone, Bedar said they had written to the DM last month requesting him to look for an alternative rather than interfering with a heritage building. This library has over 21000 manuscripts in Persian, Pashto, Urdu, Turkish and Arabic. Some of the important collections here include Sahnama by Firdausi and Mughal miniatures.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/do-not-demolish-khuda-bakhsh-library-intach-appeals-to-nitish/articleshow/81890405.cms, April 6, 2021

IN AN initiative that is unique in every sense of the word, artificial intelligence (AI) has now come to the aid of digitally preserving the world-famous, 2nd Century BC Ajanta cave paintings, so that they last for many lifetimes, safe from disasters of all kinds and for the benefit of generations to come. This initiative by the Mumbai-headquartered Sapio Analytics, a data management company, for the restoration and preservation of Ajanta paintings with the help of modern technology is in tandem with efforts that have been in the process all around the globe. The digitised form of these paintings, the Ajanta Caves in India’s Aurangabad district, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

They are being preserved on an island called Svalbard, in Norway, as part of a project called Arctic World Archive. Along with the Ajanta paintings, digital artifacts from around the world such as manuscripts from the Vatican library, political histories, masterpieces from different eras, scientific breakthroughs and contemporary culture treasures, are also being preserved.

If one was to delve a little deeper into the process of this initiative of digitisation by Sapio Analytics, which also has its operations in the UK and Silicon Valley, they have used a dataset of reference work to develop the AI mannequin, called Ancient AI. Balkrishna Choolun, Indian-origin co-founder of Ajantahc and chairman of UITV, based in London said, “We believe that this is India’s century, and our cultural history should be available to the world.” He added, “Both Sapio Analytics and UITV have joined forces to digitise, restore and preserve for eternity ancient Indian heritage associated with the culture, artworks, and artifacts of India and other Asian countries."

https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2021/4/9/AI-to-digitally-preserve-world-famous-Ajanta-Cave-paintings.html, April 7, 2021

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) epigraphy branch in Mysuru has decrypted Brahmi and Prakrit language inscription belonging to second century AD found in Nagarjunakonda. The inscription was lying in Delhi Museum as a reserve collection. K Muniratnam Reddy, director, epigraphy branch, ASI Mysuru, said: “We have received a photograph of this inscription from the National Museum, Delhi. It is observed that this inscription from Nagarjunakonda remained unnoticed till now and is preserved in the reserve collection of the museum. It is written in Prakrit language and Brahmi characters of the second century AD. It seems to record the gift of Buddhapada”.

The inscription reads, “Siddham Sakasa Modasa Bakanaya Budhaya Patapada Deyadhamma.” Nagarjunakonda was the seat of Ikshavaku dynasty that ruled Telugu land. The archaeological site, once a valley and now an island, is known for remains of ancient Buddhist monuments dated first to third century. Nagarjuna, the founder of Mahayana school of Buddhism, taught in the ancient university in Nagarjunakonda. Earlier, researchers found the tools belonging to the neolithic and palaeolithic age. Humans inhabited the area for long since the stone age.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/brahmi-inscription-found-in-nagarjunakonda/articleshow/81976591.cms, April 9, 2021

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) leaders, intellectuals and academicians of Patna have opposed ‘proposal’ of partial demolition of 130-year-old Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna as part of construction of an elevated road. The government, though, said there was no such plan to harm the heritage of the library. On Saturday the CPI-ML legislators and leaders Sudama Prasad, Sandip Saurabh, Santosh Sahar, Kamlesh Sharma and Kumar Pravej visited Khuda Bakhsh library to take stock of the issue with library officials and public intellectuals. Earlier, a meeting was organised by party’s State secretary, Kunal, on the issue, after which they demanded that the government should withdraw its proposal for the partial demolition of the library. The INTACH and public intellectuals of Patna too had demanded that the government should not harm the heritage building of the library in the name of development and had written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with a request to explore other options for the elevation of road to ease traffic in the area.

