In a major setback to the Bhau Daji Lad museum, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dismissed plans to add extensions to it. In the recently released Development Plan (DP) 2034, the area around the museum has been marked as a garden/park, indicating that no new construction will be allowed there, said senior civic officials.

In 2014, the BMC had announced that a new wing would be added to the northern flank of the city’s oldest museum. The project was to be completed with third-party funding and monetary assistance by the BMC. However, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) attacked the plans, alleging that the playground next to the museum would be usurped to be used as a parking lot and a landscaped area. While the BMC had allocated Rs40 crore for the project in its 2015 budget, it was slashed to Rs15 crore in the amended budget. In 2016, the museum found no mention in the civic budget. The current demarcation in the DP is clear indication of the administration’s intentions. The DP, the 20-year blueprint for the city was recently released for public scrutiny. The revised plan does not permit any construction in gardens and playgrounds.

“The open ground will remain as it is, with no new construction permitted. Even the plans for the extension have been cancelled. The museum had sent objections on the DP but we have overruled it,” said a senior civic official. The museum is owned by the BMC. In 2003, it got into a tripartite agreement with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and Jamanalal Bajaj Foundation for its restoration. However, civic corporators have been at loggerheads with the museum director over its functioning for a long time now. According to Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, the museum had sent suggestions on the DP to demarcate the land meant for the extension. They had asked for the museum plaza to be marked specifically. However, it has not been done in the plan, Mehta said.

“Political parties made up the idea that we would convert the open space into a parking lot. It is not correct on the BMC’s part to cancel the plan. I wanted to undertake the project for the city’s benefit, but now the plan is ruined because of politics,” she said.

The museum’s expansion plans became a political controversy after parties such as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MNS stated that the BMC should take complete control over the museum’s functioning. They called for Mehta’s ouster, alleging that she had made the institution ‘elite’ and denied access to common people. The MNS had conducted a referendum on the ground, held protests against the Lakme Fashion Week to be held at its premises and also suggested alternate designs. The BMC recently has also sent a show-cause notice to the museum on ‘administrative lapses.’

- http://www.hindustantimes.com/, September 1, 2016

Why the 10-year-old Craftmark is more than a certification seal Craft is known to be the second largest industry after agriculture in the country. Craftmark, the only national certification programme for genuine Indian handcrafted products, is the seal that helps craftspeople differentiate their businesses, in both the domestic and international markets. With 187 members, Craftmark has certified nearly 90 processes including handloom weaving, printing and dyeing, wood and metal work, and paper and stone crafts. Madhura Dutta, Executive Director, AIACA (All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association), discusses Craftmark’s journey over the last 10 years through its successes, struggles and strengths.

Why was Craftmark initiated? Until 2006, there was no genuine, quality standard mark for handmade products in India, especially to compete in the international market. The other reason to have the Craftmark seal was because of the competition from fake and mechanised products, which were not made by craftspeople. × AIACA was started in 2004 as a membership-based apex body for those working in the handloom and handicraft sectors. Two years later, William Bissell (Managing Director, FabIndia), Laila Tyabji (Founder, Dastkar) and Adarsh Kumar (Founder, AIACA) pushed for Craftmark. Today, AIACA works to influence policy decisions. How is it different from other certifications like Handloom Mark? Besides inducting members and authenticating processes, Craftmark has an Enterprise Support Program (ESP) which helps craft groups grow into viable businesses. There are several activities to enhance the value chain, from developing new designs and helping with product diversification to getting them bank loans, we make them market ready. These are customised for members, and then we have the Cluster Development Programme in different states. While the membership is renewed every two years, there is rigorous research and documentation done. We have now become a single window clearance for many international buyers, bridging the gap between the government and the craftspeople. Also, our jury members, who are experts in the field, provide market-oriented feedback, both technical and design led.

Are there examples? Disha from Rajasthan, who are into tie and dye, is an example. When they first came to us, their dyeing techniques needed work. We held workshops for them, and also for marketing and product management. They have grown from a three lakh to 50 lakh business. Likewise, for Dastkar Ranthambore, a craft-led group started by Laila Tyabji, we conducted design workshops. They now run a successful enterprise. It’s interesting to see how small craftspeople begin to own the space, and the confidence they get when they take their own design, material and monetary decisions.

Has it made a difference to younger generations? While we don’t have actual data, we have seen that many younger weavers are willing to stay with the family business. For instance, in Kashmir, there is a whole family in the business of Kani shawls. The person is a National Awardee, and his three sons, all graduates, are weaving with him. Likewise in Varanasi, weavers in their 30s and 40s have felt and seen that the Craftmark tag is a differentiator, and are actually staying back to build the business.

AIACA will hold the seminar “Ten years of Craftmark: handmade in India” at the India Habitat Centre, on September 2

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 1, 2016

The state government, after conducting a workshop with Unesco, is in the process of documenting the cultural heritage of Goa in a bid to conserve them. Speaking at the 2016 South Asia sub-regional meeting of NGOs on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage for sustainable development, director of art and culture, Prasad Lolayekar said that the government is undertaking the initiative taluka-wise.

"We had one workshop with Unesco six months ago and thereafter started a project to conserve the entire cultural heritage of Goa. We have undertaken audio visual documentation of cultural heritage sites in Sattari and Cancona talukas. Sattari has already been completed and Cancona is on the verge of completion," Lolayeker said. The two-day meeting, organized by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage, in the Asia Pacific Region (ICHCAP) - a Unesco centre based in South Korea, Unesco New Delhi, directorate of art and culture, government of Goa and banglanatak.com, saw representatives from these organizations. NGOs from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives introduced the new UN agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals and exchange working practices.

"The UN agenda 2030 was adopted in November, 2015. These is a list of 17 sustainable development goals, replacing the millennium development goals, which were to be adopted by countries by 2015. These include social inclusion, diversity, zero hunger and affordable clean energy among others. The question was how to incorporate culture into these goals. This meeting has helped in pooling ideas from NGOs across South Asia, who are working on ground zero in this field," Moe Chiba, programme specialist for culture at Unesco, New Delhi, explained.

The Unesco officials, while informing the organizations' initiatives to conserve cultural heritage in 169 countries at a policy making level, conceded that working in India is a challenge due to the subject being undertaken by both state as well as central government. "India, being a vast and diverse state, is a challenge. We were initially working just with the central government. The Goa government is among the firsts to work with us," Unesco chief for intangible culture heritage, Susanne Schnuttgen said

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 1, 2016

The single-minded pursuit by an RTI activist led to an expose and finally prevented the sale to a private party of a historical sea fort in Maharashtra, constructed in the early 1700s. The Yashwantgad Fort, now in dire straits, was once an imposing edifice acting in the long line of coastal defences, standing at the entrance of Rajapur Creek in Ratnagiri district. Yashwantgad Fort, on Ratnagiri coast in Maharashtra. Sale in 2012 exposed by RTI and now it's taken over by state govt. Declared as "a protected ancient monument of importance in Maratha Naval History.

YASHWANTGAD FORT, ON RATNAGIRI COAST IN MAHARASHTRA. SALE IN 2012 EXPOSED BY RTI AND NOW IT’S TAKEN OVER BY STATE GOVT. DECLARED AS “A PROTECTED ANCIENT MONUMENT OF IMPORTANCE IN MARATHA NAVAL HISTORY. Sometime in early 2012, the owners of the 3.16-hectare land on which the fort stood, toyed with the idea of a sale which finally materialised in the form of an agreement on October 17 the same year.

RTI activist Samir V. Shirvadkar got a whiff of the sale of the historic property and decided to pursue its details through an RTI plea on August 23, 2013. “I was shocked to learn that the once-magnificent fort had been sold for a paltry Rs 3.50 million and even the name change documents (7/12 extract) had been prepared in the name of the buyers,” Shirvadkar told IANS. He filed another RTI plea the next month and secured the copies of the agreement, the sale deed and other relevant documents pertaining to the sale. “It was sold by the current owners — Vishwanath R. Patki — to a couple — Arvind T. Parkar and his wife Aneeta. The name change documents prepared by the revenue department also confirmed the sale,” said Shirvadkar. “The current owner’s family had been given the land and the fort as a ‘gift’ by the erstwhile British government in the late 1800s, for services rendered. But by then the fort had already outlived its utility and strategic value so there was no maintenance or upkeep of any kind,” B.V. Kulkarni, Deputy Director, Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Maharashtra, told IANS. Yashwantgad Fort, on Ratnagiri coast in Maharashtra. Sale in 2012 exposed by RTI and now it's taken over by state govt. Declared as "a protected ancient monument of importance in Maratha Naval History.

YASHWANTGAD FORT, ON RATNAGIRI COAST IN MAHARASHTRA. SALE IN 2012 EXPOSED BY RTI AND NOW IT’S TAKEN OVER BY STATE GOVT. DECLARED AS “A PROTECTED ANCIENT MONUMENT OF IMPORTANCE IN MARATHA NAVAL HISTORY.

“Over the years, the owners continued to live, work or farm there as the condition of the fort continued to worsen since it was not declared either as a monument of national or state importance. Now it is in our control and we shall prepare a long-term conservation plan which will eventually make it a tourist attraction,” Kulkarni explained. On the sale completed four years ago, the official said it does not affect the status of the fort as it is under the control of the government now and the owners cannot make any changes or alterations to the existing structure. The Yashwantgad Fort served as an island fortification and was constructed in the early 1700s, at the entrance of the Rajapur Creek of the Arabian Sea on one side. On the other three sides, it was protected by a ditch which served as a kind of moat, but it virtually disappeared over the years. The fourth sea-facing side has a long continuous wall with 16 bastions and its main entrance was on the eastern side, though most of it is in ruins now due to centuries of neglect. A British ship, HMS Outram had sank near the fort on January 1, 1817, after which the then government constructed a lighthouse at nearby Jaitapur. Shirvadkar said the fort is now safely in government custody after a government resolution on June 24, 2016 and a gazette notification on August 29, declaring the ancient Yashwantgad Fort as a ‘Protected Monument’ under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. Holding great importance in Maratha naval history, the fort was mentioned in a treaty signed by the Maratha Admiral (Sarkhel) Kanhoji Angre and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj in Satara in 1713. Earlier in 1707, Queen Tarabai Bhonsle, the daughter-in-law of Chhatrapati Shivaji who founded the Maratha empire, had appointed Angre as the Admiral and protector of the entire coastal area from Mumbai to Sawantwadi.

During that period, Angre constructed several sea forts, and the Yashwantgad Fort was built between 1707-1713 with huge dressed stones in dry masonry type. The Yashwantgad Fort is built on two levels — the Lower Fort, which is the larger one with its base touching the creek and a fresh water well inside, and the Upper Fort, which is smaller and on a hillock to keep watch on maritime activities in the surrounding waters. With 16 bastions and three entrances, “this fort has a great importance in Maratha naval History”, said the government notification earlier this week. (IANS)

- http://indianewengland.com/, September 1, 2016

The NGT’s notice on implementation of the Biological Diversity Act is timely For the first time since the enactment of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, more than a decade and a half ago, States have now been forced to look into its implementation. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently asked for action against top State officials who had failed to respond to an application filed before the tribunal for effective implementation of the act. The act calls for the protection and management of biodiversity through the setting up of biodiversity management committees (BMC) for managing biodiversity, and managing peoples’ biodiversity registers (PBR) to document biodiversity in each district.

Right to Information responses from 15 States reveal the status of implementation of the act. While these States have more than 61,000 panchayats or municipalities, only 14 per cent of PBRs (less than 1,400) have been set up. Biodiversity crisis The issue acquires importance as India is facing massive biodiversity loss: each day, 333 acres of forest are legally diverted on an average under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. This figure does not include forests which are illegally felled or encroached.

While the Supreme Court has called for a “species best interest standard”, last year, one rhinoceros was killed almost every two weeks in the Kaziranga National Park. About 30 or less genetically pure wild buffaloes exist in central India while the number of Great Indian Bustards stands at a precarious 150 birds. Our hunger for forest land is also never ending: the construction plan for Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh, includes diverting 13,000 hectares, or 130 sq.km, of forest. The Himalayas are today the world’s mountain range with the most number of dams.

India is in the midst of an unacknowledged biodiversity crisis. Therefore, it is ironic that the act is the most neglected of India’s environmental laws, and one of the least implemented. There is very limited judicial pronouncement and interpretation, action by civil society is virtually absent, and the government’s approach has been one of extreme apathy. Many State biodiversity boards have Indian Forest Service officers, many of whom are waiting to be posted in a more “mainstream” post as biodiversity is perceived to be a dead subject.

This despite the fact that the act has immense potential to safeguard India’s threatened biodiversity. What then is the scope of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and how can it be a potent tool in helping to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat? The act provides for both centralised as well as decentralised institutional mechanisms for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It has the National Biodiversity Authority at the apex level and BMCs at the local level, with an intermediate State Biodiversity Board. The problem is not with the constitution of State- or national-level authorities. They have been set up by all the States and provide employment opportunities for officers of the government with limited responsibilities.

The problem is acute at the level of BMCs. The BMC has been given diverse responsibilities which include conservation, promoting sustainable use and chronicling of knowledge related to biodiversity. BMCs are mandated to prepare PBRs, which are comprehensive records of biodiversity that occur under the jurisdiction of the BMC. Violations and opacity We have constantly seen fraudulent Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) which undermine the ecological value of areas that are proposed to be dammed, mined or diverted. For example, the Monpa community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district had to struggle for three years to prove before the NGT that the riverine area proposed for the construction of a dam is the one of the two wintering sites of the black-necked crane, a protected species held sacred by Buddhists.

The environmental consultant had deliberately avoided making a reference to the species. Similarly, tribals in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, are struggling to protect the last remaining chilgoza (pine nut) trees from being lost to a series of hydropower projects. Forest Department records do not mention the significant role the tree species plays in providing livelihood security to people. The act mandates impact assessment studies for activities which are likely to have an adverse impact on biodiversity, irrespective of the nature and scale of the proposed project. Today, most projects in ecologically sensitive areas are able to circumvent the EIA process as they are below the threshold limits or are not in the listed category. For example, the Lakhwar-Vyasi hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand is almost the size of the Tehri hydroelectric project, which means that an EIA should be conducted. But it has been exempted because of an ingenious and questionable interpretation of the law, which states that the project was proposed in 1987 before the EIA Act of 2006. The project may result in stemming the flow of more than 50 km of the Yamuna river, but no ecological studies have been done.

Similarly, a series of dams in the Himalayas and the Western Ghats, which could have an adverse impact on aquatic biodiversity, have been allowed without EIA studies; the law requires that only projects above 25 MW should undergo EIA studies. Therefore, it is no surprise that most mini-hydel power projects in India are of 24.99 MW capacity! The same holds true for mining and other projects. The cumulative impact of these projects on India’s biodiversity is substantial, and at times irreversible. PBRs could be an effective tool to counter false and misleading statements given in forest diversion proposals and EIA reports. They could help a community present the facts before the decision maker in order to highlight the “real value” of the ecological entity proposed to be “sacrificed”.

They could save areas from being “valued” based on rapid assessment done by institutions of questionable integrity and methodology or project proponents, whose goals are only to take projects through. India’s famed “green judge”, Justice Kuldip Singh, had observed in ICELA v. Union of India, 1996 that “enacting of a law but tolerating its infringement is worse than not enacting a law at all”. In the face of an unimplemented act and general apathy, India’s biodiversity is too precious to be lost. Contrary to a general viewpoint, we should not protect our biodiversity only for the present or future generations. This is an anthropocentric approach. We should protect biodiversity purely because we have no moral, legal and ethical rights to destroy something not created by us. Ritwick Dutta is an environmental lawyer.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 1, 2016

Farmers can install solar panels on their fields that can generate income in addition to regular crop agriculture. Of its several new initiatives, the Narendra Modi government has set out at least two very ambitious targets, which are also quantifiable. One is achieving 100 giga-watts (GW) of solar power generation capacity by the year 2022. The other is doubling farmers’ income — presumably in real terms — also by 2022, when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence.

If achieved, both would mark major leaps forward, given the country’s current solar generation capacity of barely 8 GW (or 8,000 megawatts) and the past record of farmers’ real incomes increasing by a mere 3.5 per cent on a compounded annual growth basis during 2002-03 to 2012-13. If incomes were to, indeed, double in real terms between now and 2022, the corresponding growth rate would work out to 12 per cent per annum! × So, the question to ask is whether the above targets are really achievable or simply slogans. We believe that the Modi government can definitely make substantial progress in meeting both objectives, provided they are conceived and implemented in unison — a sort of marrying and building on each other.

Our confidence in this stems primarily from the dramatically declining costs of solar power, globally as well as in India, by almost 70 per cent since 2010-11. That, as the accompanying chart shows, has also given a fillip to solar power capacity addition. In the process, solar power has emerged as a competitive source of energy, especially in comparison to that produced from burning of coal. The cost of generating and supplying power through the latter was Rs 5.93/kWh in India in 2013, as per government estimates. As against this, the bidding rates in most solar power projects today range between Rs 4.3 to Rs 5.5/kWh.

solar power graph There are two policy innovations needed now that can help unleash a simultaneous revolution in solar power and doubling of farmers’ incomes. To start with, the government should have a guaranteed feed-in-tariff (FIT) for solar energy produced in rural areas and sold to power distribution companies or discoms. Secondly, the FIT or price paid to rural producers of solar power should be at least 10-15 per cent higher than that made to power stations burning coal, so as to address the negative externalities from the latter on climate change and human health. This would translate to a rate of Rs 6 to Rs 6.50/kWh for solar power. Such innovations in policy could trigger out-of-box ideas. That includes installing solar panels on farmers’ fields at 15-20 feet height above the ground. It basically allows enough sunlight for the photosynthetic activity of the plants growing below the panels.

The farmers’ field would, then, look like a chessboard, growing two crops. The first is a ‘traditional’ one on the soil and the other a ‘solar crop’ above the ground! The major benefit to farmers from this is that they would get access to assured irrigation from solar power. It will replace not just their diesel gen-sets, but also probably provide freedom from grid-linked electricity, which is highly uncertain and often of poor quality. If solar power from their own fields is combined with drip and fertigation, farmers can reduce water and fertiliser usage by almost 50 per cent even while raising productivity by 25-40 per cent. Furthermore, they can feed surplus power over and above their requirements to the grid.

Such guaranteed FIT-based power can provide regular additional monthly income, besides acting like an income insurance cover when their traditional crops fail on account of drought. For the government, too, there can be huge savings on power subsidy bills that currently hover around Rs 70,000 crore a year. On-farm solar power generation can, moreover, trigger all-round development activity in rural India. With availability of quality 24/7 power, there would be a boost to creation of cold chains, food processing and other small-scale industries that can produce millions of jobs, apart from the setting up of schools, hospitals and other social infrastructure in rural areas. Proverbially speaking, Prime Minister Modi would be able to hit several targets with a single arrow.

The technology for solar power generation on farms, thankfully, already exists. While countries like Japan, China and the UK have demonstrated that it can be done, Germany is the unquestioned leader in the field today, with technologies where the photovoltaic cells in solar panels can actually move like sunflowers following the direction of sun. Business-to-business and government-to-government collaboration with such countries, especially Germany and Japan, can bring in rich dividends for India. The model’s USP is not only its generating clean energy on a cost competitive basis, but also inclusiveness through millions of farmers producing solar power as a second ‘crop’ in their fields and feeding the surplus electricity to grids on a guaranteed FIT basis. What are the challenges to realising the twin dreams of 100 GW of solar power capacity, including in farms, and doubling of farmer incomes by 2022? The obvious one is getting the state governments on board for implementing the system of FIT. This is where the role of power minister Piyush Goyal comes in. Given his dedicated endeavours for rural electrification and restoring the financial health of bleeding utilities through the innovative UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) scheme, one hopes he would also move in this direction.

But equally important is the role of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Since doubling of farmers’ incomes is its responsibility, Krishi Bhawan should proactively work towards promoting farmers’ solar associations and mobilising necessary finances through, say, NABARD or even multilateral institutions such as the World Bank. These can be used to enable farmers make upfront capital investments on the fields. But the overall responsibility to get ministries work together in tandem rests with the Prime Minister’s Office. In his recent trip to Africa, Modi said: “Aspire high, dream big and do more”. Before him, we also had former President A P J Abdul Kalam saying: “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep”. Can the Modi government rise to this challenge to turn its slogans to reality through fusion of ideas? Only time will tell. Gulati is Infosys chair professor for agriculture and Manchanda is research assistant at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations in New Delhi. Kacker is director of the India Habitat Centre

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 1, 2016

Gond and kalamkari artworks, pichwai paintings and hand spun benarasi and kota sarees are part of a new fashion and art collection that seeks to preserve India's dying textile heritage as well as conserve wildlife. Paying 'An Ode to Heritage', designer and textile revivalist Vidhi Singhania and Rajkumari Nandini Singh of Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh) recently launched their respective collections here.

While Vidhi's fashion line is a blend of tradition and contemporary fashion, Nandini's collection draws inspiration from the carvings on the walls of temples in Khajuraho and Ujjain to curate a range of artworks. The apparel range by Vidhi pays respect to traditional weaving traditions such as foiling, painting and embroidery. The designer says her attempt is to preserve, revive and sustain the age-old heritage of Indian textiles as they "are on the verge of vanishing." "Indian textile is a form of art, history and heritage which needs to be protected and promoted. It is a treasure which has to be presented in the correct way. "Our artisans have so much to give, but, while we work with our artisans to generate contemporary designs, we must also protect the traditional structure of the fabric and weaving techniques," she says. Her collection includes sarees in Kota, Benarasi and Chanderi, lehengas, ankle-length skirts, Rajasthani leherias, exquisite bridal ensembles, embellished blouses and potlis besides home decor items such as cushions, mats, trays and coasters. Nandini, on her part, has put together a show of wildlife art inspired from natural habitats and ecosystems from the states of Madhya Pradeshand Rajasthan, emphasising on the need to conserve wildlife.

The varied range of gond and kalamkari works in acrylic, wildlife art in charcoal and old pichwais in vibrant colour palettes with new motifs and patterns take the traditional art forms forward in a manner that appeals to contemporary collectors, she says. Nandini, who has been working with a group of tribal artists from Madhya Pradeshfor the last few years is also showcasing abstract and landscape paintings by an Indore-based artisan Shankar Shinde who primarily recreates temple art found in monuments across Madhya Pradesh. "I have paintings pertaining to traditional Indian art. A special Japanese rotating pen is used for these paintings." She has also been conducting workshops with these artists to promote their art not only inIndiabut also abroad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

- http://www.business-standard.com/, September 2, 2016

Archaeology need not always be the examination of something buried or something still. It can be moving at an incredibly high speed and still have cultural and archaeological significance, said Dr Alice Gorman, space archaeologist at Flinders University in Australia. Gorman was delivering a lecture on the subject to students of St Joseph’s College in the city.

Space archaeology is the research-based study of various human-made items found in space, their interpretation as clues to adventures mankind has experienced in space, and their preservation as cultural heritage, according to the Archaeological Institute of America. It includes launch complexes on Earth, orbital debris, satellites, and objects and structures on other celestial bodies such as Mars. According to Gorman, space archaeology started in 1936. From Telsar-I, the first telecommunica tion satellite that was launched in 1962 to the Apollo landing sites on the Moon from 1969 to 1972, all held historical and social significance, from a space archaeologist’s perspective, said Gorman.

“There are millions of stray objects flying in zero gravity in the lower earth orbit that will have catastrophic effects if it hits spaceships. Should we destroy it in an orbital clean-up or preserve it? That’s a question,” she said. In reference to the launch of Chandrayaan-I in 2008, she said, “It included an impact probe and a lunar orbiter. The remapping of those landing sites is proof of Indian archaeology on the Moon.”

So how does one become a space archaeologist considering that there are only a handful in the world? “Do an undergraduate archaeology degree, then a Masters or PhD on a space archaeology topic. An essential aspect would be combining it with aerospace engineering because I had to bring myself up to speed with astrodynamics etc,” she said. “Space archaeology is slowly gaining traction. Ten years ago, people would think you’re mad but now there are encyclopedia entries on space archaeology, so it’s a recognised sub-discipline. A lot of people in the space industry are aware of it. India has a vibrant and venerable space programme, and hence it has a lot of potential,” she said. Talking about material available for study, she said, “I have to use space records, space junk catalogues and Celes Track (Keplerian elements for most satellites in low-earth orbit.) I read a lot of science material too.”

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 2, 2016

Thick layers of oil sticking to plastic and other debris were washed ashore Chowpatty beach on Sunday morning. "Spills like these will harm non-moving organisms and filter feeders like barnacles, shell fish, corals, sponges and marine algae on the rocky patch off Marine Drive," says marine conservationist Pradip Patade who has been documenting marine biodiversity around the city.

The Coast Guard denied knowledge of an active oil spill in waters close to Mumbai's shores. The Mumbai Port Trust, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the MCGM are yet to find out the source of the oil spill. An oil leak, believed to be from the sunk bulk carrier, MV Rak, had spread panic and tar balls were spotted at Juhu beach, Gorai and Alibaug in 2011. Juhu beach was also covered with tar balls in July 2014. Tar balls, blamed on dumping of oil by ships, were also noticed on Goa's beaches in 2014.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 2, 2016

In an alarmingly steep fall in the population of a protected species, blackbuck numbers in Bareilly district have fallen by more than 71%, from 578 in 2013 to just 171 in 2016. While experts allege poaching to be the main reason behind the decimation of blackbuck numbers, forest officials have come up with an innovative explanation — that the deer migrated to neighbouring areas and, therefore, few were sighted. The survey conducted by forest department in 2016 revealed that there are 171 blackbuck in the district.This is much less than the last survey done in 2013 when the population of blackbuck was 578. Giving reason behind the sharp decline in numbers of antelope, Dheeraj Pathak, who is rescue chief of People For Animals (PFA), said, "There has been a drastic decrease in number of blackbuck in the district because of poaching. Blackbuck are being killed on the outskirts of the city by poachers but forest officials have failed to take action against it."

He added that though forest officials claim that the blackbuck were attacked by dogs, in reality, the dogs lack courage to attack them as these deer run faster than the canines. A farmer at Tigra village, Anil Sawhney and wildlife enthusiast said, "There are many villages in the district where residents kill blackbuck and eat it." Sawhney added, "Nearly four years ago, a herd of blackbuck were a common sight on Pilibhit road and near Dohna power house on Nainital road. However, we went to these stretches a fortnight ago, but failed to locate a single blackbuck after spending an entire day at these spots." An expert, who did not wish to be named, said poaching is the main cause for their dwindling numbers but urbanisation has caused their habitat to shrink. At one time, blackbuck could easily spotted on the outskirts of the city.

When asked about the reason behind the fall in numbers of blackbuck over the past three years, divisional forest officer Dharam Singh said, "As the survey is conducted for a day, there are chances that blackbuck may have gone to neighbouring districts. The blackbuck may not be visible at a particular time when the survey was being done. Besides, the survey was conducted in June, the animals go near water bodies due to heat and hence, they were unlikely to be spotted during the survey."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 2, 2016

The Karnataka archaeology department has finally woken up to the treasure in the city's backyard as it decides to take up conservation in the city's ruins, which was once a capital of the Ganga dynasty. One of three capitals of the western Gangas, Manne, will see excavation by the state archaeology department. The department has sent a proposal to ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) to this extent seeking their clearance. After ASI and state government clearances, excavation will be taken up in an area of over 20 acres from Manne village.

A team of state archaeology officials led by director of museums, Dr R Gopal and historian HS Gopal Rao on Thursday visited the place, now in shambles, as part of conservation and excavation. A photo documentation was also done on Thursday. "Manne is place of very high historical significance. A preliminary survey has been carried out. It was the capital of the Gangas, who ruled for more than nine hundred years. They were initially in Kolar. They then moved to Manne before moving finally to Talakkad. Hence, the place which served as their capital is of great value. A proposal has been sent for archaeologi cal scientific excavation," Dr Gopal told Bangalore Mirror.

The historical city of Manne, little known to Bengalureans, stands a few kilometres from Nelamangala and about seven kilometres from Dobbaspet. Also known as Manyapura, Manne, was one of the neglected and forgotten historical towns till recent days, when heritage enthusiasts and conservationists took up the issue with the state government. They had also petitioned the state government to conserve the city and accord it heritage status as it was almost reduced to a dumpyard. What was a Someshwara temple of Manyapura in ancient days, is today referred as a `Sule Gudi' or `prostitute's house' due to lack of historical understanding, awareness and conservation efforts. The structures still stand witness to the grandeur of the Gangas and has an imprint of Jainism.

The temple, said to be built between 9-10th century AD, still has eye-catch ing architecture with life-size dwarapalakas, a mandapam with ornamental pillar carvings, typical of the Gangas.The roof has carvings of goddess Padmavathi and other Tirthankaras. Near a dried lake also exists a sapta-matri ka statue of the Ganga period. With seventeen pillars, the structure has been demolished and can be seen in a ruined state.

However, an excavation is expected to throw up more treasure to add to the state's history and ancient past, the officials said. "We welcome the state government's move. We look forward to seeing action soon on the ground. We also welcome the government's move to give protected status to the heritage remains. We are sure the excavation will throw up wonders as in Hampi because the inscription found at Manne has a mention of a major Jain settlement. We are hopeful ASI will support the state's proposal at the earliest," Swaminathan Natrajan, a heritage enthusiast, who has been pursuing the case for more than two years with the state departments, told Bangalore Mirror.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 2, 2016

The government-appointed heritage conservation committee for the city has planned slew of measures to beautify historical monuments under its supervision. In a meeting held here on Saturday, the committee unanimously decided to beautify some of the gates and monuments and also build toilets, parking lots for the convenience of the visitors. The panel also took decision to take action against illegal constructions mushrooming up around some of the monuments.

Jayant Deshpande, chairman of the heritage conservation committee, said that after the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation had earmarked a fund of Rs 5 crore for the cause, there is scope for implementing some of the long awaited projects. "There is no space for parking near Panchakki. But the committee has now working on a proposal to acquire nearby land on lease basis to create a parking space. It will give big relief to the visitors. Apart from this, we have asked the national-level organisation - INTACH - to prepare a road map for construction of toilet near various tourist spots," he said.

Giving due significance to tourism sector, the municipal body has proposed to spent Rs 5.10 crore in 2016-17 on conservation of heritage sites including beautification of historical gates and development of civic amenities near Bibi-ka-Maqubara and Panchakki. The civic body is responsible for maintaining 155 heritage sites located in the municipal limits including 52 gates, public buildings, bridges, aqua ducts (Nahar-e-Ambari and Nahar-e-Panchakki) and monuments.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 3, 2016

It is in these lands that the world’s first multinational was born Few, if any, other parts of the world can lay claim to what have been an essential part, if not the root, of the development of five great empires over less than two and a half millennia, and the world’s earliest true private sector multinational corporation. But the very rich history — in every sense of the phrase — of the lands that are now those of the nation and people of Bangladesh hold such a distinction, for better, or worse. Or even, better and worse! Of that, there can be no doubt. Archaeological, documentary, empirical, and circumstantial evidence all point in that direction. And, not least, the cultural and documentary history of other nations around the world, from Japan through China, the Middle East to Mediterranean, and even east African lands.

And that — within these lands of Bangladesh and those close by also developed three of the world’s greatest faith groups, together with clear evidence of two other such groups enjoying significance in their evolution within and through the lands — is absolutely unique. The fact that, in these lands and around, also developed one of the earliest forms of written language, and although rooted here, nonetheless contributed considerable vocabulary to many other, including great European languages, ancient and modern, is probably related to these extraordinary facts.

Traces of the earliest of these Empires, the Mauryan Empire based upon Patna in modern India, the successor to what was known as the Magadha Kingdom (which, although it is believed to have lasted for up to a thousand years, never appears to have had great scale, despite being extensively mentioned in early writings, including those of Jain and Buddhist tradition) are mostly artefacts of the period, sculptural and personal. The Gupta Empire may well have had its roots around today’s Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj, in Bangladesh. It survived for a little over two centuries, but left behind an astonishing record of cultural and economic achievement Traces, however, of its architectural heritage remain in the foundations of such masterpieces as the, later period, Paharpur Vihara in north Bengal. Few early sites in Bangladesh, it seems, do not include detectable origins of the last centuries before the Common Era, in which the great Ashoka, the third Mauryan Emperor, reigned.

Perhaps the most enduring trace of that great Empire, however, which reaches across the entirety of northern Indian sub-continent even today, is the Grand Trunk Road, reaching from the Indus to the Ganges delta. It may be open to question how much earlier, even, than the 3rd century BCE that link existed. Kingdoms, we know, from classical writers, including 4th century BCE Megasthenes and 3rd century BCE Apollonius of Rhodes, flourished hereabouts, in the lands that are now Bangladesh. Archaeology in both India and Bangladesh also point to a proliferation of evidently wealthy, well-armed but peaceful enclaves around the delta. Although financed perhaps by the trade, subsequent minor empires rose and fell in the region, it was not until the early years of the 4th century of the Common Era that the next of the great empires reached out across most of northern India.

Described by historians as the “Golden Age of India,” with its remarkable age of invention, innovation, and evolution, we may well wonder how connections with China facilitated such development. The Gupta Empire may well have had its roots around today’s Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj, in Bangladesh. It survived for a little over two centuries, but left behind an astonishing record of cultural and economic achievement. A century later, the great Buddhist Pala Empire arose, again, sprawling across much of the north of the sub-continent. This dynasty of rulers, that lasted about three and a half centuries, also had its roots in the lands that are now Bangladesh, in north Bengal, around Dinajpur. It really cannot be any coincidence that such developments originated in these lands with its extraordinarily rich economic and cultural experiences of earlier ages. Traces of these empires remain in Bangladesh, both in the highly visible Buddhist Vihara… University monasteries, and a considerable collection of artefacts. Many, sadly, now in museums and antique collections around the world.

However, if the Gupta Empire left its bequests to the entire sub-continent, the Pala Empire certainly left its legacy across today’s Buddhist world, especially Tibet, whence, in the early 11th century, travelled Bangladesh born Atish Dipanker, known widely in the Buddhist world as “the second Buddha,” for rescuing the Buddhist traditions of Tibet from decline, and establishing the order that survives there even today. There is no arguing with the traces the Mughals left behind, culturally, architecturally, and artistically, and in an administration their successors were happy to emulate. And plenty of those traces remain in Bangladesh Even the Chinese government have paid their tribute to his work by building a commemorative pagoda close to his birthplace in Munshiganj, near Dhaka. Between these great empires of the Common Era, a degree of turbulence prevailed; not least during the lengthy period that followed the Pala Empire, first with a short lived Hindu regime, and then, more enduring, what has become called “the Sultanate,” or the “Slave Rulers.” Originating from the Muslim communities of today’s Afghanistan and Persia, they migrated southwards into familiar ground they had raided for centuries as the Mongol hordes flooded across Asia.

It is probably fair to say that they left nothing that has really lasted, except laying the foundations for the first, truly cohesive, Muslim ruled Empire, although there are certainly both documentary records of, for example, the rulers at Sonargoan, east of Dhaka, where their palatial state in the early 15th century is recorded by Zheng He, the great Chinese admiral, and of a relatively sophisticated bureaucracy. However, their turbulent reign petered out with the arrival of the Mughal dynasty. Of Mongol origin, with considerable Persian influence, they created an empire that only really lasted about two centuries, although their nominal reign lasted three, as “puppet” rulers for the era of “privatised” rule; the British, East India Company, which in true, modern corporate style, gave itself a tagline, “honourable”; an early example of the claim not fulfilled by the delivery?

There is no arguing with the traces the Mughals left behind, culturally, architecturally, and artistically, and in an administration their successors were happy to emulate. And plenty of those traces remain in Bangladesh, from where the main wealth generating states of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa were ruled during arguably one of the most effective of the Mughal reigns, that of the sixth emperor, Aurangzeb. Known as one of the three great gunpowder empires, the Mughals, sadly, were finally consumed by that same gunpowder. It was the cargoes required by what was to become without doubt the greatest “gunpowder empire,” of them all; the British Empire, from which Mughal administrators exacted vast sums to reach shipping in time for the monsoon winds, that finally moved the great East India Company to take the opportunity to seize control of the lands of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

For, perhaps, the first time in history, the world witnessed rule by business; if those over whom it ruled still complain of commercial exploitation, there may well be lessons, even for today’s world, in which privatisation of public services appears to be the fashion… With the same outcome? Whilst it may be argued that the lands in and around Bangladesh financed the eventual British conquest and maintenance of the entire sub-continent and vast tracts around the world, the legacy of the century of their “management” remains highly debateable. Their tangible and visible legacy, however, whilst slowly diminishing, remains considerable. The fifth of the empires, of which the entire sub-continent has come to be regarded as the “jewel” was of course the British Empire, decaying in the later decades of the 19th century, and the early ones of the 20th.

Above all, the enduring legacy of that empire was, of course, the very domain of Bangladesh itself, although it was left to the people of Bangladesh themselves to extricate themselves from the undesirable marriage they, apparently, entered into lightly, with distant Pakistan in 1947. This is a history, probably unique in the world; it is a story of lands, and peoples, who have survived such an extraordinary journey through well over two thousand years, and probably much longer, to emerge with the makings of yet another era of international trade and cultural influence; influence that many other countries in the world, especially Britain, have already experienced. Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

- http://www.dhakatribune.com/, September 3, 2016

When a group of students assembled for a workshop in Mamallapuram, little did they know that the event would change their basic perception of art and sculpture. Although workshops are held in this ancient port city to revive the Pallava art quite often, the recently concluded 10-day event was different. The students who participated in the workshop at the Government college of sculpture and architecture here took an unconventional approach to revisit the Pallava art. For a moment, they forgot the usual measurement-based styles that they are taught at their colleges and began looking at the non-religious pieces of art that the Pallavas indulged in.

"It was a journey in search of non-religious sculptures made by the Pallavas at their port city. This is the first time a workshop is being conducted by breaking the usual measurement-based style that many art colleges follow," said K T Gandhirajan, heritage expert and one of the coordinators of the event. Experts who supervised the workshop said some works the students produced were great when it comes to aesthetics and style. "We normally follow traditional measurement style while making sculptures. But this time we made miniature forms of the Pallava sculptures without following any measurements. We were free to sculpt in our own style. It was a great experience," said G Harish, one of the participants and a second year student of the college of sculpture and architecture in Mamallapuram.

Gandhirajan said the idea of the workshop was to break the usual and the routine pattern. So, the students were asked to look at the works of the Pallavas without any restrictions. The result was good. "The Pallavas were pioneer in trying different styles in art. Conducting a workshop like this was challenging. But the students picked up things very fast," he said. The workshop was organised by the Friends of Heritage Sites, an organisation that works for the preservation of heritage monuments in Tamil Nadu.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 3, 2016

HolidayIQ, one of India’s largest travel and holiday information portal, very recently signed a Memorandum of Association (MOU) with The Indian National Trust for Arts and Culture Heritage (INTACH), to jointly identify “Next Big Heritage Destination” in India for 2017. The companies are aiming to identify at least one lesser-known Indian Heritage Destination (living, built, or natural), with significant potential for tourism.

The destination will be selected through a nationwide contest on the HolidayIQ web portal, where Indian travelers will be asked to identify heritage destinations and share their views via reviews, images and videos. The campaign to identify the “Next Heritage Destination” will be spread over a period of three months, starting September 2016. The Winning Heritage Destination will be selected by a joint jury of INTACH and HolidayIQ and this is culminate with an award ceremony to honor the winner.

Dr. (Mrs.) CT Misra, Member Secretary, INTACH said, “INTACH has been a pioneer in conserving and protecting India’s natural and cultural heritage. It is our aim to initiate innovative ideas in not only preserving but also promoting the cultural heritage of the country. Our MoU with HolidayIQ therefore seeks to reiterate our commitment by seeking to identify a heritage destination through the views of the Indian traveler and then offer support to the site from INTACH through next year in 2017.” While Hari Nair — CEO and Founder, HolidayIQ told the Guardian 20, “INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Culture) is the premier non-governmental agency working on Heritage in India. A big part of their remit is to identify heritage sites in India that can be made ‘living’ sites instead of the ‘protected’ (which means ‘dead’) status that Archaeology Survey of India converts them into. As India’s first & largest traveller community, there is an opportunity for HolidayIQ to support this work and bring a greater number of India’s heritage to our travellers’ notice. This MOU is for a specific campaign to involve Indian travellers in a big way to identify the “Next Big Heritage Destination” of India.”

He further added, “This is a major milestone in HolidayIQ’s evolution as the leading voice of Indian tourism and was made possible only because of the progress we have made on so many fronts. As part of this campaign we expect HolidayIQ to get lots of review content on lesser known Heritage destinations and attractions from across the country. This information will be of enormous use to travellers looking at exploring lesser known Heritage destinations thus encouraging tourism to these destinations. They will also be brought to INTACH’s notice and therefore can be renovated and maintained as tourist destinations.”

HolidayIQ expects the alliance to strengthen the culture of Heritage Destinations of India and to ensure that the Indian travelers are well aware about the lesser-known destinations. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is a Non-Profit NGO registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Since 1984, INTACH has pioneered the conservation and protection of India’s natural and cultural heritage and is today the largest membership organization in the country dedicated to conservation. Over the years, INTACH has taken up restoration and protection of hundreds. “This tie up will take the form of a national contest where travellers across the country will nominate the Heritage destination they feel has the most tourism potential. The destination which wins will be taken over for development by INTACH in 2017,” Nair said.

- http://www.sundayguardianlive.com/, September 3, 2016

The heritage tourism movement is expected to get a huge fillip with Maharashtra Tourism offering to join hands with the Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) by way of seeking their expertise." There are 450 forts and palaces on the beaches of Maharashtra which lie untapped. I urge the IHHA to lend their support by way of restoring them, said Jaykumar Jitendrasinh Rawat, the Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra.

He was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of IHHA today at Hotel Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur. The new tourism policy in Maharashtra was already in place, he further added, and that it offered a package of incentives for such restorations. Earlier, the Minister gave an elaborate presentation on new initiatives of the state. The Governor of Punjab, VP Singh Badnore, who happens to be a member of the Executive Committee of the IHHA, was also present as an invitee. He focused on the importance of working and coordinating as a cohesive whole by the Government representatives and private players. He cited the example of the committee which was formed to translocate tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve. The Committee comprised of experts and not necessarily Government representatives - and the translocation had been hugely successful.

Earlier, the President of IHHA, Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur, in his presidential ddress said that the tourism industry is the 2nd largest foreign exchange earner in net terms for the country and has the largest potential for employment creation.

The travel and tourism sector creates more jobs per million rupees of investments than any other sector of the economy and is capable of providing employment to wide spectrum job seekers from the unskilled to the specialized, even in the remote parts of the country. He also urged for reducing the skill gap by providing appropriate skills and training. Also present on the occasion were Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar; Deputy Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Rao Rajendra Singh Shahpura; General Secretary of IHHA, Randhir Vikram Singh and other office bearers and members of the IHHA. The Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhraja Raje will inaugurate the fifth Annual Convention of the IHHA on Sunday.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 3, 2016

The architectural masterpiece Charminar, celebrating its 425th birthday on October 9, is structurally strong, but is faced with odds: fumes, vibrations, dust among other pollutants and the vagaries of nature are eating into the vitals of the edifice in which history remains frozen. A government ban is on, as a protective measure, on plying of buses and autos around the monument with a view to checking vehicular pollution and vibrations. Yet, the presence of cars, cabs, two-wheelers and other motor vehicles continue to pose a danger to the monument, that’s by far the most popular tourist spot in the city. Dust from construction sites in the area is causing serious damage to imposing structure.

The Archaeological Survey of India is the custodian of Charminar. It is painstakingly engaged in conservation and restoration works, besides monitoring air pollution. It has recorded over three times higher than the normal suspended particle matter level in the area, as of now. “Structural heritage is a non-renewable resource. Intervention has to be compatible with the fabric of the monument. This isn’t always possible. The need is to prevent the fabric from being worn out by way of undertaking preventive conservation. Both structural conservation and preventive conservation are being undertaken at Charminar,” Mr N. Taher, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Hyderabad Circle, told this newspaper.

According to Mr Venjamuri Kotaiah, assistant archaeological chemist of ASI, SPM levels are high in the Charminar area. “As against the norm of 58 micrograms, the SPM level is 150 micrograms, at times even more, which affects not just Charminar but human beings too. Dust, fumes, vibration, smoke, aerosols and bird droppings, in addition to vagaries of nature, are taking a heavy toll of smooth structures,” Mr Kotaiah said. He added: “Un-burnt carbon from vehicles settles on smooth layers in the upper reaches, like minarets, which absorb lot of dust. You can see blackening at the top. When there are rains, its sucks water and this leads to growth of micro organisms. This weakens the smooth surface and gradually damages structures. Minarets are the most affected. There is a very complex impact.”

ASI has completed restoration of the northeast minaret. It has now taken up work on the northwest minaret. “We are undertaking repair of cracks, damage to motifs etc. It will be completed in two to three months. Conservation and restoration are not a one-time effort, but a continuing process,” Mr Kotaiah said. Though the undivided AP government and subsequently the new Telangana state government took up a Charminar pedestrianisation programme, it is progressing at snail's pace due to local issues. It missed the Unesco world heritage tag due to the poor environs and awful upkeep of the surroundings, that heap shame on the governmental agencies. The area has rustic, unclean ambience, though crores of funds allotted in the past for the area's maintenance went down the drain or were eaten away by the politician-engineer-contractor lobbies. ASI asserts that Charminar's life can be extended for many more years, provided the environment is clean and a serious interest is evinced in conservation.

- http://www.deccanchronicle.com/, September 4, 2016

A part from human skeletons and remains of domestic animals, archaeologists have also found bones of rhino and elephant in Rakhigarhi."This shows that unlike the arid area that we see today, Rakhigarhi was not just a riverside civilization but a place like today's Kaziranga in Assam - full of lush greenery and rich fauna. Nothing less could have sustained big animals like these," says an official from Haryana archaeology department.

Curiously, it is the only Harappan civilization to have tiger seals."Other cities of Harappan civilization had seals of Ox and unicorns.The fact that Rakhigarhi residents chose tiger as their symbol speaks volumes about their geography and strength," says the official. "It was a well-watered plain with intensive agriculture. The residents of Rakhigarhi grew surplus foodgrain and even exported it," says Vasant Shinde, leader of the Rakhigarhi research project.

Though Rakhigarhi has all the signs of the Harappan civilization, it has its own characteristics too, he says, adding, "for example, in Rakhigarhi, all the houses open on to the streets, unlike in Harappa and Mohenjodaro." Rakhigarhi also had great drainage and water-harvesting systems. The metropolis was surrounded by a high wall fortification to protect residents from invaders. According to the archaeology department official, the Rakhigarhians procured gold from the south - which points to well-organized trade through water channels. Like the rest of Harappa, they specialized in the manufacture of beads - wh i ch w a s exported to contemporary civilizations in Iran and other places.

The Saraswati The fact that Rakhigarhi was an extremely fertile plain with abundance of water raises the possibility of it having been irrigated by a river. This has added to the Saraswati debate."There was a river here. It may or may not have been the Saraswati.But the route of the river-bed corresponds to the course of the Saraswati mentioned in Rig Vedic texts. There's also the possibility of the Ghaggar being the Saraswati of yore as it is the only river between the Yamuna and the Satluj which is said to be the location of Saraswati. What and where exactly it was is a matter of research, says Vasant Shinde. Significantly, the Haryana government is already digging in Yamunanagar district of the state to unearth the mythical river. A Haryana archaeology department official also hinted at the possibility of finding dry river bed of Saraswati in the vicinity of Rakhigarhi

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 4, 2016

Adaptive reuse of protected monuments is an option the directorate of archives and archaeology (DAA) is considering seriously with three heritage sites in Naroa, Vichundrem and Cabo de Rama being identified for conservation by inviting expressions of interest. The 13-14th century Narayandev temple of Vichundrem, Cabo de Rama fort built by Sunda kings and captured in 18th century by the Portuguese and 17th century Saptokeshwar temple at Naroa, Bicholim, are some of the monuments shortlisted by DAA for conservation.

Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings and monuments has become popular in other parts of the world, as the governments conservation machinery finds it difficult to retain a tangible link with the past while revitalizing heritage assets. Faced with lack of technical expertise, manpower and other problems, DAA is also planning to engage private agencies who have carried out restoration projects in India, sources said. While DAA has a big list of 51 monuments scattered across Goa to maintain, many of them have been neglected for long periods of time, largely due to lack of political will by successive governments in pursuing conservation seriously. After the department invited bids from private agencies with conservation expertise in the field, a total of nine, including three from Goa, have shown interest in taking up the projects for restoration and adaptive reuse.

The Goa government has constituted an expert committee headed by Ashish K Sinai Rege, principal of Goa College of Architecture, Panaji, as chairman to scrutinize the technical aspects of the bids received by DAA to pursue the conservation work of the protected monuments. "Conservation is a specialized job and it is a gigantic task for the department along to shoulder it," an expert member said. Agreed Blossom Medeira, director, DAA and member secretary of the experts committee, "We have to restore our protected monuments and we need conservation architects and experts to ensure that the agencies/individuals undertaking the task of conservation are adhering to the norms."

The department had first restored the 15th century Reis Magos fort on the northern bank of River Mandovi a few years ago. The first project for adaptive reuse in Goa completed with funds from UK-based Helen Hamlyn Trust by architect Gerard da Cunha has proved to be successful, as the site is now a cultural centre and tourist attraction. The purpose of conservation for adaptive reuse of the fort had met with stiff resistance from heritage lovers.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 4, 2016

Her statue unveiled near Collectorate MLC and president of Gitam University M.V.V.S. Murty along with Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu, Visakha South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar at the unveiling of statue of Mother Teresa in Viskahapatnam on Sunday. —Photo: C.V.Subrahmanyam

MLC and president of Gitam University M.V.V.S. Murty along with Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu, Visakha South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar at the unveiling of statue of Mother Teresa in Viskahapatnam on Sunday. —Photo: C.V.Subrahmanyam

Serving the needy was the sole aim of Mother Teresa, recalled MLC and president of Gitam University M.V.V.S. Murty and called upon everyone to be inspired by her life. Speaking after unveiling a statue of Mother Teresa at the Collectorate gate here on Sunday to celebrate the canonisation of Mother Teresa, he recalled that he was a part of group of citizens who had felt that a statue of Mother Teresa at that location would provide solace to thousands of patients and their attendants who passed by on way to King George Hospital.

A statue was unveiled at the location in 2004. However, it got damaged due to Cyclone Hudhud . A new statue was installed in its place and unveiled on Sunday as part of the celebrations of Sainthood of Mother Teresa by the people of the city. He prayed that Saint Teresa of Kolkata would continue to bless the city of Visakhapatnam. Mother Teresa served those who could not repay and true service is when you serve those who cannot repay you, Archbishop of Andhra Pradesh Prakash Mallavarapu said. He led the prayers at the installation of the statue.

It was a matter of great pride for all Indians to be associated with Mother Teresa who was only the fourth Indian to be granted sainthood, Visakha South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar said in his presidential address. A large number of devout Christians, sisters from Missionaries of Charity and other Catholic organisations were present. Visit recalled Mother Teresa during her visit to the city had inspired many to give their life in service of mankind, amateur historian and member of Intach Visakhapatnam Chapter Vijjeswarapu Edward Paul told The Hindu. Mother Teresa last visited Visakhapatnam in February 1988. Though long overdue she came giving very short notice.

The then Collector Bhattacharjee, then Mayor D.V.Subba Rao, Municipal Commissioner K. Raju, Bishop of Visakha Diocese Mariadas, and other dignitaries along with the Sisters of Missionaries of Charity received her at the Airport, Mr Paul recalled. At a civic reception organised that evening at Andhra University Convocation Hall, the hall was packed with an estimated crowd of more than 5000. Mr Subba Rao said: “We, the Citizens of Visakhapatnam, feel it our good fortune to have you in our midst and today in presenting this civic address to your revered Self, the City of Destiny is honouring itself.” In her reply, she said: “Your city of Visakhapatnam is very beautiful. Never let any child, feel that he or she is unwanted by the people of this city."

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 5, 2016

Coconut leaves play an important role in rural life of entire Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. The human-coconut leaf relationship starts right from childhood and goes up to the last rites. Leaves are used in different stages for different purposes. It starts from tender tassels to dry leaves. Leaves are used for making toys, decoration, ritual purposes, for lights, for fire and also to construct houses and sheds with coconut leaf roofs.

This coconut roof proves to be the best as it controls the scorching heat during summer. To drive home the importance of coconut leaves in human lives and to arrest coconut leaf craft heritage diminishing slowly from rural life as plastic replaces coconut leaf crafts, ICAR-CPCRI is organizing a five-day workshop at CPCRI campus at Kasargod from September 6. The initiative has been arranged as part of ICAR- CPCRI centenary celebrations.

The two organizations in collaboration with Folkland, an international centre for folklore and culture are bringing back coconut leaf craft tradition to the present society. Eminent artists/craftsperson will attend the workshop. On September 8, a seminar has been planned with presentations and paper readings of eminent scholars and artists. An interaction with artists, scientists and students is also planned along with the workshop. A master plan to bring back the coconut leaf heritage to the society is seen as the main objective of the seminar. K K Marar, eminent art historian, will inaugurate the workshop on September 6. P Chowdappa, Director of CPCRI will preside over the function. The seminar will be held on September 8 and exhibition of coconut leaf crafts on September 9 and 10.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 5, 2016

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) plans to develop 'The Golden Threshold', residence of poet and freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu, into a heritage and culture hub. The site at UoH's off-campus annexe will house a museum of performing arts and be equipped to hold art exhibitions and cultural programmes.

An announcement to this effect was made by cultural historian Padma Subramanyam at the Natraj Ramakrishna Memorial Lecture held recently on the university campus. The idea to restore and re-develop the The Golden Threshold was first floated by former UoH vice-chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy in 2012. He had expressed a desire to preserve and use the heritage building as a museum-cum-cultural cen tre. The project is now likely to see light of day soon. The Golden Threshold was Sarojini Naidu's home during her formative years.

The UoH said in a release on Sunday that it would build infrastructure required to hold programmes related to heritage and culture. UoH plans to examine existing infrastructure and hold consultations with artists, heritage experts and faculty members on how to go about building the centre. "We want to build a space which enables artists to exhibit work, students to make films and hold festivals," professor BP Sanjay , of Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts, Fine Arts and Communication, told TOI.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 5, 2016

In the higher reaches of Himalayas, temperatures in the winters can plunge to a bone-chilling zero degrees. Add to this the tough terrain in the hills that makes farming a herculean task. Yet, communities have continued to not only inhabit these regions in Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi for the past hundreds of years but are in fact thriving despite all odds. Experts from the Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre (DMMC) carried out a study to understand the resilience of these communities and various methods employed by them to counter the adverse climate and tough living conditions.

The study, published in the September issue of DMMC's journal Disaster Management, found that the villagers armed with traditional knowledge have also developed various new practices to ensure adequate supply of food during periods of scarcity. The study collected data from 73 villages of four high-altitude valleys - Bhagirathi valley (Uttarkashi), Niti valley (Chamoli), Johar valley (Pithoragarh) and Byans valley (Pithoragarh) in Uttarakhand Himalayas.

Over 26 villages in upper reaches of Bhagirathi valley, 16 in Niti valley, 24 in Johar valley and 7 in Byans valley were part of the study. Majority of villages were located between 2,200 and 3,600 metres above sea level. The study revealed that people living in the resource deficient regions had developed various techniques of preserving food items for long, harsh winters. "People in the hills traditionally dry vegetables, such as tomato, cabbage, turnip (stalk and leaves) and mustard leaves, along with other wild vegetables for use in winters. Some vegetables are first boiled and then sun dried. After 15 to 20 days of continuous drying, the products are packed in special containers for use later," explained Piyoosh Rautela, executive director, DMMC.

The researchers said that people living in extreme conditions in these regions dry animal meat by hanging it. Strips of meat are smeared with turmeric, salt and mustard oil and tied on strings across the room. Rautela added, "The meat is often also hung in the kitchen and smoke from the hearth infuses it with a distinct smoky flavour, which is highly relished by people. At the same time, it enhances the shelf life of the meat." While its easier to preserve meat, other unique methods are adopted to store raw vegetables. Potato, ginger, turmeric and colocasia are splashed with lemon juice and kept in underground pits covered with straw at the onset of winter. Flowers of rhododendron are sun dried and used later to prepare pickle or chutney.

People also use some special recipes to enhance nutritional value, taste and shelf life of various indigenous food items. "A special technique used for preservation is known as Arji. In this method, sausages are prepared from animal meat using parts that are generally not consumed. Blood, organs and even intestine of the animal are utilized as food," said Bhavna Karki, a DMMC researcher who was involved in the study. According to the study, preparation and consumption of both distilled and brewed drinks is common throughout the areas. Preparation of the beverages emerged not only as an important constituent of the social-cultural fabric but also enhanced the sense of belonging in the community.

- http://www.northeasttoday.in/, September 5, 2016

Assam ecologist Dr Bibhuti Lahkar has become the first Asian to be awarded the IUCN’s prestigious ‘Heritage Heroes Award’, 2016. Lahkar received the award at the World Conservation Congress of IUCN in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA on September 4. Lahkar has been working tirelessly to save the grasslands, flora and fauna of the Manas National Park and community development on the fringe areas of the protected area for close to 18 years. IUCN is the global authority on the conservation status of natural heritages and provides measures to safeguard it.

After receiving the award, Lahkar thanked everyone who helped him along the way said that he felt humbled and honoured by the recognition for his work. “Today I am very much delighted and honour to get this award. I have dedicated this award to Manas World Heritage Sites and local communities living around Manas,” Lahkar reacted.

