Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Trichy circle has commenced repair works on the dilapidated century-old World War I memorial near Valadi on the Trichy-Lalgudi highway. It will renovate and strengthen the structure at a cost of Rs 6.73 lakh without altering the architectural heritage of the memorial constructed in August 1922. Popularly known as Pachampettai Valaivu (Pachampettai arch), the structure was established to recall the role played by Indian soldiers in the victory of allied powers in the first World War. The commemorative arch standing on two pillars served as a gateway for the villagers of Periyavarseeli and Mayilarangam. The 5.75metre-tall and 12metre-wide structure bearing the phrase "Lest We Forget" was opened by Devan Bahadur T Desikachariyar, president, Trichinopoly during the British colonial rule on August 10, 1922. Over the years, encroachments by locals, who were unaware of the structure's significance and weathering damaged the memorial. Stucco and ornamental plaster disappeared due to the lack of proper maintenance. Since neither the state archaeological department nor ASI was managing the memorial, Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva approached the Union ministry of culture in August 2021 to protect the monument. Subsequently, ASI New Delhi allotted funds to carry out restoration work to protect the lesser-known and unprotected monument. The work includes dismantling of encroachment, strengthening of pillars and plastering the decorative designs. "At least from now on, locals and youths should come forward to safeguard the monument," Tiruchi Siva said. ASI has proposed to link the other World War memorial near Gandhi Market with the Pachampettai arch near Valadi as a tourist circuit. Dr Arun Raj T, director, ministry of culture, who oversees the restoration work, said Pachampettai Valaivu restoration is the first to be taken up among the redevelopment projects of unprotected monuments in the region ever since ASI Trichy circle came into being in October 2020. "We will display information boards and develop a garden near the memorial to prevent encroachments," Arun Raj added. Locals including one B Nabi Khan, a Valadi resident, wanted the Pachampettai memorial to be included in the list of ASI-protected monuments for sustained maintenance. ASI Trichy will complete the restoration work by June 2022.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/asi-starts-restoration-work-of-trichy-world-war-i-memorial/articleshow/89715694.cms, February 21, 2022

Seven children from four schools have won national awards in short filmmaking. The All-India contest on short film making by children on environment and our heritage was conducted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Ambala, under Colonel (retd) RD Singh, convener, in October last year. There were over 500 entries from all over India, which were assessed by the INTACH head office at Delhi. Children made interesting and meaningful short films, of about two minutes, with their own cameras, on subjects like – St Paul Church, Energy Conservation, Kalpana Chawla Planetarium, Magical Book, 'Story of a Seed', Covid Precautions, Old Heritage items in our homes. Tanishq Chopra, Shubhi Singh, Manit Chopra, Anubhav Yadav, Alin Mittal, Abhinav Mehta and Anirudh Gupta have won the awards. -

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/ambala-school-kids-win-national-awards-371748, February 21, 2022

Mangaluru Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is organizing an exhibition of rare vintage photographs of the journey of cricket in Mangaluru from the collection of Kasturi Balakrishna Pai, former cricket umpire of Mangaluru region. The exhibition organised under the title ‘Nurturers of the Cherry Garden’ will open on 19th February, 2022 at 05:30 pm at Kodialguthu Center for Art and Culture, GG Road, BallalBagh, Mangalore and the display will remain open to visitors till February 23, between 11 am and 7 pm. The exhibition will be inaugurated by K Vishnu Shenoy, a member of the first team of Mangalorean cricketers which went to Mysuru and Bengaluru in 1957 in the presence of Basty Purushotham Shenoy, former captain of KREC (NITK) cricket team. The exhibition will celebrate the story of cricket in the context of the historic port town of Mangaluru by connecting places, personalities, institutions and events together. The presentation will have an assorted display of a unique personal collection of photographs and documents from the first Ranji Trophy match played at Nehru Maidan up to KL Rahul’s early days in Mangaluru. It will feature famous local teams and the personal profiles and the biographies of ten celebrity players of Mangaluru. Photos of benefit matches hosted in Mangaluru and featuring national players will also be on display.

About the Exhibition

Mangaluru’s historic narrative has a long and distinctive western colonial phase (1767-1783 - East India Company at Mangalore, and 1767-1783, 1784-1947 - East India company and the British Empire). Locals imbibed a lot in this period from their colonisers which persisted and integrated seamlessly in our present education, administration, language and sports routine. Cricket is one such British colonial contribution in sports. “In its origin, a rural sport which was once highly popular in the villages of southern England, in the nineteenth century cricket was made a part of the life of the industrial towns,” observes the eminent historian Ramachandra Guha. "The first mention of Cricket in India dates to 1721, when British sailors played a match among themselves in the port of Cambay." However, it is not clear when another group of sailors got down at Mangalore port in search for an open space around to play their first match here. The Central Maidan attached to the old fort area and presently known as Nehru Maidan, was the most probable option. So, our exploration starts with Nehru Maidan, the Oval of Mangaluru region. Then, how the red (cherry) leather ball cricket flourished and sustained here (with some negligence) will be narrated in this exhibition from a passionate cricket lover’s intimate and personal view of cricket in Mangaluru. This exhibition in its inception wishes to highlight the following issues pertaining to the future of cricket in this region.

