The Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in collaboration with the state’s research directorate, inaugurated the INTACH’s Arunachal Pradesh chapter in a function held at the auditorium of JN State Museum here on Saturday. Cultural Affairs Minister Taba Tedir, who inaugurated the function, said that launching the INTACH’s state chapter would immensely help Arunachal in documenting and preserving its diverse tangible and intangible heritage, protect the historical and archaeological sites, and upgrade its two tentatively listed UNESCO World Heritage sites: Thembang fortified village and the Apatani cultural landscape, Ziro.

He especially stressed on protecting the endangered languages of the state, and the INTACH’s involvement in this regard. INTACH Arunachal Chapter Convener Oken Tayeng said that “the opening of INTACH Arunachal chapter creates a bridge between the state’s research directorate and the INTACH to glorify the culture of the state." Earlier, INTACH Chapter Division Director, Captain Arvind Shukla, presented a brief on the objective of the INTACH and its importance in the context of Arunachal, where there has been a gradual erosion of traditional arts and architecture, rituals and other forms of heritage due to the onslaught of modern forces.

The INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Principal Dr Nerupama Y Modwel spoke about the INTACH’s work in the northeastern region in the fields of conservation, research, documentation, outreach programme, organisation of people’s museum, etc, and its plan for Arunachal, “which would involve cultural mapping, identification and documentation of diverse cultural elements, studying of cultural expressions from different communities, organising programmes for tourism in promoting local culture, community engagement, network building, collaboration, and more.” The function was attended also by Padma Shri awardees Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi and Mamang Dai, RGU Dean Prof Sarit Kumar Choudhuri, Art & Culture Director Tabang Bodung, IPR Director Onyok Pertin, Gazetteer Director Sokeph Kri, and Research Director Kanggo Tayeng.

https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2023/12/03/intach-state-chapter-inaugurated/, December 4, 2023

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Sambalpur chapter is planning to move the State Government for funds for the renovation of the historical Raja Bakhri (King's palace) in the city. The architectural marvel stands as a testament to the glorious history of Sambalpur. King Chhatra Sai had built the two storied Raja Bakhri. The palace, which was built in the end part of the 17th Century, had 40 rooms in it. However, because of the inattention, the historical palace is lying in a pathetic condition now. The first floor of the historical building has already got destroyed. And the ground floor is also in a dilapidated condition. Legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai had stayed in the palace for a few days. On October 7, 1857, Sai had entered Sambalpur with his 1,500 supporters. The British Government did not dare to prevent Sai from entering Sambalpur.

During that period, he stayed in the Raja Bakhri. Moreover, freedom fighters here had waved the national flag here in the Raja Bakhri during the Quit India Movement. "Presently, the INTACH is carrying out the renovation work of the Victoria town hall and the house of the doyen of Assamese literature, Lakshminath Bezbaroa in Sambalpur city. The work on the two projects will be completed soon. Hence, we are planning to submit a proposal to the Government for funds for the renovation of Raja Bakhri now. It will enable us to commence the restoration work on the historical palace immediately after the completion of the ongoing projects," said member of Sambalpur INTACH, chapter, Deepak Panda.

“A detailed project report (DPR) for the renovation of the palace will be prepared soon and we will appeal to the Government for the required fund,” said Panda. Earlier in 2015, the INTACH had submitted a proposal of Rs 2.5 crore with the State Government for the renovation work of Raja Bakhri. “However, considering the current situation, a revised proposal will be submitted for the successful restoration of the historical palace,” informed Panda.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/intach-to-revive-17th-century---s----raja-bakhri---.html, December 5, 2023

The state government has decided to revive ‘jagagharas’ and ‘akhadas’ in Puri to preserve their historical significance. These were set up long back to train youths in body building, martial arts and wrestling for protection of the Jagannath Temple from invaders. In the first phase, 35 ‘jagagharas’ would be redeveloped with the construction of gyms on the campuses. Bhoomi puja for the proposed gyms was performed on Wednesday. “The sports department has sanctioned around Rs 23 lakh each for the establishment of gyms at the ‘jagagharas’ and ‘akhadas’. Youths of Puri, especially servitors of Jagannath Temple, would learn body building, wrestling and martial arts to stay fit,” Puri district collector Samarth Verma told TOI. The collector said fit servitors are required during the Pahandi procession of deities during Rath Yatra. Muscular servitors are sought during Rath Yatra every year to move the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the temple onto their chariots. Local residents welcomed the government’s patronage to the ‘jagagharas’ and ‘akhadas’, which had been wallowing in neglect. Most ‘jagagharas’ around the Jagannath Temple have become dilapidated due to lack of maintenance, forcing many local youths to enroll themselves in gyms.