“In other places, governments restore heritage buildings and not demolish them. It must be understood that these heritage buildings do not belong to the current generation but to the future generations”, J.K. Lal, Chief of Patna chapter of INTACH said earlier. Former director of the library and emient historian Imtiyaz Ahmad has expressed “shock and deep concern” over proposal from the government to even partially demolish the library. The present director of the library, Shayesta Bedar, said that if any portion of the library is taken over for road construction, “the essential elegance of the century-old library and its hoary past would be obliterated. Development at the cost of such an important institution is not justified”. The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, opened in 1891, located on Ashok Rajpath in Patna, on the banks of river Ganga has a rare and rich collection of Urdu, Turkish, Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts and books. The library has a reading hall named after Lord Curzon who had visited it in 1903 and was impressed with its rich collection of manuscripts. The library was founded by Khan Bahadur Maulvi Khuda Bakhsh, a landed gentry from Siwan district of Bihar.

In 1969, the Government of India had acknowledged Khuha Bakhsh library as an institution of national importance. Presently, the library is an autonomous institution funded by the Union Ministry of Culture and governed by a Board with the Governor of Bihar as its ex-officio Chairman and representatives of Central and State governments as its members.

The library currently has 21,000 manuscripts and 2.5 lakh books, with rare collections of Shahnama by Firdausi, Mughal miniature paintings, personal collections of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and princess Jahanara. It also has a copy of “Ode to Napoleon’ penned by Lord Byron. Recently, taking the permanent traffic congestion on Ashok Rajpath, the Bihar Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, a bridge construction corporation, under Road Construction Department has made a proposal to construct an elevated 2.20-km-long elevated double-decker road from Kargil Chowk to NIT, Patna, at the cost of ₹369 crore to ease the traffic on the road. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library is situated in the middle of the proposed plan. However, officials in the State Road Construction Department said that there was no such plan to demolish the iconic heritage building of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in the course of construction of an elevated road there.

“The quintessential essence of the library will not be disturbed in any way”, asserted a senior official of the department requesting anonymity as he said, he was not authorized to speak to the media on such issues. He also expressed wonder, “how can people start making demands and holding public meetings over such an issue without having clarifications from the department”.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/intach-opposes-proposal-for-partial-demolition-of-khuda-bakhsh-library/article34292818.ece, April 12, 2021

Jodhamal quizzers proved their mettle in the quizzing arena by clinching top slot in national INTECH quiz competition, organised by INTECH virtually. In Jammu city, around four top teams had qualified for the city finals, wherein Jodhamal quizzers lead the tally with highest points. The Jodhamal team comprises Swayambhu and Lakshya Singh Sambyal (both class 10th students). The regional finals saw teams from across Northern India, whereas the quiz questions were a mixture of local and national heritage. In the National level competition, the Jodhamal Public School remained runner-up. Principal Dr Deep Khare and trustee Nandan Kuthiala congratulated the team and wished good luck for the upcoming quizzes. It is pertinent to mention here that the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was founded in the year of 1984 at New Delhi with the vision for spearheading heritage awareness across India.

https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/jodhamal-students-shine-in-intach-quiz/, April 13, 2021

Mangaluru Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has organised an exhibition of photographs by Vivek Gowda from April 17 to 21 at Kodial Guthu Centre for Art and Culture, G.G. Road, Ballal Bagh in the city. The exhibition will be inaugurated on Saturday, April 17 at 5 p.m. in the presence of eminent photographer Guruduth Kamath Udupi, Bharatanatyam artist Vani Rajagopal Chennai and poet, lyricist and editor of Arso Konkani monthly Wilson Kateel. The exhibition remains open to the public on all days till April 21 between 11 am and 7 pm.

Admission is free. The event is supported by Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy, Blink Films, Craft Zilla and Art Kanara Trust, said a release. Mr. Gowda is a cinematographer and photographer who conveys stories and conditions of human life through videos and images. His areas of expertise are in the genres of video editing, cinematography, people and documentary photography Mangaluru Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has organised an exhibition of photographs by Vivek Gowda from April 17 to 21 at Kodial Guthu Centre for Art and Culture, G.G. Road, Ballal Bagh in the city.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on Saturday, April 17 at 5 p.m. in the presence of eminent photographer Guruduth Kamath Udupi, Bharatanatyam artist Vani Rajagopal Chennai and poet, lyricist and editor of Arso Konkani monthly Wilson Kateel. The exhibition remains open to the public on all days till April 21 between 11 am and 7 pm. Admission is free. The event is supported by Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy, Blink Films, Craft Zilla and Art Kanara Trust, said a release. Mr. Gowda is a cinematographer and photographer who conveys stories and conditions of human life through videos and images. His areas of expertise are in the genres of video editing, cinematography, people and documentary photography.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/vivek-gowdas-photographs-on-display/article34330616.ece, April 13, 2021

This is the year of the Heritage Olympiad. Start-ups which seem to have hit upon an interesting blend of commerce and culture to connect with audiences despite the ongoing pandemic and its many challenges, are now creating apps that promote virtual tours of places and museums.