- How to create a conducive environment to nurture young aspiring cricketers to reach national/international arena in future.

- To fulfil the need for a cricket stadium with proper natural turf to host national/international level matches.

- To urgently protect all the playgrounds in the city and its suburbs dedicated to sports from the commercial development process.

For details contact:

Subhas Basu (Convener INTACH): 8762368048
Kasturi Balakrishna Pai: 9483529510
Rajendra Kedige: 9480014812


https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=928407, February 19, 2022

A rectangular dice made of ivory has been unearthed by the state archaeology department which is carrying out the eighth phase of excavation at the. The archaeologist discovered the , measuring 4.5 cm x 0.9 cm x 0.9 cm, on Thursday. Commissioner for archaeology R Sivanantham said this was the first time that the state archaeology department had found the dice of this kind at Keeladi. The ASI had earlier found a smaller dice. People who lived in Keeladi had used circles to indicate the numbers on the dice. One side has a single circle, another two, then three and four. Four beads were also found in a quadrant at the site at a depth of two feet. Meanwhile, another interesting discovery has been made in Manamadurai in Sivaganga district. The top portion of 12 burial urns have been found on the stream’s bed. Somasundara Bharathi of the village said that though this riverbed had remained dry throughout the year, last year’s rain resulted in a heavy flow. After the riverbed dried up, the urns were exposed. However, they are also being vandalised by locals and people who herd goats in the area, he added.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/keeladi-excavations-ivory-dice-unearthed/articleshow/89665215.cms, February 18, 2022

With a rich repository of its glorious past, Rajkot district has not only its princely status to boast about, but also that it’s the place that nurtured the nation's father, , in his childhood. These heritage facts will now be documented properly for the first time by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), Rajkot chapter. Intach members recently met Rajkot district collector and the municipal commissioner where they apprised them of the decision to document heritage buildings, sites, arts, crafts, music, dance, culture, cuisine and many more in collaboration of the district administration and municipal corporation. The documentation work will be carried out by the institute’s members under the leadership of architect Riddhi Shah, convener of the Rajkot chapter and a researcher and heritage enthusiast.

Shah told TOI, “We want to translate the diverse heritage of Rajkot into an inspiring legacy. We will document the importance of every heritage site or building, its current condition and specify its historical importance. We will also ask for funds if the site is in a dilapidated state.” The institute has 30 members in Rajkot currently who will also give their recommendations about endangered culture and ways to revive it. They will also plan awareness programmes among school and college students specifically, as well as citizens in general to maintain the district’s heritage. It will document tangible and intangible heritage, which means that it will not only cover buildings and sites but also document the cultural activities and local art that are more than 50 years old.

In Rajkot district, around 11 monuments are protected by the state. According to Shah, there are 80 buildings and sites that they have randomly identified which need protection and maintenance. A few of these include Gondal’s Darbargadh and palace, Rajkot’s Ranjit Vilas palace, Rajkot’s library from British era, Rajkot’s old markets like Lakhajiroad market, Kaba Gandhi No Delo where Gandhiji lived, Kasturba dham in Tramba where Kasturba was kept under house arrest among many more. Intach is a heritage organisation that promotes activities of preservation, conservation and spreading awareness of tangible and intangible heritage.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/intach-to-keep-rajkots-rich-legacy-intact/articleshow/89335183.cms, February 04, 2022

Senior officials said they have already finished examination of the biodiversity park in Delhi and will file an application for the tag soon. Similar recognition will also be sought for Delhi’s other six biodiversity parks, including the Yamuna biodiversity park in north Delhi. A day after the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram was declared as India’s first “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECM) site, authorities in Delhi said the Capital may soon get a similar tag for the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Vasant Kunj. Senior officials said they have already finished examination of the biodiversity park in Delhi and will file an application for the tag soon. Similar recognition will also be sought for Delhi’s other six biodiversity parks, including the Yamuna biodiversity park in north Delhi, in addition to green areas such as Sanjay Van.

Issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an OECM tag is conferred upon areas of rich biodiversity, outside of protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries, for effective in-situ conservation. Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority, VB Mathur, told HT that Delhi’s seven biodiversity parks – Aravalli, Yamuna, Tughlakabad, Neela Hauz, Tilpath Valley, Kamla Nehru and Kalindi biodiversity parks -- are being looked at as possible additions to the list. “While we have looked at both the Aravalli biodiversity parks in Delhi and Gurugram in recent months, we began the OECM recognition process with the Gurugram park.

The Delhi Aravalli biodiversity park could be next. The aim is to create an ‘Aravalli cluster’ in which biodiversity across this corridor is notified as an OECM and can therefore be protected better,” said Mathur, adding that while the OECM tag does not provide any additional legal protection to these sites, the aim is to recognise efforts to preserve biodiversity in each state. “Unlike a sanctuary or a wildlife reserve, where larger the area, the better it is, even small pockets where efforts have been put to preserve the native flora and fauna can be recognised as OECM sites and we will now kickstart the process to look at proposals from each state and Union Territory. Delhi certainly has several options,” said Mathur.

A member of the Delhi Biodiversity Council (DBC), on condition of anonymity, said though a formal proposal to notify OECM sites in Delhi is yet to be submitted, officials from the NBA were looking at the DDA’s Aravalli biodiversity park for the last couple of months. “A list will be shared with the NBA, but the chairman has already inspected the Aravalli biodiversity park in the last two months and this could possibly become a site of importance for Delhi’s conservation efforts,” said the member. To comply with directions under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, each state and Union Territory has been asked to create state-level biodiversity boards and councils respectively.

The DBC was notified as per a gazette notification on October 29, 2021, and held its first meeting only last month. The 11-member body is headed by Delhi University professor CR Babu and has Delhi’s chief wildlife warden, Nisheeth Saxena, as the member secretary among its five ex-officio members. The body also has four expert members -- Indraprastha University professor Sumit Dookia; Vijay Dhasmana, curator at the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram; and INTACH’s Dr Ritu Singh and Manu Bhatnagar -- each of who will have a term of three years.

When inaugurated in 2010, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Delhi covered 699 acres of the Aravalli area degraded due to several decades of mining. It was restored over time through planting of native species of trees and shrubs. Saxena said the DBC’s primary focus is to prepare a biodiversity register, mapping all water bodies, green spaces, wildlife and fauna existing within the Capital. “Once mapped, we can move to the next step of identifying the most important biodiversity hot spots,” he said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-to-seek-oecm-tag-for-its-biodiversity-parks-101643917100983.html, February 04, 2022

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala — the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura in the State — has been finalised as India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage for 2022-23. These protected monuments are on UNESCO’s tentative list since April 15, 2014, a PIB release on Monday said.

As part of the first step, the dossier to the World Heritage Centre, which will take up technical scrutiny, was submitted by Vishal V. Sharma, Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, to UNESCO Director of World Heritage Lazare Eloundou on Monday. “India is proud to nominate the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas for UNESCO’s World Heritage List! Art Historians recognise the exceptional sculptural artistry of the ensembles to be among the masterpieces of Asian art,” Mr. Sharma tweeted.

The Hoysala architects used their profound knowledge of temple architecture in different parts of India, and these temples have a basic Dravidian morphology but show strong influences of the Bhumija mode widely used in Central India, the Nagara traditions of Northern and Western India, and the Karntata Dravida modes favoured by the Kalyani Chalukyas.

“Therefore, the Hoysala architects made considered and informed eclectic selections of features from other temple typologies which further modified and then complemented with their own particular innovations. The result was the birth of a completely novel Hoysala temple form,” the PIB release added. After the submission, UNESCO will communicate back by early March and after that the site evaluation will happen in September/ October 2022.

The dossier will be taken up for consideration in July/August 2023, it added. The temples are protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India, and the State Government will ensure the conservation of State protected monuments, which are around these three monuments since it would add to visual integrity of the place. The district Master Plan of the State Government will also incorporate the buffers of all monuments and build an integrated management plan and also look at the traffic management issues, the release said.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/hoysala-temples-are-indias-nomination-for-world-heritage-tag/article38355478.ece, February 04, 2022

he Pudukottai archaeology research forum has identified a group of dolmenoid cists (box shaped burial site with stones) with cairn circles (circular structures with boulders) in a remote village near Ponnamaravathi. As the memorials were unique, the research forum claimed many of them could be of royal family members or influential people from ancient times. The dolmenoid were identified at Venkalamedu in Thatchampatti village, about 20 km from Ponnamaravathi town. The forum was informed by a group of archaeology enthusiasts about the presence of unique stone boulders and stone chambers in the locality. As the owner of the private land with the burial memorials was preparing to level the site, the research forum through the district administration and village administrative office stopped the work. A study conducted by the research forum headed by A Manikandan, a research scholar with Tamil University , identified 18 dolmenoid cists and cairn circles spread in over 5-6 acres. "The stones were laterite, rich in iron.