“We are glad the government has come forward to preserve our rich ‘jaga-akhada’ culture and dying heritage. Due to lack of patronage, such places are on the brink of extinction. Kings had established ‘jagagharas’ for the safety of the pilgrim town in general and Jagannath Temple in particular. Such places used to be considered as paramilitary units,” said Badri Mishra, a culture enthusiast and Jagannath researcher from Puri. Each ‘jagaghara’ has a small Mahavir Hanuman temple, a pond and hall where youths exercise by using traditional weightlifting instruments and practice wrestling. Puri used to produce several bodybuilders and wrestlers, who had honed their skills in ‘jagagharas’ and ‘akhadas’. “The administration should not only build gyms, but also renovate the ‘jagaghara’ ponds and premises. The ‘jagaghara’ culture and ambience should not be spoiled by any other construction or modern beautification. If we manage to restore the old glory of such institutions, they can attract tourists,” said Narayan Mahasuar, a servitor of Jagannath Temple. We also published the following articles recently. In the unique dog temple located in Sikandrabad town of Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district, the deity is a dog. The temple draws thousands of faithful pilgrims every year, especially during Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and other Hindu festivals. The temple's history dates back nearly a hundred years when a revered godman named Baba Laturia had a close friendship with a dog. After Baba's death, the dog jumped into his grave and passed away hours later.

To honor their bond, a resting place for the dog was made beside Baba's samadhi, and a statue was erected. The dog's grave is believed to protect people from negative forces, and visitors tie black threads on the dog's statue to fulfill their wishes. Arunachal Pradesh government aims to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of various tribes through a cultural policy. The state has 26 major tribes and over 100 subtribes with diverse culture and traditions. The government is working on digitizing museums and introducing local dialects of twelve tribes as the third language in schools. Efforts are being made to include Thembang village and Apatani Cultural Landscape in the UNESCO world heritage sites list. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is collaborating with stakeholders to document oral traditions and culturally significant sites. Three people were killed and nine wounded in an explosion during a Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi. The authorities are investigating the blast, considering possible revenge by pro-Islamic State militants. The university condemned the act of violence and suspended classes. In a separate military operation, 11 militants, including members of Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines, a pro-Islamic State group, were killed.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/govt-plans-revival-of-puri-jagagharas-akhadas/articleshow/105797605.cms, December 5, 2023

Around 25% of the façade lights along the Kaiserbagh heritage zone have been installed and the remaining will be set up in the coming few weeks, said divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob on Monday, while reviewing the redevelopment work of the heritage zone in the city. The commissioner informed that under the ongoing work to spruce up the heritage zone, façade lights are being installed in Kaiserbaghand around Bada Imambara and Rumi Darwaza. She directed the officials to complete the remaining work on war footing. TNN We also published the following articles recently Arunachal Pradesh government working on cultural policy for preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

INTACH Arunachal chapter inaugurated, state has 26 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes. Government digitizing all museums, introduced dialects as third language in schools. Support provided for UNESCO world heritage site listing of Thembang village, Apatani Cultural Landscape, Bhalukpong Fort, Tameshwari Temple.

Citizen involvement and collaboration with stakeholders needed for comprehensive documentation of cultural heritage. Despite efforts by Panjab University, security of over 3,000 heritage items, including chairs, remains a concern. Lack of regular audits and awareness workshops has left the possessions vulnerable to theft. Haphazard furniture placement and lack of awareness contribute to the challenge. Routine inventory audits, relocation of furniture to secure areas, and verification by experts are needed. Yearly inventory checks, penalties for smuggling, and filing complaints with the police are crucial. Sale of heritage furniture in auctions is an ongoing issue.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/work-on-kaiserbagh-heritage-zone-nearing-completion/articleshow/105741839.cms, December 6, 2023

The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) concluded World Heritage Week with a series of impactful talks on heritage-related topics. The week-long event, held at the Kodialguthu Centre for Arts and Culture, featured an exhibition titled “Udupi Sub-Jail that Survived Demolition Verdict” and daily talks by subject experts from 19 to 25 Nov 2023. Commencing the week, Architect Niren Jain delved into “Exploring Mangaluru’s Street and Place Names Through Time” on 20 Nov., followed by Architect Caroline D’Souza’s insightful operation of “The Heterogeneous Layered Urbanism of the Old Port of Mangaluru” on 21 Nov. Author William Pais, Director of Gallerie Orchid, engaged the audience on 22 Nov with a talk on “Heritage as Collective Memory."

Drawing on his 16-year experience promoting local artists, Pais emphasised the vital role of creative endeavours in fostering balance and peace through poetry, art, music, and culture. Subrahmanya Bhat, a Vastu Vidwan from Udupi, brought his thirty years of expertise to the discussion on 23 Nov, focusing on “Traditional Temples and Houses in Tulunadu.” He elaborated on the construction and planning of traditional structures, emphasising the importance of artisans’ happiness in the process. On 24 Nov, Architect Sindhushree shed light on the “Kattes of Mangaluru,” emphasising their significance as local landmarks. She shared ongoing documentation efforts, covering approximately 130 kattes, revealing the objectives and methodology of the study.