At Culture, a heritage and culture start-up co-founded by Anjchita B Nair, a Heritage Olympiad, an online quiz with questions based on Indian heritage and culture, perhaps the first of its kind in India, is being planned on April 18 to coincide with World Heritage Day.

“We felt that there was scope for a for-profit heritage-based app and that is how we began in 2019. But then came the pandemic and all plans came to nothing. Then we wondered how we could engage online with people and that is how we came up with the idea of an online Olympiad. We cover tangible and intangible heritage and natural heritage. Each participant has to pay a registration fee to participate in the quiz. The aim is to make heritage education in school more inclusive, interactive and accessible. We hope to take this forward by designing app-based interactive programmes based on our history and culture,” explains Anjchita, an architect.

As of now, 2,000 individuals have registered. This fits in with what heritage enthusiasts all across the country are trying to do — make residents aware of local history and heritage.

Over the past year, online alternatives like virtual tours and Zoom conversations have cropped up, owing to the pandemic. Heritage Walk Trivandrum, founded by archaeologist Elizabeth Thomas Tharakan, has conducted two sessions on Zoom. While one was on the Anglo-Indian community in the city and their legacy, the other was on articles of antique value that individuals had in their possession. But Elizabeth says she prefers live sessions to virtual ones as the participants get a feel of the place and the intangible heritage that is part of the city.

The Intach chapter of Palakkad also conducted virtual sessions on various facets such as food, arts and literature of the district. Recently, they came out with an online cultural manifesto 2021, which compiles the different ways the natural, artistic and intangible heritage of Palakkad could be promoted and kept alive.

Last year, heritage enthusiast Kombai Anwar had his annual Ramzan heritage walk in Chennai but it was conducted virtually, keeping in mind lockdown curbs. More than seventy people attended, including participants from the US and South East Asia. “Although I would have liked to have a live walk this year, the situation does not seem to be conducive for that. So, most likely, we might go in for a virtual tour around April 28. It opens up several possibilities and since the walk is popular, we are planning to do it a little differently this year by highlighting the diverse ways in which Muslim communities break the fast during Ramzan. Last year we had done on the historical places in Chennai and talked about the history of the Muslim community in Chennai, especially the Bohra community, We covered some historic places in Triplicane, all online,” he explains.

On April 18, Keep the Heritage Alive and Kicking in India Tours (K.H.A.K.I. Tours) is conducting a paid virtual tour of the historic Hutatma Chowk. “Church Gate is an iconic crossroad in Mumbai. Flora Fountain and the Hutatma Smarak, two important monuments at the place, are intimately connected with the city’s history. These monuments have witnessed events that shaped this city and the country,” says Bharat. In Kolkata, Immersive Trails, a for-profit company begun by archaeologist Tathagata Neogi and his wife, Chelsea Neogi, an anthropologist, have also gone online. “We always wanted to have online discussions and virtual tours of the city. The pandemic expedited the process and we now have regular themed virtual tours,” he says. Immersive Trails have walks themed World War II, the Renaissance movement and the history of Bengal etc. Tathagata is planning one on the film movement in Kolkata with a virtual tour of single screen theatres in the city.

Participants from 130 countries logged in to attend the virtual programmes Tathagata had conducted. “So the virtual tours have only helped us. Even post the pandemic, we plan to continue with our virtual expeditions and talks. In fact, this component is going to be a permanent part of tours as participation can be location agnostic,” he says.

https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/how-heritage-enthusiasts-are-curating-online-conversations-to-celebrate-heritage-and-history-as-part-of-world-heritage-day/article34326572.ece, April 14, 2021

An ancient well dating back as early as the 13th century has been rediscovered in a forest in Odisha, after being surrounded by vegetation. An ancient well dating back as early as the 13th century has been rediscovered in a forest. Debjit Singh Deo discovered the well in Ambilijhari village inside Odisha’s Dalijoda Forest Ranges. Deo, of the Panchakot Royal Family, cleaned up the wild vegetation around the well, leading to its exposure.

