GS Paper: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Why in the News?

On February 24, 1739, the Battle of Karnal marked a turning point in the history of Mughal empire.

About Battle of Karnal 

• The Battle of Karnal on February 24, 1739, saw Nadir Shah’s Persian army defeat Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah ‘Rangila’ in under three hours.
• Despite having 300,000 soldiers, the Mughal army was crushed by Nadir Shah’s 55,000 well-trained troops using modern tactics and superior firearms.
• Following the victory, Delhi was sacked, 30,000 civilians massacred, and the Mughal treasury looted, including the Koh-i-Noor diamond and the Peacock Throne.

Impact on Mughal Decline

• Economic Collapse: The Mughal treasury was emptied, crippling military and administrative strength.
• Weakening Central Power: Governors of Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad declared independence.
• Military Decline: The Mughal army’s outdated tactics were exposed; future invasions (e.g., Ahmad Shah Abdali, 1748-1761) followed.
• Rise of Regional Powers: The Marathas expanded, eventually capturing Delhi (1771); the Sikhs grew in Punjab.
• British Expansion: The East India Company took advantage, leading to British rule after 1857.

Why in the News?

Prime Minister witnessed the largest-ever Jhumur dance performance in Guwahati, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry.

What are Tea Tribes/Tea Garden Communities of Assam?

• The Tea Tribes or Tea Garden Communities of Assam are descendants of laborers brought by the British in the 19th century to work in tea plantations.
• These workers were mainly from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Many were brought through forced migration, and even voluntary migration occurred under exploitative conditions.
• They were subjected to poor wages, inhumane working conditions, and restricted mobility.
• The community is concentrated in Upper Assam districts like Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sonitpur, and Sivasagar, and in the Barak Valley.
• They currently have Other Backward Classes (OBC) Status but demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, as many of their sub-groups, like Munda, Santhal, and Oraon, hold ST status in their original states.
• Despite adversity, the Tea Garden Communities preserved their cultural identity, with distinct festivals, music, and dance forms.
  • Their major festivals include Tushu Puja and Karam Puja, celebrated with the traditional Jhumur dance.

About Jhumur Dance 

• Jhumur (also spelled Jhumoir or Jhumair) is a folk dance of the Sadan ethnolinguistic group, mainly practised by Assam’s Tea Garden Communities.
• It originated in Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, and Chhattisgarh) and was brought to Assam during the British colonial era.
• Over time, it blended with Assamese culture, incorporating Assamese musical and linguistic influences.
• Performance and Style:
  • Women are the primary dancers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in synchronized formations.
  • Men accompany them with traditional instruments like madal, dhol, dhak (drums), cymbals, flutes, and shehnai.
  • Attire: Women wear red and white sarees, while men wear kurta-dhoti with gamocha (traditional Assamese cloth).
• Jhumur songs depict both celebration and hardship, narrating:
  • Love and Nature – Seasonal changes, harvest, and romance.
  • Hardships of Tea Workers – Struggles, migration, and exploitation.
  • Festivals and Community Life – Unity, faith, and social cohesion.
• It serves as a cultural bridge, helping retain their traditions and forge a unique identity in Assam.

Why in the News?

On December 1, 2024, a team of archaeologists, students, and laborers began excavation at the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site in Jajpur, Odisha.

About the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site

• Located in Jajpur district, Odisha, Ratnagiri is part of the “Diamond Triangle” along with Udayagiri and Lalitgiri.
• It flourished as a Vajrayana Buddhist center from the 5th to 13th century AD.
• It was first reported in 1906, with excavations conducted from 1958-1961 by Debala Mitra.
• It is identified as ‘Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihara Arya Bhikshu Sangha’ through inscriptions.

Key Findings at the Site:

• Largest Buddha Head in Odisha: 1.4 meters tall, made of Khondalite stone, featuring intricate carvings.
• Monolithic Elephant Sculpture: Likely part of an ancient shrine complex.
• Hundreds of Votive Stupas: Used for spiritual offerings, reflecting Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.
• Sanskrit Inscriptions in Kutila Script: Provide insights into monastic teachings and rituals.
• Stone Tablets and Masonry Structures: Indicate large, organized monastic settlements.
• Lion Pedestal (Simhasana) and Buddhist Deities: Includes Amoghasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, Akshobhya, Amitabha, Tara, Marici, Padmapani, Cunda.
• Artefacts Used in Local Villages: Repurposed as decorations, Tulsi bases, and construction materials.

Why in the News?

