Handing over pans of garbage to the next volunteer in the chain, maintaining social distancing, a group has been cleaning polluted river Yamuna’s tributary, Betwa, in Madhya Pradesh's’s Vidisha, for over 17 years now. The Covid-19 outbreak hasn’t come in the way of caring for the environment for one group of people in Madhya Pradesh. As they had been doing for the past 17 years now, members of Vidisha district’s Betwa Utthan Samiti continue to clean the filth from the Betwa river even amid the pandemic. What helps is that their manner of functioning has always involved social distancing.The group comprises around 30 members and collects the garbage from the river and puts them in pans.

The Samiti members say they clear hundreds of kilograms of garbage from the river every day. The garbage mainly consists of plastic wrappers, bottles, clothes, religious offerings and dead plants.These are the same banks sitting beside which Kalidasa, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist of Sanskrit, is said to have written two verses of his legendary poem- Meghaduta. Every morning, for a couple of hours, the members of the group come to the river’s ghats to provide their labour— they call it ‘Shram-Daan’, which translates to ‘donating labour’ — for cleaning the river. The group says it has been active for 365 days for the last 17 years.

The coronavirus lockdown also couldn’t break their streak as the city was in the green zone. The members include people from all walks of life, from young to elders, from policemen to teachers.Another unique aspect of this group is for all to see when an RSS swayamsevak hands over the garbage pan to a Muslim standing next to him. “Our group has set an example of religious harmony. Even in times of communal tension, the group does stop cleaning the river,” said Atul Shah, vice-president, Betwa Utthan Samiti. “Once Moharram and Dussehra occurred on the same day. Going by our daily routine, the members participated in ‘Shram-Daan’,” he added. A member, Sohail Ahmed Babloo, said, “We have been coming here for 10 years. Our only purpose is to help clean the river and do our bit for the environment.”GS Chouhan, District Seva Pramukh, RSS, said, “Our members have been closely involved with the group to clean the river.“ Members of Betwa Utthan Samiti plant trees on June 5, 2020, World Environment Day. The Samiti was founded by then collector of Vidisha, Sudha Chaudhary, on January 11, 2003. It is headed by the district collector. River Betwa rises in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh’s Vindhya Range, and flows about 600 km north to Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur, where it meets Yamuna.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhopal/world-environment-day-betwa-rivers-cleaning-6444057/, June 5, 2020

India is a country brimming with some of the most amazing natural sites that are recognised by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). On the occasion of World Environment Day, we have collated a list of all the Natural World Heritage Sites in India recognised by UNESCO. These sites have received the prestigious status because of their natural and scientific significance. Let's explore more about these natural sites in India.

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal is a biosphere reserve and a tiger reserve. Home to the renowned mangrove forests in India, the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Infact, it is also the world’s largest mangrove forest reserve. Not only this, the park is also home to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, Gangetic dolphin, and wild boars, among others. Another prominent attraction of the place is saltwater crocodile.

Western Ghats
Wester Ghats or the Sahyadri mountain ranges is counted among the world's biodiversity hotspots and is home to myriad wildlife sanctuaries and national parks (in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra). UNESCO declared the region a Natural World Heritage Site back in the year 2012. The mountain range lies along the western coast of the Indian Peninsula and the hills here are spread across 160000 sq km area. The biodiversity is exceptional here, which makes the Western Ghats among the top 8 World’s Biological Hot Spot Locations.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand

The Nanda Devi National Park (Valley of Flowers) is one of the famous natural destinations in India visited by adventure seekers and nature lovers in large numbers. The park received UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site status in the year 1988. The region comprises two prime areas, Nanda Devi National Park, and Valley of Flowers National Park. During the peak bloom season, the whole place looks like heaven and probably that’s the reason why the park is one of the most visited in the country!

Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh

The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh is the most recent entry to the list of UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in India. Spread over an area of 754.4 sq km, it was declared a world heritage site in 2014. The park is renowned for its alpine meadows, snow-covered peaks and glaciers, along with its varied species of animals and birds. One can spot rare animals such as snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan brown bear, and Himalayan Tahr, among others in the park. Manas National Park, Assam

Assam is still rather untouched by tourists, and maybe that’s the reason, the state is home to not one but two Natural World Heritage sites. Manas National Park in Assam was recognised by UNESCO in 1985, and is known for its collection of various endemic plants and animal species. It is also renowned for Project Tiger and also for elephant reserve and biosphere reserve. One can easily spot the famous Assam roofed turtle, hispid and golden langur in the park, which are all endangered species.

Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Keoladeo National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (former name) was recognised by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site in the year 1985. The national park in Bharatpur is home to more than 230 species of birds, and is quite popular among birdwatchers. Winter is the best time to visit the place as more than a thousand migratory and local birds flock the whole park. In addition to birds, visitors can also witness a wide variety of flowering plants, a varied species of snakes, lizards, and amphibians too.

Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam

Kanchenjunga National Park (Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve) in Sikkim covers the great Himalayan ranges in India’s Northeast region. The park was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2016. The park is spread across a huge area and covers over 850 sq km and is largely famous for being home to the Kanchenjunga Peak, the third highest peak in the world at 28169 ft above sea level! It is also renowned for being home to snow leopards.

Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim

Kanchenjunga National Park (Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve) in Sikkim covers the great Himalayan ranges in India’s Northeast region. The park was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2016. The park is spread across a huge area and covers over 850 sq km and is largely famous for being home to the Kanchenjunga Peak, the third highest peak in the world at 28169 ft above sea level! It is also renowned for being home to snow leopards.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/unesco-natural-world-heritage-sites-in-india/ss76194293.cms, June 5, 2020

Museum visits soar up the charts during summer vacations. However, owing to the lockdown that has forced us into our homes, all those plans have gone for a toss. That is why, to give you a break from the four walls of your home, Heritage Walks Calcutta has decided to start a series of virtual walks in association with the DAG museum. Heritage Walks Calcutta and DAG Museums will both go live from their Facebook pages at 7pm sharp when the tour begins. The theme for its first virtual walkthrough on June 5 will be 'Art and Architecture in Colonial Calcutta'. This tour, called 'Looking West' will explore 18th- and 19th-century Calcutta and its visual landscape through European paintings and architecture of the era. This initiative is a part of the Ghare Baire museum-exhibition being held at the Old Currency Building in the city. It is a first-of-its-kind exhibition organised by the DAG and is commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The primary aim of this exhibition is to showcase arts and artists from Bengal.

Future Tours

This is just the first in a line of tours that span all of June. The virtual walkthrough events will happen every Friday from 7 pm onwards. The list is as follows: June 12 (Looking to the Past), June 19 (Looking East), and June 26 (Looking beyond the City). Heritage Walks Calcutta and DAG Museums will go live from their Facebook pages for all the tours. Simply login and head to their pages for your at-home virtual walkthrough.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/70312/heritage-walks-calcutta-and-dag-museums-organize-virtual-walkthrough, June 5, 2020

Over 800 monuments across the country that double up as places of worship will be opened to the public starting Monday, after being closed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.Union Culture Minister Prahald Singh Patel said in a tweet that the Ministry, under which the Archaeological Survey of India functions, had decided to open certain monuments and that safety procedures announced by the Union Health and Family Welfare and Home ministries would apply.In directions to the ASI, the Ministry on Sunday wrote that the Centrally-protected monuments “under worship” would be opened to the public. The government had decided last week to open all places of worship from Monday.

The remaining monuments of the ASI’s total 3,691 protected sites, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, will remain closed to visitors for now. According to a list of 821 monuments released by the Ministry, 114 were in the North region, 155 in Central, 170 in West, 279 in South and 103 in East. While the Taj Mahal itself will continue to remain shut, the Fatehpuri Masjid on the south-west corner of its entrance, the mosque inside its premises and the Kali masjid near it will be opened.