The well had been in local folklore in the past. However, its exact location became lost due to the overgrown vegetation. After the discovery of the well, a team from the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) visited the spot to survey the monument. The team consisted of members Anil Dhir, Dr Biswajit Mohanty, Deepak Nayak and Suman Prakesh Swain. The team found that the well is built in a square plan, and has steps leading to its sunken shaft. The structure is a geometric shape, with neatly chiselled sandstone blocks on the lower level. Laterite stone blocks make up the upper levels.

The laterite stone blocks in the stairway are from an earlier period. The Dalijoda region, where the well is located, was part of Pancha Kataka in ancient times. The locals know the area as ‘Bhai Bohu Dedhasura Kuo’, and legends are still told about the curative properties of the well’s water.

https://www.desiblitz.com/content/ancient-13-century-well-rediscovered-in-indian-forest, April 15, 2021

On his birth anniversary, Intach, Calcutta chapter, along with Rotary International District 3291, celebrated his life and music by unveiling the memorial plate. The saying goes that his father would thrash him if he missed his riyaz. The training under his father, Allauddin Khan, often stretched from early morning till late at night. Along with his trained sister Annapurna Devi and Ravi Shankar. Sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan was born at Shibpur in Brahmanbaria, now in Bangladesh, and moved to Calcutta in the late 40s. He founded his first music school, Ali Akbar College of Music, in the city in 1956. On his 99th birth anniversary on April 14, Intach, Calcutta chapter, along with Rotary International District 3291, celebrated his life and music by installing a heritage plaque at his Ranikuthi house. Ali Akbar’s grandson Siraz Ali Khan, and musicians Anindya Banerjee, Tejendra Narayan Majumdar and Bickram Ghosh were among those who attended the programme.

Ali Akbar moved to the US in 1968, where he lived for the rest of his life. The Ali Akbar College of Music, too, moved with him to Rafael, California, with a branch in Basel, Switzerland. He passed away in 2009. “In Calcutta, he first lived in a flat on Broad Street and then on Kabir Road. But a lot of time he spent at 159/1 Rashbehari Avenue, where renowned musicians visited him. I still remember the soul-stirring concerts on the roof of the house. In 1995, he bought a house in Ranikuthi,” said musician Anindya Banerjee. “The installation of the plaque is for the benefit of future generations who will learn about Ustadji and his contribution to Hindustani classical music,” said Sudip Mukherjee, district governor, Rotary International District. “We are happy that we could install the plaque on the auspicious occasion of Ustadji’s 99th birth anniversary,” said Intach’s Calcutta convenor G.M. Kapur.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/heritage-plaque-installed-at-sarod-maestro-ali-akbar-khans-house/cid/1812579, April 16, 2021

On the eve of World Heritage Day, which is celebrated every year on April 18, the members of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), heritage enthusiasts and environmentalists in the city feel that the State government should revoke GO Rt No. 21 that was passed on February 12, 2021 amending the GO 27 dated July 13, 1978, regarding the protected site of Thotlakonda in survey No. 314. According to the new GO, the government had notified only 120 acres as a protected area in the 2nd century BC Buddhist monastery site of Thotlakonda. Which the members of INTACH and heritage enthusiasts feel is not as per the norms of heritage site protection and the government has bypassed the concept of buffer zone around any protected monument. In the earlier GO of 1978, about 3,000 acres was notified as a protected area. This GO was annulled by the government, as it covered a vast area, including the adjoining Buddhist heritage site of Bavikonda. The authorities concerned have not considered the 300 metre buffer zone around the site and have forgotten to take studies into consideration that suggests that the excavation done earlier by the State Archaeology and Museums Department was only partial, and there are strong evidences of ancient history, probably prior to the Buddhist period buried in the site. If destroyed, it will obliterate the ancient historical civilisation of Visakhapatnam, said INTACH Convenor (Vizag chapter) Mayank Deo. INTACH has already filed its objection, requesting for considering at least 600 acres as protected area and decision on the protected area be taken after a complete survey by experts from the Archaeological Society of India. World Heritage Day, initiated by UNESCO, is celebrated across the world to spread awareness about protection, conservation and preservation of heritage and culture. The day is promoted by ICOMOS, International Council for Monuments and Sites, since 1982 and the theme for this year is “ Glorious Pasts, Diverse Future.”

