Heritage Alerts November 2020
From the first contact of the French with these shores, the Anglo-French wars and destruction and restoration of the city to the modern history of liberation and accession to the Indian Union, an exhibition hosted as part of the 66th Liberation Day celebrations offered a snapshot of the U.T.’s evolution. Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy opened the exhibition hosted by the Tourism Department and curated by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH-Puducherry).
The event was supported by Alliance Francaise, the French Institute of Pondicherry and Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO) (French School of the Far East) in the city. Though the exhibition used to be at least a week-long event in past years, this time the programme was curtailed to a day in view of the pandemic situation. Through a series of panels and charts, the exhibition was designed to chart the historical, architectural and cultural evolution of the place, spanning over 400 years. It features stalwarts who shaped the city’s architectural and cultural identity and highlights the restoration work undertaken by INTACH in the heritage town. The French first settled in erstwhile Pondicherry in 1674. The coastal town was taken over by the Dutch in 1693, who prepared the first comprehensive and unique grid-patterned layout for the settlement. The place changed hands to the French again in 1700, paving the way for implementation of the architectural plan and a series of fortifications — being enclosed in an oval-shaped rampart by 1740. As early as 1709, there would be one of the first initiatives by the French company to build a stronghold — Fort Louis — in the heart of the town.
Modelled on the fort built by French military engineer Vauban in Tournai, the city would have a pentagon-shaped fort with five bastions, underground chambers for storage and a moat around it. The period between 1761 and 1825 saw several outer fortifications and the Boulevards. In 1761, the place came under the onslaught of the British, leading to its near-total destruction. However, the French wrested back Pondicherry in 1763 and reconstructed the town as seen today over the old foundational design. There are frames on personages from the French era from Governor-General Joseph Francois Dupleix to Ananda Ranga Pillai, the Dewan whose diaries are a rich source of archival material on life in the mid-18th century. Panels documented the contributions of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, whose legacy permeates the quietude associated with the White Town precincts, and fascinating figures from history such as Chinese scholar Xu Fancheng, who lived in the city for 27 years. According to Ashok Panda, INTACH co-convener, new investigations by French scholars regarding crucial periods of the town’s development hold immense appeal for revisiting the Union Territory’s story.
Dutch maps and plans throw new light on the origins of the settlement at the end of the 17th century; the register of land in the White Town precincts in 1777 which constitutes a veritable cadastre, an inventory of the essential elements of urban life. The historical and statistical accounts of the main French settlements in 1824 can be considered the first gazetteers of India.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/a-snapshot-of-puducherrys-evolution/article33006855.ece, November 2, 2020
The Ganga temple, popularly known as Raja Man Singh Ki Chhatri, has not been renovated for the past several decades. It stands among a cluster of temples at Har-Ki-Pauri, as it is the only temple not whitewashed and is in cemented-brick form only. The historic 16th-century temple built by King Man Singh of Ajmer, in the midst of sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-Ki-Pauri, in Haridwar will get a major facelift ahead of the Mahakumbh fair. The temple as per the High Court directives is being restored to its original dome shape (Chhatri) from which its name has been derived. The Ganga temple, popularly known as Raja Man Singh Ki Chhatri, has not been renovated for the past several decades. It stands among a cluster of temples at Har-Ki-Pauri, as it is the only temple not whitewashed and is in cemented-brick form only.
Chemical layering, filling, testing and cleaning work has been started by experts from Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The family whose ancestors were priests of Raja Man Singh and who manage the temple have given a go-ahead to ensure beautification, restoration of the original dome-shaped structure with an initial assessment of nearly Rs 60 lakh budget. Haridwar Roorkee Development Authority had also carried out an assessment of the four-century-old temple basement and structure during Ganga canal closure last year. A team of experts comprising Archaeological Survey of India, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, and Central Building Research Institute had given a go-ahead to the construction of the dome structure in its feasibility report. Pallav Budhkar, member of the family whose ancestors were priests of Raja Man Singh, said that work has been initiated to ensure the temple restores its original umbrella-shaped top structure.
Ganga Sabha president Pradeep Jha pointed out that in 1997 the Chhatri (elevated, dome-shaped or umbrella-shaped structure) atop the shrine was removed. “After the removal of the Chhatri, it became a raised concrete temple”, he said “Pilgrims and tourists used to make sure they pay obeisance at this temple; the same aura will get restored when it is restored to its original glory,” said local trader Tej Prakash.
Devotees, as well as tourists, easily spot the Ganga temple and are surprised that such a historical temple is not in good shape. Even during Mahakumbh, Ardh Kumbh, Kanwar fairs and other VVIP dignitaries’ visit, Ganga Sabha and local administration cover this concrete-brick unfinished look of the Ganga temple by decorating it with decorative flowers to hide the dilapidated structure.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/restoration-of-uttarakhand-s-400-year-old-ganga-temple-begins/story-CnQf5X82xmdjF1JmvrL5ZO.html, November 4, 2020
Kutch stumbled upon a possible megalithic structure near Bhimasar, about 22 km east from Rapar. They have urged the state authorities to carry out research to throw light on its history. Mahadev Barad, a local archaeology enthusiast from Vagad, said that he had heard about a stone structure, locally known as ‘Bhim gufa’ about 2 km from Bhimasar village near a hillock. “Upon reaching there, we realized that it was a manmade structure as the rocks were found to be roughly cut.
We also cleaned up a part of it, revealing the staircase going inside,” he said. Barad and others cleaned an area of about 10X10 feet, revealing cut rocks piled upon each other. “I have already informed the local authorities and state archaeology department about the find and have requested them to take steps for conservation,” he said, adding that the geology department from the KSKV Kutch University is likely to visit the spot. Shubhashis Das, an independent researcher and author on megalithic structures in India, said that Barad had informed him about the find.
"While I am still to visit the site, I had asked him to ascertain its cardinal directions. Upon checking with compass, it’s passageway points towards the north – like the megalithic structures found in England, it’s possible that the passage was directed to catch the winter solstice sunrise. However, more study is required,” said Das. Das said that burial mounds were practised in several cultures and if revealed properly, the structure could be one. “While memorial/ hero stones (Paliya) are very common in Gujarat, we also get examples of stone circles and menhir (standing stones).
But I don't have such a structure in my knowledge,” he said, adding that it's difficult to estimate the age of the stone structures, but the structure at Bhimasar could belong to the 700-500 BC period based on its design. Sanket Rajput, sarpanch of Bhimasar village, said that they will seek the government and expert help to understand the find. “Kutch is known for its natural and manmade treasures. We are not sure what the research may reveal – but we would try to conserve and protect it,” he said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabad-majnu-burj-of-golconda-forte-collapses-amid-heavy-rains-asi-golf-club-keep-mum/articleshow/78641920.cms, November 6, 2020
The Covid lockdown period has yie
lded a major treasure for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team working at Vadnagar, the hometown of PM Narendra Modi. This includes a fairly well-preserved structure believed to be a Chaitya, a shrine with a prayer hall, and two stupas in the vicinity. The ancient marvels were dug up from near the grain godown in Vadnagar and date back to the 2nd to 7th Century. This time period coincides with Chinese traveller-monk Hiuen Tsang’s visit to the ancient town in the 7th Century. A team of ASI’s Excavation Branch V has been stationed in the ancient town since 2015 to carry out cultural sequencing of the PM’s hometown. Work in season 2019-20 was primarily focused on two spots – Amba Ghat on the banks of Sharmishtha Lake, and the vicinity of grain godown near the railway line.