In the two decades of his association with Manas as a biodiversity conservation specialist, Lahkar has worked hard to improve the park’s fortunes. His journey as a conservationist began as a volunteer for the NGO Araanyak in 1993. Now he is working as Programme Secretary of Aaranyak. Along with his team, Lahkar trained ex-poachers, hunters and members of local grassroots NGOs (almost 600 in number).

These poachers-turned-conservationists are now helping the forest department in patrolling and protecting the Manas National Park. Lahkar was also instrumental in connecting Manas Wildlife Sanctuary with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. As a result, a system of transboundary wildlife monitoring now supports management in the entire Manas natural area that spreads across India and Bhutan. He also conducted the first GIS surveys of the park, with his research findings and recommendations becoming a critical component in the Manas Tiger Conservation Plan.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 5, 2016

The murals showcasing Bharat Milap episode of Ramayana, in which Lord Ram meets his brother during his 14-year exile and other such episodes from Ramayana at Nati Imli make for a colourful sight. As part of Union urban development ministry's National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme, the walls of Nati Imli ground, also known as Bharat Milap ground, were recently painted by group of artists and former students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The Central government has allocated Rs 89.31 crore to Varanasi for development under HRIDAY scheme, which was launched in January last year by the Union ministry for urban development, with a focus on holistic development of 12 heritage cities of the country, with an investment of Rs 500 crore. The scheme aims at preserving and revitalizing soul of the heritage city to reflect its unique character by encouraging aesthetically 'appealing, accessible, informative and secured environment'. Getting a stylish wall is just a click away!

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ICICI Lombard Recommended By Colombia Rajkumar Singh, who completed his M.Sc in Fine arts from faculty of visual arts, BHU in 2010, was approached by National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCCL), a government of India enterprise, about two months ago. "I was approached by NBCC Limited on behalf of the ministry of urban development, following which the mural work began from July last week," informed Singh. Talking to TOI, Singh said, "This (mural) is a first in a series of over 10 murals that will find place on the walls of heritage sites across the city. "Under HRIDAY scheme, we are to cover all the heritage sites whose walls are to be given an artsy yet history-inspired mural that depicts the significance of the site and its association with history and the city," he added.

Talking about his wall mural at Bharat Milap ground, Singh said, "This ground is the site that annually witnesses Bharat Milap. Our main mural showcases the reunion while other walls give a glimpse of 'Nandigram' depicting Bharat worshiping Lord Rama's 'khadau' (wooden slipper), Ram Durbar that shows Lord Rama and Sita with his brothers, his sons Luv-Kush while being taught and also, the white horse being seized by them besides a dancing peacock. Our next wall murals would be at Kutir Akhada in Gurubagh, followed by Dhoopchandi in Jaitpura.

The mural that will find its place on walls at 'akhada' (wrestling ground) in Gurubagh will range from meeting of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant at Theosophical Society situated in vicinity, Sant Kabir as a weaver with Islamia College in the backdrop, children planting saplings, yoga activity at ghats, besides wrestlers fighting it out at akhadas. "Our murals are to showcase multi-cultural and multi-religious aspects of city, hence we will also depict Islamia College in backdrop that is located in vicinity. The idea behind painting murals is to apprise the people that the holy city is also known as 'Anandvan' (the forest of bliss)," Singh added.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 6, 2016

Ritu Kumar, who made us trust our traditional textile heritage, talks about her delicious journey

Talking to Ritu Kumar is like unravelling the rich layers of a vintage Indian sari. The yarn is supple, the colours are natural and there is nothing billowy about the fall. Some years back when western behemoths were lining their stories in the country and we feared that in a few years time every young Indian girl would sport or aspire for her little black dress, Kumar stood ground and allayed fears. Today, she says, we survived the onslaught because of our distinct handloom handwriting. “Like you, I had the same fear because I really had this apprehension that we might go the China or Thailand way and everybody in our country might start wearing little black dresses.

Somehow the international media also sold us a story that if you are not wearing their thing you are not with it,” says Kumar as we settle for a leisurely lunch at Wildfire, the Brazilian restaurant of Crowne Plaza Today in Gurgaon. What gave her strength was her belief in her crafts background and the fact that she had done it before. “We learnt under the likes of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay or Pupul Jayakar. We didn’t come from a fashion background. We started like barefoot doctors, who were sent to different corners of the country to appreciate its crafts. We had no contacts, no place to stay, but still we managed to strike a bond with craftsmen.

Even if I wanted to import a button, it was so prohibitive at that time that I had to find a solution from within our own tradition.” So when we say licence raj killed many industries, fashion is an exception! Sipping asparagus cappuccino soup with wild nuts and milk foam, Kumar is talking of the late ‘60s, when years of colonial rule had made inferiority complex seep so deep that the craftsmen and the consumer had little self worth left about the country’s textile heritage. “Kashmiri shawls were called paisleys after a town in Scotland. I started working with block printers in Serampore and they were in a very bad shape .

Block prints were cheaper than nylon scarves. None of their traditional blocks were being used.” Out of the first 30 saris that she got made for an exhibition nothing sold except for three saris bought by her friends. “I was told they look old. I said that it was vintage, but nobody thought that way. But then I switched the same prints on chiffons. That was the time when all the fashionable women were wearing French chiffons with roses and going to the races! The minute I did that some pieces started selling and in the next five years we were being approached by mills in Benaras and Surat.”

Talking of Serampore, Kumar reflects on her early days as a Bengali bahu, who came from a Punjabi background. “As somebody who runs a home, food may not be that critical for yourself but it is pretty important to run a good home. As a young couple, we tended to be out all the time. Cooking was largely left for dinner. Then slowly I discovered the beauty of Bengali cooking because Bengali food is unbelievably good. They have the most wonderful flavours. Being a Punjabi, I had not experienced it first hand but then I started enjoying macher jhol, the way they cook their banana fish, and unlike Punjabi food, it is very light.”

As Chef Avanish Jain conjures up mushroom rolled pasta with fresh tomato cream sauce, Kumar reminisces how cooking has been integral to her life from the beginning. “My father was a foodie and we were pushed to learn how to run a kitchen regardless to what you do in life. Learning how to make good tandoori roti was a must. How to make tasty food with less curry and masala — it was a particularly Kashmiri-Punjabi type of food that I grew up on. So Bengali food really came as a great surprise.”

However, working with artisans meant she had to spend days outside Kolkata. “I would travel miles into the hinterland where the wives of karigars would cook for us, and it was wonderful. They would cook in mud pot and serve roti. Sometimes, I used to take my kids along and they would eat the same. It is the most delicious food that I had in those days. The way they use coconut is simply amazing.” She still gets authentic Chinese food from the homes in Tangra, where her workshop is located. The Make in India slogan is making news now but Kumar points out that the crafts she worked with all these years were always made in India. “The slogan just defines it now.” Kumar has recently done projects in Benaras and Odisha to help revive the traditional Benarasi and Ikat weave. “When the royalty of India started buying from France, the patronage to Benaras diminished and a time came when English roses were being woven into Benarasi saris.

An art deco kind of design vocabulary emerged. It neither appealed to the local customer nor did it make a cut in the urban market. The karigars got confused.” During her projects, she says, the team could not find a real Benarasi sari. “The yarn had got stiff, the colours were chemical and the sari balloons. Which young girl would like to carry it? Still nobody complains. It is like when something goes wrong in a big kitchen producing lots of food, nobody complains.” Instead of Chinese, she procured Bhagalpuri silk yarn, photographed old pieces and pushed the karigars to rediscover their art. This resulted in a dozen saris, which she says gave her hope that the wheel can be turned again.

She holds mechanisation of looms complicated the problem further. “Mechanisation has its place but then leave space for handloom as well. You cannot marry the two. The hand-woven fabric has its own vocabulary and handwriting and it has its space in the market.” She maintains if you stay with excellence in a particular field, there is always a market for it. “It is not for the masses, it never was. But we have enough people who can buy one real Benarasi sari in their life time. We don’t need more than that. The highest quality of weaving with silk, gold and silver is irreplaceable and we don’t find it anywhere in the world.”

Of course, she adds, the fruits should reach the karigars. “If they find it lucrative, why such mathematically brilliant minds would become truck drivers or lift fabrics in the mills of Surat.” Giving example of those working with her, she says some of the karigars who used to come sitting on bus top now come in cars and their children are studying in boarding schools. Another fallacy, she says, is that Indian textiles and techniques because of their classical nature should always be kept in stone. “Indian textiles are most amenable to western silhouettes. There is no reason why can’t we customise our textile for a younger person’s bandwidth. That is where a designer comes into the picture." The reason she says there can’t be uniformity in the fashion market is the number of occasions and festivals we have. “I went to Cambodia, where I found brides and grooms were being photographed against temples in white gowns and black suits. This can’t happen in India.” However, there is no end to hiccups. “From traditional saris, I moved to kurta pyjama. Now not many want to wear kurta pyjama. What we can do is to carry our aesthetics as you move on. Techniques are pliable and transferable. Karigars are savvier than we give them credit for. The only point is that nature of the loom is such that it is meant for unstitched garments or garments which are not like jerseys but even there is a scope for improvisation. With loom fabric you can do layered clothing, things that are suitable for young clientele.”

What has also changed is the body type of Indian women. Gone are the days when they spent most of their free time in salons. “It seems they are spending half their lives in gym pumping iron. The fashion has got sporty. It reflected in our latest Lakme Fashion Week collection as well.” She reminds how Kalki Koechlin once sported sneakers with sari. “It is a healthy development. It took us a long time time to move from heels to chappals.” Does this mean the grace and romantic image that we associate with women will eventually vanish. “The wonderful thing about India is that both can co-exist. I don’t think anybody is going to wear track suit to a wedding anytime soon.” Trying mango pannacotta, she takes a dig, “What about man’s fashion. I feel sorry for guys. They haven’t come far from those pathetic bush shirts and safari suits. The office doesn’t give them leeway to experiment and the moment they put on kurta, people tease them of political affiliations.” Anybody listening?

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 7, 2016

With several clean city campaigns and aesthetic improvement plans, Madurai can see some beautiful changes coming, writes SOMA BASU Madurai Municipal Commissioner, Sandeep Nanduri, is silently setting an example of what is possible by following the “broken windows” theory. It is simple logic. “When unrepaired, you open the window to disorder and larger crimes. Likewise, garbage dumping or petty vandalism continues if you do not safeguard your public spaces,” he says. So, he is going full blast harnessing street art and graffiti in a creative, constructive and authentic way. “It is the best way to keep our surfaces free from getting defaced” he says and calls it “spot fixing”. A concept borrowed from Bangalore-based NGO called “The Ugly Indian” and successfully followed in the metropolis and Chennai and Bhopal too. The idea is to identify a spot in the unkempt urban voids and fix it with some sustainably- minded tweaks.

For instance, an alley near the Nelpettai intersection was a much-maligned space having been reduced to an open air public urinal. Ever since volunteers from Vaa Nanba group volunteered to clean it up and painted the walls with a portrait of Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the place has remained fresh and tidy for over a month now. A similar exercise has been carried out on Jail Road and Sellur. Many more spots have been identified for this direct action and Sandeep says the visible filth on our streets can be done away with if people come forward to take the ownership of the place they live in.

The starting point would be to highlight the plight of a place (say any footpath or alley, pavement outside shops and eateries, vacant plots) that has turned into an unwarranted dumping ground. Sandeep feels street art is an excellent way to brighten up a place and activate change. Artists, people, building owners can join hands to foster the creation of art work that will help not only to beautify the city but also revive it, he says, because street art is an important part of history and identity for every city.

The Madurai Municipal Corporation’s (MMC) action is visible on Kalpalam where the 16 pillars and 32 sides are in the process of getting a facelift through theme-based murals. “It is an ambitious exercise to show the city’s cultural importance and religious rituals in these paintings like the origin of river Vaigai or Lord Azhagar’s entry into it during Chithirai,” says Sandeep, and hopes the hard work going behind beautification of the city will dissuade people from defacing the walls again. If you stand on the AV Bridge, you will be able to see the entire series of paintings when it is completed, he notes. Plans are also afoot to brighten up the stretch of wall from the Railway Station to Burma Bazaar next.

The municipal commissioner also roped in school children in getting the walls around the Race Course painted on the theme “Swachch Bharat Abhiyan.” While it was conducted as part of a painting contest by the Soroptimist International-Madurai chapter for school and college students and 100-odd panels were done, the remaining part of the wall will now be painted by students of Mahatma School.

Public places give a tourist the first glimpse of what the city is like and that is why several theme-based traffic islands have also been planned by the MMC. They will come up at the Meenakshi Temple, airport, railway junction and bus-stands besides sprucing up of all the major roundabouts. “We are in the process of allotting each park or roundabout to a bank for gardening and maintenance. The Indian Bank has taken up the first one opposite to District Court,” says Sandeep, buoyed by the fact that last month the Meenakshi Amman Temple was declared as one of the top ten swachch iconic places in India by the Centre.

It may still be a while before the city undergoes a clean and aesthetic transformation for all of us to see. But the ball has been set rolling and in the end it is as much about changing peoples’ deep-rooted attitudes and cultural behaviour and involving communities. The case of a lost tree Much as the Madurai Municipal Commissioner, Sandeep Nanduri would want people to be involved in the Clean Madurai Mission, there are enough individuals in the city who are equally passionate about reviving the city’s glory. And while art can bring alive the city’s heritage on its walls, another one grand way of reliving the city’s past is through its trees.

Why Madurai lost relevance of its ancient name Kadambavanam is what set Arvind Kumar Sankar thinking. Eight years ago as the INTACH Madurai convener, he attempted to travel back through time and launched the Project Kadamba because the legendary origin of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, according to the ‘Sthala Puranam, has it that eons back before the Temple City of Madurai came into existence, the place where the temple complex stands was a ‘Kadamba Vanam’ (forest with Kadamba trees) with the Siva Lingam situated in its midst.

With kadamba tree’s high timber value, the kadambavanam got replaced with concrete, says Arvind. In 2008, he distributed 300 saplings to various schools, institutions and corporate and industrialists, and 108 saplings were planted on one acre of the Meenakshi Temple’s Koodal Sengulam farm near Madurai airport. Today, the trees on this farm have come up well but in the rest of the city only 50-odd have survived and growing. A fact that got P.Kumarappan, president of the newly installed Rotary Club of Madurai Innovators, thinking this time. Trees are like living books in our landscape, he says, and Madurai’s native tree has earned a place in a story that can never be forgotten. “It is upon us to recreate the forest of a bygone era.”

So, the club has launched an ambitious project of distributing 10,000 kadamba saplings free to people over the year. The first batch of 1,000 saplings were given away to Meenakshi Temple, 20 educational institutions and two village panchayats. The next four batches of 1,000 saplings each will be distributed among industrial houses, government schools, village committees and granite industries before the next action plan is drawn up, according to Kumarappan, who did lot of research on the tree and has also published a six-page booklet packed with information. “The trees that bear glorious stories from the past deserve to be protected and celebrated,” he says. And Arvind Sankar suggests a tree temple in Madurai with all sacred trees planted together. “The next generation should know about the tradition of worshipping trees. They only see them giving way to human habitation,” he says.

Facts about Kadamba The kadamba tree is the sthala vruksham of Meenakshi temple and forms an equally important feature of the temple’s architecture as the gopuram, vimanam and the sanctum sanctorum, The botanical nameof kadamba tree is neolamarckiacadamba and the common names are burflower tree laran, Leichardt pine and kadam. Grown as an ornamental plant, it is the evergreen, tropical tree native to South and South East Asia. When the tree is four to five years old, flowering begins with scented orange flowers in dense globe shaped clusters. The flowers are used in perfumes. A fully mature kadamba tree reaches up to 148 feet height.

It is a large tree with a broad crown and straight cylindrical bole. The broad spreading branches grow rapidly in the first 6 to 8 years. 5 years old. The fruit of kadmaba comes in small fleshy yellow orange capsules packed closely with 8000 seeds maturing. The fruits splits apart releasing the seeds which are then dispersed by wind or rain. Kadamba is mentioned in the “Bhagavathapurana”. In North India it is associated with Krishna while in the south it is known as Parvathi’s tree. In the sangam period of Tamil Nadu Murugan of Thirupangundram hill Madurai was refered to us a centre of nature worship. He was in form of spear under kadamba tree. QUOTE: “We want our city to be ranked as the cleanest city. Much can be achieved with some smart ideas, and, of course, ensuring those ideas work.” – Sandeep

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 7, 2016

New York City’s J’Ouvert celebration is the scene of deadly violence—again. J’Ouvert, a pre-dawn festival before the start of Brooklyn’s annual West Indian Day Parade, has become notorious for gang-related violence and indiscriminate gunfire. In 2015, an aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo was randomly shot in the head and killed. This year, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD vowed to make J’Ouvert “better than ever” and “safer than ever.”

The NYPD doubled the number of police officers detailed to J’Ouvert to 3,400 and erected 200 powerful light towers along the parade route and nearby neighborhoods. Yet, the early morning festivities—attended by 250,000 people—were again marred by violence. Four people were shot; two innocent bystanders were killed. Posters put up in advance of the weekend epitomized the mayor’s feckless anti-violence efforts: “Do not shoot anyone. Do not stab anyone. . . . This year celebrate J’Ouvert and keep it safe.”

Local politicians and community leaders have demanded that the celebration be cancelled, but de Blasio vowed—one day after two predictable-yet-preventable murders—that “J’Ouvert will continue.” According to the mayor, “it’s an event that is very important to the community . . . which has gone on for decades and decades.” The mayor is wrong, and his representation of early-morning mayhem as cultural heritage is a confabulation. While the West Indian Day Parade has taken place regularly in Brooklyn since 1969, J’Ouvert in its present form is a recent innovation. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, J’Ouvert was celebrated desultorily, with small groups of people indulging in folkloric displays of wee-hour revelry. By the late nineties, J’Ouvert had become a large party in the Brooklyn Museum parking lot, where steel-pan bands would play as people danced. In recent years, though, the West Indian Day Parade has exploded into an event that draws millions of participants from the entire East Coast into central Brooklyn each Labor Day. J’Ouvert has become a massive, drunken pre-party—and an opportunity for rival gangs to settle “beefs” under cover of night.

The mayor’s revisionist history regarding J’Ouvert warped his discussion of the city’s other major parades. De Blasio contended that the “same process had to be gone through with the St. Patrick’s parade, with the Puerto Rican parade, we had long problematic histories for years.” It’s true that in 2000 there were mass attacks on women at the Puerto Rican Day Parade. In the early 1970s, the Young Lords—a Puerto Rican militant organization—threw eggs at the governor of Puerto Rico and fought with the NYPD. Generally speaking, however, the parade has been peaceful.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade typically sees a handful of arrests for public intoxication and fighting. Arrests for weapons possession are rare. True, if you care to examine the police blotter for March 18, 1858, you will find that two men got stabbed in a brawl “involving two opposing Irish factions.” But, in recent years, at least, the St. Patrick’s Day parade hasn’t been routinely accompanied by murder.

The West Indian Day Parade and its attendant J’Ouvert festivities, by contrast, have been characterized by significant violence. Shootings and stabbings have become so commonplace at these events that it’s remarkable when there isn’t any serious violence. Mayor de Blasio has assumed a posture of denial and defensiveness regarding J’Ouvert, going so far as to insist that “a quarter-million people came out and didn’t participate in violence, against four people who did.”

Indeed, most people don’t kill other people on an average day. No other city-sanctioned event comes with a tacit acknowledgement that at least a few New Yorkers will probably die before it’s over. Mayor de Blasio should face the reality of the ugly situation and shut down J’Ouvert. Seth Barron is project director of the Manhattan Institute’s NYC Initiative. He blogs about New York City politics at City Council Watch.

- http://www.city-journal.org/, September 7, 2016

When the Indian Navy gifted the Tamil Nadu Government "INS Vagli" submarine, the state had ambitious plans for a Maritime Heritage Museum - but today the only active thing about the submarine is its files, which keeps shuttling back and forth between different departments. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India Report 2016 criticised the government for towing the submarine back and forth along the coast, wasting Rs 4.41 crore and with no musuem or anything else to show for its efforts since June 2012.

In 2012, when the Academy for Marine Education and Training University (AMET) was approached for its opinion, they told the state it would be best to move the submarine as a single unit to Chennai Port, cut into eight parts and reassemble the parts at Mamallapuram by welding it together. Contrary to their advice, a technical committee formed by the government gave directions to hire a contractor to tow the whole submarine to Mamallapuram from Chennai. In a tender, floated in December 2012, the lone bidder "Tradex Shipping Co Pvt Ltd" said it would be able to tow the submarine in one piece using air bags technology.

"Many a time, government department fix tender criteria so absurdly that it can benefit only one bidder - the one they have in mind. I have seen tenders - worded like "only a company registered between June - August 2010 with capex of Rs 45 lakh can compete in bidding." By such selective wording, they have all but named the only bidder who can," said a logistics official with the Skill Development Corporation of India.

Around the time Tradex got a work order of Rs 8.01 crore to tow INS Vagli in April 2013, the Indian Maritime University (IMU) clearly opined that towing a submarine using air bags would not work in open sea and with tides, currents and rough winds as the technology was meant for sheltered waters like in the case of lagoons or inland lakes. Without following AMET or IMU's recommendations, Tradex tried to tow the submarine to Mamallapuram on April 6, 2014 in an abortive mission that failed soon after launch. Facing strong underwater currents and high tide, the submarine had to be brought back to Chennai Port on April 30, 2014 after spending 24 days in open sea.

Today, INS Vagli lies docked at the Chennai Port two years after the machine, the museum and the government's efforts came to a complete standstill. Interestingly, Tradex, unabashed by the failure, demanded an added Rs 10.68 crore from the government apart from the Rs 4.41 crore it had received in payment up to April 2014. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corp Ltd, which was the nodal government agency for the project, proposed a levy of Rs 1.19 crore and invoking the bank guarantee of Rs 40.05 lakh. But recoveries have not been made till date, the CAG noted.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 7, 2016

Much as the Madurai Municipal Commissioner, Sandeep Nanduri would want people to be involved in the Clean Madurai Mission, there are enough individuals in the city who are equally passionate about reviving the city’s glory. And while art can bring alive the city’s heritage on its walls, another one grand way of reliving the city’s past is through its trees. Why Madurai lost relevance of its ancient name Kadambavanam is what set Arvind Kumar Sankar thinking. Eight years ago as the INTACH Madurai convener, he attempted to travel back through time and launched the Project Kadamba because the legendary origin of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, according to the ‘Sthala Puranam, has it that eons back before the Temple City of Madurai came into existence, the place where the temple complex stands was a ‘Kadamba Vanam’ (forest with Kadamba trees) with the Siva Lingam situated in its midst.

With kadamba tree’s high timber value, the kadambavanam got replaced with concrete, says Arvind. In 2008, he distributed 300 saplings to various schools, institutions and corporate and industrialists, and 108 saplings were planted on one acre of the Meenakshi Temple’s Koodal Sengulam farm near Madurai airport. Today, the trees on this farm have come up well but in the rest of the city only 50-odd have survived and growing. A fact that got P.Kumarappan, president of the newly installed Rotary Club of Madurai Innovators, thinking this time. Trees are like living books in our landscape, he says, and Madurai’s native tree has earned a place in a story that can never be forgotten. “It is upon us to recreate the forest of a bygone era.”

So, the club has launched an ambitious project of distributing 10,000 kadamba saplings free to people over the year. The first batch of 1,000 saplings were given away to Meenakshi Temple, 20 educational institutions and two village panchayats. The next four batches of 1,000 saplings each will be distributed among industrial houses, government schools, village committees and granite industries before the next action plan is drawn up, according to Kumarappan, who did lot of research on the tree and has also published a six-page booklet packed with information. “The trees that bear glorious stories from the past deserve to be protected and celebrated,” he says. And Arvind Sankar suggests a tree temple in Madurai with all sacred trees planted together. “The next generation should know about the tradition of worshipping trees. They only see them giving way to human habitation,” he says.

Facts about Kadamba The kadamba tree is the sthala vruksham of Meenakshi temple and forms an equally important feature of the temple’s architecture as the gopuram, vimanam and the sanctum sanctorum, The botanical name of kadamba tree is neolamarckiacadamba and the common names are burflower tree laran, Leichardt pine and kadam. Grown as an ornamental plant, it is the evergreen, tropical tree native to South and South East Asia. When the tree is four to five years old, flowering begins with scented orange flowers in dense globe shaped clusters. The flowers are used in perfumes. A fully mature kadamba tree reaches up to 148 feet height.

It is a large tree with a broad crown and straight cylindrical bole. The broad spreading branches grow rapidly in the first 6 to 8 years. 5 years old. The fruit of kadmaba comes in small fleshy yellow orange capsules packed closely with 8000 seeds maturing. The fruits splits apart releasing the seeds which are then dispersed by wind or rain. Kadamba is mentioned in the “Bhagavathapurana”. In North India it is associated with Krishna while in the south it is known as Parvathi’s tree. In the sangam period of Tamil Nadu Murugan of Thirupangundram hill Madurai was refered to us a centre of nature worship. He was in form of spear under kadamba tree.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 8, 2016

Egypt today banned statues in squares that do not have prior approval from the authorities after public outrage over controversial and unattractive sculptures across the country. Authorities ordered a statue in the Sohag province be altered this week after it sparked a wave of anger and mockery online over its apparent portrayal of a man sexually harassing a woman. "It is forbidden to set up or renovate statues, murals or sculptures in Egypt's public squares except after a thorough review by the ministries of antiquities and culture," said Prime Minister Sherif Ismail.

A cabinet official who asked to remain anonymous said the decision came after "the repeated setting up in the country's squares of bad statues that do not conform with Egypt's deep-rooted history". The controversial statue of a soldier hugging a woman from behind in Sohag's town of Balyana was the latest in a series of statues that have become a laughing stock on social media.

Balyana's town mayor said the statue was intended to portray a "martyred soldier hugging his mother". "People understood it wrong," Adli Abu Aqeel said, adding its sculptor had been asked to alter the design to a woman on her own holding up Egypt's flag. Another statue was taken down in recent months in Minya province after it was widely mocked for its distorted depiction of Egypt's legendary 14th-century BC beauty Queen Nefertiti. According to a 2013 UN study, 99.3 per cent of Egyptian women have experienced at least one form of sexual harassment, and 82.6 per cent said they did not feel safe in the street. Public debate over the problem intensified after the 2011 uprising, with activists and lawyers saying they see progress in transforming attitudes and more harassers being jailed.

- http://zeenews.india.com/, September 8, 2016

Tipu Sultan’s slippers, his magnificent state tent made of painted Chintz, a palanquin used by Siraj ud daulah and other artefacts at the Clive Museum in Wales reflect the large personal fortune amassed by the Clives from their Indian exploits. The presence of Indian artefacts in museums, at London, Edinburgh, Suffolk and Glasgow, is well known. But what is less known is that an array of precious articles of great value and importance are found in a museum devoted exclusively to the collection of Robert Clive and his family. The artefacts in the Clive museum is the largest private collection of this kind in the entire United Kingdom. The museum has nearly three hundred items from India that includes ivories, textiles, statues of Hindu gods, ornamental silver items, gold jewellery, attractive paintings, weapons and ceremonial armour.

The impressive collection was the effort of two generations of the Clive family, Robert Clive and his son, Edward Clive, both of whom served in India during the early years of British rule . The Clive Museum , in memory of both father and son, is set in Powis Castle in Wales. Powis Castle is a magnificent medieval fortress located 160 km north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, a fascinating stretch meandering through meadows and rolling hills. The imposing Castle built on a sprawling 100 acres of lush greenery, has attractive gardens, pools, parklands, deer park and extensive landscape lawns.

A note displayed inside the castle tells that Princess Victoria visited this castle as a child with her mother in 1832. The castle has a number of large state rooms, attractive courtyards and majestic halls. The museum was set up after the Castle came under the possession of Edward Clive, the son of Robert Clive when he married the daughter of the Earl of Powis.

Clive of India The museum contains the collections of both Robert Clive and Edward Clive. Robert Clive, served the British East India Company in several capacities between 1744 and 1767 in India. He was the governor of Bengal twice. But his great fame lay as the victor of the battle of Plassey in which Siraj- ud -daulah was defeated in June 1757. He, therefore came to be known as the founder of the British empire in India. Clive amassed such a large personal fortune from his Indian exploits that his annual income, after returning from India was estimated to be a staggering 234 thousand pounds. He bought several estates and boroughs in England and was sarcastically called by his distracters, the British Naboob. He was conferred with an Irish Peerage, Barron of Plassey before he died in 1774. During his stay in India, Robert Clive had collected valuable artefacts and curiosities from several parts of the country. All such collections were meticulously shipped back to England and stacked in his Shropshire home which later were moved to the Powis by Edward Clive.

Edward Clive and Henrietta : The marriage of Edward Clive, the son of Robert Clive with Henrietta Herbert, the only daughter of Henry Herbert, the Earl of Powis in 1784 brought the Clive and Powis families together. Following the footsteps of his father, Edward Clive was appointed as the Governor of Madras in 1798 and Henrietta with their two young daughters, also joined him in Madras. Henrietta who had a great obsession for Indian curiosities widely travelled in south India, including Srirangapatnam and personally collected large number of artefacts. It was the time when there was fierce rivalry between the British and Tipu Sultan of Mysore and it came to a head at the battle of Srirangapatnam. When Tipu was defeated and killed on 4 May 1799 by British forces led by Arthur Wellesley the future Lord Wellington, his possessions at Srirangapatna were confiscated by the British as spoils of war.

Several precious items were presented to Edward Clive, the governor and Henrietta which are seen at Powis today. They include Tipu’s magnificent state tent made of painted Chintz, a gold Tiger- head finials from Tipu’s throne and a pair of attractive Tipu’s slippers, made of gold strings and velvet . A label in Henrietta Clive’s handwriting in one of them reads: Tippoo Sahib’s Slippers. After Robert Clive’s artefacts were also moved to Powis Castle, the Indian collections became extensive and impressive. There is an amazing ensemble of paintings, sculptures, tapestries and furniture and every item has an intriguing story to tell. Displayed in the gallery, is a marble statue of a cat and snake, got by Robert Clive for his wife Margaret Maskelyne, whom he married in Madras in 1753. A dining set used by the Clives, rose water sprinkler, spice boxes, caskets to hold betel leaves, nut crackers, elephant goad etc. are also seen here. There is a magnificent golden Hukka, smoking pipe, studded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds, that Robert Clive acquired from Lucknow.

An exquisite palanquin, used by Siraj ud daulah, is also on display here. Two large Indian cannons on wheels, are perched on either side of the entrance to the castle. One of the many impressive paintings hung on the walls depict Shah Alam , the Mughal Emperor granting Bengal’s Diwani to Robert Clive with highly exaggerated court scenes in the background. Though in reality, the treaty was signed by Shah Alam sitting at the breakfast table in the tent of Robert Clive in Allahabad.

Edward Clive, on return from India, was made the Earl of Powis in 1804. His son, the second Earl of Powis took his mother’s family name as Herbert and thereafter, his descendants were known only by that name . George Herbert Clive, the 4th. Earl of Powis, the great grand son of Edward Clive, after both his sons, pre- deceased him, bequeathed in 1952, Powis castle and the estates to the nation. George Herbert thus was the last of Edward Clive’s clan. The Clive museum, managed by the National Trust of the United Kingdom , is but a virtual flipping through pages of history that bring to our memory the most poignant episodes of Siraj ud daulah of Bengal and Tipu, the Tiger of Mysore.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 8, 2016

Tipu Sultan’s slippers, his magnificent state tent made of painted Chintz, a palanquin used by Siraj ud daulah and other artefacts at the Clive Museum in Wales reflect the large personal fortune amassed by the Clives from their Indian exploits. The presence of Indian artefacts in museums, at London, Edinburgh, Suffolk and Glasgow, is well known. But what is less known is that an array of precious articles of great value and importance are found in a museum devoted exclusively to the collection of Robert Clive and his family. The artefacts in the Clive museum is the largest private collection of this kind in the entire United Kingdom. The museum has nearly three hundred items from India that includes ivories, textiles, statues of Hindu gods, ornamental silver items, gold jewellery, attractive paintings, weapons and ceremonial armour.

The impressive collection was the effort of two generations of the Clive family, Robert Clive and his son, Edward Clive, both of whom served in India during the early years of British rule . The Clive Museum , in memory of both father and son, is set in Powis Castle in Wales. Powis Castle is a magnificent medieval fortress located 160 km north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, a fascinating stretch meandering through meadows and rolling hills. The imposing Castle built on a sprawling 100 acres of lush greenery, has attractive gardens, pools, parklands, deer park and extensive landscape lawns.

A note displayed inside the castle tells that Princess Victoria visited this castle as a child with her mother in 1832. The castle has a number of large state rooms, attractive courtyards and majestic halls. The museum was set up after the Castle came under the possession of Edward Clive, the son of Robert Clive when he married the daughter of the Earl of Powis.

Clive of India The museum contains the collections of both Robert Clive and Edward Clive. Robert Clive, served the British East India Company in several capacities between 1744 and 1767 in India. He was the governor of Bengal twice. But his great fame lay as the victor of the battle of Plassey in which Siraj- ud -daulah was defeated in June 1757. He, therefore came to be known as the founder of the British empire in India. Clive amassed such a large personal fortune from his Indian exploits that his annual income, after returning from India was estimated to be a staggering 234 thousand pounds. He bought several estates and boroughs in England and was sarcastically called by his distracters, the British Naboob. He was conferred with an Irish Peerage, Barron of Plassey before he died in 1774. During his stay in India, Robert Clive had collected valuable artefacts and curiosities from several parts of the country. All such collections were meticulously shipped back to England and stacked in his Shropshire home which later were moved to the Powis by Edward Clive.

Edward Clive and Henrietta : The marriage of Edward Clive, the son of Robert Clive with Henrietta Herbert, the only daughter of Henry Herbert, the Earl of Powis in 1784 brought the Clive and Powis families together. Following the footsteps of his father, Edward Clive was appointed as the Governor of Madras in 1798 and Henrietta with their two young daughters, also joined him in Madras. Henrietta who had a great obsession for Indian curiosities widely travelled in south India, including Srirangapatnam and personally collected large number of artefacts. It was the time when there was fierce rivalry between the British and Tipu Sultan of Mysore and it came to a head at the battle of Srirangapatnam. When Tipu was defeated and killed on 4 May 1799 by British forces led by Arthur Wellesley the future Lord Wellington, his possessions at Srirangapatna were confiscated by the British as spoils of war.

Several precious items were presented to Edward Clive, the governor and Henrietta which are seen at Powis today. They include Tipu’s magnificent state tent made of painted Chintz, a gold Tiger- head finials from Tipu’s throne and a pair of attractive Tipu’s slippers, made of gold strings and velvet . A label in Henrietta Clive’s handwriting in one of them reads: Tippoo Sahib’s Slippers. After Robert Clive’s artefacts were also moved to Powis Castle, the Indian collections became extensive and impressive. There is an amazing ensemble of paintings, sculptures, tapestries and furniture and every item has an intriguing story to tell. Displayed in the gallery, is a marble statue of a cat and snake, got by Robert Clive for his wife Margaret Maskelyne, whom he married in Madras in 1753. A dining set used by the Clives, rose water sprinkler, spice boxes, caskets to hold betel leaves, nut crackers, elephant goad etc. are also seen here. There is a magnificent golden Hukka, smoking pipe, studded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds, that Robert Clive acquired from Lucknow.

An exquisite palanquin, used by Siraj ud daulah, is also on display here. Two large Indian cannons on wheels, are perched on either side of the entrance to the castle. One of the many impressive paintings hung on the walls depict Shah Alam , the Mughal Emperor granting Bengal’s Diwani to Robert Clive with highly exaggerated court scenes in the background. Though in reality, the treaty was signed by Shah Alam sitting at the breakfast table in the tent of Robert Clive in Allahabad.

Edward Clive, on return from India, was made the Earl of Powis in 1804. His son, the second Earl of Powis took his mother’s family name as Herbert and thereafter, his descendants were known only by that name . George Herbert Clive, the 4th. Earl of Powis, the great grand son of Edward Clive, after both his sons, pre- deceased him, bequeathed in 1952, Powis castle and the estates to the nation. George Herbert thus was the last of Edward Clive’s clan. The Clive museum, managed by the National Trust of the United Kingdom , is but a virtual flipping through pages of history that bring to our memory the most poignant episodes of Siraj ud daulah of Bengal and Tipu, the Tiger of Mysore.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 8, 2016

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the find of the temple and the idol may change predominant ideas about the region’s history and traditions. An almost 800-year-old temple has been dug out by a team of Archaeologists in Kaharol which displays unique architecture along with a distinctive idol of Mohini, the avatar of Hindu deity Vishnu. According to the Dhaka Tribune, the find of the temple and the idol may change predominant ideas about the region’s history and traditions. A Jahangirnagar University archaeology team began the survey in Madhabgaon of Dabor Union in April this year and found the temple. A full-scale excavation funded by the Cultural Affairs Ministry and the University Grants Commission has been going on for the last three months.

The team stated that this is the only such temple in Bangladesh, with the characteristic of Kalinga architecture of the 11th and 12th century eastern India. The excavators also found a Shankha, a Sudarshana Chakra, a mace and a part of the idol’s foot adorned in garland. × Excavation team chief JU Assistant Professor Dr Shadhin Sen said the temple is divided into two parts, adding that “This is the first Navarath temple in Bangladesh. Earlier a Pancharath [five-faceted] temple was found in Dinajpur’s Nababganj,” The team had spoken to Indian archaeologist Dipak Ranjan Das who had remarked that the upper portion of the temple was similar to the Siddheswara Shiva temple in Bankura, West Bengal.

Das claimed that Claudine Bautze-Picron, an expert of East Indian iconography, has identified the idol recovered from the eastern part of the temple as that of Mohini, the Vishnu Avatar. “According to her, this is the first stone-made Mohini idol in the eastern subcontinent, which leads us to reconsider the history of this region.” In Hindu mythology, Mohini is the only female Avatar of the god Vishnu, who appears in the Samudra Manthan myth. The goddess is worshiped widely in South and West India. Even though the team is planning to cover the temple with soil for its preservation, as it is a standard practice for archaeological preservation, the locals are demanding that the temple be open to the public for worship.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 8, 2016

The Indian Super League team will play in the opening match of ISL 2016 on October 1. Indian Super League side NorthEast United FC is playing a significant role in promoting Arunachal Pradesh tourism. The Indian football side, which will feature in ISL 2016, has a decent fan following across India and is one of the popular sides in the League.

Arunachal Pradesh is a significant tourist hub of the country. The exquisite beauty of the North-East region has pulled in tourists from various parts of the world. The diverse cultural heritage of the region, with various Buddhist monasteries all over, also makes the state a unique one. Just days back, Bollywood actor John Abraham of 'Dishoom' fame, who is the co-owner of NorthEast United FC, was appointed the tourism ambassador of Arunachal Pradesh. "John Abraham has played a pivotal role in promoting the northeast, primarily by putting NEUFC on the sports map," Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Secretary Joram Beda said.

Nita Ambani, one of the founding figures of the Indian Super League, mentioned earlier this year that the ISL 2016 Opening Ceremony would take place in Guwahati, the home venue of NorthEast United FC. The decision was taken to celebrate the rich interest in the beautiful game in the region. "For us, it is a matter of pride," said Abraham on being granted the privilege of hosting the opening ceremony at Guwahati. "Historically and geographically, the north-east has always been ignored compared to the rest of India. It's important to get them into the mainstream and that's what we are doing." "The biggest brand in the north-east, in all the eight states, is the NorthEast United FC, and thankfully we are a part of the club," Abraham said.

NorthEast United FC take on Kerala Blasters, yet another Indian football team with a good fan following, on the opening day of ISL 2016 on October 1. With no ISL title win over the last two seasons, Abraham's side is looking for a fresh start this time around. "The pre-season is happening in Dubai. I spoke to my coach, Nelo Vingada, who's very happy with how the squad is shaping up," said the Bollywood actor. "We are waiting for a couple of players to come back from their national duties. We are also waiting for two more international players. We hope that all goes well for us, as we are a strong, young and tough team."

- http://www.ibtimes.co.in/, September 8, 2016

Members of Calapur Plus on Wednesday demanded intervention by the state government in the case of the illegal occupants near Bondvoll lake at St Cruz and that the water body be declared as a natural heritage site. They alleged that land sharks are indulging in illegal filling up of the Bondvoll lake, which is a violation of Supreme Court directives and of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The century-old lake is one of the various hydraulic projects in Goa the Portuguese imperialists had undertaken. The reservoir has been a resource for the village's agriculture, groundwater and species ecology in the surroundings since early 1900s.

"The Bondvoll lake is a natural water storage resource which has served the village of St Cruz for decades. This public utility project was meant for the common benefit of citizens. Therefore, it is very important that we protect it," said convenor, Calapur Plus, Arturo D'Souza. The members thus demanded that orders be issued to encroachers, illegal occupants and land ownership claimants for the restoration of the lake. Also, the removal/demolishment of constructions within the area. They further demanded the sluice gates of the Bondvoll lake be immediately repaired and made operational to regulate and conserve water levels.

"The entire lake has to be declared as a natural heritage and conservation zone. We, therefore, want the government to conduct an early inspection of the place in our presence," said D'Souza. He further added that if the demands are not complied with, then the members will initiate contempt proceedings against the government authorities concerned. They will also approach the national green tribunal for the appropriate orders under the provision of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 8, 2016

The city's iconic Zero Mile, which so far has not got the attention it deserved, will soon get a facelift. Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (NMRCL) has drawn up plans to beautify the monument and the stretch of Wardha Road between Zero Mile metro station and the monument. The attractions include a museum of survey (Sarvekshan Sangrahalaya) at Zero Mile to commemorate the first surveyors of India. A small amphitheatre will also be built around the monument. People can sit in the amphitheatre and enjoy the beauty of the monument. NMRCL has big plans for the Old Residency Building, which currently houses office of joint director of education.

The office is located on the first floor while the ground floor is vacant. The plans include conservation of Residency's facade and starting a heritage museum on the ground floor. Lighting will be done on Sitabuldi Fort wall and an abstract replica of the old fort wall, right opposite the original wall will be built. A peace plaza will be constructed at Gowari Memorial. A Wall of History of Nagpur containing timeline of the history of the city will also be constructed. Landscaping will be done in the area and benches along the road will be installed. The Zero Mile metro station itself will be a 20 storey building. It will have shopping plaza and exquisite landscaping and sky gardens. The plan also envisages a mixed use development above the station and a carefully planned heritage walk between the station and the Zero Mile.

A metro rail official said that the project was proposed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. "Our architect is designing the project. Once the final designs are ready we will give presentation to the two ministers. Once it is approved we will hold talks with education department and other agencies for getting their space and buildings," he added. Earlier, Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) had evinced interest in giving a facelift to Zero Mile. They had prepared a plan that was approved by the Nagpur heritage committee. However, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule asked NMRCL to do the job.

CM clears extra FSI for metro rail Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cleared the proposal to provide extra floor space index (FSI) in 0.5 km area on either side of the metro rail corridor. The details are awaited. He has also given a green signal to hike stamp duty by 1% for the property transactions in this area. The development charges levied by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) have also been increased. The decision will provide revenue to NMRCL, NMC and NIT. NMRCL lenders had got restive because of delay in clearance of these proposals.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 8, 2016

It takes a Princess Scheherazade to recite different tales every night with a cliff hanger and it takes a dastango to tell a tale which can end and begin anywhere. While ‘Dastan-E-Alf-Laila’ is alive in documentation, the art of dastangoi once lost has been revived in not just one forms but various forms. This oral art of Urdu story-telling is fascinating with its battles, fairies, genies, kings, queens, trickery and of course magic. The magical tales surpass JRR Tolkeins and GRR Martins of today. The only difference is that the former is theatre at its minimal and doesn’t require the elixir of silver screens or exquisite prints in leather bounds. One such spell was cast on the audience of Hyderabad recently at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Gachibowli when team of Dastangoi travelled all the way from the Delhi to the City of Pearls for performing ‘Dastan-E-Amir-Hamza’ at the University campus. And the best part is that the raconteurs don’t just tell dastans of Amir Hamza but of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘The Little Prince’ as well.

Dastan in Deccan Before the rise of Islam in Arab countries, dastangoi flourished. They were called Samer. Even the cavemen can be called dastango. Oral tradition is from the time immemorial, there’s no documented proof.

Writer, revivalist and director Mahmood Farooqui writes on his blog: “By the sixteenth century, versions of the Hamza story had begun to circulate in India. Mentioned first in the Deccan courts, the story reached its artistic apogee in the court of Emperor Akbar.” Historians argue that the written version came first in Deccan. Prof Naseemuddin Farees who teaches Deccani literature at MANUU tells us what the city historians couldn’t. He informs, “Poetry in dastan form flourished in Bahmani Kingdom who patronised Urdu language much. In documents there’s mention of poet Fakhar Deen Nizami who wrote dastans in poetic form. (circa ?) Even in Adil Shahi period of Bijapur the art form was patronised.”

He further adds, “During Abdullah Qutb Shah period, the seventh ruler, the poet laureate in his court Asadullah Wajhi wrote first dastan. This was Urdu’s and Dakhani’s first dastan in prose on request of the king; it’s named ‘Sab Ras’.” Written in 1635, ‘Sab Ras’ is based on a Sanskrit drama by Krishna Mishra. Wajhi took refrences from Persian version of the same. He writes that there were many courtiers in the King’s court. He mentions that there was a dastango as well. However, the art form declined later. King Tana Shah the last ruler of Golconda didn’t patronise this art form because it was the sunset period of the Deccan Kingdom. Some of the manuscripts of these periods still survive in Salar Jung Museum Library, Idarah-E-Adabiyat-E-Urdu and Oriental Manuscript Library. Some manuscripts have been printed and edited in India and Pakistan.

Dastangoi as bare minimum theatre We saw both the dastangos Ankit Chadha and Poonam Girdhani set the stage on a small chowki covered with spotless white sheet. The performers, too, were clad in the same pristine hue. From time to time they drank from two silver cups put before them. They started with the most famous story ‘Dastan-E-Amir-Hamza’. The beauty of dastan is that it can begin from anywhere and end anywhere. Both the performers narrated the life and times of Amir Hamza and his childhood friend Amar who later becomes world’s famous aiyyar or trickester. It was important to note how ten years back the revivalist Mahmood Farooqui had brought in the flavour of the bygone centuries in rhyming lines like:

Maulvi ney jo gardan uthhayi Toh cheekhti chillati biwi nazar ayi At the event, the first part of the dastan was on mischievous deeds of Amar aiyyar directed towards his ustad in madrasa. Surprisingly the tale, being narrated from 7th AD, appeared similar to what we heard or read in children’s magazine about the same. Explained Poonam, “Many of the dastans are passed on from generations to generations and that’s how some of them appear almost identical.” The next dastan was from Tilism-E-Hoshruba about Amar aiyyar’s tryst with Afrasiyab, the king-sorcerer and master of a magical world built with thousands of castles guarded by genies and demons. Tilism-E-Hoshruba epic is said to be longer than ‘Mahabharata’.

So how does an oral story win over the printed versions? The tallafuzz, facial expressions and the dexterous art practised by the narrators is what keeps them hooked to dastangoi. In daily lives we don’t use such archaic Urdu, but still the artistes did it with peerless dexterity. Share both of them, “Urdu scholar Shamsur Rahman Farooqui, the revivalist of dastangoi, is always present at the practice sessions. If the passages are really difficult he explains them. We fondly call him bade abbu.” Poonam has been a theatre artiste for the past 20 years, while Ankit has been a dastango for more than five years.

Documentation For a century Munshi Nawal Kishore kept publishing volumes of dastans in Urdu. Apparently there were 46 volumes of Dastan-E-Amir-Hamza consisting of 1,000 pages each. Two colleges in India also came up with documentations. At Fort Saint George College, Madras, dastans were written in Dakhni. In Calcutta, at Fort Willliam, the munshis used to pen the dastans. Most of them were translated from Persian.

New adaptations Created and directed by Mahmood Farooqui this ancient art form is not limited to the old stories only. With time stories, too, change. That’s how the artistes have started performing dastangoi for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Little Prince’. But these stories in print versions complete with beautiful illustrations have been loved for years. So how does a dastan beat the printed world and why would people come to listen to what they have already read? Says Darain Shahidi a senior journalist and dastango based in Delhi, “Any oral tradition isn’t original. It was born somewhere and expanded all around the world; there lies its popularity. What becomes important is how the dastango is telling the tale and what language s/he is telling the tale in. This enamours the audience.”

Interestingly, these works of literature that are almost cult classics are told by the raconteurs in contemporary Urdu and not in archaic version. But is dastangoi told in other languages as well? Explains Darain, “In 1846, when Munshi Nawal Kishore had taken keen interest in publishing the dastans, Amba Prasad Rasa included Brajbhasha in dastangoi which flew with exquisite charm while describing a woman’s beauty. In the same dastan you hear couplets by Hafez and Bedil.Wahi bhasha original hoti hai jo popular hoti hai.”

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 8, 2016

Archaeological Survey of India has issued a new policy for guides working at its 3,687 centrally protected monuments, quashing the licences of all the existing guides. Moreover, there will be only one category for them - ASI monument guide - rather than regional, state or monument categories. Graduation in history, besides knowledge of one or more languages, has been made mandatory. Earlier, it was just graduation and knowledge of one or more languages. The new rule also stated that the assessment of number of tourist guides for each monument would be done on the basis of footfall, growth potential, extent and size of the monument, every five years.

The ASI submitted the new policy before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The court will conduct a hearing in this matter on Friday. The ASI will conduct test and interview for granting licences valid for five years. The archaeological body told the court that the test would be conducted in one year from the date of its formal notification. Till that time, guides who have valid licences from the Union ministry of tourism (GOl) will be able to work.

The new policy stated that bachelor's degree in ancient and modern history with knowledge of art and architecture, besides fluency in one or more languages, is mandatory for appearing in the test. It added that degree in tourism and hotel management, in addition to knowledge of a foreign language and English are desirable qualifications. However, the ASI has kept the right to relax educational qualifications taking into account the experience possessed by a candidate in a given case. The minimum age for applying for the licence has been kept at 21 years, while renewal of licence of a guide over 60 years of age would be subject to medical fitness. The candidate should not have any criminal case and preference will be given to local candidates who are well versed with the monuments of that area, the policy stated.

A guide can obtain licence for not more than 15 monuments or five groups of monuments. The process of selection will include a written test followed by an interview. Interview will be conducted by a committee comprising not less than three experts, one each from ASI and Union ministry of tourism and another expert as ASI may deem fit and proper. ASI will issue the detailed guidelines mentioning the dos and don'ts for the guides within the premises of the monument and superintending archaeologist of an ASI circle will have the right to bar the entry of ASI monument guide on grounds of misconduct with the tourists. The senior official will also set up a mechanism to collect feedback of guiding activities from the visitors.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 8, 2016

A three-day workshop and exhibition on “Coconut Leaf Craft” that was organised at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, commenced from Tuesday. Eminent art historian K K Marar inaugurated the workshop and said that traditional coconut crafts were an integral part of our life, culture and identity. Unfortunately in the recent times we witness, the coconut crafts, especially craft made from the coconut leaves (fronds), are slowly vanishing from the vicinity. Hence, redemption of the traditional coconut leaf craft is a commitment to the coconut sector that helps us to highlight our ethnic identity.

In this context, he emphasised the importance of research orientation towards improving the longevity of the crafts made out of coconut leaves. He also stressed on the possibility of replacing plastic and other environmently hazardous material by processed coconut leaves. He urged that society should promote traditional decorations created out of coconut leaves and inflorescence during auspicious ceremonies like marriages, which might open commercial vista for crafts made from coconut palms.

Documentation required CPCRI Director-in charge Dr H P Maheshwarappa said that coconut leaf art should be preserved and documented for the future generation. At least 25 artists from Kerala participated in the workshop and in the preparation of the art craft. As part of the three-day workshop, a seminar with paper presentation by eminent scholars and artists was organised on Thursday.

An interaction with the artists, scientists and students was also planned as part of the workshop. The workshop was organised jointly by the ICAR-CPCRI, as a part of its centenary celebrations, in association with Folkland, an international centre for folklore and culture, an organisation devoted for conserving intangible cultural heritage and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Students visit Several students and art lovers visited the coconut leaf craft workshop on Wednesday. Raveendran Panikkar from Payyannur made crafts related to Theyyam. Rajesh Panikkar, Pradheep, Sukumaran, Jithin, Ashoka, Manoj, Gireesh and Madhusoodhanan demonstrated the craft.

- http://www.deccanherald.com/, September 9, 2016

Legends, rituals and beliefs dormant under tangible structures were brought out for the benefit of tourist guides to make their profession more responsible and ethical at a two-day workshop conducted by the Travel Club here last week. Participants drawn from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Sri Lanka were exposed to a series of lectures on value addition provided by important places of the State to visitors by R. Venkatraman, former Professor of Art History, Madurai Kamaraj University, and V. Vedachalam, noted epigraphist. They took the participants on a tour of ancient culture that preceded the Vedic period and its manifestations in places of tourist importance, which included the Chennai region, with Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple as focus; Tiruchi region with Rockfort; Thanjavur region with Kumbakonam as the centre; Ramanathapuram region with Rameswaram in focus; and Madurai region with Jain vestiges in the forefront.

Museum of ethnic groups Prof. Venkatraman, in his lecture on the significance of intangible heritage, explained how India became a museum of many ethnic groups with the arrival of people, especially those from Austric and Mediterranean cultures. All people were beneficiaries of a cosmic order and the ‘kolam’ drawn in the morning in front of homes was a symbol of that order. Focussing on the spread of Saivism, Prof. Venkatraman described how Kapali, the god of cremation ground, came to be worshipped as Bairava and whose followers were in large numbers in Mylapore, coexisting with Digambar Jains. The Bakthi Movement transformed the worship of a “terrible god” into that of a “benign god” in the form of Eswara. He looked at Murugan cult as a syncretism of many gods like Skanda, Karthikeya, Visaka and Murugan.

Skanda, he said, was a youthful god with a lance, named after Alexander the Great. Alexander in Persian was Sikandar, which transformed in Sanskrit as Skanda, he said. Skanda was present in many temples of North India even when Alexander was alive. Murugan, who was confined to the Kurinji land as its god, was later made a universal god of Tamils. He also spoke about the importance of Kumbakonam and its association with Lakulisa of Gujarat and Mahamaham.

Dr. Vedachalam dwelt at length on the Sethu Nadu and its association with Rome and the architectural importance of Kancheepuram, especially Kailasanathar Temple. He said that a visit to Madurai would not be complete without seeing the Jain vestiges around it.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 9, 2016

A 40-student team of Engineering College of Architecture of Visakhapatnam visited the Indian heritage of Gandharva Mahal in Achanta on Thursday to study the architecture of the mahal. The team led by architecture engineering professor Giduturi Viswanatha Kumar would study the mahal for three days. Prof Viswanatha Kumar said that the Gandharva Mahal was constructed in 1924 in Achanta. The team would collect pictures and maps of Gandharva Mahal and prepare the material for the three-day tour, he added. He further said that the team would learn about the style of the construction of the building.

They would also concentrate on the material used for the construction and planning of the building. The professor said that these details would be useful in architecture engineering. The students divided themselves into six teams and are studying the construction of every room in the mahal. The Architecture professor said that the students’ team already studied the architectural details of IIM at Visakhapatnam and Chennai Shopping mall. Students Lakshmi Prasanna, Amritavalli, Akhila, Harini, Rohit and Pratibha Lakshmi said that the new facts are known to them during their study on Gandharva Mahal. The students hoped that after the documentation would be completed, it would be recorded in the history books.

- http://www.thehansindia.com/, September 9, 2016

City-based NGO Jeevan Mukti Seva Sanstha, also known as the White Army, will be conferred with the Vasundhara Mitra award during the Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival, which starts from September 22. White Army was formed in 1999 to provide free aid to people affected by flood and drought. It has over 250 volunteers in the city and provides healthcare facilities as well as help in rescue operations during emergency situations.

The organisers will felicitate professor S D Padmannavar from Gadhinglaj for his contribution towards society through various initiatives via Marathi Vidnyan Parishad. City residents Vijay Tipugade will also be felicitated this year for his various environment-related photography and painting exhibitions. The theme for this year's festival is 'My Kolhapur, Smart Kolhapur'. According to organisers, screening of over 70 short films, photography competition and heritage walk, along with other activities, have been planned during the festival.

Dilip Bapat, secretary of Kalamaharashi Baburao Painter Film Society, Kolhapur, said the festival has witnessed a rousing response in other cities in the past. "We are hoping for even greater participation by Kolhapur citizens in the festival's seventh year," he said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 9, 2016

In his first solo in India, Franco-German artist Edouard Baribeaud creates a dialogue between Indian miniature tradition, western art history and contemporary life It started with Within you, without you from The Beatles’ seminal 1967 album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Edouard Baribeaud, whose father enjoyed listening to the Fab Four’s music, says, “I was only a boy when I first heard the song. I could hear an instrument on it, which I had never heard before and asked my father what it is. He told me that’s Pt Ravi Shankar’s sitar.” And thus began the artist’s lifelong fascination with India, which has recently culminated in “The Nocturnal Vault”, Baribeaud’s first solo show in India. In this show, which is currently on at Mumbai’s Galerie Isa, the artist draws inspiration from the Indian miniature art tradition.

