The 100 years old Patherpuri house, an iconic building and invaluable heritage structure built by the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Thakur, will be demolished by Puri Municipality. The decision to demolish the ancestral house of Gurudev Tagore located on Chakratirtha Road in the pilgrim city of Puri has evoked sharp reactions from Convener of INTACH’s Odisha operations and former DGP Amiya Bhusan Tripathy. In a letter to the Puri district administration, Mr Tripathy asked the administration to stop the plans for razing down the building and instead take measures for the proper restoration and conservation. He has given an assurance that Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage could take up the project and ensure that the structure gets a new lease of life. Mr Tripathy said certifying a building unsafe, is a routine thing for the PWD which lacks qualified persons who can do proper restoration and conservation work. The place was home to the famous poet who used to love Puri and where he had composed some of his famous literary works, including his magnum opus ‘Gitanjali’, says heritage expert and historian Anil Dhir. A bust of the bard is installed at the far end of the building. A large number of documents and articles penned by Tagore are still preserved at the building. Some of these documents have been lost due to decay and lack of proper maintenance, but a few invaluable artifacts remain, Mr Dhir said. A portion of the building was being used as a hostel for students of an adjoining College. However, the asbestos roof of the building was blown away during cyclone ‘Fani’ a few months ago, and since then it has been lying as an abandoned structure. Mr Dhir said Puri Sub-Collector Bharat Charan Sahu has claimed that the building is in ruins and there is no other option but to demolish it. It is not known if the district administration has given a thought to restore this building keeping its heritage value in mind, the historian remarked. Mr Dhir said Odisha PWD had declared many buildings unsafe and through the efforts of INTACH they were repaired with proper conservation techniques and stand proudly today. The Kanika Library and Assembly Hall at the iconic Ravenshaw University, the Cuttack Circuit House, and the old Board of Revenue Building too were at some time declared as unsafe, but they were all restored. In fact in Katak, the very same PWD which had declared the structures unsafe did the restoration under proper guidance. The Jobra Workshop was worked upon by INTACH and a grand Maritime Museum stands in place today. In Puri too, the house of Janaki Nath Bose, father of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was given to INTACH in 2015 and the building stands in one piece after proper conservation. In Sambalpur also the house of the Assamese Poet Laureate, Laxminath Bezbaruah, which was marked for demolition, is currently in the process of conservation by INTACH. The Rani Bhakri and the Old Town Hall of the City, which was in ruins, are also in the final stages of restoration. The Vice-Principal of the Samant Chandrasekhar Junior College, Sankarshan Dash said that they had been intimated by the civic body regarding the demolition “Since the building is synonymous with the legendary Rabindranath Tagore, we have requested the Works Department through a letter to construct a building which can be made into a ‘Tagore Museum’ to preserve the documents and artefacts in ‘Patherpuri’, he said. UNI DP RN

http://www.uniindia.com/intach-odisha-chapter-opposes-demolition-plan-of-ancestral-house-of-gurudev-tagore/east/news/1844914.html, January 4, 2020

The logo of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation shows a 20 ft high monolith of the three-headed Trimurti Sadashiva representing the three aspects of Shiva: the right half-face signifying life and creativity; the left half-face, its obverse — the deity as a destructive force that can reduce the world to ashes; and the central face shows Shiva deep in meditation, as the protector of humanity. This awe-inspiring piece of carving, hewn out of rocks similar to Ellora in the same State, is the focal point of the Elephanta Caves, a small island about 10 km from Apollo Bunder on the Mumbai mainland adjoining the Gateway of India.

The silhouette of the iconic gateway looms behind the Shiva image in the same logo. Both the Gateway of India and the Elephanta Caves are huge tourist attractions, and every year thousands of people from India and abroad visit the caves, whose carvings, dated mostly between the late 5th and late 8th centuries, narrate Hindu mythologies and depict various magnificent figures of Shiva. There are also ancient Buddhist stupa mounds on the same island. It can be reached by an hour-long boat ride. Originally known as Gharapuri, the island was renamed by Portuguese invaders after a giant stone sculpture of an elephant, which was removed from the island and now stands outside the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum. The Elephanta Caves in their entirety, and the forested areas around them, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site way back in 1987.

Legislation to shield the island monuments has existed since the 1950s but only in name. Both the Maharashtra government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is supposed to protect them, turn a blind eye to the gradual, but visible, degradation of the spectacular carvings in the caves and the pollution of the Arabian Sea whose waters lap the mangrove forest around the island . “Over the years the Island has been exposed to a great deal of stress as it is located in the midst of the Mumbai harbour,” states the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “Pollution caused by port activities, the risk of explosion from nearby chemical storage facilities and oil silos as well as underwater blasting are among the environmental threats to the island. It is also situated on a fault line that runs through the island,” it adds.

Sludge and scraps
As I disembark from one of the rickety boats that ferry tourists from the Gateway of India, and jump — at great risk to life and limb — across the fleet anchored around the jetty to reach the causeway that leads to the island, I cannot help but notice the thick layers of sludge that sully the shores and the mangroves encircling the island. The tourist boats use old, polluting diesel engines. Scraps of plastic bags cling to the mangrove roots, and debris lies scattered around the shore during low tide. “The sludge comes from ships, refineries, underground pipelines. There is a large amount of industrial pollution, pollution caused by port-related activities, and the discharge of untreated sewage,” says Debi Goenka, executive trustee and founder of the NGO, Conservation Action Trust. Plastic and oil could choke the mangroves, but the domestic sewage, says Goenka, could encourage the growth of mangroves. The boats cross a high security zone — research reactors of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre are not far away — and as the Gateway of India and the two Taj hotels are swallowed by the horizon, liners and ships and rows of cranes and rigs crowd out the shadowy skyscrapers along the Mumbai skyline. A cluster of tiny, multi-coloured houses of local inhabitants, amidst the thick cover of trees, comes into view as the boat draws closer to the island.

As I walk along the causeway strewn with garbage, I notice a signboard offering a toy train service to the caves. Toy train to an important archaeological site? Is this a zoo? Does a World Heritage Site deserve such treatment? Sure enough, tourists occupy all the seats of the diesel-fuelled toy train. The narrow gauge line takes about 10 minutes to reach the foot of the hills. The number of hawkers selling snacks and water grows as I approach the caves, and they swell into a crowd as I come closer to the steep and uneven stairway that leads to the caves. They have erected shacks all along the causeway and the 120 steps that are covered with plastic sheets meant to shelter their wares, mostly gewgaw. Tasneem Mehta, former vice-chairperson of INTACH and honorary director of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, says the local people have no other means of livelihood save peddling trinkets, but “let’s regularise them. Let’s do it in a sustainable way."

Why is the State government reluctant to set the hawkers’ stalls in order? “Tourism is the mainstay of the island. The government is generally unable to regulate these kinds of activities,” says Goenka. This uphill track can leave you out of breath, and the plastic canopy makes it even more stifling. Eateries offering everything from fruit juice to lunch occupy all the space along the steep gradient. And with crowds ceaselessly walking up or down, a sudden panicked rush is not a remote possibility. One doesn’t have to stretch one’s imagination to envisage the scale of the resulting disaster. Then there is the monkey menace. Troops of macaques are ubiquitous and are adept at snatching food from tourists. In a letter to the then director-general of ASI, dated February 20, 2004, Richard A. Engelhardt, UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the Pacific, had written, “Elephanta is the ‘crown jewel’ in the necklace of cave art sites along the coast of Maharashtra.” He expressed his concern over the proposal to upgrade tourist facilities on the island, which had been prepared without the approval of the Elephanta planning committee and “without appropriate input” from ASI or INTACH experts. “Most worrying, the proposals appear not to be in conformity with the approved management plan for safeguarding the heritage values,” prepared by INTACH for ASI.

Entrenched politics
In 1997, ASI appointed INTACH Mumbai to prepare a management plan for the Elephanta Caves, says Mehta. “INTACH’s efforts have been to develop a holistic engagement with the site to address not only the needs of the visitor but also the community.” Despite several years of work and many reports being presented to the government, very little work was undertaken at Elephanta Island. Mehta ascribes this to “deeply entrenched politics” involving this “money-spinner”. Engelhardt’s letter reminded ASI that in 1995, Sir Bernard Feilden, UNESCO-appointed expert, found that “the state of conservation in the core zone had deteriorated dramatically...

Sir Bernard had warned that the situation at Elephanta was so serious that unless corrected, Elephanta could be removed from the World Heritage List.” How would Sir Bernard have reacted to the mess at the Elephanta Caves today? So why didn’t the government implement the INTACH proposal? “Probably because the ASI and the Maharashtra government did not want an independent agency in the picture that can rock their boat,” replies Goenka. Goenka is concerned by the construction of the new airport and its impact on the island too. “I would expect that a lot of the finer particles from the quarries have been washed into the sea around Elephanta. The overflights would definitely affect the rock-cut caves. Thirty years ago, the blasting carried out for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust was believed to have caused some damage to the caves,” says Goenka. The imposing rock carvings inside Cave no.1, which is the pièce de résistance, have for ages been defaced and vandalised, but whatever remains is stupefying enough. Yet, Indian tourists busy taking selfies hardly notice these outstanding rock carvings.

As in Ellora, some of the visitors clamber on the carvings at the Elephanta Caves in their narcissistic quest for a better selfie. Guards busy explaining the ‘history’ and ‘myths’ behind the carvings have no time to notice the errant visitors, and the visitors seem to be impervious to the fact they are breaking the laws meant to protect the site. Incredible India indeed. The author is a heritage and culture writer from Kolkata.

https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/the-ancient-carvings-at-elephanta-caves-are-fading-and-no-one-cares/article30468682.ece, January 4, 2020

Opposition from locals has forced the Puri district administration to do a rethink on its plan to raze the century-old house of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Chakratirtha Road, in Puri. “It is an unsafe building. But we are sensitive to its legacy and heritage. We will see what best can be done in this regard,” Puri district collector Balwant Singh assured on Wednesday. The change of heart follows protest from locals, prominent individuals and members of the state chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “Tagore was in love with this place. He had penned several poems here during his stay. Tagore had renovated Patherpuri House. This should be restored instead of demolishing it,” heritage expert and historian Anil Dhir said. The building has a bust of the poet. “There are several documents and articles penned by Tagore that are still there in the house. Though some of these documents have been lost due to lack of maintenance, some of the writings still remain,” Dhir added. A portion of the house is being used as a hostel of the local Samanta Chandra Sekhara Junior College. The building is dilapidated and its foundation got further weakened by Cyclone Fani that hit Puri on May 3 last year. The wind also blew away the roof of the building. This led the state works department to declare the building unsafe. A senior teacher at Samanta Chandra Sekhara Junior College said they have requested the works department to restore the building and turn it into a museum to preserve the documents and artifacts. Priyadarshan Patnaik, a convener of Shree Jagannath Sena, said the state government should preserve the heritage building instead of demolishing it. “The government can convert Patherpuri House into a museum. Tagore had composed several literary works, including a portion of Gitanjali, during his stay here. We should respect his legacy by restoring the building,” Patnaik said. Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, state convener of INTACH, said his organization has requested chief minister Naveen Patnaik to restore and conserve Tagore’s house. “If the government wants, INTACH can give a new lease of life to Paherpuri House,” Tripathy said. He said Kanika Library and Assembly Hall at the iconic Ravenshaw University, the Cuttack Circuit House and the old Board of Revenue Building too were at declared unsafe, but have now been restored with INTACH’s help.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/plan-to-raze-tagores-puri-house-hits-opposition-wall/articleshow/73162491.cms, January 4, 2020

A portion of cement plaster of the roof in the District Court Complex (DCC) here spalled off, raising alarm for hundreds of visitors and advocates, on Wednesday. A large number of advocates and clients were in the building at the time of the incident. Those present ran amok to save their lives. After the incident, the DDC authorities have put notices on the wall of the building to caution visitors against standing under the roof.

The DCC was renovated recently by the Indian National Trust for Art and cultural Heritage (INTACH) at a cost of about Rs12 crore, under contract with the Punjab Government. The INTACH was given the renovation project of the historical building with a motive to protect the rich heritage of the state. The portion of roof that spalled off at the District Court Complex in Faridkot on Wednesday.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/court-complex-ceiling-comes-off-none-hurt-23592, January 8, 2020

Historians said that despite different causes, Friday’s anti-CAA stir and Nizam VII’s death saw citizens spontaneously taking to Hyderabad's streets. Historians are finding similarities between Friday’s Million March protest and a march that was organised when Nizam VII Osman Ali Khan Bahadur passed away in the city at the age of 81. In 1967, Khan, who post Operation Polo, led a life of a recluse in the city, passed away. The entire city was shut down with the government declaring a State mourning on February 25, 1967. A massive sea of humanity had come out on to the streets to pay their last respects. Estimates put the number to at least 10 lakh.

Mohammed Safiullah, a historian, said the Million March was a 'spontaneous, non-religious and non-political gathering in Hyderabad in the 429 years of its existence as a city'. "In terms of comparison of crowd, there are similarities between the one witnessed during the Nizam VII’s death. However, the causes are entirely different," Safiullah said. For INTACH-Hyderabad’s convenor, Anuradha Reddy, the only similarity between the two marches was of the different emotions that compelled people to take to the streets.

The Nizam’s grave is presently located at the Masjid-e-Judi, opposite King Koti Palace, which he used as a residence. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people participated in the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) here. The Million March against CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and NRC drew huge crowds from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and surrounding districts. The three-hour long protest passed off peacefully.

Cops book organisers for violating rules
A day after thousands had gathered at Indira Park to participate in the Million March protest against the CAA and NRC, the police have booked the organisers for allegedly violating regulations. Gandhi Nagar police have registered cases against the leaders of JAC against CAA under sections of unlawful assembly, public nuisance, wrongful restraint of the IPC. "We found a number of violations that caused public inconvenience and traffic snarls. We will send a notice to the organisers, seeking an explanation in connection with certain violations during protests," said the police.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2020/jan/06/hyderabads-million-march-similar-to-one-on-february-1967-after-nizam-viis-death-2085690.html, January 8, 2020

It is time to turn over a new leaf. The glossy calendars of yore have given way to eco-friendly calendars or thematic ones. City-based The Center for Autism and other Disabilities Rehabilitation Research and Education (CADRRE) focuses on a theme based on autism every year. “Last year, we celebrated some extraordinary mothers who walked the extra mile for their children on the autistic spectrum. This year, we are throwing light on organisations from all over the world that support those on the spectrum in different ways by helping them live with dignity and earn a livelihood,” says G Vijaya Raghavan, honorary director of CADRRE. So, there is Cafe Arpan in Mumbai that is perhaps the first eatery run by adults with different levels of developmental and intellectual challenges. While an art gallery in Singapore showcases the art work and merchandise designed by those on the spectrum, an innovative programme in Israel trains youngsters with autism to work on certain specialised tasks for the Israeli army and so on.

Each leaf of the CADRRE calendar has two sides: one shows activities in CADRRE, while the other side highlights the work of organisations that empower differently-challenged individuals. Some of the other organisations featured in the calendar are Specialist erne Foundation in Denmark, New York-based Spectrum Enterprises and Smile Biscotti in Arizona among others.

Meanwhile, a calendar of the Palakkad chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) highlights a “set of remarkable individuals, across disciplines, from the region whose legacies continue to be relevant to this day. Each leaf will be on one such person born in that month,” says Arun Narayanan, convener of the chapter. What’s special about the calendar brought out by Trivandrum International School (TRINS) is it’s an “anthology” of snaps clicked by its students. In 12 leaves, this spiral desktop calendar for 2020 captures the essence and spirit of the capital city and its surroundings. Flipping through, the photographs evoke a happy sense of familiarity through some common sights and scenes one cannot miss while gallivanting around the district. “Every year, the Trivandrum International School brings out a statement calendar under a topical theme to ring in the New Year, but done with the help of professionals. This time, we turned to the students themselves who pooled in their entries around the theme ‘Trivandrum from your Eye’,” says Sapnu George, executive director, TRINS. Documenting landmark spots such as mist-wrapped Ponmudi, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, the Napier Museum, the mermaid sculpture at Shanghumugham beach and slice-of-life scenes such as a chaayakkada, coconut orchards and so on, the calendar zooms in on the quintessential Thiruvananthapuram glimpses. “The idea for this year’s theme was suggested by our HR executive, Revathy Radhakrishnan. Entries were open to students from grades 8 to 12 who were given a month’s time for submissions,” says Sapnu, adding that the calender is given to students, teachers and well-wishers. Entries by seven young photographers — Devi Shivani, Kaushik V, Mukunhan B, Janaki Rajeev, R Prajna, Rishi R and Sheetal Suralal — eventually made their way into the final work.

Each photograph comes with a short, succinct description of the subject’s cultural relevance to the city. “Many students in our school are interested in photography and we have a photography club as well. The pictures were taken using DSRL and mobile phone camera. There were no restrictions or instructions about the subjects as the idea was to let the young shutterbugs tap their creativity. The only condition was that the photos must be unedited and have the required resolution,” says Sangeetha Biju, coordinator of the project, who teaches computer science. Class 10 student Janaki, who contributed the snaps on Vizhinjam harbour, Shanghumugham beach and Sree Padanabhawamy temple, says she felt the “thrill” of a competition. “I like photography and use a DSLR that my dad has passed on to me.