The final day, 25 Nov, featured Subhas Chandra Basu presenting “The Ruin: The Raipur Zamindar Bari,” offering detailed architectural documentation with historical context. Being of Bengali origin, he elaborated on his involvement in this project as it is located in West Bengal. The partially restore sites adaptive reuse proposal was also unveiled, connecting the Zamindar family’s history to the inception of Shantiniketan as an international centre of education. Caroline D’Souza, a Life Member of INTACH, concluded the week by summarizing the events and expressing gratitude to the approximately thirty attendees who participated in the daily talks and exhibition.

https://newskarnataka.com/karnataka/coastal/mangaluru/intach-heritage-week-concludes-with-tapestry-of-heritage-insights/03122023, December 7, 2023

India had nominated Garba, performed across Gujarat and in many other parts of the country during the Navratri festival, for inclusion in the list. UNESCO has approved the inclusion of Gujarat's traditional Garba dance in its `Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity', Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced here on Wednesday. India had nominated Garba, performed across Gujarat and in many other parts of the country during the Navratri festival, for inclusion in the list. “The age-old tradition of devotion to Goddess Mother in the form of Garba is alive and growing. Garba which has become the identity of Gujarat has been approved by UNESCO under its intangible cultural heritage list," Patel said in a post on X. “This is a moment of pride for Gujaratis spread all over the world. This is a result of importance being given to the heritage of the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and such heritage being taken to the world.

Congratulations to the people of Gujarat,” Patel further said. The inclusion was made under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which began in Kasane, Botswana, on Tuesday. “Garba of Gujarat is the 15th ICH element from India to join this list. This inscription underscores Garba’s pivotal role as a unifying force that fosters social and gender inclusivity. Garba as a dance form is entrenched deeply in ritualistic and devotional roots, involving people from all walks of life and it continues to thrive as a vibrant living tradition bringing communities together,” an official release said.

Garba is a "ritualistic and devotional dance" that is performed on the occasion of the festival of Navratri which is dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or 'Shakti', the UNESCO website said. The dance takes place around a perforated earthenware pot lit with an oil lamp, or an image of the mother goddess Amba. The dancers move around the centre in a counter-clockwise circle, using simple movements while singing and clapping their hands in unison, it further said. Starting with slow circular movements, the tempo slowly builds up to a frenzied whirling. The practitioners and bearers of Garba are broad and inclusive, from the dancers to the musicians, social groups, craftspeople and religious figures involved in the festivities and preparations, it said. Garba fosters social equality by diluting socio-economic, gender and religious structures. It continues to be inclusive of diverse and marginalized communities, thus strengthening social bonds, it said. Traditions or cultural phenomena from India such as Ramlila, Vedic Chants, Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja have already been recognised by the UNESCO list.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/garba-dance-included-in-unescos-intangible-cultural-heritage-list-pm-says-this-showcases-beauty-of-indian-culture-101701874051521.html, December 8, 2023

About 30 women, belonging to economically disadvantaged sections, are being trained to make Agarbatti (incense sticks) and Dhoop from the flowers used in various temples of Visakhapatnam. The heritage, crafts, and community division, INTACH New Delhi, and the INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter launched the 15-day training workshop here on Wednesday. The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - CIMAP (CSIR), Lucknow is providing the technical support for the workshop. Chief trainer from CIMAP Dr Ramesh Srivastava will personally supervise the training and impart best practices in this Dhoop and Agarbattis-making workshop for the next two weeks. INTACH Visakhapatnam chapter former convener Rani Sarma inaugurated the workshop along with Dr Ramesh Srivastava and other dignitaries. Visakhapatnam chapter convener Dr D Rajasekhar Reddy, co-convener Dr B Surendra Kumar, program coordinators Mayank Kumari Deo and Dr Renuka Rani Maganti, senior members Edward Paul, Jaya Sree Hattangadi, Asha Jain, Mahesh Rao, S Madhavi were also part of the inaugural ceremony. Dr Surendra Kumar thanked the INTACH chairman Major Gen LK Gupta and Vandana Bindu Manchanda and Sakshi Awasthi of the INTACH heritage, crafts and community division, New Delhi for the initiative, encouragement, and financial support for organizing the workshop. He also thanked Dr Srivastava of CIMAP, Lucknow for sparing his time and putting in the efforts to travel to Visakhapatnam to train the participants. The workshop aims to reduce the huge quantity of flowers used in temples and other events going as a waste into the landfills and provide an environment friendly business opportunity for women and make them self-reliant. According to Dr Srivastava, a member can make 1000 Agarbattis with one kilogram of powdered flowers with a nominal expenditure of around Rs 200 to 300 rupees. By this, they can earn a profit of Rs 700 per day if they work for a couple of hours at their homes during free time.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/intach-launches-training-workshop-for-women-to-make-agarbatti-from-flowers/articleshow/105967820.cms, December 11, 2023

While the first floor of the historical building is severely damaged, the ground floor is also in a dilapidated condition. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Sambalpur chapter is planning to seek funds from the state government for the renovation of the historical Raja Bakhri (King’s palace) in the city. This architectural marvel stands as a testament to the glorious history of Sambalpur. The historical Raja Bakhri was built by King Chhatra Sai in the early 17th century. The two-storey building has around 40 rooms. As per history researchers, Surendra Sai had stayed in this palace for a few days in 1857 when he entered Sambalpur with his 1,500 supporters. Moreover, the freedom fighters had waved the national flag here in the Raja Bakhri during the Quit India Movement. Sans maintenance, the historical palace is in dire straits.