“The main structure, possibly a Chaitya, was excavated from the site spread over a 50X20 metre area. It is an apsidal (semi-circular) structure. The structure is being closely studied but is believed to be a Buddhist Chaitya because of it’s unique design,” said sources close to the development. "The Chaitya structure dates back to the 2nd-3rd Century CE. It also shows signs of repairs around 5th Century CE onwards."
‘Built chaityas rarer than rock-cut ones’
The chaitya and stupa are located away from the ancient boundary of the town with a water body in the vicinity. These characteristics are often found in ancient Buddhist sites. We have all reasons to believe this to be a site that may have been one of the 10 sites observed by Hiuen Tsang,” said an expert. Archaeology experts said that finding a built chaitya is less common than a rock-cut one. Devni Mori, another landmark Buddhist site in Gujarat, had an apsidal structure, they added. A circular stupa measuring 3mx1.5m was found from the same structure, which experts associate with the earlier phase of the chaitya. Another memorial stupa — a 2mx2m square — has been found from the same site. “It’s identified as a memorial stupa as we have also found a space to keep the revered relics. This structure dates to 5th-7th century CE,” said an expert associated with the project.
Experts associated with the project say the fresh discoveries further cements Vadnagar’s stake as an important Buddhist centre in the past millennium. In the past decade, a Buddhist structure, believed to be a nunnery, was unearthed by the state archaeology department. Later excavations by ASI have thrown up a superstructure on the banks of Sharmishtha Lake, 23 chambers believed to be a monastery, and a large cache of Buddhist artefacts.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/first-buddhist-chaitya-more-stupas-excavated-in-gujarats-vadnagar/articleshow/78962766.cms, November 6, 2020
The majestic yet graceful structure of Kodial Guthu, which reflects the traditional
coastal architecture and rich legacy of Bunt community, is now evoking an
overwhelming response through the artistic endeavors it houses. Efforts by INTACH
(Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and ‘Artkanara’, a trust formed by
an enthusiastic group of artists from Mangaluru, Udupi and Kasargod districts, have
reaped dividends and the heritage ‘Guthu’ House on G G Road in Ballal Bagh, is now a
vibrant art hub. “An objective to encourage art appreciation and patronage, was realised
with the partnership of INTACH, Artkanara trust and art patrons,” informs Subhas
Chandra Basu, serving as a convener of the Mangaluru branch of INTACH.
Basu is an
architect who works on the conservation of heritage structures. After a few months of
restoration process, that begun in 2015, the Guthu House Chavadi was eventually put to
use. “’Chavadi’, the entrance part of Guthu House, was converted into an art gallery ‘S
Cube’ run by Artkanara trust. People besides appreciating art works also feel proud of
their heritage,” Basu told DH. He thanked Guthu House family in particular, Pratibha
Karanth, who supported INTACH in the restoration of ‘Chavadi’ or the welcoming
entrance of the Guthu House.
Prathibha Karanth hails from Kodial Guthu family and is
wife of Dr Ullas Karanth, director of Wildlife Conservation Society’s India Programme.
Former member of Lalita Kala Academy and S Cube Art Gallery curator Rajendra
Kedige says the beauty and serene atmosphere of the traditional house is retained while
setting up the art gallery. “For artists, there has always been a need for such a creative
space,” he emphasises. The gallery serves as a space for display-cum-sale of varieties of
art works including paintings, metal, stone and wood sculptures by prominent artists of
the region like Ramesh Rao, P N Acharya, Purushottam Adve, Venki Palimar, Syed Asif
Ali, Santhosh Andrade, Vishwas and Permude Mohan Kumar. Camps, appreciationprogrammes and exhibitions by individual artists are also held here. A workshop on ‘Kaavi’ art, painting competition on the theme of Mahatma Gandhi, an exhibition based on life and achievements of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, held in the gallery, received good response.
Kodial Guthu Center for Media Art and Design ‘Chavadi’ rose to prominence with the establishment of ‘Kodial Guthu Center for Media Art and Design’ by Artkanara and Mindcraft studios. The institute offers short term courses in visual studies, art journalism and design school focusing on students, said INTACH coconvener Nemiraj Shetty.
https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/preserving-heritage-houses-for-artistic-purpose-912709.html, November 7, 2020
As she travels through India, she gets a costume change in each state. On Instagram, her
smiling avatar is a bestseller, and speaks up for good causes. Karuna lives for a good
cause. She’s part of a women’s group, travels a lot for work, and is very particular about
her wardrobe. In each state she visits, she wears only local weaves, usually made by women’s organisations. It’s not hard to dress her though, since she’s only 8 inches high, and a doll.
The Karuna doll project was launched in September by Creative Dignity, a
volunteer movement that began as a WhatsApp group in end-April, set up to help
artisans hit by the pandemic. Here’s how it works. The doll — essentially the concept —
is loaned to one state at a time, through tie-ups with local NGOs and crafts
organisations. These bodies then create their own version of the doll, weaving elements
of their culture and their crafts into her costumes, accessories and tiny woven props.
Sometimes she even gets a companion. She can be quite fluid (there are plans for a
Hanuman avatar).
And there’s a leather-puppet Karuna in the works. Each state’s
reimagined Karuna (the word is Hindi for Compassion) is then promoted and sold via
Instagram, @CreativeDignity. Here the doll also gets to have her say, talking in social
media posts about empathy, sustainability, gender equality and different local crafts. So
far the doll has gone from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar and
Maharashtra. Proceeds from all sales go to the local artisans and organisations. "The aim is to cover the country in her yatra," says Aradhna Nagpal, a volunteer with Creative Dignity who also set up and runs the Mumbai crafts studio Dhoop. A set of six dolls from her travels so far was released on October 11 and is priced at Rs 3,600. “So far, we have sold dolls worth Rs 2 lakh,” Nagpal says. Karuna travels to Himachal Pradesh this month, then Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. In each state, she gets new nomenclature too.
In Tamil Nadu, where she started out, she has an elder cousin who is also part of her origin story. Tsunamika was launched in 2005 by crafts enthusiast and designer Uma Prajapati of Auroville’s Upasna Design Studio. In the wake of the massive tidal wave of December 26, 2004, which devastated parts of coastal Tamil Nadu, Prajapati tied up with women from six coastal villages to launch an arts initiative to help them earn some money and try to process their feelings. At first, Tsunamika served as a grief-counselling aid.
Then local women began making them as tributes to people they had lost. It quickly became an international aid initiative and, over 15 years, 6 million of the dolls have been distributed and sold across 80 countries. The Karuna project aims to emulate this model. “Dolls evoke emotion, compassion, a sense of connection and that profound relationship with the mother. Tsunamika is a mother archetype and so is Karuna,” says Prajapati, who also designed Karuna and is the chapter head for Creative Dignity in Tamil Nadu. The Karuna dolls here are made in forest colours by fisherwomen communities in the same six coastal villages near Auroville. The Karuna Doll from Kerala is named Kathakali and is accompanied by a storytelling parrot named Kathakili, both designed as finger puppets, made from woven fabric in the handloom village of Chendamangalam, which suffered heavy losses during the floods of 2018 and has now seen business hit hard again in the pandemic.