I felt that anybody from the city can easily identify the three iconic places I clicked,” she says. For Rishi, a Class 10 student, his passion for photography grew after doing a “personal project” on the art as part of co-curricular activities last year. “My picture depicting a bubble seller was shot at Vellayani,” says Rishi. In the case of shutterbug Dilip Nair, a resident of the city, it was his desire for an eco-friendly calendar that could be recycled that motivated him to design table calendars that can double up as postcards. “I used to feel sorry about the leaves that would be turned to waste as soon as the month or year was up. That is how I came up with my calendar that can be used as postcards as well,” he says. Beautifully composed photographs clicked by him form one half of each leaf while the other has a blank space with the calendar beneath it. “That blank space is to write and mark something important that month. Once that month is over, you can tear away the calendar along the dotted lines and it becomes a postcard,” says Dilip. Made of recycled paper, all 12 leaves are mounted on a wooden easel made of recycled packing wood.

https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/check-out-these-calenders-with-a-message-from-kerala/article30469543.ece, January 8, 2020

From royal abode to performance-art venue, Malcha Mahal has a rich and mysterious history. BY ABHIMANYU KUMAR AND ALETTA ANDRE
ON A PLEASANT OCTOBER DAY, four men undressed and exposed their naked bodies to the Indian parliament. No government official could have seen it. The men were standing several miles away, atop a centuries-old monument deep inside New Delhi’s Central Ridge Forest. The site is invisible from the heart of India’s government—and largely forgotten by it as well.

The symbolic act was the culmination of a performance-art workshop held inside the red sandstone structure, known as Malcha Mahal. It was organized by Ajay Sharma, an upcoming artist and college instructor, and attended by Inder Salim, a veteran Indian performance artist. Originally from a small town in eastern India, Sharma says he doesn’t much like the metropolitan city of Delhi. But he does like abandoned monuments: They’re perfect places to find peace and inspiration.

(Before this arts workshop in Malcha Mahal, he held similar ones in the Begumpur Mosque, in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar neighborhood.) When Sharma initially visited this site, months earlier, he didn’t know much about the building’s past. But he “was totally captured by the energy of the space,” and says that he could intuitively tell that it was the right venue for his workshop. His intuition was strong: Perhaps more than any other monument in Delhi, Malcha Mahal embodies the country’s long, complicated history, from medieval times through colonial rule and Independence to the politics of present-day India. Which makes it an apt venue for artists who want to express themselves politically. Artists like Salim. One of the four naked men on the roof, Salim says that when he “saw the parliament from that distance, I decided to undress and kick some dust at it”—a way to express his feelings about a matter close to his heart. Salim is originally from the restive region of Kashmir, but fled to Delhi in the 1990s, after violence broke out. He recently filed a petition against the government after its controversial decision to withdraw the region’s partial autonomy.

The move was squarely on his mind during the act—and Malcha Mahal brought it to the fore. “The monument itself,” he says, “motivated me to do this.” Standing on the building’s flat roof is like standing in an open field just above the forest, overlooking a sprawling city veiled in a smoggy haze. In the middle of Delhi—one of the most populated cities in the world—it feels completely isolated. To reach Malcha Mahal, you have to enter the Central Ridge Forest, a surprisingly dense stretch of greenery at the edge of an affluent diplomatic enclave called Chanakyapuri, in the heart of India’s capital. The same forest houses the remaining boundary walls of an ancient water reservoir and an 800-year-old dargah, or shrine on the tomb of a Sufi saint, which is surrounded by dozens of earthen pots said to imprison the spirits of bad souls and djinns. The caretaker of the dargah still holds regular exorcisms to add to the collection. At the end of a short, bumpy ride on an unkempt pathway full of garbage, monkeys, and the occasional jackal, a narrow footpath—lined by broken barbed wire and rows of long thorny plants—leads to an imposing building with arched gateways and high ceilings. No one currently administers Malcha Mahal, and the governmental Archeological Survey of India has shown no interest in managing it. A nonprofit called the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) filed a proposal in October to conserve it on behalf of the Delhi government.

For now the walls are occupied by bees and the ceilings by bats. Trees are growing through the windows and staircases that lead to the roof. Centuries after it was built, the monument has become almost one with its surroundings. Most historians say that Malcha Mahal was built as a royal hunting lodge during the rule of Feroz Shah Tughlaq, the sultan of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. “Malcha Mahal” means “Deer Palace,” and Malcha was the name of a pastoral village that used to surround the monument. In the 19th century, the hunting lodge came into the possession of the rulers of Oudh, an independent kingdom located in today’s Uttar Pradesh—India’s largest state. The kingdom was annexed by the British in 1856, and its last king, Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled to the city now called Kolkata. Shah, a Muslim, was accused by the British of being a debauched and dissolute ruler.

But he was popular among the majority Hindu population he ruled over, due to his love of Hindu myths, arts, and deities. That made him a threat to the British colonizers, who believed in keeping their Indian subjects divided along religious lines. The annexation of Oudh had sown discontent among the native soldiers, and is considered an important factor leading to the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also called India’s first war of independence. The Malcha villagers fought in the mutiny. Not long after, they were displaced when the British decided to move their capital to New Delhi, in 1911, and develop the Central Ridge for horse riding. At least 30 people are said to have been killed by the British for resisting colonial rule. To this date, the villagers’ descendants are still fighting for monetary compensation for their lost land. A little over a century after Oudh’s annexation, a woman who claimed to be the last rightful heir of Shah arrived in Delhi. Calling herself the Royal Highness Wilayat Mahal, she was accompanied by her two children, an entourage of servants, and a dozen ferocious dogs.

She demanded that the Indian government restore at least some of the properties that were seized over a hundred years earlier. The family and its entourage squatted in a waiting room in the New Delhi railway station for more than a decade, causing a sensation and drawing the notice of the international press. The Indian government ultimately caved, and in 1984, Wilayat and her children, by then young adults, were offered one of the Oudh king’s previous possessions to live in: Malcha Mahal. At that point it had already been discovered by artists. Just a decade earlier, the monument—then known as Bistedari Malcha, in reference to the columns used in the structure—had been an artists’ studio managed by the national arts academy Lalit Kala Akademi.

“It was beautiful, surrounded only by nature,” recalls painter Shanti Dave, now 89. At the time he was an internationally established artist known for his large murals, including one that he painted in 1964 at JFK Airport in New York. Photos of him standing in front of Malcha Mahal in the late 1960s show a monument not yet overgrown with brush and vegetation. There was space to stand back and take a picture of the entire structure—something that’s impossible today. “We were young artists, trying to find out who we were after Independence,” says Dave, now partially blind and hard of hearing.

His fond memories of the space include a ceiling-high painting he made there, a jackal that once occupied his studio for days, wood-fired lunches, and moonlit performances on the roof by the famous Indian classical dancer Uma Sharma. The artists, who had moved into Malcha Mahal in 1967, had to vacate the premises almost a decade later, during construction of the Delhi Earth Station—a structure used for satellite observations by the national space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)—which was officially inaugurated in 1977. The artists didn’t leave Malcha Mahal in shape for permanent inhabitants, though they had installed metal shutters on all the outer gates, to keep the monkeys out and to protect their artwork. Nowadays all of those shutters are broken or hanging in the nearby trees. But for years they proved useful to Wilayat and her children, who lived there, under spartan conditions, for decades. “We had to make do without any water or electricity,” says Mohammed Kasim, one of the servants who lived at Malcha Mahal with the family.

“We even dug up a well, but it remained dry. Water was scarce in the area.” Yet over the next few years, the family—with the help of guards working at the Earth Station—managed to get some water, as well as on-and-off-again electricity. The family’s residence in Malcha Mahal ended in 2017, when Wilayat’s son—the man calling himself Prince Ali Raza aka Cyrus of Oudh—died. (His sister, known as Princess Sakina, passed sometime in 2015. Their mother had taken her own life years earlier, in the 1990s. A recent article in The New York Times concluded that they were a family of highly convincing impostors who, for decades, fooled journalists, government officials, and much of the public. According to the Times, the prince and princesses’ names were, respectively, Farhad and Mickey Butt.

Kasim takes issue with this conclusion, agitatedly calling it “false and very wrong.” Walking through the ruins of Malcha Mahal, he points to some of the family’s remnants, which lay scattered about: an old, upmarket fridge; a metal trunk with “Oudh” written on it; a wooden table; torn clothing; and several single shoes—all covered in bat feces. Kasim gets emotional when he sees the condition of his former masters’ attire. “This belonged to the prince,” he says, respectfully picking up a torn and dusty golden-colored formal jacket. Whether they were actually royal or not, the fascinating family that lived here has given rise to a spate of ghost stories. A growing number of thrill-seekers have been visiting Malcha Mahal in recent months, filming their overnight stays in search of spectral encounters—among other local legends, the ghost of Ali Raza is said to slap intruders—and posting them online. In one video full of special effects and spooky sounds, produced by the channel News24, two journalists discover an old fridge covered in red powder and speculate about its origins, wondering whether they’ve found the site of a Tantric ritual. What they had actually found were the remnants of a performance-art video that Sharma had produced there, several months before he organized the workshop. In the video, shown at a recent festival of performance art in South Korea, Sharma is seen fully naked, sitting on some of the furniture in Malcha Mahal, his face covered with a huge piece of meat. Later, as he stands in the gated archways inside the monument, his face is covered by a cow’s skull. The work is an artistic commentary on the growing intolerance toward Muslims in today’s India—currently governed by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party—and directly inspired by a brutal, heavily publicized mob-lynching incident four years ago.

In 2015, a Muslim ironsmith named Mohammad Akhlaq was killed by dozens of his Hindu neighbors on suspicion of having eaten beef. The meat of a cow—holy to Hindus—was allegedly stored in Akhlaq’s fridge. With its “layers of history,” says Sharma, Malcha Mahal was a perfect venue for the video. The fact that the site already held an abandoned fridge only made it more conducive to his needs. “I needed a fridge for this performance,” says Sharma. “Otherwise I would have had to find one and drag it somewhere … I like to reinterpret historical places through art, and also document them in a way we did not see them earlier.” At the end of the video, Sharma covers his whole body with red powder, symbolizing blood. He tucks himself, and the meat, into the fridge, still naked and in a fetal position. He looks both vulnerable and at peace, ready to weather whatever comes his way—a bit like Malcha Mahal itself.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/malcha-mahal, January 8, 2020

The decision to demolish the ancestral house of Gurudev Tagore located on Chakratirtha Road in the pilgrim city of Puri has evoked sharp reactions from Convener of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Odisha operations and former DGP Amiya Bhusan Tripathy. In a letter to the Puri district administration, Mr Tripathy asked the administration to stop the plans of razing down the building and instead take measures for the proper restoration and conservation.

He has given an assurance that INTACH could take up the project and ensure that the structure gets a new lease of life. Mr Tripathy said certifying a building unsafe is a routine work of PWD which lacks qualified persons who can do proper restoration and conservation work. A bust of the bard is installed at the far end of the building.

A large number of documents and articles penned by Tagore are still preserved at the building. Some of these documents have been lost due to decay and lack of proper maintenance, but a few invaluable artifacts remain, Mr Dhir said. A portion of the building was being used as a hostel for students of an adjoining College. However, the asbestos roof of the building was blown away during cyclone ‘Fani’ a few months ago, and since then it has been lying as an abandoned structure. Mr Dhir said Puri Sub-Collector Bharat Charan Sahu has claimed that the building is in ruins and there is no other option but to demolish it. It is not known if the district administration has given a thought to restore this building keeping its heritage value in mind, the historian remarked.

The Kanika Library and Assembly Hall at the iconic Ravenshaw University, the Cuttack Circuit House, and the old Board of Revenue Building too were at some time declared as unsafe, but they were all restored. In fact in Katak, the very same PWD which had declared the structures unsafe did the restoration under proper guidance. The Jobra Workshop was preserved by INTACH and a grand Maritime Museum stands in place today. In Puri too, the house of Janaki Nath Bose, father of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was given to INTACH in 2015 and the building stands in one piece after proper conservation. In Sambalpur also the house of the Assamese Poet Laureate, Laxminath Bezbaruah, which was marked for demolition is currently in the process of conservation by INTACH.

The Rani Bhakri and the Old Town Hall of the City, which was in ruins, are also in the final stages of restoration. The Vice-Principal of the Samant Chandrasekhar Junior College, Sankarshan Dash said that they had been intimated by the civic body regarding the demolition. “Since the building is synonymous with the legendary Rabindranath Tagore, we have requested the Works Department through a letter to construct a building which can be made into a ‘Tagore Museum’ to preserve the documents and artefacts in ‘Patherpuri’, he said.

https://www.indiablooms.com/news-details/N/58012/intach-odisha-chapter-opposes-demolition-plan-of-ancestral-house-of-rabindranath-tagore.html, January 8, 2020

The Maharashtra archaeology department has alleged that a Chalcolithic site that was to be excavated next month has been destroyed during soil scooping work for a highway at Hatnur village in Aurangabad district. The work was stopped after the department wrote to the revenue department, a state archaeology official said. However, preliminary reports show that 70 per cent of the prime site area has been destroyed, the official said. A 3,500-4,000 years old Chalcolithic site was discovered in Hatnur village in Aurangabad in 2015.

"Such a site is rare in Marathwada, and it was supposed to be excavated in February by state archaeology department and Deccan College,” curator of state archaeology department Mayur Thakre told PTI. However, when the department got to know that soil was being scooped out from site for the construction of a highway nearby, it wrote to the sub-division officer (SDO) to stop work, Thakre said. Meanwhile, revenue department officials have not denied digging on the site, but when asked about who had given them permission, they went into “need to check” mode. Speaking about the issue, Collector Uday Choudhari said, “If our office has not received any information about the site from the concerned department, then it’s not our fault. However, if permissions were given to dig the site despite getting an intimation from the archaeological department, then the concerned officials will have to face inquiry,” Choudhari said. PTI

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/maharashtra-chalcolithic-site-%E2%80%98destroyed%E2%80%99-in-highway-work-23366, January 8, 2020

A brick-lined well, believed to have been constructed during the Satavahana period, has been discovered at Ter in Osmanabad district, around 250km from here. The well, which has unique brickwork, was discovered last month during excavation work being carried out for the construction of a building, where a museum in Ter is planned to be relocated, authorities said. “The Ramalingappa Lamature Museum in Ter is set to be shifted to another location.

The state government has started constructing a new building for that and the well belonging to the Satavahana period (230BC to 200AD) was discovered during the excavation on December 14,” said Amol Gote, assistant curator of the department of archaeology. “The well has unique brickwork. Also, the bricks are larger when compared to those found earlier in Ter from the Satavahana period,” he said. According to archaeology department authorities, the bricks found during the excavation in Ter in the past were 40cm long, 20cm wide and 7cm thick. “But the bricks used in the construction of this well have different measurements: 45cm in length, 24cm in width and 9cm in thickness," officials said. After the discovery of the well, the archaeology department has demarcated the area to carry out a scientific excavation.

“The arrangement of bricks in the well gives us an idea that the work was executed during the Satavahana era. The vertical and horizontal arrangements of bricks is unique here. While one layer is vertical, three others are horizontal,” authorities said. Umesh Bagade, head of the history department at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, said that the bricks are vital clue in deciding the period of history of any structure. “Along with Ter, present-day Paithan in Aurangabad district and Bhokardan in Jalna district were prominent cities during the rule of Satavahana dynasty. While Paithan, then known as Pratishthan was the capital of the dynasty, Ter was also a major centre as it was on the route of international trade.

The wells and rivers were the only source of water during those days and therefore the well found at Ter appears to be intact as it was built well,” he said. The archaeology department during the excavation work carried out so far, has reached the depth of around three meters. History scholar Revansiddha Lamture, elaborating on Ter’s significance as a trade centre during the Satavahana period, said, “Commodities from different regions were brought at Ter, from where they would be sent as far as Rome via Paithan (Aurangabad) and Bharuch (Gujarat),” he said. Located around 22km from Osmanabad, Ter, which was called ‘Tagar’ in ancient times, is believed to have hosted one of the oldest civilisations in the country and was populated during the preSatavahana, Satavahana, post-Satavahana and Vakataka periods. Ter place, however, was at peak of its glory during the Satavahana rule.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/satavahana-era-well-found-in-osmanabads-ter/articleshow/73103351.cms, January 8, 2020

The ongoing pilot project on documentation of all unprotected monuments in Mysuru taluk has yielded significant results with over 100 sculptures recovered from the rural hinterland. Launched by the Karnataka Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, the project will help map and document the number of monuments in the Taluk. Based on their importance, they will be added to the protected list. Sources in the Archaeology department said so far the team has completed mapping of monuments in two Hoblis--Varuna and Jayapura.

“Work in Yelwal Hobli is underway and the entire Taluk will be covered within the next 15 days,” said Department Assistant Director C N Manjula. The pilot project seeks to ascertain the manpower, funds and time that will be required to complete the work. Once the Department gets a broad idea of the scale and enormity of the task, it can take appropriate measures to expand the ambit and scope of the project to cover the entire State. The three-member team heads for the field daily around 1900 hrs and it is their interaction with the village headmen that is proving to be critical. “Senior citizens and village elders are aware as to where a temple, stones with inscription or pillars are located.

The younger generation is not well-versed with it. Based on the inputs from the senior citizens, we manage to reach the spot for an assessment and document the presence of Artefacts,” said Ms Manjula. The project is the first of its kind in the State and will help to map both protected and unprotected monuments. The Department has 844 protected monuments under its ambit and the list has not been revised in recent decades. Officials believe if the new discoveries meet the criteria stipulated by the Archaeological Survey of India and the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, they could be incorporated in the protected list.

http://www.uniindia.com/new-findings-100-sculptures-recovered-in-mysuru-taluk/south/news/1843496.html, January 8, 2020

The Hindustan Times reports that a covered drain paved with stones and topped with an arch lined with thin, burnt clay bricks was discovered by members of the Archaeological Survey of India at the Red Fort, a fortress built of red sandstone by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in A.D. 1639. The drain once connected the fort’s Delhi Gate to the surrounding moat.