While the first floor of the historical building is severely damaged, the ground floor is also in a dilapidated condition. Major areas of the palace have been vandalised over the years. Member of Sambalpur INTACH chapter, Deepak Panda said, they are currently carrying out the renovation work of the Victoria town hall and the house of the doyen of Assamese literature, Lakshminath Bezbaroa in Sambalpur city. The work on the two projects will be completed soon. “We are planning to submit a proposal to the government for the renovation of Raja Bakhri now.

It will enable us to commence the restoration work on the historical palace immediately after the completion of the ongoing projects,” he informed. Earlier in 2015, INTACH had submitted a renovation proposal for Raja Bakhri at an estimated `2.5 crore to the state government. “However, considering the current situation, a revised proposal will be submitted for the successful restoration of the historical palace,” said Panda. At one point, the palace was proposed to be turned into a hostel of Lady Lewis Girls High School to restore and utilise the building. In 2017, the Sambalpur Press Club along with a few other social organisations had undertook an initiative to clean the premises of Raja Bakhri Palace. The cleaning drive was carried out over three weekends and thereafter the premise was used for organising yoga sessions as well as cultural programmes.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/dec/09/raja-bakhri-in-ruins-intach-to-seek-odisha-govt-fund-for-revival-2639975.html, December 12, 2023

The iconic century-old heritage building of Lady Hardinge Medical College, its ancient canopies, domed convocation hall and founder’s statue are set to get a facelift, with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) expected to start restoration work on them. The foundation stone of the institution, the oldest medical college for women in India, was laid on March 17, 1914 by Lady Hardinge, the wife of Lord Hardinge, the then viceroy She took the initiative to start a medical college for women as the lack of one made it almost impossible for Indian women to study medicine. Unfortunately, Lady Hardinge passed away later that year and on the suggestion of Queen Mary, the college and the hospital were named after her. Two years later, in February 17, 1916, the institute was formally opened by Lord Hardinge. According to the director of the medical college, Dr Subhash Giri, appropriate funds have been sanctioned and the work will start soon. “It will be completed in phases,” he said.

Dr Ghanshyam Pangtey, director professor, department of medicine, and chairperson, operation and maintenance committee, told TOI that Intach had restored the terrace and water-proofed the heritage building at the beginning of this year. Now, it will start work on the founder’s statue, which has turned black. The statue’s canopy and the red brick facade will also be restored, he said. Besides, Intach will also restore the domed convocation hall, which is in a circular shape and has a capacity of 120 seats. “Acoustics are a big problem there and the condition of the hall has also deteriorated with time. Cracks are visible on the top of the hall. The stairs, which are made of red sandstone, also need restoration work,” he said, adding that audio-visual equipment will have to be relocated before work commences. The convocation hall, now a part of the heritage building, was built along with the rest of the college in 1916. Lectures and programmes of all kinds are held there, said Dr Giri. According to the institute, there was a ‘purdah gallery’ for Muslim students, which is not being used now.

Many dignitaries, including Mahatma Gandhi, have graced the convocation hall with their presence in the past. The hall showcases the list of all winners of medals and prizes over the years. Restoration is also in the pipeline for the iron staircase that leads to the terrace and the canopies on the top of the building, according to officials. A Vijaya, director and head of the architectural heritage division, Intach, told TOI, “We are looking forward to carrying out the restoration work of the medical college, which is unique in Asia. Several top doctors have passed out from the institute. Intach will form an expert conservation team to undertake complete scientific restoration of the metal statue of Lady Hardinge.”

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/surgical-intervention-lady-hardinge-medical-college-in-for-facelift/articleshow/105946892.cms, December 12, 2023

A team of eminent Geologists (retired from the Geological Survey of India) made a presentation on the geological marvels that Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold and that although countries like China, Indonesia, Korea and Japan have Geoparks, India doesn’t have one yet. They also mentioned that though the guidelines mentioned by UNESCO are difficult to follow yet India could perhaps start thinking of declaring one geopark. And that our islands would be a good place to begin with. The teams of geologists were lead by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mahendra, Retired Director General of Geological Survey of India.