‘Protect heritage buildings’

Apart from having a rich Buddhist heritage with about 40 sites spread across the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, there are about 80 to 85 listed built heritage under GVMC limits, such as the Queen Mary School, Town Hall and St. Aloysius School. But VMRDA has not formed a committee, to explore, survey and list them. “We have asked the VMRDA to take up the task, so that the buildings can be officially declared as protected, but it is still pending,” said Ms. Mayank. Jaisree Hatangadi, a heritage enthusiast and who conducts heritage walk around these structures to create awareness among people, said that if the built structures are not notified and protected then very soon each one of them would endure the same fate as that of ‘Panchwati’, the official residence of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan when he was the vice-chancellor of AU, or that of Kurupam Market Gate and the clock tower, which have been demolished. Queen Mary’s High School for Girls, is another structure that the INTACH members feel needs to be focussed upon. The building was built in 1750 with funds from the Godey family. It served as the district collector’s office and also the armoury for some time in the 18th and 19th centuries. Though the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has given a fund of ₹10 lakh for its renovation, the work is yet to be taken up, for reasons known to the district administration. “If the work is not taken up and the building left to its fate, then it will slowly crumble and one day it will be gone and we will have nothing left for the posterity,” said Edward Paul, history chronicler of the city.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/revoke-new-go-on-thotlakonda-heritage-enthusiasts-urge-govt/article34347235.ece, April 19, 2021

The Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Ambala, celebrated World Heritage Day at the British Cemetery on the Jagadhari road. Schoolchildren, teachers and members of INTACH participated in the event. The strength was limited due to Covid-19 situation, and it was ensured all participants wore masks and followed social distancing. Children and teachers first stood at the Indira Chowk, displaying banners to make people aware of the day. Seeing children standing for a cause, the passers-by cheered and applauded them. Led by Col RD Singh (retired), convenor, the participants walked from the Gita Gopal chowk to the famous British Cemetery. As they walked, they picked up polythene bags and litter on the way to spread the message of civic sense and cleanliness.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/world-heritage-day-celebrated-in-ambaa-241129, April 19, 2021

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made a major discovery early this year. It found remains of a sprawling Buddhist monastery at least 900 years old, full of small and large statues of Buddhist deities in Bahoranpur village of Gurhet panchayat in Hazaribagh’s Sadar block in India’s Jharkhand state. There were also some Shaivite remains at the site. The site, at the eastern side of Jharkhand’s Sitagraha hills, has been cordoned off by security personnel.

Over the last several weeks, groups of people have been making their way to the site, about 12 kilometres outside Hazaribagh town, on foot or on bicycles. Hazaribagh is 124km from Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where Gautama Buddha (567-487BC) had attained enlightenment at the age of 35 after 49 days of continuous meditation under the Bodhi Tree. “Bhagwan ke darshan karne aaye hain,” (“I have come to see God”), said Prajapati, a skilled labourer trying to make his way to the site. He is hoping the excavation will continue for some time so he can perhaps find a job at the site. Already, shops selling tea and sugarcane juice have come up at some distance from the site. Villagers claimed there are days when up to 5,000 people come to look at the statues. Among the ASI’s discoveries are four statues of Taras, the “saviouresses” of the Thunderbolt Vehicle, displaying the Varada mudra, a hand gesture signifying the dispensing of boons.

There are six statues of the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha mudra, with all five fingers of his right hand extended towards the earth, symbolising his enlightenment. Then there are remnants of a statue of the (Hindu) Shaivite goddess Maheswari, with a coiled crown and chakra, suggesting a degree of cultural assimilation at the site. Assistant Archeologist Niraj Kumar Mishra of Excavator Branch III, Patna, said: “We had excavated this area in November 2019…

Since January 31 this year, we focused on a mound near Juljul Pahar in the Sitagarhi hills, where we found remains of a Buddhist monastery-cum-shrine, with an open courtyard and rooms along the sides.” Soon after the findings became widely known, two of the statues disappeared from the site. The thieves were arrested in Jharkhand capital Ranchi a week later, and the statues were recovered. But the incident underlined the neglect that the priceless archaeological site faced. Mahesh Tigga, head of Gurhet panchayat, said: “Buddhist relics have been found at several places in this area. We have asked the government to build a museum here. We will not allow the statues to be taken away from our land.” The first archaeological discoveries in this area were made three decades ago. In 1992, veteran environmentalist and tribal arts conservationist Bulu Imam, convener of the Hazaribagh chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), stumbled upon pottery and remains of Buddhist relics and statues here.