Researchers are now removing silt from the drain, and then will strengthen it, so that it will once again be able to serve as a channel for rainwater. Historian Swapna Liddle suggests that all of the drainage collected in the fort was probably funneled to the moat, while water collected in the surrounding city was transported to another large drain. To read about trade routes maintained by the Mughal and Persian Empires in what is now Afghanistan, go to "Satellites on the Silk Road."

https://www.archaeology.org/news/8339-200107-india-delhi-drain, January 8, 2020

The first-ever International Heritage Symposium and Exhibition (IHSE) will kick off on 15th January 2020 at the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi. It is being jointly organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This event will attempt to bring together for the first time, communities from diverse disciplines such as science, technology, culture and social sciences who are engaged in conservation, preservation and management of World Heritage in physical and digital space. The ‘IHSE 2020’ has been developed around the frequently articulated need for preserving India’s rich cultural heritage digitally, for our future generations. The two-day event will allow for interdisciplinary dialogue to take place between scientists, academia, historians, social scientists, practitioners, musicologists, policymakers, allowing for adoption of best practices and technology to preserve world and India’s heritage. A month-long exhibition at the National Museum will be starting from 15th January 2020.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Minister of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences will be the Chief Guest and Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Culture will be the Guest of Honour on the occasion. The event will witness 7-panel discussions over two days (15th and 16th January 2020) of specific subjects between various domain experts. Panelists for the various sessions include Professor Ashutosh Sharma (Secretary, Department of Science and Technology), Prof. Katsushi Ikeuchi (Professor, University of Tokyo), Prof. Nadia Magnetat Thalmann (Professor, NTU, Singapore), Prof. Sree Srinivasan (ex-Chief Digital Officer, Met Museum, New York), Dr. Massimo Spadini (Embassy of Italy), Ms. Junhi Han (UNESCO), Prof. Santanu Chaudhury (Director, IIT-Jaipur), Ms. Anna Roy (Niti Aayog), Prof. P.J. Naranayanan (Director, IIIT Hyderabad), Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri (Director, IIT Bombay). Dr. P Anandan (CEO, Wadhwani Institute for AI), Prof. Prem Kalra (Professor, IIT Delhi), Dr. Sacchidanand Joshi (Member, Secretary, IGNCA), Padma Vibhushan Kathak exponent Dr. Uma Sharma, apart from well-known personalities from the domain of History, Art, Performing Arts, as well as policy-makers from Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Water Resource etc. The foundation to this event was laid by the Indian Digital Heritage (IDH) project (2010-2014), which was a unique initiative of the Department of Science & Technology supporting collaborative projects between researchers in the areas of technology and humanities for the digital documentation and interpretation of our tangible and intangible heritage. The goal of the IDH Research Project (www.digitalhampi.in) was to extend the power of digital technologies to well beyond monuments to art, architecture and all forms of cultural and historical knowledge.

The aim of the project was to go beyond simply storing and sharing the heritage data and knowledge and use emerging technologies to create vivid experiences of the heritage for common users. IDH initiative gave birth to some of the most advanced techniques and technologies in digital heritage preservation, and DST motivated setting up of technology start-ups to translate this research into commercial products, one of them being Vizara Technologies Pvt Ltd. Two edited books on Digital Heritage work being done in India, which come out of the IDH project and have been published by world renowned publishers Springer, will be launched at the occasion. These are “Digital Hampi: preserving Indian Cultural Heritage”(https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811057373) and “HeritagePreservation : A Computational Approach” (https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811072208)

https://www.asianage.com/technology/in-other-news/090120/iit-delhi-to-host-the-first-international-heritage-symposium-and-exhibition.html, January 8, 2020

World Braille Day is celebrated every year on January 4 on Louis Braille’s birthday. Louis Braille the inventor of braille was born in 1806 in France. He became blind after a childhood accident but quickly mastered his new way of living. He created the system which is known as braille. The system of writing was later developed by Charles Barbier. Today, braille is used all around the world. As per research, 37 million people across the globe are blind and over 15 million are from India. Let us take a look at some of the braille friendly places in India. Braille friendly places in India

Kerala
Kerala is preparing to become India’s first all-accessible tourist destination. While Kochi Fort became the first heritage site for the differently-abled in 2016. Apart from this, Kannur is also one of the braille friendly places in India. There is also a Federation for blind people in Kerla known as Kerala Federation of the blind.

Delhi
Delhi is known for its tourism. There are many people who visit the country every year to witness the beautiful places in the Capital city. In Delhi, there are many historical destinations like Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and many more which are some of the prominent examples that have incorporated measures to make tourist experience even better.

Begaluru
In Bengaluru, the Tipu Sultan’s summer palace which is the first heritage site in the city that was made disabled-friendly with a Braille brochure, signboards, and tactile ways for easy directions. It is also one of the beautiful tourist places in Bengaluru. Hyder Ali also attracts several tourists from all across the world.

https://www.republicworld.com/lifestyle/travel/world-braille-day-2020-3-tourist-destinations-in-india.html, January 8, 2020

The Badshahpur drain carries around 388 million litres of sewage discharge from Gurugram which later meets at the Najafgarh drain. Villagers from Gurugram near Najafgarh lake have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India seeking a solution to the overflow of drain and sewage water into their agricultural land. “It has been more than 10 years now that we’ve been facing this issue. It only gets worse during monsoon. Currently, we are hit by the increase of industrial waste in the fields. Rarely does any official ever visit us, and even if they do, they do not interact with residents,” said Naresh Kumar resident of Khekri Majra village.

The Badshahpur drain carries around 388 million litres of sewage discharge from Gurugram which later meets at the Najafgarh drain. Locals said that earlier the residents of eight villages situated on the banks of the lake had written to Badshahpur MLA Rakesh Daulatabad, asking for a dam to be built to prevent the overflow of drain water from further flooding their agricultural land. The Najafgarh wetland matter came to notice after the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) filed a plea in 2014 with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking directions to the Delhi and Haryana governments for its revival. While Delhi government in its response has said that they are taking measures, the Haryana government is yet to update on steps being adopted by them. “The next hearing at the NGT is on March 3 where it will be clear how both the governments – Delhi and Haryana are proceeding over it. It has come to my knowledge that Gurugram authorities have formed a technical committee to look into the matter.

But the response from Haryana is very disappointing. The lake cannot be revived by just the Delhi government’s initiatives,” said Manu Bhatnagar from INTACH. Another resident, Rinku Yadav said, “Even if the land needs to be declared wetland, we have no problem, provided that we get enough value for our property. We may not able to do farming here anymore but that the land belongs to us.”

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/jan/10/villagers-write-to-pm-modi-on-najafgarh-drain-run-off-2087587.html, January 9, 2020

Appropriately enough, the renovation project could well have been initiated in 2013, the centenary year of Tagore’s Nobel prize. Rabindranath Tagore’s house in Puri richly deserves to be conserved rather than demolished. If the rational course of action is pursued and if the renovated building is embellished with artefacts that languish within, it will be another tourist attraction in the seaside temple town. That, we admit, is an iffy proposition, however. This is quite the most charitable construct that can be placed upon the local municipality’s decision to bring the poet’s ancestral residence under the pickaxe.

Appropriately enough, the renovation project could well have been initiated in 2013, the centenary year of Tagore’s Nobel prize. The location of the house on Chakratirtha Road has a certain strategic significance ~ in the vicinity of the landmark BNR Hotel and close to the shore and also, of course, the The Sea! The Sea! The Open Sea/ The blue, the fresh, the ever-free, to summon the words of Barry Cornwall. A heritage structure in Odisha, the 100-year-old Patherpuri house does boast an iconic status amidst the seaside landscape that is dotted with multi-starred hotels and thriving garment shops.

It is distressing to reflect that the building, a much favoured haunt of the poet, is now an abandoned structure, one that can be restored to its pristine glory by the Naveen Patnaik administration with the support of qualified conservationists. Regretfully, the country’s record in preserving monuments and heritage structures has been less than satisfactory, if the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is any indication. Sad to reflect, Kolkata’s Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial have also been included in the same category of negligence, according to a CAG report which once sought to deviate from the routine audit of accounts. It would be no disrespect to the sentiments of the sevayats to aver that the decrepit house of the poet deserves as much care and protection as the Jagannath Temple. Should the building start crumbling, it will be a blot on the cultural history of India. Yet the authorities, specifically the state and municipal administration, have been remarkably insensitive to the damage wrought over time. Its asbestos roof had gone with the wind during cyclone Fani last April. Rather than fix a replacement, the building has been allowed to decay, almost to the point of ruin. As much has been admitted by the Sub-Collector of Puri ~ “Tagore’s house is in ruins and there is no option but to demolish the same."

Yet the towel need not be thrown in quite yet. INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) is in a position to undertake the renovation project and ensure that the structure gets a new lease of life, as it were. The building still boasts certain manuscripts and documents crafted by Tagore. His bust within the complex is a mute witness to negligent nonchalance. The Odisha Chief Minister is a man of culture and sensitivity; Mr Patnaik must step in to save the building.

https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/house-where-tagore-lived-1502843360.html, January 10, 2020

The two-day exploration of the site by the team also unearthed wooden fossils around 6.5 crore years old in nearby Aksharaloddi. In a rare discovery, historians have uncovered rock art that is believed to have originated in the Paleolithic age in Telangana's Nallamudi in Jagannadhapuram of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. The art pieces were found at the feet of Ontigundu in the lime-stone hills near a place of worship of the Naikpods, an Adivasi community. Members of the team included the Telangana Jagruthi history wing, Rock Art Society of India (RASI), rock art enthusiast Kondaveeti Gopi and scientist K Gnaneshwar.

Raman Spectroscopy examination was used to determine and confirm that the rock art at Ontigundi, close to Nallamudi village, was prehistoric. Stone tools from a similar period were also found at the site. Raman Spectroscopy is a technique used to identify the age of materials that are thousands of years old. It was local history enthusiast Kondaveeti Gopi who first came across the Ontigundu site during his visit to another rock art site, Aksharaloddi, which is in the same vicinity.

Locals in the area had informed him that there was a similar site nearby. The two-day exploration of the site by the team also unearthed wooden fossils, which is around 6.5 crore years old, in nearby Aksharaloddi, another site where rock art was found in July 2019. The discovery of wooden fossils raises the possibility of finding dinosaur fossils. According to Sriramoju Haragopal of the Telangana Jagruti history wing, five stone bars found were once "worshiped as Pandavas" by Nayakpods (native tribes) while another half-sculpted rock features a head with a moustache. At another hilltop, an eight-foot stone pole was found with the image of a goddess carved in it. Haragopal added, "There is a rock art that shows snakes, monitor lizards, flower designs, rectangular unknown paintings as well as the sun along with anthropomorphic (human-like) paintings.” According to history enthusiasts, the site also has certain rock art with white coloured-edges.

Haragopal said that though rock art forms found recently across Telangana are similar to the latest findings, the Ontigundu findings hail from mid-Paleolithic age to late-upper Paleolithic age. It was noted that micro-tools such as blades and thin-swords were also found at the foot of the hill. These micro-tools are similar ones recently found in Neeladri (Ramachandrapuram) and Rachakonda. However, Sriramoju Haragopal and Katta Srinivas of Telangana Jagruti History wing said that climate change and human movement on the premises was ruining the rock art form. They advocated for the preservation of the site through an iron square frame.

"If we don't take action to preserve this rich heritage, the Ontigundu-Aksharaloddi twin sites of rock art forms will become faded memories," they said. According to history enthusiasts, the site also has certain rock art with white coloured-edges. Haragopal said that though rock art forms found recently across Telangana are similar to the latest findings, the Ontigundu findings hail from mid-Paleolithic age to late-upper Paleolithic age.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rare-prehistoric-rock-art-uncovered-telangana-s-kothagudem-115830January 10, 2020

Heritage visit
Some of the heritage lovers are visiting the site on January 16 coinciding with Kanuma, the day after Sankranti. Heritage activist Jayashree Hatangadi said interested people could visit Bojjannakonda on that day. Recalling how the ritual had been stopped to a large extent, P.V. Prasad, a member of INTACH, said he had to stay at the site along with other heritage lovers to sensitise the locals not to damage the Buddhist site. Heritage lover Edward Paul said all the Buddhist sites in the region needed conservation and promotion as north Andhra was home to several relics and

monasteries.“Bojjannakonda and Lingalametta are the twin Buddhist monasteries dating back to the 3rd century BC. These sites have seen three forms of Buddhism – the Theravada period when Lord Buddha was considered a teacher, the Mahayana, where Buddhism was more devotional, and Vajrayana, where Buddhist tradition was more practised as Tantra and esoteric form,” she said.

Tourist attraction
The name Sankaram is derived from the term, ‘Sangharama’. It is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. The main stupa was carved out of rock and then covered with bricks, where one can see a number of images of the Buddha sculpted on the rock face all over the hill.‘Villagers have almost stopped the ancient stone-pelting ritual at Bojjannakonda during Sankranti’ After a sustained campaign, heritage lovers and officials have been successful in almost stopping the stone-pelting ritual at Bojjannakonda, a famous Buddhist site at Sankaram, 3.5-km from Anakapalle and 41-km from here. The villagers, as a part of the ancient ritual, used to pelt stones at a belly-shaped object, believing it to be a part of a demon.However, following the intervention of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the practice on the Kanuma day during Sankranti has almost been done away with.

Joint initiative
“With the support of the police and the district administration, we have been able to stop it for the past few years. This time also we have sought the support of the district officials,” INTACH Visakhapatnam chapter convener Mayank Kumari Deo told The Hindu on Sunday.“Bojjannakonda and Lingalametta are the twin Buddhist monasteries dating back to the 3rd century BC. These sites have seen three forms of Buddhism – the Theravada period when Lord Buddha was considered a teacher, the Mahayana, where Buddhism was more devotional, and Vajrayana, where Buddhist tradition was more practised as Tantra and esoteric form,” she said.

Tourist attraction
The name Sankaram is derived from the term, ‘Sangharama’. It is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. The main stupa was carved out of rock and then covered with bricks, where one can see a number of images of the Buddha sculpted on the rock face all over the At the nearby Lingalametta, one can see hundreds of rock-cut monolithic stupas in rows. Tourists visit the Buddhist sites in large numbers to see the relic casket, the three Chaitya Halls, the votive platforms, the stupas and the Vajrayana sculpture. Visakhapatnam is famous for Buddhist sites at Thotlakonda, Appikonda, and Bavikonda too.

“Vandalism, or defacing of any order like removing bricks and throwing stones at the heritage site, is highly condemnable. We want the administration to provide enough security on the Kanuma day to prevent damage to the archaeologically significant site,” INTACH, in a letter, urged district Collector V. Vinay Chand.hill.

Heritage visit
Some of the heritage lovers are visiting the site on January 16 coinciding with Kanuma, the day after Sankranti. Heritage activist Jayashree Hatangadi said interested people could visit Bojjannakonda on that day. Recalling how the ritual had been stopped to a large extent, P.V. Prasad, a member of INTACH, said he had to stay at the site along with other heritage lovers to sensitise the locals not to damage the Buddhist site. Heritage lover Edward Paul said all the Buddhist sites in the region needed conservation and promotion as north Andhra was home to several relics and monasteries.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/intach-efforts-to-protect-buddhist-site-bear-fruit/article30552294.ece, January 13, 2020

A tree growing out of the roof posed a challenge during the restoration of Bangalore Gate, a British-era building that dates back at least 100 years
Bangalore Gate, a 100-year-old historical structure that had remained in ruins for decades, will be fully restored by March. Metrolife visited the site on Mysuru Road, four months after it had first reported on the heritage structure. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, who initiated the restoration and handed over the work to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), Bengaluru, says work is progressing according to schedule. The building is in the premises of the Karnataka State Reserve Police headquarters, only a 10-minute drive from the KSR City Railway Station. Pankaj Modi, technical coordinator for restoration, Intach, says the building is easily 100 years old because records show it existed in the 1920s.

“Maps from 1870, however, don’t show the building,” he says. The building has a central dome and three rooms surrounding it. This contributes to its unique shape, Modi told Metrolife. The renovation is funded by Basant Poddar, director of Bengaluru-based K L Poddar and Sons. An old Bengalurean, Poddar has a penchant for all things antique.

Challenges involved
The biggest challenge in restoring the British-era building was the removal of a large peepal tree growing out of its roof. The roots had penetrated the walls and occupied most of the roof, thus weakening the structure. “This disturbed the structure. Cracks had developed and the roof had partly collapsed. After strengthening the building, we started restoring the rooms and the roof, and closing the cracks in the arches,” says Modi. Did the restorers have to demolish any part of the building? “Yes. We had to open the roof part by part because the tree had punctured it. We had to dismantle parts of the structure that were unstable,” heexplains. M UK firm consulted Intach hired a UK-based company, Helifix, which specialises in strengthening structures, especially those with stone and brick masonry. “Stainless steel rods are used to strengthen the building. We wanted to adopt this strategy because we didn’t want to dismantle large portions of the building,” says Modi. Helifix India, based in Gujarat, sent a team to Bengaluru for the restoration.

Nimish Makadia, director of the company, says, “We have a team that specialises in stitching cracks. We use stainless steel in patented bars that are 6 mm in size. These are flexible and help stone and brick buildings to move. Any other material only stiffens the structure. We have used this technology to strengthen more than 80 structures across the country,” he says. He admits the restoration of Bangalore Gate was complicated because of the vegetation.

Neglected for decades
Many historians believe Bangalore Gate was used to track the movement of people and horse carts between Bengaluru and Mysuru. S Raghunath, professor with the Department of Civil Engineering at BMS College of Engineering, assessed the condition of the building before work began. “We found that the foundation and soil of Bangalore Gate were good. The walls were badly damaged because of the growth of the tree. It had led to a lot of distress in the walls,” says Raghunath. The building was in disuse and was filled with all kinds of trash and debris. “We had to first remove the vegetation. Along with the tree came a big chunk of the wall,” he says.