The other members of the team were Dr. Satyabrata Guha, Dr. S. V. Satyanarayana, Dr. P.V. Sesharao and Dr. V. Ravikumar. The discussion was attended by Dr. Jatinder Sohal, Director, IP & T, Dr. N. Somorjit Singh, Head of Office, Anthropological Survey of India, Mr. Sukumar Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Forest Department, Mr. Arun Singh, Nature Enthusiast and Founding member of Andaman Avians Club and Mr. Udhay Bhaskar, Star-gazer from Whistlingwoodsandaman. The vote of thanks was given by Samhita Veda Acharya, Convenor, INTACH A and N Chapter.

http://www.andamansheekha.com/122763/, December 13, 2023

The Listener: Nagaland is the 2nd edition of an annual roving festival in the northeast of India conceived and initiated by Imasi: The Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi Foundation as a festival of orality on the themes of literature, performance and technology. The Listener: Nagaland was held at Tetso College and programmed by Sentila Yanger, Festival Director, and produced by Imasi Foundation, MMGLD New Delhi, Sanjeev Behari, and the INTACH Nagaland Chapter. A capacity building workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage, based on the ICH Conventions of UNESCO was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi, with Imasi Foundation and The Listener: Nagaland as resource partners. It was held concurrently with The Listener: Nagaland on 3-4 November. More information on The Listener may be found at http://imasi.org/listenerfestival/. The Intangible Cultural workshop program is at http://imasi.org/listenerfestival/ichwork.

http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=features.The_Listener_Nagaland_2023.html.., December 14, 2023

One of the only two Christian museums in the country, the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum (AHM) nestled on the mezzanine of the Diocesan Seminary, St Pius X College, Goregaon East, is a treasure trove of artefacts which bring the rich Christian history of the city to life. To herald the spirit of Christmas, Joynel Fernandes, assistant director, AHM, has curated a walking tour of this historically important site. She shares, “A guided tour typically lasts for around two hours. But it can also scale up to a good three to four hours, depending on the visitor’s interest level.” Fernandes promises a knowledgeable commentary that will keep participants intrigued throughout the tour. “The semi-circular space at the entrance follows the apse of the chapel above. An adambo [a modern take on the traditional lock] greets visitors into a world of fascinating stories and local art,” informs the curator.

The 2,000-plus objects and artefacts celebrate the history of Christianity in the Mumbai region. The collection scouted from church attics, crypts and family altars include a display of sacred vessels, liturgical books, vestments, manuscripts, paintings, statues and more. At the start of the walk, participants will spot the first artefact, which is a beautifully carved and gilded Monstrance, a replica of the Gothic architecture of the façade of Byculla’s Gloria Church. Fernandes shares that the walk will include interesting interpretations and discussions on the unique iconography (at times hidden in plain sight) of certain artworks in the collection. “This includes the 400-year-old depiction of St Paul as a local ascetic on a lotus platform; the Virgin Mary with a bindi on her forehead; diya shaped oil-lamps; an Indo-Portuguese altar-piece with cashews, kirtimukhas and angels with snail-shell curls as witnessed on the Buddha’s head!" She adds that the highlight will be an exploration of the well-researched timeline from 100 AD to 2010, illustrating the local, national and international history within a single spectrum.

This pictorial timeline serves as a great reflection of the rich history of Mumbai’s parishes and the legacy of the Archdiocese of Bombay. Anita Yewale, co-convenor of INTACH Greater Mumbai Chapter, which is organising this visit calls this museum “a hidden gem of the city,” adding, “Some of the motifs, colours materials, designs and iconography of the artefacts draw inspiration from our local culture and worship practices, which gives rise to a renewed visual language, which appeals to the local population more.” Interestingly, this historically important museum is part of the Seminary that has hosted both the Popes i.e. Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II (both saints now) in 1964 and 1986, respectively. It intends to create awareness within a confined space of an apse. Midway through the collection is a tiered seating for audio-visual presentations to educate visitors. For its evolved design, its architect Ainsley Lewis won an award from the Interaction Design Foundation in 2014. This Christmas special edition walk will include a short carol singing session at the end of the museum tour.

On: December 17; 10.30 am
At: Archdiocesan Heritage Museum, Mezzanine Floor, St Pius X College, Goregaon East
Cost: Rs 700 (members); Rs 850 (non-members)
Treasured history
>> Indo-Portuguese altar piece (1608) from the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Manori
>> Relics (physical remains or clothing) of several saints including the apostles of Christ >> Bible dating back to 1890s with beautiful gilded illustrations

>> Baptism and marriage registers dating back to the 1800s that tell tales about the city and the Church
>> A 400-year-old statue of crucified Christ from Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Dongri that caught fire on Good Friday in the 1630s. A masterpiece of art, it was skillfully restored by local artists

https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/mumbais-tryst-with-christianity-23324720.., December 14, 2023

The Intach, Sambalpur chapter, is planning to move the state government for funds for renovation of the historical Raja Bakhri (king’s palace) in the city. But owing to lack of attention, the 17th century palace is lying in a pitiable condition. The first floor of the historical building is already destroyed. And the ground floor is also in a dilapidated condition. Legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai had stayed in this palace for a few days. On October 7, 1857, Surendra Sai entered Sambalpur with his 1,500 supporters. The British government did not dare to prevent Surendra Sai from entering Sambalpur. During that period, Surendra Sai stayed in the Raja Bakhri. Moreover, the freedom fighters had waved the national flag at the Raja Bakhri during the Quit India Movement. "Currently, the Intach is carrying out the renovation work of the Victoria town hall and the house of the doyen of Assamese literature, Lakshminath Bezbaroa in Sambalpur city. The work on the two projects will be completed soon. Hence, we are planning to submit a proposal to the government for funds for the renovation of Raja Bakhri now. It will enable us to commence the restoration work on the historical palace immediately after the completion of the ongoing projects," said member of Intach, Sambalpur chapter, Deepak Panda.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/intach-eyes-government-funding-raja-bakhri-renovation/articleshow/106108750.cms, December 18, 2023