In Bihar, the Karuna doll is nicknamed Babuni and is made using upcycled handloom scrap embellished with sujjni embroidery, by women in Sheikhpura and Nasriganj, Patna. The crochet Karuna doll from Hisar, Haryana is called Kovid Kumari and was created through a community initiative by INTACH.
Maro from Rajasthan is made from upcycled rags and leheriya fabric, and is intended to resemble the Shekhawati women. The Maharashtra Karuna is Bhavani. She is made with rope and khann fabric in Nagpur. In October, in Himachal Pradesh, the crochet Karuna dolls, a man and a woman, posted about gender equality. “In the first phase of the lockdown, most men working in the tourism sector, a mainstay of the state, were forced to stay home.
It was all the more reason for us to get orders for our women and ensure that they took home some money,” says Swati Seth, founder of the social enterprise The Color Caravan, which is collaborating with artisans here. “That is one of the reasons we decided to participate in the Karuna doll project.” In November, Karuna is in Karnataka, where she takes the form of a baby Hanuman doll which will be released during Diwali.
Next, in Andhra Pradesh, she will be reinvented as a leather puppet. Karuna will soon start to tell the stories of her creators too. “The aim now is to introduce the makers of these dolls to the world,” Nagpal says. “So other people who might have projects for them can reach out too."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/save-navsari-palace-campaign-launched/articleshow/79005654.cms, November 8, 2020
They have been practising law in this majestic building for the past six decades. Hundreds of advocates from Navsari have now begun a movement to save the Navsari Palace that had been home to the district court since 1960 before it was shifted to a new building three years ago. The Navsari District Court Bar Association (NDCBA) alleged that the authorities have plans to demolish the grand palace located at a prime location in the town. The NDCBA with the help of Jeetendrasinh Gaekwad, great grandnephew of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, has written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and several other government authorities urging to save the palace. “This is one of the most beautiful palaces in the state and a landmark for residents of Navsari. We have launched a campaign to save this palace as the authorities may demolish it in the coming years,” said advocate Sudhir Sule, president, NDCBA. “The roads and buildings (R&B) department got a structural stability report made from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat and wrote a letter to the district court in February this year. The letter stated that the palace building was in dilapidated state and should be vacated to avoid any accident.
We were informed about it in March,” Sule told TOI. “In May, the R&B department wrote
another letter to the district court asking it to put the palace building in non-use and put
a fence around it. This is a precursor to demolishing the building. First they will put it in
non-use and then pull it down,” Sule alleged. He added that the bar association has not
moved out of the palace building yet. Gaekwad, who joined the NDCBA in saving the
138-year-old heritage structure, said that Maharaja Sayajirao had made such palaces in
Baroda state with a vision. “They are a part of our rich legacy, and hence have to be
preserved. Certain vested interests want to demolish the palace and use the space for
other purposes. We won’t let that happen.
Several eminent citizens, architects, trade
associations and the affluent Parsi community from Navsari have joined in this
campaign to save our heritage,” Gaekwad said. The Surat chapter of Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), too, is supporting the campaign. “We are
documenting key features of the palace and preparing a report. The palace building is in
a good shape and can be used for a better purpose instead of pulling it down,” said
Prakash Haathi, co-convenor, INTACH Surat. Niketin Contractor, who comes from a
prominent Parsi family in Vadodara, has also urged the Parsi community in Navsari to
support the campaign to save the palace that was constructed by a Parsi contractor,
Fardunji Rustomji. J G Kher, executive engineer, R&B department, Navsari said, “The
palace building is in a dilapidated state.
Experts at the engineering institute of SVNIT
also said that the building was not in a good shape. We requested the district court to get
it vacated immediately for avoiding any accident.” When asked if there are any plans to
demolish the palace, Kher said, “No such decision has been taken by the government.
Also, the palace is in the possession of Gujarat high court. In fact, I gave a personal
opinion to the advocates that the government can start a museum in the palace building
with the permission of the high court.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/save-navsari-palace-campaign-launched/articleshow/79005654.cms, November 10, 2020
The Central Public Works Department has commenced work to restore the century-old
lighthouse on the Beach Road. “The civil and engineering works have commenced. The Ministry of Finance is executing the project through the GST office. The Ministry has already sanctioned around ₹2 crore for the work. The project is estimated to cost ₹3.32 crore,” an official with the GST office told The Hindu. The plan was to restore the lighthouse, which got deactivated in late 1970’s, by around October next year, the official added.
Highest structure
One of the highest structures here, the lighthouse will get new rafters, beams and plastering without making any alteration to its architectural beauty. While the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage is the architectural advisor, the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, is the structural consultant. Co-convener of INTACH Ashok Panda said before the advent of communication revolution, the navigation on the Coromandel coast was difficult due to severe cyclonic storms and constantly moving sand bars. The shoreline was so low that sailors found it difficult to locate the shore. Initially, the French administration used to maintain a fire on the top of the red hills surrounding the region to assist sailors to locate the shoreline of Puducherry, he said.
Demand for lighthouse
But there was constant demand from captains of ships to have lighthouses, like the one
in Europe. As per the demand, the lighthouse was constructed locally by engineer Louis
Guerre in 1836, Mr. Panda said. “It has evidently undergone several modifications over
the years, but one could see still, traces of the French colonial features in the cornice and
pilaster bands. The compound wall has been partially modified with masonry loopholes, replacing the wooden fencing. The hexagonal piers still remain,” he said.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/restoration-of-lighthouse-begins/article33079516.ece, November 12, 2020
Like many other India’s geo heritage sites, the natural arch formation at the Mangamaripeta beach, located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, remains an unchampioned cause. The arch that was formed as a result of thousands of years of wind and sand action along the shore today lies in a precarious state with people thronging the spot and climbing on the fragile formations. On Sunday, the once
secluded beach was teeming with visitors, clicking selfies atop the natural arch and some even performing bike stunts over the geologically-sensitive spot.
With no clear signage of the geological significance of the place or fencing of the fragile natural arch, visitors have been gathering up there in large numbers and the recent crowding there has raised an alarm among heritage conservationists and geologists. D. Rajasekhar Reddy, adviser to the Geo Heritage Cell of INTACH and former professor of Geology, Andhra University told The Hindu: "The natural arch is a very rare formation and needs to be protected. It must be barricaded and kept out of bounds from visitors with immediate effect so that it can be protected from collapsing.” According to him, the formation is expected to have begun after the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch Silathoranam at Tirumala.
“Barricades have been put across this place at Tirumala to prevent people from touching the structure. A similar arrangement can be made here by the tourism department and the district administration. While the place should be popularised, the natural arch should be protected from anthropogenic activities,” he added.
Conservation plan
INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter will be giving a proposal to the district administration in this regard. “Although a board has been put up by the department of tourism and VMRDA at the rock arch, people have scant regard and continue to raid it without understanding its importance,” said Mayank Kumari, convener of INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/a-snapshot-of-puducherrys-evolution/article33006855.ece, November 13, 2020
Two of Bengaluru’s heritage structures, neglected for long, have come back to life, thanks to an initiative involving the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach). Bangalore Gate Built in early 20th Century Cost of restoration: Rs 40 lakh Time taken: One year Located near Royan Circle on Mysore Road, this structure was in ruins, and few knew about its historical significance. Built in early 20th Century, the structure is believed to be a toll gate monitoring the movement of horse carts between Bengaluru and Mysuru. With no maintenance, its walls had chipped off, and a giant peepul tree had grown through its roof. Restoration work began in September 2019, and is almost complete.