“I particularly love the Mughal court paintings and the Kangra style,” says 32-year-old, half-French and half-German Baribeaud, who’s always been interested in how one can draw connections between different cultures. “I enjoy creating works which draw on many different styles, themes and concerns. I like to think of these works as creating a dialogue between Western motifs and myths and Indian art, but in a contemporary way,” he says. Baribeaud’s intention of bridging different art cultures and history is explicit in works such as Hold On To Me and Eve. In the former, the pose of the nude figure in the foreground can be seen as an homage to the reclining nude in European art tradition, most notably Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’ La Grande Odalisque. But that’s where the resemblance ends, since this figure is a distinctly contemporary one, with socks on her feet and a knitted scarf wrapped around her throat.

The floral pattern in the image is reminiscent of the highly stylised depiction of foliage that one encounters in Indian miniature painting. Eve, too, displays a similar hybridity, a refusal to belong to a single time or place — the figure’s resemblance to her Biblical namesake lies in the fact of her nudity and the densely forested landscape that she occupies. Yet, she’s also distinctly Indian, with her long-plaited hair, flowers and jewellery, and the landscape she occupies, as we can tell from the vegetation, is tropical and, in all likelihood, Indian.

× There’s also a distinct theatrical element in each of the works, a sense that what the painting presents to us is merely a facade behind which there are other truths, waiting to be revealed. In Hold On To Me, for instance, the nude is posed so that she seems to be watching as a curtain rises to reveal figures that are, for the moment, obscured. Many times, the artist leaves explicit indications that everything is staged, such as in A Deep Conversation, where the female figure at the centre of the work is familiar from Indian miniatures. But as we absorb the larger composition, we notice that she is actually painted onto the wall of a club, at the end of which is a door and through this door is peeking another female figure. This one, dressed in jeans and carrying a guitar, seems more likely to be the protagonist of this painting as she waits to occupy the spotlight on the empty stage. The stage — or set — appears again, along with theatrical paraphernalia like lights and ladders, in other works such as The Hunt and The Waiting. The inclusion of these theatre and film elements is, once again, an attempt at bridging gaps — in this case, between visual arts and performing arts.

The Berlin-based artist, who was trained at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, has also trained in filmmaking, and it was on a research trip for a documentary on the kathputhli tradition, that he first encountered Indian miniature art. At the museums in Jaipur and Jodhpur, as well the National Museum of Art, Baribeaud found himself drawn towards the displays of Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari paintings. “I bought quite a few books, which I referred to when working on this series,” he says. The India he encountered on this first trip, he says, was very different from the India that he had imagined. “It has the colour and the clothes that we all hear about in the West, but there’s also so much development and rapid modernisation,” he says, “That could be another interpretation of these works. I’m trying to depict the myths and stereotypes about India alongside its reality.”

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 9, 2016

In his first solo in India, Franco-German artist Edouard Baribeaud creates a dialogue between Indian miniature tradition, western art history and contemporary life It started with Within you, without you from The Beatles’ seminal 1967 album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Edouard Baribeaud, whose father enjoyed listening to the Fab Four’s music, says, “I was only a boy when I first heard the song. I could hear an instrument on it, which I had never heard before and asked my father what it is. He told me that’s Pt Ravi Shankar’s sitar.” And thus began the artist’s lifelong fascination with India, which has recently culminated in “The Nocturnal Vault”, Baribeaud’s first solo show in India. In this show, which is currently on at Mumbai’s Galerie Isa, the artist draws inspiration from the Indian miniature art tradition.

“I particularly love the Mughal court paintings and the Kangra style,” says 32-year-old, half-French and half-German Baribeaud, who’s always been interested in how one can draw connections between different cultures. “I enjoy creating works which draw on many different styles, themes and concerns. I like to think of these works as creating a dialogue between Western motifs and myths and Indian art, but in a contemporary way,” he says. Baribeaud’s intention of bridging different art cultures and history is explicit in works such as Hold On To Me and Eve. In the former, the pose of the nude figure in the foreground can be seen as an homage to the reclining nude in European art tradition, most notably Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’ La Grande Odalisque. But that’s where the resemblance ends, since this figure is a distinctly contemporary one, with socks on her feet and a knitted scarf wrapped around her throat.

The floral pattern in the image is reminiscent of the highly stylised depiction of foliage that one encounters in Indian miniature painting. Eve, too, displays a similar hybridity, a refusal to belong to a single time or place — the figure’s resemblance to her Biblical namesake lies in the fact of her nudity and the densely forested landscape that she occupies. Yet, she’s also distinctly Indian, with her long-plaited hair, flowers and jewellery, and the landscape she occupies, as we can tell from the vegetation, is tropical and, in all likelihood, Indian.

× There’s also a distinct theatrical element in each of the works, a sense that what the painting presents to us is merely a facade behind which there are other truths, waiting to be revealed. In Hold On To Me, for instance, the nude is posed so that she seems to be watching as a curtain rises to reveal figures that are, for the moment, obscured. Many times, the artist leaves explicit indications that everything is staged, such as in A Deep Conversation, where the female figure at the centre of the work is familiar from Indian miniatures. But as we absorb the larger composition, we notice that she is actually painted onto the wall of a club, at the end of which is a door and through this door is peeking another female figure. This one, dressed in jeans and carrying a guitar, seems more likely to be the protagonist of this painting as she waits to occupy the spotlight on the empty stage. The stage — or set — appears again, along with theatrical paraphernalia like lights and ladders, in other works such as The Hunt and The Waiting. The inclusion of these theatre and film elements is, once again, an attempt at bridging gaps — in this case, between visual arts and performing arts.

The Berlin-based artist, who was trained at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, has also trained in filmmaking, and it was on a research trip for a documentary on the kathputhli tradition, that he first encountered Indian miniature art. At the museums in Jaipur and Jodhpur, as well the National Museum of Art, Baribeaud found himself drawn towards the displays of Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari paintings. “I bought quite a few books, which I referred to when working on this series,” he says. The India he encountered on this first trip, he says, was very different from the India that he had imagined. “It has the colour and the clothes that we all hear about in the West, but there’s also so much development and rapid modernisation,” he says, “That could be another interpretation of these works. I’m trying to depict the myths and stereotypes about India alongside its reality.”

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 9, 2016

The rules and regulations set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regarding environment-friendly celebration of Ganesh festival keep moving around on tables of different civic authorities every year but none has rarely taken cognisance of. To avoid deterioration of water quality, CPCB in 2010 had issued guidelines for immersion of idols and other materials. Ahead of the festival, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) annually issues circular to local bodies to implement the same.

Though immersion practices have improved with the use of artificial tanks and 'nirmalyas', there are many guidelines which are yet to be followed. CPCB has directed local bodies to collect leftover materials from water bodies within 48 hours of idol immersion for proper disposal. But the same is not put into effect. "Immersions start right after one-and-half days and continue till about 12 days. But proper arrangements are not ensured right from the first day. Strength and manpower is saved only for the last day," said social activist Dinesh Naidu, a member of Rotary Club of Nagpur.

The guidelines also include setting up of a coordination committee comprising police, non-government organizations and representatives of religious groups for carrying out immersions with minimal adverse effect on water bodies. To reduce overcrowding and pollution load on water bodies, the board has directed local bodies to identify and designate adequate number of immersion spots and notify them publicly, preferably a month before immersions. However according to NGOs, most of the city's water bodies continue to be overburdened during immersions. "Though the norms state that idol immersion points should be cordoned and barricaded, such steps are not being taken at every lake," said founder of Green Vigil Kaustav Chatterjee.

Despite the board laying stress on use of small idols made of natural materials, severe pollution in city's water bodies is caused due to immersion of big idols. In 2015, district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had said the NMC should shift immersion of big idols outside city limits. Subsequently, NMC had identified a few abandoned quarries in Bharatwada, Umred Road, Hingna and Wadi areas. But citing long distance, Ganesh mandals in the city did not heed NMC's call to immerse idols there. "The proposal was good as the festival comes right after monsoons, abandoned quarries would be filled with water and immersing big idols in them can ease a lot of burden on lakes," said Naidu. He suggested that police should work in coordination with Ganesh mandals. "At check posts, police should allow entry only to those big idols which submit their 'nirmalyas' to NMC a day in advance," he said.

While laying out specific norms for lakes, the board has directed use of removable synthetic liners. "At lakes like Futala, it will be difficult to spread out liners. Moreover, they won't be able to bear the weight of huge idols. The best option is to remove big idols using a crane," said Chatterjee. As per the board's guidelines, three temporary ponds with earthen bunds have been constructed at Futala but not at all water bodies. "After the completion of immersion, supernatant water should not be discharged at an area having high groundwater table. The chemicals in the water can contaminate groundwater," Chatterjee added. CPCB guidelines for environment-friendly celebration of Ganesh festival

* Use traditional clay for idol making rather than baked clay. Use of painted idols should be discouraged.
* A coordination committee comprising police, NGOs and representatives of religious groups may be set up for guiding the public in carrying out immersion with minimal adverse effect on water bodies.
* In case of immersion of idols in rivers and lakes, arrangements may be made for construction of temporary confined ponds/bunds for the purpose of immersion of idols including disposal of material used for worship.
* Within 48 hours of the immersion of idols, the left over material (near rivers, lakes, beaches, etc) should be collected by the local bodies and disposed of.
* At the immersion sites, burning of solid wastes should not be allowed.
* People should be encouraged to go for smaller size idols.
* The idol immersion points to be cordoned off and barricaded. Synthetic liner may be placed in the bottom, well in advance. The said liner shall be removed on completion of immersion ceremony so that remains of idols would be brought to the bank.
* Local bodies to identify adequate number of designated immersion spots to avoid overcrowding and also to reduce pollution load on water bodies. * The pandal organizers to get involved in a campaign on the ill effects of the toxic components of colouring materials, not only of the idols, but also other decorating materials used during the festive season.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 9, 2016

Goa has tremendous scope for water harvesting, integrated fish-farming and animal husbandry, director general, ICAR, Trilochan Mohapatra, said. He was speaking at the 24th meeting of the VII ICAR regional committee organized at International Centre Goa, Dona Paula, on Thursday. Speaking on the immediate measures that the government could adopt to boost agriculture and the dairy sector in the state, he said, "There is more than 2,000mm of rainfall in Goa in contrast to Maharashtra and Karnataka. We need to see how to capitalize on this water."

Mohapatra insisted that Goa could adopt water management systems widely and utilize them in agriculture. He added that since there is plenty of water, there can be fish-based, integrated farming system in the state. "ICAR is constantly researching on developing models. We can look at ways to use these models to promote and propagate fisheries on a large scale in the state. Goa certainly has tremendous scope for animal husbandry as well. We need to have breeds that will produce more yield," he pointed out.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 9, 2016

This past July, a theme park opened in Grant County, Kentucky, which features a full-scale model of Noah’s Ark as described in the book of Genesis. The exhibit, titled “Ark Encounter,” is an extension of the Creation Museum which promotes a biblical view of creation that undermines science education and the teaching of evolution. Years ago, and as a result of my trips to India, I became intrigued with symbols and myths that are shared among cultures. The study of cross-cultural symbolism and mythology reveals how ancient cultures did not live in isolation, but rather, had considerable contact with one another as a result of migration, trade and military conquests. It also shows how myths became more developed and elaborate as they were initially passed on through oral tradition.

Ancient myths describing a great flood are an example of such development. One version of the flood myth is found in the Hindu Purana, where Vishnu, the god of preservation, incarnates as a giant fish to pull a boat containing Manu, the father of the human race, so he can survive the deluge. In Greek mythology, at the end of the Bronze Age, Zeus decides to flood the world after realizing humanity was essentially wicked. He chooses Deucalion, the son of Prometheus, and his wife Pyrrha, to ride out the flood and afterward, repopulate the world. The Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh gives a description of the size and shape of the vessel, the dimensions of which describe a large cube. In this version, it rains for six days and seven nights.

When we compare these versions of the great flood myth with the account given in the Bible, one can easily see how the myth became more elaborate as it was shared between cultures. In the Genesis monotheistic version, the ark is given a more maritime size and shape even though it turns out to be well over the length of a football field, and the rain lasts 40 days and nights. In Jewish numerology, the number 40 represents transition, transformation and renewal. (Other examples include the Israelites wandering for 40 years in the wilderness, and Jesus fasting for 40 days in the desert).

The great flood myth helps us understand how ancient cultures perceived the world and passed on their worldview through storytelling. The variations of the myth that I have mentioned here are rooted in an ancient cosmology that viewed creation as arising from the formless primordial waters, a metaphor found in both the opening verses of Genesis and a creation poem in the Hindu Rig Veda. Or as its says in the Upanishads, creation arose “out of the infinite oceanof existence.”

According to this ancient cosmology, creation manifests in cycles or ages. At the end of its previous cycle, it underwent dissolution, “dissolving” back into its eternal source. A flood myth was no doubt the best way to depict creation returning to the primordial waters to begin a new creation cycle, while also symbolizing the “cleansing” of humanity. It is unfortunate that the Ark Encounter theme park completely overlooks the symbolism contained in the flood myth. Furthermore, it ignores the contribution science has made to our modern-day cosmology of the expanding and evolving universe that is far more complex, mysterious and intriguing.

Ark Encounter promotes biblical literalism and the creationist’s fable, even to the absurd degree of claiming dinosaurs co-existed with humans. It is vital we guard against confusing religious myth and science. We should instead be educating our children to appreciate the role myth can play in helping us better understand ourselves, the worldview of ancient cultures, and the enduring hope we subconsciously hold for humanity’s renewal. George Wolfe is professor emeritus at Ball State University and former director and coordinator of outreach programs for the Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. He also chairs the Muncie Interfaith Fellowship, is a trained mediator, and is the author of “Meditations on Mystery: Science, Paradox and Contemplative Spirituality.”

- http://www.thestarpress.com/, September 10, 2016

Thanjavur, mostly known for the Tanjore Paintings that are unique to this region, is not just important for its art but also its architecture, what with the first of the three Great Living Chola Temples sited at the heart of this town. Constituting the Brihadeeswara Temples at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavateswara Temple at Darasuram, this unique group of living temples was built by the Cholas, who were undoubtedly one of the most powerful monarchies of South India that ruled for over four-and-a-half centuries.

All of these ancient temples are the “living temples” in the sense that the pattern of worship and rituals established over a thousand years ago continue as is to this day. The Cholas are believed to have had a lasting impact not just in terms of setting in stone a very distinctive phase of Tamil culture but also in terms of their influence on the art and architecture of Southeast Asia.

Locally known as the Big Temple, the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur is grandest of the three and work on this magnificent structure began in 985 CE by Rajaraja I. From the massive monolithic Nandi, mount of Lord Shiva, who is Brihadeeswara, to the incredibly beautiful murals painted all along the circumambulatory path around the temple, the beauty of this place will take you back in time for sure. This temple complex was later fortified in the 16th Century within the fort walls of Sivganga Little Fort and a moat; all of which stands relatively unscathed even today. Second on the list is the Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a tiny little-lost village, which is a two-hour drive from Thanjavur. Built on the same lines as the Big Temple, complete with a massive sculpture of Nandi facing the main shrine, this temple complex was not just beautiful but also tranquil with an all-pervading sense of peace, owing probably to its secluded location and also the fact that it was evening by the time we got there and the setting sun chose to hide behind the looming rain clouds.

Although the bronze sculptures of this temple are said to be priceless specimens of the Chola art, it was the “Simhakeni” (Lion well), which I found intriguing. The last temple in this ageless group of living temples and also the smallest is the Airavateswara Temple at Darasuram. Built by Rajaraja II in the 11th Century and designed to look like a chariot on wheels, it is no less ornate than the others and just as magnificent with its rows of Nandis all along the boundary walls. The Cholas have left behind the finest works exemplifying the pure Dravidian style of architecture and this set of temples are but the most significant archaeologically and culturally, for they believed that these were not just a place for their people to get together and pray but was the epicentre of economic activity. No trip to Thanjavur would be complete without witnessing these marvels of workmanship. The sheer size of these temples will cause you to wonder, muse on the scale at which affairs of the state were once carried out.

Fact File: Begin your day trip with the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, located right at the heart of the city. Go on to the Airavateswara Temple at Darasuram and also stop for lunch along the way on this 37 km stretch. Complete the circuit with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. 72 kms from Thanjavur, getting back to the city will take around two hours.

- http://www.thehansindia.com, September 10, 2016

Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker's latest Bollywood film Mohenjo Daro, starring Hrithik Roshan in the lead, will be screened at the 45th Annual Conference on South Asia in Wisconsin, US. Hrithik Roshan in a still from 'Mohenjo Daro'Hrithik Roshan in a still from 'Mohenjo Daro' The annual conference that invites scholars, students, professionals and anyone interested in research on the region to Madison, Wisconsin, is a four-day event starting on 20 October. The film will be screened on 23 October.

The conference is the leading annual meeting in the US for scholars of South Asian studies, attracting over 700 participants from around the world, to participate in various panels on archaeology. "When the conference chair Mitra Sharafi connected with me requesting permission to screen Mohenjo Daro at their Annual Conference, I felt honoured and humbled," Gowariker said in a statement. He added, "I thank Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, a leading archaeologist who has spent over 30 years studying the Mohenjo Daro and Harappa sites for supporting the film and sharing his knowledge."

Released in India on 12 August, the film marks the debut of Pooja Hegde. It brings an epic adventure-romance story on the silver screen, and is set in the city of Mohenjo Daro in the era of the Indus Valley civilisation which dates back to 2,600 BC.

Kenoyer and his team had visited Mumbai to provide Gowariker with all the archaeological findings in the early stages of pre-production of the film. They even visited the set in Bhuj to see its construction and look at all the props that would be used in the film.

- http://www.firstpost.com/, September 10, 2016

Aamad Dance Centre presents a seminar aimed at awakening the current generation to the composite heritage of the subcontinent

Noted Delhi-based Kathak exponent Rani Khanam is known for organising seminars and festivals on thoughtful themes related to culture and society. This Wednesday, her institute Aamad Dance Centre presents another such event: “Jashn — Innovations and Contributions of Hazrat Amir Khusro and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in North Indian Culture and Performing Arts.”

The various topics are set against a backdrop of “the masterful amalgam of Indian and Persian culture, the so-called Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb”, says Rani. At a time when some question the very concept of the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb — a worldview that perceives the long term influences of the Mughal dynasty and other rulers as contributing to an amalgamated culture rather than as hostile intrusions — the seminar theme is a topical one. “The aim behind organising ‘Jashn’ is to create awareness about the living heritage of our culture,” says Rani. “This seminar will showcase research on the history of Indo-Persian synthesis of North Indian art and culture, giving due credit to the achievements of Hazrat Amir Khusro and Awadh Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.”

She feels the event will be of use to young artists, researchers, scholars and students, besides art journalists, teachers and connoisseurs of the arts. “The enriching influence of Indo-Persian blends can best be seen in the Kathak (Lucknow style) and Hindustani music,” explains the dancer. “Persian dance from Central Asia and Kathak from North India, both have many similarities. There are many overlapping ‘mudras’ (hand gestures) in Kathak which can be seen in the harikat (Central Asian word for gesture) from the neighbouring regional dance styles of East Turkestan (Uyghur style dance), Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Also notable is the similar approach to musical scales in classical Indian and classical Central Asian music as it relates to dance compositions. Central Asian makoms like the Indian ragas are musical scales that have extremely diverse musical structures.”

From the 11th Century onwards, she notes, “the influence of the Arabic, Persian and Turkish cultures started to fortify its position in North India, and resulted in particular in the creation of new genres in Indian dance, music, literature, architecture, etc.” She adds that although there is a lack of authentic historical evidence related to this merger in the specific genres of dance and music, “it is presumed that the two different styles of art came closer to each other during the Delhi Sultanate in the13th Century.” Notably, the seminar planning emphasises the interwoven relationship between the visual and the performing arts. Narmada Prasad Upadhyaya of Indore opens with his talk, “Dou Bhaye Ek Rang: Tradition of Indo-Persian Miniature Paintings in the Context of North Indian Dance.”

A well awarded scholar of Hindi literature and Indian painting, Upadhyaya has written some 25 books related to Indian arts and aesthetics. Specialised in the paintings of the Central Indian region, he has also worked extensively on Jain visual heritage and, with noted scholar Dr. Vidhya Niwas Mishra, on projects related to the Ramayana and the Geet Govinda. Delhi-based Mirza M. Arif will speak on “Amir Khusro as an innovator in various fields”. Founder of the NGO Mulaqaat, a literary and cultural society that “provides a platform to artists keeping the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of India alive”, Arif’s area of special interest is “Urdu adab and its branches”. Another interesting presentation promises to be the one by Latif Bolat, Turkish singer, composer and scholar of Turkish music and folklore. His topic is “The Silk Road: The Cultural Bridge between East and West.” Bolat hails from the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. A degree holder in folklore and music from Ankara, he has taught traditional music and managed the musical theatre company Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu.

He is currently among the most renowned Turkish musicians of North America. This interaction will be held via webcam. The second day’s discussions open with Dr. Chetana Jyotishi Beohar, former Director, Kathak Kendra. Now based in Khairagarh, she will give a presentation on “The Contribution of Wajid Ali Shah towards Music and specifically Kathak Dance”. With her breadth of knowledge and her post doctoral work on “Kathak Nritya ki Aitihasic Avadharana ka Punarmulyankan” and several publications, Dr. Chetana’s is a familiar name to those involved in arts-related research.

The next topic brings us back to the visual heritage. Well known curator Dr. Alka Pande, Consultant Arts Advisor and Curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at New Delhi’s India Habitat Centre, speaks on “The Pleasures of Sartoria: The Dandy Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.” Dr. Pande’s constant engagement with the contemporary art scene, through assessing the work of young artists and curating exhibitions, can be expected to bring a topical relevance to her presentation.

Another veteran is Ravindra Mishra. Though Mishra’s reviews of classical music and dance recitals in both Hindi and English publications are widely read, it is less well known that he trained in Hindustani vocal music under late Pandit Vishwanath Jaganath Joshi of Kannauj, and that he learnt the sitar at New Delhi’s Bharatiya Kala Kendra. Mishra’s talk is titled “Sufiyat aur Shringar”. Rani concludes, “I want to create a picture of the amalgamated heritage of art and culture and show how it has travelled through the 11th to the 19th Centuries, so that coming generations could know about it.”

“Jashn — Innovations and Contributions of Hazrat Amir Khusro and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in North Indian Culture and Performing Arts”, 14 & 15 September, India International Centre, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 11, 2016

The United Nations University Regional Centre of Expertise (UNURCE) was launched by Kerala Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac, in the capital of the state this Friday. The United Nations University Regional Centre of Expertise, is a part of a global network of 146 regions across various continents with a shared knowledge base and potential collaborations. The major agendas of UNURCE includes a focus on strata of topics such as Climate Change, Health, Better Schools, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), sustainable Livelihoods, youth development, higher education, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, inclusive development and learning, capacity development, research and development, communications and engagement with international sustainability processes.

Stakeholders of UNURCE Thiruvananthapuram include Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) which would also serve as the official secretariat of the UNURCE office, University of Kerala, MG College, Trivandrum State Horticulture Mission, Triveni Ayurveda, Mitraniketan, Santhigram, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management (IIITM-K), Society of Energy Engineers and Managers, Universities and Schools. In the face of rising challenges on various fronts of human resource management and sustainable development, the UNURCE, established by the United Nations Decade for Sustainable Development (DESD) aims to achieve these ends.

The primary goal of the RCE movement is to concentrate at the future of the global community against the backdrop of the new solutions and innovations which are taking shape in the field of sustainable development and education sector. By creating partnerships among groups and individuals as diverse as educators, researchers, policymakers, scientists, youth, and throughout the public, private and non-governmental sectors, UNURCE Thiruvananthapuram aims to provide a skeleton for the multiple stakeholders who can collaborate on a first hand basis in creating visible change in communities, especially because the stakeholders belong to most diverse streams.

So far, out of the 200 RCEs spread across the globe, only a handful exists in India such as the RCE- Srinagar, working on western Himalayas, the RCE-Arunachal on Eastern Himalayas, and the RCE-Goa on Youth empowerment. The UNURCE Thiruvananthapuram has been established with a goal to bring about inter-regional and global collaboration with other RCEs for developing joint projects, research and mechanisms by sharing and disseminating knowledge, experiences, expertise and best practices in Education for Sustainable Development. The ultimate goal of the latest RCE is to create an interdisciplinary and multifaceted platform for promoting collaborative initiatives among the key regional stakeholders to realize the vision of a sustainable development of entire Thiruvanathapuram region. -http://examswatch.com/, Delhi, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 11, 2016

The 55 monuments listed as 'protected' by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)'s Guwahati circle are a testament to the state's rich history. A trip to even one of these sites offers a glimpse into the land's cultural heritage, its evolution and its significance in the lives of the people. The locals' attachment to these sites is tempered by concern about their current condition. Cultural experts say these historical sites should act as dots connecting, and unifying, the people of the state irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

"In my several years of service as superintending archaeologist of the Guwahati circle of ASI, I have realized that a sense of pride needs to be infused into the people about these elements of history. Each and every person must identify with them and make the effort to preserve them. Assam and the northeast are unique. The state and the region, as a whole, cannot be compared to any other place," said Milan Kumar Chauley.

The list of historic sites in the state is incomplete without a mention of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar district - a symbol of the culture of Assam and considered to be Asia's biggest amphitheatre. Archaeologists have been pressing for a proper evaluation of Rang Ghar, convinced that the site will yield more informaion. Rang Ghar also throws light on the darker side of the state's history. Thirty-seven years ago, it witnessed the birth of rebel outfit United Liberation Front of Asom. Besides Rang Ghar, another iconic site that deserves special mention is the Madan Kamdev Temple that dates back to sometime between the 10th and the 12th centuries. It is located in Kamrup district, just 40km from the city. Famous for its depiction of erotic rock sculptures that could easily rival the rock carvings of Khajuraho and Konark, the Madan Kamdev Temple is a definite point of attraction for tourists from all corners of the world.

"Madan Kamdev Temple is inspirational. It is rich and priceless. Its beauty and aura can excite the artistic and aesthetic sense of any person. I must say that Madan Kamdev inspired my imagination and cravings," said Hela Das, a state-honoured sculptor.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 11, 2016

Mumbai will benefit from a more vibrant nightlife. The State government needs to take a more holistic view of the issue by assessing the environmental impact, release locked up assets in the city, and plan a zone-wise rollout. Mumbaikars have reason to cheer: they will soon be able to hop bars, pubs, clubs, malls, cinemas and other entertainment avenues through the night. Maximum City will turn glitzy and alive at night on the lines of Shanghai, Taipei, New York and Singapore with the State government set to ratify the new Central Shops and Establishments Act 2015, which allows shops and establishments to stay open 24x7, 365 days a year. Currently, bars shut at midnight while pubs do so by 1.30 pm.

While nightlife has the ability to boost the economy of a cash-strapped State like Maharashtra, the government cannot fail to ignore the long-standing debate on how it needs to be regulated. In its bid to score over the previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government, which banned dance bars on issues of morality, killing Mumbai’s nightlife, the current BJP-Sena dispensation cannot lose focus on critical issues of urban tranquility.

The move has already elicited emotional reactions from suburban residents, who are against the social nuisance caused by pubs and discos coming up in residential communities, and these voices of dissent are only set to grow. Most dissenting views are not against workplaces functioning through the night, entertainment avenues or 24x7 malls away from their backyards. The concerns voiced are about the increasing pressure on the police, ensuring safety to the crumbling nightlife infrastructure, and issues of transport and connectivity in all areas at night. In its thrust to create opportunities, improve business and provide night work opportunities to women, the state government must amend the Act to seek a balance between earning revenue, maintaining safety and ensuring that nightlife venues and residential areas co-exist peacefully. Nightlife needs to be seen as an urban social phenomenon which needs to be balanced through urban planning interventions and legislative amends.

Why is this move being initiated? Of India’s Rs. 2,04,000-crore food and beverage (F&B) industry, Mumbai’s bar and pub industry alone accounts for an annual estimated turnover of Rs. 10,000 crore. Nearly 15 per cent of the State government’s GDP comes from the industry. A FICCI and Grant Thorton report expects this figure to touch Rs. 3,80,000 crore by 2017, with Mumbai and Delhi together accounting for 22 per cent. If Mumbai, the financial powerhouse of India, needs to compete globally, and provide a work-life balance for its citizens, business visitors and tourists, it must fully unlock this poetential. A Maharashtra government report put together by Accenture in 2015 predicted how, if night life gets a boost, tourist expenditure in Mumbai will double, as will the average length of stay in Mumbai (currently two days for domestic tourists and four for foreign visitors).

A city that never sleeps? Historically, Mumbai has been a vibrant and active city, often referred to as ‘the city that never sleeps’. This is one city in India that was known for its nightlife, but not in the modern sense. Apart from Bollywood stars, industrialists and high-earners frequenting pubs and restaurants, mostly inside five-star hotels, Mumbai’s nightlife in the early ’80s was dotted with khau gallis and omlette-pav stalls or tiny bars outside railway stations. Mumbai being a port city, with a textile mill and manufacturing industry as well, ensured that people worked round the clock, and took the last train home. For others, dance bars in suburban Mumbai and the red light area of Kamathipura were night haunts. None of these activities disturbed the everyday lives of people, and were not seen as a nuisance.

Liberalisation in the early 1990s saw a rise in the average disposable incomes, and the mushrooming of restaurants, malls, pubs and discos. A lot of the change also has to do with the majority of the population being below the age of 30, and women entering the workforce. Transportation, long commutes and the rapid pace of the city, which results in long-working hours, has created an increasing demand for late-night socialising options, whether it is for coffee, a meal or a drink. Since urban planning in Mumbai never accounted for pubs and discos as separate from restaurants, they started coming up in residential areas, and the locals were never consulted before sanctioning licences. There was no control over the dance bars — 600 of them — throughout the city, and issues of morality and increasing prostitution started being raised. This is where the sparks began to fly. In July 2005, late NCP home minister R.R. Patil brought in a ban on the dance bars on issues of morality, promiscuity and prostitution, bringing a halt to Mumbai’s nightlife. It further deteriorated when in 2012, the police took cognizance of people’s complaints and went to the other extreme: It started raiding pubs and bars, asking patrons for drinking licences quoting archaic laws, all of which dissuaded people from socialising. The nightlife economy of the city deteriorated drastically.

Understanding the dilemma In its scramble to provide the much-needed push to Mumbai’s nightlife economy, the municipal corporation and the police completely ignored the need for people to socialise vis-à-vis the crumbling nightlife laws and infrastructure. Mumbaikars, who spend their week through long, tiring commutes and hectic working hours, truly deserves a night life, and a vibrant one, for ‘chill’ time post-work and on weekends. And business travellers and tourists need to unwind and breathe the city. But can this happen at cost of the right to peace and tranquility of an individual? Issues related to nightlife are the same the world over, but if tackled in a more informed way right from the start, the government will be able to minimise the hiccups it is bound to face on the way to a Mumbai that will be alive 24x7.

Let us look at a few solutions that could be considered as amendments to the Act before Mumbai steps into the 24x7 zone. A nightlife regulation document Mumbai has six administrative zones and a nightlife regulation document can be put in place before the entire archipelago lights up at night. Instead of implementing the Act wholesale, it would be wise to plan a zone-wise rollout plan for the city. It could also start as a weekend plan, where establishments are kept open through Friday and Saturday nights.

Based on their zonal experience, civic authorities and police could coordinate and document a Standard Operating Procedure for managing law and order, tackling traffic, night infrastructure and commuting and, importantly, noise issues in the zone. New York City enacted a nightlife legislation law in 2006, owing to the increasing nuisance caused by drunken brawls and safety issues. The law tackles issues of underage drinking, improving club safety and increasing street and transportation safety. Mumbai will need to chart out a separate chapter on women’s security and safety and how this will work out. Noise abatement in town planning It should be mandatory for local licensing authorities, in this case the Mumbai civic corporation, to work with establishment owners to ensure that complex issues relating to regulating internal music systems, keeping in line with the design of buildings and the neighbourhood, are followed.

Non-residential activity on residential premises should be permitted selectively, carefully taking into consideration its community’s needs, provision for the traffic and parking that would be generated, as also the environmental impact. An interesting way to tackle this might be the way Singapore has done it. As a whole country that is smaller than Mumbai, it is fighting a severe space crunch; intense segregation of spaces is impossible for every venue. In Singapore, nightclubs and amusement centres can come up in in premises that are marked wholly commercial and in commercial zones. Permissions involve both the police and local authorities who check acoustics, and the noise norms and vibration issues, dispersal and parking provisions, which establishments have to follow. At any point, the authorities are allowed to intervene in cases of noise and vibrations caused by pubs and issue shut-down notices. Opening locked up assets Mumbai has seen the transformation of locked up assets like the defunct mill lands and industrial areas, mainly in Lower Parel, LBS Marg at Kurla, Andheri, Ghatkopar, Powai and Mulund. The conversion into retail and entertainment zones has proved to be a huge success. Most of these properties are away from residential zones and can become entertainment hubs where nightlife infrastructure can be planned and provided so that businesses start investing in these areas.

There should be a concentrated effort on behalf of the government to open up such properties in land-starved Mumbai by giving them special concessions. The Revised Draft Development Plan 2013 has made amends in the Development Control Rules 2013 that will allow defunct single-screen cinema theatres to be used for other entertainment purposes. These properties, which were previously buzzing at night, can be reinvigorated for entertainment purposes. Make business districts night-friendly There is a growing demand from residents to carve out entertainment zones in areas like the Bandra-Kurla Complex or Ballard Estate, and shift all night activities there. Although it seems ideal on paper, good urban planning says a mixed use of residential and commercial is a healthy and preferable solution. For a woman to get out alone late at night and find a commute back home from isolated areas of BKC or South Mumbai poses issues of safety and security. An example in this regard is Kalaghoda in south Mumbai, which used to be a quiet and isolated area less than a decade ago. It has now become a hub for nightlife, with pubs, cafes and fine-dining restaurants. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, an annual art and culture celebration, played a role in getting people to frequent the area and enjoy their evenings in the grandeur of the heritage district.

Just having a few restaurants in BKC or Ballard Estate will not make the area safe. It is necessary for the authorities to host weekly bazaars or set up a Mumbai haat in these areas for it to become nightlife-friendly. Corporates could be roped in for this cause. Get the police back into the system In December 2015, owing to complaints of police harassment from hoteliers, the State government removed the requirement for police approval to get performance and public entertainment licences. While the intention of the government cannot be doubted, it has proved to be counter-productive: establishments stopped paying heed to police interventions. The police cannot be isolated from permissions and then be expected to monitor these establishments. There is need for a rethink on how the Mumbai police should be brought back into the system and a check kept on corrupt practices.

Party safely No one can deny that every vibrant city with global aspirations and waiting to tap its full economic potential should give its citizens and entrepreneurs an opportunity to enjoy its night potential. At a time where Mumbai’s income inequalities are leading to gentrification in a few areas, nightlife provides a Ground Zero for everyone in society. But it will only be a boon for the city if done in a holistic manner, by bringing in the right regulations and following them scrupulously. After all, nightlife can be a great social catalyst, and its ability to breach barriers of caste, ethnicity and religion cannot be undermined.

About the author Sayli Udas-Mankikar is a Research Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation (Mumbai) and works on urban issues. She has PG degrees in journalism, public policy and political science. She took up research after being a journalist covering government policy and politics for 13 years. She is a 2013 Kiplinger Fellow and recipient of the 2007-08 Ramnath Goenka-Prakash Kardaley Award for civic journalism. She is also a mentor with the Sahar Speaks, an international initiative to train Afghan women journalists.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 11, 2016

The jagged skyline, the sharp crest of highrises emerging from fragmented settlements, old houses and villages, is a frank statement of Gurgaon’s ambition. Gurgaon is a bubble of glass and steel, money and aspiration, whose affluent residents believed they never needed the sarkar. Has this year’s multiple deluges finally washed away that illusion? The polished marble floor gives the lift operator, with his squeaky, worn-out shoes, away as he steps out momentarily to let us out on the eleventh floor. Below, the landscape appears spacious and green but so few people are visible that we could well be looking down at a ghost town.

Vineet Katariya, 41, meets us in her spacious and minimalist drawing room, awash in a burst of daylight from French glass doors. “Can you imagine finding a place like this in Delhi?” asks Katariya, a consultant with a Cambridge-based biodiversity firm, who has lived most of her adult life in the UK. The silence around is a jarring contrast to the derelict street a few kilometres down the gated enclave. Even the roads, scraggly entrails of a city weathered and beaten, had abruptly smoothened up to the driveway to Uniworld City, Sector 30, Gurgaon. “When we moved back to India, to Delhi, in Pashchim Vihar, where we lived with my in-laws for two years, the difference was apparent — you go out, people are ready to bulldoze you.

There was so much aggression on the streets,” she says. “We thought it was a better option for us to come to a contained society.” Katariya, who works from home, gets her basic amenities within her gated enclave — there are cafes, stores, playgrounds, clubs and activity hubs, as well as 24-hour power and water backup and security, three crucial issues that ails the city.

× “I barely have to step out,” she says. She admits she does not like leaving her bubble. “I avoid it,” she says, a crease of worry on her forehead. “Even if I have to step out, I do it during the day. Sometimes, I take my son along. Many women do head out at night, to places like Cyberhub and Sector 29. But I find the streets of Gurgaon intimidating.” Gurgaon’s appeal to Katariya resonates with other residents. It is a city whose promise and premise was to be a place sealed from the chaos and crowds of Indian urban life; an enclave of and for high-achievers and high-net-worthies. This monsoon, however, has brought multiple deluges and many days of reckoning.

The jagged skyline, the sharp crest of highrises emerging from fragmented settlements, old houses and villages, is a frank statement of Gurgaon’s ambition. Its futuristic buildings and plazas — and the millennials working hard, partying harder inside them — seem to LOL at any need for history. Even its founding myth appears, like the city, self-made and self-invented. “Ask any person sitting around, and they’ll likely say, “Yaha Guru Dronacharya rehte the, yaha unka military school tha, atom bomb bante the (Guru Dronacharya used to live here, his military school was here. They used to build atom bombs here)’,” says historian Veena Talwar Oldenburg. “I have read the Mahabharata carefully and there is no such mention. It’s an urban legend.”

Seated on a sofa in the study of her 20-year-old home in DLF Phase 3 in Gurgaon, the 69-year-old 2016 Fulbright-Nehru senior scholar is in the final stages of her coffee table book, The Chronicles Of Gurgaon: From Mythic Hamlet To Millennium City, scheduled to be published next year. In the book, she traces the modern history of the city — from the Partition to the acquisition of land for Maruti Suzuki Private Limited in the mid-’70s, to the arrival of DLF, the real estate company that founded an empire in Gurgaon.

Her home is a testimony to what Gurgaon can offer — a sprawling house that opens up to an aangan and disperses into various quarters; furniture carved out of blocks of tree trunks, a lush green garden and a private pool. Shuttling between New York and Delhi in the Eighties, Oldenburg found potential in what was then marketed as “the south of south Delhi”. “Nobody wanted to take Gurgaon’s name back then. All these localities on the border were given new names so that the foolish consumer, such as me, would believe that you could be living in Delhi. It was cheap.

When I came here in 1984, I bought the land for Rs 6.5 lakh. Today, I can flag it for Rs 15 crores. As starting academics, my husband and I didn’t have proper jobs and the places to rent were grotty in Delhi. And then this extension, also called Delhi, presented itself,” says Oldenburg. Shobhit Mahajan, 55, remembers the city from even before DLF City came up in the late 1980s. “I was born here in 1961,” says the professor of physics and astrophysics at the Delhi University, who is a resident of Sector 4 (“The oldest part of Gurgaon, the original Gurgaon”).

Mahajan charts the city from the point when his own neighbourhood, a “pilot project”, was carved out under united Punjab, to when it became a part of Haryana. From the “poorest district in the back and beyond”, the region picked up after the Maruti factory came up, and the land acquisition and real estate development by DLF, Ansals and Unitech. “Old Gurgaon came up organically; the new city is synthetic,” says Mahajan. “The change is remarkable also because it took just 35 to 40 years to change what was acres and acres of fields to the concrete jungle owned by DLF.”

The “boom” in the corporate and housing sector in Gurgaon is the stuff of real estate miracles, looked back at with awe. “It’s partly a utopian dream, this city. Delhi had become unaffordable. The kind of houses that you see here, even the upper-middle class wasn’t able to afford in Delhi. So people moved,” says Mahajan. As BPOs and call centres mushroomed in the 1990s, a whole new set of affluent professionals and entrepreneurs moved in, drawn by a new housing infrastructure that matched their aspirations and lifestyle. “You ask me what the lure is? These are the lures,” says Oldenburg, “This place has a very brash, consumerist ‘Yes, I live well and am not ashamed to say that’ attitude.”

In its meteoric rise, Oldenburg sees reflected the can-do spirit of post-liberalisation India, and in its urban solutions a dismissal of an already absent state. “This is what I call the ‘Gurgaon model’. Whatever is not there, they built it here. Every highrise has its own generator, so there is 24-hour backup. No water? They built bore-wells and tube-wells.” The lure, says academic Sanjay Srivastava, 55, has diminished considerably now. The author of Entangled Urbanism: Slum, Gated Community and Shopping Mall in Delhi and Gurgaon, Srivastava says, “There was a complete lack of belief that the state can do anything, at least for the middle class — that the private sector could do something. And so, it was based on this withdrawal from the state.

That initial lure was the one that made you feel like you are living in Singapore or New York.” Mahajan agrees, “You often see advertisements for Sohna road, that paint an idyllic landscape with hills and lakes, asking people to take up plots there. This was exactly how Gurgaon was promoted a few decades ago.” Dinesh Khanna, photographer, who has been living in Gurgaon since 1995, fell for that dream. “I was initially captivated by this sarso ke khet and a lovely pond in my backyard,” says the 59-year-old, pointing from his verandah to what has become a shabby cluster of houses in Nathupur village. “It took exactly five years for that to be destroyed.” But while the faith in private enterprise was plausible once, the limitations of the “Gurgaon model” is painfully evident now—in endless traffic jams and the water and drainage crisis. Arvind Hoon, a photographer who now lives on MG Road in a gated enclave called Heritage City, remembers the time when, in 2002, he lived in DLF Phase 3 and had ordered for a tanker because of the acute shortage of water. “But someone stole it on the way!” he says with a laugh. “Fights would break out in the middle of the streets just for water.”

The recent flooding on the Gurgaon roads has brought to the fore the massive failures of infrastructure, particularly its drainage. “In places like Noida, the government builds the infrastructure first, then it builds localities. Gurgaon has seen the opposite. Wherever there was land available, DLF would build there. There was no idea about who would look after the infrastructure later,” says Srivastava. The problem of the drainage goes deeper still. Cocooned within DLF Phase 3 is a patch of wilderness that Gurgaon almost lost, a patch of the Aravalli range. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park emerged from what had become a mining site, and has, in the last six years, transformed into a forest garden comprising bio-reserves, wetlands, ponds and walking/cycling tracks. Vijay Dhasmana, its chief ecologist, squints against the sun as he looks past the boswellia and barna shrubs, to a skeleton of a half-constructed skyscraper. The history of Gurgaon’s water problem, he says, began with the encroachment of bundhs or natural drainage channels. There are around 30 bundhs in the city that date to the colonial and post-Independence era, meant to protect villages from floods and help in groundwater recharge. “Those got destroyed after DLF came in. First, the new Gurgaon came, which became old, and then another new Gurgaon was built.

No one cared about drainage. You would think DLF would do something but, unfortunately, it was just a real estate and township company,” says Dhasmana. The NGO, I am Gurgaon, has tied up with the Gurgaon forest department and Haryana Urban Development Authority to revive the Chakkarpur bundh by developing a 5-km city forest alongside it. The 350-acre biodiversity park has survived, but the rest of Gurgaon’s natural landscape might not. The Basai wetlands on Sultanpur Road, which used to see a large number of Saras cranes and flamingoes, has been swallowed up by urbanisation. “Gurgaon is fast losing its wilderness,” says Dhasmana, “There is enough land with the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, which can be converted unto wild spaces for people to explore, like this area. Here, people come for birdwatching, they bring their children, they enjoy the landscape.” Villagers from the neighbouring Nathupur join in too.

They had, at first, protested against the park, but now they use the pathways to walk around and hold meetings in. Like a mirage in a desert, the Cyberhub plaza shimmers on a dusty evening, making you forget the dusty, potholed road that brought you here. It signifies all that Gurgaon stands for — around 250 Fortune 500 offices work out of here (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, BMW, Agilent Technologies, to name a few). Some of the most popular and expensive restaurants of the country (Dhaba by Claridges, Olive Bistro, Burma Burma and so on) have set up shop. It sizzles with the optimistic energy of the young and the restless. You see them, leather satchels slung over their shoulders, walking down the stretch for a quick lunch on a weekday, or sundress-clad young girls retiring for the day with a drink or two at the bar. Retro-pubs throb with DJ music by night.

All of this exists strictly within a conclave that has heavy security and a well-organised parking system. Life at Cyberhub, says Zitin Bhan, 22, a client servicing executive with Edelman India Pvt Ltd, begins the moment it opens. “It’s always buzzing with people, especially because of all the offices. But by 5.30 pm – 6 pm, it really picks up,” she says. She frequents places such as Hard Rock Cafe and Soi 7 Pub and Brewery on happy hours after work. On weekends, Cyberhub attracts comedy acts and its open-air amphitheatre often hosts live performances.

While the streets of Gurgaon are not known for its safety, it is in these cocoons that it comes to life, and carries on well into the night. “I have hung out at Cyberhub even at 2 am. It is always crowded,” says Bhan. “Once you step out on the streets, it’s a different world – no public transport or people, and darkness all around.”

Diana Mathai, 27, is an urban planner from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who moved to Gurgaon a few months ago. She lives in a studio apartment in DLF Phase 4 and hangs out with friends at Sector 29. “It’s always alive with people and music,” she says. “But women here mostly commute by cars,” says Mathai, who uses autos to get around. “You see women running, walking, cycling in the morning. But not at night. After dark, this city has a different character.” It’s afternoon and Siris Road in DLF Phase 3, sandwiched between impressive bungalows and apartments, is almost empty. A few kilometers ahead, however, the road turns craggy and we halt with a jerk in front of an open courtyard. The houses have disappeared and in front of us is Nathupur village.

A garbage dump on the right gives off a foul smell, and Ramesh Singh, a municipal worker, has just dumped more garbage on the heap. “This entire area’s trash is here and the truck never comes to remove it,” says the 24-year-old. The monsoon has been even more merciless on urban villages such as Nathupur. Before the concrete jungle colonised its lands, the Nathupur drain used to flow to Najafgarh drain in Delhi, while the Badshahpur drain ran up to Rewari. Now, those drains do not exist.

When roads were flooded, trapping commuters in gridlocks, Nathupur turned into a swamp. “There has been a dengue outbreak in the area since then. Residents in rows after rows of houses fell sick,” says Fathima, 25, from Murshidabad, West Bengal, who works as a domestic help in several houses and lives in Nathupur. “I fell sick too. I am still recovering,” she says. Nathupur village is a leftover from yesterday’s construction boom. Once a peaceful and sparsely plotted area, it burgeoned into a congested urban village, a place where the original farmers sold land and moved out, and where, now, homes have given way to shanties. Roads do not exist.

Neither do the aspirations that Gurgaon seems to excite in its well-to-do settlers. “Sure, the money is decent; it is definitely more than what we could earn back home,” says Fathima. “But this city doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Once I regain my health, I am moving back home.” Villages such as Nathupur are also reminders of the old settlers, the original farmers. “There are two kinds,” says Mahajan. “The ones who sold their land and moved a few miles away and bought more agricultural land, and the second kind who blew up that money. And you see the latter in the crimes that take place in Gurgaon. You see them in big, expensive cars, carrying guns. This is the other side of Gurgaon”s aspirational underclass. For many of them, the opportunities are running out.”

Their presence is everywhere, adds Hoon, who has encountered this conflict on the streets right outside his house on MG Road. “I don’t want to stay here anymore. It’s not safe. We have displaced a lot of local people. They still live here, in villagers such as Sikandarpur, Nathupur or Chakkarpur. You see this conflict on the streets, where the original settlers will be walking around, acting like they own the place. They brush up against you and the next thing you know, an iron rod has been brought out. This kind of aggression is rampant,” he says.

In Nathupur, a group of migrant labourers from West Bengal holler to us in broken Hindi, warning us of “those who roam in big cars”. “We live in constant fear,” says one, “They are ready to assault even if we make eye contact.” In the smoggy distance, as it gets dark, the steel-blue Cyberhub looms over the ramshackle houses in Nathupur. Men go back to work and women disappear inside the houses. A pall of darkness descends upon Nathupur, but one by one, the lights are turned on. From far away, the sounds of traffic and faint music soars from Cyberhub.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 11, 2016

You might have taken the toy train to Shimla. For once, hop on to the Kangra Valley Train, which is far-less celebrated, but a lot more exciting With the world famous toy train of Shimla crisscrossing the lengths and breadths of the region, Kangra Valley Train — just a few miles away — couldn’t dare to compete. However, a new book takes you on this journey far-less celebrated, yet a lot more exciting. Author and illustrator Premola Ghose and photographer Ram Rahman help us discover the train and the throbbing life on and around it in the new book The Kangra Valley Train.

It was the beginning of the twentieth century. Advertently or inadvertently, the British had been laying foundations of modern India. According to some estimates, by independence, 1.36 lakh bridges had been built and around 10,000 miles of track had been laid joining the nation. The Kangra Valley Train (KVR) was among them. Picturesque Joginder Nagar was chosen as site for North India’s first hydel power project to provide electricity to New Delhi. KVR, joining Kangra to the town, was built to carry heavy machinery there. In 1928, the line opened to goods traffic and a year later to general public.

Bose calls it an “excellent example of how railway engineers worked in harmony with nature”. Digging in tunnels through the mountains would have been easy. They, instead, “imaginatively worked their way around” them. Beginning at Pathankot, the meandering rail track takes you through 164 km of terraced fields of rice, vegetables and fruit separated by logs hedges of cacti; the Dhauladhars peeking from within pine and cedar trees. A tentative UNESCO world heritage site, it is seeped in a glorious past and a rich present.

Bose turned her gaze to Kangra valley in 2008, sometimes making three to four trips a year. An artist, she would visit the Deer Park Institute in Bir. “I thought it might be a good idea to write on the KVR as it runs through the heart of the valley and from its stations one could travel further afield and visit other places.” She submitted a proposal to the Institute of Rail Transport and the journey began. Hopping along on the train was photographer Ram Rahman, who was familiar with Kullu valley [which falls behind the Kangra valley], but was surprised to see how geographically different it was.

Whether aiming at it or not, the book is an easy guide to the region. Ghose peppers the text with history, both cultural and social. The rich architecture — Masrur rock cut temples being a fine example; the rich Pahari painting — whose stalwarts Nainsukh and Manaku hailed from here; the Kangra earthquake of 1905, which changed the way people looked at life; the forts fractured in its aftermath; the ubiquitous Pahari legends of gods and demons; of kings and queens; the Buddhist influence among others. From the starting point of the journey to its final destination, the landscape changes radically. Ghose says the most dramatic for her is the Dhauladhar range. “It follows you through every twist and turn of the train. The valley below is soft and gentle, and the mountain towers over it, changing every moment with the sun and clouds and sudden storms,” she shares. For Rahman, “the distinct culture recently added to by the Tibetan Buddhists who have settled there was interesting to discover.”

“The train stations themselves are so lovely — a real bit of colonial architectural history. For me, the sites of classical temple architecture were a discovery. Particularly the stunning rock cut temples of Masrur,” he says. As the photos and story evolved, Ghose and Rahman discovered a whole new side to this place they had been visiting for years. Certainly this journey is worth embarking upon.

Once there was just a backwater neighbouring Delhi, a hairy drive through the jungles to the south of the Capital. Then there was an industrial settlement that grew around, and grew rich on, a manufacturer of the humble hatchback. Today, it is a corporate city, an altar at which big business worships. But does Gurgaon have soul, a culture it can call its own? Well, even in myth, it was on the periphery when the Kauravas and the Pandavas were battling it out for bragging rights. It still doesn't have a culture that is of the soil but it does have traditions that have taken root here. This city's migrants have helped create a living and breathing space that is unique in the history of urban India. And never is this more visible than during festival season.

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Recommended By Colombia Of course, grand festive occasions like Ganesh Utsav and Durga Puja are celebrated as fervently in Gurgaon as they are in Goregaon (Mumbai), Glasgow (Scotland) and Georgetown (Guyana). But here, they fill a space, meet a desire, offer a distraction, for city folk whose days are spent tediously navigating slow-moving lanes of traffic, and floating in "rivers of headlights" (as Mark Knopfler so evocatively put it in 'Telegraph Road') between home and office.

For all the wonderful shows and fests Gurgaon hosts - alfresco or indoors, theatre or music, folk or contemporary - and for all that the city's municipal corporation has done, commendably, to bring to the fore the state's performing arts, this is a place that really only comes to life during the heady days of September and October. Of course, as cities grow, so does their culture. But it takes decades, centuries even, to become a Chennai, a Kolkata or a Delhi, places that are imbued with a cultural spirit, or a Pune or Hyderabad, where culture has breadth and charm. Or even a Mumbai and a Bangalore, cities that over time found generous space for the arts (the traditional, the folksy and the quirky).

As of now, Gurgaon has a 'corporate' culture. It has, besides, acquired a name for gastronomy. But you'd be hard pressed to find streets or spaces where Gurgaonites can immerse themselves in culture. An embracing cultural sensibility that becomes a fabric of the place, which gives it a character. A city can subsist on any amount of business and money, but it won't be alive until it is nourished by the soul food that only culture can provide.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 11, 2016

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) has established Heritage Window Exhibition for promoting culture and heritage amongst its students with at Sharda Vidya Mandir, Neelbad Bhopal for exemplary participation in “Poubi Lai – The story of giant Python” exhibition and activities. The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by Vinay Agrawal (Chairman, Sharda Vidya Mandir), Prof Sarit K Chaudhuri, Director, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal and Shefali Gautam (Principal). On this occasion, S N Rai (Advisor, Sharda Vidya Mandir), Teachers, parents, and a large number of local public were present.

Introducing the exhibition, Prof Chaudhuri, said it is our moral responsibility to protect the Indian culture. The museum is home to entertainment as well as informal education. Students of Sharda Vidya Mandir displayed unprecedented imagination in the activities around the exhibition Poubi Lai. Hence we are presenting “Heritage Window” an exhibition on India’s north-eastern states.

He further said, “The country’s cultural heritage protection is now the responsibility of the present generation. If we have love for our nation’s pride and identity, then we must know things of socio-cultural importance and ensure that the changes in our traditions don’t affect our respect for them. The heritages in Manav Sangrahalaya mentally connect visitors with our national integration. After this the exhibition was inaugurated.

The IGRMS team members comprising of Arun Kiro (Assistant Curator), Anand Tahenguria (Assistant Curator-Display), S K Pandey (Assistant Keeper), Tapas Kumar Biswas (Photographic Officer), Lalit (Sr Artist) and his team has contributed towards organising of the exhibition.

- http://thehitavada.com/, September 11, 2016

Efforts by environmentalists to ensure eco-friendly immersion of Ganesha idols has got a shot in the arm with many residents breaking tradition to opt for it. Tushar Deshpande and his family, for the first time ever, have decided to immerse the idol in a bucket of water so that they can do their bit to save water bodies. Like the Deshpandes, around 6,000 other families in the city have immersed their idols at home as they feel using the makeshift tanks created by the civic body would also be a waste of water.

The Pune Municipal Corporation has provided 2kg of ammonium bicarbonate to these families, to easily dissolve idols made of Plaster of Paris. "All PMC ward offices are providing the chemical to citizens, and in the first five days alone, about 40 tonnes of ammonium bicarbonate has been used to immerse and dissolve idols at homes. The number will rise as the figures are still coming in," PMC's solid waste management head Suresh Jagtap told TOI. The PMC is implementing this plan with the help of National Chemical Lab in Pune.

PMC authorities said that the number of citizens immersing idols in the makeshift water tanks set up by the civic body is also multiplying as citizens are responding to the appeal that idols must not be immersed in rivers. Some residents like Shweta have gone a step further. The home-maker bought shadu (clay), prepared an eco-friendly idol and dissolved it in a bucket of water. Next year, she would reuse this clay to prepare another idol.

State executive president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) Avinash Patil said that the movement, started about two decades ago, is finally gaining acceptance. "Now we are in the role to convince people and opt for eco-friendly festival" said Patil.

Patil said that before every Ganeshotsav for twenty years, MANS founder Narendra Dabholkar and other activists would be all set to campaign for eco-friendly celebrations. In 2013, the day Dabholkar was shot dead, he was scheduled to announce a slew of measures and begin campaigning for the year's festivities. Activist Uday Kulkarni said, "Religious organisations must come forward to ensure eco-friendly celebrations. When the movement against immersion of idols was started in 1980s, Karveer Peetha Shankaracharya came out in support. Considering the condition of our rivers and water bodies, we need to make all festivals environment friendly."Graphics Dissolving idols

* Ammonium bicarbonate is effective to disintegrate Plaster Of Paris
* Products formed are Ammonium sulphate and calcium carbonate
* They are then used as fertilizers or additives in cement industry
* Process is cost-effective, as 1kg of POP is Rs 20

Impact on water bodies Plaster of Paris | Increases dissolved solids, contributes to sludge Decoration materials like clothes, polish, paint, ornaments, cosmetics | Contribute to suspended matters, trace metal (zinc, lead, iron, chromium, arsenic, mercury) metalloids, various organic and inorganic matter, and oil, grease Flowers, garlands, oily substances | Increase floating suspended matter organic contamination, oil and grease Great move by pmc as well as citizens. We as citizens should always support green ways to celebrate festivals to help save environment and reduce traffic congestion on the roads.. We never know ... Read More

Manmohan Gupta ( Source: Presentation by S B Umbarkar on disintegration of Ganesh idols, NCL, Pune)

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 11, 2016

The Unesco has sought a report regarding the work on widening of the road (NH-49) adjoining the Kamalapur tank in the taluk, which comes under the purview of the Hampi World Heritage Area. Unesco has sought the details based on media reports that the tank, belonging to the Vijayanagar period, could be damaged due to the road-widening work. Shigeru Aoyagi, director and Unesco Representative to India, has written a letter in this regard on September 8 to Avinash Menon Rajendran, commissioner of the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA).