Imam reported the discovery of painted grey ware (PGW) pottery, a votive stupa, a black basalt apsara torso, and an “eight-petalled astadala lotus” inscribed on stone. “Remains of a vihara, stupa, and village with iron smelting siter alongside in a Sarna or sacred grove which yielded PGW fragments are confirmed. It seems that several tanks and wells and villages in the region were once part of comprehensive Vihara on the pilgrim route to Midnapore (Tamralipti),” Imam wrote (Damodar Valley Civilisation, 2001). Imam estimated the antiquity of the Buddhist sites of Hazaribagh from 300 BC to the period of the Palas (8th to 12th centuries AD), and the Sena (11th-12th centuries). The monastery that has now been excavated lies on the old trade route from Varanasi to Tamralipti, via Sherghati in Gaya district in neighbouring Bihar state, and the Sitagraha hills in Jharkhand. A lot of Hazaribagh district is forested, and is home to the Birhor tribals to whom Juljul Pahar is sacred. Every year, on Buddha Purnima day and other occasions of religious significance, local people go to the top of the hill with offerings of rice and milk. Besides the remains of the ancient vihara, the hill has a 65-foot stone face that the Birhors revere as Mahadeva (Lord Shiva, a Hindu deity). Imam, who is now 79 and runs a museum that contains neolithic artefacts and collections of the local Khovar and Sohrai paintings, said he had been trying to get the Central Government to relocate a BSF (Border Security Force) firing range in the area from the early 1990s.

“However, till date, the firing range remains as it is… I informed ASI in 1992, but it took them close to 30 years to begin excavating this major Buddhist site… The ASI’s recent findings are the most significant archaeological discovery in Jharkhand in modern India. No other intact Buddha statue of this beauty and quality, around four feet tall and with heavy back support typical of the time of the Palas, has been found … Even in Bihar only a few statues of this quality have been found,” he said. Imam’s discoveries were confirmed in the ASI’s report on ‘Exploration in districts Hazaribagh and Chatra, 1995’.

The report, published in 2000, said: “Historical sites at Sitagarh yielded evidence of three circular brick structures besides one habitational mound, while Itkori yielded temple remains alongside a huge habitational area. “At both these sites were noticed the sculptures of both Brahmanical and Buddhist pantheon. At Itkori a large number of sculptures, majority of which comprised votive stupas, were noticed. These sculptures belong to the Pala period, and only a few of these are inscribed.” Imam believes the Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsang (Xuan Zang) may have visited Sitagraha during his travels in India in the seventh century. “His visitations were very complex, but at that time, he could have gone back to China through one of only two routes, from Mayurbhanj in Odisha and Tamralipti in Bengal,” he said.

https://island.lk/900-year-old-buddhist-monastery-discovered-in-indias-jharkhand-state/, April 20, 2021

Marking International Heritage Day on April 18, Dr Sukhdev Singh, Punjab state convener and member governing council, Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said all municipal corporations, municipal committees and panchayats should incorporate the heritage regulation laws and by-laws passed by the Punjab Government in 2019 as part of their governance and management of unprotected potential of cultural heritage. Speaking about the sustainable development in adherence to heritage character of cities, he emphasised that the cultural heritage can work as a driver for sustainable development and life.

He pointed out that the contemporary crisis in many human affairs was the result of blind adherence of modern industrial development policies without any sensitivity to human life; he appealed to the government to build up the mechanisms of connecting development with cultural heritage. “While it is important to guard the old buildings and monuments as sites and structures of cultural heritage, it is more important to make policies to guard our languages, our systems of community values of sharing than snatching our natural heritage of streams, rivers, hillocks,” he said.

Dr Sukhdev said it was criminal to let mining continue without following any norms and restrictions. “Although it is possible for the government to give cultural heritage monuments for maintenance and operation on public private mode, yet it is important that the monument rather than profits remain primary and in the centre stage.” INTACH has been actively engaged in assessing and building a network of collaborators in heritage conservation and to promote sustainable development.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/spare-a-thought-for-sustainable-heritage-conservation-intach-241661, April 21, 2021

India is home to 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, out of the 1121 such spots identified around the world. So far, only China, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France have more locations on the list than India. Every year, the United Nations marks April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, in many countries also celebrated as World Heritage Day. The theme for this year is is “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”. Globally, the day is promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). India is home to 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, out of the 1121 such spots identified around the world. So far, only China, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France have more locations on the list than India.