“The biggest challenge was to retain the building in one piece, without destroying its essence,” says Meera, convenor, Intach (Bengaluru Chapter). “Removing the tree was a big challenge,” she adds. The false windows were meant to give the structure a symmetrical look. Pankaj Modi, conservation architect and technical coordinator, Intach, says, “We had to first stabilise the walls structurally, after the tree was removed. For this, we got Helifix rods from Vadodara. Lime mortar was prepared in Mysuru and brought to the site.” Doing the false louver in lime plaster required special skill.
The roof was redone in all three rooms, especially around the dome. “We added a parapet wall of short height to define the structure. We have left the ceiling of the Madras terrace around the hexagonal room, below the dome, exposed, for people to see how the structure was built,” he says. The building will be ready by November 30. Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office is responsible for its maintenance and upkeep. It plans to use it as a library. Fort High School Built in 1907 Cost of restoration: Rs 2.3 crore Time taken: Two and half years Built on a sprawling campus in the heart of the city, Fort High School is 113 years old. It was built by the Mysuru administration in 1907, and continues to this day to provide education to children in the area. Famously, its grounds are used for the annual Ramanavami concerts, and the building’s walls reverberate with the sounds of the very best of Indian classical music. Intach began restoring Fort High School in Chamarajpet on World Heritage Day in April 2018. The work was carried out while the school was working, and so had to be done in phases.
“We had to open up everything to assess the extent of the damage. There were places where the beams were completely hollowed out. Getting matching size beams was a task,” says Meera. Pankaj says, “The building was initially planned as a symmetrical structure. Then there was another phase of extension which resulted in the formation of a courtyard. It is a hybrid style, a mix of colonial and vernacular styles.” He adds that the team tried to incorporate subtle design changes in the flooring and cladding in the classrooms. The toilets were moved inside of the second courtyard. The building is completed. What about the colour scheme, which has changed from off white to red? “The colour scheme was based on what we discovered during the process of restoration,” says Pankaj. Who funded the renovation? The renovation of Bangalore Gate and Fort High School was funded by Basant Poddar, managing director of Mineral Enterprises Ltd.
“A lot of detailing had to be done in both buildings,” Poddar, who enjoys a penchant for all things antique, told Metrolife. Bhaskar Rao: Reinstate Heritage Commission Former city police commissioner Bhaskar Rao took the initiative to restore the two structures to their original glory. “It has been a long-cherished dream to restore the Bangalore Gate. There were many moves to demolish it. But during my tenure, we managed to get work started to give it a new look. There were also plans to commercialise the Fort High School premises. Even that has been thwarted by likeminded old Bengalureans,” he says. He sees an urgent need to reinstate the Heritage Commission to protect the remaining heritage structures in the city. The commission, that was functional and active during S M Krishna’s tenure, was headed by T P Issar.
https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-with-bengaluru/two-heritage-buildings-restored-917682.html, November 16, 2020
Not too long ago, a drive from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh along the coastline would throw open vast expanses of virgin beaches that kept many secrets of the geological world. Silently lying on the sand and sea bed, they are a reminder of the million years of geological processes. One such marvel is the natural arch at Mangamaripeta beach opposite the Thotlakonda Buddhist Site. Once a secluded beach, the recent incident of overcrowding and reckless acts of visitors endangering the natural arch has raised concerns among geologists and heritage activists on the need to safeguard the sites of the region and establish a geo park. “Geological sites are a record of important geological phenomenon that are a key to trace the evolutionary history of earth and its changing processes,” says D Rajasekhar Reddy, advisor to Geo Heritage Cell of INTACH and retired professor of Geology, Andhra University. The natural arch, for instance, is likely to date back to the period after the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills.
Globally, geo parks are sustained through geo tourism activities like excursions, Nature trails, guided tours, hiking and academic meets. Adequate signage and interpretation centres are set up in the area to create awareness among tourists. While there are 147 UNESCO Global geo parks spread across 41 countries, India is yet to have one of its own. The scope in India is immense — Visakhapatnam alone is replete with many unique sites.
Creating awareness
In July 2019, INTACH organised a campaign along with the Department of Tourism, Archaeology and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority to create public awareness on geo heritage spots in the region. “We are pushing to get recognition of a geo park for Visakhapatnam consisting of Erra Matti Dibbalu (red sand dunes), natural rock formations at Mangamaripeta, million-years-old Borra Caves and volcanic ash deposits said to have originated from the volcanic eruption of Toba in Indonesia 73,000 years ago near Araku,” says Mayank Kumari, Convener of INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter. Among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India, is the Erra Matti Dibbalu or coastal red sediment mounds located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam. This stretch of sandy red dunes is a gift of Nature.
The width of the dunes vary from 200 metres to two kilometres, spread across five kilometres along the coast. “Besides being unusual, the rare sand dunes have an important and interesting history of evolution. Such sand deposits have been reported only from three low latitude tropical regions in South Asia — the Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu, the Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh and Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka,” says Rajasekhar Reddy. According to researchers, the significance of the place was discovered by William King, a geologist from the Geological Survey of India more than a century ago. He “described them as badlands to represent the remnants of denudation of great sand banks or isolated banks formed around sunken or depressed hills”. History narrator Jayshree Hatangadi describes Erra Matti Dibbalu as “one of the most beautiful natural formations” which can be best seen in a dramatic dusk view from the West tower (30 feet height) looking eastwards.
Man-made interference
Jayshree recently conducted two heritage walks. What however came to light in one of the excursions was the way the red sands were being exploited for construction activity. “We were appalled to see three lorries full of red sand being carried away extremely close to the site. There were huge proclaimers digging deep,” adds Jayshree.According to her, the way forward is to engage the local community in becoming the custodians of this heritage site by making them understand the geological value. A gate, proper security, illumination, tourist safety team and guides are some of the measures that should be implemented, she says. The red sand sediments of Erra Matti Dibbalu are unconsolidated and loose.
“Every monsoon the sediments are washed away, turning the sea a bright red. Further degradation due to human interference such as digging, climbing, littering are affecting their stability and exacerbating erosion. As such, we face the danger of losing a rare and picturesque record of Nature,” says Rajasekhar.
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/saving-the-precious-geo-heritage-sites-of-visakhapatnam/article33117808.ece, November 20, 2020
Did you know that nearly 250 years before Chennai became a centre for medical tourism, its hospitals — like the Government General Hospital (1664), the Eye Hospital (1819), Institute of Mental Health (1794) — pioneered medical advancements? That Bengaluru was a textile and arms manufacturing centre before it came to be known as the Garden City? That the Bezoras goats of Hyderabad’s droppings were as valuable as Golconda diamonds? Or that the spirit of Warren Hastings is rumoured to still visit Kolkata’s Writer’s Building at midnight? Such interesting tidbits of history often remain buried in academic documentation or people are often unaware of stories behind places in the city they call home. This gap is bridged by local historians, many self-taught, who host guided tours and storytelling sessions around monuments, streets and bazaars.