Such stones cannot be seen in Pudukottai as herculean efforts must have been taken to relocate the stones from elsewhere. We estimate the age of the structures to be at least 2,500 years old," Manikandan told TOI. The dolmenoid identified were 16 to 64 square feet in size. The stones used were 7-8ft in height and had a diameter of 0.75ft. The forum sais that the dolmenoid at the were half buried and slabs used as decks over the structure were missing. "Previously, dolmenoids were found in the district. But such vast number of structures within a small area is something rare. The memorial could have been raised for influential people," Manikandan added. Demanding the site to be declared as an archaeologically protected monument, the research forum has urged the state archaeology department to study the possibilities of conducting excavation to explore ancient culture and lifestyle.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/tamil-nadu-ancient-burial-site-found-in-pudukottai-village/articleshow/89336175.cms, February 04, 2022

An exploration team of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) recently visited an ancient cave atop a small hillock at Narangarh village near Tapang in Khordha district. The cave, locally called Pandavahara Gumpha, is a natural formation which has been widened by chiseling and is very akin to the caves in the Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills. The 20-feet-by-10-feet-wide cave has a uniform height of 4 feet. There are many rock art and inscriptions carved on the walls. Engravings in various geometrical forms and figures of human and animals are extensively depicted. Stone-age tool implements were too reportedly found earlier in the vicinity of the cave. The cave is revered by locals. Till three decades ago, it had been occupied by a holy man but had been abandoned after a small landslide made the place inaccessible.

The cave was exposed when the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) started clearance work for mining of Khondalite stones from the area two years ago. The land belongs to the Jagannath Temple and has been leased to the OMC for quarrying the stone blocks. The INTACH team comprising Anil Dhir, Dr Biswajit Mohanty, Deepak Nayak and Bikram Nayak visited the spot by trekking up the hill with the help of locals. They surveyed the cave and documented and recorded the rock carvings and inscriptions. According to Dhir, the animal and human figurines carved on the walls indicate that the cave may have prehistoric origins. It is very similar to other caves found in the Mahanadi Valley.

Dr Mohanty has opined that all quarrying activity should be immediately stopped as the excavation and cutting has reached the base of the cave and is just 7-10 metres away at the base of the hilltop. The use of heavy machinery, compressors and cutters just near the cave will spell its doom. Besides, the place is an elephant corridor and the recent death of two elephants in nearby Bhusandpur is indicative of this fact. Deepak Nayak, who has earlier discovered half a dozen such caves in the Mahanadi delta area, says the inscriptions carved on the walls are in the Brahmi script. The symbols have motifs of both Jainism and Buddhism.

A proper study of the inscriptions should be undertaken by epigraphists and experts. He also says the nearby hillocks too may hold such ancient wonders and a proper archaeological survey of the region should be undertaken by the ASI and the State Archaeological Department. Odisha perhaps has the highest number of prehistoric rock art and caves among all States. While most of these sites are found in the hills of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Kalahandi, recent discoveries by INTACH teams in the lower Mahanadi Valley, Kandhamal district and other areas need proper study. The antiquity of the Narangarh cave inscriptions is not less than 1,500 years old. State INTACH convener Amiya Bhusan Tripathy said the matter of the Pandavahara caves would be taken up with the State and Central authorities for proper conservation and preservation. Since the rock art site is about 45 minutes from Bhubaneswar, it can be turned into a major tourist attraction for heritage tourism.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/intach-documents-ancient-cave-near-bbsr-intach-documents-ancient-cave-near-bbsr.html, February 21, 2022

The exploration wing of INTACH recently conducted the survey and documentation of the ancient cave, rock carvings and inscriptions atop a small hillock in the Narangarh village near Tapang in Khurda district. The Odisha chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has sought for the prohibition of quarrying activities in and around an ancient cave replete with rock carvings and inscriptions in Khurda district. The exploration wing of INTACH recently conducted the survey and documentation of the ancient cave, rock carvings and inscriptions atop a small hillock in the Narangarh village near Tapang in Khurda district.

"The quarrying activity should be immediately stopped as the excavation and cutting has reached the base of the cave and is just 7-10 metres away at the base of the hilltop. The use of heavy machinery, compressors and cutters just near the cave will spell its doom. Besides, the place is an elephant corridor and the pachyderms are frequently seen here. The recent death of two elephants in nearby Bhusandpur is indicative of this fact", the INTACH panel member Biswajit Mohanty observed. The animal and human figurines carved on the walls indicate that the cave may have prehistoric origins. It is very similar to other caves found in the Mahanadi Valley, said INTACH researcher Anil Dhir. The cave, called the Pandavahara Gumpha by the locals, is a natural formation which has been widened by chiseling and is very akin to the caves found in the Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills. It Is 20 feet by 10 feet wide and has a uniform height of 4 feet. There is a lot of rock art and inscriptions carved on the walls.