In Delhi, Friday prayers would be allowed in the Qutub archaeological area and at Afsah-wala-ki Masjid outside the west gate of Humayun’s Tomb, the list said. The Sankaracharya temple in Srinagar, the gurdwara in Bhatinda Fort in Punjab, the Buddhist monastery in Lamayuru, Leh and St. Mary’s Church in Fort St. George in Chennai would also be opened.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/culture-ministry-nod-to-open-820-asi-monuments-which-have-places-of-worship-from-june-8/article31771555.ece, June 7, 2020

The Odisha government plans to organise cruises in selected water bodies of the state with private participation in order to promote tourism which has been devastated by the Cyclone Fani last year and now the lockdown. The state tourism department has invited proposals from the prospective participants to develop daily cruise service at Chilika Lake, Mahanadi, Bhitarkanika, Satkosia Gorge and Hirakud reservoir. “The last date for submission of proposal is July 10,” tweeted Odisha tourism department. Tourism secretary Vishal Kumar Dev told The Telegraph: “We have a long coastline of 482km, five major rivers, reservoirs and water bodies including Chilika, the largest brackish water lake of Asia.

All these water bodies possess tremendous tourism potential. To unlock the potential, the department is planning to develop day cruises in select water bodies of the state with private sector participation.” He said: “Tourism sector contributes around 10 percent of the state’s GDP. After Fani, we had organised Konark retreat festivals near the Konark sea beach and received good response. Now we plan to bring international cruise operators to the state to boost tourism. We have floated expressions of interest (EoI) for this purpose. We are in touch with three to four international cruise operators’.

Officials further maintained: “Odisha Tourism Policy 2016 offers many fiscal incentives for projects like water sports, adventure sports, house boat, cruise tourism project, aquarium, aqua-park etc. by way of investment and interest subsidy with an intention to promote private sector investments. Fiscal incentives are also available under large revenue generating projects of the Government of India like cruise vessels, cruise terminal etc.” The Odisha government has framed Odisha Boat Rules 2017 to regulate water sports activities in the state. However, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and environmentalists have opposed the cruise move. “Cruise on a big vessel sounds fun but one should consider its impact on the ecosystem of these water bodies. Chilika, Satkosia and Bhitarkanika are fragile and protected sites which are already facing dozens of unintentional and unexpected hazards. The impact of such cruise tourism has to be studied in detail before venturing on any foolhardy projects. All these three are notified and protected areas, with vulnerable flora and fauna. While Chilika has a dwindling Dolphin population, Bhitarkanika has the salt water crocodiles and delicate mangroves. Satkosia Gorge comes within the project tiger area and crocodiles are diminishing in count,” said Anil Dhir, the project coordinator of INTACH Odisha.

Dr Biswajit Mohanty, noted environmentalist and chairman of Greenpeace India, said: “The tourism department’s plans to run cruises in Odisha need to be thoroughly reviewed since the plans are for highly biodiverse and rich wildlife areas. The 22 km long Satkosia Gorge is the core area of a Tiger Reserve. Tourism is banned in core areas of Tiger Reserves as per the Supreme Court order. Secondly Chilika is also an important birding and dolphin area. Nine lakh birds arrive here every winter, the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins are highly stressed due to 500 motorised boats chasing them for dolphin tourism. Most parts of the lake are shallow with less than five feet of water. How will large cruise boats navigate? Bhitarkanika is a Ramsar site and a National Park. It is a highly eco-fragile area with mangroves, estuarine crocodiles, monitor lizards, fishing cats, otters and nesting birds.

Motorised boat cruises should never be permitted there. Four existing catamarans bought at a cost of Rs 3 crore by the forest department are lying idle for the last five years for want of tourists who can afford them. He said, “A small stretch upstream of Mundali on Mahanadi river can be feasible but that too is a prime birding area of migratory waterfowl and has nesting populations of Indian Skimmers on the islands which will be affected.” However, tourism officials maintained that they would go ahead with the proposed projects despite objections by certain groups.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/odisha-plans-cruise-tourism-green-activists-oppose/cid/1779200, June 7, 2020

Have you seen the Great Wall of India? Yes, it exists in Rajasthan! The UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Udaipur, is a fort called Kumbhalgarh. The spectacular structure is known for its long wall on the Aravalli Hills. It is the second largest fort complex in India, right after Chittor Fort. Built by Rana Kumbha, the Mewar Kingdom ruler back in the 15th century, the beautiful fort sits 1100 m above sea level.

It is now open to the public, so you can visit this wonderful place. The fort is 3600 ft tall, and 38 km long covering a vast area. An interesting fact about the fort is that it has some 360 temples, most of which are said to be Jain temples. You will also find step-wells, palaces, gardens, and 700 cannon bunkers.Coming to the wall, it runs for 36 km, and is said to be the second longest continuous wall in the world, right after the Great Wall of China. The massive wall meanders through the hilly landscape, and is a spectacular sight from the fort.

A wonderful place for some photography. The fort was one of the main bastions of hope for rulers of the region during times of danger. It was, however, breached once during its lifetime. Some parts of the wall are quite wide, so much so that eight horses can ride through. The fort consists of a famous Ganesh Temple that you can visit, and it is considered to be one of the earliest temples. Also, there is a Shiva Temple called Neel Kanth Mahadeva Temple, which was built in 1458 CE.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/indias-very-own-great-wall-is-located-in-rajasthan/as76255359.cms, JUne 8, 2020

If police permits, soon people may cycle it to work in Kolkata. Several major cities across the world have adopted cycling as a healthier and more nature-friendly means of commuting. In a first of its kind in the country, the West Bengal government is mulling over the idea of letting people cycle to work and elsewhere in Kolkata, state capital and other metro commissionerate areas, as part of a new normal lifestyle. If that happens it would mean people will be allowed to ride a cycle on Kolkata streets. This move has come in the wake of massive public inconvenience during unlock 2.0, due to lack of enough public or private vehicles.

Even though the state transport department has increased government bus services at quicker intervals yet in absence of metro rail, local trains and under the strict discipline of social distancing, office goers have encountered a lot of hardships. Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister has asked the Kolkata Police to do a proper study of the proposal and see which all roads in the city can be allowed for cycling. So far cycling was banned in most parts of Kolkata main roads in order to avoid fatal accidents.

"Many commuters are suffering. We are empathic towards that. Social distancing has to be respected so that people stay safe, this too is a reality we can't ignore. Thus I will ask Kolkata Police to see if cycling can be allowed on some of the streets. Kolkata police will issue a notification. We don't want accidents, human lives are precious. But for the time being if people may cycle it down, that police will see. Along with Kolkata, other commissionerates too,“ said Mamata Banerjee after her cabinet meeting on Monday. The Bengal government has allowed all state government offices to operate from June 8 with 70 percent workforce on a rotational basis, while private offices have been asked to decide for themselves without any restriction on them. Shopping malls and restaurants have been allowed to open from Monday onwards.

Thus the strain on the current existing public transportation system was felt further on Monday. Several commuters were stranded for hours. But now if police permits, soon people may be able to cycle to work. Several major cities across the world have adopted cycling as a healthier and more nature-friendly means of commuting.

https://www.timesnownews.com/kolkata/article/people-may-cycle-to-work-bengal-embraces-newer-ideas-for-new-normal-life/603354, June 8, 2020

The finding is the part of INTACH’s Mahanadi Valley Heritage Sites Documentation project, which is being undertaken by historian Anil Dhir. An ancient temple, submerged in river Mahanadi, has re-appeared after 11 years in Nayagarh district.An archaeology survey team of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) stumbled upon ‘mastaka’ of the temple submerged in Mahanadi waters at Padmabati village under Bhapur tehsil. Project assistant Deepak Kumar Nayak, who had documented the site with help of a local heritage enthusiast Rabindra Kumar Rana, said the temple was dedicated to Gopinath Deba, a form of Lord Krishna.

In the past, Padmabati village was part of Satapatana which is a combination of seven villages. However, with Mahanadi changing its course, the entire place was submerged in the 19th century and villagers along with deities of all the temples were moved to higher lands. The present day temple of Lord Gopinath at Padmabati village has the original idol of the presiding deity. Locals said there are around 22 temples in the area which are under water but only ‘mastaka’ of Gopinath Deba temple was visible for some years as it was the tallest. The last time the ‘mastaka’ was seen was 11 years back.

