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

  • In news: Wangala Dance of Garo Tribe

    wangala

    This newscard is an excerpt from a picture in the print edition of TH.

    Wangala Dance

    wangala

    • Wangala is also called the festival of “The Hundred Drums“.
    • It is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam and Greater Mymensingh in Bangladesh.
    • In this post-harvest festival, they give thanks to Misi Saljong the sun god, for blessing the people with a rich harvest.
    • Wangala is celebrated in the months from September to December, with different villages setting different dates for the occasion.

    Course of celebration

    • The ceremony performed on first day is known as “Ragula” is performed inside the house of the chief.
    • On the second day is known as “Kakkat“.
    • Folks dressed in their colorful costumes with feathered headgears dance to the tune of music played on long oval-shaped drums.
    • While the men beat the drums, the line moves forward in rhythmic accord.
    • The ‘orchestra’ of men includes drums, gong and flutes, punctuated by the sonorous music of an primitive flute made of buffalo horn.

     

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  • Arts in news: Tambo Art

    tambo

    Wayanad farmer creates Ashoka Chakra using Tambo art.

    What is Tambo Art?

    • Tambo art is an artistic technique that consists of creating a design with different varieties of rice directly in a rice field.
    • The origin of this art can be traced to Japan where people plant paddy of various varieties and hues to create the desired images.
    • The image of Ashoka Chakra has been created using four varieties of paddy seeds such as Nazar bath, Kala bath, Kaki sala and Ramlee.
    • They will ripen in shades that range from brown to golden, light brown to black, green to black and green to white and black.

     

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  • The Art of Bhoota Kola

    bhoota

    There has been a controversy over the folk art of Bhoota Kola recently depicted in a famous Kannada movie.

    What is Bhoota Kola?

    • Bhoota Kola is an animistic ritual dance performance where local spirits or deities are worshipped.
    • It is believed that a person performing the ritual has temporarily become a god himself.
    • This performer is both feared and respected in the community and is believed to give answers to people’s problems, on behalf of the god.
    • There are several ‘Bhootas’ who are worshipped in the Tulu-speaking belt of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts.
    • It is usually performed in small local communities and rural areas.

    How is it performed?

    • The Kola (or dance performance for the Gods) is basically performed in an area near the temple of the village deity which is usually close to large open fields.
    • The ritual involves music, dance, recital, and elaborate costumes.
    • Recitals in Old Tulu recount the origins of the deity and tell the story of how it came to the present location.
    • The divine medium start their traditional performances as the local folklore called ‘paddanas’ are recited.

     

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  • Lothal: ‘Oldest Dock in the World’, to get heritage complex

    lothal

    Prime Minister has reviewed the construction of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) site at Gujarat’s Lothal via video conferencing.

    Where is Lothal?

    • Lothal was one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley civilization, located in the Bhal region of what is now the state of Gujarat.
    • The port city is believed to have been built in 2,200 BC. Lothal was a thriving trade centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and ornaments reaching West Asia and Africa.
    • The meaning of Lothal (a combination of Loth and (s) thal) in Gujarati is “the mound of the dead”.
    • Incidentally, the name of the city of Mohenjo-daro (also part of the Indus Valley Civilisation, now in Pakistan) means the same in Sindhi.
    • In the region, it can be compared with other Indus port towns of Balakot (Pakistan), Khirasa (in Gujarat’s Kutch) and Kuntasi (in Rajkot).

    When was it discovered?

    • Indian archaeologists started the search for cities of the Harappan Civilisation post-1947 in Gujarat’s Saurashtra.
    • Archaeologist SR Rao led the team which discovered a number of Harappan sites at the time, including the port city of Lothal.
    • Excavation work was carried out in Lothal between February 1955 and May 1960.
    • Adjacent to the excavated areas stands the archaeological site museum, where some of the most prominent collections of Indus-era antiquities in India are displayed.

    How was it identified as port city?

    • The National Institute of Oceanography in Goa discovered marine microfossils and salt, gypsum crystals at the site, indicating that sea water once filled the structure and it was definitely a dockyard.
    • It had the world’s earliest known dock, connecting the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river.
    • A metropolis with an upper and a lower town had in on its northern side a basin with vertical wall, inlet and outlet channels which has been identified as a tidal dockyard.
    • Satellite images show that the river channel, now dried, would have brought in considerable volume of water during high tide, which would have filled the basin and facilitated sailing of boats upstream.

    What heritage value does it hold?