Why World Heritage Day is celebrated
ICOMOS in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day. Approved by UNESCO in 1983 during its 22nd General Conference, the day is dedicated to recognising sites of historical importance, raising awareness regarding them, and stressing the need to restore and preserve them. The day, thus, promotes cultural importance, while also highlighting the many impediments in doing so. Every year, a theme is proposed for the day which guides the celebrations and the many activities that ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees and other bodies.

Why World Heritage Day is celebrated
ICOMOS in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day. Approved by UNESCO in 1983 during its 22nd General Conference, the day is dedicated to recognising sites of historical importance, raising awareness regarding them, and stressing the need to restore and preserve them. The day, thus, promotes cultural importance, while also highlighting the many impediments in doing so. Every year, a theme is proposed for the day which guides the celebrations and the many activities that ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees and other bodies do.

Theme 2021
The UNESCO website explains this year’s theme “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”– The history of a place can involve many points of view. The conservation of cultural heritage requires careful examination of the past, and its practice demands provision for the future. In recent years, debates on certain narratives, and particular stories over others, have come to the forefront. Addressing difficult and often contested histories involves complex conversations with different stakeholders, avoiding biased views and interpretations of the past. Acknowledging global calls for greater inclusion and recognition of diversity, this day invites all of us to reflect on, interpret and review existing narratives.

World Heritage Sites in India
Currently, there are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India. Of these, 30 are ‘cultural’, such as the Ajanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi monuments and the Mountain Railways of India, and 7 are ‘Natural’, including Kaziranga, Manas and Nanda Devi National Parks. One is classified as ‘Mixed’, the Khangchendzonga National Park.

In 2019, ‘Jaipur City’ became the 38th addition to the India list under Culture.
Full list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
Cultural (30)
Agra Fort (1983)
Ajanta Caves (1983)
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
Elephanta Caves (1987)
Ellora Caves (1983)
Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
Great Living Chola Temples (1987,2004)
Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/world-heritage-day-april-18-7278757/, April 23, 2021

Reena, a drawing teacher at Cantt Board Middle School, Topkhana Bazar, has won a trophy for teaching useful crafts techniques to schoolchildren during a workshop. The trophy has been awarded by INTACH, head office, Delhi. The workshop was conducted by INTACH, Ambala chapter, on June 30 last year. More than 80 students and teachers from 10 schools had attended the workshop. Reena had showcased the art of making baskets with bangles. She demonstrated how to make a pot from newspapers.

tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/honour-for-arts-teacher-244744, April 26 2021

Two months after a team from the State Department of Archaeology began excavation on the Noyyal river bed at Kodumanal village in Chennimalai Union where iron smelting units were unearthed recently in large numbers, the team began excavation work at three megalithic burial sites here on Wednesday. A team led by J. Ranjith, Archaeology Officer and Project Director for the Kodumanal excavation, K. Suresh, Archeological Officer, began excavations on February 26 and had so far dug 28 quadrants and unearthed iron smelting units and found furnaces and other processing materials. The team identified over 10 cairn-circle mounds, all located about 500 metres from the river, and excavation works began at three mounds. A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had previously carried out excavation at the burials here. Mr. Ranjith told The Hindu that, “Only secondary burials were unearthed in all the previous excavations at Kodumanal and hence the focus is on identifying primary burials which would throw more light on the earlier human settlements”. Two months after a team from the State Department of Archaeology began excavation on the Noyyal river bed at Kodumanal village in Chennimalai Union where iron smelting units were unearthed recently in large numbers, the team began excavation work at three megalithic burial sites here on Wednesday. A team led by J. Ranjith, Archaeology Officer and Project Director for the Kodumanal excavation, K. Suresh, Archeological Officer, began excavations on February 26 and had so far dug 28 quadrants and unearthed iron smelting units and found furnaces and other processing materials. The team identified over 10 cairn-circle mounds, all located about 500 metres from the river, and excavation works began at three mounds. A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had previously carried out excavation at the burials here. Mr. Ranjith told The Hindu that, “Only secondary burials were unearthed in all the previous excavations at Kodumanal and hence the focus is on identifying primary burials which would throw more light on the earlier human settlements”.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/digging-of-megalithic-burials-at-kodumanal-begins/article34429186.ece, April 30 2021