Raghunath points out that regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the longevity of such buildings. “The first thing is to ensure that water does not stagnate, and vegetation does not grow. It is also important to not keep the building empty,” suggests Raghunath.
A city’s pride Naresh Narasimhan, architect and urban designer, says people take pride in a city because of its heritage.
“It is a huge contributor to a sense of belonging and pride. Iconic structures give citizens a sense of identity,” he says. For Bengaluru, identity comes from Lalbagh and Cubbon Park and for New York, from Central Park, he says. “It is important to hold on to these things, because it reminds people that the city was not born yesterday. Most people think Bangalore and Infosys started at the same time. Bangalore is older than Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. It is 482 years old,” explains Naresh. He recommends heritage buildings be reassigned for contemporary purposes. “These buildings can be reused. NGMA was an old bungalow, Opera House on Brigade Road is now the Samsung Opera House. These beautiful structures remind you that there once stood another world. Heritage buildings ensure a sense of continuity and civic pride,” says Naresh.

Approximate cost of restoration (According to Pankaj Modi, technical coordinator for restoration, Intach)
Where The building is near Royan Circle on Mysore Road. It is in a compound that also houses the Karnataka State Reserve Police headquarters, just a 10-minute drive from the KSR City railway station.

https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-with-bengaluru/bangalore-gate-restoration-on-track-793814.html, January 13, 2020

A study of inscriptions on clay tablets recovered from recent excavations at Moghalmari, a Buddhist monastic site of the early medieval period in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district, have confirmed the presence of two monasteries — Mugalayikaviharika and Yajñapindikamahavihara. Details of the study of these inscriptions were published earlier this month in PratnaSamiskha, a leading peer-reviewed journal from Bengal on Indian Archaeology. “The presence of two monasteries dating to the same period within a single compound is unique in eastern India.

Earlier excavations had indicated the presence of two monasteries on the basis of the structural plan,” Rajat Sanyal, who deciphered these inscriptions, and is the author of the paper, told The Hindu. Prof. Sanyal, who is associated with the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, was a member of all the six seasons of excavations carried out at the site by the university. The monasteries at Moghalmari date from 6th century CE and were functional till the 12th century CE.

Tiny fragments
During one of the later seasons of excavations by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal, six tiny fragments of inscribed seals were found. “Each of them contained a set of letters accompanied by the deer-dharmachakra symbols. We had to arrange them through different permutations to read and make sense of names inscribed on these tablets,” Prof. Sanyal said.

The inscriptions are in Sanskrit and the script is a transitional phase between later north Indian Brahmi and early Siddhamatrika. The first name Yajñapindikamahavihara, implying etymologically ‘a place of sacrificial offering’ is of special significance. The second name on the seals, Mugalayikaviharika, bears a phonetic resemblance to the modern name of the site, Moghalmari.

In Xuanzang’s travels
Archaeologists and historians point out that famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang (more widely identified as Huen Tsang), who visited India in the 7th century CE, referred to the existence of ‘ten monasteries’ within the limits of Tamralipta (modern day Tamluk in adjoining Purba Medinipur district). However, he did not refer to any specific name or location.

With the discovery of the site and the deciphering of the inscriptions, at least two of these monasteries are now identified, Prof. Sanyal said. He added that it was known from Buddhist texts that Buddhist monasteries have a definite hierarchy — Mahavihara, Vihara and Viharika — which is reflected in the inscriptions found. “The study provides the only contextual epigraphical proof for the existence of a viharika (Mugalayikaviharika in this case) as early as the 6th century in this part of the subcontinent,” Prof. Sanyal said. The study of the inscribed seals suggests that the monastery was called Mugalayikaviharika. Its continuation in the modern name of the area “still remains a riddle which needs more careful inspection and study,” he said.

“Apparently, the name Mugalayika suggests a fair connection to the modern place-name Moghalmari,” he added. In his paper, Prof. Sanyal refers to L.S.S. O’Malley’s gazetteer of 1911, where the name Moghalmari is said to trace its name to a medieval battle between the Mughals and Pathans, sometime in the 16th or early 17th century. “It is difficult to ascertain if the name written on the seals indeed represents an early toponym of the modern village of Moghalmari.”

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/inscriptions-confirm-presence-of-two-medieval-monasteries-at-moghalmari/article30562580.ece, January 13, 2020

In view of the damage done to ASI monuments – the hilltop Buddhist shrines of Bojjanakonda and Lingalakonda — during Kanuma Jatara in recent years, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) representatives have requested the district administration and other authorities to provide police protection at archaeological sites against rampage and vandalism by drunken locals. Intach convener Mayank Kumari Deo said, “Every year, a Jatara (village fest) is held wherein thousands of people descend on

these two Buddhist sites on Kanuma, most of them in high spirits. They pull out the bricks and throw them into the caves as well as throw stones onto the stupas. The people also litter these sites with liquor bottles and vast amounts of trash. The stupas have been damaged in the past due to a superstitious ritual of the Vajrayana period that has no relevance any m

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/call-to-protect-asi-sites-from-vandalism/articleshow/73235164.cms, January 14, 2020

The protected monument, to be converted into a museum, will be thrown open to the public before the start of this year’s Biennale. As the seat of all three imperial powers who ruled the area, the Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi enjoys a chequered history. Through centuries, the 450-year-old structure has weathered many storms, until it was declared as a protected monument by the State Archaeology Department in the 1990s. The long-standing decision to convert its halls into a museum has thus far faced inadvertent delay. However, the project is soon expected to see the light of the day with the government determined to speed things up in this regard. “The tender process for the renovation of the Bungalow is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. We are in the process of assessing from various accredited agencies under our wing to undertake the implementation.

The government has sanctioned `2.4 crore in the first phase,” said Chandran Pillai, executive director, Kerala Museum, the official nodal agency entrusted for the project Although the museum was previously supposed to be thrown open to the public in the months leading up to the fourth edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale in 2018; the devastation caused by the flood that year put the project on the backburner given the financial stringency faced by the state. However, it now seems to be back on track. “We are trying to start the work as early as possible, the museum will most certainly be inaugurated before the Biennale starts towards the end of this year,” added Chandran.

“At a meeting held a couple of weeks back at the Cochin Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Dr Venu V who is the principal secretary of Revenue, Archaeology, Archives and Museums noted that steps were being taken to speed up the completion of the museum,” said K J Sohan, former mayor of Kochi and convenor of the Kerala chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Unlike other museums in the state that throw light on the princely history of Kerala, Bastion Bungalow is expected to narrate the yore of Fort Kochi through rare documents sourced from across the world. “This museum will be unique in the sense that prominence will be given to the chronicled records available rather than a display of artefacts. With the structure overlooking the sea, exhibiting antique objects would also prove imprudent as the salt content in the air would effectively damage priceless relics,” said Chandran. Sohan says, “The Portuguese were very good at keeping records so there is a lot of literature on how the place evolved to become one of the first cosmopolitan cities in south Asia and provided shelter to multiple cultures.

Fort Kochi is in itself a living repository of history, hence the upcoming museum should act as a knowledge hub.” The revamping of the bungalow was initially handed over to the Lalitha Kala Akademi which undertook the beautification of the garden surrounding the structure by installing rock sculptures. The premises was partly thrown open to visitors in February 2016 while access inside the rooms is still restricted.

As the Lalitha Kala Akademi received significant backlash for their unscientific approach, the project was consigned to Kerala Museum post a shift in the government.

Work delayed
The museum was previously supposed to be thrown open to the public in the months leading up to the fourth edition of Biennale in 2018 but the devastation caused by the flood that yearput the project on the backburner given the financial stringency faced by the state.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/jan/15/bastion-bungalow-renovation-back-on-track-2089614.html, January 15, 2020

The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) will celebrate January 30 as Rural Tourism Day. It was on this date that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. Since last year, the trust observes the day to promote rural tourism. The father of the nation was keen on rural development. Gandhi said: “The real India lies in the 7,00,000 villages. If Indian civilization is to make its full contribution to the building up of a stable world order, it is this vast mass of humanity that has….to be made to live again.” This year, the focus of rural tourism will be on two areas – Barner in Rajasthan and one in Madhya Pradesh.

Here, efforts are being made to highlight the often neglected and dying arts. Presentations will be made by those who have taken upon themselves the task of improving the scene. The trust is the brainchild of S. K. Misra, who earlier headed INTACH and was involved in tourism in a big way at the center and states. Misra had organized an event some months ago to highlight the wealth and culture of Azamgarh, a small district in Uttar Pradesh, India. “The villagers should develop such a high degree of skill that articles prepared by them should command a ready market outside. When our villages are fully developed, there will be no dearth in them of men with a high degree of skill and artistic talent. There will be village poets, village artists, village architects, linguists and research workers. In shout, there will be nothing in life worth having which will not be had in the villages,” wrote Mahatma Ghandi.

https://www.eturbonews.com/539779/rural-tourism-day-in-india-honors-mahatma-ghandi/, January 15, 2020

A kolam competition will be held in Thanjavur on January 17 as part of the Pongal festival. The competition which is open to women is being organised jointly by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Thanjavur Tourism Promotion Council and Inner Wheel. It will be held on the West Street on Friday afternoon. The participants should draw traditional “pulli kolam” in 5 feet by 5 feet size. Those aspiring to take part in the competition can register their names at the Sri Ramar Temple, West Street on Friday morning or dial 9842455765 for further information, according to S. Muthukumar, Honorary Secretary, INTACH, Thanjavur.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/kolam-competition/article30568736.ece, January 15, 2020

The museum has a display of over 1,500 items, incorporating case files and documents of the Indira Gandhi assassination documents, Mahatma Gandhi assassination case, and the Shah Bano case, to name a few. Add to these, accessories like wigs and gowns of judges, court furniture, mementoes, and paintings. It was in 1994 that former Chief Justice of India M N Venkatachaliah had pitched the idea of a museum so as to showcase the history and development of the country’s judiciary system over the years. Ten years later, the Supreme Court Museum came to life with the goal of letting a visitor relive the evolution of judiciary practices in the subcontinent from as early as the mature Harappan Civilisation (2700- 1900 BCE).

As of today, the museum has a display of over 1,500 items, incorporating case files and documents of the Indira Gandhi assassination documents, Mahatma Gandhi assassination case, and the Shah Bano case, to name a few. Add to these, accessories like wigs and gowns of judges, court furniture, mementoes, and paintings. “The footfall of the museum has sequentially increased over the years and soon few new galleries will be added on themes covering the high courts of different states, famous verdicts of the Supreme Court and even videos of swearing-in ceremonies,” said the museum’s curator who did not give his name.

As one enters the spherical red sandstone building, a life-size portrait of the father of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B R Ambedkar, greets you. The museum is divided into two galleries — the first records the evolution of the justice system in India, the second showcases an array of objects related to the federal and the Supreme Court. The sublime objects displayed in the first gallery can be enjoyed with the calming sitar music that is usually played in the background. “The chronological division of this gallery is in the manner of the ancient, medieval and modern historical eras of the subcontinent.” said the museum curator. The ancient India section has artifacts that show law enforcement and regulations in trade practices. “The seals and inscriptions exhibited here are supposed to be the first evidence of the ancient rule of law,” the museum curator adds further. This gallery houses the first written record of law and administration of justice from the time of Emperor Ashoka ruling the Mauryan Empire. The Ashokan Pillar (mini replica) in the museum is probably the only one in India today.

Facsimiles of religious and law books like Kautilya’s Arthashastra and the Quran are interesting finds. Infused with Mughal grandeur, the medieval section includes the Mughal state symbol gifted by the High Court of Rajasthan and a scanned treaty sent by Emperor Aurangzeb to Shivaji Maharaj. The evidence of the first Supreme Court established by the British Empire in present-day West Bengal forms the part of the last section of this gallery. “The modern section also contains some of the rarest photographs like the one signed by the first chief justice of India and a rich display of more than 400 coins dating back to the 19th century”, says the museum curator. The descending staircase that leads you to the second gallery that has a display of historic state symbols of kingdoms in Rajasthan. There is also the colossal 20th-century furniture of the federal court.

The glass shielded replica of the Indian Constitution fosters a climate of glory. An entire section dedicated to monumental Supreme Court cases acts as an intersection of historic significance and political chaos. “A number of other court accessories like ink pots, wigs, ceremonial gowns and the chair of Supreme Court judges including the latest red velvet one are some of our main preserves,” said a museum official.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/supreme-court-museum-in-delhi-6214513/, January 16, 2020

Biju babu, known for his daredevilry act and piloting acumen, had formed Kalinga Airline which had 15 Dakota planes at its headquarters at Kolkata. Odisha Government on Thursday initiated the process to bring back the iconic Dakota aircraft of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik which he had used to rescue erstwhile Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Hatta and Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir from their enemies in July 1947. The DC3 aircraft is currently lying in a decrepit condition at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata.

After a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan here on Thursday, Special Secretary to Commerce and Transport department Manoj Mishra said an in-principle approval has been granted to approach the Centre to get back the aircraft. “We will write to the Ministry of Civil Aviation soon for bringing back the aircraft, which is a pride of the State. Though no formal decision has been taken as to where the aircraft will be placed, it can be kept at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) for public display,” he said.

Although it was decided to get back the aircraft in 2018 following a communication from the Airport Authority of India and put on display as a relic associated with Biju Patnaik as part of the museum developed at his ancestral house ‘Anand Bhavan’ in Cuttack, no tangible step was taken by the Culture department thereafter. If approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aircraft will be dismantled as it is not possible to be transported in its current condition. It will be again refurbished for public display. Earlier, heritage researcher and a member of INTACH Anil Dhir had also written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik several times to take steps for getting back the Dakota aircraft, which was a prized possession of his father. Biju babu, known for his daredevilry act and piloting acumen, had formed Kalinga Airline which had 15 Dakota planes at its headquarters at Kolkata. The airplanes were being used by the Army for transporting Jawans deployed in Kashmir and dropping supplies at north-eastern area of the country.

Eviction of slums near OUAT for construction of parallel taxi track of BPIA, transfer of around 300 acre for Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda in two phases, acquisition of 184 acre for Rourkela Airport and 8.5 acre for Utkela Airstrip were also discussed at the meeting besides the licencing of Jeypore Airstrip. Mishra said an inspection team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has visited Jeypore Airstrip on Thursday and expressed satisfaction over the work. “We hope to get the aerodrome licence soon,” he added.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jan/17/odisha-to-approach-centre-to-bring-biju-babus-iconic-dakota-2090682.html, January 17, 2020

The first synagogue built in western India in 1796 – the Gate of Mercy Synagogue in Mumbai – has a Mysore connection. A Jewish soldier called Samaji Hasaji Divekar who belonged to the Bene Israel community was part of the Eighth Battalion of the Bombay Presidency Army that saw action in the British East India Company’s battles with Tipu Sultan. Divekar was captured by Tipu’s army in 1786, but Tipu’s mother, who was aware of Judaism, saved Hassaji’s life and ensured that he was enlisted in the Mysore army. “When he returned as a wealthy man to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1796, Divekar built the first Jewish place of prayer in the city,” said Pushkar Sohoni, an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. An architectural historian by training, Sohoni was speaking at an event organised by the Bengaluru chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on the Jewish heritage of the Deccan. By the 18th century, when Divekar enlisted in the presidency army, Indians, and especially people living in villages in the coastal strip along the northern Konkan coast, were long aware of Judaism, as a native Jewish community known as the Bene Israel had been staying in the region for many centuries. “Community lore traces the Bene Israel’s origins in India to 2200 years ago, but we start getting documentary evidence from the tenth century onwards,” stated the affable Sohoni. In medieval Deccan, the Jews were well integrated into village society and were known as Shanivar Telis (Saturday Oil-Pressers). They are mentioned in correspondences during the reign of Malik Ambar (1548-1626), the Habshi regent of Ahmednagar, and in the time of the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji (1627-1680). In the 19th century, these Jews who identified themselves as members of the Bene Israel and had always been active in the military joined the armies of the East India Company. The 18th century also saw the migration of the Baghdadi Jews (meaning Jews who lived in the Ottoman Empire) to Bombay. The Baghdadi Jews were primarily merchants and bankers and worlds apart from the native community of Jews in India. An early prominent member of this elite Jewish diaspora was David Sassoon (1792-1864) who embarked for Bombay in 1832. “He prospered as a merchant as he entered the opium trade with China which was the quickest way to make a fortune in India at that time,” said Sohoni with an excited gleam in his light eyes. “He also benefited hugely from the sale of Indian cotton in England and his sons and descendants went on to become completely anglicised and prosperous mill owners in Bombay,” Sohoni added. The contribution of this family to the urban culture of Bombay was immense as they built two synagogues and many educational institutions apart from the Sassoon Docks and the David Sassoon Library and Reading Hall. Thus, by this time there were two distinct Jewish communities in India – the older, poorer community of Indian Jews called the Bene Israel and the more prosperous elite community of Baghdadi Jews who had transnational mercantile linkages and perceived themselves as European. (The older community of Cochin Jews was not part of this presentation). The built Jewish heritage that has been bequeathed to the north-western Deccan owes to both these communities as Sohoni explained. While the synagogues built by the Baghdadi Jews were large and are located in Mumbai, the ones built by the Bene Israel are smaller and less ostentatious and while some are found in Mumbai, are also present in villages along the north Konkan coast. Sohoni’s presentation included a discussion of some of the prominent synagogues like the Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai which was built by Sir Jacob Elias Sassoon in 1884. An ostentatious and grand building, the interiors of this synagogue are painted a calming blue and there is a stateliness to the arrangement of the pews with all of them facing the raised platform in the middle which contains the scrolls of the Torah. The Gate of Mercy Synagogue which was built in 1796 by the aforementioned Divekar is modest in comparison and its interiors, while seeming to have a spiritual gravitas, are drab. The further one goes away from Mumbai, the synagogues, which were known as ‘Israeli masjids’ become smaller and utilitarian almost as if they were drained of the life blood of commerce that fed the metropolis of Mumbai. In his presentation which lasted for almost an hour, Sohoni discussed the architectural features of these synagogues as well as other secular structures in detail even discussing the distinctive door knobs and highly intricate woodwork that is a prominent feature of many of these Jewish prayer halls. The remnants of this Jewish built heritage shows that there was a substantial community of Jews in India and this is corroborated by census data that shows there were 14,805 Bene Israelis in 1941 and over 5000 Baghdadi Jews. This number diminished significantly after the creation of Israel in 1948, and first, the Baghdadi Jews left in droves followed by the Bene Israelis in the 1960s. Currently, there are around 4000 Bene Israel community members who still live in Mumbai and along the Konkan coast. Sohoni’s interest in the Jewish heritage of the Deccan was sparked by his deeper interest in the architectural history of the Nizam Shahi Sultanate of Ahmednagar on which he has published a monograph. “I kept stumbling on Jewish buildings while doing my work,” he explained. Sohoni belongs to a younger generation of scholars who followed in the footsteps of legendary historians like George Michell, Richard Eaton and Phillip Wagoner, all of whom have contributed immensely in enriching our understanding of the medieval Deccan. Having studied under the mentorship of another great architectural historian, Michael Meister, Sohoni’s future research should be followed keenly.

https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/a-story-less-known/article30575866.ece, January 17, 2020

Although many monuments like the Errum Manzil have survived the demolition scare, they stand in a dilapidated condition. Though the Telangana High Court, while delivering the verdict on Errum Manzil, issued specific directions to the government to revamp the heritage structures in the State, a look into the working of the heritage department shows that nothing much has changed to achieve what now seems to be a lofty goal. Look at the fate of the few important heritage structures in Hyderabad. For instance, Errum Manzil speaks of years of indifference.