Copies of the letter have been mailed to Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree, chief secretary Arvind Jadhav, director general of the Archaeological Survey of India Rakesh Tiwari, deputy superintendent of the ASI Hampi Circle Prakash Naikanda and Ballari deputy commissioner Ramaprasad Manohar. The letter says efforts were on behind the scenes to restart the work, even though directions had been issued in March this year to stop the road work.

Aoyagi’s missive says that the world heritage committee of Unesco was committed to the conservation of world heritage centres. The committee should be informed beforehand about any development project undertaken in the heritage region and it would offer necessary help. The same did not happen in the issue of widening the road adjoining the Kamalapur tank, the Unesco official says in the letter. It was not right on the part of the government to take up the work without bring it to the notice of Unesco, the letter to the HWHAMA says.

The letter wants a report on the work, ahead of a meeting in July 2017 of the world heritage committee. The Kamalapur tank, constructed in the 15th century, irrigates 1,500 acres of agriculture land. The work on widening National Highway-49, adjoining the tank, was initiated in January this year. The work was suspended, following reports in the media in this regard. Activists say work was resumed a few days ago by putting a layer of gravel on the road. They want a stop to any work that endangers the tank.

- http://www.deccanherald.com/, September 11, 2016

Assam conjures up visions of the mighty Brahmaputra, verdant forests of the Kaziranga National Park — the only home of the one-horned rhinoceros on the planet — and its tea gardens in the backdrop of enchanting blue hills romanticised in James Mason’s Wind Cannot Read and set in the background of the Burma campaign during World War II. However, of late the park has been in the news for the wrong reasons — unabated poaching and killing of rhinos, polluting activities like stone-crushing, brick kilns, deaths of elephants and signs of severe man-animal-conflict despite the state’s policy to conserve Kaziranga on the court’s direction.

Some time ago, we mentioned in these columns about the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on how the Kaziranga park was being starved of funds, denied the services of forest guards, proper facilities and equipment. Things, however, continue to drift but now at long last it seems there is some hope for Kaziranga being saved because of the well-reasoned and balanced judgment of the National Green Tribunal in the Numaligarh Refinery case, on 24 August.

The background of the “matter” before the NGT is fascinating; the NRL, like the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, was established as part of the 1985 Assam Accord between the Centre and the student leaders of the Assam movement against foreign nationals and was, in a sense, a political project. The selection of the site for the refinery was presumably made on technical grounds though it is not clear why a location had to be chosen so close to Kaziranga when conservation problems in and around the sanctuary, declared a world heritage site, were already alarming due to poaching and encroachment.

However, it appears that aware of the danger the refinery might pose to the wildlife habitat, the involved ministry laid down strict conditions on land use while granting clearance to the project in 1991; and to ensure that the refinery and the township were set up at the maximum possible distance from the eastern and western boundaries of Kaziranga and, as if anticipating incursions that might take place, later directed that a “No Development Zone” be notified before the construction started within a radius of 15-km surrounding the refinery site except towards the north-west where the NDZ would extend to the eastern boundaries of Kaziranga.

The Union government in July 1996 duly notified it and it was a measure of abundant caution and was binding on the NRL, set up as a public sector undertaking under the Union ministry of petroleum. The Centre and the state government through its forest department were responsible for its implementation. Initially the state acted positively and notified an area — Deopahar, rich in bio-diversity and regarded as a link to Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong landscape and a major corridor for the wild animals — as a proposed reserved forest. The objective was to prevent encroachment, as any such in a reserved forest could be removed forthwith without serving any notice and was designed to keep the elephant corridor open for the endangered species of Kaziranga and its neighbourhood.

Unfortunately things went wrong after the refinery and the township came up and, taking note of a complaint of continuing encroachment and serious polluting activities within the NDZ, the NGT directed the forest ministry and the government of Assam in 2012 to put in place a monitoring mechanism to prevent illegal activities. Apparently the order was not acted upon well. In simple language, the NGT has asked the Centre to jointly take effective measures to stop all illegal encroachments because of the threat they pose to the national park. The NGT direction to the NRL to pay environment compensation of Rs 25 lakh on the polluter-to-pay principle to the Assam forest department for causing environmental degradation of serious nature in the form of destruction of forests and flattening of a hilly terrain for a golf course is unprecedented in the North-east, as it has been imposed on a Central government undertaking and founded on the proven charge of violation of literally all conditions of granting environment clearance and encroachment of the inviolable Deopahar proposed reserved forest.

This is clear from the unauthorised construction of Phase 3 of the township and its boundary wall with barbed wire and razor-edge fencing right through the “elephant corridor”, which, sadly, has caused the deaths of 12 elephants already. The NGT, therefore, has ordered demolition of walls, barbed wire fencing and cessation of development of the nine-hole golf course on five hectares and restoration of the tree cover thereon. It further directed the polluter to make compensatory afforestation to the tune of five times the number of trees felled as a measure to improve the environment. It also directed early declaration of Deopahar as a reserve forest by the state and constitution of a task force by the Centre to ensure that the NDZ is really made inviolable.

One cannot but note that implicit in this order is evidence of governance failure both at the Central and state government levels to enforce strict compliance with the rather reasonable conditions of grant of environment clearance in the first place; and the lackadaisical approach of the state is clear from the fact that Deopahar remains a proposed reserve forest even after 17 years of the initial notification declaring the intent of the government and lack of any urgency in removing encroachment within the NDZ contrary to its public stand to conserve Kaziranga.

Finally, the NGT judgment bears the stamp of experience of its expert member, R Chatterjee, a former chief secretary, Meghalaya, who had served in Assam.

- http://www.thestatesman.com/, September 12, 2016

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), today, more than 793 million people suffer from chronic hunger, 161 million children under the age of five are stunted, 3.4 million people die each year due to overweight and obesity and the cost of malnutrition is about 3.5 trillion USD (United Sates Dollar). Inadequate production of food accompanied by the nutritionally deficient agricultural produces is affecting the generation of youngsters.

Can hunger be eliminated from our homes, villages, states, countries or the world in our life time? Can we imagine a world of zero hunger? How can we increase the production to satisfy the ever increasing hungers of the expanding population in a contracting and the fragmenting fields and environment? These are some of the questions that must be taken care of so seriously today. And the most central idea to the approaches of increasing productivity for a secured and healthy society today is the strong feeling with conviction that know-how or knowledge must be brought to the people and places that need it the most.

A seed bank (also seed bank or seeds bank) stores seeds to keep them viable. It helps in to preserve genetic diversity which the plant breeders need to increase yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, etc of plants used in agriculture. Many plants that were used centuries ago by humans are used less frequently now and seed banks offer a way to preserve that historical and cultural value. Seed banks are considered seed libraries and contain valuable information about evolved strategies to combat plant stress or produce novel products.

Seed Banks maintain stocks of foundation and certified seeds of different crops and varieties which can be utilized for such contingent requirements such as during natural calamities like floods, droughts, etc. By maintaining the traditional varieties opportunities shall be opened for the breeders and the crop scientists to find novel genes and traits. Traditional varieties that have evolved in an area shall be providing the buffer against damage that may fall on the modern high yielding varieties. Established in 1995, the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) is an international partnership for the conservation through seed storage of research quantities of endangered, endemic and useful. A great number of the world’s plant species are under threat of genetic erosion leading to loss and that seed banks are a cost-effective means of countering some of this threat. Deforestation affects the daily lives of millions of people.

The starting material for reforestation is, primarily, seed and it is also the most useful material for the conservation of species. Developing seed banks for the crop plants and trees shall provide a beautiful synergistic platform to help each other. Making the seed banks accessible besides providing the awareness to the local farmers shall surely help them in developing newer varieties and at the same time shall also provide them another opportunity for the growing of the traditional variety. Such acts shall surely help in conserving the biodiversity of the areas and also help them adapt to the changes which is brought by the changes due to global climate changes. Today more than 7 million samples of seeds, tissues and other plant-propagating materials from food crops, along with their wild relatives, are safeguarded in about 1,750 gene banks. Such seed banks, if managed properly, shall surely help to preserve genetic diversity and make it available to breeders and other scientists, who can then use it to develop and share improved varieties, including those adapted to particular agro-ecological conditions.

Ren Wang, FAO Assistant Director-General correctly said, “As the world’s population grows and continues to face a wide range of climate, environmental and other challenges, maintaining a healthy variety of seeds and other plant genetic resources for the benefit of people in all countries will be essential to keeping agricultural and food systems sustainable and resilient, generation after generation”. Seed banks are the modern temples that help in bridging the past and the future by ensuring the continued availability of plant genetic resources for research and for breeding new varieties that meet the consumers’ continually evolving needs and a changing climate. They will surely improve the adaptive capacity of the local farmers and the people alike. Gene bank will re revolutionise the agricultural productivity, this time, by integrating with the biodiversity not away from it. More than 200,000 varieties of paddy were known to be cultivated extensively at one time in our country. Drought –resistant and highly nutritious scented millets were also once a popular crop as they were cultivable in the poor soil. If conserved it will surely manage to come out with 200,000 different ways to increase and conserve crops and their productivity.

Traditional knowledge is the product of the biocultural adaptation of the local and indigenous people. Farmers have wealth of knowledge. Rather than imposing and dictating methods and information on farmers, it is important to learn from them and at the same time find ways to communicate and make long lasting relations .The farmers’ fields are grounds for discovering a dynamic living laboratory of tremendous biological diversity sustained primarily by small-scale farming communities. Upgrading the quality of farmer-saved seed, providing the financial assistance for distribution of certified seed for the production of quality seeds and for the training on seed production and technology to the farmers is a much needed work of today. In this regard progress has been made through programmes like the Seed Village Scheme. Without good seeds the survival of rural households is endangered. Diversity is the best and the cheapest form of pest control.

Our traditional cropping methods in many agricultural societies have been based largely or solely on the crop rotation patterns maintaining the diversity of the area. This method of agriculture has been acting as the adaptive gene throughout our culture. Doing agriculture by maintaining the diversity is the best way to honour the Earth. Conclusion: Domestic agriculture production is a priority to attain future food security and self sufficiency goals. Collaborative programs are underway to share valuable knowledge with local farmers everywhere. Local growers and the farmers are provided a series of demonstrations throughout the growing seasons and to educate them on effective hybrid rice farming techniques besides arming them with the much needed know how on proper seed selection, soil health management, pest control, water conservation, harvesting and post harvesting practices. Such programs in order to be sustainable and efficient must also incorporate the local knowledge that has been already embedded in the existing geography. The results of any of the programme and the policy may not be getting crowned with success so quickly but the journey must be memorable, meaningful and enjoyable. And this will be achieved if we work inclusively by incorporating the diverse ways and norms of the places likes and dislikes of the places and the levels of education and educatedness, awareness and inquisitiveness of the farmers, growers and all the stakeholders.

We must treasure the saying “Once in a Journey Always in a Journey”. Our growth model and fruits of the same shall be an everlasting journey of peace, prosperity, meaningfulness and indeed a truly enjoyable one. (This article is adapted from the essay the author wrote in 2016, July issue of Kurukshetra -A Journal on Rural Development and published by Publication Division, Ministry of I&B, Govt of India) (The writer is an Assistant Professor in Zoology Department, Ramjas College, Delhi University, Delhi 110007. He is also a Research Fellow at School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University Delhi.

He can be reached at [email protected])

- - http://www.thesangaiexpress.com, September 12, 2016

Indo-Vietnam cultural linkages are well known. Vietnam, a key strategic and economic player in South-East Asia, is now keen to trace back its Buddhist legacy to India, rather than China. Top Vietnamese monks have discovered that Buddhism in Vietnam can be traced to India like the Buddhist heritage of some other South-East Asian nations, timesofindia.com. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pushed Buddhism diplomacy during his recent trip to Hanoi. India had announced special annual scholarships for Vietnamese students in advanced Buddhist studies at Masters/Doctoral level and scholarships of a year for study of Sanskrit at Indian institutes for Buddhist Sangha members.

What has further strengthened cultural bonds is that several Vietnamese citizens have started visiting Bodh Gaya over the past few years, including Vietnam’s top four leaders —general secretary of the Communist Party, the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly. While there are theories of Buddhism reaching Vietnam from China in the first or second century AD, monks in that nation now claim it reached their shores a century or two earlier from India.

Addressing monks at Hanoi’s famous Pagoda temple on September 3, Modi had said Vietnam was an inspiration to shun violence and follow Buddha’s path of peace and harmony. “Advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and monuments of the Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds,” Modi had said, adding that “these cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. “Some people came here with the objective of war. We came here with a message of peace, which has endured,” said the Prime Minister, in an indirect dig at China’s wars with Vietnam. Harping on the Indian heritage, he said Buddhism took the sea route and travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India. Modi invited all monks to visit India – the land of Buddha – and especially Varanasi, “which I represent in the Indian Parliament.”

Chief priest of Pagoda, Rev Thich Thien Nhon, also traced the history of Vietnam’s links with India. Modi became the first Indian leader to visit the Pagoda temple after first President Rajendra Prasad in 1959. The Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassador’s pagoda, is said to have served emissaries in the past. The pagodas are a Buddhist heritage and popular tourist sites. While previous Indian governments pursued cultural diplomacy around the world, particularly in the West and South East and East Asia as a soft power, it has emerged as a key pillar of foreign policy under the Modi dispensation to bring these countries closer.

Soft power is part of a country’s diplomatic arsenal. Culture and shared history are essential to building relations between countries. Building on historical ties—the Buddhist link—to cement a modern day relationship with Vietnam is but a logical step. Vietnam is a growing economy, an important player in the South China Sea. Increased people contact through tourism and education will prove beneficial for both.

- http://www.indialivetoday.com/, September 12, 2016

Surrounded by drinks, live music, and Missouri craft makers, shoppers at the second annual Berlin Bazaar saw a mix of Missouri artists and musicians, hand-crafted goods, and vintage clothing Saturday evening in Cafe Berlin's parking lot. To participate, vendors needed to be Missouri-based and selling handmade goods. Julie Nardy, one of the event's organizers, said there were 43 venders in total, and she expected more than 500 people to attend the event.

Chris Willow, a local artist, sold handmade wooden toys at the bazaar. Willow said she started to make the toys in her home studio because she wanted to provide toys made of natural materials for her sons. To make the figurines, Willow cuts and sands pieces of wood by hand, using a wood burner to draw on the toys. She then paints the toys with nontoxic watercolors, sealing the paint with wax polish. Her favorite thing about her handmade wooden toys is that they don't require any extra material. The toys only require the imagination of a child, Willow said. When it's time to throw away the toy, it breaks down without any pollution.

Farah El-Jayyousi was also a vendor at the bazaar, painting henna onto people's hands and feet. "Henna is an art form that has been around for thousand years, started in India and popular across the world," El-Jayyousi said. The art form uses a paste made out of a plant powder mixed with water, tea, lemon juice, oil, sugar and honey to dye people's skin.

Henna is part of traditional culture in Palestine, where El-Jayyousi's father is from. She started practicing henna when she was 11 years old, and now offers face-painting at parties.

For El-Jayyousi, the Berlin Bazaar event is not only a good opportunity to see the cool things that local artists do, but also provides a chance for her to share her art with the community. "Our goal is to basically create a culture of quality crafts and arts in Columbia," Nardy said. Supervising Editor is Natalia Alamdari.

- http://www.columbiamissourian.com/, September 12, 2016

New hotels built or refurbished by partly reassembling architectural material from dismantled old mansions have often left tourists disappointed with their sham antiquity and poor services while selling themselves as "heritage" hotels. The tourism ministry now plans to address the problem by fixing criteria to determine which of these hotels deserve the official "heritage" tag.

Those that pass the test will be designated either "renaissance" or "adapted" heritage hotels, a new category to be added to the existing brackets of "basic", "grand" and "classic" heritage hotels. Two kinds of heritage properties will be considered for inclusion under the new genre: those "translocated" from another place and those with higher levels of modern construction than existing heritage properties.

Many properties, mainly in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, have been restored or recreated using architectural material from heritage mansions, cottages and palaces, at times in new locations, ministry officials said "Parts of these properties have been shifted (reassembled at another place) because they were crumbling or were located in places where not many tourists go," a joint secretary told The Telegraph. "We will declare a new category for such hotels, with their own set of norms, within the next few weeks." Apart from fixing the service norms, these yardsticks are likely to say:

The façades and architectural features of these (existing or proposed) hotels should bear the distinctive tradition of the place where they have been translocated; The extensions, renovations and alterations can't exceed 50 per cent of the original design. "The new category will allow heritage buildings to be heavily modified while keeping their old-world charm intact," a director-level official in the ministry who helps regulate hotels said. Hotels are now classified into 10 categories, including star hotels, bread-and-breakfasts, guesthouses and heritage hotels. The last group covers hotels running in palaces, castles, forts, havelis, hunting lodges or mansions of any size built before 1950. Randhir Vikram Singh, general secretary of the Indian Heritage Hotel Association, acknowledged there had been "issues" relating to the standards of services in "reconstructed" heritage properties.

"The government tells us what facilities to provide at basic, classic or grand heritage hotels but there are no such guidelines for adapted heritage properties. Therefore, many guests who choose them for a unique experience feel cheated," he said. He cited the example of an old mansion in Rajasthan that was translocated from Fatehabad to Bhilwara and converted into a hotel but, he alleged, did not offer services of "heritage" standard. "Not all such hotels are fleecing guests, though. Several heritage cottages that were moved from the interior villages of Kerala to the beaches around Travancore, for instance, have been a success," Singh said. Amitabh Devendra, general secretary of the Federation of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of India, said the government needed to find ways of promoting new kinds of hotels to tackle the estimated shortage of 1.92 lakh hotel rooms in the country.

- http://www.telegraphindia.com/, September 13, 2016

While Ganesh Utsav is celebrated with religious fervour and crores of rupees are spent to bring grandeur to festivity, a grand Ganesh idol here waits since 400 years for its deliverance. Sprawled on the ground in open, the battered statue can be seen laying in Bhiwapur ward here behind Rajiv Gandhi Engineering College. Though sculptors finished the chiselling of this magnificent idol back in 17th century, but the temple it made for never saw its completion.

According to central governing council member of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and senior historian Ashoksingh Thakur, the 5ft tall idol has been carved out of sandstone. It was part of idols to the installed in Shiva temple being built by then chief trader (Nagar Seth) of city, Rayappa Vaishaya, under Gond rule. Although sculpting of this Ganesha idol and few others was completed at the temple site itself, Rayappa failed to complete the temple construction. The demise of Nagar Seth Rayappa stalled the ongoing work of proposed temple.

His heirs were not interested in completion of the temple and hence the idols were left abandoned at the site. In nearly 400 years since then, this Ganesha idol has failed to catch the attention of its devotees, Thakur said. A few hundred meters away from the place, a Ganesh manual has installed a public idol in its pandal. Many devotees from the surrounding area go there for aarti twice a day. However, none turns to this grand idol to perform prayers, even during Ganesh Utsav celebrations. Thakur informed that following repeated pleas of historians, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared it as protected site, but the plaque announcing the same too has been stolen.

It is sheer example of negligence. The 17th century stone-carved idol of Lord Ganesha, that deserved to be installed at a grand temple, has unfortunately found its place in open air. The idol has although survived the hardship of weather for almost 400 years, but is in battered condition. Ironically it is the time of the year when worshippers bring idols of Lord Ganesha to their house and worship it for 10 days. But a similar idol, with a great historic value, is being treated like an anonymous piece of stone by the same worshippers, he lamented.

Thakur demanded that devotees should come together to make sure that idol is properly installed at some temple. If not so, it should be sent to some museum for safety and conservation. As of now, at least a shed should be put over the idol and a security guard should be placed for its protection, he said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 14, 2016

International support has gained momentum over India Trade Promotion Organisation's (ITPO) proposal to raze Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion. The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Union of International Architects and Architects Regional Council, Asia, have all written to the ministry of commerce this week to save the two buildings, claiming they were iconic structures and represented 20th century architecture.

".. The Hall of Nations and the Nehru Pavilion in Pragati Maidan, both built to celebrate 25 years of Indian independence, express a new step in development of modernity in terms of aesthetics, constructive innovation and social engagement. One one hand, the Nehru Pavilion is probably the first attempt of a contemporary interpretation of a multi-secular traditional architecture in India, one the other hand, the Hall of Nations is known in Europe as in the United States, as the first large scale spatial structure in concrete in the world," reads the letter from the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

It added, "Those two buildings opened a new identity of an Indian architecture. At the age of globalisation, as the debate on contemporary architecture leads scholars and curators to study the cultural knowledge of the sub continent architecture, these two buildings remain masterpieces today." Similarly, a letter from Museum of Modern Art in New York written earlier this year to the ministry, says "Built in time of great optimism for the future, both Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion are seminal in forging a new, modern identity for Indian society and architecture.

They are architectural masterpieces and important witnesses of a chapter in Indian history." The Union of International arhitects wrote to Prime Minister Narender Modi earlier this year and said: "The iconic complex of Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion is a national asset and 'heritage in making' which should be preserved, protected and maintained."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 14, 2016

Even as the Symphony Orchestra of India have been performing around the world and working with renowned conductors, challenges remain. I will only be truly satisfied with the accomplishments of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) when a majority of players are Indian,” says Khushroo Santook, Chairman of the Mumbai-based National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). In the current composition, the orchestra comprises 75 musicians, and only 15 are Indian.

Yet, this is a long way from when they started — in 2006, by Suntook and internationally renowned violin virtuoso, Marat Bisengaliev. Back then, Indian musicians formed a minuscule five per cent of the orchestra. The SOI is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Under the guidance of Bisengaliev, now their music director, and Zane Dalal, the associate music director, the SOI went from being a bit of the gamble for the NCPA to enjoying mounting support and more recently, sold-out auditoriums.

It remains India’s only professional orchestra, and over the years, has performed around the world and worked with internationally-renowned conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Johannes Wildner and Adrian Leaper, and soloists such as violinist Augustin Dumay, pianist Barry Douglas and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. The NCPA has even launched a well-reputed youth orchestra programme that mentors young children.

The struggles, however, still remain and Santook says, a huge part of it is finding good players. “There’s a general lack of interest in Western classical music here. Most parents believe there isn’t any money involved, and don’t encourage their children to play,” he says. A reason may be the substandard quality of previous orchestras. “As excellent as we are in Indian music, we are poor in Western music,” says Santook, adding, “Those who learn it end up playing in bars and restaurants. Without the proper mentorship and support, how could they have ever improved?”

To ensure players are able to devote their time to honing their skills, musicians at the SOI are paid “as much as can be expected from a corporate”. “We’ve done something that has never been done before,” says Santook, adding, “We have made these musicians full-time employees, with a salary and bonuses.” The biggest challenge of all, however, is finding sponsors or patrons.

“Unlike India, countries like Germany get huge art subsidies from the government, which means they don’t have to worry too much about making money,” Santook says. Besides training expenses, there are a lot of costs one incurs as a musician, especially one that’s constantly travelling. “Taking care of instruments is more difficult than attending to half a dozen babies,” he says.

Santook says people will “give to all sorts of rubbishy functions but won’t spend money to support talented artists”. There is no community feeling of ownership when it comes to the city’s musicians, he says, contrasting it to the support that Mumbai’s cricket team — back when it was called the Bombay Ranji — enjoyed. “We were so proud of them,” says Santook, adding, “I wish we had those sentiments for our musicians.”

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 14, 2016

During the 1980s, there was a sudden increase in thefts of Panchaloha idols and the spectre is once again returning with three cases of arrest in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recently. Three Panchaloha idols of deities Varadarajula Swamy, Sridevi and Bhoodevi from an ancient temple at Rajole in Kuravi mandal in Warangal district which were stolen on March 15, 2016, are now in safe custody but hundreds of idols from the temples across the two Telugu-speaking States are missing for years.

According to the Telangana State Department of Archaeology, about 38 idols from across Telangana and AP were recovered between 2008 and 2013 but these idols are the ones that the police hands over to the department once a case is resolved, for safe custody. According to experts, there are close to 100 precious idols that date back to over 300-400 years that come under “untraceable category”. Stolen idols data from 2014 till date is being corroborated, said an official and on condition of anonymity confirmed that there are at least a couple of cases reported every month. According to a CAG report in 2013, 91 idols of archaeological importance in India had been missing or untraceable.

Telangana State Department of Archaeology director NR Visalatchi says, “The police hands over the stolen idols to the department for safe custody. The department has its limitations in protecting the idols.” Vijay Kumar, based in Singapore, who blogs on stolen idols and has been in touch with the US Homeland Security, says that illegal trade of art and artefacts is estimated to be worth Rs 40,000 crore a year. No doubt that the Tamil Nadu government started a special Tamil Nadu Police Idol Wing which is in constant touch with the US Homeland Security. Though many precious idols go missing from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh every month and rarely get reported, there is no such wing in either State. In the garb of ‘researcher’ and ‘antique collector’ smuggling of international antiquities goes on which requires capital and connections.

Such is the volume of stolen idols that earlier this year in June, the US government returned over 200 stolen idols to India during PM Modi’s visit. But there are thousands of idols stacked away in museums and private collections the world over. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, over 4,000 items were stolen from Indian temples just in a span of three years between 2010 and 2012 and in the past two decades about 2,913 idols and antiquities have been traced in museums.

K Padmanabha, Deputy Director, Telangana Department of Archaeology says, “We recovered two Lord Rama, two Lakshmana and one each of Sita and Radha Devi idols that were stolen from Parlapalli village and date back to 400 years. There are scores of idols strewn across the State that need protection.” The modus operandi is complex as companies buy and sell objects among themselves to hoodwink officials before forwarding them to auction houses and collectors. Objects are first shipped to Switzerland which is considered safe because of free trade zone. Auction houses claim that they buy the objects from Swiss soil and not from India. Dealers have a deep network connecting remote areas of the country. The modus operandi used by smugglers is to prepare a copy of the looted antique and submit it to the Archaeological survey; once the tag of ‘non-antiquity’ is granted, the certificate is used to tag to the genuine antique and ship it out of the country.

Smugglers use paperless money remittance system (hawala) which is virtually untraceable. Ghiya from Jaipur and Subhash Kapoor, a US citizen (who is now in Tamil Nadu jail), have been involved in smuggling idols out of India for decades.

Subhash Kapoor who owns Art of the Past, an art gallery in New York, is accused of smuggling more than $100 million worth of stolen art from India.

- http://www.thehansindia.com/, September 14, 2016

Government agencies have either failed to maintain environmental data or deliberately suppressed it. It’s up to the citizens to take the lead.

The challenge of protecting and watching over India’s environment can be met only if we have substantial, good quality and reliable information. Unfortunately, this information is in very short supply. Most of the data pertaining to India’s environment is collected by the state machinery. There are a few agencies which discharge their information-related responsibilities competently, such as the 140-year-old India Meteorological Department and the 46-year-old Indian Space Research Organisation, which properly record temperature and rainfall and satellite-based land cover data.

In recent years, the IMD has begun to share much of this data by freely using the internet. Similarly, the Bhuvan platform developed and maintained by ISRO has, over the years, made remarkable progress in integrating and making available high-quality geospatial information and tools. But these two are mere exceptions. Other governmental agencies exhibit a number of shortcomings:

1. Failure to maintain records: Some agencies such as the Department of Mines in Goa have failed to maintain proper records of operational mines. It is owing to this lapse that much of the sand mining and stone quarrying in India is illegal and never brought on proper record. The same failing is exhibited by state Fisheries Departments and Pollution Control Boards, which maintain no records of major events like large-scale fish mortalities. Even scientific organisations like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research don’t keep records of key parameters such as changes in soil organic content of farmland, development of resistance to pesticide among insect pests, and spread of introduced genes from GM crops.

2. Patchy information: Rapidly plunging groundwater levels are an important issue, yet very little information is available on the issue. Remarkably, in Goa, information on groundwater levels is available for talukas not affected by mining but not for those talukas that are affected by it.

3. Suppression of accurate information: Oftentimes, Pollution Control Boards are guilty of suppressing information on pollution levels exceeding permissible limits. An example of this is the case of Vashishti River in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.

4. Falsified information: While there are areas where the forestry establishment exaggerates records of tiger populations, there are also cases of false claims. For example, the assertion that there are no tigers in Goa. A large proportion of Environmental Impact Assessments – prepared not just by private agencies but also by some Council of Scientific and Industrial Research labs – carry falsified information on issues like the impact of mining on hill streams.

5. Failure to make information publicly available: Government agencies have failed to fulfil their obligation to comply with the suo motu disclosure requirement of the Right to Information Act. Also, sources of important information which should be made public, such as the pollution-related Zoning Atlas for Siting of Industries and the land use-related Regional Plan for Goa 2021, are being kept under wraps. This is in spite of the country's commitment to an open data policy.

6. Failure to involve public in generating information: Little attention is being paid to involve the public in producing useful environmental information. There are three major avenues of tapping this source: preparation of ward-wise Environmental Status Reports by Local Bodies under the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution, preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers by Local Bodies under the Biological Diversity Act, and compilation of information generated through student projects under the educational system-wide compulsory Environmental Education courses.

7. Discouraging public involvement in generating information: Undue restrictions on public involvement in collecting useful environmental information are common, especially in the case of lands under the hold of the forestry establishment. The establishment controls nearly one-fourth of the country’s land surface. To address this challenge, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had established circa 1983 an Environmental Information System, or ENVIS. This system has now grown to 68 centres, all of which primarily focus on newsletters, bibliographies, abstracts, annual reports, research papers, court orders, circulars, etc. instead of on useable environmental databases.

The inadequacy of ENVIS to meet the requirements of environmental governance was substantiated by the fact that the Environment Ministry felt the need to start a new environmental information facility called the Environmental Information Centre as a professionally-managed clearinghouse for environmental information in 2002. However, EIC stopped functioning altogether around 2010 and its domain name – www.eicinformation.org – was not renewed thereafter. Public movement The exclusionary culture of bureaucratic management of environmental information cannot be maintained in the modern, open democratic society of India. Realising this, the government has promulgated the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy and set up a National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

This ought to lead to a sustained effort to geocode environmental information and make it available as Geography Information System-ready datasets. To this end, we need a fresh initiative to create a new Environment Information Infrastructure that can act as an umbrella platform to collate and disseminate environmental information. We must also strive towards creating partnerships with public sector and private sector digital platforms. Two notable partnerships that can have considerable impact are Bhuvan (ISRO, 2015) and Google Public Data Explorer (Google, 2015). To these proposals, we must add one more dimension: the information system should not only be publicly accessible but be participatory in nature, involving all interested citizens. It should be broad in scope and involve not only various Central and state government agencies, but also the local bodies and organisations such as industries and mines that are expected to document their pertinent activities.

India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which mandates the establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees in all local bodies, provides an excellent platform for the involvement of barefoot ecologists along with students and teachers. However, the fact that such long-standing opportunities have so far not led to any concrete action indicates that we cannot rely on state support alone. Citizens must take the initiative and launch an information platform on India’s environmental concerns that is openly available. There is, after all, a successful experiment that has been built by public participation, without any reliance on governmental support or advertisement revenue from private businesses – it’s called Wikipedia. We welcome your comments at [email protected].

- http://scroll.in/, September 14, 2016

Stating that water can create conflicts among states, N Chandrababu Naidu said his government will take steps to revive ponds in every mandal of the state. In a teleconference on 'Neeru - Pragati' on Tuesday, the CM said the ongoing violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is the ill effects of the water crisis. "To ensure that future generations don't suffer from water scarcity, we are taking up several initiatives. Under the Neeru-Pragati programme, we will revive 10 ponds in all mandals in 13 districts," he said. He added that the state government will involve one lakh engineering students for the revival of water bodies. "The students will also work on methods to increase the groundwater levels across the state. We are planning to use their services so that we can conserve every drop of water," he explained. The government has already tied up with various engineering colleges and universities to carry out studies.

The CM further directed officials to finish the geo-tagging of the saplings planted under Vanam-Manam initiative by the end of this month. Self-help groups have been entrusted the work to photograph the saplings and give it a unique number to monitor their growth. Later, the CM said that the government is working towards announcing 55 constituencies in the state as open defecation free (ODF) areas. He directed the officials to work in coordination with other departments concerned to achieve the same.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 14, 2016

Thousands of the world’s languages are on the verge of extinction. A small non-profit in one of the most linguistically diverse cities on Earth is documenting them before they disappear.

Before she died at 103 years old,Grizelda Kristina sat down in front of a camera at her home outside Toronto and talked about her life, her family in Latvia, her childhood on the seaside, a teacher who rode his horse to school?—?and how it all was beginning to disappear. “They are not interested about old times,” she told a translator in Latvian. “The young people do not care anymore. They try to find their place in the city, and eventually Livonian language and people vanish.” Kristina died two years later, in 2013. While it’s difficult to determine if an individual is the last fully fluent speaker of a language, for Livonian, Kristina may have been it. It’s easy to think of old languages like Livonian as obsolete and therefore dispensable, but not if you see them as repositories?—?of history, medicinal remedies, and other traditional knowledge.

And that’s how the Endangered Language Alliance Toronto sees them. A volunteer organization documenting endangered languages in the Canadian city, some spoken by just a handful of people in the entire world, ELAT members made a video of Kristina that survives her. Anastasia Riehl, who launched the non-profit in 2012, is a linguistic researcher and director of the Strathy Language Unit at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, several hours from Toronto. “We realized that these urban centers, in particular New York and Toronto, they have a lot of these languages represented already,” she says. “So why not do this global mission, but do so in a local context?”

According to the City of Toronto’s diversity statistics, the city’s roughly 2.8 million residents come from about 200 distinct ethnic origins and speak more than 140 languages and dialects. Of these, Riehl says, at least a “few dozen” are endangered and several probably don’t even have proper names. “Large multi-ethnic cities like Toronto become the last context for these languages. There are all these tiny languages that that don’t get any attention.” We’re living in a difficult time for language. Of the 6,000 to 7,000 spoken on Earth today, half will be extinct by the end of this century, according to United Nations estimates, and some will disappear due to violence, genocide, coercion, and displacement. “In many settlement colonies, you find a harsh intolerance of the original population’s languages,” says Dr. Gregory D.S. Anderson, founder of theLiving Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages.

“Sometimes the message is these indigenous languages are languages of the past, and only used to talk about culture or folklore. But I think more people are using it to talk about football or about movies or politics, so the message is it’s also a language of the present and of the future.” First Nations children in the Toronto area and across Canada, for example, endured the loss of their native languages and cultural practices in the 20th century when they were forced to attend residential schools?—?a national trauma the country is only beginning to confront. More often than not, though, the loss of a language is a gradual process.

“It is generally not done on the battlefield,” Anderson says, “but in the classroom or the marketplace. The main reason languages are lost is that people internalize the language ideologies that the linguistically dominant group has toward the minority or non-socially dominant groups.” In other words, minority languages are slowly suffocated. This is troubling for several reasons. “Take the sociopolitical perspective,” Anderson says. “There’s a basic human-rights issue. People should be allowed to speak the language they choose and shouldn’t be forced to learn only a standard or only an official or national language.”

When languages vanish, says Anderson, who has worked with speakers of endangered languages from Siberia to India to Papua New Guinea, they can take vital resources with them, such as biomedical knowledge. As words for traditional plants and medicines disappear, so does the ability to use them. “It’s probably the single most fragile knowledge domain in the world,” Anderson says. “Knowledge, interactions with ecosystems, and sustainable stewardship of ecosystems is being lost.” Add to that oral histories, traditional laws and customs, music, and any other number of intangible cultural assets. Studying the minutia of endangered languages may even hold the key to understanding how humans create languages in the first place.

“We’re on this mission to understand how language works in the human brain,” Riehl says. “The more languages that are lost, the more knowledge we’re losing toward solving that puzzle.” For Riehl’s group, ELAT, that mission involves considerable detective work. “Sometimes,” she says of finding endangered language speakers in Toronto, “we search for community organizations, visiting with lists of languages, asking if they know anyone who speaks one of these smaller languages. Sometimes we’ll have people come to us through the Webpage saying, ‘Hey, I might have something for you.’” ELAT’s video interviews?—?the one featuring Kristina and Livonian was the group’s first?—?often take a couple of hours to film, and usually stick to common themes: How the speaker came to Toronto, their community in Canada, the history of their language, and whether they’re concerned about its survival. Volunteers often ask subjects to finish with a story or a poem. Since its inception, ELAT has documented, among others, Bukhori, spoken by Central Asian Bukharian Jews; Harari, a language of Ethiopia; and Ge’ez, and the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Gianna Dibiase grew up speaking Fossacesiana, a dialect named for her family’s hometown in Italy on the Adriatic Sea. These days she lives in the Toronto suburbs, but when she was young, her grandmother’s house in the city was like an extension of Fossacesia. Dibiase was immersed in her grandmother’s dialect. “There is a saying for everything,” she says. “It’s so amusing. It’s such a lively language.”

Her grandmother died years ago, and Dibiase has seen the dialect fade, not only among her generation in Canada but in Italy as well. So when ELAT, looking for speakers of another Italian dialect, contacted her, Dibiase offered to introduce the group to her dad. At 85 years old, Giovanni Dibiase speaks Italian, English, and Fossacesiana, but likes to joke that he doesn’t really speak anything at all. When he sat down for his own video interview, he often slipped back into standard Italian.

“I’d have to remind him through the taping, ‘Dad, your dialect! Dad, your dialect!” Gianna says. They got through it eventually. Riehl believes there are probably many families like the Dibiases. “There are dozens and dozens of languages of Italy spoken in Toronto,” she says. “There’s a lot of concern that most of those are endangered.” And those are just the languages of one country, in one city. In a place as large and linguistically diverse as Toronto, ELAT doesn’t currently have the resources to cover more than a few neighborhoods, let alone branch out far beyond that. But the resources it’s developing can be applied elsewhere, and plenty of other organizations are finding ways to tackle the challenge of documenting languages before they disappear.

While Riehl officially launched ELAT four years ago, the concept came to her while working in Indonesia alongside New York linguist Dan Kaufman. Kaufman started the Endangered Language Alliance of New York City in 2010, and his group has documented speakers of an additional 50 endangered languages using methods similar to those of ELAT. “The reason languages are lost is that people internalize the language ideologies that the linguistically dominant group has toward the minority or non-socially dominant groups.” Anderson’s Living Tongues Institute, on the other hand, creates online “talking dictionaries” of endangered languages from a number of countries, including Papua New Guinea and Guatemala. The Catalogue of Endangered Languages initiated by Google in 2012 includes multimedia entries in over 3,000 languages. It is now managed by several organizations, including the University of Hawaii–Manoa and Eastern Michigan University.

Around the world, languages are also being re-claimed by the communities themselves, from grassroots attempts to resurrect indigenous languages like Miami-Illinois and Wôpanâak in the United States to national efforts to revive languages like Irish and Welsh. And the Internet is presenting new opportunities for individuals interested in this work. Eddie Avila works with Global Voices, a non-governmental organization focused on citizen media, as the director of its Rising Voices program. “The Internet,” Avila says, “has historically been dominated by a few languages, but more and more we’re seeing a more multilingual Internet. People are tweeting, they’re making videos, they’re recording audio podcasts, they are contributing to Wikipedia in their languages.” Avila, who is based in in Cochabamba, Bolivia, says social media has enabled often underrepresented people around his home?—?like Aymara youth in the city of El Alto?—?to not only communicate with one another online, but to speak their language to the rest of the world.

“I think it’s important to engage young people to make it seem a little more cool to speak a language,” Avila says. “Sometimes the message is these indigenous languages are languages of the past, and only used to talk about culture or folklore. But I think more and more people are using it to talk about football or about movies or politics, so the message is it’s also a language of the present and of the future.” Each year on February 21st, International Mother Language Day, Rising Voices and other organizations working with endangered languages encourage Twitter users from around the world to tweet something in their mother tongue.

“They don’t know who’s going to read it, who’s going to receive it,” Avila says, “but I think it’s very empowering for them to send that message.” In the end, though, those tweets, videos, and other documents may be all that remains. Despite the work by volunteers and language communities around the globe, many of the world’s most endangered languages will lose their native speakers. “We’re getting a snapshot,” Riehl says. “Maybe they could be a postcard in 200 years when people are looking back.” And looking over the ELAT’s videos today, Dibiase says she recognizes another value. “I see the beauty,” she says. “There is so much history in what they’re saying. There’s something there.”

- psmag.com/, September 14, 2016

Tightens laws around the fort, Ranganathaswamy and Someshwara temples The picturesque, historical town and erstwhile capital of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda — Magadi, which is not very far from the state capital — has set an example for Bengaluru to follow. In the latest Masterplan 2031 finalised for Magadi Local Planning Area, a heritage zone has been identified around three listed monuments and guidelines for special development control area have been issued.

The department of archaeology, museums and heritage has declared three monuments in Magadi as protected monuments -- the historical fort, Ranganathaswamy temple and Someshwara temple. These three monuments have been included in the Masterplan 2031 prepared by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority and approved by the state government. Under the "Areas of Special Control," the planning authorities have listed these archaeological/historical precincts and marked them as special development control area.

"Any heritage structures, precincts of historic, aesthetic, architectural, cultural or environmental significance and natural features, sites of scenic beauty, the authority may demarcate special control areas for regulation of development around these areas. This, to preserve the importance of the concerned heritage structure, to control the surroundings so that they do not mar the beauty or view of the heritage structure,'' says the master plan, adding that a special heritage committee may be constituted with prior government approval to examine proposals of development, in the various regulated areas.

Magadi, situated around 35 km off Bengaluru, has a lot of historical relevance. It dates back to 1638, when Kempegowda, a chieftain of Yelahanka (now a part of the city), moved to Magadi and made it his headquarters. For nearly 90 years, Kempegowda and his successors ruled the region where Kempegowda II built a fort and the stone fortress of Savanadurga. While the original Magadi fort was made of mud, it was upgraded to a stone fort in 1791 by Tipu Sultan. Kempegowda's clan also constructed the Rameshwara temple. The town also boasts of Someshwara and Ranganatha temples, which are several centuries old.

"The historical monuments in any city reflect its past glory. While permitting developments around historical monuments, care has to be taken to see that their aesthetic environs are not affected. It is necessary to declare the areas surrounding these monuments as zones of special control and impose the special regulations around these monuments,'' says the Magadi Masterplan 2031.

THE DEVELOPMENT LAWS No permission for any development around notified historical monument, shall be accorded unless NoC is received from the Archeological Survey of India and state archeology department. Buildings upto first floor or upto a height of seven meter from ground level, whichever is less is permissible within 100 metre distance from the monument premises Buildings upto second floor or upto a height of 10.5 metre from ground level, are permissible between 100 metre and 200 metre distance from the monument premises. Buildings upto three floors or height of 14 metres from ground, permissible between 200 and 400 metre distance from the monument. In any case , no building shall be permitted within 400 metre above the height of the declared monument.

- http://www.bangaloremirror.com/, September 15, 2016

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has organized a free health camp at Godadaraurban health centre on September 17. Specialist doctors from SMIMER hospital will check patients suffering from eye, skin, children and women's aliments and give them treatment in the camp. Wherever required the patients would be referred to SMIMER or Maskati hospital of the city run by SMC.

Workshop on construction waste A workshop has been organized by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for the members of builders association, architect association and contractors association for making them aware on Construction And Demolition Waste 2016, Mission. This will be held at performing arts centre, Adajan, on September 17, under Swachha Bharat Mission. Known experts on the subject would give information on the subject and new law regarding it to the industry members.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 15, 2016

South Mumbai’s iconic landmark Flora Fountain is finally up for a revamp. After a year’s delay, the civic body has started the much-awaited restoration work, which will be done in two phases. The first phase includes checking and correcting plumbing issues and redoing water engineering, while in the second, the sculpture’s conservation and beautification will be done. Work on the heritage monument located in Fort area’s Hutatma Chowk kicked off last week and will take six months to complete. The BMC has appointed the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for it and is going to spend Rs 2.34 crore on it.

The Grade-I heritage structure was built in 1864 to depict the Roman god Flora. The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) had approved the restoration plan in 2013 and work was supposed to start last October. However, the lack of an expert agency delayed it for a year. Work on a war footing Assistant Municipal Commissioner of A ward (CST, Colaba) Kiran Dighavkar said, “We will try to restore the old beauty of the structure. We have already begun the work and should be able to finish it within six months.” “The fountain was not operational and in a dilapidated condition for years,” said a senior civic official.

The proposal for restoring the fountain was passed this March during a civic standing committee meeting. The BMC has appointed M/s Vikas Dilawari as consultant for the project after approving its plan in 2011. The MHCC too has given its nod for the project.

Expert speak Speaking to mid-day, architect and heritage conservationist Dilawari said, “We will try to restore the fountain’s water system, and cleaning will be done in a scientific manner. In the next phase, we will start improving the structure’s surroundings by developing a landscape.”

“The fountain was constructed in memory of then governor Sir Henry Bartle Frere, as he had contributed towards making Mumbai a beautiful city. It was meant to be placed in a botanical garden as it has four women and Flora on the top to depict an agricultural theme. It is also known as Frere Fountain but popularly called Flora Fountain,” he added. According to civic officials, the restoration would also require Portland stone from which the fountain is constructed.

- http://www.mid-day.com/, September 15, 2016

With the 10-day Ganesh festival ending Thursday on Anant Chaturdashi, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), with help of various social organizations and school and college students, has made elaborate eco-friendly arrangements to bid adieu to the elephant-headed god. Thousands of household idols and 11,163 big idols from Ganesh mandals are expected to be immersed at Telangkhedi, Gandhisagar, Naik Talao, Bhole Nagar, Kalamna and Sakkardara lakes, and 148 artificial tanks installed across 72 prabhags in the city and adjoining areas of Kamptee, Hingna and MIDC police jurisdictions.

"NMC's health department has erected 125 artificial tanks this year in addition to concrete tanks. Corporators too contributed funds from their discretionary funds to create artificial tanks, which were placed in prabhag areas, and the number of artificial tanks increased to 148," said mayor Pravin Datke. NMC health officer (sanitation) Dr Pradip Dasarwar said huge pots for collection of nirmalya and other items have also been provided at immersion spots. This year too, NMC has constructed an artificial tank at Ambazari Lake by blocking flowing water from all sides.

Datke and municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar convened a review meeting and also visited most water bodies. They appealed to devotees, especially household ones, to immerse idols in artificial tanks installed in their wards. "Apart from helping the civic body save natural water bodies, the move will help avoid traffic congestions on roads to lakes," said Datke. Over 800 volunteers from eight non-government organizations like Rotary Club of Nagpur, Green Vigil, Vruksha Samwardhan Samiti, Green Earth, hundreds of students and NMC employees will be deputed at immersion points. Many citizens group too have expressed their wish to participate in the immersion. They would convince devotees to immerse PoP idols in artificial tanks and not throw 'nirmalaya' in lakes.

As many as 50 Green Vigil volunteers are already convincing devotees to go in for eco-friendly immersions at artificial tanks installed at Vayusena Nagar side of the Telangkhedi Lake. Rotary Club of Nagpur will play its part through its novel project 'Bappa ke Doot'. Members will urge devotees to put nirmalya in collection bags available at Rotary booths. Kanak Resources Management Limited, the firm entrusted with lifting garbage, has also agreed to deploy its vehicles and employees for cleanup activities across water bodies and places where artificial tanks will be installed. Dr Dasarwar told TOI NMC will later immerse idols at abandoned quarries on Wadi, Amravati and Pachgaon roads. Last year, PoP idols were marked with a red dot, but NMC has not ensured implementation of this rule this year.

BOX Devotees appreciate NMC efforts Pranita Ramteke and Sunita Yelne from Republic Nagar in Indora area, who were at Futala Lake for immersion of idols, appreciated NMC for taking efforts to prevent the water body from getting polluted by installing artificial tanks. They also met Datke and thanked him for keeping the city lakes free of pollution. 55 swimmers to prevent untoward incidents To prevent drowning cases during Ganesh immersions, fire and emergency services department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation has decided to deploy 55 expert divers at the city lakes where immersion of idols would take place. Besides firemen, experts in swimming from Revan and Dolfin clubs would also be deployed at the lakes, said chief fire officer Rajendra Uchake. He said trained swimmers would be present at all six lakes — Sonegaon, Telangkhedi, Naik Talao, Gandhisagar, Sanjay Gandhi, and Kalamna Lake — where immersions take place.

Besides swimmers, the fire department would also make arrangements for rubber boats with lifeguards at these lakes. "We want to ensure that all the devotees return home safely," said Uchake. Besides, the fire department would also deploy fire tenders at each spot, he added. He said senior fire officials from all fire stations would be on duty to avoid any untoward incident.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 15, 2016

Thousands of fishes have been found dead in the 25 km stretch between Jatadhari river mouth and Siali beach in Jagatsinghpur district. Even as fishes are lying dead for the last five days along the Paradip, Erasama, Balikuda coasts, the authorities concerned are yet to take any action. The fish varieties are Kantia, Borei, Khanga and Pomfret, weighing between five to 10 kgs. President of Jagatsinghpur Fishermen Association, Jeevanlal Behera said if fish deaths continue, the daily catch of local fishermen will be affected.

He sought a high-level probe to inquire into the case. nvironmentalists said climate change and rise in temperature could be the reasons behind fish deaths. Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine), Biraja Mohapatra said intervention f the Odisha State Pollution Control Board has been sought. A similar problem was witnessed earlier this year in Paradip when dead fishes were found floating in river Balijhara in Paradip.

Thousands of dead fishes were found floating in river Kaudia after miscreants drilled a hole in an IOCL pipeline at Kaudia riverbed to steal fuel. Earlier, fishermen had alleged that oil spill from IOCL pipeline and discharge of effluents by other industries has led to heavy pollution of the water bodies. Pollution leads to shortage of oxygen in the water bodies, killing fishes, prawns and crabs. Officials of Odisha State Pollution Control Board had also ascertained that drop in the oxygen level in water bodies has led to death of fishes like Rohu, Mrigal and Catla.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 15, 2016

City-based Ramsons Kala Pratishtana launched its 12th edition of dolls exhibition - 'Bombe Mane' as part of Dasara festival, on Wednesday. Bombe Mane, an expo of dolls, commenced in 2005. It will feature more than 3,000 dolls from different parts of the country including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. From the last 11 years, Ramsons have been displaying dolls on various themes.

For the first time, different breeds of cows like Hallikars, Deoni, Malenadagidda, Raati, Dangi, Jawari, Lalkandhari, Nagori, Amrit Mahal, Kerighar and Kangyam will be exhibited. Mysuru Royal Wedding photos, a collection of rare photographs, will be displayed as part of the expo, which will conclude on October 31.

Dolls of gods, goddesses, saints, seers and dolls of Mythology characters will be on display. All the dolls are made of clay, terracotta and paper. Ramsons aims to create awareness on the conservation of heritage heirloom. This year's special will be the display of dolls Carnatic music proponents Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa and M S Subbulakshmi.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 15, 2016

Performance of “Kuchipudi” and “Bharatanatyam” dances and Qawali, sufi traditional music were organised as a part of cultural programmes for the delegates of the BRICS Summit at Hotel Novotel on Wednesday. Chief Minister N. Chandrababau Naidu watched the performances and had dinner with delegates. Deepika Reddy and others performed Kuchipudi and Anand Shanka Dayal and his troupe presented Bharatanatyam. Both troupes presented a jugalbandi of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam.

Visit to heritage centre Members of the Russian and the Chinese delegations participating in BRICS Urbanisation summit visited Telugu Heritage Centre atop Kailasagiri. The delegation also visited the Kusura Submarine Museum on the Beach Road. Executive Chairman of The Global Education and Leadership Foundation, India, Shiv Vikram Khemka, Visakhapatnam District Tourism Information Officer Gnanaveni and volunteers of Yes We Can Organization accompanied the delegation.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 15, 2016

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary presents Environmental Gardening at 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Sessions will be held on Thursdays, Sept. 22, through Oct. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. The five-session gardening course will provide attendees the necessary tools to enrich a garden or landscape with organic principles and indigenous plants. Enrollment costs $135 for Ipswich River Sanctuary members and $162 for nonmembers. Registration is required at 978-887-9264 or www.massaudubon.org/ipswichriver. “Discovering Nature Through Story, Music and Art,” a three-part family-oriented nature program, will be held on Thursdays, Sept. 22, through Oct. 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Explore the sights, sounds, and scents of autumn. The program is recommended for children ages 4 to 6 and their caregivers. Enrollment for Mass Adubon members costs $38 per adult/child pair; nonmembers pay $45 per pair. Registration is required at 978-887-9264 orwww.massaudubon.org/ipswichriver.

Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church’s Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 323 Locust St., Danvers. The festival’s craft boutique will feature more than 20 regional artisans. Children’s craft projects and face-painting will be featured at The Crafty Kids’ Corner. Food will be available to purchase at the bake shop and cafe. Rummage sales and a 50/50 raffle will also be held. For more information, call 978-774-7582 or visit www.nsuu.org.

The Boston Artists Ensemble’s latest performance, “Beginnings,” will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut St., Salem. Songs will be performed by violinist Sharan Leventhal, cellist Jonathan Miller, and pianist Randall Hodgkinson. The program features the world premiere of “Three Chorales,” a composition for cello and piano by Judith Weir, along with pieces by Beethoven and Shuman. The venue is not handicapped-accessible. Tickets are $30 per person and available at the door or www.bostonartistsensemble.org.

The American Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better” will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Lahey Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody. The program features hands-on cosmetic techniques for cancer patients with appearance-related chemotherapy/radiation treatment side effects, including wig care, scarf and hat use, skin care, and nail care. Register by calling 800-227-2345.

The St. Vasilios 2016 Greek Festival will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, from 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 5, from noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 6, from noon to 5 p.m., at 5 Paleologos St., Peabody. Each day, the event will feature homemade Greek food and pastries, boutiques, children’s activities, religious items, and a country store. Cash prizes, vacations to Yarmouth, and Bruins tickets will be raffled off. A DJ will be playing music on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and a live band will perform on Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public; a $2 cover charge will be instated on Saturday after 7 p.m. For more information, call 978-531-0777 or visit www.stvasilios.org. Brooksby Farms of Peabody will serve as the premiere sponsor for the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern Massachusetts Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Andover. The event, held on Sunday, Sept. 18, hopes to raise over $480,000 for Alzheimer’s research. To donate to the Brooksby Village team, visitwww.act.alz.org/goto/brooksbyvillage.

Appleton Farms’ annual Family Farm Day will be held rain or shine on Sunday, Sept., 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 219 County Road, Ipswich. Activities include tractor rides, beekeeping demonstrations, pony rides, and farm animal petting. Games and contests include potato-spoon relay races, hay obstacles courses, and tug-of-war. Face-painting, farm tattoos, crafts, and pumpkin painting are also featured. Live music will be provided by Ben Rudnick and Friends. Food will be available from local vendors for additional fees, including burgers, seafood, pizza, ice cream, pastries, coffee, cider donuts, popcorn, cheese samples, apple cider, and lemonade. Tickets are $30 per car for Trustees of the Reservation members and $24 for nonmembers. Parking is free. For more information call 978-356-5728, ext. 4118 orwww.thetrustees.org/appleton.

The town of Danvers will host a dedication ceremony for the recently-opened Brad Purcell Skate Park on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m., at Plains Park, 55 Conant St., Danvers. Bradford Purcell was a former resident of Danvers and skateboard enthusiast who succumbed to esophageal cancer. He was instrumental in advocating and designing the skate park. For more information, call the Danvers Recreation Department at 978-777-0001. Essex National Heritage Commission will host its annual fall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Lynn Museum, 590 Washington Street, Lynn. RSVP at 978-740-0444 or www.essexheritage.org.

Family Promise’s Walk to End Homelessness will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 to 11 a.m., at Lynch Park, 55 Ober St., Beverly. The 3-mile walk begins and ends at Lynch Park with a turn-around point at Cabot Street. Proceeds from the event will support homeless families on the North Shore. Register atwww.familypromisensb.org. The town of Ipswich is encouraging residents to share their water saving-tips through a new “Community Voice” survey at www.ipswichma.gov. The survey aims to spread ideas, suggestions, or practices for reducing water consumption during the critical water shortage.

Essex Heritage will be hosting guided boat tours to Bakers Island Light Station every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 2, and 4 p.m. The tour boat, “Naumkeag” departs from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney St. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for children ages 4 to 16. Discounts are available for Essex Heritage members. Register at www.tinyurl.com/BakersIslandTour. For more information, call 978-224-2036. The Salem Art Space Initiative and CDP Productions present the Derby Square Flea/Salvage/Art Market every third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., though Sept. 17. The market will feature vintage and up-cycled furniture, fashion, collectibles, antiques, architectural salvage, jewelry, art and handmade goods by local and regional artisans. For more information, contact Deborah Greel at [email protected].