"In the last one year, it was seen for 4 to 5 days due to changing water levels,” said Rana. The finding is the part of INTACH’s Mahanadi Valley Heritage Sites Documentation project, which is being undertaken by historian Anil Dhir. The temple may date back to the 15th to 16th century considering its construction style of the ‘mastaka’ and materials used. The submerged temple is facing west having a Mukhashala of Pidha order and Vimana of Rekha Deula style. The temple may have been 60 feet in height.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jun/09/500-yr-old-temple-rises-from-mahanadi-water-2154161.html, June 9, 2020

Protecting national heritage must transcend party lines. The Central Vista is an iconic 3 km stretch in the heart of New Delhi that runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. Flanked by large green spaces and containing significant structures such as Parliament, the Secretariat buildings and the National Archives, it is recognised around the world as a striking example of innovative urban planning and architecture. Not surprisingly, the Central government’s plan to redevelop the Central Vista, announced in September 2019, has attracted a flurry of debate. Some people have criticised it as an exercise in vanity, while others have questioned the opaque process that resulted in the project being awarded to a Gujarat-based architecture firm. The destruction of national heritage has also been a recurring theme. From an economic perspective, the estimated cost of Rs. 20,000 crores is equivalent to 1% of the Centre’s purported Covid-19 relief package (and 0.1% of India’s GDP).

Such economic wastefulness at the taxpayer’s expense in building a new Parliament, a bunch of government offices, residences for the prime minister and the vice president could not come at a worse time, making a most persuasive case for the project to be junked. The redevelopment entails altering some structures and demolishing certain buildings within the Parliament complex, modifying the National Archives and constructing several new buildings along the Central Vista, including residences for the prime minister and vice president, completely altering its layout.

The Central Vista is an iconic 3 km stretch in the heart of New Delhi that runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. Flanked by large green spaces and containing significant structures such as Parliament, the Secretariat buildings and the National Archives, it is recognised around the world as a striking example of innovative urban planning and architecture. Not surprisingly, the Central government’s plan to redevelop the Central Vista, announced in September 2019, has attracted a flurry of debate. Some people have criticised it as an exercise in vanity, while others have questioned the opaque process that resulted in the project being awarded to a Gujarat-based architecture firm. The destruction of national heritage has also been a recurring theme. From an economic perspective, the estimated cost of Rs. 20,000 crores is equivalent to 1% of the Centre’s purported Covid-19 relief package (and 0.1% of India’s GDP).

Such economic wastefulness at the taxpayer’s expense in building a new Parliament, a bunch of government offices, residences for the prime minister and the vice president could not come at a worse time, making a most persuasive case for the project to be junked. The redevelopment entails altering some structures and demolishing certain buildings within the Parliament complex, modifying the National Archives and constructing several new buildings along the Central Vista, including residences for the prime minister and vice president, completely altering its layout.

Despite these questions being raised before the judiciary, one significant area remains largely unexplored – the redevelopment being at odds with regulations governing heritage conservation as well as the Indian Constitution. As per a 2009 notification issued by the government of Delhi, the Central Vista Precincts are listed as a Grade I heritage precinct and the North and South Block buildings, the National Archives, Parliament House and Campus as Grade I heritage buildings. Grade I heritage consists of buildings and precincts of national or historic importance, embodying excellence in architectural style, design and aesthetics and which are the prime landmarks of the region.

https://scroll.in/article/964355/centres-rs-20000-crore-central-vista-redevelopment-plan-may-sit-at-odds-with-delhi-heritage-rules, June 12, 2020

A 500-Yr-Old Temple That Was Submerged In 19th Century Has Just Resurfaced In An Odisha River

An ancient temple that dates back to the 15th or 16th century that has been submerged for decades has been located by a group of explorers. The archaeological survey team of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) has claimed that they have discovered an ancient submerged temple in the Mahanadi upstream from Cuttack. The temple was successfully located after repeated attempts by Intach’s Project Assistant Deepak Kumar Nayak.

The top of the submerged temple was discovered in the mid-river near Baideswar in the Padmavati area near Cuttack. It is believed that the 60 ft submerged temple dates back to late 15th or early 16th century, considering the construction style of the Mastaka and the materials used for the construction. According to reports, the location of the temple was known and it used to be visible in the summers and was last seen eleven years ago. INTACH had launched its project on the Documentation of the Heritage of the Mahanadi Valley early last year.

A systematic survey of all tangible and intangible heritages of the entire length of the Mahanadi from the source to the sea covering a distance of nearly 1700 km is in its final stage of completion. A multi-volume report of the nearly 800 monuments that have been documented would be released early next year. INTACH State convener Amiya Bhusan Tripathy says this will be the first-of-its-type study on any river in India and is the pilot project of the INTACH.A comprehensive survey of the heritage on either bank has been undertaken in the nine districts through which the Mahanadi flows.

The temple was dedicated to Gopinath Dev. The region used to be regarded as "Satapatana" in early days; however, with the river changing its course due to catastrophic flooding, its flow changed and the entire village was eroded by the river. In the mid-19th Century, the deities of the vulnerable temple were removed and installed in a safer and higher place, which is presently the Gopinath Dev temple of Padmavati village. Anil Dhir, the Project Coordinator of the Mahanadi Project, who had earlier completed the Old Jagannath Sadak and the Prachi Valley Documentation, is of the opinion that the richness and diversity of the entire Mahanadi Valley has not been properly studied till date. He said that the teams had made major new discoveries, both tangible and intangible, which have earlier not been recorded. Dhir said that the submerged temple can be relocated from the river bed and restored. Many of the temples in the Hirakud reservoir too can be dismantled and reconstructed.

https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/500-year-old-temple-resurfaced-in-an-odisha-river-515430.html, June 11, 2020

A population of bees and the farmers in some villages of Madhya Pradesh are faithful friends

The revival of local bees in the drought prone villages of Dhava, Panchbara, Gauhani and Luka, Madhya Pradesh, has meant that honey has become a source of nutrition and a prospective income generator for struggling small farmers. These villages are home to native honey bees like Apis Cerana (the Asian Honey Bee), known as chatiyav, and a species of stingless bees, called bhunag.The rich biodiversity of this land was not being fully utilised until INTACH, an organisation that looks after tangible and intangible heritage, partnered with Golden Hive Foundation, to reverse the process of declining bee densities. From December, hands-on training has been given to farmers in Chhatarpur and Khajuraho. The farmers now realise the role played by bees in farming.At present, the honey produced is enough only for the farmers’ consumption. “This amrit (nectar) takes care of malnutrition in families of villagers.

It has minerals, enzymes that the human body requires. First, it is consumed by communities and then put on sale. Whatever money they earn will be utilised for the local community,” says Rakesh Gupta, Chief Advisor of Golden Hive Foundation. Previously, annihilating bee colonies while extracting honey was the regular practice. This gradually led to a decline of the pollinators. “Earlier, while extracting honey from the Rock bee, Apis Cerana, Apis Florea and the stingless bees, farmers would use fire to smoke out the bees. In the process the eggs, the larvae and the pupae and the entire generation of bees were destroyed. This resulted in dwindling of bees in the natural habitat and had an adverse impact on the biodiversity and the ecosystem,” says Gupta. To ensure that the bees are not harmed, farmers have been consciously trained to shift from the traditional way to a more responsible way of managing bees to extract honey. “Through the use of queen excluders, we ensure that the queen bee does not have access to the area called ‘super’ where honey is being stored. The queen is, in effect, prevented from laying eggs in the supers. Naturally, with no eggs, larvae or pupae stages in the super, there is no destruction of the generations of the bees and only the honey, in its purest form, is extracted,” explains Gupta. Dhava village is the centre for beekeeping.