The six-day exhibition is an initiative aimed at supporting the local creative community of sculptors, artists and photographers, a press note said. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with PY-01. COM, a Trust that works towards the protection of the heritage and environment will be organising a six-day art exhibition from December 26 to 31 to support the local creative community of sculptors, artists and photographers from the Puducherry and Auroville bio-region.

According to a press note, the exhibition is an open platform for creative people to express themselves, presenting an opportunity for sculptors, artists and photographers to find better market visibility amongst potential buyers and to foster comradeship and partnership. The members will donate a work of art in support of sustainable community development of the bio-region. The exhibition will be held at INTACH, No. 62, Sri Aurobindo Street, Puducherry.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/art-exhibition-at-intach-in-puducherry-from-december-26-to-31/article67657903.ece, December 19, 2023

The Indian National Trust of Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) has submitted its primary report to the Gondal municipality regarding the two 100-year-old bridges which are in a dilapidated condition. The civic body and the Rajkot district administration had asked Intach to submit a report following directions of the Gujarat high court which is hearing a PIL on these rickety structures. During the last hearing, the court had suggested roping in conservation architects before initiating the repair work of the bridges. The court had also suggested that the same material used in building the bridges should be used in the repairs. It’s learnt that Intach has submitted architectural documentation of both bridges, mentioning the thickness of bases, span’s width, height, its conditional assessment, number of cracks and damages. Riddhi Shah, head, Intach, Rajkot chapter told TOI: “We suggested in our report that apart from our experts, the municipality must rope in other experts for structure analysis, material analysis and load testing. All engineers can't do structural analysis of heritage structures, therefore experts from IITs must be involved.

A materials expert is also required as the bridge is in water and some professional to test its current load and future load capacities.” During the last hearing, chief justice Sunita Agarwal had said, “For renovation of any heritage property, you cannot do like what you have done with Morbi bridge. Please do not do this.” Terming the Morbi suspension bridge collapse as an ‘engineering disaster, the court had asked the government to not repeat the mistake while carrying out repairs of the Gondal bridges. These bridges were built by erstwhile king Bhagvatsinhji Maharaja.

The government pleader informed the court that Rs 17 crore was transferred to the municipality for the construction of two new bridges, with the possibility of demolishing one of the existing bridges. The court said the iconic structures don’t need to be demolished but repaired with the help of conservation architects. The court had said, “Have you ensured that the repairs are not done in the manner in which it was done with Morbi bridge? We will also ask you to make sure and also submit periodical reports with regards to its repairs, because if you are repairing an old structure or heritage structure, the same material is to be used. You cannot change the material. In the Morbi bridge case, they have replaced wooden planks with aluminium planks, which has resulted in falling of the bridge. That was an engineering disaster."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/https/example-com/gondal-heritage-bridges-intach-report-repairs/articleshow/106139725.cms, December 20, 2023

The Indian National Trust for and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) released the book “Beyond Obvious: Odisha-Karnataka Relationship Over The Ages” written by scientist-turned-author Subhransu Mohapatro at Bhubaneswar today. Speaking on the occasion, Sanjib Hota said that many connections exist between the Odias and Kannadigas since ancient times. The teachings of Kalinga war had affected life in Karnataka through Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions which are found in highest numbers in Karnataka. A.B.Tripathy, the State Convener of Intach said that different narratives of the epochal historical events have been written by historians over the years. The history of the vanquished and the winners has always been written with bias. The time has come to write a correct history which is based on facts. Dr. Biswajit Mohanty spoke of the contribution of modern day Odias in the economy of Karnataka. He said that the maximum number of successful start-ups have been set up by Odias. Dr. Adyasha Das said that while frequent battles between Vijayanagar Empire and Odisha Gajapati’s were common in the middle ages, today a deep economic connection between the two states is evolving with Karnataka being home to a million Odias. Young historian Deepak Nayak said that proper documentation and research on the Kalingan influence in the four southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telengana and Tamil Nadu has not been done. These four states have history related to the Ganga and the Suryavamsi Gajapatis. Intach Odisha is soon earmarking on a project to document the entire Kalingan heritage in the four southern states and bring out a detailed report. Since the last two years, a team of Intach Odisha, under the supervision of Deepak Kumar Nayak, has been exploring the region. Nayak has already identified and located many unknown monuments, inscriptions and artifacts in Andhra and Telengana. Many unknown aspects of the influence of the Odia emperors who had extended their kingdom till Deep South have not been studied. Intach’s project will be the first detailed survey of Kalingan heritage in these states. Anil Dhir, the Convener of Intach’s Bhubaneswar Chapter spoke of the Odia diaspora which exists in many states and the manner in which they have assimilated in the adopted places. He spoke of the successful Odias in Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands etc. He said that the integrity, honesty and hard work of the Odias has been acknowledged and appreciated all over the country.