They cull out interesting facets from books, libraries, architectural records and grandma’s stories to put together cohesive, lively histories for growing audiences seeking information on the cities they visit, as well as the ones they call home. In New Delhi, Swapna Liddle has been conducting walks in the capital for the last two decades. Armed with a PhD in History, she frequently lectures in colleges. “Heritage walks have been on in Delhi since the 1990s. Probably the earliest group to start them was the Conservation Society, a group of academics and architects.
In the late 1990s, the India Habitat Centre (IHC) started including heritage walks in their programme calendar and their popularity grew. This was followed by INTACH in the mid-2000s and since then many people have started doing walks. Many of these are commercially a success too,” says Swapna who has trained many walk leaders and designed walks. In 2011 she wrote the book, Delhi: 14 Historic Walks.Between 2012 and 2017, she was a guest at the AIR phone-in show Barish Sawalon Ki, where she would answer listeners’ questions about Delhi’s history and heritage. According to Swapna, a lot of Delhi’s rich history is found in Persian and Urdu texts that were difficult to access due to paucity of translated material. Her research is based on primary as well as secondary sources like original documents and published books. “When people try to re-imagine the present, they often call upon ‘history’ to justify their positions. History is a potential field for contestation because in popular imagination, our perception of the past is often closely tied up with our ideas about our identity in the present,” Swapna states.
Bengaluru-based filmmaker and writer Basav Biradar agrees: “Historians should come forward and interact with the general public as history is an important space to be in. It is evident that it can be used to misinform.” On his return from the US in 2010, he began to study the history of Bengaluru. In 2011, he started Historywallahs, which curates content for museums and Government organisations. In 2012, he began conducting heritage walks in Bengaluru and Mysore. As these walks became more popular, he found a growing awareness on the value of heritage. “Though the Karnataka Government is yet to come up with strong legislation on preservation of monuments, Bengaluru’s citizen engagement with heritage is high and acts as a safety net,” says Basav who has made several short documentaries on the city, the latest being on the Kolar Gold Fields. Chennai-based businessman V Sriram’s interest in history was kindled by his stint in Kolkata and New Delhi where he was educated. He returned to Chennai in 1993 and came under the influence of renowned chronicler S Muthiah. It disciplined him, says Srirarm, who has also written biographies of corporate houses, museums, musicians and others. His grandfather’s library with around 5,000 books kindled his interest in history and he has built his own collection of around 1,500 books.
Outside his professional reading, he reads only books on history and is fastidious about cross-checking and verifying facts. He pioneered heritage walks in Chennai; the first in 1999 had 35 participants. He had completed 80 different routes until the pandemic called a halt. Well-known monuments form 20% of the walks; the rest cover lesser-known aspects of the city. “Chennai may be a colonial town but its various temples show an enduring historical life via the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar rulers before the arrival of the colonials,” he says pointing to the loss of precious heritage. In 2008, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) identified 50 homes of heritage value, where historically distinguished personalities had resided. Today just 10 remain; the rest have been consumed by land developers. When speaking of facts, Sajjad Sajid believes that “there is a residual element of truth in the most improbable, impossible legends and stories.” The Hyderabad-based historian’s definition of history is not the straight and the narrow but includes oral histories, stories, legends and myths. His family’s roots in the city go back to around 600 years and his paternal family is descended from the Sufi poet Qazi Mahmud Behri. Sajjad, a civil engineer, is currently a visiting faculty at the University of Hyderabad where he teaches Islamic art and architecture of Deccan and is consultant to the Aga Khan Trust’s project of restoring the Qutub Shahi tombs.
The tales that were
In 1995 he received a grant by the IFA (India Foundation for the arts) to document the “architecture of the Deccan: the kingdom of Golconda”. This brought him closer to the micro-history of the region. In his newspaper column, Tamarind Tales, he translated stories and facts from Urdu and Persian texts. VN Venugopal in Kochi has a scrapbook of stories on Kerala, collected over the last 35 years. In his case love for history was triggered after receiving a copy of Arnold J Toynbee’s A Study of History from Justice Neelkantan Menon, former Chief Justice of Cochin State.
"I used to read literature, mainly fiction. After he asked me to read history, it changed my understanding towards one’s situation completely,” says Venugopal. While he accepts that history walks are a powerful outreach mode, he rues that this culture is not yet thriving in Kochi. A conversation with Venugopal is replete with stories of events, characters, and places often offering small details like the dress code or cars used during an event or the materail prcedure for building a bridge. “I have seen Kochi grow from a small village to a bustling metropolis,” he says recounting some fascinating events in the history of the city as it stands today. He recalls watching Sir RK Shanmukham Chetty, the Dewan of the Cochin State, plant two divi-divi saplings in 1944. One of the huge umbrella-like trees was brought down in June 2020 by the Cochin Smart City Mission Limited (CSML) to make way for drains and footpaths. "It was heart-rending. These trees were planted for beauty and shade and uprooted in the name of development," he says. His latest addition to his scrapbook is a story on Post Box No. 9 in Munnar, the oldest in Kerala. Meanwhile, thanks to Rajeev Pallikkonam, history walks have become popular in Kottayam, a town in central Kerala. In 2011 he founded Kottayam Nattukoottam, a group interested in local history, heritage and conservation, and last year conducted the Old Kottayam Heritage Walk. Rajeev likes to unearth history on his own and undertakes travel, study and research.
He shares his findings in articles and social media. “It is important to know the geography of a place to get an insight into its history,” says Rajeev about heritage walks and the importance of visiting the location. In Kolkata, Anthony Khatchaturian’s popular Colonial Ghost Walk, has a macabre tinge and was inspired by the night walks in London. “I stitched together 75% history with 25% of ghost stories associated with these heritage buildings,” says Anthony, launching into the story of how the spirits of two murdered Anglo-Indian women still haunt New Market at night and why the sound of the piano is still heard at Garstin Place, or how the sounds of a carriage ring out at midnight at Writer’s Building.
Originally a three-hour walk, the Colonial Ghost Walk was restarted with COVID-19 protocols from November 6. “We now cover the four-kilometre route that begins in New Market and ends at Writer’s Building in cars,” says Anthony. Of Armenian descent, he belongs to the Galstaun family who were property developers till 1947 and constructed famous Kolkata landmarks like Queen’s Mansion, Nizam Palace and Freemason’s Lodge. With important personalities like British Prime Minister Boris Johnson having been on his walks, Anthony emphasises on “the need to think beyond textbooks to enable history find its correct target, value and meaning.
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/cities-and-their-historians/article33094930.ece, November 20, 2020
A Hindu temple, believed to have been constructed 1,300 years ago, has been discovered by Pakistani and Italian archaeological experts at a mountain in Swat district of northwest Pakistan. The discovery was made during an excavation at Barikot Ghundai. Announcing the discovery on Thursday, Fazle Khaliq of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology said that the temple discovered is of God Vishnu. It was built by the Hindus 1,300 years ago during the Hindu Shahi period, he said. The Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis (850–1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.