It is early days but farmers are confident that more of their neighbours will join them. The project, currently in its first phase, has two dozen farmers on board. “In this drought prone area, it was prudent to create skills and generate income for farmers. The presence of bees will also increase crop productivity. There is a slight increase of 10% to 15% in productivity of pulses, moong, chana, urad dal. We are hopeful that sesame, mustard, brinjal, tomato, chilly, bajra, maize will show an increase,” says Ritu Singh, Director, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH. Badri Singh, a septuagenarian who practises organic farming in Dhava, is a picture of resilience. Called Badri baba by all, he says: “My curiosity about bees was aroused after participating in the workshop. As a farmer, I find the tips simple yet useful. These will go a long way in the welfare of our people. Now that I have realised the importance of native bees for better crop productivity, I will ensure that bees are never killed,” he says. However, the weather poses a challenge with temperatures soaring in the harsh summer. “To ensure survival of colonies, we want to have natural food available to bees. We are ensuring that enough nectar and pollen is available for bees throughout the year.” says Dr Singh.

Gupta, who speaks chaste Hindi while conducting training sessions with the villagers, says, “Honey is secondary; the bees are our priority. I feel that the success of our collaboration lies not only in producing honey but in creating awareness and sensitivity

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/reviving-the-bees-of-bundelkhand/article31811139.ece, June 12, 2020

Sand mining has been going on in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh for sometime and now, a temple-like structure has been unearthed during sand mining in Penna river bed near Perumallapadu village. According to ANI, the structure is a Shiva temple which locals claim to be 200 years old. The pinnacle of the temple was visible during mining.The Hindu reports that the temple-like structure is a ‘historic temple of Nageswara Swamy’. As per the report, the temple is ‘believed to have been consecrated by Lord Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, got buried over a long period of time as river Penna changed its course’. Archaeology Assistant Director, Ramasubba Reddy, told The Hindu, “A detailed examination of the site will be made and steps taken to preserve it for posterity.”The probable next step would be the renovation and the restoration of the structure.

https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/nellore-temple-like-structure-515839.html, June 17, 2020

Bhubaneswar 16th June : The renewed demolitions of structures surrounding the Lingaraj Temple in the Old Town of Bhubaneswar has seen the razing down of six buildings for which consent had been obtained from the owners. In the next phase of demolitions, a long block of shops and houses are slated for demolition, many of the occupants have vacated the places and the machinery is in place. In a 70 meters stretch starting from the Ratha Gada Chhak till the Bindhbasini Temple, a dozen shops have been earmarked for being razed to the ground. What is alarming is that the administration and the Archaeological Survey of India are unaware that these shops have a set of 16 ancient Samadhis behind them. These Samadhis are of the earlier Mahants of the nearby Siva Tirtha Mutt. The Siva Tirtha Mutt dates back to the 12th Century CE and its origin is contemporary with that of the Lingaraj Temple. The Mutt, which has lost a lot of its relevance, was once an important centre and had many responsibilities in the day to day affairs of the temple.

Various religious functions were assigned to it, including many rituals during the annual Rukuna Rath Yatra. The sixteen Samadhis, hidden under thick vegetation, have been long forgotten by the locals, but the family of Bhabani Charan Pujapanda has been performing daily rituals in most of them since the last few generations. Of various heights, the Samadhis are all in the form of three tiered Pidhas with a Kalasha on the Mastaka. Placed in a straight line, eight of them are clearly visible, some of them have been buried over the years. Earlier this year, a team from a local youth organisation, Maa Jageswari Sakha, had tried to clear the vegetation but as access was not possible, only eight of the Samadhis could be uncovered. However traces and evidence of more Samadhis were seen.

According to Anil Dhir of INTACH, the set of Samadhis are a chronological record of the history of the Mutt and the Lingaraj Temple. Dhir said that the Samadhis of a Mutt are the most important determinant of its history, even if renovations and alterations were made in the premises, the Samadhis always remained untouched. “These Samadhis are a timeline of history, ranging from the 12th Century till the 20th Century, all of them have small Shivalings; two have been stolen a few years back”, he said. Dhir said that the Samadhis have been mentioned in historical texts and temple records since centuries. They lay just beside the Dolo Mandap of the Lord and earlier were worshiped by devotees. With encroachments and structures coming up all around, most of them became inaccessible and were forgotten. The other Mutts of the Old Town too have such Samadhis.

Prafulla Swain, a local heritage activist, has approached the authorities and the temple priests. He has also requested both the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Archaeology to stop the demolition drive around the Samadhis as it would damage and destroy them. Even if some of the shop owners have given their consent to vacate, the demolition should be done in a controlled and careful manner, ensuring that no damage is done to the Samadhis. A.B.Tripathy, State Convener of INTACH is of the opinion that these Samadhis have a lot of historical and heritage value, they can easily be restored with proper conservation. He said that INTACH will extend all expertise if the administration is willing. Dhir has written to the Director General of the ASI, asking them to issue notices to the Government of Odisha to stop the wanton demolition without making a proper heritage assessment report by qualified recognised persons. He lamented that the State Office of the ASI, which is only a few hundred metres away from the site, is just a mute spectator to the destruction of the valuable heritage structures. Earlier, he had raised the matter of the Buddha Ganesh Temple which was slated for demolition after removing the idol to a nearby school.

After a hue and cry was raised, the authorities relented and have retained the temple as a roundabout in the proposed road. Dr. Biswajit Mohanty says that even in the Golden Temple Heritage Galiyara Project, all the martyrs’ memorials of the 1965 and the 1971 wars were retained and not removed. It will be a shame if these ages-old sacred Samadhis, which have a lot of religious and spiritual relevance, are destroyed. He emphasized the need of a proper Heritage Affect and Impact Assessment Report by experts before undertaking such renovation projects in ancient religious sites.

https://orissadiary.com/save-the-sacred-samadhis-in-the-old-town-of-bhubaneswar/, June 17, 2020

Remains of over 500-year-old ancient temple had resurfaced from the Mahanadi river in Bhapur block of Nayagarh district a few days ago. Today an expert is visiting the spot to study the ancient temple. The expert team comprises Dr. Rajiv Lochan Mishra from IIT, Bhubaneswar and archaeologist from Uttar Pradesh’s Rohilkhand University, Prof Anup Ranjan Mishra.

They are expected to do further research on the temple. The archaeological survey team of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) recently claimed that they discovered an ancient submerged temple in the Mahanadi upstream from Cuttack. The top of the submerged temple was discovered mid-river near Baideswar in the Padmavati village near Nayagarh.

The 60 ft submerged temple dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, considering the construction style of the Mastaka and material used for the construction. The temple has an idol of Lord Gopinath Dev (Vishnu). Its structure can be estimated to be of the 15th or 16th century. As Mahanadi changed its course, the village was frequently flooded and later submerged. People moved to a higher place, but some of the art and culture of the village sank in the river.

Sources say that it is part of the ancient Gopinath temple. According to the researchers, the place where this temple is found is called Satpatana. There used to be seven villages here and people from those villages used to worship Lord Vishnu in this temple. Padmavati village was also one of these seven villages. Later, due to repeated floods in the river, the village got engulfed in the river and the people here settled in high places.

https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/expert-team-to-examine-centuries-old-submerged-temple-that-resurfaced-in-nayagarh, June 17, 2020

The submerged temple was located recently during an exercise as part of a documentation project of heritage sites in the Mahanadi river valley, according to Anil Dhir, project coordinator of INTACH in Odisha. INTACH also wants the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take steps for relocating the ancient temple to a suitable site and restoring it, he said, adding that the ASI has the required technology and expertise to undertake the operation.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the Culture Ministry to take steps for restoration and relocation of an ancient temple that remained submerged in Mahanadi river and was discovered recently in Odisha. In a letter to Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, Pradhan said non-profit Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had examined the 500-year-old temple and deemed it to be of major historic significance and in a good state of preservation. As you would be aware, a 500-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Gopinath, a form of Lord Vishnu, has re- emerged out of the Mahanadi river in Nayagarh district of Odisha. It is learnt that the submerged temple was discovered mid-river near Baideswar in the Padmavati village near Nayagarh, the Union Petroleum and Steel Minister said. The 55-60 feet submerged temple dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, considering its construction style and materials used for the construction. It is theorised that the temple was submerged in 1933 following floods in the region, Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, said in his letter which was released to the media here. Keeping in mind the intangible historical, cultural and religious significance of this temple for the people of Odisha, I seek your personal intervention in directing officials of the Archeological Survey of India for undertaking restoration and relocation of this temple to a suitable site, Pradhan said.