Although it has survived the demolition scare, the grand palace built by Nawab Fakhr-ul-Mulk stands in a dilapidated condition. As a heritage activist put it, "It is as if the State government is waiting for it to fall down.” It is not just Errum Manzil, the other protected monuments under Regulation 13 in the city too cry for attention. According to the study Revitalisation of Historic Core of Hyderabad published in an Italian journal, the Shah Khurshid Rath Khana of Old City "used to serve as stables for horses.

Today a logistics company is based here." Similarly, the management of the Jama Masjid (another structure under Regulation 13) in Charminar has had to take up restoration projects spending from its own pocket as the State government did not release funds. On top of that, in violation of several rules, the mosque had initiated extra construction works within the property. The first impediment in honouring the High Court’s direction comes from the fact that there is no full-time director for the heritage wing since NL Visalatchy’s tenure as the Director of Heritage Telangana department ended in April, 2019.

After the completion of Visalatchy’s tenure, A Dinakar Babu, the then Managing Director of Sports Authority of Telangana State, was appointed as in-charge director of Heritage Telangana, which was earlier known as the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

'Need proper support for Heritage Telangana'
However, Babu too retired in December, 2019 and a notification was issued by the State stating that Korra Lakshmi, Director of State Art Gallery, was made Commissioner of Tourism and in-charge director of Heritage Telangana. Now Principal Secretary of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture, Burra Venkatesham has been appointed as in-charge director of Heritage Telangana. A Heritage official said the decision to appoint in-charge directors was the State’s policy decision and indicated that it maybe because of the reduced Budget. In September 2019, the State’s Budget was reduced to Rs 1.46 lakh crore from Rs 1.82 lakh crore proposed in the vote-on-account in February. The Budget allocation for Archaeology and Museums department was reduced from Rs 1,047.26 lakh for 2018-19 to Rs 9.40 lakh for 2019-20. Anuradha Reddy, the convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Hyderabad, said, "In erstwhile Hyderabad State’s archaeology department we had stalwarts like Ghulam Yazdani heading it. The department had ample support from the government in terms of funding. So today it would be apt to appoint someone of the same calibre." The HC had reinstated the Regulation 13 of HUDA 1995 after it was abruptly removed by the State. The HC had asked the State to form heritage committees as mandated under the Telangana Heritage Law 2017, and implement the aforesaid law immediately.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2020/jan/20/without-any-plan-heritage-telangana-ignores-precious-heritage-monuments-in-state-2091886.html, January 20, 2020

Schoolkids to paint, write essays

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) will organise national-level essay writing and painting competitions for schoolchildren on Mahatma Gandhi to be held in 100 cities across the country, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh in Jharkhand. Amitava Ghosh, co-convener of Intach's Jharkhand state chapter, said the competitions were being organised to celebrate 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi, under the guidance of Intach’s heritage, education and communication service division. “In Ranchi, the competitions will be organised in association with the state art and culture department at Audrey House on January 22,” he said, adding students from classes VII to IX would be eligible.

"We have written to the schools to send 10 students from these classes so that five of them can participate in each contest,” he said. The participants of the essay-writing contest will be asked to write a 750-word essay on either Gandhi’s contribution to Indian society or heritage and culture. On the other hand, budding artists will have to paint a theme either on Gandhi’s association with Indian culture or any heritage site in their region. The entries will be judged first at the state level, and sent for the national-level selections.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/bapu-sparks-creativity/cid/1736979, January 20, 2020

According to senior officials, the letter seeking clarification on 'certain' points, including the need of fresh dossier, was dispatched to the ministry last week. Keen to acquire UNESCO World Heritage tag for the city, the tourism department of Delhi government has sent a ‘reminder’ to the union culture minister to know the status of the proposal for renewing nomination for the coveted badge. According to senior officials, the letter seeking clarification on “certain” points, including the need of fresh dossier, was dispatched to the ministry last week as it hadn’t responded to the previous communiqué posted in September. "The reminder is to seek clearance for resubmitting the dossier for heritage city title. We haven’t got a reply yet so we want to check whether we require a fresh documentation? According to my knowledge, December is the deadline for submitting the application to UNESCO. If the department gets go-ahead now, we can plan preparations for sending nomination for the next year,” said an official, who is aware of the correspondence.

The government set the ball rolling for revival of the proposal in September when a delegation of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had met deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia with a request for the same. The INTACH, which is associated with conservation and protection of historic buildings, had prepared the dossier on Delhi, which was a part of the formal application to UNESCO sent in January 2014. The Centre had withdrawn the nomination in May 2015 without citing any reason. Another senior official, who was aware of the September meeting, said that after Sisodia had given green signal to initiate the nomination, the department wrote letters to ministries of external affairs, housing and urban affairs, and culture conveying the decision of the government.

"We wanted to know what changes are required for the dossier or if it will be a new document. However, only the minister of external affairs replied and directed us to communicate with the culture ministry. Hence, the reminder was sent,” said the official. Two cities under the title ‘Delhi’s Imperial Capital Cities’ — Shahjahanabad, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48), and British colonial government’s capital, New Delhi (1911-31), were proposed for the heritage badge.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2020/jan/19/tourism-department-reminds-culture-ministry-of-bid-to-get-heritage-tag-for-delhi-2091381.html, January 20, 2020

A senior DDA official said a public hearing will be held in this regard before finalising the change in land use. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has received nearly 400 objections to the proposed change of land use for 101 acres in central Delhi for the Centre’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project. The objections range from questioning the need for the project to its impact on environment and traffic. Some also stressed on the need to protect heritage and demanded a proper assessment before going ahead with the plan.

A senior DDA official said a public hearing will be held in this regard before finalising the change in land use. “We have received nearly 400 suggestions/objections regarding the land use change, but close to 80% are repetitions. A majority of it stresses on the burden on public facilities due to the land use change. These issues will be addressed in the board of inquiry (public hearing),” senior DDA official, aware of the development, said. Last December, the land-owning agency had approved the proposal to change the land use of 101 acres — stretching from near South Block to the Prime Minister’s residence— from recreational to residential, for the Central Vista redevelopment project.

LokPATH (people for Appropriate Transformation of Habitat), a collective of urban development experts, which was formed recently, has flagged the lack of transparency in the process of land use change. DDA’s public notice, which was issued in December, regarding land use change doesn’t mention anything about the Central Vista project, it said. Anuj Srivastava, spokesperson of LokPATH, said, “There is no official information about the project in public domain. There is no clarity on what is proposed and what impact it will have on the traffic situation and the environment. The DDA or the government should have put out the detailed plan in public domain for discussion and review.” The Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA) has called the project an “inappropriate planning decision”. “The proposed reduction of as much as 80 acres of area available both directly and indirectly to the general public, transport and parking etc. in this area is an inappropriate planning decision…It seems likely that the majestic trees on these 80 acres will be lost as part of the redevelopment proposal.

Compensatory planting will not provide a suitable alternative here,” Sujata Kohli, honorary president, ISOLA, wrote. Many have questioned the need for the project and said it contradicts the provisions of the Master Plan of Delhi 2021. Save Our City campaign, which is run by a group of residents’ welfare associations, activists and non-government organisations, has written to the DDA citing the provisions of the master plan (which was prepared by the DDA). Objecting to the land use change, members of Save Our city campaign wrote, “As per the National Capital Region plan, no new central government and public sector undertaking offices should be located in the national capital. The DDA, as per its Act, is under the obligation to conduct a civic survey…It (DDA) is in the habit of changing the MPD in violation of all laws of the land and is hell-bent on killing the capital city.” Anil Sood, honorary president of Chetna NGO and member of Save Our City campaign, said a notice issued by the DDA doesn’t give details of “compensatory allocation of land for recreational/public/semi-public spaces”.

While the plan for the redevelopment yet to be finalised, people have questioned the need for such a project, especially at a time when the focus is on Digital India. “The expansion of physical infrastructure in central Delhi for government offices is not acceptable as it is against the Digital India plan of the Centre. When technology is the way forward, it is beyond common understanding as to who these buildings will cater to,” Gaurav Gambhir, advocate who runs ‘Let’s save Delhi campaign’, said. Heritage experts say there is a need to do a detailed assessment to see the impact the new infrastructure will have on the heritage character of the area. “A proper assessment needs to be done of the heritage character to ascertain the impact any kind of modification will have.

The intersection between Rajpath and Janpath — consisting of the IGNCA, National Archives and National Museum— has for a long time been viewed as the city’s cultural hub. To change the function of these plots will affect the heritage character of this place,” Swapna Liddle, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) (Delhi chapter), said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/dda-receives-400-objections-to-central-vista-redevelopment-plan/story-vfzXhd3uc6cYHeGDotoQsO.html, January 20, 2020

While today we enjoy surplus production, a variety of local, national and international food in more than 200 restaurants across the city, and a move towards organic farming, it is worthwhile to go back in history to learn how our town and region suffered from severe famines during the British period in the late 19th century. A significant chapter in the history of Gurgaon and Haryana is the First War of Independence of 1857. The British wrote off the entire region as a ‘rebellion zone’, which needed to be monitored, controlled and subjugated. As a result, they merged Haryana with Punjab, a region that remained loyal to the British. Haryana was further denied a number of initial advantages that the British government offered Punjab. The British administration ruthlessly exploited Haryana’s agricultural produce by implementing revenue settlements, which were predominantly based on village communities. The people were poor and indebted. They did not have any purchasing power and, therefore, suffered starvation.

The first repercussion of this change came in 1860. The year 1860 was marked by a terrible famine when the monsoons completely failed. Gurgaon was one of the most severely affected districts, apart from Rohtak, Hissar, Sirsa, Ambala, Karnal, Delhi and Panipat. In addition to districts under the British Government, native states, such as Dadri, Loharu, Jind and Mahendergarh, were also affected by the famine. In the Gurgaon district, the misery of the people was said to be the most significant. The district remained disturbed during the mutiny due to its vicinity to Delhi and its complete occupation by the mutineer troops.

The effects of the famine is recorded in the following words of Baird Smith: “In Southern Delhi and Gurgaon, the country between Kutub Minar and Station of Gurgaon had been repeatedly marched over by me in all directions during the ordinary seasons, and the contrast was truly startling every fifteen or twenty miles of country, where I had been accustomed to see wide expenses of grain chiefly, but also of wheat and barley growing with excellent promise; there was not a blade of green produce to be seen(sic).” The total area under cultivation in the Gurgaon district was nearly 150,000 acres. The number of people who were dependent on the produce of this land was about 650,000. It was estimated that a large number of men and cattle died during this famine. About eight years after the famine of 1860-61, another famine called ‘Pachisa’ struck Gurgaon and its surrounding regions in 1868-70. However, this time, the districts of Gurgaon and Delhi were relatively less affected. The next famine was recorded in 1877-78 that severely affected the districts of Ambala, Gurgaon, Karnal, Delhi, Hissar, Sirsa and Rohtak.

Although cattle mortality records are available, no data on the deaths of the human population is recorded. In the district of Gurgaon, the calamity was quite severe this time, although it was more confined to the Nuh and Punahana tehsils. The district suffered greatly from the scarcity of fodder. The deputy commissioner of Gurgaon noted, “He visited portions of the Gurgaon and Rewari tahsils. In parts of the Hathin and Punahana Parganas, the people appeared to be badly off, and a good many Meos had left their homes in search of work. Fodder was very scarce, and the people had used up most of Kikar and Raungh.” It should be noted that the famine of 1896-97 was not so much due to any actual failure of the crops as it was due to the condition of grain markets all over India. For months together, the prices of food grains remained extremely high.

This was the time when people even started using available wild products as food. Extensive British official reports are available on these famines, and it may be possible to find some archival images too upon further research. We need to be aware of the historical catastrophes of our region and ensure that our current agricultural practices and food habits are sustainable in nature. (Shikha Jain is state convenor, INTACH Haryana Chapter and member of Heritage Committees under ministries of culture and HRD.

She is co-­editor of book ‘Haryana: Cultural Heritage Guide’; director, DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation.)

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/learn-from-famines-in-during-the-raj-to-keep-gurugram-sustainable/story-SWKQxwglpYL0Na8OwRWOYJ.html, January 20, 2020

If you ever drive through Gujarat, you will not miss the tall tower-like structures buzzing with birds — largely pigeons, but also sparrows and parakeets. You find them at the entrance to almost every cluster of homes, or pol; and they are adorned with intricate jaali work. These are bird feeders or bird shelters — chabutros as they are called here — and are an intrinsic part of Gujarat’s culture and architectural heritage, something that reflects a generous tradition of co-existence between man and nature.

The saint and the grocer
One of the earliest examples of bird-shelters on buildings and cave walls is at the rock-cut stepwell at Uparkot, the Junagadh fort. “It is believed to date back to the 2nd century B.C. caves there,” says Ashish Trambadia, director of the World Heritage City Trust, Ahmedabad. The walled city of Ahmedebad has at least 120 chabutros, many of which have now been restored. Some of the most striking ones, with the most exquisite designs, are carved in wood. The Karanj chabutro — one of the oldest in Ahmedabad— is one such. The story goes that about 140 years ago, a saint was travelling from Dakor to Dwarka, when he felt very thirsty.

He stopped at Karanj (near Ahmedabad), near theBhadra Fort gate. The saint noticed that there were very few trees around, and wished there was a chabutro where birds would come, feed, and rest. A local grocer, Bapalal Modi, heard the saint and decided to build a chabutro before the saint returned. The Karanj Chabutro is a wooden structure with copper cladding at the top, and it was restored not too long ago. The whole structure is intricately designed, making it an exquisite piece of heritage.

Unused wood
But why wood? According to Trambadia, this was a time when towns in central Gujarat were the centre for wood imports. “Ahmedabad was known for its expertise in timber roofing joinery. It had the tradition of building many timber temples,” says Trambadia. “The timber work left behind several logs of unused wood that could be used for smaller structures. These became apt for bird shelters.” Timber also did not heat up fast — an important factor, considering the harsh summers in this area.

Shared responsibility
The design is simple — a central post and projecting brackets to support a platform. Several things were factored in while planning the chabutro. “It had to be a wide canopied platform that was high enough for the birds to be safe from predators like cats and dogs, but accessible enough for people to fill it with grain,” says Trambadia. Ahmedabad-based author and artist Esther David says that the chabutro’s height was planned such that birds of every size could access it with ease. “So even a peacock’s long train of feathers can hang out easily,” she says.

A number of old chabutros were also made of stone. These single-column, top-heavy structures with intricate work are architecturally impressive — and challenging to restore. David connects these structures with the Jain concept of jeev daya, the belief that every life is sacred and should be nurtured. Recalling the chabutro in her own ‘haveli-style’ home in the old city, the septuagenarian author says that it was built on the terrace of the house and surfaced with mosaic tiles.

The old city, she adds, had many such chabutros. Over time, they moved from the backyards or terraces of mansions to the centre of a neighbourhood. This also signified a shared responsibility.

Special place
“Chabutros were hardly meant to be just an iconic element of a building,” says Trambadia. “It was always a binding factor for a neighbourhood.” As a concept, bird-feeders are extremely relevant today, as many species become endangered in the face of urbanisation. In the U.K., research by the British Trust for Ornithology has found how garden feeders have helped the numbers of many bird species to be revived. In the Indian context, entomologist Bertrand Horne of the Corbett Foundation says that although bird-feeders do not necessarily help increase diversity, they do help increase the populations of birds — “particularly of sparrows and muniyas.” In today’s growing concrete jungles, chabutros have a special place.