During their excavation, the archaeologists also found traces of cantonment and watchtowers near the temple site. The experts also found a water tank near the temple site which they believed used by the Hindus for bathing before worship. Khaliq said that Swat district is home to thousand-year-old archaeology sites and the traces of the Hindu Shahi period have been found for the first time in the area. Dr Luka, the head of the Italian archaeological mission, said that the first temple of the Ghandhara civilisation was discovered in Swat district. Swat district is among the top 20 sites in Pakistan which is home to every kind of tourism like natural beauty, religious tourism, cultural tourism and archaeological sites. Several worship places of Buddhism are also situated in Swat district.
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/cities-and-their-historians/article33094930.ece, November 20, 2020
Karnataka has nearly 650 sites under ASI, but the annual budget is only around ₹20 crore
Shortage of staff, inadequate budget, and disappearing monuments and sites owing to encroachment are some of the major issues plaguing conservation efforts in the State. The damage to the Kali idol at the Mahalakshmi Temple belonging to the Hoysala era at Doddagaddavalli in Hassan taluk highlights challenges in protecting the State’s heritage sites and monuments. Karnataka has nearly 650 sites under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the second highest in India after Uttar Pradesh. But sources said the annual budget is hardly adequate and is around ₹20 crore inclusive of wages for the security staff.
However, not all monuments are sanctioned security staff and that is restricted to sites that tend to have tourist attraction. In addition to centrally protected monuments, the State Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage has nearly 850 sites, but again the budget is around ₹25 crore which is inadequate. The department is also plagued by an acute shortage of staff. The sanctioned staff is around 232 and there is nearly 50% vacancy. The sanctioned strength for Group D workers — mainly monument attendants — is 119 posts and 89 are vacant, according to sources. The situation is so grave that experts have cautioned that artifacts and sites could disappear owing to encroachment in the absence of protection. Recently, the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) completed the 3D and laser mapping of 105 monuments in the Bengaluru revenue division.
But its report noted that at least two of the sites included “did not exist.” The report said that the Siddeshwara temple at Neerthadi in Davangere did not exist, while 35 megalithic monuments on site number 14 and 185 in Jadigenhalli in Hoskote were either encroached upon or destroyed. Similarly, the KSCST could not carry out the 3D laser mapping of a megalithic monument in Kannuru, also in Hoskote, as it was submerged. N.S. Rangaraju, convener of Mysuru chapter of INTACH, said the threat to historical sites are real but no importance is attached to them.
“We document their presence during field visits but the area gets converted to agricultural tracts or are removed from the site during our subsequent visits,” he said. As a solution, Mr. Rangaraju mooted the idea of constituting heritage committees at taluk levels comprising locals and elected representatives. He said as the department alone cannot extend security to all the sites, given the manpower and financial implications, the public should get involved and suggested that the police make frequent visits to the sites to ensure that they are not vandalised.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/conservation-a-saga-of-limited-resources-and-shortage-of-manpower/article33151802.ece, November 24, 2020
A priceless collection of paintings by renowned artists, including three close associates of Rabindranath Tagore’s family – Nandlal Bose, Asit Kumar Haldar and Sudhir Ranjan Khastgir – are now a part of the Radha Kamal Mukherjee Art gallery and Museum at Tagore Library of the Lucknow University. The gallery, inaugurated by Governor Anandiben Patel during LU’s centenary celebrations on Saturday, has 451 rare paintings and sculptures. These artefacts were lying packed in the second floor of Tagore Library since long.
Recently, the university got them restored through INTACH. According to deputy librarian of Tagore Library, Jyoti Mishra, the idea to have an art museum in the library was conceptualised in 1935 when a collection of paintings of various artists was donated by DN Bonerjee, a Gorakhpur based barrister. Since then, the collection of artefacts increased and was put on display on several occasions, but the original idea of having a museum has now materialised after about 85 years. The museum has been named after Radha Kamal Mukherjee, a professor of economics and sociology, who also later served as the vice-chancellor of Lucknow University.
He was also the head of the library for some time. The museum houses art works of eminent artists like Nandlal Bose – who designed the Emblem of India and beautified the original manuscript of the Indian Constitution – besides Asit Kumar Haldar and Sudhir Ranjan Khastgir. Mishra said the collection includes masterpieces created nearly a century ago, including Haldar’s painting of emperor Akbar discussing the plan of Fatehpur Sikri , and Khastgir painting of a young lady with her shadow. Haldar and Khastigir also served as principal of LU’s College of Art and Craft.
One of the major artists of the Bengal renaissance, Haldar (1890-1964) was an assistant of Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. He served as a principal of Arts College for 25 years from 1925 to 1945. Khastgir (1907-1974) was a master of Bengal School of Art. A pupil of Abanindranath Tagore and Nandlal Bose, Khastgir graduated from Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan, in 1929. He served as the principal of Arts College from 1956 to 1962.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/vibrant-hues-of-indian-art-on-display-at-lu/articleshow/79346481.cms, November 24, 2020
World Heritage Week is celebrated every year from November 19th to 25th by the United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The main objective of celebrating “World heritage Week” is to raise awareness and educate the general public about the importance of their own traditions, cultures and importance of saving and preserving them.
World Heritage Week
India possesses a rich and enormous cultural heritage of manuscripts since the ancient period. India probably has the largest number of manuscripts in the world. Manuscripts collection are scattered in several places all over India like Archives, Universities, Temples, Mathas, Mosques, Churches, Jain Bhandaras ,etc., particularly, all the major libraries and museums of India have a fairly large collection of manuscripts and other documents in their possession. In the absence of any kind of thorough and intensive census it is difficult to guess the total number of manuscripts preserved therein. Mostly, these manuscripts and documents are either on palm-leaf and birch-bark. As an example the National Museum has a total collection of twelve thousand manuscripts and one thousand documents which is quite a problem to maintain. Mysore Oriental Library is world-renowned with a collection of more than 70,000 manuscripts and 40,000 rare books. One of them is Arthashastra.
The Arthashastra, an ancient account of state craft and military strategy, written by Koutilya (Chanakya) dates back to the 3rd century BCE. Rampur Raza Library has a remarkable collection of 17000 manuscripts including 175 illustrated ones, 205 palm-leaf manuscripts, 5000 miniature paintings, 3000 specimens of Islamic calligraphy and 75000 old rare printed books . Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna has over 7000 manuscripts in Arabic obtained from distant corners of the Islamic worlds including parts of Europe and same is the case with other Indian Libraries and Museums.
The decipherment of old scripts, their translation, microfilming, Xeroxing or photography etc need technical knowledge. Unfortunately, very few people are available nowadays. Similar is the case with technical assistance regarding conservation and preservation of this material. There are only a few laboratories in our country for this purpose. No doubt, the National Museum has had a conservation laboratory of its own since the year 1957 and the conservation laboratories of the Rampur Raza Library is one of the best laboratories in India in the field of conservation and restoration of manuscripts and other art objects. For conservation of unattended manuscripts of Ladakh and North-East, The National Mission for Manuscripts has set up special field laboratories in both the region in collaboration with the National Research Laboratory for conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow. Even though the manuscripts have specific problems which need to be adequately solved not on a theoretical basis but in practice also. Most of the manuscripts which are housed in libraries and museums are, as usual either hand written or illustrated.