The submerged temple was located recently during an exercise as part of a documentation project of heritage sites in the Mahanadi river valley, according to Anil Dhir, project coordinator of INTACH in Odisha. INTACH also wants the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take steps for relocating the ancient temple to a suitable site and restoring it, he said, adding that the ASI has the required technology and expertise to undertake the operation. Stating that INTACH has so far located as many as 65 ancient temples in the Mahanadi river during its documentation project, Dhir said many of the temples in the Hirakud reservoir too can be dismantled and reconstructed. He said the submerged temple was located in the region which used to be known as "Satapatana" in the early days.

However, with the river changing its course due to catastrophic floods and the entire village got submerged. In the mid 19th century, the deities of the vulnerable temple were shifted and installed in a safer and higher place, which is presently the Gopinath Dev temple of Padmavati village, he said. Dhir said INTACH Odisha launched its project on the documentation of the heritage of the Mahanadi valley early last year. A survey of all the tangible and intangible heritage of the entire length of the Mahanadi, from the source to the sea, covering a distance of nearly 1,700 km, is in its final stage of completion.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1095790-pradhan-urges-culture-ministry-for-restoration-of-500-year-old-temple-found-in-river, June 18, 2020

Village elders said that some decades ago, the Penna river used to receive floods during the rainy season and the temple gradually got covered by sand dunes and vanished. The Sri Nageswara Swamy temple dating back to 300 years, which was buried in the sand for almost eight decades now, has been unearthed by villagers of Perumallapadu of Chejarala mandal in Nellore district. According to villagers, some locals identified small structures of the temple when they took up sand excavation recently.

Youths and other villagers then contacted elders of the area and enquired about the temple. Village elders told them that some decades back, the Penna river used to receive floods during the rainy season and the temple gradually got covered by sand dunes and vanished completely. "Along with the Sri Nageswara Swamy temple, two other temples (Kotiteertham temple and Sangam Sivalayam in the district) were constructed at the same time. Sri Nageswara Swamy temple received pooja from devotees 300 years ago.

The temple gradually got covered with sand and completely vanished. Now, some enthusiastic youngsters dug up the temple. We have plans to rebuild the temple to perform pooja. We have already contacted `Siddanthis' and with their advice, we will take a decision," Pothugunta Varaprasad of Perumallapadu village in Chejarla mandal said. After the Nageswara Swamy temple was unearthed in Perumallapa village, villagers from nearby areas have started visiting it.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2020/jun/17/300-year-old-temple-buried-in-sand-unearthed-by-andhra-villagers-pooja-likely-to-resume-2157695.html, June 18, 2020

Nothing quite compares to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef; and now, in order to add to that comes the Museum of Underwater Art. This all new Australian museum is now ready and is calling all divers and snorkelers to pay a visit. But before that, tour companies are required to get permission to operate boats here in the region.

The Museum of Underwater Art is the work of Jason deCaires Taylor, a British sculptor, and environmentalist. He has created this museum in order to raise awareness about the ecosystem. In the past, he had created many such underwater museums and sculptor parks. The Great Barrier Reef’s Museum of Underwater Art is the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. The museum can be reached by a boat from Queensland coast within two hours, and is 18 m underwater in the natural inlet of John Brewer Reef.

Its first piece of art that was installed here was the sculpture called Ocean Siren, and it has been built to inspire the conservation of reef, and the ocean.

It is four metre tall, and is the sculpture of an indigenous girl. Interestingly, this sculpture does more than just stand there, as it also changes colour. The Ocean Siren actually gets data of live water temperature from the Davis Reef weather station, and changes colour accordingly. On the other hand, the largest artwork installed here is called the Coral Greenhouse. The sculptor Jason deCaires Tayor has been doing such work for ten years now. He has done similar works in Grenada, the Bahamas, Lanzarote, and Mexico.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/an-underwater-art-museum-graces-the-great-barrier-reef/as76338582.cms, June 18, 2020

We often forget that humans are only one among millions of species—most of which we haven’t discovered yet. As much of the world went into pandemic-related lockdown in early 2020, we woke up to headlines of visibly cleaner water and air and photos of animals enjoying the hiatus from humans in cities and national parks. The planet will, in all probability, survive manmade climate change, but the question is: will we? Species diversity is part of biodiversity—“the shimmering variety of life on earth” as conservation biologist Thomas Lovejoy defined the term in 1980. Whether it’s maintaining the diversity of species, ecosystems or genes, conserving biodiversity is key to ensuring a win-win for man vs nature.

It’s actually been a human strategy for survival from pre-Vedic times, well before the United Nations began marking 22 May as The International Day of Biological Diversity. For millennia, humans across the globe have marked out tracts of virgin forest as sacred groves. The ecosystems range from moist deciduous forest to desert scrub, and these groves are believed to be home to (or synonymous with) deities or ancestral spirits. Sacred groves find mention in Sanskrit scriptures and Greek epics. China’s feng shui forests were believed to improve the flow of qi (or life force). There are monastic forests protected by Italy’s Franciscans, Ethiopian Christians and Thailand’s Buddhists, and sacred groves maintained by urban Hindu families in Kerala, forest dwellers in Madhya Pradesh and Khasi tribes in Meghalaya. While the rules (and names) for sacred groves vary by culture, in general, a community may use a sacred grove for rituals to the presiding deity but they will never fell trees or kill its resident creatures for fear of divine retribution. Often, even deadwood is allowed to decompose on the forest floor instead of being collected for kindling. Belief in sacred groves—and their physical boundaries—have shrunk worldwide with modern development, the displacement of indigenous peoples, the invasion of exotic weeds and the loss of traditional knowledge and beliefs. It is only recently that scientists are beginning to study the secular benefits of sacred groves.

Sacred groves are proving to be a shining example of traditional forest management. They serve as water catchments, harbouring a pond, lake or spring. “Water conservation is perhaps the most well-documented ecological service provided by sacred groves,” observe Rajasri Ray, MD Subhash Chandran and TV Ramachandra at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. “Highland groves, for example the Western Ghats and the Himalayan region, are important for their soil and water conservation activities which are beneficial for local inhabitants in terms of less soil erosion, preventing flash flood, supply of water in lean season.” Research continues on the advantages for temperature control and fire resistance. The desert groves of Rajasthan—think of the Bishnoi tribe’s orans—are “important livelihood support for local people,” add Ray, Chandran and Ramachandra. Studies in Northeast India and the Himalayas have supported the groves’ potential for nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration.

In addition, “in Karnataka and Kerala, groves are supposed to provide nutrient-rich water to adjacent agricultural fields and spice gardens.” India’s sacred groves—called devrai in Maharashtra, kavu in Kerala, sarna in Bihar, devarkan in Karnataka and khlaw kyntang in the Khasi Hills—haven’t been fully identified or inventoried. Preliminary research has found sacred groves to be the last refuge of endemic and rare, endangered or threatened fauna and flora, from medicinal herbs in Madhya Pradesh to the lion-tailed macaque in Karnataka, Malabar civet in Kerala, orchids in Andhra Pradesh and wild varieties of mango in Tamil Nadu. Local art forms flourish here too, such as the ritual dances of theyyam in Kerala and nagamandala in Karnataka. While state laws are lax on the protection of sacred groves, there are hopeful signs. For a decade now, Kerala, which has thousands of sacred groves, has offered financial incentives to landowners to take conservation steps to maintain the sanctity of these tracts.

Activists across India advocate the enforcement of the 2006 Forest Rights Act, which reinstates community rights to manage neighbouring forests. For 25 years, the Applied Environmental Research Foundation has worked with over a hundred villages in the northern Western Ghats to help restore and manage sacred groves, receiving the Whitley Associate Award in 2007. Bhopal museum Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya does its bit too, raising awareness with regular exhibitions on India’s sacred groves. The Chipko movement of the 1970s, the nonviolent resistance by Himalayan villagers to prevent logging, had its roots in a Bishnoi resistance in 1730.