The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government in Assam has officially included ‘Bathouism’ as an option in the religion column of key application forms, including admission forms, birth and death certificates.

What is Bathouism?

• Bathouism is the traditional faith of the Bodo people, primarily practiced in Assam and the foothills of Bhutan.
• It is a nature-centric religion that worships Bathoubwrai, the supreme deity believed to govern the universe.
• The central symbol of Bathouism is the Sijou plant (Euphorbia antiquorum), representing Bathoubwrai and planted in sacred enclosures (Bathou Thansali).
• Bathou Puja is performed to seek divine blessings for prosperity, health, and well-being.
• The Assam government has recently recognized Bathouism as a distinct faith, allowing its inclusion in official documents.

Philosophy of Bathouism

• Bathouism is based on five fundamental elements, known as Ba (five) Thou (deep thought), representing natural forces:

1. Bar (Air) – Symbolizes breath, movement, and life force.
2. San (Sun) – Represents light, energy, and warmth.
3. Ha (Earth) – Stands for stability, fertility, and sustenance.
4. Or (Fire) – Denotes transformation and purification.
5. Okhrang (Sky) – Represents infinite wisdom and cosmic balance.

• Bathoubwrai (Sibwrai) is considered almighty, omniscient, and eternal, beyond time and space. He is indestructible—fire cannot burn him, water cannot moisten him, air cannot dry him, and weapons cannot pierce him.
• Bathouism promotes:

1. Truthfulness, honesty, and righteousness.
2. Respect for elders, ancestors, and nature.
3. Peaceful coexistence and non-violence.
4. Gratitude through rituals and pujas.

• Bathou rituals involve five bamboo sticks symbolizing the five elements, with offerings of rice beer, milk, flowers, and incense.
• Ancestral veneration and community harmony are integral aspects of the faith.

Why in the News?

Tamil Nadu CM recently proclaimed that the Iron Age began on Tamil soil over 5,300 years ago (4th millennium BCE), based on findings from Mayiladumparai, Sivagalai, Adichanallur, and Kilnamandi.

Iron Age in India

• The Iron Age in India was initially thought to have begun around 700-600 BCE.
• Radiocarbon dating pushed the timeline back to 1800 BCE, with evidence of iron smelting found in Central Ganga Plain and Eastern Vindhyas.
• Recent discoveries in Tamil Nadu suggest that iron metallurgy was established in South India as early as 3300 BCE.

Notable Iron Age Sites in India:

1. Central and Northern India

• Raja Nala-ka-tila (UP): Iron tools and slag found in pre-NBP (Northern Black Polished) deposits (1400–800 BCE).
• Malhar (Chandauli, UP): Furnaces and iron slag indicate a major iron metallurgy center (1200 BCE).
• Dadupur (UP): Large-scale iron smelting evidence dating back to 1000 BCE.
• Hastinapur (UP): Iron tools associated with the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture (1000 BCE).
• Takshashila (Punjab, Pakistan): Iron tools found in Gandhara settlements (800 BCE).

2. Western and Central India

• Ahar (Rajasthan): Chalcolithic culture (2500–1700 BCE) showed early evidence of iron artifacts.
• Naikund (Vidarbha, Maharashtra): Discovery of an iron smelting furnace (1000 BCE).
• Mahurjhari (Nagpur, Maharashtra): Horse ornaments made of copper with iron knobs (800 BCE).

3. South India

• Paiyampalli (Tamil Nadu): Large-scale iron smelting and slag deposits (1200 BCE).
• Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu): Iron tools and burial urns linked to Megalithic culture (1000 BCE).
• Mayiladumparai (Tamil Nadu): Recent findings date iron usage to 3300 BCE, making it one of the oldest sites of iron metallurgy in India.
• Sivagalai (Tamil Nadu): Iron artifacts and slag deposits, indicating early smelting practices (1100 BCE).

Iron Age in Tamil Nadu: New Discoveries

• Earlier studies in Mayiladumparai Excavation (2022) suggested that the Iron Age began 4,200 years ago (3rd millennium BCE).
• This timeline coincides with the Copper/Bronze Age in North India, indicating a technological divergence between the regions.
• The latest State Archaeology Department’s report, “Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu”, confirms that Iron smelting began as early as 3,345 BCE – 2,953 BCE.
• Limited availability of copper ores in South India might have led to the early adoption of iron technology.
• Excavations in Sivagalai, Adichanallur, Kilnamandi, and Mayiladumparai indicate that the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu predates much of North India.