The Peabody Institute Library now has disc golf kits available for patrons to borrow. Each kit includes a putter, mid-range and driver disc. Directions to Peabody’s Scouting Woods Disc Golf Course and a course map are also included, along with a list detailing the game’s basic rules. To borrow a kit, visit any of the three Peabody Libraries: Main Library, 82 Main St., 978-531-0100; South Branch, 78 Lynn St., 978-531-3380; West Branch, 603 Lowell St., 978-535-3354. Free meals for Salem children 18 and under are being served through the city of Salem’s summer meals program at Tabernacle Church, 50 Washington St. in Salem, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The meals are offered on a first come, first served basis.

A 60th class reunion for the Danvers High School Holten High Class of 1956 will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, with an afternoon dinner at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, and on Sunday, Sept. 25, with a brunch at the Polish Club in Danvers. For more information call Sally Saplin at 978-777-5074. The Marblehead High School 50th Reunion committee is seeking students of the Class of 1966. Students are to email [email protected]. The reunion will be held on Friday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 18.

Salem residents can enjoy free rides on the Salem Trolley through Friday, Sept. 30. Receive a resident trolley ticket by providing proof of residency at the Salem Trolley Office, 8 Central St. The trolley will run seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seating is on a space-available basis. A map of the trolley’s route is available at www.salemtrolley.com/map-of-tour-3.html. The Salem Farmers Market will be open every Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m., through Oct. 13, at Derby Square on Front Street. More than 30 vendors will be selling produce, seafood, baked goods and meat. Live music and representation from different community groups will be featured each week. EBT cards are accepted. For more information, visit www.salemfarmersmarket.org.

Tim Doggett and previous members of Salem Boy Scouts Troop Four, circa 1954-60, plan to host a reunion. All previous members of Troop Four are asked to email Doggett at [email protected]. The Peabody Essex Museum will host an outdoor yoga class every Monday, through Oct. 1, at 4:30 p.m. at the Ropes Mansion’s side lawn, 318 Essex St., Salem, Classes are an hour long and weather-dependent. Participants are required to bring their own mat. Admission costs $13; cash or checks are accepted. For more information, call 866-745-1876 or visit www.pem.org. Endicott College announces “Breaking Ground,” an art exhibit presented by the National Association of Women Artists Inc., Massachusetts Chapter, on view through Friday, Sept. 16, at the Manninen Center, 376 Hale St., Beverly. The exhibit explores what it means to be a female artist in the 21st Century. It features 55 works by 46 artists. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday. 9 a.m. to noon. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, call 978-232-2655 or visitwww.endicott.edu/centerforthearts.

Masconomet Regional High School Class of 1976 will celebrate its 40th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 22., from 5 to 10 p.m., at the Gould Barn, 1 Howlett St., Topsfield. Details are forthcoming. Class members are asked to email Claudia Mott at [email protected].

Students enrolled in the Masconomet Regional School District are required to submit their most recent medical information before returning in the fall. For new students, this includes records previously submitted to their former school, including immunizations and documentation on Turberculosis Risk Assessment and physical examinations within the past year. Students interested in playing fall sports must have a physical examination within 13 months prior to try-outs, and the documentation must be submitted to the school at least 24 hours prior to try-outs. All medications must be secured in their pharmaceutical or manufacturer-labeled container, have their appropriate forms filed out, and delivered to the school nurse by a parent or guardian. Forms are available on each school’s website. For more information, call the nursing department at 978-887-2323 (ext. 6116 for the high school; ext. 6125 for the middle school) or visit www.masconomet.org.

The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers is currently hosting “Celebrating the Art of Sculpture 2016” through Thursday, Oct. 13, at 15 Sylvan St. The art exhibit, curated by Michael Guadango, sculptor and president of the Barn Workshop Gallery, features 20 sculptures by 14 artists. For more information, call 978-774-0554 or email [email protected]. The city of Salem now has an online Visual Budget available for the public to view. The graphic tool displays investments being made in Salem, by area and department, from fiscal 2012 to 2017. Viewers can enter their annual property tax amount and see which departments their taxes are funding, including schools, police, and fire safety. The Visual Budget is available at www.salem.com/fy17.

The town of Ipswich is instituting a new policy of apportioning residents’ total estimated tax. The apportion will last over four billing quarters and aims to level real estate and personal property taxes. The preliminary second quarterly are due on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The actual tax bills, due next Feb. 1 and May 1, will still vary from the first two bills, due to the changes in the tax rate and assessed value, but this method of apportioning the total bill will help lessen the impact of the changes. For more information, email Ipswich Chief Assessor Robin Nolan at [email protected] or visitwww.ipswichma.gov/173/assessors-office. The city of Salem has increased the fine for parking illegally in a marked handicapped space to $300. This amount is the maximum level allowable under state law. Fines collected for this violation are reinvested in accessibility projects and programs.

“TradeWind,” a public art installation by the New York-based art team op.AL, is currently on view through September at Derby Square in Salem. For more information, visit www.salem.com/public-art-commission. The city of Salem and SalemRecycles will install 50 new, large-capacity cigarette “butt bins” around downtown and other high-volume areas. Cigarette butts will be collected through the Cigarette Waste Brigade. For every pound of cigarette waste collected, $2 will be donated to Salem Main Streets. The program is free to residents. Volunteer opportunities are available at North Shore Elder Services. Services include socializing with seniors and assisting with monthly budgeting. Applications are available at www.nselder.org. For more information, contact Amy Bens at [email protected] or 978-624-2288.

The Boston Artists Ensemble will open its 2016-2017 season with “Three Chorales,” a composition by Judith Weir, on Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m., at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut St., Salem. The piece consists of three movements that draws upon images from religious poetry. It will be performed by cellist Jonathan Miller and pianist Randall Hodgkinson. Tickets are $25 per person and available atwww.bostonartistsensemble.org. For more information, call 617-964-6553. The Danvers High School Class of 1986 will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Friday, Nov. 25, from 6:30 to 11 p.m., at Angelica’s Restaurant, 49 South Main St., Middleton. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, cash bar and a DJ. Tickets are $50 per person and available atwww.facebook.com/groups/40182367756. Checks (no cash) can also be mailed to Chris Connelly at 222 Washington Road, Barrington, RI 02806.

Connors Farm’s annual corn maze will be open through Monday, Oct. 31, at 30 Valley Road, Danvers. This year’s theme is Charlie Brown and the Peanuts. The maze will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend tickets cost $14 for general admission and $13 for seniors over 65 years old; weekday tickets cost $10 for general admission and $9 for seniors. Children under 2 years old are admitted free. For more information, visit www.connorsfarm.com/corn-maze. The Swampscott Arts Association will host its Autumn Group Show through Friday, Sept. 30, at the Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant St., Marblehead. The exhibit will feature paintings and photography by members of the association. For more information, call 781-631-1481 or visit www.abbotlibrary.org.

The Marblehead Arts Association Summer Solo Exhibits will be held through Sunday, Sept. 25, at 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. The exhibits are: “POP Expressionism: Dancing Clowns” by Richard Grote, acrylic and oil paintings, and pencil drawings; “Americana” by Karen Hosking, photography; “A Fashion Statement” by Susan Hurst, mixed media fashion illustrations; “The Maine Attraction” by Paul McMahan, watercolor and oil painting; “Catching the Wave” by Mary Taddie, ceramic tile, marble and Italian smalti; and “Over Time” by Polly Maxon Tritschler, oil and acrylic painting. Each artist will also offer free programming to accompany their exhibits on select days. For more information, including a schedule of artist programming, call 781-631-2608 or visit www.marbleheadarts.org.

A photography exhibit by members of the North Shore Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Cloister Gallery at St. Andrew’s Church, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead. The photographers featured are Steve Harrington, nAGLY executive director; Corey Robichaud, nAGLY IT coordinator and former youth member; and Dan Gamez, current nAGLY youth member. Gallery hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. The gallery is handicapped-accessible. For more information, call 781-631-4951 or visit www/standrewsmhd.org/cloistergallery.html.

Liberty Tree Mall will host the annual car show, “Cruisin’ the Tree,” every Wednesday, weather permitting, through Oct. 26, at 4:30 p.m., at the Marshalls back parking lot, 100 Independence Way, Danvers. Muscle cars, antiques, hot rods, and customs will be on display. The event also includes door prizes, vendors, ice cream, food, and a DJ. Donations to the Danvers Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program will be collected. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cruisinthetree. “Chroma,” an art exhibit held at Montserrat College of Art, will be on view through Sunday, Sept. 25, in room H201, 23 Essex St., Beverly. The group exhibition features work of more than 40 regional artists. For more information, visit www.montserrat.edu.

The House of the Seven Gables will participate in “17th Century Saturdays,” presented by the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Institutions participating in the program will provide an in-depth look at life during Essex County’s first period of European settlement. “17th Century Saturdays” at the Gables will be held on the first Saturday of each month, through Oct. 1, at 115 Derby St., Salem. Guided tours of The Gables and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthplace will be available, and the Living History Lab will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free for Gables members and Salem residents. General admission fees apply to the public. For more information, email [email protected], call 978-744-0991, ext. 104, or visit www.7gables.org.

“Euphonia,” a fundraiser event featuring music, art and dance, will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, at 9 p.m., at Koto Grill, 90 Washington St., Salem. Shir David, Briana Paquin and Qwill will perform live music, and belly dancer Eva J. will present an American Tribal-style dance performance. The event also features live painting demonstrations, raffles and henna tattoos by Khushboo. Proceeds will benefit the Global Music Project. “Euphonia” is for ages 21 and up. Tickets are $10 per person and available atwww.tinyurl.com/EuphoniaSalem.

SeniorCare is seeking volunteer drivers for its “Meals on Wheels” program, where noon-time meals are delivered to home-bound North Shore seniors. For information, contact SeniorCare’s Nutrition Department at 866-927-1050 or 978 281-1750, or visit www.seniorcareinc.org. The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library will host a book sale on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 to 3 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 19, and Thursday Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 14 Union St., Hamilton. Thursday will feature a “fill-a-bag” sale. A preview night exclusively for Friends of Hamilton-Wenham Public Library members will held be on Friday, Sept. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Volunteers are needed; those interested can contact Beth Myers at [email protected] or 978-468-2922. For more information, call 978-468-5577 or visit www.hwlibrary.org. Beginner Chinese language courses will be held on Wednesdays, from Sept. 28 through Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m., at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St., Hamilton. Gordon-Conwell student Lucy Han will teach attendees the basics of Chinese language and culture. The course is free and open to ages 16 and up. For more information, call 978-468-5577 or visit www.hwlibrary.org.

The Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce’s annual fall fundraising event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., at DoubleTree North Shore, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers. This year’s theme is “Tuscan Nights.” The event will feature dinner, a cash bar, prizes, and a silent auction. Attendees can also purchase game tickets. Select game ticket holders will win a cash prize of $10,000 to share. Dinner tickets, which include a drink ticket to the bar, are $50 per person, and game tickets are $125. Purchase both for $175. Tickets are available at www.tinyurl.com/GBCCTuscan2016.

Care Dimensions will host an eight-week training program for direct patient service volunteers from Friday, Sept. 16, through Friday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers. Other volunteer jobs are also available. For more information or to register for training, contact Fran Clements at 978-750-9349 or [email protected].

The Manchester Singers will hold rehearsals to prepare for its holiday concert every Monday at 7:30 p.m., at the Congregational Chapel, 1 Chapel Lane, Manchester. The community chorus consists of 45 men and women singers from Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Essex, Gloucester, Wenham and Manchester. The chorus performs several concerts annually throughout the North Shore area under the direction of Fred Broer. New members are welcome to join. For more information, call 978-283-9021, [email protected], or visit www.manchestersingers.org.

The city of Salem will present its proposed revisions to FEMA’s 2014 update of Essex County’s flood insurance rate maps on Monday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall’s third floor conference room, 120 Washington St. Salem officials hope to bring some relief to homeowners who are paying higher premiums on flood insurance in the wake of FEMA’s update. Proposed map changes include removing properties from the flood zone, reductions in base-flood elevation, and changes to flood zone designations. For more information, visit www.salem.com/conservation-commission/pages/proposed-flood-map-revisions.

Care Dimensions is seeking nominations for its annual We Honor Veterans recognition series held in November. The public is encouraged to nominate a person or persons who have shown commitment to improving the lives of veterans. All nominations must include a letter, 300 words or less, explaining why they deserve recognition. Submit nominations by Friday, Sept. 16, to Sheryl Meehan [email protected] or mail to Care Dimensions, We Honor Veterans Award, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For more information visit www.caredimensions.org/veterans.

The Peabody Essex Museum presents “Shoes: Pleasure and Pain,” an exhibition that explores the creativity of footwear from around the globe, from Saturday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, March 12, at 161 Essex St., Salem. The exhibit features more than 300 pairs of shoes, including ancient Egyptian sandals, 16th-century footwear, celebrity and designer collections, and futuristic shoes created on a 3-D printer. Museum admission costs $20 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students, and free for PEM members, ages 16 and under, and residents of Salem. For more information, call 866-745-1876 or visitwww.pem.org.

The 11th annual Art by the Sea benefit will be held on Sunday, Sept. 18, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club on Quay Road. More than 50 regional artists, jewelry makers, and artisans will be selling their work. “Sea Turtle,” a 12-by-20-inch carved-slate varnished shingle art piece created by North Shore artist Michael Updike, will be raffled off. A cash bar will also be available. Proceeds will support scholarship funds at Ipswich Bay Yacht Club and the Association of Great Neck. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 978-356-2502 or visit www.ibyc.org.

SalemRecycles is seeking volunteers for their book swap event on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Salem Council on Aging, 5 Broad St. Volunteers are needed for two shifts: 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patrons are welcome to donate books, CDs, DVDs, VCR tapes, and greeting cards to the swap on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9:45 a.m. to noon, at the Council on Aging. For more information, call 978-619-5679 or visitwww.salem.com/recycling.

Montserrat College of Art presents “MashUp: Objects in Dialogue,” on view through Saturday, Sept. 24, at the 301 Gallery, 301 Cabot St., Beverly. The group exhibition features contemporary porcelain works by artists Liz Alexander, Molly Hatch, and Christina Pitsch. Molly Hatch will deliver an artist talk on Friday, Sept. 16, at 11:30 a.m., in Room H201 at the Hardie Building, 23 Essex St., Beverly. Both programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.montserrat.edu/galleries.

The 29th annual Walk for Hospice will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2, at St. John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m., rain or shine. Proceeds from the event will benefit Care Dimensions, a hospice and palliative organization located in Danvers. All ages are welcome to participate and form walking teams. To establish a team or obtain a sponsor form, call the Walk Office at 978-223-9787 or visit www.caredimensions.org/walk.

Beverly Main Streets’ downtown block party, “The Block,” will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Cabot Street, between Pond and Federal streets. Food, beer and wine from local restaurants will be available to purchase. Live music will be performed all night. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 per person, cash only. Pets, bikes, skateboards, roller skates and hoverboards are not allowed. For more information, call 978-922-8558 or visit www.beverlymainstreets.org.

North Shore choral group The Chorus Singers will host a series of open rehearsals for their 37th season on Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greater Lynn, 101 Forest Ave., Swampscott. Prospective members can meet the director, William Sano, and try out the music. Auditions are not required. All are welcome. The church is handicapped-accessible. For more information, call Margaret Oleson at 781-639-4558 or visit www.concertsingersofgreaterlynn.org. The Salem Arts Association will present its annual art show, inspired by an exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, through Friday, Sept. 30, at the Salem Arts Center, 179 Essex St. This year’s offering is “Impressions of Salem,” a reflection of PEM’s “American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isle of Shoals.” It is juried by Austen Bailly, the George Putnam Curator of American Art at the Peabody Essex Museum. For more information, visit www.salemartsassociation.org.

The Peabody Institute Library’s main branch will change its Sunday hours to 1 to 5 p.m. through Memorial Day weekend. The library is located at 82 Main St. in Peabody. For more information, call 978-531-0100 or visit www.peabodylibrary.org. The Wenham Museum’s Attic Treasures Sale will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items include linens, jewelry, china, glass, silver, antiques, vintage clothing, furnishings and fine art. For more information, call Cheryl Emmons at 978-853-0711.

The Danvers Cultural Council is accepting applications for the 2017 grant funding schedule. Any individual, group, or organization interested in providing events or projects in the arts, humanities or interpretive sciences to enrich the cultural vitality of the town may apply for a grant. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, Oct. 17. The Danvers Cultural Council will announce the recipients on Monday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Danvers Council on Aging, 225 Stone St. Online applications are available at www.mass-culture.org.

The Me&Thee Coffeehouse presents contemporary folk duo Susie Burke and David Surette and traditional folk trio Lula Wiles on Friday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St. Burke and Surette are based in New Hampshire and have been performing together since 1988. Lula Wiles recently formed at Berklee School of Music and have since toured across New England. Tickets are $16 in advance and $19 at the door. Purchase them at Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or Arnould Gallery in Marblehead, or online at www.meandthee.org.

Beverly Bootstraps is looking for volunteer tutors for their after-school homework clubs, which provide mentoring and educational support to children in Beverly who are at risk for academic failure. Volunteers need to be graduated or enrolled in college, or a high school senior with good grades and recommendations. For more information, call Leslie Colten at 978-927-1561, ext. 119 or [email protected]. Marblehead Arts Association will host a still-life painting workshop on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. Artist Nadine Geller will teach attendees how to create true representations of life through balanced designs and nuanced colors. The class is $75 for MAA members and $90 for nonmembers. Register by Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 781-631-2608 or [email protected]. The Brush Strokes Group has reunited for an art exhibit at the Gallery at Grosvenor Park, located inside Grosvenor Park Health Center at Vinnin Square, 7 Loring Hills Ave., Salem. The art collective will showcase paintings in several mediums and genres, realistic and futuristic photography, and mosaic tile compositions through Thursday, Sept. 29. The gallery is open on weekdays from 9 to 7 p.m. and weekends from 10 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 978-741-5700.

Boxford Town Library, Flint Public Library of Middleton, and Topsfield Town Library will participate in the Tri-Town Community Read series. Free activities and events based on the book “Life is Good” by the Bert and John Jacobs will be held at each library until June. For more information, visit www.flintlibrary.org,www.boxfordlibrary.org, or www.topsfieldtownlibrary.org. The Kiwanis Club of Danvers’s annual Rubber Duck Race will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Pope’s Landing, 10 Harbor St., Danvers. Hundreds of rubber ducks will race along Porter River, and the first one to float across the finish line wins. Owners of winning ducks will receive a cash prize; first place earns $1,000, second earns $300, and third earns $200. The event starts rain or shine at 1 p.m., and the race begins at 1:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit college scholarships for Danvers students. Adopt a duck atwww.danverskiwanis.org ($5 for one duck, $25 for six, and $50 for 13). Donations are also accepted through mail at Danvers Kiwanis Club c/o Kay Maurice, 44 Locust St., Danvers, MA 01923.

The Beverly Recreation Department is offering two 10-week sessions of painting classes with local artist Natalie Bacheller at the Church in the Cove, 167 Hale St., Beverly. Oil painting classes will be held on Mondays, beginning Sept. 19, and watercolor classes will be held on Thursdays, beginning Sept. 22. Both classes will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $150 for Beverly seniors and $165 for the general public. Register at 978-921-6067 or www.bevrec.com.

The Salem Moose Family Center will host its seventh annual Holly Fair on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 9 to 2 p.m. The craft fair will feature raffles at 1:30 p.m. and refreshments. Local artisans may reserve a 6-foot table to display their work for $25 each. To make a reservation, call Dawn Boltas at 978-601-3934 before Sunday, Oct. 23. Danvers High School Academy Theatre’s annual autumn fundraiser, “Laughing Out Loud,” will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, from 6:30 to 11 p.m., at Ferncroft Country Club, 10 Village Road, Middleton. The evening will include performances by stand-up comedians Paul Gilligan, Mike Donovan and Paul D’Angelo, a cocktail hour, dinner, and silent and live auctions. Donated auction items are now being accepted. Contact Jeannine Nash at [email protected] or 978-239-9490 for more information. Sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting Rob Nash [email protected] or 978-360-8849. Tickets cost $75 per person at www.ticketstage.com and will not be sold at the door.

The House of the Seven Gables will host its annual fundraiser, “Taste of the Gables,” on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 p.m. at 115 Derby St., Salem. This year’s celebration marks the historic Gables philanthropist Caroline Emmerton’s 150th birthday. Food will be available to taste from multiple local chefs and vendors. Live music and auctions are also featured. Birthday cake will be served. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Gables Settlement Association. Tickets are $80 for Gables members and $100 for nonmembers, available at www.7gables.org.

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem will host the exhibit “Samuel F. B. Morse’s Gallery of the Louvre and the Art of Invention” from Saturday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Jan. 8. Morse, best known as the inventor of the telegraph and Morse code, first achieved success as a portrait painter. PEM will present his 6-by-9-foot grand canvas, “Gallery of the Louvre,” alongside more than 65 rare photographs from the museum’s collection. The exhibit explores the role of images in transmitting ideas and transforming communication. Museum admission is$20 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students. Admission is free for PEM members, kids ages 16 and under, and residents of Salem. For more information, call 866-745-1876 or visit www.pem.org.

The House of the Seven Gables will participate in the Essex Heritage Trails and Sails celebration with three events. “Caroline Emmerton’s House of the Seven Gables: A Pre-1920 Tour” will be held Friday, Sept. 16, at noon. Tour the Gables as it was conceived by founder Caroline Emmerton before 1920. “Colonial Revival Seaside Garden Tour and Talk” will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. The Gables’ head gardener Robyn Kantor will deliver a brief overview of the Colonial Revival seaside gardens. “Caroline Emmerton: A Woman of Letters,” presented by David Moffat, will be held Sunday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. All three events are free and open to the public. Registration is required for each at 978-744-0991, ext. 104 or [email protected].

Boston’s Museum of Science is currently celebrating September Salem Days, with free admission for Salem residents. Free MBTA rides to and from North Station will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24. The train leaves Salem at 10:40 a.m. on both days. The return ticket given to attendees is valid for any regularly scheduled train. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visitwww.mos.org/public-events/september-salem-days.

Tour eight houses in Marblehead’s Historic District and learn about the lifestyles of Marblehead’s early settlers on Sunday, Sept. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. The tour begins at the Old Town House, 1 Town House Square, and ends on Orne Street. Tickets $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour. A launch party with wine, food, and entertainment will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Old Town House. Tickets are $50 per person; admission for Sunday’s tour is inclusive. Proceeds from the two events will benefit programs and services at the Marblehead Council of Aging. Tickets can be purchased at the Arnould Gallery, Step by Step, Marblehead Antiques, and the Community Center on Thursday and Friday from 8 to 10:30 p.m.; outside of Crosby’s Marketplace on Saturday; and at the Town House on the day of the tour. For more information, call Judy Jacobi at 978-631-2063.

A preview screening of the documentary “Not Your Average Citizen,” directed by Marblehead resident Lucy Slavinsky, will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore, 4 Community Road, Marblehead. The film explores the life of Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was gunned down within sight of the Kremlin. A discussion with Russian social activist Stanislav Kucher (via Skype) and Slavinsky will be held following the screening. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Slavinsky at 781-576-9057 or [email protected].

“Exhibit of Pastels,” an exhibit by the artist collective The Pastel Circle, will be on view through Friday, Nov. 25, at Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, 323 Locust St., Danvers. The soft-pastel pieces depict en-plein-air landscapes with vibrant colors. An artist reception will be held on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 978-774-7582 or visit www.nsuu.org.

Patricia McGrath, an art and design student at Salem State University, will present her paintings in an exhibit through Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Winfisky Gallery at SSU’s Ellison Campus Center, 352 Lafayette St., Salem. The pieces on view were inspired by McGrath’s studies in Florence, Italy, during the summer of 2015. The Winfisky Gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, call 978-542-6365 or www.salemstate.edu/arts.

A comedy fundraiser to support the Northeast Liver Transplant Fund and Beverly resident Deb Debski will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Breakaway Restaurant, 221 Newbury St., Danvers. Pizza and salad will be served. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door or $25 in advance when purchased at the following Beverly businesses: Super Sub, 341 Cabot St.; Beverly Bank, 254 Cabot St.; and Coldwell Banker, 59 Dodge St. For more information, email France Coombs [email protected]. Masconomet High School Class of 1976 will host its 40th reunion on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5 to 10 p.m., at Topsfield Historical Society’s Gould Barn, 1 Howlett St., Topsfield. A buffet dinner will be provided by Gourmet Delights of Hamilton. For a registration form, contact Claudia Mott at [email protected] or mail checks to 5 Lyons Mall #176, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Registration closes on Monday, Oct. 10; payments must be received in advance.

Fall street sweeping for Salem neighborhoods will be held through Friday, Oct. 7, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sweepings are held on the day after regularly-scheduled trash collection. Temporary “No Parking/Tow Zone” signs will be posted when a street is being swept. Residents will need to move their parked cars to a designated entrance corridor street, where established parking restrictions will still be enforced. The corridors will be swept from Tuesday, Oct. 11, to Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 7 a.m. Street sweeping schedules can be found at the DPW office, 5 Jefferson Ave.; City Hall, 120 Washington St.; orwww.salem.com.

The Beverly Public Library Farms Branch is currently hosting the art exhibit “Many Years; Many Faces” by Johanna Bohoy through September at 24 Vine St., Beverly. The exhibit features portrait paintings of men, women, children and pets that have been a part of Bohoy’s life. For more information, call 978-921-6066 or visit www.beverlypubliclibrary.org/farms. The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to Beverly Regional Airport at 175 Old Burley St., Danvers. On-ground inside-and-out tours of the B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine,” B-24 Liberator “Witchcraft,” B-25 Mitchell “Tondelayo” bombers, and P-51 Mustang “Toulouse Nuts” fighter will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, from 2 to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Guests may also take 30-minute flights aboard the aircrafts either before or after the regular scheduled tours. B-17 or B-24 flights are $450 per person, P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half-hour and $3,200 for a full hour, and B-25 flights are $400 per person. For reservations and information, call 800-568-8924.

Salem-based domestic abuse support organization HAWC will host its sixth annual Working to Heal Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 a.m., at the Danversport Yacht Club, 161 Elliott St., Danvers. Stephen Feron, former HAWC board president, will be honored at the event. The full-course breakfast includes a keynote speech from a HAWC client and a “fund-a-need” auction. Tickets are $55 per person. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.hawcdv.org/breakfast. The Beverly Public Library will host its annual fall book sale from Saturday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 30, at 32 Essex St. Best-sellers, children’s books, nonfiction, cooking, travel, and art books will be available to purchase, along with a smaller selection of DVDs, audio books and music. Paperbacks are $1 each, hardcovers are $2, and children’s books are two for $1. The sale will be open daily during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Friends of the Beverly Public Library members are invited to an exclusive preview sale on Friday, Oct. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Donations are currently being accepted at the ground-floor children’s room or the second-floor checkout desk. Magazines or text books will not accepted. For more information, call 978-921-6062 or email [email protected].

“Go Gulls!” an archival exhibit on athletics at Endicott College, is currently on view through Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Endicott’s Archive and Museum Gallery, 376 Hale St., Beverly. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Alisha Harris at 978-232-2257. The sixth annual Lynda J. Talbot Memorial Walk/Run will take place on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m., at Great Oak School, 76 Pickering St., Danvers. Proceeds from the 5K race will support the Lynda J. Talbot Memorial Scholarship Fund, breast cancer research, and local families battling the disease. To register, visit www.talbot.racewire.com. The 2016 Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest is currently underway. Participants are asked to submit their photos taken within the Essex National Heritage Area (Essex County) that best exemplify one of the following three categories: “This Land is Your Land,” “Go Coastal!” and “Downtown.” Prizes will be awarded to the top three jury-selected entries and the People’s Choice Award winner. Children ages 5 to 17 are welcome to participate in the youth division. All submissions must be submitted or postmarked by Thursday, Dec. 1. For more information or to receive an entry form, visitwww.essexheritage.org/photocontest.

The city of Salem recently completed a pilot program for a citywide public street tree inventory. Working with New England Civil Engineering, the city cataloged the size, species, condition, and additional details of 350 trees along parts of Bridge Street, Lafayette Street, Boston Street, and North Street. The data from those 350 trees has been added to an existing database of 375 city trees, bringing the total database to 725 trees, which is only a fraction of the estimated 150,000 city trees along Salem’s streets and in its cemeteries, parks, and open spaces. A copy of the report from the corridor inventory pilot program is available online at www.salem.com/trees. The Little Pumpkin Duathlon will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m., at the Salem Willows, 167 Fort Ave. The foot-and-bike race is open for children under the age of 11. Three age-specific courses are available: ages 4 to 5, 0.15-mile run, 0.5-mile bike, 0.15-mile run; 6 to 8, 0.25-mile run, 0.5-mile bike, 0.25-mile run; 9 to 11, 0.5-mile run, 1-mile bike, 0.5-mile run. The event will also include a “kids zone,” pumpkin painting, and relay races. Each racer will take home a custom medal, t-shirt, and pumpkin goodies. Preregistration costs $25 per child; day-of registration costs $30. Register atwww.bnseventmanagement.com/event/little-pumpkin-duathlon.

Salem Theatre Company will present the New England premiere of “Entangled,” a play by Leah Miles, from Wednesday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 1, at 35 Congress St., 3rd Floor, Salem. Ian, Scott and Hillary find themselves snowed in, and the horrible realities they’ve been trying to hide from one another start to come out. Tickets range from $15 to $22 and are available at www.salemtheatre.com. The Mrs. Essex County Pageant is seeking contestants. The competition is not a beauty pageant; women who are married, currently living in Essex County with their spouse, and are at least 18 years of age are eligible to enter. Each contestant will submit a prepared food item. This year’s food category is cookies. Contestants will be judged according to the following criteria: general appearance, personality, poise and food score. Register by Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m., at www.topsfieldfair.org/exhibitorhandbook. The 2016 pageant will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m., at Coolidge Hall on the Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston St., Topsfield. For more information, call Carrie Crouch at 978-807-5976.

Organizations, schools, and individuals who wish to apply for Beverly Cultural Council grants must do so by Monday, Oct. 17. The grants support artistic projects and activities in Beverly, including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, performances and lectures. An informational meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:15 p.m. at Beverly Public Library’s Barnet Room, 32 Essex St. Application forms are available at www.mass-culture.org/lcc_public.aspx.

The Seven Lectures at the Seven Gables Series presents “Tracing the Story of India’s Classical Kathak Dance” with Anjali Mitter Duva on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., at The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby St., Salem. Duva will discuss how the traditional story-telling dance evolved over different regions and time periods. Admission is free for Gables members and $7 for nonmembers. Reservations are required at www.7gables.org. For more information, call 978-744-0991, ext. 104 [email protected]. The Me&Thee Coffeehouse presents The Ghost of Paul Revere on Friday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. The Maine-based folk band is known for their close three-part harmonies. Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, a folk, blues, jazz and soul musician also from Maine, will open. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Purchase them at Spirit of ’76 Bookstore (107 Pleasant St.), Arnould Gallery and Framery (111 Washington St.), or online at www.meandthee.org.

A message from the Topsfield Water Department: Manganese testing at our Perkins Row source indicates that the water exceeds MassDEP’s limit of 300 parts per billion. Perkins Row produces about 20 percent of the town’s water, and Topsfield’s other source is well below the state limit. Unfortunately, it is not possible to accurately predict levels reaching each customer due to varying hydraulic conditions. The water department recommends that customers use bottled water when preparing infant formula and review information published when the Manganese Water Quality Advisory went into effect several years ago. All of the information, along with test results, can be found at www.topsfieldpublicworks.org. For more information, call the Water Department at 978-887-1517.

Endicott College has announced its art exhibit schedule for the fall. All exhibits are held at the Manninen Center for the Arts, 376 Hale St., Beverly. “Express Yourself: Illuminate 2016” will be on view until Monday, Oct. 17. A reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. “Interior Architecture: Thesis Exhibition” will be on view through Friday, Sept. 30. “The Magic of William Meyerowitz: 20th Century Master” will be on view from Monday, Oct. 3, through Friday, Jan. 6. A reception and discussion on the artist will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. “(Work)Placemakers: Innovations in Design” will be on view from Monday, Oct. 3, through Friday, Jan. 13. A panel discussion will be held on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 6 p.m. “New Voices, Unique Visions” will be on view from Friday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Jan. 18. A reception with keynote speaker will be held on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 978-927-0585 or visit www.endicott.edu.

- http://www.salemnews.com/, September 16, 2016

With the sun setting in the western horizon, the city streets of the mill area and Rajwada started filling up with people desperate to witness the tableaux, Indore's most vibrant celebration on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi. Stages erected along the road side readied their stock of flowers to shower upon the hundreds of artists for whom the evening was their one chance at glory.

As soon as the clock stuck six, glittering tableaux started their parade on the streets accompanied by weapon artists and gymnasts who showcased their mastery over the use of traditional Indian weapon. The gauntlet sword, rotating stick, spear, sword and shields caught the eye of the thousands of spectators, who lined along the roadside to enjoy the show.

"I took leave from office to see the Anant Choudas procession. The entire day was very enjoyable with visarjan in the morning and the procession in the evening," Mugdha Hudse, a working professional said. For others, deciding to attend the event was a way to make their children aware about the rich cultural legacy of Indore. "We have come here to show our children the glory of Indori culture. Our children must be proud of the city's heritage and this procession is a very important part of it,"Vineet Jain, another spectator at the procession route said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 16, 2016

Taking into account the safety concerns of tourists at the World Heritage Site, Hampi, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is giving serious thought to impose a ban on selfies at certain places, which are deemed hazardous. Tourists are often spotted clicking selfies, perched precariously atop rocky hills such as Matanga Peak, Gandamvadan Parvat, Rushi Mukha, Mahanavami Dibba, Maulyavanta Parvat among other places. These hills rise to an altitude, ranging from 60ft to 200ft from the ground, and authorities fear that tourists could lose their balance and tip over, while trying to take selfies.

If everything goes as planned, ASI may issue an order banning of taking selfies by September end. "We are planning on banning taking selfies at a few rocky hills, which are very dangerous and even at a few historic monuments," said Prakash Nayakanda, deputy superintending archaeologist, Hampi Circle. It had come to ASI's attention that tourists often sustained injuries, while taking selfies on these hills, Prakash said. "If something goes wrong, who is to be held responsible," he asked.

Lauding the ASI's proposed move, Dodda Basava, a guide at Hampi, said, "It is good to see that the ASI is thiniking o f banning selfies at these rocky hills. Most tourists who come here want to take selfies from the edge of the peaks, so that the picture covers the entire Hampi landscape. It's risky to scale up peaks such as Matanga Betta, Mahanavami Betta, Gandamadavan Parvat, etc, to take selfies" He added that visitors were also observed trying to climb Watch Tower and Band Tower, tucked behind Mahanavami Dibba. "They are very risky to climb. Besides, tourists also try scaling the Tenali Mantap and Hanuman Padda, which lie at the very edge of Matanga Parvat and Moulyavanta Parvat respectively," he said.

He said that rock climbers often liked to click selfies, having reached the summit of these peaks. "Other tourists follow them, thereby endangering themselves. If they slip while climbing or when trying to take selfies, it could prove disastrous. They will drop from a height of around 50-60ft, and such a thing can prove fatal or they might sustain serious injuries. Kotilinga, another monument surrounded by water, is an equally dangerous spot," he added. Recalling incidents of rock climbers and tourists slipping and sustaining injuries while scaling some of Hampi's hills, he said "No deaths have been reported so far. Not only should authorities ban taking selfies, they should also put up a sign board, cautioning tourists from doing so."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 16, 2016

It is not stopgap measures like odd-even day road rationing or banning ageing diesel vehicles that can ultimately check congestion or pollution levels in the city . Experts say there is instead an urgent need for concrete, wellplanned steps to address these problems. With the central government approving the land pooling policy for the planned expansion of the city and to meet the growing housing demand, the load on the capital's civic infrastructure is only going to increase. So urban planners and transport experts feel it is time for the government to take concrete steps. In a 10-part series on how the authorities had tried to decongest traditional wholesale markets in the city , TOI reporters found that the government had to ensure meticulous planning, efficient coordination among various government agencies and political non-interference if it was to make a success of projects to unclog the city . The absence of such steps was the undoing of the decongestion measures proposed in 1990 in the Master Plan of Delhi 2001.

For one, say experts, Integrated Freight Complexes (IFCs), multi-modal freight complexes and commercial centres with better facilities need to be meticulously planned. They say a detailed survey should be carried out to identify trades that need to be relocated, while improving management and facilities at existing hubs. Not all wholesale trades need to be shifted out of their current areas, say experts. A more pragmatic approach is to analyse the relationship between the trade and the city .

"The purpose of shifting wholesale trade will be defeated if 10 small trucks enter the city instead of one big truck," says Geetam Tiwari, professor transport planning and policy at IIT-Delhi. "It is unclear whether locating IFCs on the outskirts will result in decongestion.Instead, the authorities should develop transport facilities that give retailers easy access to wholesale markets."

Of course, decongestion in certain areas is a necessity . "In the Walled City, for instance, wholesale markets should be shifted to protect heritage structures," advises Faiz Hashmi, managing director, Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC). This body tasked with regenerating the Walled City can be a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that another expert, AK Jain, former Delhi Development Authority planning commissioner, advocates. "Multiple agencies are currently involved in the decongestion effort," says Jain, "when a single agency , or SPV, should have the financial and land development rights to get that work done. This will also help in fixing accountability ."

Hashmi concurs: "If SRDC becomes a municipal body , as proposed to the government, it can perform more effectively .At present, we have to take the permission of the municipal corporations for all our projects." In the absence of such coordination, projects become failures. Three of five IFCs proposed in the Master Plans 2001 and 2021, for instance, proved abortive because of a "disconnect between planning and ground reality". "Plans should be realistic," stresses Shamsher Singh, former chief town planner of the municipal corporations." In a similar vein, urban planner Sanjukkta Bhaduri, professor at School of Planning and Architecture, adds, "Planning has no meaning if it is not implemented in a timebound manner."

The confusion that can arise over poor coordination among specialised agencies is exemplified in the IFC scheme. Three IFCs couldn't be developed due to landrelated issues, while the two that did come up are only minimally utilised. DDA vicechairman Arun Goel says, "We have done our bit in developing the Ghazipur and Narela IFCs and have also allotted land to traders. But shifting traders there isn't in our jurisdiction." This is the sort of partial responsibility of each agency that experts advise against if the city is to see proper and planned decongestion.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 16, 2016

A vast majority the 909 wind power projects commissioned in the state listed on the website of the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited are in Jaisalmer district, which is now home to one of the largest wind farms in the world. By March 2015, over 3,000 MW of power were generated from the state's windmills. In the 15 years since the first windmills were erected, however, there has been no study of the environmental or social impact of the windmills.

Abdul Khan, a Manganiar who lives near Kanoi village in Jaisalmer said, "In the four years since the windmills came up near our houses, we have lost our sleep. My 80-year-old mother and wife are now both on medication for mental illnesses. The doctor says they should sleep well. But we cannot get any sleep at all. My mother keeps repeating that she voted for Rajiv Gandhi, and he will turn off these windmills."

Kanoi is right on the border of the Desert National Park. Under the law, no windmills are allowed within a five-km distance of the boundary of DNP. The windmills, however, stand less than a km away from the park boundary. Villagers say the sound is a constant presence, and a great disturbance in the night when everything else falls silent. Kanoi's villagers have petitioned local authorities and even sat in a 100-day dharna in 2011. They have suggested that the windmills be forced to stop production at night, so the elderly can sleep in peace.

"I was arrested for 24 hours for protesting against the windmills," says Abdul Khan. "Then neighbours and my children said I should keep away from trouble for I have my mother and wife to look after." Aala Ram, a shopkeeper in the area, also says his family is sick and tired of the endless noise. "We are poor people and no one listens to us," he says. In December 2014, Gajraj Singh of the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur who serves as state convenor for Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), wrote to chief minister Vasundhara Raje seeking her intervention.

His letter records that 25% of all tourists would earlier visit the royal cenotaphs at Barabagh, about seven km from Jaisalmer. Ever since the windmills were installed closed to these protected monuments, there has been a drastic fall in the number of tourists setting out in camel caravans and visiting the cenotaphs at Barabagh. Camel caravans would earlier take tourists into the desert and allow them to spend a night out in the open, gazing at stars in the desert sky. Virender Singh, co-convenor of the Jaisalmer chapter of Intach, said, "These tours and the routes they followed would earlier be advertised at the reception of all hotels in the city. The camel safaris used to be very popular, but that business has now dried up."

In a letter in 2011 to the district collector, Jaisalmer, Tina Kahn, a tourist from Germany, said, "Wherever I turn in Jaisalmer, I see the windmills. The Golden City is now surrounded by these ugly sticks". She notes that she had been a regular visitor to Jaisalmer over several years, but now finds that the experience of being out in the desert is not so different from being at a discotheque - the red lights atop the windmills keep glowing through the night, disturbing the view of the starry skies. And the moving blades make the red lights flicker, as if one were at a disco. "These horrible monsters are allowed so close to peaceful temples," she says, adding that they should be ripped off, especially since some are now so old and look unstable after a sandstorm. "Keep them 30 km away from every caravan route, village and temple," she suggests, in a letter signed by several foreign tourists.

Wildlife enthusiasts too are concerned that the mesh of wires and windmills are obstructing the flight of the endangered Great Indian Bustard. Prerna Sharma, project manager with WWF at Jaisalmer, working on the bustard conservation project, told TOI, "The windmills have come up close to the border of the Desert National Park. The birds fly between DNP and Ramdevra, a distance of about 160 km, but their flight path is now marred by the wind farms."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 17, 2016

Wildlife SOS, India’s animal welfare organization, announces their second annual lecture featuring their work with India’s wild elephants, to be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at Greenwich Country Day School, Lower School, 401 Old Church Road, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Animal lovers, conservationists and anyone concerned about the alarming rate of wildlife disappearance worldwide, will not want to miss this informative presentation given by SOS co-founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, two of India’s leading wildlife conservation authorities. The event will feature actual video footage of recent daring elephant rescues on the ground.

Light snacks and drinks will be served after the event. Handmade crafts from India will be for sale. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Anyone interested in attending can contact Lisa Wynne Salvatore at [email protected] to RSVP. Walk-ins welcome.

- www.greenwichsentinel.com/, September 17, 2016

Researchers and students of Pali are celebrating the 'Vishwa Pali Gaurav Diwas' in honour of the ancient language on September 17.The city-based Trirashmi Research institute of Buddhism and Indic Languages (TRIBILS) is associated with central government's archaeology department and is involved in decoding and representing the stone edicts of the pre-historic era. Atul Bhosekar, TRIBILS president said that proper awareness and technical knowledge of the Pali language and scriptures will add many unknown chapters in Indian history."According to central government's department of archaeology, there are over 1.5 lakh stone edicts across the country. Of this only 50,000 have been read and translated at present.

Many historic documents remain undiscovered because of lack of awareness. We are on a mission to decode these records, but we need more youngsters to learn Pali and join the movement," Bosekar said.He added that Nashik and its neighbouring areas have ample number of stone edicts dating back to the reign of Ashoka. Earlier, Bhosekar's students had presented a simplified form of the emperor's declarations to Thailand's princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol.

- http://www.nyoooz.com/, September 17, 2016

Stylist Geeta Khanna chronicles the evoloution of Indian design tradition Roots of Indian fashion lie in the rich historical narratives and cultural ethos of the country. Behind the glamour and glitz of high street fashion is the stark reality of how artisans in remote regions are diligently practising our age-old crafts. Utilising their knowledge, expertise and craftsmanship in a modern avatar in a productive way is the only way Indian designers can make their presence felt on the global fashion map.

Now, an attempt in this direction has been made by former designer Geeta Khanna through her book “Style of India”. Her début book was released at a gala function at French Embassy where huge pictures of models dressed in Razia Sultan look as well as tribal look were exhibited. Brought out by Hachette India, the book has recreations of drapes and accessories over centuries. It has perceptive essays and weaves a chronicle of style from the Harappan civilisation to the present era.

Explaining the need for writing this book, Geeta, the founder and principal director of Hirumchi Styling Company (HSC), says, “I have been a designer and honed my skills under Marc Jacobs and Tarun Tahiliani. For seven years I was a designer. Then I switched to styling. The next step was to write a book. I felt a gap, as India was not presented as a one stop destination for craft. Indian fashion designers need to showcase their craft but in a modern way. This is the only way forward.”

Writing the book was like starting from a scratch. “It was in New York where I realised that Indian crafts was nowhere to be seen. I had gone to NIFT to study fashion but tracing the link between history and Indian fashion required extensive study. So I studied at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York and went through a number of books. FIT gave me an understanding on how fashion works internationally.”

Digging into ateliers of designers was a time consuming exercise. So also was the extensive research which took her across the country. As a result, the book has stunning visuals of styles and expressions that the country has to offer. “A lot of legal work had to be done. Issues revolving around copyright, contacting publishers, getting sanction for pictures had to be taken care of.”

Seasoned designers, who made a mark in 1980s like Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra, Raghavendra Rathore and Tarun Tahiliani have been presented. “Studying and examining their works took me five years. At one time I decided to give it up but the book has seen the light of the day because of support from my family and yoga.” Speaking at the discussion on her book, Geeta highlighted the significance of narrating a story of mythology and history into costumes. “We have to pick elements of our culture like the Navratri art, which is found in all mediums. It can be seen on pallu where the Ramayana’s narrative is scripted. Itis found in paintings, embroidery...here I would like to point out that Manish Malhotra was the first designer to take the narrative of Ramayan to the Paris Fashion Week. He interpreted our culture in a modern way.”

Participating in the discussion, FDCI President, Sunil Sethi said, “Gone are the days when people could work from the garage of their homes. Now there is social, ethical compliances that have to adhered to. I am glad that Indian designers are following the rules. Earlier our designers had to rely on private agencies to distribute their products. But now the social media has given them an unbelievable opportunity to reach out to a large number of people without relying on anyone.”

Concurring with his views that social media has become a harbinger of change for designers, fashion photographer Tarun Khiwal recalled the recent photo shoot he had done for Sabyasachi Mukherjee. “It was for six days for Sabya. It was put on the Instagram; we ran the whole campaign. Later, it was released in magazines. Earlier it was magazine and then social media. Now slowly this process is reversing. It is a big change.”

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 18, 2016

Hundreds, if not thousands, make their way all through the year to a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Less than a handful of temples across the world are solely dedicated to this Hindu god of creation, leading to a fascination with the site at Pushkar. But only a few devotees, or perhaps the casually curious lot, must be aware that if they followed a linear path down India's western region from Pushkar, they are set to land at the site of another Brahma temple in Goa.

In the interior of Sattari taluka in North Goa, near the village of Nagargao, drowned in the sounds of nature, stands the home of Shree Brahmadev, in the hamlet of Brahma-Karmali. Inside the sanctum sanctorum stands the idol of a sharp-featured bearded man, decorated with details typical of Kadamba-era art. Researcher Lopes Mendes has recorded that the idol, thought to be belonging to the 12th century, was originally worshipped by the gawdas of modern-day Carambolim or Karmali near Old Goa. It is when the forces of Allauddin Khilji attacked the Kadamba capital at Gopakapatam that the devotees were forced to move the idol further north, until they probably found a safe home in the dense forests of Sattari.

This migration is believed to have taken place somewhere in the early 14th century, and gave the Sattari village its name of Brahma-Karmali. Brahma-Karmali is steeped in antiquity, which can easily be established from the rock art found at Dudinsada. According to local tradition, the village was formerly known as Chandiwade. Etymologically, the name indicates that the village was densely forested. The forest's predominant tree species is Macaranga peltata, locally popular as Chanduvado.

The temple priest Sandeep Kelkar, whose family has served as caretakers of the Shree Brahmadev temple for three generations, says, "My father would tell me that the devotees from Carambolim would come until ten years after Goa's liberation to the temple by foot all the way. And they would perform zagor through the night once a year. The practice probably died down because of the long distances involved." The temple celebrates its annual utsav in the Hindu lunar calendar month of margashirsh. It is probably the teethi on which the ancient idol was installed at the temple, said Kelkar.

The centuries-old original temple was demolished and a new one was constructed in its place some years ago, but certain elements of the old temple were retained. The idol of Shree Brahmadev, in his rear right hand, holds the sacrificial ladle and in the front left hand, a ghee pot. In the rear left hand he holds a book. His consorts Savitri and Saraswati are shown standing on either side. Among three small niches, the central niche has Ganapati, Shiva mounted on the bull on the right hand side niche, and Lord Vishnu is in the left niche.

Placed in a standing posture, the sculpture represents various elements of biodiversity like the bull, goose, crocodile, lotus, etc. The temples of Bhagvati of Parcem and Mauli of Virnoda in Pernem taluka share something in common. In addition to their own deities, they house Brahma as an affiliated deity. The stone sculpture of Brahma found at Colomb village in Sanguem is mounted on a swan. All four of these sites where the sculptures of Brahma have been found had lush, green forested areas and is blessed with perennial springs.

Though there are several shrines dedicated to Lord Brahma, independent temples in his honour are extremely rare. There are various mythological reasons for this from a curse by Lord Shiva to Lord Brahma's role being limited to that of a creator, unlike Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva who make several appearances in Hindu mythology, making them better known to grant boons to devotees and therefore more sought after. But there are more than just mythological reasons that call for a visit to the temple at Brahma-Karmali.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 18, 2016

An all India music festival to promote different genres of Indian music propagated by noted composer-lyricist Salil Chowdhury will be organised by 2018, his singer daughter Antara Chowdhury has said. "The Salil Chowwdhury Foundation of Music is actively working on a proposal to organise an all India music festival where leading musicians from Hindi playback to Indian classical, as well as instrumentalists, representing Indian classical and western, will participate and popularise the rich tapestry of Indian music among youngsters," Antara told PTI here.

The foundation will also urge West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to organise a separate 'Salil Utsav' at the government level. "This Salil Utsav, which can be held at the regional level, will bring under focus my father's plays, writings, directorial works besides music and his association with Gananatya Sangha. I am hopeful our CM, who always patronises Bengal's cultural heritage, will do something," she said. Antara pointed out it was difficult to confine Salil Chowdhury or assess his contribution in one field of art, as he effortlessly shifted from Hindi playback to Choir music, from non-film songs to other compositions in several languages and excelled in different fields. "We have plans to move the Union I & B ministry to hold the conference show in Mumbai in 2-years time, by 2018," she said.

Chowdhury's wife Sabita, herself a prominent singer, said popularising his works among the present generation can't be individually done by the foundation which is doing it's bit and will continue to do it like organising an exhibition on the singer's death anniversary recently. Salil Chowdhury passed away in 1995 at the age of 72. Regretting that the present generation is hooked to peppy numbers, Sabita said, "Why are beautiful songs like 'O Sona Bang' and 'Aay Re Chhute Aay Pujor Gandho Esechhe' not introduced to children in reality shows any more and they are not made aware of Indian culture. "Why are children forced to gyrate to numbers with jhatkas!! Is that our culture? "

The foundation will also do annual honours for 'Living Legends' and 'Signature Contribution' in the world of music," Rupak Saha, one of the key foundation members, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

- http://www.business-standard.com/, September 18, 2016

Rohini Nilekani is the founder chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation that works on water and sanitation issues in India. She is also the founder chairperson of Pratham Books, a foundation which works in the education sector. Recently, in Goa for a conference, Nilekani shared her views about a multitude of issues ranging from education policies and ecological degradation leading to conflicts.

What are your views about the government's decision to do away with the no-detention policy at school level? Rohini: In India, it happens a lot of time that the policy doesn't show desired results despite being launched with good intentions. Students are not learning because the system is broken and this is leading to a lot of students getting pushed up without the adequate knowledge, which they deserved. The policy has been reversed by many states now in tune to try something else. My only demand is that the detained student should have the right to get extra tuitions and support till he/she is able to succeed because once you allow a child to fail and feel like one, it does not help them, it does not help the society.

There is a dispute over the medium of instruction. Also, some students are taught English from the beginning whereas those studying in government-run schools have to first learn the local language and then move to English. Shouldn't there be a common medium of instruction in the country? There is no one right answer for the medium of instruction issue as we have to preserve our culture through our languages as well as teach the kids English, which is the medium used for job purpose. I think we are exaggerating the issue as kids, between the ages of two to six years, can learn multiple languages. There should not be any restrictions regarding languages.

Water shortage has again enveloped the front page news with the Cauvery row going violent. The government is also working to interconnect rivers to redistribute water equally. Where does the problem lie? And will this step help in quenching the thirst of millions of Indians? Water is becoming an issue of global conflict because the demand has gone up exponentially due to competing users. Water-sharing policies need to be clarified and ground water, being a public property needs to be protected by drafting of stronger policies.

Interconnecting of rivers is full of hubris because today, with the variation of rainfall, many of our so-called perennial rivers are not even reaching the seas. The proclaimed excess water in our Himalayan rivers is not going to stay like that forever at the rate which the glaciers are melting. The idea is not a non- starter. We have to manage our abundant rainwater better. The next 20 -25 years are crucial for India as we have to make sure there is enough water for everyone for at least their basic needs.

Despite the growing problems, are we still giving ecological crisis their due priority? Apart from the government, the citizens also have to rise up to the issue. Cauvery issue keeps popping up periodically. People of Bangalore have to reduce their consumption after destroying the Vrishabhavathi and the Arkavati river which are flowing in the neighbouring areas. We have to allow the natural systems to regenerate and it is doable. The public has to push the politicians to make it happen.

With the developing nations working towards rapid economic growth, how can we strike a balance between positive economics and an ecologically sustainable environment? This is the challenge worldwide. In India particularly, sustainability depends on what are we going to do with the 7,000 smaller towns as our metros are already in a bit of a mess. We have to look beyond the large infrastructure models of the west as they had the options to dump their waste on our lands; we don't have that. We have to ask if the rapid economic growth is even possible by destroying the ecology and understand that a lot of our future economic innovation will come from our biodiversity.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 18, 2016

Bengaluru was supplied with water from wells and rain-fed tanks until 1895. The first official water supply to the city was from the Hesaraghatta reservoir on the Arkavathy river, a tributary of river Cauvery. However, with rapid expansion of the city, Bengaluru became solely dependent on Cauvery river by 1980s. The Supreme Court order to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu brought to fore the need to find alternative sources of water to meet the city’s needs. Experts believe that if technology is enhanced and water bodies are revived, lakes in the city and surrounding areas can provide at least 300 million litres per day (MLD) of water. This accounts for around 20 per cent of the city’s present water requirement, which is about 1,400 MLD.

Ashwin Mahesh, an urban expert, in his report ‘Matthondu Cauvery’ that was submitted to the government, talks about creating other ‘Cauvery’ for the city. He points out that 4,000 people can be supported by a lake of one acre expanse. With 2,000 acres of lakes, it could serve 8 million people that will be added to the region in the next 20 years. He said, “There are many large lakes outside city limits that can be exploited and even areas like Ramanagara can benefit. We need to revive these lakes, instead of looking at high cost projects like Yettinahole.”

Voicing similar opinion, noted environmentalist Yellappa Reddy said, “It’s very simple. All we have to do is protect the hills, rocks and maintain the tuber crops around it as they can penetrate water much below the surface and recharge the ground water table. We need to rejuvenate streams, facilitate inflow to lakes and connect lakes to watersheds. I am sure at least 300 MLD of water can be generated from them. “Instead, we are quarrying and mining entire hill ranges. The rock system should not be disturbed as it might interrupt flow of streams. We should not forget that hills have great ability to recharge and trap water.

“There are several spots with potential to trap water. For instance, 7-8 rivers, including the Arkavathy river, originate in the Nandi Hills,” he pointed out. BWSSB chief Tushar Girinath concurred that TG Halli reservoir should be revived. “About 1.8 tmcft has to be captured here for Yettinahole project. But the water quality is poor. We have to make sure it doesn’t get mixed with Yettinahole water and ensure water flow to the tank. “We have proposed a project of artificial wet land, an Israeli technology, to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The project will cost `10 crore. It will involve setting up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and using vegetation to recharge ground water. We will be using this method. It will be replicated at inlets of TG Halli,” he said. He added, “We will have to use water from lakes in future as there is no other option. But the issue is that sewage water drains into many lakes. We will need more STPs. Some of them are under construction and some more have been proposed. By 2020, we might be able to use lake water.”

Alternatives suggested A committee set up in 2011 suggested that the state divert 30 tmcft water from Sharavati river through the Linganamakki reservoir. Another alternative was to use water from Barapole river originating in Kodagu. They are not considered feasible, particularly since Linganamakki is 360km away from the city. BWSSB has also approached a consultancy firm in Singapore for a detailed report on alternative sources of water for Bengaluru, that will include lakes and rain water harvesting.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 18, 2016

The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has sought expert opinion from IIT-Madras for establishing a maritime heritage museum where visitors could get a glimpse of a submarine too.

Briefing reporters here on Saturday, TTDC managing director Har Sahay Meena said a meeting of tourism and Navy officials was convened last week to discuss its setting up. Stating the project to set up the submarine component was being re-proposed, he said the project had not been dropped. We have sought an opinion from the IIT-Madras, he added. Stating that there were problems in the earlier tender floated to set up the museum at Mamallapuram, Meena said steps were being taken to make it a reality.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India Report 2016 had criticised the government for towing the decommissioned submarine, INS Vagli, back and forth along the coast, 'wasting' 4.41 crore. The report said there was no museum or anything else to show for all its efforts since June 2012. Indian Navy had gifted the Tamil Nadu government 'INS Vagli' for the project.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 18, 2016

View from the Zoo: Special day will highlight plight of red panda James Coleman 08:00Sunday 18 September 2016 0 HAVE YOUR SAY A very special day for one of our very cute and popular endangered species at the zoo. International Red Panda Day on Saturday 17 September will see the staff at Flamingo Land raising awareness and funds for the conservation of this incredible animal. The zoo currently have two red pandas, a male named Bai Jiao aged four and a female named Tai Jang also four. They both weigh around five kilograms and spend most of their time asleep up in the trees. They are most active during the gloomy hours of dusk and dawn.