In one day, 363 Bishnoi tribes offered their lives in exchange for the sacred khejri trees that the kingsmen came to cull for a new palace; both tribals and trees were felled. When the maharaja learned of the massacre the next day, he apologised and granted protection to the flora and fauna on their lands. A steep price to pay, but the Bishnoi continue to make headlines for putting their lives on the line rather than sacrificing nature. If we follow their lead and come together to protect and restore our ecosystems, we may yet slow down climate change.

https://www.cntraveller.in/story/india-sacred-groves-how-revering-nature-saves-it-meghalaya-kerala-maharashtra-bihar, June 18, 2020

The Mangaluru Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has invited photo essays from young photography enthusiasts and students currently enrolled in college and university, who have a passion for photography and writing. INTACH seeks photographs accompanied by a story on themes such as people, places, history and the culture of the Tulu speaking Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts. The photo essays should showcase communities and their rituals and traditions; and build spaces that highlight the vibrant and diverse linguistic, religious and cultural spirit of the region during the months of monsoon.

For details one can contact: Subhas Basu, convenor INTACH 87623 68048, Nemiraj Shetty 99863 66355. The photo essays can be submitted to - [email protected] or Centre for Media, Art and Design, Kodial Guthu (West), G G Road, Ballal Bagh, Mangalore-575003.

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/mangaluru/intach-invites-photo-essays-852573.html, June 22, 2020

Learn more about the rich history of the five South Indian states through this ongoing video series

While museums and archaeological sites stay shut, there is always a way for history buffs to visit the past. National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Bengaluru has come up with an online video series lecture. Called Back and Forth in Time: Lectures on South India’s past, the series will conclude on June 25. The talks speak about the past of the five South Indian states. “We tried to bring out the heritage of most of the parts of the Coromandel belt in India,” says Smriti Haricharan, assistant professor, Heritage Science and Society Program School of Humanities, NIAS.

Besides architecture, it also covers literature and arts. “Architecture, of course, is an important part of history, which will tell you about the topography and the engineering skills. To know the way people thought during that time or the idea behind any plan, one has to go through the manuscripts as well,” says Haricharan, who has been a part of NIAS for past 10 years. For example, Gayatri Iyer, who has an MPhil in Indian Art History from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), spoke about the art and architecture of Karnataka Hoysala and Chalukya era.

She also mentioned the superstition that prevails, how religion and politics go hand-in-hand in many ways. Alongside ancient history, medieval and modern history also feature in the series.

Haricharan points out that the response so far has been encouraging for them. Each session sees over 100 registrations, with active audience interaction through questions posed at dignitaries. “The virtual classes have given them the advantage of having guest speakers from overseas too,” says Haricharan. Meera Iyer, who is part of INTACH Bengaluru, says the current scenario is the season of webinars. “But in all these talks on heritage, history and archaeology, there was very little of South India. There were scholars and researchers doing some excellent work on it but no real focus is on it, where the information reaches a lay person.”

Log in
June 23: V Selvakumar –Literary sources and urbanisation of southern India
June 24: Carol Upadhyay and Smriti Haricharan – Reimagining the urban:
The present and the past
June 25: Hemnath Kadambi – Reimagining South India’s past: Archeology, heritage-making and the public

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/jun/23/unlocking-the-past-2159978.html, June 23, 2020

An ancient Hindu temple that was submerged in a catastrophic flood 200 years ago has re-emerged for the first time, as lower water levels reveal its sunken spire. The 500-year-old monument to an avatar of the god Vishnu once stood proudly on the banks of the Mahanadi river in Odisha, eastern India, and provided a place of worship for seven nearby villages. But after torrential floods in the 1800s the river changed course, forcing villagers to abandon the temple and their homes as they disappeared beneath the swirling rapids. Its location was lost for generations, with repeated searches by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) proving futile.

This week, however, the temple re-emerged from the river as the Mahanadi’s water level dropped low enough to reveal the spire once again. Project lead, Anil Dhir, said his team had successfully documented many temples of the Mahanadi river valley, but all efforts to locate this 60-foot one had proved ‘futile’. ‘The temple was in the midst of seven villages, collectively called Satapatana,’ he said. ‘Sometime from 1830 to 1850, after catastrophic flooding, the river started to change its course and engulf the villages. ‘The villages were abandoned and shifted, but the temple was left intact, with the idol being removed and kept in a makeshift place. ‘A new temple was built and the idol installed there sometime in 1855. That temple exists today. ‘But the original temple was engulfed in the river and ended up midstream in the subsequent years.’ He continued: ‘The existence of this temple was known and had been recorded. It used to surface every year in the summer months up to a height of five feet. ‘But then a barrage was constructed which raised the water level, and the temple has not surfaced in the last 20 years… only the old timers knew about it. ‘We were on the lookout for this temple during our survey of the area, but all our efforts were futile. However, last week we were informed by locals that the spire of the temple had surfaced.’ Images collected by the INTACH team show the amalaka – a notched stone disk that crowns a Hindu temple’s main tower – visible in the water. An archaeologist’s sketch shows that only a tiny portion of the temple is visible at the surface, with the majority of the 60-foot structure hidden in the sand below. But that means that most of the structure will be in pristine condition. ‘It’s in a perfect state of preservation,’ said Anil. ‘Of the supposedly 58 to 60 feet, 50 feet has been buried in a sand bank. Only eight to 10 feet is in the water. ‘Nearly all the rivers in Odisha have submerged temples, but many of them are in ruins. ‘Temples were built in the bends of rivers, and all these rivers were and are flood prone, so bank erosion resulted in many of them being destroyed or submerged by the waters.’

Anil said the temple was built by a local king in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, in the classical Kalingan Architectural style of the Rekha Deul. It stands near modern-day Baideswar and once contained a black chlorite idol of Lord Gopinath, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. When it was flooded the idols were quickly removed and placed in the current Gopinath temple in Padmavati village, near the same river. Mr Dhir emphasises that there are no plans to excavate the temple presently, lest thieves be drawn to the site. ‘It will be left alone,’ he said.

‘The river is a dangerous stretch at this place, with swift currents. Or else, idol thieves will try to get some old pieces from it.’ The INTACH team are documenting the monuments of the Mahanadi river valley, recording all tangible and intangible heritage on both the banks of the river. An area of 6.2 miles from each bank is being surveyed, from the source of the river down to where its mouth, covering more than 1,000 miles.

The multi-volume report is thought to have identified some 800 monuments – including 65 ancient temples – and will be published next year. It is the pilot project of INTACH, which it hopes will secure funding for future surveys. The nine-mile Hirakud Dam, located upstream, saw nearly 50 temples and archaeological sites drowned. Built near the north-western edge of Odisha state’s border, it was one of the first major dams started after India’s independence – and was completed in 1957. It led the Mahanadi river to form the 30-mile long Hirakud reservoir.

This covered an area known as Padmapur, which was one of the oldest and most populous places in the region before the dam was built. Many temples that were submerged have been damaged or destroyed by years spent underwater.

https://en.brinkwire.com/science/hindu-temple-that-was-submerged-in-a-catastrophic-flood-in-eastern-india-rediscovered/, June 23, 2020

The corona induced lockdown and resource crunch will lead to an unexpected casualty—the conservation and upkeep of India’s 10,000-year-old pre-historic heritage. Confronted with declining revenues, the state government has imposed a cut on the funds for the conservation of all monuments by the directorate of museums and archaeology. “The directorate was expected to get Rs 30 crore in 2020-21 for this purpose, but this may be trimmed to just Rs 10 crore,” said a senior official from the department of culture. This will affect the proposals to conserve prehistoric petroglyphs (rock art engraved on the ground) in Ratnagiri.

These reliefs are estimated to have been carved out in laterite rock by prehistoric humans in a period between 10,000 years and 2,000 years ago, and are the oldest known evidence of art in Maharashtra. Ratnagiri has over 1,200 carvings at 62 locations, and in Sindhudurg, 60 carvings have been discovered at around five sites. However, none of these reliefs have protected status.