Engravings in various geometrical forms and figures of human and animals are extensively depicted. Stone-age tool implements too have been reportedly found earlier in the vicinity of the cave, he said. The Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) has started clearance work for mining of Khondalite stone from the area. The land is incidentally owned by the Shree Jagannath Temple. It had been leased out to OMC for quarrying the stone blocks two years back. The inscriptions carved on the walls of the cave near Tapang are in the Brahmi script. The symbols have motifs of both Jainism and Buddhism, INTACH researcher Deepak Nayak opined. A proper archaeological survey of the region should be undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Archaeological department, Nayak added. Odisha perhaps has the highest number of prehistoric rock art and caves among all states. While most of these sites are found in the hills of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Kalahandi, recent discoveries by Intach teams in the lower Mahanadi Valley, in Kandhamal district and other areas need proper study, informed the INTACH panel.

The INTACH is already in touch with the Culture Department for the preservation of the Rock Art in the Bhima Mandali and a report has been submitted. Since the rock art site is about 45 minutes away from Bhubaneswar it can be turned into a major tourist attraction for heritage tourism, said Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, the State Convener of INTACH.

https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/bhubaneshwar/odisha-chapter-intach-seeks-quarrying-prohibition-prehistoric-cave-1503047815.html, February 22, 2022

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at ADC Headquarters in Khumulwng under West Tripura district on Monday. Advisor of TTAADC and chairman of the Administrative Reforms Committee MDC – Pradyot Kishore Debbarman and the convenor of the INTACH, Tripura Chapter – Maharaj Kumari Pragya Debbarma attended the ceremony during the conference hall number 2 of the main administrative building in Khumulwng on Monday. During the signing of this MoU, a discussion was held on how to provide high-quality care for the overall development and beautification of Cultural Heritage Centre in Khumulwng.

The MoU signing event was attended by the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Purna Chandra Jamatia, the EM of Education department Chittaranjan Debbarma, the EM of Fishery department Rajesh Tripura, the EM of Sports and Youth Affairs department Suhel Debbarma, MDC Soudagar Koloi and others. Besides, the Additional Chief Executive Officers Subal Debbarma and Rajendra Kumar Noatia, officer Dhanababu Reang, the executive officer of administrative department Satyajit Debbarma, the principal officer of Information and Culture and Tourism Binay Debbarma were also present during the discussion.

https://www.northeasttoday.in/2022/02/22/tripura-tribal-council-inks-pact-with-intach-for-revitalizing-cultural-heritage-centre/, February 22, 2022

The Victoria Town Hall has stood the test of time. Once the venue for public and council meetings, civic receptions and banquets in honour of visiting celebrities — including Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji — it faced the threat of demolition in the early 1990s. The Coimbatore chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) led by its then convenor Shashi Ghulati launched a campaign and the over 100-year-old heritage structure was saved for posterity.

Municipal council meetings were held there till 1953 while from 1952 to 1986 a library and reading room existed on the mezzanine floor. It is spruced up now to welcome the elected members of the city Corporation council. Apart from the seating arrangement, which has been increased from 72 to 100, minor repair works have been also addressed. The Town Hall, however, is more than just bricks and cement. For, it houses memories of the people who have been inside it and those who live close to it. Here are a few of them talking about the centuries-old structure:-
‘When life was easy’

Originally from Rae Bareilly, I came to Coimbatore in 1967 after my SSLC and just stayed on. My forefathers came here much early on. Life was easy and not so chaotic. There was less noise, less crowd and one could count the number of vehicles as Big Bazaar Street had two-way traffic. The Victoria Town Hall building opposite our shop would always be abuzz with political meetings. I remember watching Sivaji Ganesan at one of the meetings. When he floated a party, the actor conducted his election meetings at Town Hall. I could catch every word from my shop. During the time of leaders such as Bhaktavatsalam and Kamarajar, political meetings were low-key affairs. There were no convoy of cars or round-the-clock security. Events like handloom exhibition was also be organised there. The ground near the hall also played host to Kribananda Variyar’s kathakalakshebams. He was one of our star customers. My father supplied Durghalal Rose Gulkhand, a specialty of our shop to him regularly.