https://orissadiary.com/intach-released-the-book-beyond-obvious-odisha-karnataka-relationship-over-the-ages-written-by-scientist-turned-author-subhransu-mohapatro/, December 20, 2023

The Spring Dale school management and faculty felicitated the winners of the INTACH National Heritage and Cultural Quiz and the 67th School National Tennis Championships. Representing Punjab, the Spring Dale Senior School (Amritsar) team trounced all other teams in the finals of the event to win the prestigious INTACH quiz. Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, chairman, Spring Dale Educational Society, said the school quiz team, comprising Gursidak Kaur Boparai and Mudit Tayal, and guided by Neeru Issar, created history when it outperformed by winning the trophy. He said, “The competition was held in different phases, wherein 20 teams from across the country participated."

Major General Balwinder Singh, state convener, INTACH, congratulated the team. School principal Rajiv Kumar Sharma congratulated the school’s tennis team for excelling at the 67th School National Tennis Championship, held in Bengaluru. He said, “Jagteshwar Singh, a budding tennis player of Class X , represented Punjab’s U-17 team and won the silver medal. He outperformed his competitors from 23 states and is now the captain of the Punjab team.” He said Jagteshwar had ended a 40-year medal drought for Punjab in the event.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/spring-dale-welcomes-quiz-winners-tennis-champion-574076, December 20, 2023

The Tamil Nadu State Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a voluntary organisation based in Padmanabha Nagar, Adyar, has been conducting heritage walks and heritage quiz programmes and bringing out heritage-related publications for children and the general public. Encouraged by the success and wide appreciation of the heritage theme-based desk calendars of the earlier years, the Chapter has just brought out a unique colourful desk calendar for 2024. Christened ‘Celebrating Pallava Heritage’, the calendar showcases the distinctive features and accomplishments of the Pallavas, one of the most important and powerful dynasties of ancient India. From the late 3rd century, for around six hundred years, the Pallavas were among the most dominant rulers of southern India. They ruled from Kanchipuram in northern Tamil Nadu as their main capital. Mahabalipuram was their secondary capital and chief port. This unique calendar, besides presenting facets of the exceptional accomplishments of the Pallavas, also marks out certain special dates when public events, to celebrate these achievements could be organised. Some of the sites and objects, featured here, have never been photographed or published earlier. A few of these photographs offer very rare views of certain monuments. As part of its Heritage Awareness Programs, the INTACH Tamil Nadu State Chapter has been regularly conducting the Pallava Tour, taking scholars, students and serious tourists to Pallava sites and monuments. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar go towards INTACH’s heritage awareness and conservation programmes. For more information contact INTACH at [email protected] or call 73585 34553.

https://adyartimes.in/a-heritage-theme-based-calendar-with-a-difference/, December 20, 2023

The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) hosted a talk titled ‘Re-imagining the historical narratives of the coast’ at the Kodialguthu Centre for Arts and Culture on Friday. Architect Deepika KM presented her research findings, inviting the audience to delve into the rich history of the southwestern coast of India. Based on her final dissertation project for her master's in architecture and historical urban environments at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, Deepika’s talk was a captivating exploration of coastal historiographies. Titled ‘Multiplicities of the Margin,’ her research sought to transcend conventional perspectives by studying archival human documents, travelogue texts, cartographies, and visual materials. During the presentation, Deepika shed light on her meticulous compilation of archival data, including literature, travelogues, photographs, and videos, creatively woven together on her repository platform, ‘Multiplicities of the Margin.’ This innovative digital space provides a non-linear framework for narrating historical ties, both global and regional, and showcases living heritage. This work will be helpful for future researchers as well as common people. “Through my research, I tried to redefine the lens to view histories of the coast by studying archival human documents, travelogue texts, cartographies, visual materials, revealing blind spots in this dominant narrative and critically interpreting them with a local gaze,” she said. Her presentation led to interaction with the audience. Subhas Chandra Basu, the convener of the Intach Mangaluru Chapter, introduced the programme and moderated the discussion. Niren Jain introduced the guest speaker.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/architect-presents-research-findings-on-rich-history-of-indias-southwestern-coast/articleshow/106139578.cms, December 20, 2023