A red panda’s diet consists mainly of bamboo (along with fruit and insects) and this is where they get their name from. ‘Panda’ in the Nepalese language means ‘bamboo eater’ so it shares the same name and territory as the giant panda, despite not being related. Red pandas are more closely related to the racoon and share a similar appearance. The reasons for having an awareness day for red pandas is that unfortunately their wild habitats in Nepal, China, Bhutan and India are being lost due to deforestation. Red Pandas are also poached for their fur and skins so now there are just 10,000 adults left in the wild.

However the ‘Red Panda Network’ works tirelessly to help save the species by setting up protected forest areas, status surveys, awareness workshops and their very own ‘forest guardians’. This conservation project will not only help the red pandas but also the animals they share territory with such as clouded leopards, Himalayan black bears, and hundreds of bird species. To help support our red pandas we shall be setting up a conservation table with a variety of activities and information all about them. With badges and booklets to be given out, any contributions will be going towards the Red Panda Network and also Flamingo Land’s very own conservation project in Tanzania.

Our pair of red pandas have successfully bred as they had their first cub the in the summer of 2015. The young red panda was moved to another zoo earlier this year. They are trained to come down from the trees so that they can be regularly checked out to ensure they are healthy here at Flamingo Land.

- http://www.maltonmercury.co.uk/, September 18, 2016

Nepal prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a on a four-day visit to the country on Sunday visited the Patanjali herbal food park in Haridwar. Arriving there amid tight security arrangements he also took a tour of the whole facility. Later in a meeting with yoga guru ramdev and Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna it was decided that Patanjali will set up a herbal food park in Nepal on the lines of one in Haridwar. Besides, a acharyakulam and a university will also be set up. Ramdev and Balkrishna will shortly visit Nepal to work out modalities for implementation of these agreements.

Stressing that Patanjali can act as a strong link between the two countries, he said the organization can play a role in Nepal's economic development. He noted that herbs in huge quantities are brought to Patanjali from Nepal and are used for various products. "It will be of immense benefit to us if these are used there as Patanjali is doing here," he remarked.

Ramdev responded to Dahal's request by saying that Patanjali will emulate the same model of prosperity for Nepal on the lines of its business in India. "We will set up herbal food park and a university in Nepal. Not a single rupee from the profit generated from this business will be brought to India. Instead it will be invested in Nepal for the benefit of its people," he said. Balkrishna said that a blueprint of all projects of Patanjali to be initiated in Nepal will soon be worked out.

Speaking at Patanjali, Dahal said that for him sacrifice in personal life and prosperity in social life is of utmost importance. "To me yoga guru Ramdev and acharya Balkrishna are the best examples of this ideal," he said. "Both of them has shown the world a way to prosperity by combining traditional knowledge of yoga, ayurveda with modern science which others should try to emulate," he added.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 18, 2016

Wikipedia through its `Wiki Loves Monuments' added about 42 historic and cultural heritage places in Mangaluru on Sunday. Wikimedia is a movement behind Wikipedia, a global collaboration authored by volunteers. The `Wiki Loves Monuments' is an international photo contest for monuments, organized by Wikimedia from September 1 to 30. Dr Krishna Mohan, a physician and an avid photographer, who was one of the co-organisers, said: Though 45 places were identified, 42 were added since Mangaladevi Temple, from which the place derives its name from, Sultan Battery and St Aloysius Chapel were already in Wikipedia. There were 15 volunteers who photographed various historic places. They will be uploaded to Wikipedia by Monday.

The monuments which were added and will reflect in Wikipedia in another two days are: Stambha in Front of the Kotakeri Jaina Basti, Bappanadu; Aspinwall & Company (1861), Attavara Venkappa Punja Hall (1908), Basel Mission House Bendoor Church (St Sebastians Church), Bridge near Government Teacher Training School, Balmatta, Cosmopolitan Club, DC Bungalow, Diamond Building Hampanakatta, Father Muller Hospital, Felix Pai Bazaar-Entrance Minarets (Next to Janatha Bazaar) GHS Road, Ganapathy High School, Gujjara Kere, Idga masjid, Light House Hill, Jnanodaya Samaja Mandira Hoige Bazaar (1910), Jogi Matt, Kadri, Jumma masjid, Bunder, Kuchh Meman masjid, Lady Goschen Hospital, Lamp Post Pedestal used as circle at old port gate commemorating Sturrock's presence in city, Liberty building at Hampanakatta, Light House at Tagore park, Light House Hill Tower (Watch Tower for the British Navy), Mahamaya Temple, Car Street, (1500), Old Port, Manjunatha temple, Kadri (1608), Milagres Church (1680), Old Court, Old Port Office & Wharf, Old PVS building near PVS circle, Pandava Caves (Kadri Hills), Parsi Burial Ground, Rosario Cathedral (1568),

Seemathi Bai Memorial Museum, Bejai, Sharavu Ganapathi Temple (Car Street), Shivabagh main House at Shivabagh Kadri, St. Anns convent mother house, Opp main post office, St. Blessed Vaaz Church, Mudipu, St. Pauls Cemetery, Pandeshwar, University College, Auditorium (Ravindra kala Bhavana) and Urva Church. The next place on Wiki's list is Goa, where similar drive will be conducted on September 25.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 18, 2016

One after the next, they rise towards the sky in a sprawling green space on the edge of Hyderabad. Etched with Islamic phrases and embellished by concentric patterns, archways, domes and halls, they're magnificent in their design and stature, eerie in their function and lonesome location. These monuments are the resting places of the fearsome Qutb Shahi family, which ruled the Golconda Kingdom in southern India's Hyderabad region for 169 years in the 16th and 17th centuries. But as the Qutb Shahi dynasty receded into history, their tombs were neglected, becoming dusty and decayed. The Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, made up of 75 monuments spread across 108 acres, is being rejuvenated as part of a 10-year project aimed at restoring its grandeur. The organization tasked with leading this project, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, describes the tombs as one of India's most significant Islamic historical sites. While in the past the tombs were not a major tourist attraction, Trust spokeswoman Archana Saad Akhtar tells CNN they expect visitor numbers to increase tenfold after the restoration is complete.

The granite tombs fuse elements of Persian, Hindu and Pathan design. The granite tombs fuse elements of Persian, Hindu and Pathan design. Millions of man-hours required. The project, which began in 2013, involves renovations and conservation works on each of the site's monuments. This includes 40 grand mausoleums, 23 mosques, six step-wells, a hamam bath, pavilions and garden structures. The granite tombs have distinctive appearances, fusing elements of Persian, Hindu and Pathan architectural styles. Akhtar says significant work has already finished on 20 of these structures, while landscaping restoration also is being done across the entire park. The building works are focused on repairing cracks and bulges, and replacing missing architectural elements like stone or stucco plasterwork. To maintain the authenticity of the monuments, only original materials are being used such as lime mortar and stone.

An enormous team of traditional craftsmen is executing the most delicate parts of the reconstruction using hand tools. "It is important to note India has a living building craft tradition which, though waning, is still alive," says Akhtar. "Craftsmen while hand chiseling a stone are able to judge if there are deformities, and by hand chiseling, the patina of original stones is matched." The project's first phase will be finished in 2018. The project's first phase will be finished in 2018.

So vast is the project that she estimates it will involve several million man-hours of work by stone carvers, plasterers, masons, carpenters, glazed tile makers and horticulturists. There are also plans to construct an on site museum and a walking trail. While the project's first phase won't be finished until early 2018, visitors still are allowed to wander most of the park and admire the considerable restorative work that's already completed. Which means now is a fine time to visit. The Trust has said the tombs, once restored, will rank alongside the Taj Mahal as one of India's architectural wonders. Then the crowds will descend.

Getting there The capital of the southern Indian state of Telangana, Hyderabad is a city of almost four million connected by both air and rail to most major metropolises in the country. Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport offers flights to the US, UK and many large cities throughout the Middle East and Asia. The Qutb Shahi Heritage Park is located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, near the spectacular Golconda Fort.

-http://edition.cnn.com/, September 19, 2016

The fest was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar at the La Villette on Thursday. Namaste France, a 90-day long festival, will serve as a window into Indian traditional arts, music, dance, theatre, literature, cinema and fashion. The Indian Embassy in France, with the support of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is organising Namaste France cultural festival, which will go on till November 30. The fest was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar at the La Villette on Thursday.

"No two countries share such a special cultural relationship as France and India. While both countries are proud of their culture, they are open to the appreciation of other cultures. Namaste France is a wonderful opportunity to boost the vitality of our cultural exchanges. It is a reflection of the growing partnership between the two countries," Mohan Kumar said.

Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash and Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia and her troupe enthralled the Parisians. Sunaina Singh, Vice President of ICCR, representatives of French government, senators, deputies and other eminent personalities from public life and other friends of India, attended the opening concert. The festival will act as the platform for the people of France to view and understand India's historically rich cultural traditions.

During the festival, 70 events representing India's rich civilizational and cultural heritage will be organised in various major cities of France, including Paris, Strasbourg, Nice, Nantes, Marseilles, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Tropez and Tourcoing among others. More than 2,500 people attended the inaugural event.

- http://www.indiasamvad.co.in/, September 19, 2016

It's unbelievable how much heritage is strewn around Rajasthan. If only the department of tourism were to create a circuit of unprotected monuments in Rajasthan, it would have 5,113 historical/archaeological monuments or antiquities to showcase to the world before they cease to be. In the last two years, 4,497 such heritage sites have either ceased to be or vandalized due to the lackadaisical attitude of Rajasthan government.

Two years back in 2013, National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), ministry of culture in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha listed the number of unprotected monuments in Rajasthan at 9,717 which was the largest in the country. But, a recent CAG report citing a survey conducted by NMMA in 2007 contradicts the number and lists only 5,220 unprotected monuments in the state.

Incidentally, even if the CAG figures are to be true it is the largest number of unprotected monuments in any state of the country. But according to the NMMA database, Rajasthan topped the country for not protecting its heritage with 9,717 unprotected monuments followed by Odisha with 7,439 and Uttar Pradesh with 7,193 unprotected monuments. A recent audit scrutiny report (G&SS) says, "228 monuments were being protected by the Archaeology & Museums (A&M) department up to March 2008 and this number had increased to 335 by 2014-15. Thus, only 107 monuments were declared protected by the department in the last seven years and 5,113 or 94% monuments in the state were still unprotected till March 2015."

But, no comprehensive survey has been ever carried out by the department of archaeology & museums for identifying important monuments. Also, no plan has been prepared for preserving, protecting and maintaining historical monuments or for their periodic preservation and conservation work.

Apart from that, audit scrutiny revealed that 641 security personnel or monument attendants including guards and staff are engaged by A&M department for protecting 88 monuments and museums in 26 districts. Out of these 389 (61%) were deployed for 13 protected monuments in Jaipur district only leaving only 252 (39%) personnel for the remaining 75 monuments in 25 districts. Thus, 270 protected monuments and 40 protected sites were without any security arrangements. Moreover, 19 out of 36 museums housing precious artefacts have no security guards at all.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 19, 2016

In an attempt to blur the line between architecture and art, city-based architect Vidur Bharadwaj has combined the design ethos of historical monuments with the aesthetics of modern art to remind viewers of how sustainable architecture is both necessary and possible. In a solo show at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, titled Soul In Structure, Vidur has in 15 canvases mixed courtyards, terraces, verandas along with water bodies, wind and sunlight into modern structures. Vidur, a graduate from School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, says that in today’s era of glass buildings, we are losing the basic essence that made all earlier buildings sustainable in themselves.

“It has always been my conscious effort to make my projects socially, economically and environmentally responsible buildings. When I began working on my paintings, I wanted to combine my fascination with both sustainability and traditional architecture.” Vidur says he used the imagery of the Sun and a child in almost each work. “The Sun is the source of all energy and a child represents the future, for whom we have to save this planet,” says the artist. “The process I have used is to combine photographs of my projects with the elements that inspire me as an architect, be it nature, monuments or moments,” Vidur adds. His works have been inspired by the Jag Mandir in Udaipur , Patni Campus, Noida, Wipro Campus, Noida, Mohenjo-Daro civilisation among others.

The painting titled ‘Wipro, Gurgaon’ highlights the concept of a courtyard, an integral part of ancient Indian architecture. “The art installation has a wooden door opening into the painting, which shows a child sitting on the chaukhat of the door, inspired by my memories of childhood in my grandparents’ house,” says the artist. ‘Delhi One’ tells us about the first address in Noida – a high-end mixed-used development including the Four Seasons Hotel, commercial and residential spaces - inspired by Chandni Chowk of yore, which had shops on the ground and residences above.

Vidur says he has used the imagery of the Sun and a child in almost each work

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 19, 2016

No matter how much we crib about our motherland or our culture, when we step out of the homeland we start missing all the little things which had meant nothing to us previously. Would it not be nice to have a dhaba below your apartment in the foreign land which would serve you chhole kulche or a shabby little tea-stall where you could sit all day and think of all the important things in life with a little kulladh of tea in hand? Homesickness is a powerful malady. There are some social volunteers who try to make you feel at home or at least closer to home when you are living in a far away land. One such sweet volunteer is Baishali Ghosh, from Assam, who owns a home-delivery restaurant called ‘Chakum Chukum’ in Copenhagen, Denmark. The mere words in the restaurant’s title do not carry any heavy message about food, but are denoted as the sounds made by a noisy eater in Bengali! A western gourmet may never understand the relevance of chakum chukum, but a bong or any other Indian foodie may. What’s the joy of food if you cannot dig in with your pretty hands?

“The burning flame of desire to do something on my own always keeps me restless,” says Baishali Ghosh who has recently come up with a book titled ‘Spices of Life’ which she describes as “not just a book of recipes but it is the journey of my life.” She runs a food blog as well that goes by the same title as her restaurant– ‘Chakum Chukum with Baishali’. Her restaurant delivers delicacies like Dab Chingri, Potoler Dorma, Aloo Posto, Nargisi Kofta Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala, Suji Halwa and Nolen Gur ice cream among many other mouth-watering dishes! What if you like to order something you have seen on the blog which is not part of the restaurant menu? In that case, Baishali delivers that particular dish on request.

With a supportive family, Baishali had started her own business in India and had managed it well until a couple of years post marriage, when she had to move to Denmark giving in to her husband’s job relocation. “Managing different priorities at different stages of life did not diminish my ambition. When we started living in Copenhagen, I sensed an opportunity in converting my passion for cooking into a profession and started a takeaway restaurant. Even though I had my share of tribulations while emerging as a matured culinary free spirit, the journey had been wonderful. I don’t cook because I have to, but because I love to,” explains Baishali.

Cooking is an art, and chefs are artists. So is our Baishali, who not only shares her knowledge about food and culinary inventions with the world but also has a keen interest in food photography. Knowledge is never confined in books, one gains it through travel as well, feels Baishali, “Travelling to different parts of the world exposed me to various cultures and traditions. Food is a reflection of culture and heritage.”

This inspired Baishali to create fusion recipes form a blend of cultures, which is reflected in her book. Some of her recipes have also been published in reputed magazines, which eventually gave her confidence to pen down a book, where every photograph has been clicked by her without any professional guidance as she believes that food photography is about one’s eye more than the tool(camera). A creative cook can lend a unique flavour to the same old dish. Baishali had donated proceeds from the sale of her book ‘Spices of Life’ to Association for India’s Development (AID) which initiates and supports grass root efforts in agriculture, health, education, women’s rights and social justice in India. A definite good news for foodies- she plans to open a restaurant in Kolkata soon.

- http://www.millenniumpost.in/, September 19, 2016

Setting up the festive mood ahead of the upcoming festivals– Durga Puja and Dussehra, a nearly two week-long exhibition to showcase an array of exquisite and exclusive handloom and handicrafts creations of master weavers and crafts persons of rural Bengal was opened in the national Capital on Saturday.

The 5th edition of the ‘Bengal Pre-Puja Exposition’, being organised by the Office of the Resident Commissioner, Government of West Bengal, from September 17 - 29, was formally inaugurated at Handloom Haat, Janpath, in the gracious presence of Sanjay Mitra, Secretary, Transport, Government of India, Bhaskar Khulbe, Secretary to the Prime Minister, RD Meena, Officer on Special Duty, Office of the Resident Commissioner as well as other senior officials of the Government of West Bengal.

Around 50 artisans from various districts of West Bengal will participate in the exposition which is aimed at promoting the rich and glorious tradition of Bengal handicrafts and handloom and also ensuring commercial benefits to the crafts persons and weavers before the festive season. A special attraction will be the representation of the rural craft hubs, being developed in ten locations across the state by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME&T) in partnership with UNESCO. The artisans from the craft hubs have been brought to Delhi in collaboration with banglanatak.com, an implementing agency of the project.

Special cultural soirees had been organised at the courtyard of Handloom Haat on the weekend, with performance by Bengali folk fusion band and mystic baul singers showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of the state. The initiative is being supported by the Departments of MSME&T, Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal. The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, which is the controlling authority of Handloom Haat, has extended valuable assistance and cooperation to this endevour.

- http://millenniumpost.in/, September 19, 2016

Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) is set to collaborate with the National Institute of Design (NID), Gandhinagar, to help create markets for traditional art forms. "The artisans at SEWA are trained to adapt, modify and re-design their own traditional art to suit market demands," said Lalita Krishnaswamy, programme director, Gujarat Sewa Women's Cooperative Federation (GSWCF).

"Collaborating with NID Gandhinagar will give a further boost to their art forms and help them find a sustainable market for heritage craft," she said. Krishnaswamy said that without consistent markets it would be difficult to conserve traditional arts which are dying out, and here NID will provide the edge to SEWA's women. Krishnaswamy was speaking at the concluding ceremony of a three-year skill-development project SEWA had undertaken in association with Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), New Delhi, and National Culture Fund (NCF), New Delhi.

"Under our recent project on providing sustainable livelihoods to women artisans, we provided skill-development training to around 1,460 women," she said. Speaking about the role of NID, she said the design institute's students will help SEWA's women use their motifs and designs in apparels, and will help build a viable and bigger market for their products.

"At present, we are identifying the right product range where these art forms can be be incorporated. We are analyzing how the artisans can tap the market. Viable livelihoods can be formed only with consistent market demand, and that is our focus," said Jyoti Pal, a student of NID Gandhinagar who is associated with the project. Krishnaswamy said, "We have achieved some major milestones under the recent project, including restoration of the 120-year-old building, 'Sewa ni Haveli'. The design centre works as an incubator for supporting artisans in design development and product diversification."

"We will continue work to revive the crafts heritage by supporting artisans who practice such heritage art forms. We plan to convert the 'Sewa ni Haveli' into a tourism centre and promote a craft walk," she added.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 15, 2016

The Mylapore Institute for Policy Research (MIPR) has brought out a policy paper on the scope for obtaining UNESCO Living Heritage Status for Mylapore. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, MIPR president Shiv Kumar said the paper highlighted the unique architecture and the rich heritage of temples that have a distinctive character in terms of attracting devotees and tourists, supporting local commerce.

“We got inspiration from heritage structures such as St.Paul’s Cathedral in London,” said Mr.S hiv Kumar. “Of the many places of sanctity, worship and divine witness across India, Mylapore occupies a unique place as it is in the very heart of the bustling metropolis with roots tracing back to the twilight of fable and with a more modern heritage as the flagship city of the colonial expansion into the sub-continent.

Mylapore holds a special place in Chennai as a place of worship, preaching, music and pilgrimage, and is in many ways Chennai’s Cathedral, much like St Paul’s is for London,” said Mr.Shiv Kumar. The study covered 65,312 residents, 800 shops, nine hospitals, two post-offices, 14 banks, 16 schools and one college.

The paper highlights how, in ancient south India, Mylapore was an important hub of commercial and religious activity. It refers to the co-existence of the unique dual tradition of Nayanmars and Alwars in Kapaleeshwarar and Adi Kesava Temples. “MIPR feels it is a timely initiative on the tourism front with Tamil Nadu emerging as a top tourist destination among all States,” said Mr. Shiv Kumar.

“Vision Tamil Nadu 2023 document released by the Chief Minister in March 2012 has envisaged an investment of Rs.10,300 crore in tourism and hospitality sectors, attracting1.5 crore foreign tourists by 2023. MIPR is keen to work in cooperation with the State in filing an application with UNESCO through Government of India for obtaining UNESCO World living Heritage Status for Mylapore. “If the living heritage status is granted by UNESCO, there will be funding for restoration and development in Mylapore and global recognition for Chennai,” said Mr. Shiv Kumar.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 20, 2016

Divisional commissioner Umakant Dangat has started heritage walks to ensure preservation and conservation of numerous heritage sites spread across the city. "We have numerous monuments across the city, most of which are in a shambles. We need to highlight the need of preserving these structures at any cost," Dangat told TOI. He said four heritage walks have been organised, so far. "First was made to the Soneri Mahal, the 17th century Haveli built by Pahad Singh, an Orchha chieftain which is situated on the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada Universitiy premises," Dangat added.

"We have an ancient garden Himayat Bagh which has many 200-year-old trees of different species. It also houses mango research centre. Similarly, the premises has a chhatri, historical umbrella. Most of the people still don't know about these valuable heritage sites in our backyard. Heritage walks were initiated to create awareness among locals so that they come forward and contribute a little bit, by not allowing further degeneration of these structures," he added.

It is during one such walk that Dangat stumbled upon the sad state that the historic Himayat Bagh is currently in. He also spotted that Rangeen Darwaza, situated on VIP road, has been turned into a resting place for workers of some civic body contractor. The contractor had turned a part of the gate into a lavatory. However, when Dangat brought it to the notice of the civic authorities they immediately sprung into action and cleaned the premises.

Himayat Bagh is looked after by the agriculture department while Rangeen Drawaza falls under the jurisdiction of the civic body. Dangat said agriculture department officials too responded positively. He had also held a walk to Navkhanda Palace, which once served as the headquarters of the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad.

The fourth heritage walk that Dangat led was into the museum at the Siddhartha Garden, which contains details of Marathwada Mukti Sangram. "It hardly gets visitors. Either people are not aware of these monuments or take this heritage site lightly. But this attitude should change. This is one of the reasons which prompted us to launched the heritage walks," he added.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 20, 2016

In an exhibition, architect Vidur Bharadwaj presents his paintings within the framework of sustainability. Fatehpuri Sikri is known for its transitory spaces, pavilions, porches and verandahs, and Varanasi cannot be divorced from its ghats, nor Old Delhi from its streets. Architect Vidur Bharadwaj capitalises on these ancient elements of social interactions in his canvases. In his first-ever exhibition titled “Soul in Structure” at Delhi’s Visual Arts Gallery, he attempts to show how design elements of heritage monuments can meld into modern buildings.

The exhibition has nearly 15 canvases that showcase ideas in commercial and residential spaces. Bharadwaj, who is the Director of The 3C Company, wears his ratings of gold and platinum awards from LEED as medals in this show, telling visitors how inspired his buildings such as the Wipro Technologies, Gurgaon; Patni Knowledge Centre, Noida; and Knowledge Boulevard, Noida, have been.

“I’ve been working on sustainable architecture for over 15 years. I wondered how to take the idea of sustainable design to the people. If you just put up a building and show, people don’t get it. So I opted for a populist way, and through my paintings show how the past, the present and the future came together,” says Bharadwaj, 50. Courtyards and water bodies are ubiquitous in every painting, with the imagery of the sun and a child visible in every work. “The sun is the source of all energy, and the child represents the future,” says the Delhi-based architect, adding, “I have combined photographs of my projects with elements that inspire me as an architect, be it in nature or monuments.”

While his paintings are given the names of his award-winning buildings, the disconnect is evident between concept and reality. If International Home Deco Park (IHDP) takes inspiration from the ghats of Varanasi, one wonders how a water body with stepped landscaping in a glass-covered commercial complex qualifies as a sustainable idea. Between evoking the ghosts of Fatehpur Sikri, Mohenjo Daro and Udaipur, the architect seems to be telling too many stories in one frame — how classic architectural elements honoured climatic conditions, and awarded its users fresh air, shade, light and wind, and on the other hand, how glass-clad, green-rated buildings are energy-efficient for present-day clients. The exhibition is on till September 22

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 20, 2016

If you're like me, your brain is so riddled with cat virus that you never want to hear anything negative about our whiskered overlords. But sometimes, the truth is so dark it simply begs to be thrust into the light. This is one of those times. Cats are an ecological disaster-they're shaping up to be one of the biggest contributors to the sixth mass extinction. A global analysis published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences finds that feral cats have helped drive at least 63 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles into the dirt over the past 500 years. The only group of invasive predators that's done more harm is rodents, which are linked to 75 species extinctions.

Dog lovers have no right to be smug, either: woof-woof is also making a killing out there, contributing to nearly a dozen extinctions as an invasive predator. "The large number of extinctions invasive predators have contributed to was shocking." The fact that our furry lap companions are wreaking ecological havoc isn't exactly news to biologists. For years, scientists have been methodically documenting the impact of introduced predators around the world, from rats killing rare native birds in New Zealand, to feral cats and introduced foxes decimating Australia's digging mammals. But until now, no single study could tell us just how bad the problem was on a global scale.

"We identified a need for a worldwide assessment across all regions and predator species," Tim Doherty of Deakin University in Australia told Gizmodo. "This information allows us to determine how invasive predator impacts vary across predators, prey species and geographic locations." Pulling data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List and other sources, Doherty and his colleagues have now confirmed that invasive predators-primarily rodents and cats, but also dogs, pigs, red foxes, and the small indian mongoose-are a leading cause of declining biodiversity worldwide. All told, invasive predators have contributed to at least 87 bird, 45 mammal, and ten reptile extinctions, which amounts to more than half of all known extinctions in these groups. Another 596 species are now threatened by introduced carnivores.

"The large number of extinctions invasive predators have contributed to was shocking," Doherty said. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of species that have fallen victim to invasive predators are what ecologists call "insular endemics": animals that are geographically isolated and in many cases occupy a narrow ecological niche. Countries like New Zealand and Madagascar, both renowned for their endemic biodiversity, are among the hardest-hit. Clearly, these places ought to be taking the problem seriously. This summer, New Zealand announced its intention to eradicate all introduced predators by 2050, including rats, possums, stoats, ferrets, and feral cats. But how exactly the island nation plans on achieving that remains to be seen.

In all likelihood, eradicating invasive predators is going to take a mix of tried-and-true methods like lethal trapping and predator fences, and newer, more speculative technologies like gene drive. By shedding light on just how many species are at stake, Doherty hopes his study will spur new investment in this area. Of course, you also have an important part to play, by keeping your beloved critters indoors. If you must let them out, at least make sure they're fixed.

- http://www.gizmodo.in/, September 20, 2016

While Tamil Nadu already has several monuments and natural sites with the Unesco World Heritage tag, the state is still waiting for its first entry in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage category, despite its rich and varied culture. Now, a Chennai-based think tank has mooted the idea of pursuing cultural heritage status for one of the oldest localities in the city, Mylapore.

The Mylapore Institute for Policy Research (MIPR), a wing of India Cements, has presented a proposal in this regard to the state government, expressing willingness to follow it up with Unesco and its associated organisations. Cultural heritage, also known as living heritage, is defined by Unesco as "traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants." These include oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, and festive events. "Mylapore has all the features to get the tag as it is an area within a metropolis which follows age-old traditions without any change.

Though there are towns and cities whose economy revolved around a temple, the people in and around the Kapaleeswarar and Adi Kesava Perumal temples in Mylapore still live the tradition. With the Unesco tag, the revenue of government will improve manifold," said think-tank president Shiv Kumar. As per MIPR's plan, the inner area around Kapaleeswarar and Kesava Perumal temples will be considered for the cultural heritage tag. "We discussed the project with Unesco officials in Paris. They were interested to hear about such a place amid a busy city like Chennai," said Shiv Kumar.

The two temples in Mylapore have distinct belief systems - one is a Shiva temple and the other follows Vishnu - with their own traditions. "Tamil is the language of Alwars (Vaishnavite) and Nayanmars (Shivaities). Their scriptures are recited by people of all castes and strata. The annual festival of Kapaleeswarar temple even today draws several lakhs of devotees and the four Mada streets are vibrant all through the year. We will encourage tourists to experience devotion, enjoy the music and shop around," said Shiv Kumar. The think-tank worked for more than a year to collect details on Mylapore and consult experts on the possibility of getting a heritage tag for the area. "We are expecting government nod for our proposal," added Shiv Kumar.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 20, 2016

Sir Parshurambhau (SP) College has won this year's Purushottam Karandak, the prestigious inter-collegiate theatre competition. The 'best actor overall' and 'best actor male' awards went to the students from SP college, while the best actress award was given to a student of Cummins College. Anil Gherade, cultural representative of SP College, said, "Our play named '300 missing' got the trophy. This play is based on the life of French filmmaker Georges Melies. This was written by Gaurav Barve and Yash Ruikar together. Melies was a revolutionary filmmaker, but today nobody knows him. Hence, we wanted our audience to have a sneak peak into his life."

Barve, who won the 'best actor overall' award for his portrayal of Georges Melies, said that while he would like to try out other forms of performing arts like cinema and small screen, theatre is his true love. "Theatre is where my acting started and I would always want to pursue this. But yes, if something good comes along, I would like to experiment with other forms too like films and television."

Barve devoured scores of videos on Melies available on YouTube to understand his character. "He was a complicated man and also one of the best actors the world has ever seen. I wanted to get the nuances right and hence I read and saw almost everything that I could on him," said Barve, who is a first year BA student at SP college. The Cummins College of Engineering for Girls won the second prize while Pune Institute of Computer Technology got the third prize. Yash Ruikar from SP college was awarded the 'best actor male' while Sharayu Dhote was given the 'best actress' award.

Cummins College of Engineering for girls also won the award for best experimental play. "There were 51 participants in total out of which 9 were selected for the final round. The prize distribution ceremony will be held on September 22 at Bharat Natya Mandir. SP college will present its play then. We are already done with Karandak in Kolhapur and Ratnagiri. The competition in Nagpur will be held in November while due to renovation work of a theatre in Jalgaon, the date of competition there is undecided," said Mangesh Shinde, trustee of Maharashtriya Kalopasak, which organizes the competition.

Shinde further said that the competition in Mumbai is still undecided. "There were some indiscipline issues in Mumbai. We found that students were not sticking to rules of the competition in Mumbai and hence we are in talks with officials there on whether to organize another competition or stop it forever. The final decision will be taken by month end," added Shinde.

Our play named '300 missing' got the trophy. This play is based on the life of French filmmaker Georges Melies. This was written by Gaurav Barve and Yash Ruikar together. Melies was a revolutionary filmmaker, but today nobody knows him. Hence, we wanted our audience to have a sneak peak into his life

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 20, 2016

Study finds Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwar Wada and Pataleshwar Caves falling within Metro Influence Zone, where FSI might be intensified, despite rules preventing landscape changes within 100 metres of any historical site The much anticipated Metro project may put several of Pune's heritage sites in the line of fire, warns a study conducted by a city-based researcher, who is working to popularise historical structures among citizens. According to the research, 46 per cent of the listed 246 historical sites in the city lie in the Metro Influence Zone(MIZ) and stand at high risk of impact from the metro construction work.

"Of the listed heritage sites, 77 are Grade I, 84 are Grade II and 85 are Grade III structures. There are also natural heritage sites such as rivers and hills that lie in the MIZ, apart from all three national monuments —Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwar Wada and Pataleshwar Caves," shared Prajakta Panshikar Divekar, an anthropologist who had conducted the research titled, "Study of Pune Metro Project from a Heritage Perspective" under an Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) scholarship grant.

In fact, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had also conducted a similar survey along with the metro officials. "We have already conducted a survey and sent a report about this to the government. Altering landscapes within 100 metres of aheritage site is not allowed, according to The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904. The route might end up doing just that. We are now waiting for a reply from the authorities," said B G Aelikar, conservation assistant officer for the Pune sub-division.

Besides the three monuments, other locally important structures like Nana Wada, Vishrambaug Wada, Tulshibaug Mandir Complex and Mahatma Phule Mandai also fall within the MIZ. "The Development Plan (DP) talks about the decongestion of the core city and the metro plan talks about the densification of floor space index (FSI) through Development Control Rules along the Metro area. In this case, we don't know what the real vision of the civic body is. It is an extremely expensive project, but people don't even know the process they have used here since it's not in the public domain," Divekar stressed.

Even though the Metro might not interfere with the physical wellbeing of these structures, heritage experts say it might affect them in other ways. Highlighting those, Sharvey Dhongde, co-convenor of INTACH, Pune Chapter, said, "The Metro per se would not cause any problems physically. But, what might prove to be a problem would be the FSI of four in the Metro areas, which will make development in the area high density. This problem is not merely due to the Metro, but also other commercial aspects. This high FSI in the main city (Peth) areas also causes pressure on other infrastructure such as traffic congestions and so on. The three national monuments will be protected under the central act itself, but the local monuments will face a problem. It is as if the sites will stand in isolation, where it's actually the overall fabric of the area that gives the heritage feel. Moreover, with such a high FSI, incentivising people for protection of the sites which are privately owned will be difficult."

However, Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) heritage cell head Sham Dhawale felt that the Metro would attract more attention to the sites. "The Metro is important for development and it coming close to these heritage sites will rather gather more of a crowd there. This will benefit the sites as they will be paid more attention; vandalism would stop and beautification work will be stepped up," he insisted. When contacted, Srinivas Bonala, PMC's chief engineer (traffic planning) claimed that he has not seen the report and, therefore, cannot comment on its authenticity. "Wherever heritage structures come in the Metro path, we will take due permissions from the respective department for them," he said.

- http://www.punemirror.in/, September 21, 2016

It is centuries older than the city that houses it. Located in the heart of Bengaluru, the 1,250-year-old Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple boasts of a rich heritage - it was built by the Chola dynasty and revamped by the Vijayanagara kings and Bengaluru founder Kempe Gowda. But instead of being preserved, the architectural marvel is being damaged in the name of renovation, claim historians and conservationists. The temple in Ulsoor, east Bengaluru, is being cemented and concretized, which experts say is marring its aesthetic beauty.

When TOI visited the temple on Monday, construction work was in progress, and the walls and pillars were being raised. "We are constructing two new temples and a shelter for various chariots. We have taken up the work following clearance from the government," said Selvamani T, executive officer of the temple, which is under the Muzrai department. Many corners of the temple's inner walls and the roof have been cemented and painted. Additional structures have been erected on old walls. Asked whether the modifications are spoiling the ancient temple's architectural grandeur, Selvamani said the cementing and painting work wasn't done during his tenure.

Heritage enthusiast Swaminathan Natarajan has penned several letters to people in power, asking them to save the temple's originality. He has blamed unscientic renovation for its present condition. "We as a city should stop the destruction of Someshwara temple. Haphazard cementing and concretization are robbing the temple of its beauty and antiquity. Its tourism value is also being lost," he added.

Heritage expert and conservationist Sathya Prakash Varanashi, who has been fighting to save the temple, said, "Heritage survives only if there is continuity, something we often ignore. Much of our past is being altered or diluted in the name of development, especially when it comes to temples. The Ulsoor temple is an apt example of how we are defacing historical structutres."

Historian Suresh Moona said the main reason for the sorry state of affairs is that the temple is not a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or the Karnataka archeology department. "The government should realize the architectural and heritage value of the temple is as important as the religious aspect. Its intricate carvings and magnificent architecture are on a par with Hampi monuments. The authorities should stop passing the buck and take collective responsibility to protect this icon," he added. Will look into matter: Muzrai department Magdalin Nalina, headquarters assistant, muzrai department, said the problem concerning the renovation has not come to her notice so far, and she will look into the matter soon. "Revamp/development projects which cost less than Rs 1 crore are approved by the respective deputy commissioner. This is one such project," he added.

A PEEK INTO HISTORY Temple's history dates back to Chola period. Though built by the Chola dynasty, major modifications were done during Vijayanagara Empire and Kempe Gowda's rule in 1540-1560. Boasting of the Vijayanagara style of architecture, it has a mantapam with 48 distinctly carved pillars. It's believed a couple which gets married in the temple stays together forever. During excavations in 2010, a 69-foot deep stepped tank (kalyani) was discovered on temple's left side.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 21, 2016

Leh is hosting the fifth Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) to discuss a wide range of issues related to Himalayan states, including water security and entrepreneurial ventures like crafts, eco-tourism. The three-day summit is being inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. A statement said the summit will focus on entrepreneurial ventures such as crafts, eco-tourism, agriculture and allied skills which are appropriate for sustainable development of the mountain communities. The summit will be attended by parliamentarians, legislators from various states, members of Leh Autonomous Council, central and state government officials, civil society participants and delegates from multilateral organisations such as United Nations Development Programme.

“Having a vision based in holistic and sustainable development, the effort would be to draw upon scholarly inputs, meaningful experiences with the involvement of leaders so that the summit will add actionable value to mountain states in their development efforts,” the release said. The summit is in its fifth edition and such events in the past have deliberated on various thematic areas relevant to the mountain ecosystems, the statement said. “Delegates will be discussing the issue of water security and skills for development,” the release said.

The summit is being organised by Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), a civil society organisation of 11 Himalayan States, including Darjeeling in West Bengal and two hill districts of Assam in association with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Snow Leopard Conservancy. IMI has been constituted as a platform to allow stakeholders from the Indian Himalayan region to develop a common understanding on issues of mountain regions and lead to action plans. These actions plans are then recommended to states and the central government for making it part of their planning processes.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 21, 2016

We communicated mostly through WhatsApp." Ten stations spread over Rajasthan have been covered with fine traditional Indian art in a duration of, roughly, six months. But, even more interestingly, each station has been painted with motifs and images and in art forms unique to the places they are located in. Malvika (Mala) Singh, best known as the publisher of Seminar magazine — but who is also currently an advisor to the Government of Rajasthan on culture and tourism — has been a catalyst in this process. She ideated on the themes, and coordinated with the artists and local IAS officers for this, mostly, from behind her desk at the magazine's Connaught Place office.

It began last September, when wildlife conservationist Valmik Thapar (also Singh's brother), came up with the idea of getting artists from the Ranthambore School of Art to surface paint the Sawai Madhopur Station. He approached Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who gave him the go-ahead. The World Wide Fund for Nature funded the project. Within four months, the station acquired a distinctly new avatar. The famous banyan tree of Ranthambore covered one wall. Tigers, leopards and hyenas strode past others.

People were less likely to litter, spit or urinate now, as they often do, since the station resembled an accidental art gallery. "People are curious, excited and are asking questions, taking photographs," Thapar had said at the time. "It is generating awareness and will have other ripple effects." Singh also credits Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje for backing these efforts. "She (Raje) has always believed in art in public spaces." Raje's initiatives towards this include getting Jogi painters to paint hoardings, bus stops and autorickshaws in Jaipur under a project titled 'Living Arts of Rajasthan'. So, when Raje saw pictures of Sawai Madhopur, she asked if Singh would help replicate this artistic endeavour in major railway junctions throughout the state. But projects planned by the state government seldom see light of day in the time accorded to them, if at all. How is this one meeting targets? "First of all, we decided to ask the district collectors of each station to finance this out of their allocated fund," Singh says.

Last year the CM had approved an untied fund of Rs 50 lakh for each DC as part of her campaign Sarkaar Apne Dwar. "Say, artists charge approximately Rs 4 lakh for each station, that's not a drain on such a fund at all." This did away with the question of Central or Rajasthan state funds which would have added to the red-tape and risked payment delays for artists as well as leakage — because of the number of hands it would have to pass through before reaching recipients. Next, each collector was made in charge of the actual surface-painting at his or her station, "creating a sense of ownership".

It was the collectors who found the local artists, with whom they would discuss broadly what could be done. "There were no expensive state-funded 'inspection tours' with bureaucratic assistants, no hotel expenses," says Singh. "The only request to the DCs was: Please don't bargain with the local kalakaars, respect their art." Then, initial colour themes and designs, and later work-in-progress pictures, were sent by artists to Singh and the collectors on WhatsApp to ensure everything was progressing in the right direction. Apparently, they were. The theme for Bikaner Station draws inspiration from the city's Badal Mahal, built in the late 1800s by Maharaja Dungar Singh, where the walls and ceiling are painted with rain clouds. "The CM suggested this. I asked the artist not to leave any white space on the ceiling or walls," Singh says. The arches were painted with flower motifs for contrast. The Ajmer station actually has cartouches made of flowers, leaves and animals (elephants and camels). Pillars painted with characters from myths and legends. On the domed ceiling, enlarged traditional battle shields with horses on either side. On the wall adjoining platform 1, artists are currently painting a procession for Garib Nawaz, Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti.

"The ceiling of Udaipur station has ornate floral motifs. The frescoes, painted in the style of the Mewar School, depict Holi and Raas Leela, the floor plan of the Nathdwara Temple and older cityscapes. Bharatpur was painted, naturally, with images of birds and the sanctuary. For Jodhpur, Singh suggested artists replicate the Pabuji Ki Phad (a 14th century Rathore folk deity). This is a scroll painting of folk deities and legends on canvas that bards travel with and use for folk performances. Kota was supposed to be painted by Usman Ali, a renowned artist from the area, but he fell ill. "So his shagirds did it in the style of the Kota School (characterised, among other things, by foliage and jungles in the background)." Jaipur (main) was done by Jogi artists, from a family which had spawned their own (Jogi) art form, inspired by artist and cultural anthropologist Haku Shah, who had asked them to draw on paper in black-and-white. The Jaipur-Gandhinagar Station has paintings of traditional Rajasthani puppets (kathputalis) on its walls. The third Jaipur station was painted with city's skyline, "an architectural drawing the painters were asked to blow up".

Rajasthan lends itself to much artistry, according to Singh, because of a longstanding tradition of surface paintings and frescoes in the region. "Most of the artists are young. Their art is alive," she says. "The local government has been supportive — there's hardly been any interference," says 42-year-old artist Deependra Singh Shekhawat, who's working at the Ajmer station. "The railway officers did try to tell us what to do, or not do, in the beginning, but they came around soon enough. Shekhawat says it's especially heartening to see people at the station admire his work. Three artists were awarded for their efforts on Independence Day. Future plans include an app to connect buyers to the artists and a place for them to sell their art outside stations itself.

Singh adds: "Redesigning all the signage (Vivek Sahni has designed a typeface and cartouche pro-bono); smart uniforms for porters and sweepers and substantial sponsored cash prizes — say, Rs 10,00,000 per station with 10 sweepers, so Rs 1,00,000 per sweeper — for the cleanest station; in smaller stations, getting women to do traditional folk paintings on cow-dung, for instance, Mandana paintings." The success of this initiative seems to have pumped life into a national movement for the beautification of train stations. Prabhu, in his Railway Budget speech this year, spoke of the beautification of stations at pilgrimage centres, but Rajasthan has taken the idea beyond that. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had connected swachhata to saundarya while speaking about train station beautification in his Mann Ki Baat in January. He indicated this was an initiative the Central Government would follow through on when he lauded students of a fine arts college in the district for surfacepainting the walls and pillars of Aligarh Railway Station this August. Other stations undergoing, or will undergo, such a metamorphosis around the country include Bengaluru, Agra, Bhubaneshwar and Puri. And yet, whether these stations will manage to truly capitalise on the potential of local traditional artists remains to be seen (so far the Rajasthani stations seem to be the only ones doing so).

In Mumbai, for instance, NGO Make A Difference (MAD) engaged up to 500 volunteers to paint images at Borivali and Khar stations. The idea seemed to be not to promote traditional art as much as to engage as many citizens as possible. From October 2-8 this year, Shishir Joshi, CEO of Bombay First, will take this initiative to the next level by surface painting 36 stations across Mumbai's central and western lines. The effort will involve thousands of volunteers and be collectively funded from private sector sponsorship and crowd-funding. "The surface painting of 10 out of 36 stations have been almost entirely crowd-funded," says Joshi proudly. This, too, will help citizens feel invested and involved in keeping these stations clean. Joshi is collaborating with the Indian Railways for the project, who have requested him to eventually take on 19 more stations.

Bombay First has been trying to crowd-source ideas for design as well. "Three elements of the initiative will be: concepts, which designers will come up with, the outline or sketch, which artists will draw, and the colour, which the volunteers will fill in," says Joshi. The walls of heritage stations won't be painted but instead the NGO is planning temporary exhibitions. There will be history walls with brief histories of the stations in Marathi, Hindi and English. "For every suburban station, we'll try to bring in the culture of the suburb into the design," says Joshi. "But Mumbai has a huge floating crowd, so there will be a mix of everything." Including generic social messages, relating to, say, safety, organ donation or the importance of voting. The outreach of this initiative too can be immense. Mumbai's local train population is unique not just by its character, but also its sheer size. "Every day, 120 lakh people travel by local trains," says Joshi. "A figure comparable to India's entire daily train population."

- http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/, September 21, 2016

Martyr Turrebaz Khan was one of the foremost freedom fighters of the country during 1857, yet is unknown and unsung,” says playwright-director-actor Mohammad Ali Baig. He continues, “Poet-King Quli Qutub Shah was the first Saheb-e-Diwan of Urdu poetry in the subcontinent, in addition to being a visionary administrator ahead of his times in the 16th century, yet just a few academicians are aware of this. Queen Hayat Bakshi Begum of Golconda thwarted Mughal invasion of the Deccan in the 17th century without a single war, purely on her mental strength and political strategy, and is still the only royal in the world who was a princess, a queen and a queen mother in succession, with her father, husband and son successive rulers of Hyderabad. But how many people are aware of this part of our country’s history?”

It is these “elements of our own history and takes of bravery” that inspire him to bring their life stories alive on stage, says Baig, whose upcoming historical production 1857: Turrebaz Khan, set against the backdrop of the Sepoy Mutiny, is a gripping drama of an unsung hero from the Deccan. The drama depicts the freedom fighter’s last few hours with his captor who is, in fact, a slave to the very system Khan is fighting against.

“Turrebaz Khan was a person with exemplary courage and valour. Imagine a soldier taking on the regime of His Highness Nizam IV and the mighty British Empire with a group of 500. To create a theatre piece out of his story, and to play the fiery person tied for the entire hour of the performance onstage, is a challenge for an actor who is mostly using his eyes and voice to tell the tale,” says Baig, who essays Khan’s role in the play. Produced by Begum Razia Baig, and written, designed and directed by Mohammad Ali Baig, the play also features Vijay Prasad and Noor Baig. Talking about the research that went into scripting the 65-minute production, Baig who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014, says that his team, especially his wife Noor, had to put in a lot of hard work to source authentic facts and details. He, however, adds that since very little material is available on Khan, except few narrations by historians, he had to fictionalise “within the confines of authenticity that would make for compelling theatre”.

“For me, the structure of the play is very important as I feel rest of the elements onstage depend on this. I have based the entire play on the imaginary last hour he (Khan) had with his captor who was from the same region and ideology, but a different socio-economic milieu, thereby creating a contrast of the privileged and the deprived, the powerful and the oppressed,” he tells Metrolife. Baig, who has also worked on plays like Quli: Dilon ka Shahzaada, Spaces and Taramati - The Legend of an Artiste, continues, “It could be a case in point today, anywhere in the world, of two people — one who caters to the establishment for his own agenda, and the other whose agenda is a larger cause, benefiting the rest of his country.” The play, which had its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016, followed by its London premiere, invoked a sense of belonging universally despite being stories and characters from Hyderabad, says Baig, adding that it got an “overwhelming” response at all the venues.

He, however, shares that performing such large-scale productions overseas is a challenge “because they are conceived, designed and blocked for a 60-feet proscenium opening and multilevel performing areas”. “But my first production 'Taramati’, which had a cast of 40, including horses and camels, onstage and 150 lights atop a 250 year old hillock monument could not be staged anywhere else. So I had to make my later productions adaptable and ‘portable’ to perform them even at intimate spaces like National Centre for the Performing Arts, Ranga Shankara, India Habitat Centre. But it gives you equal thrill when your performing space is the four centuries old Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, the modern 5,000-seater Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the medieval Van Gogh Castle in Europe or the state of the art Kagithane Theatre in Istanbul, where your sets are a minimum of 50 feet high architectural wonders, forming a natural part of storytelling,” he says.

Credited for single-handedly reviving theatre in Hyderabad over the past decade, Baig says that he is a product of his upbringing. He adds that being born into a family of theatre persons, growing up in green rooms and watching his father, late Qadir Ali Baig in various makeovers, among other things became an inherent part of his temperament and upbringing. “And with my ad films in several countries from the West to the Far East, my exposure has been of what is now popularly called a ‘global citizen’. While my roots are Indian, particularly Hyderabadi, my work canvas is universal. What I learnt from Baba is what I practise: that ‘theatre should transcend barriers; linguistic, cultural and geographical’. While the premise of these plays is heritage, the essence is contemporary; period yet timeless. Indian in nature, universal in appeal,” says Baig, who is also director of ad film and social documentaries. An Old World Culture presentation, Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation’s “1857: Turrebaz Khan” is scheduled for September 25 at 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm at Habitat World, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road.

- http://www.deccanherald.com/, September 21, 2016

On Tuesday, the State Archaeology Department and Chennai 2000 Plus Trust began their five-day seminar on ancient history and archaeology of Chennai region, with a felicitation and a presentation of a "Chennai award" to archaeologist J Baskar and his team for their excavation at Pattaraiperumbudur, a tiny village in the Thiruvallur region. The findings at Pattaraiperumbudur, said Bhaskar, from the state department of archaeology, were literally an archaeological "goldmine". "The findings show human activities in the area from the Palaeolithic age all the way through the Neolithic period to the iron age and finally the Sangam age. It is very rare that you find one site that reveals data about so many different periods," he added.

While the idea for the excavation began in 2002, when one of the state archaeologists found some pieces of pottery in Pattaraiperumbudur. However, the actual dig began last year. "The area is known for its stone age sites. But our archaeologist discovered iron age artefacts on the surface. So, we decided to follow that up," said Bhaskar. The dig led to the discovery of more than 200 antiquities including stone age and iron age artefacts, tools, glass beads, shell bags, terracotta beads, ivory ornaments, painted pottery pieces, rock paintings and items inscribed with Tamil Brahmi script. Bhaskar also added that the team will continue their work there. Over the course of the next four days lectures will be held on topics that include the Kortalayar Civilization, inscriptions of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur Districts, and the Adyar Civilization.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 21, 2016

A proposal for seeking the UNESCO World Heritage tag for Mylapore has been mooted by the Mylapore Institute for Policy Research. "Mylapore has all the features to get the tag as it is an area within a metropolis which follows age-old traditions without any change," said the think-tank's president Shiv Kumar. Chennai Times spoke to historians and residents in the locality to find out if the place still holds on to its roots or has moved away from its heritage, thanks to commercialisation. As a historian and a Mylaporean, whose family has lived in the locality for the past 180 years, I'm really glad about this proposal. While the locality is not as ancient as many other UNESCO World Heritage sites, it is still at least a few hundred years old, and is an important part of the history of Madras. Also, among all the localities of contemporary Chennai, it is the one that has that old-word charm the most.

Not many know that the ancient statue of peacock and lingam depicting the legend of Mylapore is still present at the Kapaleeswarar Temple. At the same time, I also hope they restore facets of the Mylai of yore around the temple area. Mylapore has a certain architecture to it, and that is vanishing today because of construction of newer buildings. And as part of our efforts to get the tag, we should also find a solution to remove the congestion around the temple and its surroundings. A Swachh Mylapore is definitely needed.

— Nanditha Krishna, historian and environmentalist
First, we need to do a survey of the local heritage monuments. They need to be categorised as 100-year-old, 200-year-old and the ones that are older than that. Now, this proposal is too early and too small. What is more than 200 years old, here? Most of the old structures have been redone and the actual ones don't exist anymore. Mylapore temple gopuram was done in 1900 and so was the pond. Of course, they are named in Devaram of the 8th century, but the structures mentioned in it don't exist anymore. There are many other places throughout Tamil Nadu that have more cultural heritage than Mylapore. — Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, historian and novelist

These days, we realise the value of something only when it gets branded. For example, we need Madras Week every year to understand heritage value of the city. So, this heritage tag is definitely a welcome move. There are so many things in Mylapore that can be associated with cultural heritage. How many of us know about Saint Sambandar and his shrine within the Kapaleeswarar temple? Also, the Mundagakanniamman temple is another significant heritage place. Hardly anyone knows that there was a girl who sacrificed her life during the Chola war and later, she was glorified as a goddess by placing an idol. The celebrated poet Thiruvalluvar was born in Mylapore. There still exists a fossil of the tree under which he was born. The kolam contests that still happen in the mada veedhis and the Carnatic music kutcheris during the Margazhi season also reflect the culture of the place.

Isn't it already late for the recognition? Mylapore is by far the most important locality that still holds on to our cultural and traditional roots. Though, with time, it has upped the modern amenities, the best part is that they haven't given up on the old-world charm. You still have agraharams and old buildings in the Mada Streets remain as-is without being converted into modern buildings or apartments. The temples and the kolams are well-maintained. The car festival that happens during March is a delight to watch, and the place almost turns into a village with classical music singing, dancing, and even gypsies walking around the streets. Mylapore also houses the maximum number of pillayar temples. So much so that you actually spot people doing thoppukaranam in the middle of the streets. In fact, the posh cars that pass through Mylapore look odd in this culturally rich place!

— Bosskey, TV personality and a resident of Mylapore What is most worrisome in Mylapore is the disappearance of old buildings and houses. It is only the Kapaleeshwarar temple, its tank and the Adi Kesava Perumal Koil that remain the same from the locality's glorious past. Of course, the rituals and traditions are followed by the temples within their premises. Apart from that, the whole heritage aspect of Mylapore is lost because of commercialisation. These days, because of the traffic around the temple, it is a nightmare to even hold a temple procession there. Look how the area around Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is maintained. It is free of traffic and any encroachments. I don't think this UNESCO cultural heritage tag makes any sense considering the situation in Mylapore now. — Sridhar Venkataraman, a resident of Mylapore

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 21, 2016

Even as the Mhadei water dispute between Goa and Karnataka seems poised for bipartite talks, the environmental issue of ecological destruction in the global biodiversity hotspot may have slipped into obscurity Environmentalists are irked at the lack of seriousness of the law-enforcement authorities in controlling the massive destruction happening at the region after Karnataka started work on the Kalasa diversion canal on October 2, 2006. "If at all there was to be an amicable solution to the row, it should have started before the environmental destruction. But people don't realize the loss to flora and fauna in the region," said president of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) Nirmala Sawant. While environmentalists have alleged massive destruction in the Kankumbi region due to Karnataka's Kalasa canal project, no damage assessment has been carried out in the area just across Goa's border.

"Goa government cannot do it, as its officials will not be allowed (at the site)," said additional solicitor general and then advocate general A N S Nadkarni, who is appearing for the state in the case. The Karnataka forest department had registered a first information report (FIR) in the case, but nothing much is known about any progress on it, said sources.. Nadkarni added that two successive Congress governments in the state have maintained a passive stance to the destruction in Kankumbi though it abuts the limits of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. "Since 2005, the Congress-led governments have not done anything to complain about the destruction," Nadkarni added. Karnataka, during the hearings before the Mhadei water dispute tribunal, had asserted that earlier governments had allowed the Kalasa tributary project. But presenting his arguments before the tribunal, Nadkarni had countered saying, "It is not open to one individual (either chief minister or water resources minister) to decide on the fate of the citizens of an entire state."

An environmentalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, added, "The hydrological and ecological damage caused by the project is irreparable. As per Central government laws, any non-forest work likely to utilize land in reserve forest area requires prior approval of the MoEF and from the National Board of Wild Life, but, till date, none have been taken while the work continues."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 21, 2016

Stephen Alter tries to find out through his imagination, sketching three vignettes set in the youth, middle and towards the end of Corbett's life, drawing on "many of Corbett's stories and historical facts surrounding his life". In our era of threatened natural environment and diminishing wildlife, big-game hunters, leave alone poachers, are viewed with much opprobrium (remember the disgraced US hunter of Cecil the Lion?) but there are a few honourable exceptions. Especially, this accomplished hunter in the waning days of the Raj who killed to protect people – and was a Sahab like few others.

One of the few Englishmen still remembered with respect, gratitude and even awe in India, Jim Corbett’s exploits across the jungles in the Himalayan foothills of north India in the early 20th century are famous from his half a dozen odd engaging and evocative accounts. But despite these, which also contain his affectionate impressions of a country where his Irish-origin family had lived for generations and whose common people he well understood, and a number of detailed biographies, there are still unanswered questions about his eventful, and enigmatic, life. As this book asks: “Who was the real Jim Corbett?”

We know James Edward ‘Jim’ Corbett (1875-1955) was a “hunter who tracked down marauding tigers and leopards. A naturalist who spoke the language of the jungle. One of the first wildlife photographers to capture images of large predators in their natural habitat. A conservationist who voiced the earliest warnings about India’s dwindling natural heritage. A legend whose knowledge of the forests of India and the birds and animals that he encountered was unsurpassed. His bestselling books on shikar and jungle lore have inspired generations of wildlife enthusiasts”.