He would mention our products while talking about food and it gave us good publicity. The narrow lanes around Town Hall teemed with cloth merchants, jewellers and textile shops, much like what it is today. The North Indian population was less then. People who lived within 10 km frequented the city, now we have people coming from as far as 100 km away on business and work. The neighbourhood around the Town Hall was a popular spot for cinema. We had more than seven theatres here. While Naaz screened Hindi films, Rainbow showed English films. There was no ticket reservation system and the shows were only in the evening and night. Balcony tickets cost just ₹3. D. Ramesh Lal of CR Durghalal Pickles shop that has been standing on the Big Bazaar Street (close to the Town Hall) from 1930

‘Butter cream cakes and Tamil novels’
During my school days, I frequented the building to use the library upstairs (the spiral staircase in wood was a big draw!) and read Tamil novels for time pass. In the 1950s, the building was in a state of neglect. It stands tall as a monument today after a renovation in the 1990s. I have watched in awe when MGR held public meetings just outside the building. I have read that the building plan of Victoria Hall and that of Tuticorin Corporation are similar. When the corporation council meetings were held there, it was well maintained. A well-laid tar road leads to the parking lot and there is lush greenery. After parks, this became a public space that people frequented. The corporation had just one zone so all the meetings happened at the Victoria Hall. We’d supply tea time snacks and also tea cakes and butter cream cakes for small parties at the hall. The hall once also played host to counting of votes. The entire area was blocked and the scene resembled the heydays when life was easy.

Though we have been seeing the building every day (we have to cross the building to pay our monthly EB bills), but we never paid attention to the historic value attached. I have heard stories from my father of a time when British officers would exit from the Victoria Hall in the 1920s in their plush cars to reach the army camp in Madukkarai. S Humesh runs Shri Balaji and Co bakers, a family-run enterprise at Big Bazaar Street, that attracts devoted customers for five decades from the city and the outskirts.

‘An important part of my life’
All my life, I have lived five minutes away from Town Hall. So, it is an important part of my life. Town Hall introduced me to the world of literature. A significant portion of my childhood was spent at the library within the hall. I studied English medium. So, I used the library to read Tamil books. When I was young, the Town Hall grounds – on which some offices were built later – used to host painting exhibitions, poetry recitals, and other literary and cultural events. And, book fairs were a big deal back then. They were spaces for readers and writers to interact. And, writers of not just Tamil but of other languages used to participate in these fairs. I had the chance of meeting popular Malayalam writers like Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan and Ayyappa Paniker, thanks to these events. My father (N Velayutham Pillai) was a popular cinema banner artist.

We would sometimes display some of the banners on the ground. I especially remember this giant banner of Rajinikanth on a motorcycle for Paayum Puli (1983). Town Hall, hence, used to be a space for the public until the 80s. I think that’s the purpose of any town hall. I went to Calicut recently – and almost every day the town hall there hosted some public function. But the Town Hall in Coimbatore, unfortunately, has ceased to be a public space. Ever since it became the seat of the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, public entry has been restricted. I still pass through the building almost every day. But It has been over 15 years since I stepped inside. I hope Town Hall will once again be a place for the people of Coimbatore.

V Jeevananthan, known as ‘Oviyar’ Jeeva, is a lawyer, artist, and author. His book Thirai Seelai , received “special mention” in the Best Book category of the National Film Awards, 2011. ‘The birth of a modern Coimbatore’ The Town Hall marks the birth of modern Coimbatore. The city graduated from a town to a municipality and became an urban centre where elected councillors held meetings with the Mayor on developing civic infrastructure of the city. Robert Stanes, who spearheaded the textile and automobile revolution, was the first Municipal Chairman. In the 1990s, the Town Hall was in bad shape. Stone slabs in the corridor were coming out and window panes were broken and posters were pasted on the walls. We physically examined the building and came up with measured drawings, a blueprint of sorts, then gave instructions on repair and renovation in the original style. With the help of INTACH and industrialists, we saved the building. It is a typical Victorian building with big walls made of stone and lime and mortar plaster, panelled shutters for windows, timber trusses with Mangalore tiles for roofing, and a gallery with a wooden floor. Starting from this majestic structure, the rest of the Coimbatore was built. The entrance porch has Gothic arches and a balcony. The foyer leads to the assembly hall. The mezzanine floor is now used as a visitors’ gallery for council meetings.