Happily, in Ahmedabad, the municipal corporation has restored more than 20 old chabutros even as newer ones continue to be built — near roads, at junctions, in neighbourhoods — a sign that the belief in the coexistence of man and fauna still holds strong here. The writer is a Gujarat-based freelance journalist.

https://www.thehindu.com/society/where-the-pigeons-home-the-chabutros-of-ahmedabad/article30584871.ece, January 20, 2020

At least 250 kalyanis (temple tanks) across Karnataka will get a fresh lease of life with the Muzrai Department deciding to take up their rejuvenation. The decision, which was approved in the Karnataka Dharmika Parishath meeting on Tuesday, will go a long way in conserving these heritage structures, which are a quintessential part of many temples. The department will begin the work under a project named ‘Jalabhisheka’, as early as the next fortnight, according to officials.

Speaking to DH, Muzrai Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri said the department was looking at rejuvenation of kalyanis in ‘A’ and ‘B’ Grade temples. Temples that have revenue of more than Rs 25 lakh a year are categorised as ‘A’ Grade and those with more than Rs 10 lakh revenue as ‘B’ grade. “Some of the kalyanis have water, some are dilapidated and others require maintenance. For a few, we need to reconstruct the support wall,” the official further explained. Heritage enthusiast Sathya Prakash Varanashi hailed the move.

"It should be done in a sensitive manner with adequate study into it. While this is a great initiative, it would be more effective if the department conducted a consultative process involving the local community, government officials and experts. Organisations such as Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) could also be consulted for suggestions on how better to take the initiative forward,” he said. Water Conservation expert Vishwanath Srikantaiah added, “Kalyanis are linked to ground water and the department should give information about the same to the public. Relevant signage should be put everywhere in the interest of creating awareness.” R Vidyullatha, executive officer, Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, explained that many temples still followed the tradition of using the kalyani water for pujas. “Hence, it is important to keep it clean,” she said.

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/250-kalyanis-to-spring-to-life-under-jalabhisheka-796934.html, January 21, 2020

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to discuss the preparation of nomination dossier for listing of Mughal gardens on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The meeting was attended by Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Muneer-ul-Islam; Deputy Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Mushtaq Ahmed Beigh; Conservation Architect & Historic Building consultant, Abha Narain Lambah and Executive Director Knight Frank, Deben Moza. Abha Narain Lambah is the project consultant for the preparation of nomination dossier.

During the first meeting on the subject, threadbare discussions were held on various aspects that need to be looked into while preparing dossier. Project consultant, Abha Narain Lambah gave a detailed presentation regarding how to prepare a nomination dossier.She informed the meeting that among 38 World Heritage Sites located in India, J&K has no such site in UNESCO’s list. To be included in the World Heritage list, she said, the sites must be of outstanding universal value and should meet the selection criteria. She further said that she is hopeful about listing of J&K’s Mughals gardens as World Heritage Site given their rich natural and cultural heritage. The Div Com assured that all the necessary support will be provided by the divisional administration in this regard and directed the concerned departments to cooperate and provide necessary information for the formulation of the dossier.

https://indiaeducationdiary.in/listing-mughal-gardens-on-unescos-world-heritage-sites/, January 21, 2020

The state branch of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) organised the contests

A total of 106 students from 16 city schools participated in an essay writing and a painting competition on Mahatma Gandhi that ran simultaneously at Audrey House here on Wednesday. The state branch of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) organised the contests. “This is a part of a national-level competition that is being held at 300 centres across the country, including four in Jharkhand, not on the same day though,” said Amitava Ghosh, co-convener of Intach’s Jharkhand chapter.

In Jharkhand, these were being held in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh. “In Ranchi, we organised these competitions in association with the state art and culture department,” Ghosh said, adding that students of classes VII to IX were eligible for participating in both the competitions. Intach was organising these competitions on the occasion of 150 years of Gandhiji under guidance of its heritage, education and communication service division, Ghosh said. Those who took part in essay competition were asked to write a 750-word essay on either Gandhi’s contribution to Indian society or his contribution to heritage and culture.

Similarly, those participating in the painting competition had draw on either Gandhi’s association with Indian culture or any heritage site connected with him in their region, along with a suitable title given to the painting. “We will send the essays and paintings to Delhi where Intach will get those evaluated for selecting the winners both at regional and national level,” Ghosh said. The results, he said, would be announced by mid-February.

While all students taking part in the competitions will get participation certificates, winners of regional and national-level contests will also get trophies. "Ten national winners will also be taken on an educational trip to Delhi,” Ghosh said.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/essay-and-painting-contests-on-bapu/cid/1738753, January 22, 2020

Having spent Rs 15 crore over a span of five years, food street under the Urban Haat project is yet to become a reality in Amritsar. Launched in 2014 at an estimated cost of over Rs 9 crore, the project cost kept escalating each successive year. The prime site, that spans across 9.70 acres, is located less than 2 km from the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh.

Urban Haat was housed in the revamped 124-year-old colonial-era Victoria Jubilee Hospital in consultation with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage in 2015 to attract tourists to Amritsar’s cuisine at food street. The project was inaugurated by then Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in May 2016 amid fanfare during Amritsar Heritage Festival. However, barring some exhibitions, no commercial project took off. In the meantime, PUDA rented out shops that did not attract customers. Bakhtawar Singh, Chief Administrator, PUDA, said a portion of food street was leased out to a private firm for 30 years on October 4, 2018.

The firm, which was to deposit Rs 81 lakh annually with PUDA, was to start operations on March 31. Singh could not give reasons for failure of the food street project as he was not associated with it. He said now leading brands were being approached to set up eateries.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/rs-15-crore-and-five-years-later-amritsar-awaits-food-street-29737, January 22, 2020

The oval sealing that bears images of the queen and a conch, accompanied with some inscriptions in Brahmi letters, was found on top of a mega wall, now believed to be a part of a palace structure located in the capital city of the Vakataka dynasty. For the first time, a team of archaeologists has unearthed a sealing that dates back nearly 1,500 years and belonged to Prabhavatigupta, the queen of Vakataka king Rudrasena II, who ruled the kingdom from Nagardhan in Ramtek taluka, located about 50 km from Nagpur. The oval sealing that bears images of the queen and a conch, accompanied with some inscriptions in Brahmi letters, was found on top of a mega wall, now believed to be a part of a palace structure located in the capital city of the Vakataka dynasty. Elaborate excavations were carried out by researchers from the Department of Archaeology and Museums, government of Maharashtra, and Deccan College, Pune, during 2015 and 2018.

Remains from these excavations — performed by archaeologists Virag Sontakke, Abhijit Dandekar , Suken Shah, Shantanu Vaidya and Shrikant Ganvir — have offered newer insights into the Vakataka dynasty, which is credited to have created the world-renowned paintings in Ajanta caves. Scholars say that even though the Vakataka rulers were primarily Shaivites, these rulers had forged several matrimonial alliances with other dynasties. Of these, the most important alliance was stitched with Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of Emperor Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty, who were Vaishnavites. Guptas were more powerful rulers from north India than the Vakatakas, who ruled central India, said Virag Sontakke, assistant director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra“What we now understand is that Prabhavatigupta enjoyed significant power as a Vakataka ruler, and she became more powerful after ascending the throne post the sudden demise of her husband,” Sontakke told The Indian Express. This is because it was from this very site at Nagardhan, believed to be the capital of the Vakataka dynasty, where the queen issued seals.

The excavated sealing measured 35.71 mm by 24.20 mm, had a thickness of 9.50 mm and weighed 6.4 gm. “The text on the sealing is like an ode to the Gupta lineage and mentions names of Prabhavatigupta’s father Chandragupta II and her grandfather Samudragupta. The conch symbolises the close affiliation that the Guptas had to the Vaishnav sect of Hinduism,” the researchers said. The evidence also suggests that construction of many of the non-religious structures at Nagardhan could have started during the reign of Prabhavatigupta. Some of the temples dedicated and identified as Keval Narasimha , Rudra Narasimha and one dedicated to Varaha, could be traced to Ramtek and showcased strong affinity to Vishnu’s incarnations. However, none of these structures were present at the site till the queen’s rule that lasted for eight to 10 years, till her sons took over. On the powers that the queen enjoyed, Sontakke said, “Despite getting married into a Shaivite family, queen Prabhavatigupta was so powerful that she had the freedom to choose and worship a deity of her choice, in this case, Lord Vishnu. This is rare for those times. Besides, she also propagated Vaishnav practices and beliefs in Nagardhan.” The sealing also dates back to the time when more Vaishnav believers started settling in present-day Nagpur region.

The worship of Narasimha in Maharashtra must have started from Nagardhan and some of the temples found here date back to 1,500 years, said Sontakke. When asked what purpose the sealing served during the Vakataka dynasty, which ruled from the 3rd to the 5th Century CE, the researchers said, “The sealing could have been used on a document, giving the royal permission to carry out certain activities. This also indicates that the queen enjoyed a powerful position in the otherwise male-dominant rulers of the dynasty”.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/1500-year-old-sealing-unearthed-near-nagpur-reveals-power-of-vakataka-queen-6231089/, January 22, 2020

Started in 2015 to draw attention to conserve Pondicherry’s architectural legacy, the Pondicherry Heritage Festival (PHF), now in its sixth year, has expanded its scope beyond the city’s built heritage. Led by People for Pondicherry’s Heritage, INTACH and PondyCAN, along with the Puducherry Tourism Department and the French Institute, the emphasis of this year’s edition is on the preservation of Pondicherry’s natural resources, with attention to the spiritual, cultural and social aspects of the region.

The fete that starts this Saturday (and goes on till February 12), as always, promises a confluence of music, theatre, art, and architecture — all in the backdrop of diverse heritage. While the children’s events such as dance, poetry and other performing arts commenced earlier in January, the main body of the festival will kick off with a major theatrical event, Bharathi Yaar.

"The emphasis for this year’s festival will be on Pondicherry’s natural heritage, specifically its wetlands and waterbodies. And it’s wonderful to start the festival with the message that is Bharathiyar’s life and his creations. We need to imbibe it because it’s relevant even 100 years later. His poetry covers all aspects of life - especially his messages about the environment and emphasis on women’s rights are so strong that even today, we are far behind his thoughts,” shares Sunaina Mandeen, one of the organisers.

Directed by Chennai-based SB Creations’ BS Raman, the two-hour-long musical will portray key events in the life of poet extraordinaire Subramania Bharati, using theatre, recitation, dance (folk and classical) and videography. Conceived in 2018, the play features dialogues by 'Isaikavi' Ramanan, who also plays the titular role and music by Baradwaj Raman. “We have done extensive research on all possible literature available on Bharathiyar, including the biographies written by his foster daughter, his wife Chellamal and a multitude of others. All the dialogues are authentic and as reported in his biographies,” says Raman, son of veena artiste and filmmaker S Balachander.

Having done over 50 shows across India and abroad, Raman feels it’s a significant milestone for the production to be performing in Pondicherry. “It’s like Bharathiyar is returning to Pondy for the first time after his death. You will live with him through this play. For that we have recreated the time period, the history, background and the people who have lived with him,” says Raman, a full-time lawyer who’s been directing Tamil plays for over six years now. Featuring incidents from his life, where some of his major creative works came about, and the incidents that prompted him to write, Raman promises an experience where people will get to know the poet as he really was.

Set in places such as Kashi where he did his education, Kadayam where he got married, Chennai where he worked as a journalist and Pondicherry where he fled to avoid arrest, the play follows Bharathiyar’s life events in its order. Having introduced innovative presentation methods such as LED screens for backdrops and intuitive lighting (by B Charles of Chennai Art Theatre), Raman believes that the production is responsible for the rejuvenation of interest in Tamil theatre itself. “It’s not a social drama, political satire, or a farce. It’s a very intense play that will keep everyone enthralled.

The costumes and the set design and all done accordingly,” says Raman who adds that there are over 32 members in the cast and crew of this production. On Saturday, 6 pm at Gandhi Thidal, Puducherry & on Sunday, 6 pm, Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Auroville. Do not miss

Jan 27 - Music by Adishakti at Mantra
Jan 29 - Odissi by Rekha Tandon at French Institut of Pondicherry
Feb 1 - Wetlands photo exhibition at the French Institute of Pondicherry
Feb 2 - Cycle Tour of Pondy’s waterbodies

Feb 5 - Hindustani Classical sarod recital by Giridhar Murthy
— Fathima Ashraf
[email protected]
@fathiimaashraf

https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/theatre/2020/jan/24/6th-edition-of-pondicherry-heritage-festival-to-start-with-tamil-bio-play-bharathi-yaar-21686.html, January 23, 2020

TMREIS took up restoration work of library that was shut since ’93. The Sir Nizamat Jung Memorial Library in Narayanguda, that has been shut for around two decades, will be thrown open to the public soon. The library was closed since 1993, perhaps a little later, according to locals.

It was completely forgotten until Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) took the library on lease from Telangana State Waqf Board and initiated the restoration works from June 2018. TMREIS will soon officially inaugurate ‘The House of Wisdom’ or Nizamat Jung Memorial Library. Since the library was closed for almost two decades, many books had fallen prey to termites. “Thankfully, 90 per cent of the books have been restored,” said Mohammed Azam, conservator of the library. There are over 10,000 hardcover, leatherbound, and cloth-bound books in this library that are arranged in wooden and aluminium racks. The collection includes volumes of poetry and history of everything that happened before the 1950s. “The library is still closed for the public. Outsiders are not allowed to read the books until every book is catalogued.

Readers need to wait for the official inaugural,” said Azam. According to the stone foundation laid outside the building, the memorial library was inaugurated by the then President of India, Zakir Hussain, in 1967. “Nizamat Jung had collected a large number of books for his knowledge and reference. He was a poet who loved history, culture, and education,” said Anuradha Reddy, convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Nizamat Jung Bahadur studied Law from the Cambridge University and served as a judge in Parbhani court in Nanded besides Chief Justice of Hyderabad Deccan High Court. The cornerstone says Nizamat Jung Bahadur was a “Poet and Statesman."

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2020/jan/24/hyderabads-nizamat-jung-library-to-re-open-after-2-decades-2093773.html, January 23, 2020

The Walled City of Jaipur, which was accorded the UNESCO World Heritage tag in 2019, will be the overriding theme of the Rajasthan tableau that will depict the Pink City's architectural grandeur. The Walled City of Jaipur and Gujarat's iconic stepwell in Patan, both UNESCO world heritage, and the 550th anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev will be thematically showcased among the host of tableaux in the Republic Day Parade this year, officials said on Wednesday.

Jammu & Kashmir will participate in the parade for the first time as a union territory. Out of the total 22 tableaux, 16 will be of various states and UTs and six of ministries, departments and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). They were unveiled at an event held at the Delhi Cantonment on Wednesday. Northeastern states will be represented by Assam and Meghalaya. The Walled City of Jaipur, which was accorded the UNESCO World Heritage tag in 2019, will be the overriding theme of the Rajasthan tableau that will depict the Pink City's architectural grandeur and the state's vibrant culture reflected in its folk songs and dances. The year 2019 was the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and this will be theme of the Punjab's tableau in the parade.

Sikhism's architectural and cultural heritage will be portrayed in its tableau, with messages 'Kirat Karo', 'Naam Japo' and 'Vand Chhako', which form the cornerstone of Sikhism, depicted in panels. Gujarat's architectural wonder Rani Ki Vav will be the centrepiece of the state's tableau, complemented with folk culture and dances performed by artistes. Rani Ki Vav or Queen's Stepwell initially built by Rani Udayamati as a memorial to her husband King Bhimdev I in the 11th century in Patan district of the state was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. The majestic architecture of the stepwell will be showcased in the tableau that will be fronted by a statue of a village woman wearing Patola saree of Patan. The Jammu & Kashmir tableau showcases the rich sartorial and cultural heritage of the region with a shawl weaver being depicted in the front. The flora and fauna will be shown in the middle complemented with the Dogra and Kashmiri folk culture. Other states which will take part in the grand parade are Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. The Defence Ministry had received 32 tableau proposals from states and union territories and 24 from central ministries and departments.

Besides, the three wings of the armed forces -- Army, Air Force and Navy -- will have their own tableaux, officials said. On West Bengal government's proposal for a tableau being rejected, a senior defence ministry official on Wednesday said, "It was all merit-based and those tableau which were rejected by the committee were after some shortcomings found by the panel". An Expert Committee had examined it in two rounds of meeting.

The proposals are evaluated by the Expert Committee comprising eminent persons in the fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, among others, the ministry had earlier said. The Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations, it said.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/guru-nanaks-550th-world-heritage-jaipur-city-and-gujarats-stepwell-among-republic-day-tableaux-2469141.html, January 23, 2020

After a group of researchers found some figures on a rock at Jeevapani, near Pattherkot on the Almora-Daulaghat highway, a team of the state archaeology department visited the spot and found ancient rock paintings at two locations. Archaeologists are thrilled with the discovery of prehistoric rock paintings at two places near Almora. After a group of researchers found some figures on a rock at Jeevapani, near Pattherkot on the Almora-Daulaghat highway, a team of the state archaeology department visited the spot and found ancient rock paintings at two locations. The discovered artwork was near the entrance of a cave.

This hints that the art was made in ancient time by some cave dwellers. Only red/maroon colour was applied. CS Chauhan, in-charge of regional archaeology unit, says, “After a team of researchers informed us about finding some rock paintings at Jeevapani, I visited there and explored the area. We managed to find another rock with paintings there."

The paintings show a group of people on one rock and in other location shows a group of people with a snake. The artwork has faded by facing harsh weather and other challenging conditions in the open. Though the rocks are located near the Pattherkot village, the artwork never attracted the attention of the local residents. The artwork discovered is similar to rock paintings of Lakhudiyar in Almora. There are about half a dozen sited in Almora where rock paintings prevail. The new find has added two more rock paintings locations in the map of Almora. The state archaeology department is all set to conduct a scientific study of the paintings.

https://www.thestatesman.com/india/prehistoric-rock-paintings-found-near-almora-1502848632.html, January 24, 2020

A senior journalist Pasham Yadagiri, president of Hyderabad Zindabd NGO challenged the constitutional validity of Telangana Heritage Act, 2017. The case was presented before the bench of Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Justice R Subhash Reddy. Justice Reddy, who hails from Telangana recused himself from the case. In 2017, KCR’s Government wanted to demolish the 150-year old building to construct a new State Legislative Assembly and argued that Errum Manzil was not a heritage structure as per the Telangana Heritage Act, 2017.