But was there more? Stephen Alter tries to find out through his imagination, sketching three vignettes set in the youth, middle and towards the end of Corbett’s life, drawing on “many of Corbett’s stories and historical facts surrounding his life” but stressing it is “a work of fiction and does not aspire to any pretence of biographical surety”. The Indian-born and bred American author, whose works include account of travels along the Ganga and in Pakistan, a biography of the Indian elephant and making of Bollywood classic “Omkara” besides some fiction, begins with “The Fern-Collector”, set in Nainital in 1888. An atmospheric, initially eerie, account sees the teenaged Corbett, collecting botanical specimens in a graveyard, chance on a dug-up grave with the body it contained – of a young girl who had died a decade ago and attracted some rumours – missing.

As he participates enthusiastically in the police investigation and even helps to solve the mystery, we also learn about his background, and his growing interest in nature, fearlessness in penetrating the jungle and ascertaining his secrets, as well as his understanding and sympathy towards Indians. It also is a tale of Victorian morality, class divides and – reminiscent of Joseph Conrad – the uncertain, unenviable fate of those who transgress the colonial, ‘civilisational ‘ norms, to go “beyond the pale”. One inspired point is the presence, indirect though, of another writer who would subsequently also popularise Indian jungles and wildlife, and also present Indians sympathetically – Rudyard Kipling himself. The “The Man-eater of Mayaghat”, set in the Kumaon along the Sarada river in 1926 , is the longest but also most true to type. The labourers brought into the area are huddled in the camp after a tigress preys on them, and Corbett brought in, finds it a complex mission. Adding to the complications are an obnoxious forest officer, a mysterious girl living unafraid in the jungle, a Congress worker come to strive for the workers’ rights and a band of tribals. We also learn about Corbett’s World War I service and his modus operandi.

Finally, “Until the Day Break”, set in 1953 Kenya (where he had moved in 1947) soon after he hosted Princess Elizabeth and bade farewell to her as Queen, changes the narrative style from third person to first person as he ruminates over his life, its course and choices and why he had chosen to leave India. Even those who have read the entire Corbett corpus and biographies, this will be a welcome read offering a new look into a hunter who never lost his sympathy for any living creature – except snakes – or wonder for nature.

-- http://indianexpress.com/, September 21, 2016

An ideas competition hopes to stimulate discussions around India’s water edges

In its 25th year, Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRVIA), Mumbai, announces an ideas competition “The City and the Waters Edge”, open to multi-disciplinary teams of professionals and students across the country. Aneerudha Paul (Director) and Rohan Shivkumar (Deputy Director), KRVIA, and Neelkanth Chhaya, Ahmedabad-based academic and architect, talk about why waterfronts are important and how design education can lend itself to new perspectives

Why did you choose the theme ‘The City and the Water’s Edge’? A large number of cities in India have bodies of water (rivers, lakes, tanks, canals and the sea) that they have a strong relationship with. In the past, there were social sanctions (both religious, legal and ethical) towards the manner in which people treated them. This ensured that the water bodies were kept in good order and enhanced the life of the city. Today the situation is different. Thus, there is a need to re-vision, reimagine the relationship between human settlements and water bodies. How do we create new ways of integrating them into our cities? How do we make such places completely inclusive, while still respecting ecology? These are the questions that we hope that the participants will address. Ultimately, the competition is a vehicle for stimulating awareness, and democratic discussions, which we hope will lead to better forms of urban action.

While the revitalisation of the Patna ghats are more in keeping with tradition, and folklore, and quite people centric, the Sabarmati Riverfront Project, has taken away the softness of the riverbank itself. How can designers be more empathetic to their context and environment? The Patna ghats and the Sabarmati Riverfront Project are two divergent approaches to the water’s edge. Our cities and bodies of water are multifarious, and there could be many solutions, which address all sections of society, keeping in tune with the traditions and aspirations, and at the same time are ecologically responsible. Do you think design education can build new perspectives?

Design education must go beyond simple training of technocrats or aestheticians. It can only be called education when it helps students (as well as faculty) build new perspectives. It is in this spirit that the competition is initiated. Majuli, recently declared India’s first island district, was a studio project for students at KRVIA. What was your experience ? Will you be working with the Assam government on this? Majuli is a unique historic cultural landscape with an extremely fragile ecology, where there is an intricate relationship between the natural, the social and the built environment. The students and faculty, who visited Majuli, have been able to see these patterns.

We have been trying to get support, financial as well as organisational, from the local government as well as other sources, to be able to continue our work in Majuli. We do believe that the archiving of the intangible and tangible cultural artifact of this place will help the authorities prepare a sensitive plan for this unique geography.

What are the other plans for the 25th year celebrations? We have four public events planned — a seminar on affordable housing, an exhibition of faculty and alumni, and a symposium on Asian architecture and urbanism, where architectural colleges from around Asia will participate. The event will include a seminar that examines approaches towards architectural education in Asia.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 21, 2016

AMC has come up with special awareness campaign on this occasion which is being spread through social and electronic media. A team of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is set to come to the city in the last week of this month to verify the details of the dossier Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) submitted in support of its case to get the UNESCO world heritage city tag. If the city succeeds in convincing the team that it has unique heritage value, it will be granted the the tag in June 2017. If Ahmedabad gets the world heritage city tag, it will be the only city in the country to be so designated. AMC has come up with special awareness campaign on this occasion which is being spread through social and electronic media. The civic body has hired a private firm, Moving Pixels, for the campaign. The firm is currently giving final touches to the drive. The team represents International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the technical arm of UNESCO. It has at least one foreign expert, probably from Iran. Other experts, sources said, are from different parts of India chosen by UNESCO.

The special awareness campaign comprises hoardings, audio presentation and screening of short films which will capture the city with all its heritage sites. “We have asked agencies concerned, like the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Archaeology Department, to keep them ready with a clean interiors while the AMC will see that the surroundings of monument like Rani ka Hazira are cleared of encroachments without causing hardship to people earning the livelihood at these places, covering 28 monuments in the AMC limit,” said Dilip Gor, officer on special duty for AMC’s heritage department. The firm has been given the deadline till September 26, likely to be the date when the UNESCO committee visits the city.

There are over 250 world heritage cities across the globe, but India — despite its long history and numerous heritage sites — has no UNESCO-recognised world heritage city. Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai have made it to UNESCO’s tentative list, considered the first step before a detailed dossier for nomination can be submitted. The UNESCO tag adds immense brand value to the city and adds significantly to tourism footfall. Ahmedabad, said to be inhabited since the 11th century, has 36 ASI-protected structures, hundreds of pols that capture the essence of community living and a heritage cell to implement a revitalisation programme for historic sites.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 21, 2016

Historical information on Meera Bai’s life may be open to debate, but it is her true devotion, poetry and spiritual quest that motivated Bharatanatyam dancer Chitra Visweswaran for presenting ‘Meera – The Soul Divine’ at the Aim for Seva’s fund-raiser event. The production that premiered at Chennai is currently touring 17 cities of the USA. “It is an attempt to look at Meera’s life from the perspective of a spiritual journey, than a historical one. The creation has been strung together using relevant situations from her life,” says the Padma Shri awardee. Visweswaran, who collaborated with vocalist and composer Bombay Jayashri Ramnath for the production that aims to raise funds for the education of children in rural India, explains that it is a combination of music and dance. “Jayashri is a sensitive artiste and is open to doing different things. It is also important for an artiste to explore, experiment and create, and I found all that in her. She is deeply spiritual. Her music gives wings to dance,” she says.

She is surprised that this mammoth production took only four months to make. “I think it happened because Jayashri and I had already seeped into the Meera consciousness. Both of us have been brought up in North India, and Meera is very much a part of our psyche. The making of this production involved revisiting the research done earlier, from the lyrics point of view and adapting it to describe her spiritual journey,” she added. Her reading on the subject of Meera began many years ago. She says, “In the mid 90s, I presented a show that highlighted the parallels of Aandal (the only female Alvar among the 12 Alvar sants of South India) and Meera. My husband had composed Carnatic and Hindustani music for each portion and I had played both the roles for the production.”

But over the past few years, Visweswaran has been selective on her performances, either group or solo. In the performance prepared for this tour, she has gracefully performed a key role. “The story line for this fund-raiser required a senior Meera. If it was a production that didn’t call for a mature character, I don’t think I would have participated,” she says. Visweswaran has used her sense of aesthetics in the performance. The production doesn’t feature any large-scale props except Krishna’s idol. “I like simplicity. We’ve just incorporated a few line-drawings to add a flavour to the place,” she says.

The danseuse’s treatment for this production emphasised on the spiritual journey of the princess and her search of Krishna. “At each stage, we present her bonding with her giridhari. Reading on the subject also revealed a story of the priest opening the temple door one morning to find Meera Bai’s drape on the idol of Lord Krishna. We’ve taken inspiration from that story to portray how she becomes one with him,” she notes. Visweswaran affirms that the cause to raise funds to educate rural India is worthy and she is delighted to be a part of it. “There are many brilliant boys and girls in rural areas, who don’t get the opportunity. In my view, it is important that spiritual leaders do not just look at the rituals of religion, but also apply those values to society. Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s vision was also to provide value-added education to the children of rural India,” she adds.

The Bharatnatyam exponent recalls that Sant Tirumular had aptly said, ‘Our art form makes men of animals, and a god of men’. She says that for Jayashri and her, the production has been a spiritual journey. She believes that within each person, there is a spiritual quest, sometimes dormant and needs to be awakened. “A visual representation through performing arts can help people relate to it. I don’t want people to just be entertained, but I want them to experience Meera’s journey,” she says.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 24, 2016

An ongoing exhibition of stone sculptures by Pankaj Gahlot, called Spandan , celebrates the relation between people and nature. All sculptures are carved out of a single stone and have intricate designs. Spandantranslates into trembling and pulsating. So the artiste explores the vibrations between people and their surrounding nature. The communication between a human being and elements of nature has become very essential because we live in a concrete jungle and we have to make extra efforts to keep in touch with our real self.

Pankaj Gahlot is an art teacher in Umairpur, Rajasthan, "Teaching is my profession but sculpting is my passion," he says. He is very well known for his art of working with black stones and carving sculptures out of a single stone. The exhibition is ongoing till September 25, between 4 pm and 8 pm at Amdavad Ni Gufa, Opp. Gujarat University.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 24, 2016

In order to boost tourism, the Delhi government is all set to improve the surroundings and roads leading to popular and lesser known monuments. The plan is based on a proposal prepared by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). INTACH has proposed seven routes--Mehrauli, Tughlaqabad and Surajkund, Hauz Khas and Safdarjung’s Tomb, Nizamuddin, Purana Qila and Lodi Gardens, Shahjahanabad, and New Delhi-- to link various heritage sites and precincts in a systematic manner.

Mehrauli will be developed first. The project is being funded by the Union Ministry of Tourism, for which R 100 crore will be allocated. The Delhi government’s tourism department may be appointed as a nodal agency for the execution of all heritage routes. The concept for the Mehrauli route is likely to be submitted to the government by the end of this month, after which a detail project report will be prepared. Work on the project will begin once it is approved.

“Three circuits--heritage , Mughal garden, and Sufi-- have been planned to promote tourism in the city. There are seven routes under the heritage circuit and Mehrauli is one of them. We are working on the proposal for Mehrauli for which the Centre will allocate R 100 crore,” said Kapil Mishra, Delhi’s Tourism Minister. Read: Rain rain don’t go away: This monsoon season, explore Delhi on foot Planned routes will connect monuments and other places of interest like a theme museum, traditional bazaar, eateries, sites of cultural events, and interpretation centre, situated in close proximity. There will be washrooms, ATMs, cafeterias, and souvenir shops with adequate parking facilities. Kiosks with proper design, lighting arrangement, and landscaping have also been planned.

The highlight of this plan is the training of guides to conduct heritage walks as an income generating activity for the locals. “The project is like soft development, which is likely to boost Delhi’s economy six times by generating numerous opportunity in the service industry. Presently, Delhi is used as transit hub, not as a tourist hub. The heritage circuit is to ensure that a tourist spends 5-7 days in the city,” said Prof A G Krishna Menon, Convenor, INTACH’s Delhi chapter.

As part of the project, roads in the vicinity of the monuments will be redeveloped with provision for pedestrian walkways, street furniture, and proper signages. Interpretation centres will also be constructed near monuments to disseminate the right information and enhance the understanding of heritage. Mehrauli route

A skywalk or elevated walkway connecting 13th century brick minaret, Qutb Minar to Qutb Minar metro station along the Mehrauli Archaeological park. A museum at Dak Bungalow. An interpretation centre at Lal Kot. Landscaping, street lighting, and public conveniences at Yogmaya Temple. Restoration of MCD library building in Mehrauli Village. Pedestrian way, underground cabling, street furniture, and signages at Hauz -i-Shamsi. Waste management and garbage collection system in Mehrauli village

- http://www.hindustantimes.com/, September 24, 2016

To generate awareness about the biodiversity of Vizag, four environment-conscious youngsters including wildlife biology students and bird watchers from the city have created a blog showcasing the beautiful and varied fauna of the Eastern Ghats. In their search for the fauna and photographing them, the bloggers have come across a number of interesting species of birds, butterflies, reptiles and insects which are not spotted everyday. In the list of fauna, there are reptiles such as leopard gecko, Indian golden geko, smooth water snake, beaked worm snake, Elliot's shield tail, insects including painted courtesan butterfly, tarantula belonging to Eumenophorinae (subfamily), a trap door spider, avifauna such as peregrine falcon bird, Bonellie's eagle, black eagle, plaintive cuckoo and thick billed green pigeon to name a few.

Created by Sanjay Kumar, Vivek Rathod, Gnaneswar Ch and Santosh Chowdary, the blog — biodiversityvizag.blogspot.in/ showcases photographs of each of the species sighted and a brief write-up about the animals. Already, 176 species have been featured and more are added to the list as and when they are sighted. "We created the blog to showcase the wildlife of Visakhapatnam region. We have done regular surveys in and around Vizag and found lots of species out of which some tend to be relatively uncommon for Vizag. One of the team members even recorded the roadkill of the smallest wild cat, the rusty spotted cat. Our main aim is to bring out the least known fauna for Vizagites to see and appreciate the biodiversity and variety of Vizag and at the same time make them realise the need to preserve the hills and wildlife habitats surrounding Vizag city," explained Ch Gnaneswar, a student of wildlife biology.

For finding the diverse species, we have explored areas including the hills of Simhachalam, Kambalakonda, Rushikonda, Thotlakonda, Bakkannapalem, other patches such as Megadhrigedda, Arilova, in and around the zoo premises as well as Agency areas of Araku and Paderu, said Rathod, an environment activist and bird watcher.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 24, 2016

In one of the largest field-based assessments of bird species, researchers have found coffee, rubber and areca agroforests in India’s Western Ghats support 204 bird species. The study, conducted outside protected areas in the Asian tropics, found that the agroforests support 204 bird species, including 13 endemic ones. The researchers warn changing agricultural practices that open-up shade tree canopy or switching from coffee and areca to monoculture crops such as rubber, can “seriously damage” the ability of agroforests to shelter birds in the region.

The study, ‘Producing Diversity: Agroforests Sustain Avian Richness and Abundance in India’s Western Ghats’ appears in the current edition of Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. Coffee, areca and rubber are the most widely grown plantation crops in Karnataka’s Western Ghats. It points to the fact that these agroforests are being increasingly recognised for their “supplementary role” in conserving wildlife. “We establish that coffee agroforests are substantially richer in birds than rubber and areca, but all three agroforests play an important role in providing subsidiary habitats for birds in the Ghats,” said co-author of the paper and leading ornithologist, Shashank Dalvi. “Large-bodied frugivores like pigeons and hornbills are found in much higher densities in coffee. These birds play a very important role of seed-dispersal and maintenance of forest trees in the region,” Dalvi said.

According to conservation scientist Krithi K. Karanth, this is one of most comprehensive assessments of tropical bird diversity outside protected areas conducted in the world and shows a clear positive association of tree density and tree cover in the surrounding areas on bird diversity. “This effort involved intensive research in 187 plantations covering an area of 30,000 km – taking the team two years to complete,” said Karanth, lead author of the paper and associate conservation scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society-New York (WCS-NY). Together, these three agroforest types cover almost 10,000 square kilometre and produce 258,000 metric tons of areca, 211,100 metric tons of coffee and 700,000 metric tons of rubber every year. Highlighting that there is some evidence that areca growers in the region are switching to rubber, the authors cautioned, “We expect that, at a landscape scale, this will have significant impacts on bird communities as has occurred in Guatemala and Costa Rica.”

“Policy decisions and markets must incorporate such biodiversity values and services provided by these agroforests to sustain and facilitate long-term biodiversity conservation,” the authors added. The study was a collaborative effort between scientists from WCS, Centre for Wildlife Studies, University of Wisconsin (Madison), University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and Indian School of Business (Hyderabad) and supported by the National Science Foundation (USA). Vishnupriya Sankararaman, Arjun Srivathsa, Ravishankar Parameshwaran, Sushma Sharma, Paul Robbins, Ashwini Chhatre are the other authors of the published study.

- http://www.indialivetoday.com/, September 24, 2016

As hundreds of voluntary groups across 70 countries prepare to celebrate World Rivers Day on Sunday, river activists in Vrindavan and Agra have drawn up plans to highlight the sad state of the river Yamuna, the life-line of Krishna's Braj mandal. In Vrindavan, activists will clean the ghats and hold a rally, while in Agra a photo exhibition on river pollution and a public meeting at the river bank is planned. With many of the world's rivers facing severe and increasing threats associated with climate change, pollution, and industrial development, over 70 countries are participating in this year's festivities.

Many events around the world will focus on educational and public awareness activities while others will include river cleanups, habitat restoration projects, and community riverside celebrations. World Rivers Day strives to increase public awareness of the importance of the waterways as well as the many threats confronting them. "Rivers are integral to all life. Yet, many waterways continue to face an array of threats and are often impacted by inappropriate practices and inadequate protection," said Mark Angelo, World Rivers Day Chair and Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Rivers Institute at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Endorsed by the United Nations University and the International Network on Water, Environment, and Health, and with groups such as the Blue Planet Links as lead sponsor and with the support of others such as the Sitka Foundation, the World Rivers Day events will include activities in countries ranging from Canada to Britain, Australia to the US, Argentina to Kenya, Dominica to Puerto Rico, and across the great rivers of Europe. "Millions of people, dozens of countries, and numerous international organisations will be contributing to World Rivers Day," Angelo said. "It provides a great opportunity for people to get out and enjoy our waterways. At the same time, the event strives to create a greater awareness of the urgent need to better care for our rivers and streams," Angelo added.

"World Rivers Day is rightfully hailed for its global effort to increase awareness about the vital importance of our water resources and the need to properly protect and steward them in the face of mounting pressures," Robert Sandford, EPCOR Chair of Water Security at United Nations University, and an internationally recognised expert on scarcity and conservation issues, said

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 24, 2016

The Meghalaya forest department has asked residents and puja committees to avoid using harmful materials while making Durga Puja idols and to ensure implementation of existing rules regarding prevention of damage to rivers, lakes and other water bodies of the state during immersion. In a press release issued here on Friday, the department said immersion of idols made of plaster of Paris, cement and plastic in water bodies causes environmental damage and has serious public health consequences.

"The paint used for decorating such idols contains mercury, zinc oxide, chromium and lead and causes significant stress on rivers, lakes and local ponds. This, in turn, adversely affects the quality of water, damages aquatic ecosystem, blocks natural flow of water and causes skin diseases and cancer." The department said there was an urgent need to discourage the use of such harmful materials as less-polluting substitutes like paper and mud were easily available. "Detailed guidelines have been formulated by the Central Pollution Control Board for idol immersion. The rules specify use of natural materials and traditional clay for idol making, discourages painting of idols, promotes water-soluble and non-toxic natural dye, creates public awareness on ill-effects of immersion and specifies the precautions to be taken while immersing idols," the official release read.

"To ensure that non-soluble and non-biodegradable materials are not used in making idols, the state environment department, state pollution control board and local bodies will strictly implement waste management rules," the official statement said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 24, 2016

Mahesh Tejwani, the president of Vivekanand Education Society, talks about the challenges India is facing with water and how this is affecting the economy. What are some of the factors behind the water problems that India is facing? With the country facing two years of weak monsoon rains, water tables across the country have been severely depleted and a lack of replenishing initiatives at the government and private sector level to suitably boost water reserves have led to severe stress situations. Factors responsible for water problems include the lack of holistic planning accorded to water conservation issues. A shortfall in properly trained water technology professionals equipped with the requisite scientific knowledge is a critical anomaly which has led to poor analysis of water issues and finding solutions to them. At the grass-roots level, there is a growing tendency to waste water, not giving a thought to storage issues and shortage problems.

Neglect of city piping systems often leads to corrosion of pipelines, resulting in bursting of pipelines and huge wastage of the precious commodity. A lack of policy-based initiatives to find artificial water sources in the face of rapid depletion of natural water sources is also making the Indian water crisis a dismal reality. What implications do the water issues have for the country’s economic growth prospects? A coordinated water policy and synergy between different stakeholders is the need of the hour to find sustainable solution to the water problem. With the increasing dumping of effluents in river basins by companies, water tables are getting rapidly polluted. This, in turn, means that highly contaminated water is being used for growing crops, compromising the health of citizens and putting a severe strain on the health budget of the country. With crops failing on basic safety standards, exports of agricultural items are likely to take a hit with countries blacklisting purchases. With the severe depletion in water tables, industries like coal, which require vast amounts of water, will be hugely affected. This can have a cascading effect on the electricity generation capacities of power companies and negatively effect the energy situation of the country.

What needs to be done to solve India’s water problems? Urban housing societies and educational institutions should increasingly resort to water harvesting techniques. Water conservation initiatives must be given increased priority at all levels of the administration. There must be increased sharing of water resources between states to tide over potential water crises. Modern, cost-effective infrastructure must be utilised for storage and transport of water leading to less wastage and optimum utilisation. Water resources data should be digitised so that an accurate documentation and data of water assets can be maintained. From preschool years, a judicious approach to water use should be inculcated in children.

- [email protected], September 24, 2016

Heritage has been the buzzword in tourism for some time now. Heritage hotels, heritage experiences, heritage spas, heritage car rallies, heritage exports and even a military heritage website are just some of the ways in which this word has manifested itself in the every day. Sadly, however, it seems that the discussion and public perception of heritage is reduced to meaningless stereotypes. Some days ago the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organised a meeting in Lucknow for all the state level conveners in order to discuss the pressing issues that surround heritage conservation. People from all over Uttar Pradesh attended the one day conclave and shared their experiences as well as the ways in which, given limited resources, they were trying to do their bit for the preservation and conservation of the state’s cultural and physical heritage.

Mr Hari Om, the state’s secretary for culture, who also happens to be a classical singer, spoke at length about the need to acknowledge and work towards the preservation of the interests and rights of artisans, emphasising that often their contribution is at best and at worst deliberately exploited. It was therefore heartening to see Runa Banerjee speak about the difference that Sewa, her organisation, had made to the lives of chikan workers in Lucknow. Jayant Krishna, convener for the UP chapter of INTACH, spoke about the ways in which intervention can sometimes prevent wayward policy mistakes. Commendably, he and a group of his colleagues prevented a glass and stone monstrosity coming up in Hazratganj, a commercial part of Lucknow from the colonial period. The chairman of INTACH Maj Gen (retd.) LK Gupta talked of the need for a synergy between conservation, tourism policies, economic sustainability and social awareness.

Sadly, however, the news generated by this meeting became a page 3 event and a number of newspapers carried a minimal amount of text about what was discussed and instead devoted the maximum space to photographs. This kind of media coverage does a disservice to the work of those people who are seriously involved in thinking about heritage conservation. It is important for editors to think about the perception they create about heritage in the popular imagination if they only carry photos of ‘elites’ and ignore the contribution of the specialists who have dedicated their lives to conserving and preserving our histories and our cultures. The pictures in most newspapers were of the outside observers who had been invited to speak about and share their personal experiences and even their statements were misquoted. I too was among the ‘outsiders’ and had attended the meeting in order to learn from the wealth of experience that the various people working for INTACH have. Sadly, instead of highlighting the hard work and passion of people like Vijay Kumar, who has started the Indian Journal for Architecture, most newspapers projected the one-day meeting as yet another ‘elite’ gathering.

While it is true that there are those who have taken advantage of heritage in order to promote themselves and their foundations, the fact remains that it is not only they who are liable for the superficiality of the conversation surrounding heritage conservation. Indeed, the media is equally to blame. This is not to say that art, music and other forms of cultural heritage do not need awareness to be created but what is important is that this form of ‘promotion’ is not an end in itself but rather is merely one aspect of the process. The kind of coverage the INTACH event got in the media perpetuates the image that heritage conservation is the preserve of self-promoting elites who inevitably reduce culture to caricatures and value it according to its ‘salability.’ The damage that these merchants of culture are causing is irreversible and incalculable because they supplant complex ideas with memes and reduce art, poetry, calligraphy and even etiquette to superficial absurdities that can be printed on a mug, plate, cushions or even wallpaper and then sold. There is no doubt that without economic incentive, it becomes hard to preserve many art forms but it is also important to make sure that this commercialisation does not dilute their essence.

In this age of rampant consumption, culture too has become yet another product to be packaged, marketed, sold and consumed, rather than something that mirrors and reflects the extraordinary collective experience of peoples and histories. Historically, cultural production has been an elite preoccupation because of the simple reason that they could give financial patronage but in today’s day and age, when we speak of the conservation of tangible and intangible aspects of our cultural legacies, it is important to make citizens stakeholders in this process. Without the support and indeed empathy of a wider cross-section of society, including the media, heritage will simply be reduced to superficialities and page 3 coverage.

- http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 24, 2016

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi’s latest book might be about his film songs, but he is no Bollywood’s advocate. Instead, with his poetry, he hopes to rekindle love for literary content Role of cinema in our lives is overrated.” Strangely enough, this is no cine-phobic talking, but India’s National Award winning lyricist Prasoon Joshi, who has given us some liltingly thoughtful songs in films like Rang De Basanti and Taare Zameen Par. His latest book Sunshine Lanes traces the genesis of his film songs, underlining its beauty, spilling memories in the making of the songs, but Prasoon, the ad guru, is no brand ambassador for Bollywood. More than anyone else, he knows how the movie business is market driven.

Of course, the man known for infusing poetry in film songs is not just another song writer. Actually, the poet in him was born, “life made me a poet and I became a lyricist to take poetry to people,” at age 17. Come to think of it, film songs were not a part of his growing-up years. Poetry was his constant companion. Here are some of his poetic thoughts that delineate the difference between writing songs and poetry and what makes poetry infinitely bigger than songs.

For a nation, which, you say listens more and reads less, what is the relevance of your book on films songs, which have anyway been heard before? When a song is composed, its literary quality doesn’t always come to the fore. I wanted to underline the poetic resonance of some of my songs and also wanted to share my memories of behind-the-scenes of these songs and how they came about. Any particular reason for naming the book Sunshine Lanes?

Yes, in Hindi the book is called Dhoop Ke Sikke. When I looked at my repository of songs, I realised that I had used the word dhoop often enough in many of my songs, like Tu dhoop hai chham ke bikhr and Dhoop ke makaan. Growing up in mountains, I guess the interplay of light and shadow had a huge impact on me. Nature and its motifs too are a recurring thread in my poetry because of my childhood years. However, I didn’t grow up listening to film songs, a reason perhaps why my songs are devoid of trademark terms and words of Bollywood like jigar, mehbooba, et al. How difficult it is to prevail over director producers to use unusual words like paathshala and havan kund in your songs? Quite tough, initially it was even more difficult. But slowly as my songs became hits, filmmakers began to see my point of view.

Is writing poetry and songs all the same? No. Poetry is much bigger than songs. Though in my songs, I do try to be poetic and transcend the limits imposed by the situation of the songs, often it’s not possible to move beyond the situational constraints. In a nation of oral tradition used to verse form in religious scriptures too, what explains our disenchantment with poetry? I have a huge amount of respect and many complaints with our audience. They should seek more and reject more. Sadly they do neither and consume what is offered to them. Once they begin to reject substandard stuff and seek quality, those on the margins creating good work will find an audience. Despite the emergence of social media as a big platform, qualitative content is not getting projected as it ought to.

Do you the think in today’s time for a poet to be alive, it’s important to be in films? Not at all. We are getting over-obsessed with cinema. Cinema is only one form of creative expression. It’s not life. Being an audio-visual medium, it has the power to hold sway over our minds. In the process, it not only gains an unfair advantage vis-a-vis other art forms like theatre and folk music, but also projects certain cultures disproportionately. Today, sitting in Mumbai, I know what kudi stands for, but do I know its equivalent in Oriya and why shouldn’t I? It’s dangerous for films to have so much of dominance over our consciousness.

You are quite a pro-women man, as is evident in your latest poem Sharam aa rahi hai na. Comment. You can say that. I think poetry in India lives all thanks to women, who have patronised it with all their heart and spirit. Your father didn’t want you to be a poet and pushed you towards an MBA and you ended up as an advertising professional. Do you think it’s easy to survive as a poet today? No, it can never be your profession, only a muse. Bahut pehle hi mein samajh gaya tha ki kavita mujhe nahi paal sakti, mujhe hi kavita ko paalna hoga. So, he continues to nurture poetry not only in his film songs but also by way of poetic renditions and books. A compilation of his fourth book of poems will be out by year-end.

- hhttp://www.tribuneindia.com/, September 25, 2016

It's an age-old ferment, but a new-age fancy. Kombucha, a fermented yeast tea, which dates back 2,000 years, has become quite the 'it' drink with fitness buffs in the city - being sold in flavours across several stores. But while most nutritionists and home brewers believe it to be filled with goodness from detoxifying to immunity boosting - doctors advise caution before consumption, citing reasons from acidity to toxicity. But whether one chooses to drink or think, the fact is that bottles of the fizzy-sour kombucha - made by adding a culture of beneficial bacteria and yeast to tea, sugar, and fruit juice - have begun lining the shelves of departmental stores.

In February, Pune-based market research firm Markets and Markets had estimated that the global market for kombucha is poised to grow from the half a billion dollars it was in 2015 to $1.8 billion in 2020. Srikant Ram of Econut, one of the oldest organic food stores in Chennai, has been brewing the yeast tea for more than a decade, having found a market of regulars. "Every food culture has its set of fermented foods," says Ram. "India has the ragi porridge as well as palmyra sap, which when fermented is a health drink but when over-fermented becomes toddy." In Chromepet, Udhaya Raja is all set to move the manufacturing unit of his brand of kombucha, Ka, from his home to a more professional set-up. "The demand has increased since we launched in 2014. People are more aware of the health trends and are trying it out," says Raja, who now manufactures more than 3,000 bottles a month. Bhavani ILG, retired professor of plant biology and biotechnology, says she believes in the goodness of kombucha, because "it's a natural ferment and a probiotic." Kombucha is a Chinese probiotic, just like curd, says Bhavani. "A lot of Indian foods such as idlis too are ferments," she adds.

"According to traditional knowledge, kombucha is supposed to help relieve pain, improve hair growth, aid digestion, and restore gut flora," says Bhavani, but cautions that it needs to be prepared with care or can cause side effects such as acidosis. "Over fermentation or unsanitary preparation of the drink poses a food safety threat," she says. "It can be toxic too when taken in large doses and is not recommended for children, people with low immunity and pregnant women."

But cardiologist Dr Sai Satish of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, says whether or not kombucha is great for the gut, he prefers to go with his gut. "In medical literature, the documented claims of harm far outweigh the numerous unsubstantiated claims of the drink's health benefits. There has been no study showing evidence of it being beneficial to humans," he says. "In fact, there are more studies regarding its harmful nature. There have been documented cases of hepatic toxicity and metabolic acidosis among those who consumed kombucha. When it comes to health, there's no better brew than a brisk 45-minute walk."

Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed by the Doctors are their independent professional judgment and we do not take any responsibility for the accuracy of their views. This should not be considered as a substitute for Physician's advice. Please consult your treating Physician for more details.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 25, 2016

On March 9 this year, in response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union minister for minesNarendra Singh Tomar had given a list of protected geological sites in the country. Ironically, two sites listed by the minister in Jodhpur - the Welded Tuff and the Malani Igneous Suite Contact - are under direct threat from unchecked gravel mining, which, according to activists, has been going on for nearly half a century. The mining is irreversibly damaging the geological sites, located on the foothills of the 15th century Mehrangarh Fort, among the largest in the country. Officially, though, the mining lease was granted in the area in 1990."The lease will expire only in 2020. But if mining continues like this, there will be nothing left to save," said Mahendra Singh, Jodhpur convenor of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), who has petitioned the state government to save the natural and artificial heritage of the area. The Malani site, in a locality known as Kaga, represents the end of the volcanic activity of Precambrian Age (600 million years ago). Retired geologist Pushpendra Ranawat says neither local authorities nor the tourism department have stepped in to ensure proper conservation of this area.

According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) website, "Welded tuff is the product of emanations that spurted from volcanic vents and were carried away by air to settle later. They are composed of glass, quartz and feldspar." Nearly 100 cenotaphs, over 350 years old, stand close to the mining site. "Mining has continued in this area for about 50 years. There are so many monuments across the state that it is hardly possible to list them all as protected," said Mahendra Singh.

The cenotaphs are not listed among protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Singh told TOI that Intach had written several times to the state government pleading for proper conservation of these sites. There is also a temple dedicated to Shitala Mata, the goddess believed to offer protection from chicken pox, in Kaga. A big fair is held each summer here, and people gather from nearby districts. A well in the area is believed to never run dry , even when drought strikes the rest of Jodhpur.

Local legend has it that the well is blessed by a sage, who had taken the shape of a crow for a while. This well too is threatened by the mining activities in the area. An official with GSI, on condition of anonymity, said, "GSI lists monuments, but has no power to protect them. The district magistrate has to give direction to protect the sites." D S Maru, director of the mines department, claimed ignorance. "I don't know about this matter. If Intach has indeed written to the government, I don't know about it," he said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 25, 2016

Heritage buffs in the city have expressed anger after a colonial-era heritage structure - a concrete trough for horses - at Rajpur Road was demolished. The structure was flattened while repair work was being carried out on the road near the President's Bodyguards Estate ahead of Pranab Mukherjee's visit. The President along with his entourage will be in Dehradun from September 27 and the district administration is busy sprucing up the palatial colonial estate, also known as 'Ashiyana'. It was developed exclusively for the well-trained horses of the governor general (GG) guards in the 1830s. Back in the day, horses would often be seen quenching their thirst at the trough.

Expressing shock at the demolition, Reenu Paul, president, Rajpur Community Initiatives, a citizen forum, said, "It is appalling to find that the trough has been demolished so that tiles could be fixed in the name of beautification. There was no need to demolish the trough in the first place and it shows that the civic agencies are indifferent to heritage conservation."

Lokesh Ohri, head, INTACH, Dehradun chapter, added, "I find it baffling that instead of conserving heritage structures in Dehradun, the authorities demolished it in the name of beautification and road widening. In western countries, places of historical value are conserved for tourism purposes and for the future generation but no one is giving a serious thought to save heritage sites in Uttarakhand." Officials in the district administration declined to comment on the issue.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 25, 2016

She is reviving Indian textiles with her aesthetic creations in khadi on Indo-Western silhouettes bringing out the best of fashion fusion. The hand-woven India-made khadi fabric is in rediscovery mode. The connoisseur of textiles and handlooms, designer Purvi Doshi speaks to us about her how she celebrates India's crafts and weaves and believes in slow, eco-friendly fashion. Some of the big names who flaunt her creations include Kajol, Sonam Kapoor, Sonali Bendre, Sonal Chauhan, Sonakshi Sinha, Radhika Apte, Rakul Preet Singh, Sunita Kapoor (Anil Kapoor's wife), Anjali Tendulkar (Sachin Tendulkar's wife), Tisca Chopra, Sai Tamhankar, Anandiben Patel (ex-chief minister, Gujarat) and many others.

She does her bit to make natural fabrics and hues appealing to the trendy fashionistas. “I believe in sustainable fashion. I always wanted to promote the natural fabrics we have in our country. For me sustainability is no cruelty, no pollution, employment generation, Make in India and being proud about rich Indian heritage of arts and crafts. By using khadi which is hand spun and hand woven fabric, I become part of employment generation to millions. Indian textiles are alive. You smell and feel the human touch, the beauty and brilliance of craft that only hands can bring, the feel of something which is very much of your own country.

Natural fabrics are sustainable as they are bio degradable, non-polluting and good for our body too. I like to call my creations “red carpet green dresses”,” states Purvi who has created cowls, flairs, jackets, long flowy dresses, pants, skirts and has used draping to give her designs a contemporary twist. Her stylish silhouettes with Make in India being the soul of Rhythms of Desert, her contemporary creations are inspired by the gypsies of the desert.

Purvi has been a part of Lakme Fashion week for eight consecutive seasons, has done international shows at Bangladesh and was also a part of the Bangalore Fashion Week. The self-taught designer who is showcasing her collections at The Rain Tree in Bengaluru from September 27-28 reveals on her journey, “I completed my MBA and started designing as a hobby. Soon I realised that I enjoy my hobby the most and decided to take it formally. Designs are everywhere! I learn from streets, sky, nature, trees and tribes. Since I use only natural colours, I have made reds and browns popular hues which are evergreen.”

- http://www.deccanchronicle.com/, September 25, 2016

"Margaret Reel
Died 19-12-1808
Sacred to the memory of Margaret Reel
wife of John William Reel
conductor in the honbl'e company's service
who departed this life
the 19th of December 1808.
She was a virtuous wife
an affectionate mother
and a faithful and sincere friend"
Thus reads the inscription on one of the earliest tombstones in the British Cemetery at Dona Paula. The over two-centuries-old Protestant cemetery is the sole monument that stands testimony to the presence of British forces in Goa during the Napoleonic era. Situated near the present governor's palacewhich was earlier known as 'Palacio do Cabo' and served as the residence of Portuguese governors and lieutenant governors of Goathe cemetery has 47 tombs and 56 graves. Built for British garrisons that were stationed at Fort Aguada, Cabo and Mormugao between 1799 and 1813, it is the only cemetery that features in the directorate of archives and archaeology's list of 51 monuments protected under the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978. After the French Revolution, Great Britain occupied French settlements and a few Dutch footholds in India, with the only exceptions being Portuguese settlements in Goa, Daman and Diu. "The loss of their settlements had not perturbed the French much as they were drawing a lot of confidence from their occupation of the Isle of France (Mauritius) since 1721 and Bourbon since 1664 in the Indian Ocean. The signing of alliance treaties with Tipu Sultan had emboldened them further to reoccupy territories they'd lost in India.

But, the two hurdles they faced were the blockage of Europe by the Emperor in Berlin and a free sway of Great Britain over the Indian Ocean. Nevertheless, indomitable Napoleon tried to put into effect a formidable plan to conquer Egypt first in 1798 and from there, to launch a massive attack against India. And, as per the French strategy, Goa was the most suitable territory on the western coast from where they could envisage a major thrust on British possession with the help of Tipu Sultan. According to French plans, the port of Goa, along with the entire territory, would go to Tipu Sultan and Bombay, subsequent to its capture, would go to France," noted indologist and archaeologist, Prakashchandra Pandurang Shirodkar wrote in the July-December 1983 issue of the research journal, Purabhilekh Puratatva.

It was Bombay governor Jonathan Duncan who, in 1799, sent soldiers in seven ships commanded by Col William Clarke to Goa, no sooner had he received the news from Bassora that a French fleet of 26 ships and 14 frigates were proceeding through the Suez Canal to India. They reached Goa on September 6, 1799. The British are reported to have constructed fortifications at Aguada, Gaspar Dias (the present Miramar), Caranzalem, Dona Paula and Mormugao, which were later demolished on Portuguese governor Jose Fereira Pestana's orders in 1848.

A British traveller, W Walker, in 1855 described the cemetery thus: "I visited the burial ground at Cabo built and used by the British force of 10,000 (sic) men when they held possession of the seaboard points of Goa, to prevent the French entering India by this route in 1805. The massive laterite stone wall that surrounds it is as perfect as the day it was built, the laterite in this neighborhood being the best I have anywhere seen, but the lofty arched entrance gates have long been despoiled of every particle of wood. The burial ground is used for rice cultivation and the very tombstones are worn down from the sharpening of native tools on them; where not cultivated, it is overgrown with high rank grass said to be alive with deadly cobra de capello (king cobras). If it be true, as I have heard, that the collector of Belgaum allows an annual sum to keep it in order, I can assure him that not a piece worth of care is bestowed on it."

In November 1983, former UK prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, who was present in the state for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), visited the cemetery along with her husband, Denis. The directorate of archives and archaeology decided to lock the gates to the cemetery after it found that the site was being used as a cattle pound. The directorate grants access to researchers and anyone interested in visiting the site. Post the monsoon each year, the cemetery is cleaned and its overgrown grass cleared, making the tombs visible again. The cemetery has the advantage of being located at a strategic point, what with a number of tourists already visiting Dona Paula each year. The directorate of archives and archaeology has plans to develop and beautify the historic site with lawns and putting it to adaptive reuse by encouraging educational activities to keep the protected site alive, says Varad Sabnis assistant superintending archaeologist.

The Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) is also planning regular heritage walks in the cemetery. "Sacred to the memory of HENRY WILLIAM MAYNE who was an employee of the Madras Southern Maratha Railway for many years. Died on the 10th August 1912 Gone but not forgotten Erected by his daughter" ...reads the inscription of the last burial at the site.

-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 25, 2016

“Cities have always inspired me, the way this human creations are built has surprised me even more than nature has,” says artist Deviprasad Rao, whose art works titled ‘Lisbon Calling’ will be exhibited at the eighth edition of the Semana da Cultura Indo Portuguesa. ‘Lisbon Calling’ traces his journey to the city of Lisbon in Portugal and how he has interpreted his observations in the form of abstract paintings. Goa being one of Portugal’s several colonies is closely associated with Lisbon, he noted many similarities as well as differences in the two places, and hence his paintings reflect his experience as he travelled through the city.

‘Lisbon Calling’ is completely based on the Portuguese capital and showcases its rich heritage. For the past five to six years Deviprasad has done extensive research to bring out something new through his art. The way cities are built has always inspired him. “I was trying to come out with a series of painting which would highlight cityscapes; this led to the start of the new series titled ‘den-city’. Each and every city has its own charm and a unique identity,” says Deviprasad. Back then Deviprasad was confused on which city to follow as he had Barcelona and Florence on his mind. “I did not want to follow the crowd. I wanted to follow a city that has a rich history and that inspires my creation. Finally I got inspired by Lisbon,” says Deviprasad.

Though he was not directly introduced to Lisbon, he got to know more when he happened to read an article by an American journalist. Just reading about the city made Deviprasad fall in love with Lisbon, and he wanted to visit the enchanting place and experience it firsthand. “I initially started going through photographs but then I was told to visit the city if I wanted to know more about it. At Lisbon I realised that no one can capture the city in photographs as it looks different from all perspectives,” he says. Describing the city in terms of having historical relevance even after being hit by natural calamities in the 18th century, he says: “The city was destroyed by tsunami and earthquakes but it has managed to protect its heritage. This has in turn helped me develop my skills and art.” Deviprasad observed that the people of Lisbon were delighted to have an Indian amongst them, and provided him with all kinds of support they could. “I created a work on the city; it is a beautiful place with friendly people. Eventually I ended up creating a series known as ‘Lisbon Impact’ which was shown in many parts of the world,” he says.

He titled his paintings ‘Lisbon Calling’ as even though he is not in Lisbon anymore he feels like Lisbon is calling him there again. “The city was also chosen because of its cultural attachment with Goa,” explains Deviprasad. Interestingly he points out the role the light plays in making Lisbon appear different during each season, he says: “The light brings out a different charm in that city. As an artist I focus on the history of the area and the lanes in Lisbon clearly speak about it. The city looks different from every perspective. Moreover, the city is not monotonous and is filled with excitement.” Deviprasad through each of his paintings tries to create a fusion of realism. He interprets his own ideas and concepts to create an illusion of realism which is abstract. “It took me almost a year to get out my first sketch, as I was wondering where to start from,” he recollects.

Deviprasad points that research of a city consumes a lot of time and that he has not depicted many modern developments in the city. “This series is a research oriented work, as an artist I wish to document the contemporary work through my art,” he shares. He largely thanks Darryl Pereira, of the Reira Group for helping him complete his journey to Lisbon. Deviprasad aims to document any city that would attract him in future. Presently he is working to complete his ‘den-city’ series and also working on something about India and Panaji not sharing much about his future work. “I am a self taught artist and whatever I do is my own creation, although I had guidance from artists like Suhas Shilkar and Antonio Costa who have helped me in shaping my art,” he says.

When questioned about his message for young aspiring artist he refuses as he believes: “Every artist is an individual, he is unique by himself and he needs to advise himself rather taking advice from others; I listen to advice but when it comes to implementation I only listen to my heart.” (The eight edition of ‘Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa’ and the opening of the painting exhibition titled ‘Lisbon Calling’ by Deviprasad Rao curated by Nalini Elvino de Sousa will be held on September 25 at 6 p.m. at Marqinez Palace, Old GMC Complex, Panaji. The exhibition will be open for public viewing till the September 28.)

- http://www.navhindtimes.in/, September 25, 2016

World Rivers Day was today celebrated here with activists demanding release of water in Yamuna which was dying a "slow death". Held at the Etmauddaula View Point Park on the Yamuna bank, tourism-industry members threatened to go on indefinite hunger strike from November 1, if water was not released in the river. They said a dry Yamuna was a serious threat to the Taj Mahal whose foundations required constant moisture.

Surendra Sharma, founder president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association said, "There was no water in the river. Only toxic waste and pollutants from upstream cities, industrial effluents were flowing contaminating the dwindling water resources". The activists also put up a photo exhibition over pollution in the water body at the Goverdhan Hotel to highlight the plight of the river by human waste and industrial pollutants. At evening, they gathered at the Yamuna Arti Sthal to draw attention to rivers in India facing increasing threats associated with climate change, pollution and haphazard industrial growth.

Jugal Kishore Shrotriya, a temple priest and a young green activist, said the Yamuna, for all practical purposes, was "dead in Agra". "Only garbage, carcasses and sewer flow. The aquatic life has been decimated. So many plans and schemes to save the river have gone down the drain," he said. Activists said the free flow of the river has been obstructed by a series of barrages upstream that hold up all the water. "What reaches Agra is just waste and sewage. The Yamuna Action Plans have made no discernible improvements in water quality. The flow is inadequate. The sewage treatment plants either do not work or are short of resources," Shravan Kumar Singh of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society said.

- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/, September 25, 2016

As Chennai has expanded to encompass several dimensions, some parts of the city have retained its old world charm even as everything around it is caught in the whirlwind of change. Mylapore, one of the most striking examples of age-old traditions meeting the glitz and glamour of urban living, deserves the ‘United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Living Heritage Status’, according to the Mylapore Institute of Policy Research (MIPR).

Devotees at the Sri Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore The think-tank for economic development has brought out a policy paper on the scope for obtaining the Unesco Living Heritage Status for Mylapore. Shiv Kumar, president of MIPR and the author of the paper, said that in Mylapore, worship, architecture, music and preaching came together to offer a unique spiritual experience while the community has also been drawn into a particular way of life, making a strong case for the status.

“In places like Chidambaram or Kancheepuram, the community is centred around the temple itself unlike in Mylapore, where the temples have created a unique ecosystem. I haven’t seen this anywhere else in the country,” he said.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 25, 2016

To all who have been familiar with the Nilgiris, the Nilgiri Library in Ooty has always been a journey down the nostalgia lane. Members of the library are happy that after a suitable facelift, the reference book section of the 157-year-old library is all set to be reopened on September 27. And the inaugural of the revamped heritage book section will be solemnized by Major Gen L K Gupta AVSM (retd), chairman of the INTACH- India.

The heritage book section was for long in need of restoration, with leaky roofs and fungus indicating its deplorable state. "Changing weather patterns and pollution are taking a toll on the building and it seems to be literally coming apart at the seams," says Geetha Srinivasan, convener, INTACH Nilgiris chapter, who is also the president of the Nilgiri Library.

Geetha Srinivasan who bore the expense of the restoration, says the restoration work is a tribute to her grandfather Sir C P Ramaswamy Aiyyar, a former president of the heritage library. "I did this as a labour of love for this extraordinary library and my grandfather," she says. A total of Rs 5 lakh was spent for the restoration work, which involved documenting the shelves and books, packing them carefully and fixing the cracks. On September 27, a book listing the heritage buildings of Ooty and Coonoor by S Suresh, INTACH president, TN chapter, will be released at the Nilgiri Library to mark the occasion. The book will consist history of heritage buildings falling under the category of government and public. "This will help keep a record of heritage buildings owned by private owners and the plantations in the Nilgiris. The listing of buildings is in a bid to save the heritage buildings in the Nilgiris," says Geetha.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 26, 2016

Government departments are plagued with corruption in Kanniyakumari district, alleged the retired IAS officer M.G. Devasagayam here on Monday. Addressing a meeting organised by Nagercoil Chapter of INTACH and Therku Ezhuthalar Sangam to condemn corruption at all levels in government departments and local bodies, Mr. Devasagayam alleged that the orders of the southern zone of the National Green Tribunal was being violated by the department of National Highways despite a ban on cutting of trees by NGT. A private contractor in association with the NHAI authorities axed over 1.5 lakh trees and sold them without following the standard procedures of the government, he alleged.

He also alleged that animal wastes, especially poultry waste from Kerala are being allowed to pollute waterbodies by dumping them in Tamil Nadu, he said. The vehicles carrying animal wastes from Kerala were allowed by the police personnel manned at the Padanthalumoodu check-post, Mr. Devasagayam alleged. Coordinator of the Nagercoil Chapter of INTACH R.S. Lal Mohan alleged that in spite of government order, fertile agricultural lands are being converted into house sites by realtors in connivance with officials of the town planning office. S.P. Udyakumar, anti-nuclear activist and convener of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, spoke. Members of Aam Adhmi Party participated.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 27, 2016

People coming to Dasara will get to know more about art and craft of India. Artistes from across the country will put up their works Gandhi Shilp Bazaar to be jointly organized by the development commissioner (handicrafts), ministry of textiles (New Delhi), and Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd (Bengaluru) at JSS Urban Haat in Hebbal here from September 29 to October 9.

Craftsmen who have been conferred national and state awards will give live demonstrations in art and craft. They will make and display kasuthi saris, Tussar silk saris, Kantha stitch saris, Benaras saris and dress materials, boutique saris and dresses and Bengali cotton saris. They will also display Kashmiri handlooms, wood carving and furniture from Saharanpur, wood inlay, chicken embroidery, modern art murals, ceramics, Madhubani paintings, Rajasthani miniature paintings, Rajasthani embroidery and footwear, Gujarati dresses, dried flowers, leather items, jute products, vegetable-print dress materials, artificial and imitation jewellery and gem-stone jewellery.

Marble paintings, Karnataka silk saris, Chennapattana toys and terracotta items and other handicraft and handlooms items will also be displayed. Gandhi Shilp Bazaar is expected to give visitors a sneak peek into Indian art and culture. There will also be a wide variety of crafts categorized under wood, clay, cloth, jewellery and metal. Some craftsmen use a combination of distinctive glazes, patterns and crafted pottery in their works, while others create functional and decorative pieces by handcarving. The intricate designs, which are a product of these techniques, would be showcased along with wood works.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 27, 2016

The Department of Folk Art and Culture at Khalsa College, Patiala, organised a one-day educational tour to Kotla Nihang Khan and excavations made by the Department of Archaeology at Ropar. The tour was organised for students of graduation in which they were given knowledge regarding the origin, development and decay of Indus Valley Civilisation in India. The students also visited the museum and the spots of ruins of ancient buildings, jewellery, utensils and coins of the Indus Valley Civilisation which used to exist 5,000 years ago. College principal Dharminder Singh Ubha said such tours enhance the practical knowledge of students. Under the guidance of Prof Sandeep Kaur Chahal, Head of the Department of Folk Art and Culture, this trip rounded off successfully.

One-day camp A one-day camp was organised by the Department of Agriculture at agriculture farm, Government Mohindra College. Sowing of seasonal seeds, seedling and ornamental plants, which were brought from the Kisan Mela, PAU, Ludhiana, was done. Students were taught different techniques of bed preparation, pot sowing, training, trimming and pruning methods of plants. Refreshment was also provided to the students. Principal Sukhbir Singh Thind said more agricultural camps should be organised to impart knowledge about various latest techniques of agriculture.

Fancy dress competition A fancy dress competition was organised at The Paradise International School, Ghagga. About 200 students from Nursery to Class I participated in the competition. Ashutosh Mishra, Prof and Dean, School of Mass Communication, Chitkara University, and Bindu Sharma, Institute of Mass Communication and Technology, Kurukshetra University, were the chief guests. They applauded the staff and students for their excellent efforts and gave the prizes to the winners.

Peace Day celebrated Peace Day was celebrated at Ryan International School to give the message of unity and peace. Different activities were organised in the school such as dove-making, message-writing and peace-symbol making. Students participated in all activities with zeal and energy. Principal Ramanjit Kaur gave the message that all should live in peace for a happy and prosperous life. — TNS

- http://www.tribuneindia.com/, September 27, 2016

The Heritage Section of The Nilgiri Library, which houses old books, some dating back to the early 16th century, has been restored to its glory. The Heritage Section of The Nilgiri Library, which houses old books, some dating back to the early 16th century, has been restored to its glory.

The restored section, which houses bound books from England, brought to India by the East India Company, now possesses thousands of books on a huge array of subjects. “This section has been dedicated to the memory of C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, who served as the president for eight years,” said Geetha Srinivasan, the grand-daughter of Mr. Iyer, and the current president of the library. The restoration process was undertaken and supervised by Ms. Srinivasan, who is also the Convenor of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), the Nilgiris.

“It took Rs. 5 lakh and more than six months to restore the section,” she told The Hindu. The walls were covered with fungus, and the books, which had been meticulously arranged during the Colonial era and had remained untouched since their exodus, had to be removed from the hand-crafted wooden shelves where they were stored. The Nilgiri library, over 150-years-old, is a unique building, throwing together Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture. Though the building itself has required maintenance, the books contained within the library are remarkably well-preserved.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 27, 2016

A more rational course would be to look at the Indus Water Treaty objectively. It is a natural water body passing through a disputed region. Anything within the disputed region is not the exclusive property of any party until the final resolution From the signals that are appearing from Delhi and the office of the prime minister, it is clear that in the wake of the Uri attack the intention is to run the whole gamut of options before the alarmed gaze of Pakistan, and that anyone else who is worried about the escalating tension in South Asia, without actually implementing any of them. The carrying out of any one of them will incur loss beyond conceivable imagination. Prime Minister Narnedra Modi’s meeting with the experts on the Indus Water Treaty, while offering tuition to Mr Modi on the nuances of the natural flow of water from one country and state to another, is also intended for intimidation than execution. If he cannot resolve the water crisis between two states of his own country, and cannot avert the damage to human life and property due to this internal water dispute, is it logically possible that he can, with all the right wing zealotry at his command, muster support and courage to review or revisit the terms of the Indus Water Treaty.

Not just Kannadigas and Tamils, even the disquiet in Punjab about the flow of water to lower riparian states has remained undiminished. A treaty that has on it signatures of respected international bodies like the World Bank cannot be unilaterally amended without inviting severe response from the other parties as well as the allied parties that can easily turn on and off the water flow of water bodies. Like China, for example, which has economically and politically invested in Pakistan, can — if such a crisis arises — consider the option of gearing up to the favour of her diplomatic partner. In a sense, China is to India what Karnataka is to Tamil Nadu in terms of the water flow of Indus as well as the Brahmaputra. If Karnataka can bring public pressure to mount on government to stop the flow of water as an upper riparian state, why can China not do the same if its international interests are harmed in the disputed region? The aggressive meetings are a cheap disguise to show that the current threatening gestures match with the past war rhetoric.

A more rational course would be to look at the Indus Water Treaty objectively. It is a natural water body passing through a disputed region. Anything within the disputed region is not the exclusive property of any party until the final resolution. Water is a disputed property within a disputed region. This property is a matter of temporary trust and has to be treated as such without arrogating to oneself any claim that alters the current position. Last time one of the parties to the Treaty suspected that the height of a dam had been raised by some feet without consultation with the other party, a decision that was felt to breach the agreement of the Treaty, even that action did not go away without a good degree of internationalisation.

From that it is imaginable what might be the repercussions if the Treaty is used against the interests of the other country. The step would have both domestic and international unconstructive reactions, not to mention the disadvantageous interpretations. Though it is not the focus of the discussion now, but it is a matter of fact that if the terms of Accession with India had been respected, it might have been Jammu and Kashmir that could have used its political weight to discuss with Pakistan the terms of the Treaty and not India. It is because the original document, which has been damaged beyond recognition, mostly against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir, only provided for three subjects that came under the domain of Indian sovereignty. That document has been worn out so much that instead of being an indispensable party to the water problem, the people of the disputed region have been rendered helpless spectators to what is being perceived as the brinkmanship of neighbours.

In the current scenario of ongoing siege and killings, the use of water by one country against another, is ridiculous beyond belief. The focus should have been the scorching circumstances in Kashmir and not vain, threatening gestures. Instead of using the Indus Water Treaty to wage a water war against Pakistan, the Treaty could be used to wage peace. There is something else that the government of India can do but has not even contemplated. That is to plead for the modification of the Indus Water Treaty in favour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The dominant and justifiable perception right now in Jammu and Kashmir is that the rivers Chenab and Jhelum are exploited by the government of India for the production of hydro-electricity, most of which goes to various parts of northern India. Precisely because of which a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir termed the Treaty as an “abomination” that should not have materialised in the first place, or at least not come into shape after bypassing the vital interests of the people of Kashmir.