A low-roofed corridor, with Tuscan type stumpy columns, runs along three sides of the hall. This style of colonnade in the verandah is similar to the Doric order of Greek architecture, which uses simple columns and round capitals. After renovation, the Town Hall was put back to its original use — to conduct council meetings. Architect Philip Fowler prepared the report and recommendations for restoring the Victoria Town Hall in 1992

‘My inspiring moment‘
Built in the late 19th Century, this is one of the oldest buildings in the city. As Coimbatore is not as old as some of the other towns in Tamil Nadu like Madurai or Kumbakonam, there aren’t many ancient buildings here. The region grew into an industrial town only during British rule. So, in 1887, to commemorate the 50th year of rule of Queen Victoria, some of the city’s elite, headed by a social activist, SP Narasimhalu Naidu, decided to build a structure. We need to keep in mind that it was just two years since the formation of the Indian National Congress. So, the anti-British rule movement had not started then. Until the 1980s, there was an old market near Town Hall. People called it ‘pazhaya market’ (old market) because you could find used goods and scraps for sale. It was like the smaller version of the famous Moore Market in Madras. In a long, narrow lane, you could find people selling little birds, fish apart from small engineering tools like a micrometer. And, these small traders had good engineering knowledge. They were an integral part of the city’s burgeoning industrial hub in Coimbatore. Personally, I cherish the building. When I was 15, I got to meet writer Sujatha at a book fair here in 1979. It was an inspiring moment. Such book fairs were common in Bengaluru or Chennai. But for Coimbatore, which was much smaller back then, it was a rare occasion. CR Elangovan is a Coimbatore-based historian

‘We made it all white’
After a gap of six years (as there were no local body elections), publicly elected representatives are set to enter the Victoria Hall, a great moment for the democratic governance of the city. As of recorded history, we know that the building was constructed in 1892. We have records of council resolutions since 1866. Many historic decisions, for example, the infrastructure for Pilloor water supply or the underground sewage system that modernised Coimbatore were taken here. For the renovation, we consulted a heritage architect and peeled off many layers of paint to expose the original structure. We removed white paint from windows and doors, and polished it to show the original teak. Most historic buildings, especially the ones built by the British, were only white. We removed others colours and made it all white. Another challenge was fitting 100 plus chairs for officials. We have tried to work with furniture and took examples from the Tamil Nadu Assembly. On March 4, the election for Mayor will be held at Victoria Hall. Raja Gopal Sunkara, IAS, is the Commissioner of Coimbatore Corporation

‘You don’t see sparrows anymore‘
The Town Hall area is probably the busiest you will find in the city today. It is perennially bustling. And, it is a nightmare to cross Oppanakara Street. Can you imagine Town Hall without traffic? Well, that was how it was in the 1950s. You hardly came across motor vehicles back then. Horse carriages were more common. In fact, beside the clock tower, where the Poompuhar handicrafts stall now stands, was a horse carriage stand. The place has been witness to some extraordinary events over the years. In the 1965 anti-Hindi agitations, I remember there were shots fired on NH Road. By this time, there were more bicycles on the road. But because of the protest and the resultant firing, the entire road was empty. The latter half of the 1970s was an important phase in my life. I started my venture, Vijaya Publications in 1976 at Town Hall. Three years later, we organised our first Reader’s Fest inside the Town Hall auditorium.

I remember paying a rent of Rs 25 for the auditorium. It was packed. Some of the big names in Tamil literature, like Sandilyan, Vallikannan, Na Parthasarathy, and Balakumaran were there. Writer Sujatha was there, too. When we stepped out for tea, he had to be guarded by cops because people were trying to mob him. Overall, it was a wonderful evening. Even as some of the writers spoke, you could hear the chirrups of sparrows outside the hall. You don’t see or hear sparrows anymore. M Velayutham is the founder of Vijaya Publications, which has been visited by the who’s who of the Tamil literature and film world.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/coimbatore-victoria-town-hall-130-years/article65083553.ece, February 23, 2022

Heritage walk leaders have restarted tours and walks at different spots in Delhi, albeit in smaller groups and with adequate Covid-19 measures in place. Regaled by the stories of the kings and queens, and craving to make the most of the sweet weather in the city, heritage lovers have begun returning to historical monuments. And walk conductors are making the most of it by organising tours at places of historical significance. Heritage walks have also picked up pace as a safe, outdoor option for many of those who don’t feel comfortable being indoors when in large number.

A night walk at Qutub Minar and day walks at Siri Fort and Tughlaqabad Fort are planned for this weekend by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Swapna Liddle, Delhi-based historian who conducts heritage walks, says, “The reopening of monuments has been a great move because heritage walks are one particular outdoor activity that people look forward to. Right now, number of Covid cases are going down, still outdoor activities are always safer. There are also different approaches to walks, like night walks along illuminated monuments, which could also perhaps have smaller groups.” “People want to go back to stories,” says Abu Sufiyan, from Purani Dilli Waalon Ki Baatein.

The group has scheduled a heritage walk in Khirki Village this Sunday, to debunk how most think of posh malls and trendy cafes when it come to south Delhi. “Today’s posh colonies were once a part of Delhi Sultanate, and if you look closely enough, you may still come across remains of the city of Jahanpanah,” says Sufiyan informing that the walk this weekend covers two important yet forgotten monuments of the historic city of Jahanpanah – Satpula and Khirki Masjid, which he says were closed until a week ago.