It went to the extent of deleting the Regulation 13 for the purpose of demolition. Errum Manzil is covered under the Zoning Regulation 13 which gives special reservation to heritage buildings and heritage precincts. In September 2019, on the petition of Pasham Yadgiri and others, the division bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh and Justice Shameem Akhter rejected the state cabinet’s decision to demolish the structure and agreed that the Errum Manzil is a heritage site and needs to be protected. A three-member team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) inspected the structure and declared “the Errum Manzil building is structurally sound in sub-structure and in super structure . . . The condition of the building is a mere result of negligence . . . It requires minor attention in some places due to improper repair and maintenance which led to deterioration of the structural and non-structural elements at few places.” Errum Manzil was a palace built in 1870 by Nawab Safdaar Jung Musheer-ud-daula Fakhrul Mulk- a noble man of princely state of Hyderabad.

Built in Indo-European Baroque style, the palace is situated on a hillock in-between Khairatabad and Punjagutta just behind the Errum Manzil Metro station. With over 150 rooms with French furniture, the palace was used for grand events and royal banquets. Now, the palace hosts Government office, and tourists are not allowed to visit this marvelous palace.

https://www.siasat.com/errum-manzil-controversy-1804525/, January 25, 2020

It is finally good news for the survival of the heritage Esplanade Mansion. An expert panel appointed by the Bombay high court has in two separate reports recommended its repairs and restoration, not its razing. The iconic multi storied building, formerly the Watsons Esplanade Hotel, is the oldest surviving cast iron building in India.

It was constructed between 1867- 69. At present, its stands desolate, its tenants all having vacated after it was declared “dangerous’’ by the state housing board. The expert panel appointed to study the feasibility of restoration submitted the reports before a bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and B P Colabawalla on Monday. The court is hearing a bunch of matters including one filed by Sadik Ali the owner for its restoration. Renowned restoration structural engineer Chetan Raikar, credited with restoration of CSMT submitted one report while heritage conservation architects Pankaj Joshi and Abha Lamba jointly submitted the other, who recommended that the restored building could be re-used as “public space’’ and be an “asset to the city.’’

Both reports factored in the heritage and the history of the buiding. Raikar concluded that the “Esplanade Mansion needs urgent repairs and strengthening of structural members to ensure stability." He added, “Majority members need repairs and few need restoration." He said, “Esplanade Mansion is an iconic structure with significant local history.

It is a marvel of engineering creation.’’ The joint report by Joshi and Lambah concurred that the structure needs and is possible to be conserved. They said, “We as conservation professionals strongly believe that it is both necessary and possible to restore this historic building, given its immense architectural and historic importance and its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.’’ They said, “Its structural grid of cast iron columns is largely robust’’ and recommended a well planned conservation scheme for restoration.

A report submitted by IIT Mumbai in 2019 had recommended demolition of the building. Noted structural engineer Shirish Patel had been critical of the IIT report and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), had also filed petition to support owner’s stand that the building be repaired, but through state machinery. Advocate Cherag Balsara who appears for the building owner questioned the of locus standi (the right to be heard in the matter) of INTACH—which also is supporting the restoration but through state machinery.

HC said it would consider the submission later and gave a week’s time to the parties including the owner and Maharashtra Housing and Area development Authirty (MHADA) to respond to the reports after studying them. Counsel for INTACH Karl Tamboly handed over the joint report as Joshi and Lambah were not in court while Raikar was present in court and handed over his report himself to the court.

“We find there is sufficient potential to repair, restore and protect this culturally significant building,’’ said the joint report but called for a “detailedstructural assessment before undertaking repairs.’’ All three had done extensive site inspections and analysis. Raikar carried out several tests too including the ‘non-destructive and laboratory testing’ and tests for ‘microstructure and hardness’ test before declaring the structure fit for restoration. He said, “external balconies would need total reconstruction since they are in advanced stages of structural damage or have collapsed.’’ And he said “some cast iron brackets and “secondary beams” need strengthened and he was confident that the new and improved building would then have “a future service life of 50 years with regular maintenance.’’ Both reporst spoke of “structural distress’’ of some portions but found them to be “stable’’ and repairable. The joint report said found “ad-hoc loading on the structure’’ and said once removed, it will indicate “original features of the building’’ and give a “more accurate picture of condition.’’ Their report disagrees with an earlier report by experts that called for demolition.

“Though the earlier structural audit report deems building be demolished, and considers it illogical for repair, our inspection…suggestions that there is an overarching opportunity to conserve, repair and restore the building. “Its restoration and economic viability would be largely superceded by its relevance to Mumbai, and India in iterms of architectural merit, unique construction value, historical, social and biographical values’’ said the joint report before adding that “architectural and structural viability and not just economic viablity’’ were “key considerations’’ in deciding the fate of the building. The repair board of Maharashtra and Area Development Authority (MHADA) had sought eviction of all tenants as the building is “dilapidated and dangerous” and all were evicted. The building had been marked as “most dangerous’’ for the fourth consecutive years by the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB) during its pre-monsoon survey in 2018.

QUOTES
The restoration should be supported by a special purpose vehicle to create a corpus and its long term maintenance in future. The building with over 90,000 sq ft of usable space after restoration and adaptive re-use could offer thecity’s Kala Ghoda area a realm of opportunities as public space open to al. This makes it worth the cost of repair.—conservation architects Pankaj Joshi

and Abha Lambah
The usage would depend on the person who spends for the restoration. The owner has committed in court that he is willing to invest in the well being of the structure. The cost of restoration is a tricky task and would depend on detailed data and further study of beam-columns, and factors electrification, plumbing, elevators, windows, doors, replacing of RCC slans with wooden flooring as original, toughened glass for central courtyard.

Since no architectural usage is finalized after restoration, it limits working out the cost

---Heritage committee member and structural engineer Chetan Raikar

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-conservation-experts-recommend-restoration-of-esplanade-mansion-submit-reports-in-bombay-hc/articleshow/73674282.cms, January 27, 2020

Apart from the sector road that runs on two sides, the Badshahpur baoli is surrounded on the other two sides by boundary walls - one of a private resident, and the other of a government school. Adjoining Gurgaon’s Sohna road, beyond the main market of Badshahpur village, runs a sector road that was set to be the cause of certain death for a baoli (stepwell) in the area two years ago. After historians raised concerns regarding its endangerment, the structure was saved in January 2018, with officials choosing to realign the plan so that the road would run alongside the baoli. Later on January 23, 2018, Haryana Department of Archaeology claimed it would take over the structure and “restore it to its original glory”.

Two years later, however, while the area around the baoli has been transformed with heavy flow of vehicles through the day, the structure itself has remained the same – abandoned and neglected. With construction and demolition waste as well as other garbage dumped all around its boundary, and vegetation that has grown through the stagnant water that lay at the base two years ago, covering two floors of the three storey structure, it is now virtually impossible to even spot the baoli as one passes through the area. Apart from the sector road that runs on two sides, the Badshahpur baoli is surrounded on the other two sides by boundary walls – one of a private resident, and the other of a government school. This was not always so, said Ved Prakash Mangla, a resident of Badshahpur, and the grandson of Mohanlal Mangla who constructed the baoli in 1905.

At the time, Mangla said, it worked as a catchment area for water and was used for bathing, washing clothes, and as drinking water for animals. “Around 25 years ago, however, the water dried out, because of which the baoli fell out of use.Even then though, it was well maintained. We had built a boundary wall around it, because of which trespassers could not enter and nobody could misuse it,” said Mangla. In 2012, however, the structure was handed over to the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) for construction of the sector road, in exchange for which Mangla received a compensation of around Rs 16 lakh. “Sometime after that the boundary wall was broken down and the baoli started being used as a dumping ground. Although the construction of the road did not require its demolition or removal, it has not been looked after since then,” said Mangla. “We would definitely like it to be restored and maintained. Maybe it could be turned into a picnic spot,” he said. Atul Dev, the convener of the Gurgaon Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) also emphasised the need to restore the baoli as an architectural example of its time and to showcase “how people lived 100 years ago”. “Ideally, if the baoli could be restored, there would be nothing like it.

We may not be able to fill it up with water as we did before because the catchment area has been completely filled up, but if we restore it to some extent, it is a beautiful example of construction activity that was done 100 years ago. It is a chance for great learning and understanding how people lived in Badshahpur itself 100 years ago,” he said. With different authorities passing the buck when it comes to restoration of the baoli, there is little hope for any change in its situation. While officials from the Department of Archaeology claimed the baoli was caught up in an ownership dispute, officials from the district administration said the structure was not directly under them, and those from Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran said maintenance was not their responsibility. “The case is sub judice. There is some issue of ownership within the family, so we cannot take it over for restoration. We had visited the site last year to begin the work but could not undertake anything because we found there was an ownership dispute,” said Banani Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director of the Department of Archeology and Museums, Haryana. Ved Prakash Mangla, when questioned about this, denied that there was any dispute in court over the baoli. Officials from HSVP also confirmed the land was owned by them, with a senior official saying, “The baoli was under the names of a few individuals as per revenue records. The land has been acquired and they have been given compensation. The baoli is owned by HSVP but maintenance is not our responsibility since this is a private property that has been acquired.”

The Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon, Amit Khatri, meanwhile, said, “There is no monument that comes as such under the district administration. It is either under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or state archaeology department. But that is not to say we do not have any stakes. We will certainly follow up and are very keen for it to be preserved and showcased for the people as a historical monument. We will try to take it up with the department concerned."

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/gurgaon-saved-from-destruction-baoli-now-lies-abandoned-neglected-6237013/, January 27, 2020

In a piece of good news for the survival of Esplanade Mansion, a heritage building at Kalaghoda, an expert panel appointed by the Bombay high court has recommended repairs and restoration, not demolition. The recommendations have come in two separate reports. Last year, an IIT Bombay report had suggested demolition. But restoration won’t be cheap, with two of the experts putting an estimate of around Rs 100 crore. The work, if done, can take three years, and will increase the building’s life by 50 years, said a third expert.

The 150-year-old structure is the oldest surviving cast iron building in India and is a rarity even abroad. Constructed as Watson’s Esplanade Hotel, its guests included Mark Twain and Tagore. Today, after decades of neglect and incidents like parts faling off, even its last use as a mundane commercialcumresidential building has ceased, after all tenants were made to leave as the structure was declared dangerous by the state housing board. The HC-appointed panel, appointed in December 2019 to study the feasibility of Esplanade Mansion’s restoration, submitted its two reports to a bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and B P Colabawalla on Monday. The court is hearing a bunch of matters, including one by the building’s current owner, Sadik Ali, for its restoration. Conservation engineer Chetan Raikar, credited with CSMT’s restoration, submitted one report while heritage conservation architects Pankaj Joshi and Abha Lambah submitted the other, recommending restoration of the structure to its original glory, with wooden floors, a Victorian atrium and toughened glass.

Lambah and Joshi recommended that the restored building could be reused as a public space. It could be an asset to the city and try for inclusion in the World Heritage List, they said. Raikar, who conducted several on-site and lab tests, said, “Esplanade is not fully stable… due to excessive loading of additional slabs and mezzanine floors” and concluded that it “needs urgent repairs and strengthening of structural members to ensure stability”. “Esplanade... is a marvel of engineering creation,” he said. “Its structural grid of cast iron columns is largely robust,” concluded Joshi and Lambah. But what would be the cost of restoration? That is “tricky” said Raikar. “It would depend on further study of beam-columns, and factors like electrification, plumbing, elevators... Since no architectural use is finalized after restoration, it limits working out the cost,’’ he concluded. The other two experts estimated the cost at Rs 98 crore for the cast iron and superstructure conservation, besides additional costs, including consultation fees. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) supports restoration and had filed a separate plea in the HC. On Monday, the bench gave Esplanade’s owner, the state housing authority and others a week to respond to the panel reports.

Raikar was present in court. Joshi and Lambah disagreed with the IIT experts who recommended demolition. “(Contrary to the IIT audit report) we find there is sufficient potential to repair, restore and protect this culturally significant building,” said their report, which though called for a “detailed structural assessment before undertaking repairs”.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/esplanade-mansion-can-be-restored-will-cost-rs-100-crore-for-50-year-lease-of-life-bombay-high-court-told/articleshow/73685381.cms, January 28, 2020

As a first step for Puducherry, a former French colony to get the coveted UNESCO World Heritage City tag, the government has set in motion the process for preparing an exhaustive dossier for the title. According to a top official, "a team from the Department of Town and Country Planning and Local Administration Department visited Ahmedabad recently to study the Ahmedabad model and to understand how it was nominated as a World Heritage City.

The government has to list all heritage buildings and submit a plan to UNESCO on how the heritage area should be protected to kick start the nomination process.” The preparation of the dossier is a major exercise and to be included in the World Heritage List, the sites must be of outstanding universal value and must meet at least one of the 10 selection criteria set by UNESCO. A workshop in this connection will be held on February 8 and experts from Ahmedabad, Dr. Rabindra Vasavada, architect and former head UNESCO World Heritage City Nomination Dossier Project and Dr. Saswat Bandyopadhyay, Professor, faculty of Planning, CEPT University will also participate.

The Town Planning Department will organise the meet. “Puducherry has already taken a leap for achieving the status by reaching three milestones in the initiative. The government has already notified a heritage regulation to protect heritage sites and heritage precincts. It has also constituted the State Level Heritage Conservation Committee with members from the government and domain experts while the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has prepared the complete list of heritage buildings in the boulevard town, which is being vetted by the government,” said Ashok Panda, co-convenor of INTACH. The Vysial Street restoration project, carried out by the government of Puducherry and INTACH under the Asia Urbs Programme in 2002-2004, was a unique project, which was given the UNESCO award in 2009. The Vysial Street restoration is a good example of how cities can get incentives for their conservation. The project covered urban greening, restoration of private heritage buildings under "matching grant" scheme and restoration of Vysial Street stretch between M.G. Road and Mission Street. The list of buildings has to be put out in public domain and individuals and institutions can give their suggestions and feedback within 30 days.

After the feedback, the committee, in consultation with the government, will notify the final list of heritage buildings in Puducherry. Once notified, along with the heritage precinct, the buildings will be protected and conserved. Any alteration or changes in these buildings or precincts can be done only with the approval of the committee.

Mr. Panda pointed out that nomination by UNESCO will put Puducherry on the international map. Puducherry will have to plan urban developments as per UNESCO guidelines. Traffic and pollution will be monitored ensuring a cleaner and beautiful heritage city. However, any urban development in violation of the guidelines will de-list Puducherry, he added.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/puducherry-starts-preparing-dossier-for-world-heritage-city-tag/article30673604.ece, January 28, 2020

An expert panel appointed by the Bombay High Court has suggested repair works and restoration of the iconic Esplanade Mansion (previously Watson’s Esplanade Hotel) in Kalaghoda. A report from IIT-Bombay last year had recommended the demolition of the iconic building. However, the panel recommendation has brought reprieve to fans of this historic hotel.

It is estimated that repair works will cost up to Rs 100 crore, which will reportedly extend the building’s life to an additional 50 years. An expert claimed that if the work was approved, it would take nearly three years to finish. Reports from early last year mentioned that renovation works on the Esplanade Mansion would begin by May 2019, but that date has come and gone. Built between 1867-69, this building was constructed out of cast-iron and is the oldest surviving building of this nature in India. Watson’s Esplanade Hotel wasn’t without its controversies, however. It is said that the great Jamsetji Tata decided to build the picturesque Taj Hotel in Mumbai after the staff at Watson’s denied him entry into the Esplanade on account of not being white. The cast-iron construction of the Esplanade reportedly made it naturally safe from earthquakes, even though standardized anti-earthquake building norms were not in place at the time.

Conservation engineer Chetan Raikar along with conservation architects Pankaj Joshi and Abha Lambah submitted two reports supporting the restoration of the Esplanade Mansion. The recommendations included the addition of a Victorian atrium, toughened glass, and wooden floor. Lambah and Joshi also said that this could help get the building into the World Heritage List, which will be a badge of honour for the city. The plan includes making this a place accessible to all, so we can expect something along the lines of a museum. Additionally, The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has filed a plea with the Bombay High Court supporting the restoration of this historic monument. Yesterday, the HC gave the State Housing Authority, the current owner of the property, as well as others a week to file a response to the panel reports.

https://www.mumbailive.com/en/infrastructure/bombay-hc-panel-recommends-restoration-of-iconic-esplanade-mansion-44706, January 29, 2020

The conflict in Kashmir has eclipsed many aspects of its syncretic culture, including its architectural tradition that goes back centuries and manifests itself in temples, stupas and mosques, but an ongoing exhibition hopes to remedy that in its own small way. The exhibition, titled "Sacred Architecture of Kashmir", provides material evidence through drawings, photographs and write-ups on the rich architectural heritage. Organised by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) - J&K Chapter, the exhibition at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe celebrates the genesis and synthesis of Islamic architecture in medieval Kashmir and the traditional inspirations that it draws on.