Some of these are on palm -leaf, whereas a bulk of them is on paper. We are facing today a complex problem since the materials used are complex. Naturally their deterioration also differs and accordingly methods used cannot be generalized. Whereas, some of the problems of the manuscripts and documents in libraries and museums have been duly solved yet a few of them still need to be investigated in detail. The preservation of manuscripts and documents and their protection against damage occurs due to climatic conditions. Insects, fire and human beings are particularly difficult problems. The problems of fire and human beings are mostly common to all countries but humidity and high temperature, dust, insects and climate problems which create particular difficulties for librarians differ from country to country. A part from climatic reasons, there are variety of insects species such as cockroaches (Dictyoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), silverfish (Thansanura) , Book-lics (Psocoptera), termites (Isoptera)s and other paper destroying insects generally thrive and quickly multiply in warm climates. Fire, damp, dust, light, heat and polluted air are other destructive factors.
Excess of light and heat, especially in a tropical country like ours is highly damaging for old and rare materials. Such materials are likely to decay rapidly if continuously exposed to direct light and hot winds. To overcome all these problems, manuscripts should be kept in comparatively dry atmosphere, and if possible the temperature of the rooms where manuscripts are kept should be controlled artificially to keep it cool or the manuscripts have been kept in steel and wooden almirah after wrapping them in acid free paper. Intensity of illumination on the manuscripts in the storage area is adequate.
Naphthalene bricks are kept as insect repellent on the shelves of the almirah. For circulation of fresh air and removal of stagnant air pockets, air circulators, fans and exhaust fans are used. To achieve optimum relative humidity, silica gel can also be used. As an obvious protection against fire no combustible material should be used where Manuscripts are kept particularly, in libraries and buildings should be erected at a safe distance from others. As an additional precaution, automatic fire extinguishing apparatus must be installed in sufficient numbers to meet an emergency. The vacuum cleaner, electric fumigation chamber and other electrical accessories have made manual work of cleaning and dusting more easy and efficient. Unfortunately 99% of the libraries cannot afford to purchase these vacuum cleaners for their use. Air conditioning can solve many problems of preservation of old and rare materials.
For purchase of all these equipment funds are needed. The existing government facilities are not sufficient and not easily available. Suitable steps must be taken in this respect immediately. A more effective and recently evolved process of manuscripts or old documents is by lamination as it has been found to be the most satisfactory and economical method of repairing brittle and damaged manuscripts. Is lamination safe for birch-bark and for palm leaf? The traditional Indian technique of wrapping the manuscripts in a square piece of coloured cloth, usually red or yellow, has much value to recommend it. This practice not only saves manuscripts from physical damage due to handling, but also protects them from dust, insects and light.
It is much better if the custodians adopt the latest scientific techniques of preservation rather than traditional methods which are not quite adequate. Archival documents and manuscripts are the most precious cultural heritage bequeathed to us. It is our moral duty to find a solution to the several problems that confront us so that we can save this priceless material for the posterity. For this what we need is impassioned zeal, missionary spirit and sincere and honest effort to meet the problems. Only then we can usher in a new era in the sphere of conservation of documents and manuscripts. (The author is a heritage volunteer associated with INTACH) [email protected]
https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/conservation-of-manuscripts-2/, November 24, 2020
The buildings of centuries-old Patna Collectorate are "rare architectural specimens" of the Dutch and British eras and a testimony to the city''s rich commercial past, which should be preserved and "proudly showcased" to tell the story of the evolution of Patna to the locals and the global community, experts said. The fate of Patna Collectorate currently hangs in the balance and on the occasion of the World Heritage Week, history scholars, urban conservationists and activists appealed to the authorities to not demolish the iconic landmark and urged locals to cultivate a "sense of ownership for heritage without any bias". Murari Kumar Jha, assistant professor in the Division of Humanities and Languages at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, describes the Patna Collectorate buildings as rare architectural specimens and an important heritage of the city. "The Collectorate is a testimony to the city''s rich commercial past when Patna was a major trans-shipment centre relaying goods to the Bengal coasts. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) often spent a good deal of money for building robust structures as its trading posts or factories.
One such post built on the banks of the Ganga by the VOC in Patna has been in continuous use for more than three centuries. Its function as the Patna Collectorate spans more than one-and-a-half century now," he said.
The Dutch-era buildings of the Collectorate, include the Record Room, the oldest structure on the campus, and Old District Engineer''s Office building, while the DM Office and 1938-built District Board Patna buildings were constructed during the British period. The 12-acre complex, parts of which are over 250 years old, has high ceilings, huge doors and hanging skylights and it also featured in some of the key scenes in the Oscar winning film ''''Gandhi''''. "The city still has historically important buildings which can be restored, sensitively conserved and proudly showcased as remnants of an era when Patna was a thriving riverine port city and an important commercial and manufacturing centre connected with the early modern global economy," Jha told PTI. Jha had studied and researched at Leiden University in the Netherlands for more than six years. His research focussed on the economic history of the Ganga and Bihar and the Dutch and other Europeans participation in it. He said the VOC built factories or posts in Patna, Fatuah and Chhapra and added that "a factory meant not just a trading post but it often had a garden, warehouse, quarters and other buildings, some of which were used as offices". On the occasion of World Heritage Week, scholars and heritage activists urged the Bihar government and the citizens to protect the city''s pre-colonial and colonial heritage and learn about their role and functions.
"The younger generation, high school-going students and local populace in Patna must be told about the evolution of the city in the early modern or Mughal period. Getting to know the city as a cosmopolitan place, an export centre for a range of goods and entrepreneurial spirit of its merchants will surely inspire many young people," Jha asserted. Mumbai-based urban conservationist Kamalika Bose echoed Jha, saying old cities like Patna have layers of history and they sort of intertwine with each other. "And, hence a very sensitive approach is needed to deal with such remnants of past, otherwise in the name of colonial bias, we end up losing a significant piece of our built heritage, as neither the government nor the local community shows a sense of ownership towards such buildings, as the Patna Collectorate, which is an integral element in the evolution of the city," she said.
The Bihar government in 2016 had proposed demolishing the Patna Collectorate to make way for a new complex, sparking huge public outcry and appeal to save it from various quarters in India and abroad. Heritage body INTACH took the matter to the Patna High Court in 2019 and in September 2020 to the Supreme Court, which had given a stay on its demolition till further orders. The Bihar government claims that the Collectorate building "does not have much architectural, cultural or aesthetic value" as it was used to "store opium and saltpetre". “I have read that the Collectorate building’s association with commodities such as opium and saltpeter (used in making gunpowder) was brought up by the government to de-legitimise its historical importance. Back then opium was one of the most lucrative cash crops for the farmers.
Trade in this commodity was perfectly legal and Indians were least addicted to it. It makes no sense to judge opium and saltpeter in the 17th and 18th centuries from the contemporary concerns around the drugs and firearms problem,” Jha said. Environment and heritage activist Sourabh Sengupta, actively associated with Save Historic Patna Collectorate movement, said, "Our heritage is in peril because either, we as a society have become insensitive or driven by bias that these are not our heritage.