    • Lothal was nominated in April 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.
    • It is the only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
    • Its heritage value is comparable to following ancient port-towns around the world-
    1. Xel Ha (Peru)
    2. Ostia (Port of Rome)
    3. Carthage (Port of Tunis) in Italy
    4. Hepu in China,
    5. Canopus in Egypt
    6. Gabel (Byblos of the Phoenicians),
    7. Jaffa in Israel,
    8. Ur in Mesopotamia
    9. Hoi An in Vietnam

    Building up of Heritage Complex

    • The project began in March 2022, and is being developed at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore.
    • It will have several innovative features such as Lothal mini-recreation, which will recreate Harappan architecture and lifestyle through immersive technology.
    • It has four theme parks – Memorial theme park, Maritime and Navy theme park, Climate theme park, and Adventure and Amusement theme park.

     

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  • Ponniyin Selvan and the Cholas

    In all the buzz around the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan: 1 or PS1, a fictional period drama, a point of focus has been the Chola dynasty that the film is based on.

    Why in news?

    • A notable actor has spoke about the progressiveness of the Chola era.
    • He mentioned the architectural marvels and temples, the social setup of the time, and how cities were named after women.

    Behind the name- PS1

    • The fictional account of the Chola kingdom appeared in a weekly journal in the early 1950s and garnered popularity.
    • These were later compiled into a novel called ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, which became the inspiration for the movie, whose second part is due for release in 2023.

    Who were the Cholas?

    • The Chola kingdom stretched across present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka around 9th to 12th century AD.
    • The dynasty was founded by the king Vijaylaya, described as a “feudatory” of the Pallavas.
    • Despite being a relatively minor player in the region among giants, Vijaylaya laid the foundation for a dynasty that would rule a major part of southern India.

    Might of the Cholas

    (1) Defense

    • One of the biggest achievements of the Chola dynasty was its naval power, allowing them to go as far as Malaysia and the Sumatra islands of Indonesia in their conquests.
    • The domination was such that the Bay of Bengal was converted into a “Chola lake” for some time.

    (2) Economy

    • While the extent of this domination is disputed, the Cholas had strong ties with merchant groups and this allowed them to undertake impressive naval expeditions.
    • In general, even merchant guilds, which had close ties to the court, had to hire their own guards because roads could be dangerous.

    (3) Culture

    • Another feature is how the practice of building grand temples, common to the dynasties of the region around this time, was ramped up in an unprecedented way by the Cholas, according to Kanisetti.
    • The grand Brihadeeswara temple of Thanjavur, built by the Cholas, was the largest building in India in that period.
    • Additionally, artworks and sculptures were commissioned by Chola kings and queens, including the famous bronze Nataraja idols.

    Women under the Cholas

    • The role of women in the royal family is being brought to focus given their impact on public life.
    • But that is not to suggest that ordinary women wielded equal power as men.
    • The royal women’s proximity to male power was valued, rather than women in general.

    Local annexations

    • When the Chola King Rajadhiraja came to power in 1044, he was able to “subdue” Pandyan and Kerala kings, and presumably to celebrate these victories performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
    • The Chola rulers sacked and plundered Chalukyan cities including Kalyani and massacred the people, including Brahmans and children.
    • They destroyed Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the rulers of Sri Lanka.

     

     

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  • Process of sustainable tourism should be holistic and inclusive

    “To other Country, I may go as a tourist. But to India I come as a pilgrim”, the words of Martin Luther King says a lot about India’s wisdom and tourism potential.

    Context

    • The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Minister was held at Dharamshala , a first of its kind meeting aimed  to discuss, debate and deliberate on modes and mechanisms to develop tourism in India .
    • The three-day National Conference concluded with the adoption of “Dharamshala Declaration” which affirms commitment toward developing “sustainable and responsible tourism” and positions India as a “global leader in the tourism sector by 2047”.

    What is tourism?

    • Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.

    Types of tourism

    • Domestic tourism: Refers to activities of a visitor within their country of residence and outside of their home (e.g. a Indian visiting other parts of India)
    • Inbound tourism: Refers to the activities of a visitor from outside of country of residence (e.g. a Spaniard visiting Britain).
    • Outbound tourism: Refers to the activities of a resident visitor outside of their country of residence (e.g. an Indian visiting an overseas country).

    tourismWhat does sustainable tourism mean?

    • Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

    What is the main importance of tourism?

    • Tourism boosts the revenue of the economy, creates thousands of jobs, develops the infrastructures of a country, and plants a sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens.

    tourismWhy tourism is needed?