The directorate had proposed the conservation and protection of 17 sites in Rajapur, Lanja and Ratnagiri talukas, without acquiring the land in this Rs 6 crore project. The official said the consent of land owners for right of way was to be taken and approach roads, fencing, viewing galleries and signages would be constructed along with amenities for tourists. However, the funds' crunch and resultant austerity measures will lead to new projects being curbed. “The directorate has a spillover of Rs 10 crore to be paid for conservation works done last year. This means there may be little or no fiscal space for fresh projects, including conservation on forts,” he explained.

Some animals represented in these petroglyphs include rhinos and elephants, which do not have a natural habitat in Konkan today. The official added that the recent cyclone and heavy rains and winds had damaged some works undertaken on forts like Rajgad in Pune, which would have to be repaired. The assessment was underway. The widest petroglyph is an elephant carving at Kasheli in Rajapur (18 meterX13 meter), which is the largest petroglyph in South Asia, while the smallest is 2cmX3cm was found at Jaigad.

One petroglyph at Ranapur has a human holding a tiger in each hand, which is a common Harappan symbol found on seals and is a common motif in West Asian art. However, the identity of the people who carved these petroglyphs is yet unknown. Further research would have revealed more evidence of the history of Konkan and Maharashtra before the Satavahana era set (2 B.C onwards) and do away with this “dark age” in our understanding of human evolution. The oldest archaeological finds in Maharashtra are the around 75,000 year old stone tools in the Godavari river basin at Gangapur in Nashik.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/covid-19-lockdown-resource-crunch-impacts-conservation-and-upkeep-of-indias-pre-historic-heritage, June 23, 2020

If your fascination with history and natural resources knows no bounds, and if you often find yourself thinking about the Earth’s ever-changing physical, biological, and cultural diversity, you should check out the Smithsonian National Museum of National History. It has a treasure of nearly 155 million objects, works of art and specimens, out of which nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History.

The museum, in the wake of the pandemic, might not have opened its doors to the public, but has major resources online to satiate your inner inquisitiveness. Here are 6 ways in which you can get your hands on these irreplaceable records, without getting out of your house:

Digital Collections
Did you know that the museum released images of 2.8 million artefacts and specimens in the public domain recently? All of these images can be downloaded and remixed to help you learn more about the natural world, without actually being out in the company of nature. Going one step more, the museum also has a collection of objects available in 3D.

If watching a docs-series is your idea of a perfect night, then get your eyes on screen for Dr. Hans Sues talking about paleontology. The topics on this Youtube series range from cats to government conspiracies. A renewed season of the series will feature geologist Dr. Elizabeth Cottrell.

Virtual Tours
All of the museum’s permanent, temporary and past exhibitions can be delved into with the help of a virtual tour. You might want to check out "Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World," showcasing how epidemics spread across the world. The Museum Support Center tour will give you a sneak peek into what’s behind the scenes. The museum’s collection has whale bones, antlers, gorilla brains, bats etc on display.

Underwater Charm
If marine biodiversity has always garnered your attention, Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal is where you should dive in. Ranging from the anatomy of a penguin to shark conservation to topics like climate change and hurricanes, they’ve got it all covered.

Step-Back in History
Human evolution has been a gradual process and a pretty fascinating one too. If you’ve ever wondered how our tail-bones disappeared, the museum’s Human Origins website is a great resource centre. It includes 3D artefacts, videos and research from scientists.

Learn from the Scientists
Learning from a distance was a concept preferred by few. But this year has changed many perceptions, including that of distance learning. Get your hands on some of the best videos of scientists bringing their classrooms to your living room. Or head to the Learning Lab and explore natural history online, using collections items, videos, podcasts and text.

https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70586/6-ways-to-learn-about-the-world-through-smithsonian-national-museum-of-national-history, June 25, 2020

The state archaeology department has unearthed 13 burial urns at Sivagalai in Tuticorin district. Excavation work that began on March 19 was stalled due to the lockdown, and resumed on May 24. Sivagalai was taken up for excavation by the department for the first time this year, for which the Tamil Nadu government sanctioned Rs 31 lakh.

A Manickam, a history teacher in Srivaikuntam, drew the state government’s attention to Sivagalai claiming that he had found many ancient artefacts there.

In 2018, an expert appointed by the commissioner of state archaeology department confirmed that it was an ancient site. Burial urns, iron tools and bones were among the things found there. When Sivagalai was officially taken up for excavation this year, a 10x10sqm plot was excavated under the guidance of M Prabhakaran, director of the project. The official was accompanied by 10 archaeology students. Local villagers too were roped in.

In the last one month, 13 burial urns of various sizes were discovered, according to deputy director of archaeology R Sivanandam. "Initial examination of these urns looked like they belonged to the iron age. We are yet to figure out what it consists of. Small pots were also found. Smaller pots were also found in the vicinity,” Sivanandam said. Sivagalai is located in the middle of Korkai, an ancient Pandya Kingdom, on the banks of the Tamirabarini river. Manickam had then petitioned the government stating that he believed it to be a contemporary site to the Adhichanallur site, which is also a burial site in Tirunelveli district.

Sivagalai is situated seven km away from Adhichanallur. The Archaeological Survey of India, (ASI) conducted an excavation at Adhichanallur in 2004 and unearthed 169 urns. It is believed that Sivagalai would yield more urns than Adhichanallur.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/13-burial-urns-found-at-sivagalai-site-in-one-month/articleshow/76540322.cms, June 25, 2020

Three independent archaeologists and history researchers have unearthed what they claim are traces from the prehistoric period on a hillock in Akanur village of Jagalur taluk, Davanagere. Their discovery includes pottery shards, stone axes and rock art petroglyphs depicting humans, animals and rituals, which are being examined.

The trio is awaiting formal approval from the Archaeological Survey of India for further excavation. Describing the discovery a lucky find, Seema Rehaman, a budding archaeologist who has specialised in epigraphy, told TOI: "I had gone to Jagalur from Bengaluru during the lockdown and decided to do some research in the area which is known for its historical findings. Rehaman spent a few days on the hillock in Akanur and discovered petroglyph depiction on the rocks. She soon alerted researcher Shruthesh Acharya from Moodubelle in Udupi with photographs of the site.

Archarya and archaeology scholar Supritha KN from Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru reached Akanur and the trio along with two helpers combed the hill. "We discovered a stone axe and pieces of pottery which we believe are from the neolithic period. The place also had pottery pieces and burial signs and figures from the megalithic age. But precise chronology can't be determined unless a detailed excavation and study are conducted," Acharya explained. The trio spotted traces during their two-day exploration. "We are not authorised to excavate the area without permission from ASI. We don't intend to explore further without experts as these are precious and sensitive traces from our past," Supritha said.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-prehistoric-traces-found-in-davanagere-district/articleshow/76503924.cms, June 25, 2020

The Kumbhalgarh Fort remains one of the strongest forts of India and bears testimony to the genius and splendour of war tactics and the architectural finesse of people who lived long ago

You must have heard about the Great Wall of China — the longest wall in the world, built more than a millennium ago. But what if we told you that one of the longest walls in the world is in India? Yes, that indeed is true. Built in the 15th century, this wall is nestled between thirteen towering mountain peaks in the desert of Rajasthan and surrounds the ancient fort of Kumbhalgarh, some 80 km from the city of Udaipur. Extending some 36 km around the perimeter of the Kumbhalgarh Fort on the westerly range of the Aravalli Hills, it snakes through valleys, bearing a striking resemblance to its distant cousin in China. The fort was built by Rana Kumbha, the ruler of the kingdom of Mewar. It is also the birthplace of one of the most revered Rajput kings and the warrior whom the Mughals most feared — Maharana Pratap.

Though the fort in its present state was built by Rana Kumbha, the area was considered to be of high strategic importance long before the Sisodia Dynasty came to power. Historians believe that the very first fort to occupy the spot was built as early as the 3rd century. Back then, it was King Samprati, the grandson of the great Mauryan King Ashoka, who got the fort constructed. At that time, the village around the fort was called Machhind, and so the fort was named Machhindrapur. A majority of historians consider King Samprati a peace-loving and courageous king. He had managed to establish several Jain centres across different Arab countries, including Iran.