We need to have a sense of ownership that these buildings are our heritage". Jha said, "Unlike the city''s somewhat inward-looking image today, the Collectorate is a standing proof that Patna was far more outward-looking and connected with the world during the early modern or Mughal period. The Collectorate is also a reminder of the fact that Patna once had a thriving commercial past – a past waiting to be reclaimed if only we know about it". PTI KND SNE SNE
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/patna-collectorate-testimony-to-citys-rich-commercial-past-should-be-proudly-showcased-experts/1981413, November 27, 2020
Mountain railways of India, Gothic and Art Deco buildings of Mumbai, churches of Old Goa, wildlife parks of the Western Ghats, and many other popular tourist attractions of India deserve more than a rushed visit being part of Unesco’s world heritage list for their outstanding universal values
Uttara Gangopadhyay
Do you know we are in the middle of World Heritage Week? It started on November 19. There are many things that go into our India travel bucket list. But not many of us are aware that some of the most familiar places and sights are also examples of timeless architectural expressions, proof of human endurance, or part of our delicate ecological balance, qualities which have won them a place on UNESCO’s world heritage list. Here is our list of five such features.
Churches and Convents of Goa
Apart from visiting its beaches, no trip to Goa is complete without visiting the Church of Bom Jesus in Old Goa where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier lies. But did you know that the casket (encasing the glass box with the body), built by Goan craftsmen in the mid-17th century, is considered a rare work of art, blending Indian and Italian styles? Old Goa or Velha Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese possessions in India, with its churches and convents, have now been put under the umbrella of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. So instead of rushing through them on a whirlwind tour, do spend time exploring them, learning about their architectural style, the artefacts within, and their history. Together, the monuments are examples of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art, and served as inspirations for other Asian countries, according to the UNESCO citation. Apart from the Basilica of Bom Jesus, other monuments include The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the oldest church of Old Goa, Se Cathedral, Church of St Francis of Assisi, ruins of the Church of St Augustine, St. Cajetan Church, also known as the Church of Divine Providence, said to be designed after St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, etc.
Mountain Railways of India
Have you travelled on the mountain railways of India? Looking at the hill passenger trains running on their narrow rails, huffing and puffing up the steep gradients, taking sharp bends, going in loops, trundling across bridges or chugging through dark tunnels, you may wonder if they have come out straight from a kid’s toy box. From inside, you can see the scenery – green hills, mountain springs, quaint stations, even people and their homes – unspooling itself outside your window in slow motion. If you have not travelled on these trains, maybe you can use this lull in travel (train travel in pandemic afflicted India is still under wraps) to plan how you can weave the mountain railways of India into your future itineraries. Travelling by these slow trains is not only fun but also a chance to touch history. The first railways in India (and second in the world) to make it to the UNESCO list was the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or the ‘Toy Train’ as it is popularly known. Later, the Kalka Shimla Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway were added to the list. These railways, built in the mid-19th century to early 20th century, are not only operating since then but also a testimony to the use of then latest technologies to lay the tracks across difficult terrain and steep gradients, building bridges and tunnels, and the tremendous effort put in by engineers and labourers to complete the work.
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
Most people associate the green expanse of the Oval Maidan, near Mumbai’s Churchgate Railway Station, with sporting activities. But did you know it is also one of the best places to observe the city’s urban architectural legacy which developed through two distinct phases in the 19th and 20th centuries? To the east lies an ensemble of Victorian Gothic buildings from the 19th century (the Maidan was also built during this period) and to the west lies a collection of Art Deco buildings dating back to the 20th century (when the Marine Drive was also built). The Gothic buildings, mostly consisting of public spaces, incorporated elements of Indian architecture, especially through verandas and balconies, to adjust with the weather. Some of the popular examples include Bombay High Court, Mumbai University, David Sassoon Library, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum), etc. Most of the Art Deco buildings, which also drew inspiration from Indian elements, consisted of residential apartments, cinema halls, etc. According to the UNESCO citation, this blending of ‘Indian design with Art Deco imagery created a unique style called Indo Deco’. Examples include old apartment buildings along the Marine Drive, Regal Cinema, etc.
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Said to be India’s only complete and unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city, the little known architectural gem of Champaner lies about 55km by road from Vadodara in Gujarat. Cited as a ‘living cultural heritage, the archaeological park is spread across the twin towns of Champaner and Pavagadh, located about five km apart from each other. One of the key features that earned the region its World Heritage Site status is the perfect blend of Hindu-Moslem architecture seen in many of the buildings. The Great Mosque (Jami Masjid) is said to have served as a model for later mosque architecture in India. Both towns contain several Jain temples, mostly belonging to the Digmabar sect. Some of the other attractions include prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, ruins of fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential precincts, agricultural structures and water installations, from the 8th to 14th centuries.
The Western Ghats
Running parallel to the western coast of India, for nearly 1600 km, the Western Ghat or the Sahyadri mountain range is older than the Himalayas. It is considered as one of the eight hot spots of biological diversity in the world, largely owing to its endemicity. There are many flora and fauna found here which are not found anywhere else in the world. According to the UNESCO citation, at least 325 globally threatened (IUCN Red Data List) species occur in the Western Ghats. Starting from a point south of the Tapti River in Gujarat, it passes through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala before terminating at Marunthuvazh Malai in Tamil Nadu. Of the 39 sites which have been inscribed as part of the Western Ghats World Heritage Site, some of the popular attractions include the Kas Pathar of Maharashtra, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary of Kerala, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of Tamil Nadu, Nagarhole National Park of Karnataka, etc.
https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70801/did-you-know-these-familiar-sights-are-also-part-of-unesco-world-heritage-list, November 27, 2020
Researchers discovered a terracotta object containing Brāhmī inscription written in Prakrit language and in characters of the 3rd century B.C. This inscription reads “dēvānaṁ” prefixed with a symbol of ‘nandipada’. The word “dēvānaṁ” suggests indicating the part of the title of the great emperor Aśōka of Mauryan dynasty. Brahmi inscription of Ashokan period found in Manjira Valley in Telangana village 02:49. History and archaeology researcher MA Srinivasan and his team discovered this terracotta antiquity on the bank of Manjira river which is a tributary of Godavari river located at Kulcharam (deserted village) in Medak district of Telangana. The present ancient mound is located in the island formed by the two streams of river Manjira. The site spreads over an area of about 100 acres and likely to yield a large number of archaeological materials besides evidence like fortification wall, terracotta objects such as different pot-shreds of red slipped ware, black polished ware and dull red ware.
"This discovery unveils a new chapter in the history of Telangana as this is the first time we could find such precious evidence in Manjira valley", Srinivasan claimed urging the Department of Heritage and the Archaeological survey of India to take up survey and excavations of the site to bring out more evidences to light. The inscription on the pottery is studied and read as “dēvānaṁ” of Mauryan period by the director, Epigraphy, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This discovery of Brāhmī script palaeographically assignable to Mauryan period on the terracotta is a rare and landmark epigraphical discovery in India in general and in Telangana state in particular. Three Buddhist label inscriptions were also found in rock shelters just a kilometer away from the site where this antiquity is found. These inscriptions are in Prakrit language and Brahmi script of 1st BC-1st AD. They read as ‘Henamo Buddeya’, ‘dhama’, ‘he jama’ and are found on the rock boulders. The researchers found them after cleaning these rocks. This rock shelter has evidence of neolithic period too, Srinivasan said. Finding of the terracotta antiquity inscribed with Mauryan Brāhmī letters happened in the process of finding a supporting ancient habitation site for the Buddhist rock shelter.
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/brahmi-inscription-of-ashokan-period-found-in-manjira-valley-in-telangana-village/articleshow/79405206.cms, November 27, 2020