Mentioning how both heritage walk leaders and takers are happy about the reopening of these places, he adds: “It’s been very mundane of late, and stepping out for a walk at a monument, in the lukewarm month of February is the perfect blend of Nature and culture. Many people still don’t want to go to a cramped, indoor space for fun. So for those who still have qualms, this is certainly turning out to be a good option to be safe and break some monotony.” Delhi-based Anas Khan, a heritage walk conductor and blogger, is also set to conduct a walk at Zafar Mahal in the upcoming days. “This walk will open our walk calendar for 2022. Now that the third wave is behind us, I find many people are used to different variants of the virus coming. This time, I have included special instructions on keeping the mask on, and maintaining social distancing. In fact I’m going to distribute some of the essential things from my side, so they can keep sanitising and stay safe,” says Khan, adding: “Most monument walks are centred around history and stories revolving around the monument and the people built or used it. Zafar Mahal is a crumbling Mughal palace in Mehrauli.

This palace is in ruins and has been majorly encroached from all sides. What remains is the entry facade, which holds beautiful jharokhas and a hall adorned with cusp arches and pillars, right above the entrance. Historically speaking, this was the last palace built by the Mughals, in Delhi and elsewhere, commissioned by the second last Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II and finished during the period of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor. On this walk, we will also visit the temple of Yogmaya and the Sufi shrine of Hazrat Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki near it.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/marking-footsteps-heritage-walks-return-in-city-s-spring-101645256875191.html, February 24, 2022

An ancient cave located atop a small hillock in Narangarh Village near Tapang in Odisha's Khordha district, is lying in a dilapidated condition and exposed to the mining of Khandolite stones. The cave, called the Pandavahara Gumpha by the locals, is a natural formation that has been widened by chiselling and is very akin to the caves found in the Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills, noted historian Anil Dhir said. An exploration team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH) led by Dhir has recently visited the ancient cave demanded its preservation and conservation Dhir said the cave is 20 feet by 10 feet wide and has a uniform height of 4 feet.

There are many rock art and inscriptions carved on the walls with engravings in various geometrical forms and figures of humans and depiction of animals. Stone-age tool implements too have been reportedly found earlier in the vicinity of the cave, he said. The Cave was known to the villagers on the foothill of the hillock for centuries and was a spot revered by them. Till three decades ago, the cave had been occupied by some holy man but had been abandoned after a small landslide which made the place inaccessible. Dhir said the ancient cave was exposed when the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) started clearance work for mining of Khondalite stone from the area.

The land belongs to the Shree Jagannath Temple but has been leased out to OMC for quarrying the stone blocks. The OMC has been digging up the hill for the last two years. The INTACH team had surveyed the cave, documented and recorded the ancient rock carvings and inscriptions. According to Dhir, the animal and human figurines carved on the walls indicate that the cave may have prehistoric origins. It is also very similar to other caves found in the Mahanadi Valley. Biswajit Mohanty, a member of the INTACH team has demanded that all quarrying activity should be immediately stopped as the excavation and cutting has reached the base of the cave and is just 7-10 metres away at the base of the hilltop. The use of heavy machinery, compressors and cutters just near the cave will spell its doom, he remarked. INTACH member Deepak Nayak, who has earlier discovered half a dozen such caves in the Mahanadi delta area, said the inscriptions carved on the walls are in the Brahmi script. The symbols have motifs of both Jainism and Buddhism.

According to him, a proper study of the inscriptions should be undertaken by epigraphists and experts. Nayak apprehended that the nearby hillocks too may hold such ancient wonders and that a proper archaeological survey of the region should be undertaken by the ASI and the State Archaeological Department. Odisha perhaps has the highest number of prehistoric rock art and caves among all states. While most of these sites are found in the hills of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Kalahandi, recent discoveries by the INTACH teams in the lower Mahanadi Valley in Kandhamal district and other areas need proper study, Nayak said.

However, the survey team is certain that the antiquity of the Narangarh cave inscriptions is not less than 1,500 years old. INTACH Odisha State Convener Amiya Bhusan Tripathy said the matter of the Pandavahara caves will be taken up with the state and central authorities for proper conservation and preservation. He said the INTACH is already in touch with the Odisha Culture Department for the preservation of the Rock Art in the Bhima Mandali and a report has been submitted. Since the rock art site is about 45 minutes away from Bhubaneswar it can be turned into a major tourist attraction for heritage tourism, Tripathy said. UNI DP RN

https://www.uniindia.com/story/INTACH-demands-conservation-of-ancient-Pandavahara-cave, February 25, 2022