The discovery has been made during the third phase of excavations carried out by the ASI along with various teams across the country. Researchers from Deccan College Pune along with the Central Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have established that human remains discovered at an ancient site of Rakhigarhi – a village in the Hisar district of Haryana – date back around 8,000 years. The discovery has been made during the third phase of excavations carried out by the ASI along with various teams across the country, including researchers from Deccan College Pune. The first phase of excavations at Rakhigarhi was carried out by Dr Amarendra Nath of the Indian Archaeology Department from 1997 to 2000 during which evidence of the North Harappan culture dating back to 2500 BC was found. The second phase of excavations at Rakhi Garhi was carried out by professor Vasant Shinde from Deccan College Pune from 2006 to 2013 during which Shinde’s team collected evidence and conducted DNA tests to establish that this culture could be over 4,000 years’ old. Over the past two years, the ASI and Deccan College Pune have jointly carried out the third phase of excavations at Rakhigarhi through a team led by ASI joint director Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Deccan College Pune assistant professor Prabhodh Shirwalkar. Shirwalkar said, “There are three parts to the Harappan culture; East Harappan, Middle Harappan, and North Harappan (Modern). The earlier two excavations found evidence of the Middle and Modern Harappan cultures dating back around 4,000 years. But now, the evidence found in the third phase of excavations shows that the culture dates back 7,000 to 8,000 years. The final report of the work is being prepared by our team.” Shirwalkar said that the research on this will continue for many more months. “Human ‘DNA’ has remained the same for 8,000 years which we have found during our research. When human traps were found here, they were thoroughly tested. Scientists have drawn conclusions based on this. A large burial ground was found here and it had human traps as well as animal traps,” Shirwalkar said. The ASI is actively involved in excavations at the Rakhigarhi archaeological site, and the primary goal of these excavations, according to Ajay Yadav, additional director-general of the ASI, is to make the site accessible to the public. This involves exposing and conserving the structural remains for future viewing and providing amenities for visitors. About utensils of various metals including gold and silver found during the excavation, Shirwalkar said that old silver and copper ornaments, too, have been found. “The most beautiful are the clay pots. A dinner set from that period has been found,” Shirwalkar said. “We think that the words bedroom and kitchen are of recent origin. Whereas in Rakhigarhi, an even larger settlement of the largest ancient houses ever was found underground. A courtyard and a drainage system were also found in it. There were two to six- bedroom houses that were also available at that time. The clothing fashion of the people of that time is also known. A colourful worn piece of cloth, a shawl and skirt were also found,” he said. “This research has found strong evidence that the Harappan civilisation is 7,000 to 8,000 years old. Scientists from the department of archaeology of India and Deccan College have worked together on the project. It is agreed that there was human habitation or civilisation in our country 8,000 years ago. The evidence shows that the people of that time were as advanced as they are today,” said Shirwalkar. Earlier this year, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had highlighted Rakhigarhi in her budget speech of 2023, emphasising on the development of five iconic sites of archaeological significance, including Rakhigarhi, with on-site museums. The plan is to showcase the antiquities uncovered at Rakhigarhi, now considered the largest Harappan site spanning 350 acres, in an under-construction museum near the site. The museum is estimated to be worth ₹23 crores.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/new-evidence-suggests-harappan-civilisation-is-7-000-to-8-000-years-old-101703182904001.html, December 22, 2023

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started exploring possibilities of excavation at Gevad valley, located on the banks of Ramganga river, in Almora district, Uttarakhand, in the belief that an ancient city may be buried underneath its soil. A team of ASI experts has already surveyed the valley and the exercise to unearth the "lost habitation" may begin soon, officials said. Manoj Saxena, superintending archaeologist, Dehradun circle, told TOI on Wednesday, "Our survey reports are quite convincing. An advanced survey is currently underway for further study of the valley falling under the Chaukhutia area. A proposal for excavation is being prepared." When asked what led ASI to believe that there was an ancient city beneath Gevad valley, the ASI official said, "The area, spread over 10 km along Ramganga, consisting of flat land, has numerous temples dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries which were built by Katyuri rulers. Presence of the cluster of centuries-old temples indicates that there must have been a civilization there even before the temples were built." Dr Chandra Singh Chauhan, regional state archaeological officer, said, "We have recently found several small 'devasthanams' (small temples) which are one to two feet in height. Earlier also, in the 1990s, a survey was conducted in the said area by the department of ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology of Garhwal University in which a temple of Vakratundeshvar (Ganesh) built in the 9th century and seven other temples of Nath Sampraday were found which show that human habitation existed in the area." Professor Rakesh Chandra Bhatt, who was part of the team that conducted the survey in 1993, said, "During the excavation, we found secondary burials, chambers and big jars in which remains of the dead were kept. We also found painted pottery and bowls which are similar to the pottery found in the Gangetic Doab in Meerut's Hastinapur and Ahichchhatra in Bareilly, dating back to the 1st- 5th century BC." He added, "Although we could not find any human settlement there at that time, our findings indicate that a lost city is waiting to be discovered. This could be a major breakthrough for ASI." Notably, a huge Shivling -- 1.2m in height and about 2 ft in diameter -- was found some time back in the same area. On November 26, TOI had reported that the "rare" Shivling is from the 9th century as per archaeologists' estimates and it belonged to one of the temples by Katyuri rulers which later disappeared.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/uttarakhand-lost-city-under-almora-asi-plans-to-explore/articleshow/106166917.cms, December 22, 2023