It is not very clear though as to what happened in the region or with the site of the fort until the beginning of the 14th century. At that point, Allauddin Khilji occupied the area. He was one of the greatest rulers of the Khilji dynasty, who was running successful campaigns on the Indian subcontinent, acquiring territories of even the southernmost parts of it. He had invaded most of Rajasthan and attacked Mewar incessantly. And so, Rana Kumbha decided to rebuild the fort with a long wall so it could be used as a refuge if the Rajput kings felt vulnerable in their palaces. The wall was also built to separate Mewar from Marwar, which eventually brought prosperity and progress to the region. Unlike the Great Wall of China, which took more than 1,800 years to complete, the Great Wall of India, as the fortification of Kumbhalgarh Fort is often referred to, took just a little over a decade and a half to finish. In their heydays, the Mewar kings built a chain of fortresses, which spread from the Aravalli mountains in the north, to southern Rajasthan. During his reign, Rana Kumbha is said to have built around thirty-two forts, of which Kumbhalgarh was the largest.

The Gory Story
It is said that Rana Kumbha initially wanted to build a fort at Keliwada, which was about 7 kms from the present site. But each time the fort wall began to be built, it would collapse midway. Rana Kumbha failed multiple times in constructing the mammoth wall until he went to a saint who suggested the present-day spot for the fort and said a human sacrifice was needed to construct it.

But who would volunteer to be killed? When no one came up for some time, the saint himself volunteered to sacrifice his life. The saint said to Rana Kumbha: ‘I’ll climb the hill, Rana, and you follow me. The point where I stop first, build the main entrance of the fort there.

I’ll climb up further and when I stop for the second time, I will sacrifice myself and you build a temple there. Where my body falls, that mark will be the last point of the great wall.’ The king agreed reluctantly and walked with the saint right up to the present entrance of the fort and did as was suggested by the saint.

An Architectural Wonder
The snake-like wall to the main fort seems to go up endlessly, as if to reach out to the clouds. Then, you see a fort sitting on top of a hill, some 3,600 feet above sea level. Designed by one of the most famous architects of that time, named Mandan, who was also a theorist and author in Rana Kumbha’s court, the fort was built with strict adherence to Vastu Shastra. The fort has 15-feet-thick frontal walls that house seven gates of which Haathi Pol, Hanuman Pol and Ram Pol are the major gates. (‘Pol’ in the local language means main gate).

If you walk to the fort, passing through the different pols, you cannot but marvel at how clever the design of the fort is! There are sharp turns and congested staircases, designed to slow down invaders. There are eyeholes in the battlement that work as binoculars — one can look down at the whole valley and see any approaching enemy! The path on the ramparts is wide enough for eight horses to walk side by side at the same time — built to offer a stronghold in case of an attack. There are strategic spots along the wall that allowed the soldiers a clear view of the Thar Desert and the distant Aravalli Range. And yet, despite its spread and massive structure, it is beautifully hidden between the hills, which speaks a great deal about the brilliant planning and architecture of ancient Indians. Many an enemy must have gone round in circles trying to find where the fort is, as it can only be spotted from a mere 500 metres from any side. Built entirely out of sturdy stone blocks more than five centuries ago, the fort has withstood the vagaries of nature and stands tall and strong as if it was built just yesterday! It is indeed an architectural wonder and a testimony of the talents of the architects of that era.

A Journey Back in Time
Inside the double-storeyed fort, there are patches of greenery, open courtyards and terraces. There are also some noteworthy structures such as the king’s and queen’s chambers, the watchtower, the rainwater reservoirs and the cannon room. There are different sections with rooms constructed inside the fort and given different names like Badal Mahal, Kumbha Mahal, etc.

The courtyard is attached to two royal chambers — one each for men and women, both connected with a corridor. The royal kitchen once stood close to these chambers.

To feed the thousands of people who lived inside the fort, a giant kitchen was constructed, complete with stone chimneys. Though the kitchen was segregated into two sections for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, the fact that both kinds were cooked under the same roof is an instance of harmony and tolerance that could be inspirational today.

Kumbhalgarh Fort has some five ancient cannons on display in a special section called the ‘top khana’ (a room for cannons), which give a glimpse of the scale and grandeur of the Rana’s armoury during the fort’s heydays. It is said that Rana Kumbha used to light giant lamps, which used 100 kg cotton and 50 kg pure ghee, to provide light to the farmers working at night. The lamps used to glow so brightly that their brightness would reach across miles.

A PALACE OF CLOUDS
The fort’s highest point is the Badal Mahal, or Palace of Clouds. It’s a room where the king and queen are said to have caught up over a good view of the hills. From the window of the Badal Mahal, it feels as if the clouds are flying right above your head.

This room gives almost a bird’s-eye view of the fort and the Aravalli Range, winding out to the horizon for as far as one’s eyes can follow. Certain sections have beautiful elephant carvings, painted in natural colours. It is from this spot that the portion of the wall that separates Mewar from Marwar can be seen.

AN ALMOST INVINCIBLE FORT
Counted as one of the most invincible forts in India, the Kumbhalgarh Fort must have been a tough challenge for the invading armies in the medieval era—and it must have left them wondering how to breach the famed and impregnable wall of the fort!

The fort remained almost invincible throughout the Mewar rulers’ era. It took the combined forces of Emperor Akbar, Raja Uday Singh of Marwar, Raja Man Singh of Amer, the Mirzas of Gujarat and a water crisis, for the fort to finally be invaded. The invaders poisoned the fort’s source of drinking water and the Rajputs had to surrender due to a shortage of water. Shahbaz Khan, a general of Emperor Akbar, took control of the fort in the late 1500s. In 1818, the Marathas took over the fort.

There’s something indomitable about a fort’s seemingly endless walls — most of which stretch from hill to hill, like a huge anaconda waiting to spring into action. While most Indian forts are either on hilltop vantage points or in the midst of some forest as a protective cover, the Kumbhalgarh Fort has both. It stretches across a hill range, giving a clear line of vision from miles away; it also lies in the heart of what is now a wildlife sanctuary. Kumbhalgarh Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group ‘Hill Forts of Rajasthan’ in 2013. Call it strategic inaccessibility, revolutionary design or nature’s mercy, the Kumbhalgarh Fort remains one of the strongest forts of India and bears testimony to the genius and splendour of war tactics and the architectural finesse of people who lived long, long ago…

Excerpted from A Dozen and a Half Stories - Strange and Mysterious Places the World Forgot by Arti Muthanna Singh and Mamta Nainy with permission from Rupa Publications

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/the-great-wall-of-india-105307, June 28, 2020

The work, being carried out by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage was supposed to be completed by the end of June this year.

Renovation and conservation of the house of doyen of Assamese literature Lakhminath Bezbaroa, located at Nelson Mandela Chowk in the city has been hit due to lockdown.

The work, being carried out by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was supposed to be completed by the end of June this year.

Bezbaroa lived in the city for two decades from 1917 to 1937. He had constructed two houses in 1924-one for use as residence the other as his office.

The house which was used by the litterateur as his office is being renovated at present. The work, which was started in December 2018, was going on in full swing till the lockdown brought it to a halt, said member of INTACH, Sambalpur Chapter Deepak Panda.

The work was resumed in June 7 and is likely to be completed by the end of August this year. The building will be converted into a library-cum-museum.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jun/30/renovation-of-bezbaroa-house-in-odishas-sambalpur-hit-by-covid-19-lockdown-2163200.html, June 30, 2020

Heritage structures on Moula Ali hilltop are in the process of being restored. GHMC has handed over the restoration of these structures to Al Kausar Trust. “The projects will be executed in five phases. Work is being undertaken voluntarily by the trust,” said founder of the trust Syed Nazeer Hasan Abedi. The work will likely be completed within two to three months. Anuradha Reddy, convenor, INTACH, Hyderabad, told TOI: “INTACH is happy Al Kausar Trust is taking interest in the restoration work."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabad-work-on-moula-ali-heritage-bldgs-on-at-brisk-pace/articleshow/76698910.cms, June 30, 2020