"The idea behind the exhibition is to reach out to the broader audience of scholars outside Jammu and Kashmir, to tell the story of the evolution of sacred architecture of Kashmir,” Saleem Beg, convener INTACH - J&K Chapter, told PTI. “This architecture has evolved with the synchronisation of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic architectural and spiritual elements and sacred spaces. However, not much work has been done so far in studying this continuity of traditions,” Beg said. The exhibition, from January 28 to February 4, also covers years of conservation and restoration projects by INTACH - J&K Chapter, providing a detailed context of every building in terms, drawings, photographs and text. Some representative cases covered in the exhibition are Srinagar''s 14th century Khanqah-i-Maulla, one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir, the Peer Dastageer Sahib Shrin and the Mosque of Madani. Beg noted that the continuity of the built form by succeeding faiths has been a way of appropriating the sacred space. “This provides a historical narrative away from textual readings, and preserves the unique identity of Kashmir,” he said. He said the ''khanqah'' of Shah-e-Hamadan, the 14th century Sufi saint from Iran, is one of the best representations of this syncretic continuity, drawing from Budhism, Hinduism and Islam. “The conflict that has engulfed Kashmir for almost three decades now, has also had a negative impact resulting in the loss of some major monuments/structures. “Further conflict has also impacted overall governance that has resulted in mismanagement of heritage sites,” he said. The story of evolution of Islamic architecture of medieval Kashmir is the story of harmonising the Islamic practice with the spiritual constitution of the historic Kashmiri subject, the organisers said. INTACH - J&K Chapter has documented and digitised most of the shrines, including temples, as part of the project on cultural resource mapping. One of these, the Dastgeer Saheb shrine, was completely gutted in 2012. “The exhibition also highlights some of the conservation and restoration works undertaken by INTACH J&K linked with these sacred architectural traditions,” Beg said. For example, the spire of Shah-e-Hamdan ''khanqah'' was destroyed by lightning in 2015. Based on this digitisation, INTACH was able to restore and recreate these shrines. Beg also noted that there is urgent need to build on these traditions and practices to enable society to retain the essence of its rich cultural past. This, he said, can be done by initiating a dialogue within and outside Kashmir with civil society and opinion makers. “The exhibits chosen are representative of the theme of exhibition as these shrines prominently carry the influences of past religious motifs, elements and sacred spaces,” Beg said. “In general, people are aware and respect the traditional architecture of Kashmir whether it be a part of secular or religious nature. “However, lack of focus on the architecture and its linkage with the identity of Kashmir has created situations where many a times these spaces have been intervened inappropriately,” he said. Beg also said INTACH has been able to persuade the state government to take legal and legislative measures for the protection of the region''s cultural heritage. This, he said, resulted in the enactment of the J&K Heritage Authority. “However we have to go a long way in ensuring that the legal protection granted under this law is enforced on ground,” he said. PTI SAR MIN MIN

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/delhi-exhibition-showcases-kashmirs-sacred-architectural-heritage/1720744, January 30, 2020

Magic of old objects at exhibition. Restored paintings, old teaching tools, a Remington typewriter, a Raj-era clock and a wooden thermometer were brought out, dusted and put on display at The Oriental Seminary school, where Rabindranath Tagore had once been a student.

The exhibition — Magic of My School - was part of a programme initiated by the state’s school education department and NGO Bichitra Pathshala. On display were boxes of a variety of seeds and a collection of minerals, fertilisers, nuts and cereals that had been used to teach students since the school’s inception by educator Gour Mohan Auddy in 1829. “These are priceless teaching tools that had been lying in our labs for years. We plan to restore and use them in future,” said Payal Dey, English teacher at the school and a member of the heritage club. An old Remington typewriter once used in the school office and a clock that had told time since the Raj were also part of the exhibition. “The clock is 100 years old.

Even I had seen it hanging from our library wall as a child. Now, it’s of no use but is a relic nevertheless,” Rohan Ram of Class X said. From century-old cutlery to a wooden thermometer, the school cupboards yielded a range of interesting artefacts. One table at the exhibition was dedicated to priceless volumes from the library, the oldest being a frayed-at-the-edges volume of Stories from Shakespeare published in 1821. Next to it stood a copy of the Oxford Advanced Atlas and Chaucer’s Complete Works, both published in the 19th century. A collection of pictures and photographs from the collection of former headmaster Rashbehari Ray also found pride of place. Among them was a rare picture of a stick-thin Buddha during his penance that Ray had collected from Sarnath. “Ray had over 300 postcard pictures and paintings collected from different states. He used them to teach children about different cultures and architecture around the country.

We hope to use them again to recreate similar interest,” said Chandika Prasad Ghosal, a English teacher of the school and the founder of the heritage club in 2016. The school’s heritage club is supported by Intach. Around six students of Class X helped restore a painting of Rabindranath Tagore, a former student of the school, dating back to 1979. The painting would hang in one of the corridors and had gathered dust and moisture over the years. The students used their zero hour to brush off the dust, rub the canvas with bread to soak in moisture, help teachers repaint the damaged portions, spray varnish and finally polish the wooden frames. They repeated the process with a painting of another ex-student, Swami Abhedananada, dating back to the 1950s. The restored artworks were proudly put on display.

The students also captured interesting nooks and crannies of the school on camera. They made a few short films on the heritage of Chitpore. “As I captured my school in stills, I fell in love with it again. I have been a student here since I was in primary classes. But there are many things that I had taken for granted, like the gold-plated symbol of our institution engraved at the entrance or the tulsi plant in front. It was a pleasure re-learning the history of our surroundings,” said Akash Kurmi of Class X.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/down-memory-lane-of-tagores-school/cid/1740679, January 30, 2020

Heritage enthusiasts in the city recently uncovered boxes of antiaircraft ammunition atop Daspalla Hills following land levelling work in the area. It is believed that the ammunition in the boxes dates to World War II, when Vizag was one of the major military bases on the Eastern Front. The city was targeted and bombed by the Japanese on April 6, 1942, due to its strategic importance as a supplier of ammunition for the Allies.

“By 1942, the Japanese juggernaut had steamrollered the British, occupied Burma and was moving into the north-east. At this juncture, the British and the Americans had turned Vizag into an ammunition and supply base to prevent further inroads by the Japanese. The Allies feared that Vizag would be targeted by the Japanese air force and had virtually turned the city into a fortress,” recalled 89-year-old DN Sinha, who was in the city during air raids by the Japanese.

Ammunition and other weaponry would be stocked on top of Daspalla Hills given its proximity to the coast, Sinha added. Edward Paul, member of the Visakhapatnam chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), said, “The boxes are clearly visible. Of course there are other ruins, which we believe once housed an ammunition depot. We need to consult the Navy to shed light on the matter.” Boxes of World War-era ammunition also dot the city coastline, said Paul.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/conservationists-stumble-upon-world-war-ii-era-ammunition/articleshow/73744869.cms, January 30, 2020

Tulasi Gowda, who is also known as the 'Encyclopedia of the forest', has a vast knowledge of diverse species plants and herbs and was also named as one of the recipients of the prestigious Padma Shri Award. The 72-year-old has nurtured more than 40,000 trees so far and still continues to nurture them and share her knowledge with the people to carry forward the message of environment protection.

According to reports, she belongs to the Honalli village in Karnataka and is from the Halakki tribe. Gowda has been working for Mother Nature for the past six decades. While speaking to a local media outlet, a local resident said that she was actively also involved in the afforestation programme conducted by the forest department after which her service was regularised and now her pension is her only source of livelihood. Even without a formal education, she knows the minutest detail of the sapling she has planted, the time it will take to grow, the amount of water required and the medicinal properties too. She has left no stone unturned top spread awareness among people about conservation of forests. Her economic status could also not deter her from pursuing what she felt was important as she has planted and nurtured thousands of trees over the past 60 years.

  According to a local media outlet, environmentalist Dr Yellappa Reddy has also acknowledged Gowda's contribution to environment conservation and called her concern towards nature 'extraordinary'. He further reportedly said that she knows how to treat rare ethnic varieties. She single-handedly also tackled poachers and stopped forest fires.

Reddy added that her contribution to the conservation of Western Ghat forest is 'immeasurable'. Padma Awards is one of the highest civilians honours of the country, conferred in three categories namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently also shared a video tribute to the 'heroes' who received the prestigious award.

https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/tulasi-gowda-the-encyclopedia-of-forest-recipient-of-padma-shri.html, January 30, 2020

A panel discussion was also held before the inauguration of the exhibition which brings spotlight on the genesis and synthesis of Islamic Architecture in medieval Kashmir. Initiating the panel discussion held on Tuesday, noted architecture expert and convenor of the INTACH’s J&K Chapter, Dr. Saleem Baig said underlined the fact that the sacred architecture of Kashmir was a continuation of spiritual traditions of the past represented through religious architecture. Dr Baig has noted that the story of evolution of Islamic architecture of medieval Kashmir is the story of harmonizing the Islamic practice with the spiritual constitution of the historic Kashmiri subject.

Stressing the need to look at the geography, oral and literary traditions beyond the political contestations, Dr Baig referred to Neelmat Purana, 7th century Sanskrit treatise and Raj Tarangni where Kashmir has been imagined as a sacred space created by divine intervention.

This philosophical setting laid out in these Sanskrit texts was carried forward in Persian by Muslim historians and poets in historic texts and literary works thus providing continuity in terms of sacredness described as Jannat-Paradise on earth, he added. Dr Baig also highlighted the central feature of Kashmir history that it has been the melting pot of cultural practices of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Echoing his observations, Dr. Sameer Hamadani also shed light on the integrated architectural practices among Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist’s sacred architecture in Kashmir. Dr Hamadani is attached with INTACH’s Kashmir Chapter.

Another panelist Professor Narayani Gupta, who teaches history, Gupta maintained that art and architecture was the expression of human creativity and it cannot be classified into divisions like Hindu architecture/Rajput architecture/Muslim architecture and so on. Ms. Gupta gave emphasis to the fact that in creative human enterprise such types of classifications did not exist. Putting forth his views on the subject, Mr. Ratish Nanda from Agha Khan Trust for Culture, has talked about the similarities in architectural expressions in mosques and temples is not a co-incidence and the expression of creativity is uniformly expressed in the monuments and the thought behind these buildings.

Dr.S.M.Akhtar, Head of Department of Architecture, Jamia Millia Islamia, said the architecture of buildings represents the milieu of that period. The panelists referred to the 14th century AD that marked a watershed in the history of Kashmir. The local traditions of art and architecture encompassed the whole landscape of Kashmir-synthesizing Hindu and Buddhist architecture and cultural mosaic, there by establishing the synthesis and continuity of cultural streams both living and past in Kashmir. In the lively debate, they also established a linkage with Buddhist and temple architecture of Kashmir by appropriation of symbols, spaces and elements in the Muslim shrines and mosques.

The panel discussion presided over by IIC President and former J&K governor, Mr. N.N.Vohra and it was moderated by eminent theatre personality and film maker, Mr. M K Raina. In his presidential remarks, Mr Vohra has appreciated the work being done by INTACH in preserving the cultural heritage of the country. He referred to his tenure in Kashmir when he witnessed the restoration and conservation of public spaces and religious monuments undertaken by INTACH. He emphasized the need for revisiting our understanding of history, mainly in the field of art and architecture and in doing so move away from the colonial interpretation of division of sacred narratives. Later on, the exhibition of drawings and descriptive pictures was inaugurated by INTACH chairman Retd. Major General LN Gupta in the gallery at IIC annexe.

The exhibition showcases the architectural drawings and photographs of the shrines that explain the architectural features and the processes at various historic shrines in Kashmir. This exhibition celebrates the genesis and synthesis of Islamic Architecture in medieval Kashmir. It covers years of conservation and restoration projects by INTACH Kashmir Chapter, providing a detailed context of every building in terms, drawings, photographs and text. Some of the representative cases covered in this exhibition is Khanqah- i- Maulla, Peer Dastageer Sahib Shrine, Mosque of Madani among others. Dr Saleem Baig has stated that the focus of the exhibition is to bring light the uniquely synthetic aspects of Kashmir’s Islamic Architecture, emphasizing the spiritual landscape of Kashmir as a melting pot of various religious and philosophical traditions. The creative synthesis is a material testament to the spiritual dynamics in the Valley of Kashmir, where the traditions of Kashmiri Shivaisim, Mahayana Buddhism were reinterpreted during the transitions of Kashmir.

The multi tiered pyramadical roof topped by a spire, is reminiscent of the pre-Islamic architectural skyline of Kashmir as are the various motifs incorporated into the building elements of our architectural enterprise. The unique exhibition will remain open till February. 4,2020.

https://theindianawaaz.com/exhibition-showcases-kashmirs-synthetic-sacred-architecture/, January 31, 2020

The Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI), in its central executive committee meeting held on Thursday in Kolkata, decided to initiate an international campaign for restoration of the ancestral houses of legendary filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen in Bangladesh.

FFSI has decided to bring the issue to the notice of the Ministry of Culture, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to FFSI, Ray’s ancestral house, at Mashua, Katiadi, Kishoreganj, about 115 kilometre north-east from Dhaka, is now in a dilapidated condition. Film activists of Dhaka have appealed to the government through the district administration for its immediate renovation and preservation. However, no action has as yet been taken. Ghatak’s ancestral house at Rajshahi is about 245 km north-west from Dhaka.

Ghatak spent his childhood and young age there, studied at Rajshahi College and had a deep bond with the river Padma that flows by. Ghatak’s family had to leave East Pakistan, and this house, in 1948. The property was leased out in 1987-88 by the government to a private homoeopathic college. Most of the old structures were demolished to make way for a new building. Recently another one of the old rooms was knocked down to build a bicycle stand. The film and cultural community of Rajshahi and Dhaka protested against this and human chains were formed in the two cities and also in Toronto in the last week of December in which many important filmmakers, film scholars, college and university teachers, students, and activists participated.

Eminent film personalities of Bangladesh like Tanvir Mokammel, Morshedul Islam, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bacchu, Shameem Akhtar, among others, signed a petition to the government to save the three homes. Sen’s ancestral house in Jhiltuli, Faridpur is about 130 km west from Dhaka. The house now belongs to a private owner. Many parts of the property have been demolished to build new structures. The original house, however, is still there and could be renovated and preserved.

FFSI is the apex body of the film society’s network of India and was founded in 1959 under the stewardship of Ray himself, who also happened to be the president of the first executive committee of the FFSI. FFSI is currently a member of the International Federation of Film Society (IFFS) that has its central office in Paris. Premendra Mazumder, vice president, FFSI, and the Asia Pacific secretary of the IFFS has been entrusted with the responsibility of taking up the issue at the international forum of IFFS.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/film-body-for-restoration-of-ancestral-houses-of-ray-ghatak-sen/article30707351.ece, January 31, 2020

In the year of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a discussion for college students is being organized by the Durg-Bhilai Chapter of the Indian National Art and Cultural Heritage Fund (INTACH) at 11 am on Thursday at Sai College, Sector-6, Bhilainagar. Here, famous writer and Gandhian thinker Kanak Tiwari will communicate with the students.

Famous litterateur Ravi Srivastava, satirist Vinod Sav, INTEC convenor Dr. DN Sharma, covalentist Vidya Gupta, principal Deshbandhu Tiwari will be present on the occasion.

https://www.bhaskar.com/chhattisgarh/bhilaidurg/news/chhattisgarh-news-discussion-in-bhilai-today-on-gandhi39s-death-anniversary-064610-6504286.html, January 31, 2020

The significance of wetland biodiversity was stressed recently by the global IPBES assessment which identified wetlands as the most threatened ecosystem. This impacts 40% of the world’s plant and animal species that live or breed in wetlands.

The World Heritage Convention works closely with other entities to protect the most important wetland systems in the world. Wetlands can be protected under different designations, whether by Ramsar, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme and others, and some of these overlap.

Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) represents 1.3% of Brazil's Pantanal region, one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (Austria, Hungary) is a unique example of people living in harmony with nature and a meeting place for different cultures for eight millennia. Forty-five percent of Sundarbans National Park (India) is wetland in the form of tidal rivers, creeks and canals and supports a wealth of biodiversity and animal species including the single largest population of tiger, and threatened aquatic mammals such as the Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins.

Wetlands are also vital feeding and breeding grounds for migratory birds. These flyways include World Heritage sites that are key stopover sites for birds, so the effective conservation of these sites is crucial for migratory bird conservation on a global scale. Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) is one of the most important zones in the world for nesting birds and Palearctic migratory waders.

Inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China) is another critical site for migratory birds. The intertidal areas of the Yellow Sea/Gulf of Bohai are of global importance for the gathering of many migratory bird species that use the East Asian-Australasian flyway.

Large gatherings of birds, including some of the world's most endangered species, depend on the coastline as a stopover to moult, rest, winter or nest. While World Heritage wetland sites are an important habitat for biodiversity, they are also threatened by pollution, climate change, dams and over exploitation. The World Heritage Centre is working towards addressing these issues, such as through the Okavango Delta (Botswana).

Okavango Delta was designated as a Ramsar site in 1996 and as a World Heritage site in 2014 due to its exceptional biodiversity and scenic values. Its Cubango-Okavango River basin is among the world’s last undisturbed river systems, but faces threats due to development pressure. The Delta is home to indigenous peoples and some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion. In 2019, the States Parties of Angola, Botswana and Namibia agreed on a roadmap to explore the boundary extension of the Okavango Delta World Heritage site to protect the river basin and the unique wetland system (a project funded by UNESCO/Flanders Funds-in-Trust cooperation of the Government of Flanders, Belgium).

This example illustrates how the World Heritage Convention can be a powerful tool to formalize international cooperation over shared heritage resources, and promote sustainable development by combining a global standard framework with the development of operational projects and concrete collaboration. Our work with the Ramsar Convention is another mechanism to protect wetlands. According to the World Heritage Review on Wetlands, more than 130 Ramsar sites are wholly or partially inscribed in 90 World Heritage properties. From 25 to 28 February 2020, upon the invitation of Spain, the World Heritage Centre will dispatch a Reactive Monitoring mission to Doñana National Park (Spain), conducted jointly with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention. Through the World Heritage Convention’s close cooperation between States Parties and the Ramsar Convention, we will continue to protect wetlands and their biodiversity as a vital task of humanity.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2081, January 31, 2020