The hydro-electric dams made on the rivers that form Indus have not benefited the people of the disputed state. The Modi government would do well to realise that the Indus Water Treaty has damaged the economic interests of Jammu and Kashmir. There are villages close to the hydel projects of Uri and Baghliar where electricity is unavailable but the same is supplied to far off regions in India for peanuts in the form of royalties to the government of Jammu and Kashmir. This measure, if implemented, harmonises well with the words of the late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, an architect of the PDP-BJP alliance, to whom the credit goes for raising popular awareness against the theft of hydro-power from Jammu and Kashmir.

The usage of the Treaty for the interests of the people of the disputed region makes sense both in the current circumstances when there is a mass uprising against the government as well as in the historical context of ‘broken promises’. The Treaty has survived three wars, part of the reason being that the party that should have formed a primary intervention to the agreement, has, for obvious reasons, been subjected to silence and exploitation just like it has been in other spheres. The Treaty can be changed to amend the water wrongs in Kashmir, and not deployed as a war tool against a neighbour.

The writer is a columnist, author, and lecuturer at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar. He can be reached at [email protected]

- http://dailytimes.com.pk/, September 27, 2016

The groundwork to lift the quantitative restrictions on rice importation has started even against the protest of the Department of Agriculture on behalf of Filipino farmers who will definitely be hard-pressed to compete with lower priced rice imports. Even with tariffs of at least 35 percent, it is estimated that imported rice can still be sold at competitive prices to local farmers’ rice produce – or even cheaper, since one of the goals of the move to lift QRs is to lower the price of rice. The plan to lift QRs on rice had been on the stove burner since last year in a bid to end almost 20 years of preferential restrictions approved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on our rice importations. The WTO first allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year quota system for rice importation in 1995, and extended this in 2004 for another six years. When the QR lapsed in 2012, negotiations resumed to extend the preferential status starting in 2014 and ending in June 30, 2017.

Actually, it does seem a little embarrassing to ask for another extension, given the number of times the country has implored to be given “more time to prepare its farmers” for trade liberalization, and the two decades – 20 years – that was given.” Therefore, if you hear Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol ranting a protest, please just bear with him: it’s a sort of duty thing. Really, if you think hard, it was not exactly his fault, but more of the neglectful agriculture bureaucrats during the last 20 years. Competitive study Therefore, it’s now reckoning time. The big question on the minds of many would be a concern for our farmers’ survival in the face of unlimited rice importation from such rice-exporters as Thailand and Vietnam. Will we start to see more Filipino rice farms being abandoned?

In a study by the Philippine Rice Research Institute completed in 2015, Filipino rice farmers were ranked fourth in competitiveness behind Vietnam, Thailand and India. China and Indonesia were the other two of the six countries included in the study. The same study categorically stated that Filipino farmers when faced with the lifting of QRs, would not be able to survive. This would mean our struggling rice farmers may totally decide to give up their rice farms for other crops – or just abandon the land and find other jobs. The study shows where Filipino farmers pale in comparison with competitors. Against Vietnam, for example, the Philippines had a higher production cost because Vietnam had “greater volume of paddy, more efficient handling, and higher milling recovery.” There is also the contention that there is a huge difference in land productivity. In Vietnam, there are three rice crop harvest in a year, whereas we have only two. Our average rice yields are also much lower, even during Vietnam’s autumn-winter season. Then, the Philippines has a high labor cost (P3.76 for hired labor to produce a kilogram of paddy in Nueva Ecija, against only P0.46 in Can Tho, Vietnam). Our farmers rely more on hired workers, whereas the Viets mobilize all their family members before resorting to hired hands.

Also, Vietnam uses direct seeding in crop establishment, and combined with the use of harvesters, are able to further bring down labor cost. In the Philippines, transplanting is the preferred route, something that is labor-intensive, plus manual harvesting and mechanized threshing. The study also pointed out that machine rental and fuel are more expensive in in the Philippines at P1.73 per kg of paddy, while it costs only P0.80 in Vietnam with the use of more efficient machines in land preparation, harvesting and threshing.

There’s more information available, but what is important is understanding where we stand against our more progressive neighbors in terms of rice farming, and for our government to be able to use this knowledge to craft measures that will keep rice farming competitive and alive in the Philippines. Support rice farms We cannot afford to lose rice lands for the very simple reason that the excess rice production set aside for export of countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and China will not be able to supply our needs. The world’s rice surplus made available for the Philippines averaged at only 2.84 million metric tons a year from 2008 to 2012. Since our yearly total rice requirement is about 14.97 million MT, it is definitely impossible to rely on importations to feed our families without local production. What to do? Offhand, it would be safe to assume that imposing tariffs on rice imports would mean additional earnings for the government. Definitely, allocating part of the earnings on some form of cash support for displaced farmers would not be a good idea. In the first place, cash subsidies for the victims of the QR lifting will be difficult to manage, and in the long run, would be an opportunity for corruption. More importantly, these kinds of subsidies are not productive and will not assure a structural change in the quality of rice farming in the country. Instead of cash transfers, why not channel all or a large part of the funds from the rice import tariffs to an agricultural fund that will support a definite set of programs. First there should be free irrigation water to all our farmers and rice farms. Water is a state resource that should be channeled for the welfare of the nation, and in this case, what better use than water for rice paddies. Vietnam and China are doing this, why not us?

Second, mechanization of rice farms cannot be overlooked. This can help bring rice production to three harvests a year, improve production per hectare, and reduce costs on manpower, which is among the highest in the region. We should also explore better varieties of rice that promise improved yields. Lastly, the collected tariffs must go to post-farm support: better dryers (not streets) and community storage facilities, more efficient mills, more extensive farm-to-market roads and access to cheaper transportation facilities. On a parting note, it has been experienced – as with the garlic trade – that free trade without the proper safety nets does not necessarily mean lower prices. It would be a travesty and a tragedy if we will end up with higher priced rice in the years to come, and more importantly, the loss of our rice farms. We are actively using two social networking websites to reach out more often and even interact with and engage our readers, friends and colleagues in the various areas of interest that I tackle in my column. Please like us at www.facebook.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/ReyGamboa.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.

- http://www.philstar.com/, September 27, 2016

Two killed in eviction drive, Opposition attacks govt while green activists, AASU welcome ‘bold’ move. WHILE CAMPAIGNING for the Assam assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had frequently promised to free all government land of encroachers, including national parks and forests. In trying to keep that promise, the new BJP-led government has started from Kaziranga, the rhino habitat that has over the years become a symbol for the aggression of infiltrators from Bangladesh.

It has been a turbulent start. On Monday, when a dozen bulldozers and as many elephants entered three villages that encroachers had set up on government and forest land in Kaziranga — Banderdubi, Deuchur-chang and Palkhowa — police used force to quell their resistance, leading to the death of two persons including a woman. This has brought the government under attack from opposition parties and a group of intellectuals and also earned it notices from the national and state human rights commissions.

2 Civilians Dead, 18 Policemen Injured During Eviction Drive In Kaziranga At the same time, the drive has found support from the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), conservation activists and many among those who had voted for the BJP on the plank of eviction of Bangladeshi settlers. At Kozhikode on Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah praised Sarbananda Sonowal for the eviction of “infiltrators”. And in Kaziranga the same day, the Congress distributed leaflets among those evicted.

kariranga-graph The drive was backed by a Gauhati High Court order of October 9, 2015, which had directed the government to evict all encroachers from Kaziranga, adjoining forest land and animal corridors. The case had begun with a PIL registered suo moto by the court based on a news report on September 27, 2012, in The Indian Express and two other newspapers. The order names the three villages where the eviction took place Monday, besides asking the authorities to verify the encroachers’ nationality and directing that eviction should take place “if necessary with effective police assistance.” The eviction team removed 331 houses and cleared over 2,400 bighas land. Some groups have debated claims that the encroachers had rights over the land. The court order, however, states that Deuchur-chang was notified as a reserved forest in 1916, Banderdubi is not only social forestry land but also a tiger resort and animal corridor, and Palkhowa too is forest land. “We have been residing in this area for decades, and all of a sudden the government told us to vacate. The security forces fired at us,” Rafiq Ali, a community leader in Banderdubi, was quoted as saying in a report by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The court order, in fact, notes the encroachers enjoyed various government privileges. “It is argued that the government is encouraging the encroachments and facilitating their permanent settlement,” it says. Congress leader Tarun Gogoi, who was the chief minister when the order was issued, said he had been planning an appeal in the Supreme Court. “My government did not immediately act on the high court order as I was contemplating an appeal. There was scope for a review,” Gogoi said. Other opposition parties accused the government of taking a communal stance. “The BJP government is particularly targeting religious minorities,” AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said. Eight Left and allied parties issued a joint statement saying: “Taking advantage of the High Court order, it (government) has adopted a communal stance by particularly targeting people belonging to the religious minority.”

Bibhuti Lahkar, a conservation activist who was crowned Heritage Hero by IUCN last month for his work towards protecting Manas National Park, hailed the drive. “Large tracts of government land including reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, wetlands and land belonging to Vaishnavite satras have been under encroachment for years. Even if the government can remove encroachers from the five national parks and 20 wildlife sanctuaries, it will be a great achievement,” Lahkar said. “It was a very bold step that this government has taken,” AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi agreed. “We want encroachers evicted from all government land, particularly from reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries and Vaishnavite satra land.”

Over 3.30 lakh hectares forest land in Assam is currently under encroachment. In Kaziranga, this has hit plans to expand from 440 sq km to 884 sq km. Rohit Choudhary, a conservation activist from Bokakhat in Kaziranga, said a three-year-old National Green Tribunal order to remove various establishments near the national highway and the National Park boundary was still pending implementation. Following the violence, the NHRC has taken suo motu cognition of the deaths and sent a notice to the government seeking a report within four weeks, while six leading intellectuals led by writer Dr Hiren Gohain attacked the government for “brutal” force. Police said they had come under heavy stone-pelting from the violent mob. “While the police gave enough time to the people to disperse, we resorted to a lathicharge only after a magistrate had declared the assembly illegal,” said Mukesh Sahay, Assam DGP. To allegations about police firing, the DGP said, “The police used minimum force including rubber bullets. I cannot immediately say the two dead were hit by bullets.”

The government said it was only following court orders. “There has been no discrimination in carrying out the high court’s order that was long overdue. In Banderdubi, there were several Assamese families too,” said Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma. “While the Assamese families dismantled their houses and moved away, why did the others resist and turn violent?” Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma promised more eviction drives at other places. “Kaziranga is only the beginning,” he said.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 27, 2016

This World Tourism Day , Rajasthan would not be able to live up to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) theme, `Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility .' The state that ranks among the 10 most visited states in India has abysmal facilities as far as the specially abled are concerned. But for a few monuments in the state that are partly specially abled friendly , most monuments do not even have adequate ramps, there is no provision for accessible toilets for wheelchair users or braille symbols and auditory signals. According to statistics compiled by the Market Research Division of the ministry of tourism on domestic and foreign tourist visits from the department of tourism, Rajasthan at tracted 35.2 million domestic tourists and 1.48 million foreign tourists.And in both the segments there are a lot of specially abled tourists. Another survey ranks Rajasthan as the sixth state in the country with people having disabilities. The market segment of reduced mobility groups in the country is roughly 186.3 million.Even if one-fourth of this is taken as economically significant from tourism angle, it still amounts 46.58 million, which indeed is substantial.

While some such tourists stay back in the hotels and avoid the monuments, some do gather courage to be a part of the mainstream and go sight-seeing. "We try to facilitate their visits as much as we can and organize a wheelchair which is available at the location. They are not charged entry fee. Given the architecture, most of our monuments are not accessible to the specially abled.But yes, there are no facilities for people on wheelchairs at the monuments and it is difficult to take them around," said a tour operator. According to the 2011 Census of India, 27 million persons were re corded for living with disabilities; this lot comprises a significant number of youths. It was also noted that their participation and enjoyment of cultural heritage has been somehow restricted, given the various challenges associated with the provision for accessibility at buildings with historical significance such as heritage sites.

Reiterating the need of accessibility for all, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, in his official message on World Tourism Day said, "Everyone has the right to access leisure and tourism services on an equal basis. Yet one billion people around the world living with disability, along with young children, seniors and persons with other access requirement, face obstacles in accessing fundamentals of travel such as clear and reliable information, efficient transportation and public services, and a physical environment that is easy to navigate. Even with modern technologies, those with visual, hearing, mobility or cognitive impairments are being left behind in many tourism destinations." An important aim of the society is to integrate persons with disabilities in the society so that they can actively participate and lead a normal life. More persons with disabilities are able to access physical facilities, the more they will be a part of the social mainstream. "There has to be a comprehensive plan for people with special needs. I can't think of any tourist site giving holistic physical and intellectual experience," said Rachana Khare, head, department of architecture and center for human centric research, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal.

"The parking and approach to the monument can be a harrowing experience for the differently abled, more so in the absence of trained and considerate staff," was the observation of Siddhant Shah, architect and disability access resource consultant, National Museum, New Delhi. Something for specially abled Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, in association with School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, has developed universal access and interpretation center at the City Palace Museum, Udaipur.And Jaipur City Palace launched the Braille guidebook with open braille, large script font and tactile images.Work on universal accessibility at City Palace Museum, Udaipur, has been underway since 2010 with the School of Architecture and Planning, Bhopal. Greater convenience for all specially abled tourists is the focus of the plan to ensure a fulfilling museum experience for visitors.Ramps, lifts, audio-visual rooms and accessible toilets have been provided over the years.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 27, 2016

Master plan being prepared for development of temples Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham has said that several initiatives are being taken to promote leisure and religious tourism in the district. The Collector, who attended as the chief guest for the Tourism Day celebrations held at Ambedkar Auditorium here on Tuesday, said the government was preparing a master plan for development of major temples such as Arasavilli, Gulla Sitaramapuram and Ravivalasa. “Over five lakh devotees visit Arasavilli every year and the number will go up further with the creation of more facilities for devotees,” he said.

Proposals sought He asked Srikakulam Tourism Officer N. Narayana Rao, INTACH convener Dusi Dharma Rao and others concerned to come up with proposals for development of other places such as Telineelapuram and Kalingapatnam. Mr. Narayana Rao thanked the Collector for sanctioning Rs.2 crore for the development of Sunnapugedda water falls, Gulla Sitarampuram and eco-tourism in the Sithampet region. Sampradayam Director Swati Somanath said Srikakulam was known for its culture and tradition while hoping that Sampradayam project would be one of the major attractions in future. Earlier, cultural shows enthralled the audience.

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 28, 2016

Murals depicting the Banyan City would welcome people who step inside Vadodara international airport, which will be inaugurated soon. These murals being prepared on the theme of banyan tree are being made by students, alumni and faculty members of M S University's premier Faculty of Fine Arts. Each of these four murals will depict contributions of iconic artists of the city apart from prominent landmarks of the city.

Images of works of iconic artists like Raja Ravi Varma, late artists K G Subramanyan, Shankho Chaudhary, Bhupen Khakhar apart from the likes of Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh, Dhruva Mistry, Jyoti Bhatt, Ramesh Pandya, Mahesh Pandya, Jeram Patel and Rini Dhumal to name a few will be part of these murals. "You can call it a family tree or community tree. Each leaf will depict contributions of those artists who have made Vadodara known to the world through their work," said Jayanti Rabadia, a faculty member, who is co-ordinating the project.

"We are requesting all the artists to provide us the images of their original works which we can put up on the canvas. Nearly 150 artists are expected to contribute for this creation," he said. While there will be two panels each of 24x84 feet, two other panels that will adorn the rear side of the walls of the international airport are of 24x20 feet each. Very welcome gesture by the famous artistes. Banyan tree with its red fruits may look vary beautiful if so done.

Landmarks of the city including the Laxmi Vilas Palace, the historic dome of M S University's arts faculty will also get their space on these murals. "Since the project has been assigned to the university, we are involving everybody including those from the faculty of performing arts (earlier known as music college) for this creation," he said.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 28, 2016

A total of 56 rare sculptures from India connected to the Gupta period along with 109 carvings from China's Tang dynasty were on display. An exhibition featuring exquisite sculptures from fourth and seventh centuries of Indian and Chinese civilisations opened in Beijing on Wednesday, highlighting the flourishing trade and cultural ties between the two countries through ancient Silk Road over 2,000 years ago. A total of 56 rare sculptures from India connected to the Gupta period along with 109 carvings from China’s Tang dynasty which simultaneously ushered in a golden era in both the countries during fourth to seventh centuries were on display at the exhibition which was inaugurated at the prestigious Palace Museum. This exhibition showcases the collective contribution of India and China during a major era in mankind’s history, Indian Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale, who inaugurated the event, said. Referred as ‘Common Era’, the fourth and seventh centuries were regarded as the most productive period in the history of both the countries.

“In India the Gupta Empire brought two centuries of political unity and prosperity; China under the Tang dynasty reached unparalleled level of economic and cultural prosperity. The creative impulses of the Indian and Chinese people were given full play,” Gokhale said. That was the time both the countries had an outpouring of creative works in literature, music, arts and sciences which enriched their people and the world, he said. The exhibition also has a modern strategic connotation as it highlights the ancient Silk Road, which China now seeks to recreate with billions of dollars of investments to revive its sagging economy. Unlike the present one named as ‘One Belt and One Road’, which is China’s own initiative, the ancient Silk Road was a two way street with goods moving out of China and the knowledge flowing out of India though the Dharmaratna Marg.

“China’s Silk Road was creating opportunities for merchandise trade across Asia including with the Gupta Empire,” Gokhale said. He said India’s Dharmaratna Marg (Spiritual Road) simultaneously forged by earlier generations of Indian scholar-monks became the channel for the flow of cultural and intellectual ideas between India, China and Central Asia. Officials say the exhibition at the Palace Museum, located at China’s iconic Forbidden City, the seat of power of successive Chinese emperors highlights the two way India-China engagement during the golden age of the two countries. The message of peace and new techniques in mathematics, medicine, arts and sculpture travelled northwards, to be translated into new artistic and scientific discoveries by China under the Tang dynasty, Gokhale said. Chinese Buddhist scholars Fa Xian and Xuan Zang travelled from Chang An to Nalanda along the Dharmaratna Marg to collect the great Buddhist works, Gokhale said. “For a long period until the mid-20th century contacts of India and China had withered away. Through the collective efforts of our leaderships, and with the support of the two peoples, Indians and Chinese are beginning to re-connect. We should value this,” he said.

Building a better understanding about India-China historical exchanges will enhance efforts to build the 21st century as the Asian Century, he said. Director of the Palace Museum Shan Jixiang said that the classical style of Gupta Art had not only influenced all of South Asia but reached Central and East Asia and China. Sculptures of that era were “twin lotuses from the same stalk”.

Bringing these sculptures together at the Forbidden City is a grand occasion for India-China cultural exchange, he said. The Gupta era sculptures which include Ganesha, Buddha statues, besides the ones depicting India’s mythological epics like Ramayana have been collected from nine museums across India. The exhibition will continue in Beijing till 28th December and later be shifted to Fujian, Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces.

- http://indianexpress.com/, September 28, 2016

A desire to study archaeology and learn more about the Indus Valley civilization led Sai Krishna, a researcher doing PhD from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune to discover prehistoric microlithic stone tools in Gundla Pochampally village, 25 kilometres from Hyderabad. “I was interested in archaeology as its origins were much earlier than words were created. The topic in my PhD was ‘Causes for the decline of Indus Valley Civilisation’. I preferred to focus on Telangana, as it was neglected by previous archaeological scholars and did not get its due credit to the extent which it was supposed to get.” When he went into the forest area to find if there were some prehistoric formations, he found a rock art dating back to Neolithic period, which had three bulls with long horns. Four rock art sites of Mesolithic, Neolithic time periods were also discovered. Elliptical rock grooves with a number of abrasion marks on the granite rock hills and boulders with colour variation, ranging from dark to lightly-coloured were also seen.The co-ordinates of the finding were N 17°34’ 54.93’’, E 78°27’ 45.13’, near the pond named ‘Eela’ in Medchal mandal, Ranga Reddy district.

Dr Rajan, a professor in Department of History, Pondicherry University, said, “The cultural transformation from food gathering to food production is considered a revolution in human history that happened during the Neolithic times. These tools represent the beginning of agricultural production in South India that took place about 5,000 years ago.” Based on the above findings, he deduces the time period of the sites occupied by prehistoric people might be approximately around Upper Paleolithic (35,000 years from present) to the Neolithic (40,000 years from present). There is a need to do proper scientific work on these sites as well as surrounding areas of the village, he adds.

Sai Krishna is seeking the help of Archaeological Survey of India, State Archaeology Department, Government of India, State Government to come forward to safeguard the sites by conserving in the form of heritage sites, as they have huge potential in knowing more about the pre and protohistoric past of Telangana.

- http://www.newindianexpress.com/, September 28, 2016

Ahmedabad is ready for the World Heritage City inspection on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, Dr Adel Farhangi Shabestari, director, Research Center for Silk Routes and advisor to the head of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in Tehran, landed in the city from Delhi. He was briefed by the director general ASI and officials of the culture secretariat earlier on Tuesday morning. Dr Farhangi is an eminent International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) member for Asia region and teaches in Tehran University. He will be being accompanied by a few ASI officials from Delhi.

Dr Farhangi is in the city to evaluate whether the outstanding universal values (OUV) that Ahmedabad's dossier claims to be a Unesco's world heritage city is fit. The OUV criteria that Ahmedabad has claimed for its WHC status are criteria ii, v and vi. This includes 'Exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time,' 'an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment," while the third criteria being, 'Be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.' Dr Farhangi, will be introduced to Ahmedabad's rich architecture - syncretic character - where Islamic architecture exhibits a unique fusion of multi-cultural character. The other striking feature is the city's medieval town plan and settlement patterns consisting of 'pols' and 'khadkis' and which imbibe a unique 600-year-old democratic system of pol governance to see to the welfare of pol residents.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 28, 2016

The aim is to protect the capital’s green cover New Delhi In a bid to protect green cover, the Delhi government on Monday decided to officially recognise 16 trees across the city as its “natural heritage”. The decision was taken by Tourism and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, who holds the interim charge of the Environment Ministry in the absence of Imran Hussain. “The native trees of Delhi like ‘jamun’, ‘pilkhan’, ‘shahtoot’, ‘kadamb,’ etc. are getting lost. The ones which survive, and have served an increasingly urbanising Delhi for 100-200 years, deserve protection from us,” said Mishra.

“Since ages, monuments are recognised as the historical heritage of the city, but now the Delhi Government will, officially, recognise trees as the natural heritage,” an official statement said, adding that a list of 16 trees belonging to the native species of the Aravali Range and NCR will soon be notified as “protected”. Most of these trees lie in the south and New Delhi areas. They include the banyan tree at Bhikajikama Place, the mango tree at Lodhi Garden, the arjuna and ashoka trees at Raj Ghat Memorial, salvadora tree by the Qutub Mosque near the minar and the banyan tree near India Gate.

The trees will be adorned with descriptive sign boards informing people of the ecological and botanical value of those trees. The signboards will also tell historical stories surrounding the tree and warn people against damaging the tree, the statement added. IANS

- http://www.thehindu.com/, September 28, 2016

Towards the end of the narrow Sankhedi Sheri lane in Manek Chowk area stands a unique, almost a century old, scarlet red haveli wrapped in a bit of scaffolding. A few masons are giving the final touches to this haveli which is now the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-World Heritage Centre. This building will house the country's only dedicated office for heritage plan approvals, allotment of TDRs and solving problems related to conservation and repairs of heritage homes, almost 2,400 of them. The haveli is being restored by an NGO City Heritage Centre (CHC).

It was a municipal school building donated by Gordhandas Dalsukhram Chowksi, a rich mill agent from Lakha Patel ni Pol. For nearly five years, the AMC was contemplating pulling down the structure until the previous municipal commissioners Guruprasad Mohaptra and D Thara decided to restore the structure to house the heritage centre of the AMC. "In the 50-metre length of Sankhedi Sheri lane, private and public investments worth Rs 6 crore has poured in for conservation of buildings. There are at least five buildings or havelis that are being restored and is at various stages of conservation process," said CHC founder Rajiv Patel.

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 28, 2016

Book sensitises people to bird’s decline, its loss of habitat. Aiming to protect not only large animals but also the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a critically endangered bird, Mumbai-based NGO Corbett Foundation has come up with a coffee-table book dedicated to spreading awareness on them. Only 250 GIB survive in their habitats across India.

The book has been published by The Corbett Foundation and authored by Dr Asad Rahmani, ornithologist, and co-authored by Devesh Gadhavi and Kedar Gore. “The book aspires to make people aware of the critically endangered bird and how to save and protect them,” said Mr Gore, also a co-founder of the NGO. Sunil Limaye, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Pune, and in-charge of the GIB sanctuary in Solapur, said, “This is one-of-its-kind book which will make people aware about the bird. There is no book even on saving tigers. The only one available is about radio collaring the big cats.”

Written in a lucid language, the coffee-table book captures the life history of the GIB. The images of the bird in the book are captured by some of the famous conservation photographers of country. “The reason for this bird’s decline is the habitat loss due to several anthropogenic and developmental pressures,” Mr Gore said The book was released by Aban Marker Kabraji, regional director and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, USA.

- http://www.asianage.com/, September 28, 2016

Though monsoon is showing signs of withdrawal, many areas in Goa are experiencing heavy showers. The rains display a diversity of wild pulses, which nature lovers love to relish. Many wild pulses, today, go unnoticed and neglected as the current generation is not aware of their usage in making scores of edible, tasty species. Parents choose to stick to packaged food for a quick solution to their kids' cravings rather than introducing them to the natural and healthier resources lying abundantly around them.

Wild pulses help increase soil fertility by their virtue of nitrogen-fixing properties. Vigna, a genus of flowering plant in the legume family, is one of the popular wild pulses. These pulses grow on poor soil, without supplementary nitrogen and provide subsistence to the farmers through their pods. Vigna vexillata, locally known as Bhirmulo or Halunda, is a perennial climber and it bears cylindrical and straight pods, containing seeds like moong.

"We used to eat the pods, after collecting them from a creeper that was found in our locality. Sharing and eating them with our friends used to be joyful moments," says Ramdas Shetkar from Shiroli-Sattari.

The United Nation's general assembly has already declared 2016 as the international year of pulses in recognition of their critical contribution to global security. Indian Institute of Pulses Research has established a garden of wild accessions of different pulse crops. The scientists found the wild relatives of domesticated pulses possess a wide range of useful traits that can help strengthen food security. Besides, these pulses are highly nutritional and more resilient to changes in the environment. Rutuja Kholte, a researcher associated with the botany department of Goa University, said, "Goa University campus has different species of these crops. There is need to document traditional knowledge pertaining to these wild plants."

- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 28, 2016

Since its declaration as a State Protected Monument, Mubarak Mandi has become an ever green subject for one and all (including me), and is being continuously discussed in the press releases, news items, write ups, editorials or even letters to the editors. And it will remain ever green till the time it is restored and preserved as a prestigious heritage or completely disappear from its site for ever. The chances of its disappearance are much brighter if we go into the happenings of last few years, particularly with the establishment of a NGO known as Jammu Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society.

Many among us forget that 69 or so big and small monuments spread all over in J&K state are presently being preserved and maintained by ASI without any body’s interference and are being visited by the locals as well as the tourists from India and abroad as per their choice and the likings. And there are few others which are similarly being maintained by the department of J&K State Archives and Museums. Hence it remains a matter of great concern that why only these historical royal palaces are facing unwanted experimentation only to lead towards destruction day by day. Some time back Dr Karan Singh, changing his previous idea of shifting Raj Bhawan to Mubarak Mandi have now come up with a very right and undebateable statement that these royal palaces possess all potential to become a world class museum. Only few days ago there was an article by one Mahesh Koul in the same columns where he rightly suggests that if we are serious to restore this already vandalized and waning heritage treasure to a certain time frame we must accept and act in accordance with the charters and modules framed by ICOMOS, ICCROM, and UNESCO with an immediate attention to human as well as natural threats.’ Once speaking on Mubarak Mandi’s restoration issue, NN Vohra Governor J&K was of the opinion that ‘these historical assets are required to be conserved not only for the cultural tourism but as a irreplaceable land mark of our rich heritage.’

Now, in the light of above mentioned facts, let us view what this heritage society achieved or lost since its establishment in 2006. If we go by the formation of its governing body headed by the CM along with dozens of Government officials besides few from the political set up, itwould be difficult to recognize it as an NGO. Any how, in the first instance, the restoration work was taken up through state’s R&B engineers, who with all capabilities started their experimentation at the Main Deodhi, painting of Grey Hall outer walls and cutting old trees on the rear side of this complex facing river Tawi. The results in sight were not only objected but there was a strong and clear voice within the society that this complex should be immediately handed over to ASI for its proper restoration and preservation. All this went unheared and the first meeting of its governing body was held under the chairmanship of the then CM Ghulam Nabi Azad. In this meeting not only the well planned agenda of converting this State protected monument into a tourist destination came to light but it was also clear that not only the ASI but the department of State Archives have been completely side lined and instead department of Tourism alongwith another NGO from outside the state will carry out this conversion as per the proposed agenda. This was again strongly objected and to shut all such voices, a team of outside state experts was invited, who after visiting this site not only advised to stop the already works carried out by R&B Engineers but also recommended that the restoration work should be entrusted to ASI. Finding no way out ASI was engaged as a contractor to take up restoration work of High Court building, where as all the DPRs will be made as per planned agenda by INTACH a Delhi based NGO quite in alliance with the Department of Tourism. And where ASI was busy to restore the High Court building the remaining group in addition to prepare DPRs, also started the removal of debris and its disposal to allow the rain water deposits in the complex as also its free access to the plenths of already deteriorating structures. Incident of fire adjoining Tosha Khana and the lifting of valuable artefacts out of Tosha Khana also occurred within the same period.

Luckily or unluckily all these plans went waste when new CM Omar Abdullah in the next governing body meeting did not approved INTACH prepared DPRs to have a circular road around Mubarak Mandi and also stopped further release of funds until they satisfy him what actually is going to be done at Mubarak Mandi site. Position further worsened when the floating of tenders for a five star hotel within this complex rocked both the houses of State Assembly and CM shelved the whole issue for the time being. This was followed by the resignation of the Vice Chairman of the society while others thought it better to sit in exile. During this calmness, State Government took a right decision of shifting the rope way project from Mubarak Mandi to Peer Kho, although against the wishes of Heritage Society. And the Heritage Society in its wisdom bulldozed the royal marble platform also known as Durbar-e-Aam. Then comes the next governing body meeting chaired by the new CM Mufti Mohd Sayeed, who took a very right decision to get rid of all these unwanted complicacies and asked Div. Com Jammu to submit an appropriate action plan to be taken up for the restoration/preservation of royal palaces of Mubarak Mandi. Div. Com. well aware of all the previous happenings for the last few years, rightly recommended this work to be handed over to ASI and to speed up the restoration work under proper supervision, they must have their sub office in the complex. He was further of the opinion that the Centre may be requested to have a permanent ASI Head office in J&K to preserve and look after all such State declared protected monuments of heritage and cultural importance. All this may be under consideration, but after the death of Mufti Mohd Sayeed, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, as new CM has very recently chaired the heritage society’s next governing body meeting. The out come of this meeting as covered by the press, clearly show that the recommendations of Div. Com Jammu have been either avoided or not taken up properly, therefore, instead of easily following the right path adopted by her father, she has only shown her displeasure for the slow pace of restoration work by ASI (whose services are still being utilized as a contractor) and advises to engage other agencies capable to carry out such type of restoration/preservation on war footing. Thank God, no one has recommended the name of INTACH, there and then. Nor she will ever know that once, ASI have catagorically reacted saying that they know their job well and do not require other’s advise or unwanted interference. So to say, since the restoration work of Mubarak Mandi Palaces has been taken into hands, we are still on the cross road to decide whether the restoration work of this sacred monument should be handed over to ASI, a Central Government organization, who are already maintaining 69 such monuments in J&K, or allow the Heritage Society/Tourism Deptt to convert this historical heritage into tourist destination, by constructing hotels, cafeterias, fast food Centres and other entertainment cum business centres, Rope way and so on initially proposed in the very first governing body meeting of this so called NGO. Every body who has a little touch with this monument knows that the disastrous position these palaces are facing since last few years is only because of this society’s adamant attitude to stick on their own proposals and not allowing the ASI to carry on their job in accordance with their established norms.

Even today we can read their individual or combined statements that since years there is no progress in the restoration work, not more than 10 percent of the funds received from the Centre have so far been utilized, or one can only laugh when they themselves ask for an enquiry for the bulldozing of Marble Platform (Durbar-e-Aam) etc. None of them is ready to accept that all this is because of the callous attitude of this Heritage Society. They are still reluctant to stand by the recommendations of Div. Com. Jammu to hand over this Complex to ASI for its proper restoration/preservation and finally develop it into a world class museum as suggested by Dr Karan Singh. Nor they will accept the responsibility to tell the Jammuites that when the High Court building has been restored by the ASI, years ago, and it was suggested to display for the visitors the removed Tosha Khana items as also other artefacts lying in the boxes of Dogra Art Museum, why this restored building is still lying without any use….

I was just going to close this writing when suddenly the news of a resignation from one of the members of this society came in front of me (Daily Excelsior Sep 18, 2016). This may not be good for the society but to me it is good for the proper and undisturbed restoration of this historical complex by the ASI. And still it is time for them all to voluntarily close this so called NGO to enable ASI take the full responsibility of the preservation of this historical and cultural heritage of Duggar. And I believe, our joint efforts to persue both, State Government and the Centre to meet the extra requirements of ASI, the latter will certainly complete the job in a time frame manner and quite in accordance with the charters and modules framed by the international bodies including UNESCO, already referred to above. And we may or may not see, but one day these royal palaces will not only regain their pristine glory but will prove their capability to become a world class Museum-a matter of pride for Duggar and the Dogras.

- http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/, September 29, 2016

The Tamil Nadu government will soon set up an IT Park at Pattabiram (a suburb on the western part of Chennai) which will help generate more than 10,000 jobs, said K. Pandiarajan, Minister for School Education, Archaeology, Youth Welfare and Sports Development, during his inaugural address at CONNECT 2016, organised by the Government of Tamil Nadu and Confederation of India Industry in Chennai.

He also requested IT companies present at the session to join hands with automobile firms. “IT-Auto should have a bridge and form a cluster.” According to him, there are areas where IT and Automobile firms can help each other and if it works auto firms can do all their IT related works in India instead of outsourcing it. Mr. Pandiarajan also said that the State government will soon announce its stance on the National Education Policy. He said that under the current government, the dropout rate in schools is 0.001 per cent, which is an impressive statistic. “The state also has highest gross enrolment ratio. Nearly 46 per cent of our students pursue higher education post school,” he said.

-http://www.thehindu.com/, September 29, 2016

Air pollution has assumed alarming proportions. So serious is this problem and so lethal is the air that we breathe that it has become a major public health hazard worldwide. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report points out that 92% of world’s population lives in areas where air pollution levels are above acceptable levels. The problem is particularly severe in low and middle-income countries but the rich are not free from its impact; 58% of cities in advanced countries are seriously polluted as well. The impact on human lives is immense. An estimated three million people are dying each year on account of air pollution; 94% of these deaths occur due to non-communicable diseases like lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is a matter of grave concern that India is among the countries bearing the brunt of the pollution problem. The WHO report points out that in 2012 alone, some 6,00,000 people died in India due to air pollution, second only to China which topped with 8,00,000 pollution-related deaths that year.

The WHO report admits that its figures are “conservative” as its study was confined to the impact of fine particulate matter from industries, cars and biomass on mortality rates. Had it studied the impact of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, for instance, or looked into the link between air pollution and pre-term births and low birth weight, the picture would have been even more alarming. Besides, this WHO report dealt with ambient air only. It did not include indoor air pollution which is worrying too. An earlier WHO report had warned that around 1.4 million Indians have died due to indoor pollution.Clearly, the problem has assumed crisis proportions. So far, much of the global response to the problem has focused on finger pointing. Countries are busy blaming each other for high emissions. We have also heard a lot of rhetoric on clean energy. It is time the world’s response shifts from sloganeering to robust and cooperative action. This would require advanced countries to share clean energy technologies with the developing world and adopt lifestyles that cut pollution.

While the link between air pollution and climate change is still hotly debated and this impact expected to unfold over the coming decades, the impact of air pollution and human health is already evident. It is a clear and present danger. The economic and other costs of treating cardiovascular diseases and cancers caused by air pollution are high and a burden on people, families and the economy. This burden could be reduced by making the air we breathe less lethal.

-http://www.deccanherald.com/, September 29, 2016

Want to landscape your garden, make a topiary or gazebo set amidst a bed of roses at your estate back home, while sitting in far-flung Sweden or Netherland? Well professional property management startups are coming to the rescue of NRIs, who want help in managing their estates, farms and apartments in India. And nothing is too big or small for startups like Portiqo, Konnect Realty, Help at Homes — from unblocking a choked sink pipe to setting up a rain water harvesting system to collecting rent from tenants — these startups provide A-Z services for all property related services. Property managers say they have clients from nearly 20 countries worldwide, including US, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany, Gulf countries. "We even have a small percentage of clients from Africa," says Mohan U, owner of Konnect Realty.

Tenant fee management, commercial property rent-outs, crediting advances or wiring money to different countries are the normal duties that fall on the shoulders of property managers. "We ensure prompt payment of water tax, corporate tax, payment of maintenance to building societies. We even undertake interior designing projects, refurbishing, garden landscaping, creation of flower beds. For NRIs with farm houses or farms, we undertake fencing, plantation of crops and payment to gardeners, caretakers and other employees," says Mohan.

At times, property managers are even asked to build houses from scratch. Clients sometimes ask for construction of garages, summer houses, outdoor sheds, gazebos or a miniature playhouse for their children. "We obviously don't have the expertise to cater to all their needs. But since we are in the business, we connect with about 500 specialists, including horticulture experts to satisfy our clients," says Mohan. And clients do appreciate the range of services they offer and the professionality that comes with it. "Despite having a lot of relatives, friends in Chennai, we were unable to get basics done because everyone is so busy these days. Once, the electricity connection in our flat was disconnected. But with a property manager, we were able to get a lot of work done and at very affordable rates," says Prasad Rao, a software consultant from SouthLake, Texas. "But we had to do some research before we could zero in on a manager. Many of the websites we checked were fake, till we found Rajam Properties and they were reliable," cautions his wife Beulah Rao. Another reassuring factor about property managers is the constant Before-and-After pictures and reports they send of the property. For smaller repairs like clogged sinks or concealed wiring, property managers send photo updates on WhatsApp or Facebook. For more extensive repairs, reports are created and updates are send in a phased manner.

Most property managers already have expertise in real estate before they branched out. T Chockalingam of 360 Degree Property Management Services said earlier he was doing this for friends and relatives, before he realised it could be monetized. "The idea was mooted by an NRI friend of ours and we realised it could be a big money spinner. We usually sign one-year comprehensive contracts with clients with annual renewals," says Chockalingam. Sometimes property managers also have to handle the ugly side of this business — the eviction of tenants. Property managers say they have seen more evictions from the commercial renting space than in residentials and the modus operandi is to use the lawyers representing the clients to ensure they are on the right side of the law in evictions.

-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 29, 2016

The Forum For a Better Hyderabad (FBH) organised a ‘Memorial Meet’ under the ‘Great Tamarind Tree’, which saved lives of more than 150 people during the disastrous Musi Flood of 1908, in Osmania General Hospital Park on Wednesday. The members of the Forum along with scholars, historians, members from NGOs, schoolchildren and teachers gathered to pay homage to the people who lost their lives in the floods.

They discussed about the facilities, such as roads, drainage, urban development in the period of Nizam and measures taken after the disaster. They also discussed on the recent heavy rains that caused severe damage to infrastructure and property. M Vedakumar, President, Forum in his speech described the city as the City of Lake, Garden city and the City of Bicycle once upon a time. “The facilities, which were provided during Nizam period, are still continuing. The previous Governments did not take any initiative for the better development of Hyderabad and also encouraged illegal constructions in the city,” he said. He expressed that a there is a need for ‘Perfect Master Plan’ with a comprehensive methodology in HMDA design for the development of Hyderabad. “Increasing population is a concern and one of the reasons for the recent floods, because many people encroached upon the rivers,” he opined.

“The Musi River should be cleaned and saved,” he added. Prominent historian Aanand Raj Varma called for the declaration of ‘the tree’ as a heritage site and requested for the beautification of the park. Later, Sanghamitra Malik, Joint Secretary of Forum recited a poem on ‘Tamarind Tree’. The students of Oxford grammar School sang songs on the importance of greenery, nature and on the Tamarind Tree. FBH Members MH Rao, Adarsh, Jeevan Kumar, HRF, Afzul, Turab, COVA, Basvaraj, APSA, Anand Raj Varma, Historian, Pittala Srisailam, Ex MLA K Narsimha Reddy, Surjit Singh, Jaffar Hashmi, Medical Officer, OGH also participated in the programme.

-http://www.thehansindia.com/, September 29, 2016

The Rs 1,800 crore steel flyover project has a lot of players involved with their share of the pie already decided A power push by three influential ministers and their kin, a few elected representatives of the Congress and some key officials of BDA has resulted in a very “costly gift’’ for Namma Bengaluru — the proposed steel flyover which is threatening to mar the core of the city. While the political circle is abuzz that this Rs 1,800 crore project is an obvious election mobilisation fund, word is also out that the project which was put on hold, was cleared by a certain minister during his “leave” along with a coterie of ministers who are the kingmakers in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.

And this real high stakes project has a lot of players involved with their share of the pie already decided! The 6.72 km, six-lane flyover to be constructed with 55,000 tonnes of steel, is planned to ease the international airport corridor. And the casualty will not only be the aesthetics, but also 812 trees along the stretch and about an acre of private property (three acres of government land included). A day after the state cabinet cleared the project, a large section of Bengalureans voiced their criticism through on social media. If sources close to the power centres in Vidhana Soudha are to be believed, it was the idea of two sons of two ministers. Backed with technical inputs by some key officials in BDA, the draft was readied and it was sent for approval. Suddenly, citing technical and financial feasibility issues (the high tender cost which increased the project cost by Rs500 crore is one of the reasons ), the government wanted to take a re-look. “Then came in two players, an MLA and MLC, both close to two ministers, who in fact wanted the infrastructure companies chosen by them to lead the project. Finally, the MLC was able to push his choice of contractor. The cost also went up by nearly Rs 500 crore vis-a-vis the estimated cost and Rs 300 crore is said to be towards the forthcoming assembly election fund. The project was finalised by a coterie of three ministers,’’ said a source. Undoubtedly, the steel flyover is contractor and politically driven, according to reliable sources. When the project gathered steam, the issue of the contractor quoting a high tender value slowed down its momentum. Once the “figures’’ were worked out, it was given a green signal. Mired in this big budget production, the government seems to have the least concern for city’s aestheics and green cover. As Sathya Prakash Varanashi, former INTACH convener, urban designer and heritage expert says that such an undaunted facilitation will adversely affect its culture and human relationships. “There is no end to facilitating a city and the state-government should learn from other western models that have failed over a point in time to meet the demands of a growing city. The steel flyover is not a viable option as the maintenance cost of the project will be too high and at present the city doesn’t require a quick-fix solution,’’ he said. Theatre person Prakash Belawadi, who has actively participated in many “save heritage building’’ campaigns, has this to say: “Let there be a public consultation, let experts debate and then if everything is hunky dory, let government go ahead with the project.’’

* Can we have a vision of developing 1,500 km of walkable footpaths, making them 1.5-2 metre wide. Can we do the Rs. 600 crore white topping project by fixing the footpath before taking up white topping. * More buses, better route planning, fast er Metro implementation, mini bus aggregators allowed to run, etc. There is no way a car centric approach can ever fix Bengaluru traffic --long flyovers and tunnel road proposals indicate a car mindset which will never work. * Our public spaces at 5.8% is atheticly low. It needs to be more than 15%. There should be legislation against shrinking any public space going forward. No question of eating into Bangalore Golf Club or palace grounds. And cutting 800 plus trees saying we will plant elsewhere is hardly a visionary outlook. What will the project take

* Around 4,337 q m of land in the Bangalore Golf Club -- which may result in the club losing about five holes and a shrinking teeing area. * Balabrooie state guest house which is a heritage building -- 2,900 sq metres. * The iconic Chalukya hotel -- 18 sq metres. *Once again, Carlton House, housing the CID headquarters, is under threat. It is all set to lose 380 sq metres. * Unfortunate that Rs 1,800 crore of public money is forcibly being spent on a project that citizens, civil society groups and even experts have opposed it. This will become another white elephant which will only shift bottlenecks. Such critical infrastructure project has been passed without getting it through the Metropolitan Planning Committee. This amount of money is better spent on improving the quality of our public transport system, kickstarting the commuter rail system, Investing on origin destination studies and better synchronization of BMTC, Namma Metro and Commuter rail systems with far greater impact. Establishing a high frequency shuttle between Chalukya Circle to Hebbal and airport willdecongest a great deal of traffic on this corridor.

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation * I have no hesitation in referring to this project as purely contractor and politically driven, since the proposed project is neither citizen-driven nor plan-driven. It is a blatant misuse of public money and illegal, as the proposed project is not placed before the constitutionally set-up Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee and there is no public consultation held before preparing detailed project report. No impact study has been prepared and placed in public domain for scrutiny and transparency; as media reports suggest about 500 plus fully grown trees will be cut down to facilitate the proposed project. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

-http://www.bangaloremirror.com/, September 30, 2016

On his second day of inspection on Thursday senior member of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Dr Adel Farhangi Shabestari visited three ASI sites to see up close the intricacies involved in the unique `Gujarat style' of Islamic architecture. He was accompanied by the joint director general of ASI along with Dr Ravindra Vasavada, team members from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) including deputy general manager, heritage projects, P K Vasudevan Nair, and heritage conservation committee member P K Ghosh.

Dr Shabestari will take the heritage walk on Friday morning, after which a stakeholders meet will be held at the Usmanpura AMC office. Towards late evening, on Thursday , mayor Gautam Shah hosted a dinner for Dr Shabestari where invitees included former municipal commissioner and present MEGA managing director I P Gautam and Centre for Heritage Management director Debashis Nayak.Nayak has played a pivotal role in starting the movement to get Ahmedabad on the tentative list of Unesco world heritage cities.City-based historian Rizwan Kadri presented a to Dr ShaGujarati-Persibestari, an dictionary while city heritage centre founder, Rajiv Patel, gave short take on his journey .

In the morning, around 7 am, Dr Shabestari visited Sultan Ahmed Shah's tomb, Badshah No Hajiro and Rani No Hajiro. After spending a good 20 minutes at this place, Dr Shabestari visited the Jami Masjid on Gandhi road. Officials accompa nying him claimed he was taking no te of every in tricate detail of the monument plan and obser ving the densi ty of settlements around these structures. Towards noon, Dr Shabestari visited the Rani Sipri mosque, a structure built in 1514 AD and dedicated to Sultan Mehmod Begada's wife. Dr Shabestari spent a considerable time looking at the intricate carvings of this mosque, which was called the Masjid-eNagina or (jewel of a mosque).He then visited the Dastoor Khan Mosque nearby .

An AMC official claimed that Dr Shabestari visited Dhal Ni Pol and walked through the small lanes to experience the life in pols. He also visited the French Haveli and even the new World Heritage Centre of AMC.

-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/, September 30, 2016

The fashion designers of the country might seek inspiration from the West, but when it comes to artisans who make Durga idols, the choice remains highly ‘desi’. From Benarsi to Rajasthani, the themes that they are exploring seem to be inspired by the ‘Make in India’ concept. read more This Durga Puja foreign shores beckons city travellers Bengali artisans meet Ghaziabad idol demand

Amidst a treasure trove of idols one can spot some unusual figures too. “These durga idols are made keeping in mind the Rajasthani theme,” says 20-year-old artisan Raghunath Pal. The one he points out to, has a a balloon-shaped gown around the waist, which will eventually be painted to look like a fine Rajasthani ghagra. “This will be painted in bronze colour,” says Pal. He adds, “We have to create the idols as demanded by the puja organisers, and we give it our best as these Durga idols then compete with each other for prizes.” Inside the dimly lit makeshift stalls, at Chittaranjan Park’s Kali Bari Mandir, there are several idols being made for not just Durga Puja but even Kali Puja (which is held on Diwali). “Idols for about 50 Durga Pujas are made in our temple complex,” says Santi Mazumder, vice-president Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society.After sculpting, the idols are painted according to the themes that the puja organisers provide the artisans in advance. Bitto Ghosh, a 20-year-old artist near Chandralok Cinema, gives an idol Banarsi touch though his painting. He says, “I have been painting idols since childhood.

This one I’m working on is based on the Banarsi-theme. That’s why the colours we have chosen include bright red and yellow, which are often seen in Banarsi silk-saris.” He also keeps a coloured photograph as reference, while working. “This is how the final 5 chala (5-piece) pandal will look like when ready,” Ghosh explains. The tallest sculpture made in the Kali Bari Mandir is created with much detailing in Indian motifs and measures 18 feet. “It is for a puja in RK Puram,” informs Pal. This Durga idol is created in Rajasthani-theme, by artists in the Kali Bari Mandir complex in CR Park. At the make shift tent in Chandralok Cinema, 47-year-old Maunik Paul directs his artisans to paint with caution.“We make idols for 40-42 puja pandals every year. Each has a concept that we adhere to,” says Paul adding that the mud is brought from Punjab and West Bengal, following the traditional process. “To make one Durga idol, five workers take about 15 to 20 days and to ensure that the nowadays popular theme idols are created, we need to invest more time,” says Paul.

-http://www.hindustantimes.com/, September 30, 2016

When the Indian Civil Service, Calcutta, published the Gazetteer of Sikkim in 1897, they may not have envisaged that this incredible publication, after a century, would still be one of the rarest manuscripts on that once Himalayan kingdom. Erudite personalities of the British Raj were assigned to write on topics related to Sikkim, which no other writer was qualified to write on. For example, one is unlikely to be able to read about Sikkim’s 35 monasteries in a single publication. One writer had devoted a chapter in the Gazetteer to Sikkim’s monasteries and the role of lamas all the way back to a misty past. LA Waddell actually takes the reader on a phantasmagorical route, articulated with breathtaking profundity. He was the first European to penetrate the subject of Buddhism in Tibet and subsequently link its importance to Sikkim. His work, The Buddhism of Tibet and Lamaism (1895), was the result of research by his contact with lamas while he was posted on the borders of Tibet by virtue of his working with the Medical Service of the Indian Army in 1880, and he also studied Hindi and Sanskrit. His wide-ranging interests included extending his activities to archaeology, philology and ethnology, which he pursued in his spare time. He studied Tibetan and the rituals of lamas when he was Deputy Sanitary Commissioner of Darjeeling district from 1888-1895.

He was the only personality of the Raj who was competent to lead a team of representatives to Lhasa in 1915, an exercise never attempted before. His hosts in Lhasa were intrigued by this foreigner who spoke some Tibetan and recited Buddhist prayers, thus giving credence to his chapter on a historic sketch of lamas in Tibet and Sikkim. Lamaism or Tibetan Buddhism is the state religion of Sikkim. Indeed, lamas who entered Sikkim 500 years ago retained temporal power; in fact, the original series of lamas nominated the rulers of Sikkim. Waddell stated that no account of Sikkim’s lamaism had hitherto been written and this chapter could be considered the first on the subject. He refuted certain matters written by scholars like Karl Friedrich Koppen and E Schlagintweit on lamaism because Waddell countered with the argument that he was the only person from the West who interacted and actually lived with lamas to study their rituals. He also assured readers that he used the term “lama” in a general sense, for all their clergy. He has credited learned Sikkim lama Ugyen Gyatsho and Tibetan lama Padma Chho Phel, with whom he had consulted with on early texts of Tibet's and Sikkim?s history. Waddell sifted myth and legend to finally produce a residue of historical facts. He traced the beginning of Buddhism in India, when it was founded in Benares about the fifth century BC, when the Buddha preached his first sermon on the site now marked by the Sarnath stupa. Asoka, who had his capital in Bihar’s Patna, made Buddhism his state religion. In fact, Asoka?s diligence in perpetuating Buddhism was circulated by his missionaries to neighbouring countries and by 61 AD it was established in China.

Up to the seventh century, Tibet was without a written language. Early in that era was born Srong-tsan-gampo, whose ancestors for the past two generations had established their authority over central Tibet and harassed the western boundaries of China. To appease the young prince, the Chinese emperor gave him a princess of the imperial house in marriage. Srong-tsan-gampo had, two years before, married the daughter of the King of Nepal; both wives were devout Buddhists. They converted Srong-tsan-gampo, who then sent his representatives to India, for Buddhist books and teachers; hence this dates the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet. Lamaism dates from over a century later than the first entry of Buddhism into Tibet. At the same time, the doctrine of Kalachakra, or supreme deity, without beginning or end, the source of all things, was accepted by lamas. Lamaism was founded by the wizard priest, Padmasambhava, called by Tibetans Guru Rinpoche, or The Precious Guru, since guru is Sanskrit for teacher. Lamaism arose in the time of King Thi Srong Detsan, who reigned from 740 to 786 AD. He inherited from his mother, who was a Chinese Princess, his preference towards Buddhism. He visited India to study books on Buddhism and built the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, the Sam-yas, in 749 AD and established the first community of lamas. Lamaism?s entry into Sikkim dates from the time of Lhatsiin Chembo?s arrival there about the middle of the 17th century AD. He was also known as The Reverend God who fears not the sky, with reference to his alleged power of flying.

He travelled widely in Sikkim and Tibet and finally arrived in Lhasa in 1648. His great inputs through learning attracted the attention of Gyalwa Ngak-Wang, the greatest of the grand lamas, who became the first Dalai Lama. Only two sects of lamas exist in Sikkim, the Nyingmapas and the Kargyupa s. Monasteries by tradition, in Sikkim are of three kinds: Takphu, literally a rock cave hermitage; a Gompa that is a solitary place; or a third category, a monastery proper. Gompas are near villages or settlements with at least three lamas. Waddell states that begging with a bowl was never a feature of lamaism, even if a Gompa was near a village. Of Sikkim?s 35 monasteries, the Sanga Chelling, The place of secret spells, is the oldest monastery in Sikkim, established in 1697, and has 25 lamas in attendance. Singtam Monastery, with six lamas, is the most recent one, founded in 1884. Chronologically, the period of the beginning of Buddhism and lamaism in the region was initiated in China, Tibet and then came here later.

-www.thestatesman.com/, September 30, 2016

Survey of India has been advised by the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Y.S. Chowdhary, to make use of the latest IT tools and come up with road and street maps useful for the citizens. “SoI is a very important institution and will be completing 250 years of its existence. I have advised the Surveyor General of India, Swarna Subba Rao, to make use of their vast land bank and expertise in tune with present day requirements,” the Minister said.

Mr. Chowdhary was taking to press persons after inaugurating the newly-created Directorates - Telangana Geo-Spatial Data Centre and Andhra Pradesh Geo-Spatial Data Centre at the SoI campus here in Uppal. The directorates with distinct area of responsibilities would cater to the surveying and mapping needs of both the States. While the new AP maps are ready, the maps of Telangana would be ready in a month’s time once the government finalises the districts formation, he explained. The Union Minister wanted a new director to be appointed to the bodies without much delay, and also announced that within a month or so, the AP Centre would be moving towards the upcoming capital region of Amaravathi.

With regards to usage of maps available with the institution, Mr. Chowdhary said they were scaled to the ratio of 1:50,000 and has been brought down to 1:25,000, but the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, called for bringing it down further to 1:10,000. Once the maps were tuned to the latest IT tools and GPS, citizens could make use of the information to know more about the land mass, roads, and water bodies. “This will also help in creating a wide spectrum of users and cater to the geo-spatial needs of the country,” he said.

-http://www.thehindu.com/, September 30, 2016

The Indian government and New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) have signed an agreement extending the Indian Conservation Fellowship Programme to promote modern museum practices. India's Consul General Riva Ganguly said she hoped that the programme would enrich both sides through learning from each other and that it will help Indian conservationists improve scientific methods of conservation and management. She was speaking at a reception at the consulate on Tuesday to mark the signing of the memorandum of agreement extending the programme for five more years. The Andrew Mellon Foundation has given $1.55 million for the new phase of the conservation fellowship programme, according to the foundation's database. It was started in 2013 as a pilot programme and its success led to the renewal, a consulate statement said.

Under the agreement the MET will work with the Indian Ministry of Culture to develop a broad range of knowledge on modern operations of museums like conservation and planning of exhibitions. The MET's Deputy Director for Collections and Administration, Carrie Rebora Barratt, said the rich cultural heritage of India needed conserving and the interaction of the participants from India and the United States will lead to a mutual learning process. The Mellon Foundation's Executive Vice President, Mariet Westermann, said she was happy the foundation was participating in a program that will contribute to conserving the rich cultural treasures of India. The MET is a premiere cultural institution of the US that was recently named the world top museum for the second year in the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards. Last year, over 6.7 million people visited the museum that features 5,000 years of art from around the world.

The museum has a large collection of cultural artifacts from India and features special programme about the country's heritage. It is currently holding an exhibition, Poetry and Devotion in Indian Art, featuring 22 of the dozens of Rajput and Pahari paintings in its collection. Recent exhibitions have included "Divine Pleasures" painting from India's Rajput courts, "Company School Painting in India" and "Encountering Vishnu: The Lion Avatar in Indian Temple Drama." (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

-http://www.business-standard.com/, September 30, 2016