    • Tourism is not a fad. It is a compulsion driven by the urge to discover new places. Because we have this compulsion to venture into the unknown, we need each other. When humans travel, meet and exchange ideas, civilization flourishes.

    What is “The Dharamshala Declaration” is all about?

    • Aim of the declaration: The Dharamshala Declaration aims to recognise India’s role in contributing towards global tourism as well as focusing on recovery by also promoting domestic tourism.
    • Action plan: In the declaration, the Tourism Ministry has come up with a with a action plan to encourage more Indians to travel domestically and explore India’s natural, cultural, and spiritual beauty while simultaneously reaching the goal of an ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ (interaction and mutual understanding).
    • Strategy: The Tourism Ministry has also been working with the Ministry of External Affairs to identify 20 Indian missions abroad with the highest tourist footfalls to India and build country-specific strategies to attract foreign tourists.
    • Plan according to G-20: The Dharamshala Declaration affirms the plan to position India as a major tourism destination during its presidency of G-20 next year. India’s age-old dictum of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ will come to the fore as it welcomes delegates from the 20 countries/European Union.
    • Necessary steps: The Ministry of Tourism also plans to work with other Ministries to bring in necessary interventions such as visa reforms, ease of travel, travel-friendly and improved immigration facilities at airports.
    • National Tourism policy: Drafted with a holistic vision and strategy to revive India’s tourism and targets to contribute USD 1 trillion to the GDP by 2047.

    tourismA draft on National Tourism Policy 2022

    • Framework:
    • Draft on National Tourism Policy 2022 aims at improving the framework conditions for tourism development in the country.
    • Supporting tourism industries, strengthening tourism support functions and developing tourism sub-sectors.
    • Impetus to digitalisation, innovation and technology through the National Digital Tourism Mission and skilling through the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Mission.
    • The policy also gives a special impetus to private sector participation through public-private-partnerships (PPP)
    • Guiding Principles :
    • Promoting sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism in line with our civilisational ethos From Gautama to Gandhi, India has always spoken about the inherent need to live harmoniously with nature and within our means.
    • The National Green Tourism Mission aims at institutionalising green approach.

    tourismTourism Potential in India

    • Employement generation: India has huge tourism potential. If capitalised properly it can emerge as one of the leading sectors to contribute to GDP and also has the potential to augment employment.
    • The Pandemic cost and recovery: The pandemic has caused conspicuous losses for this sector but over the past few months, all the major tourism indices such as domestic air passenger traffic, hotel occupancy and tourist footfalls have shown signs of recovery and are going back to pre-pandemic levels.
    • Short term estimate: By 2024, in short term the country is estimated to contribute USD 150 billion to the GDP from tourism, USD 30 billion in Foreign Exchange earnings and can get 15 million foreign tourist arrivals..
    • Medium term by 2030: It is estimated to grow at seven to nine per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate in the coming decade. In the medium term, that is 2030, the tourism-related goals are USD 250 billion GDP contribution; 137 million jobs, 56 million foreign tourist arrivals and USD 56 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
    • Visionary schemes: The visionary schemes like Swadesh Darshan or Dekho Apna Desh have the potential to increase tourism value while maintaining cultural integrity and ecological sustainability of the places.
    • Dekho Apna Desh: Dekho apna desh rolled out in 2020 envisages encouraging domestic tourism, urging people to visit places in India. India is a land of rich cultural heritage.

    Conclusion

    • If the goal of positioning of India as one of the world’s best tourism destinations by 2047, there is need to integrate various schemes of different ministries. Need to involve various stakeholders, and local communities; necessary interventions at urban and rural level should be a priority.

    Mains Question

    Q.Since the positive and negative outcomes of tourism depend on human factors, including the attitude and behavior of both tourists and hosts, in this context discuss India’s potential to become a global leader in tourism sector.

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  • In news: Sittanavasal Rock Cave Temple

    Sittanavasal

    The Sittanavasal Rock Cave Temple, a major centre of Jain influence for 1,000 years just before the Christian era, is in need of better upkeep.

    Sittanavasal

    • Sittanavasal is a small hamlet in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India.
    • It is known for the Sittanavasal Cave, a 2nd-century Jain cave complex. From the 7th to the 9th century A.D., the village flourished as a Jain centre.
    • Sittanavasal is the name used synonymously for the hamlet and the hillock that houses the:
    1. Arivar Kovil (temple of Arihants — Jains who conquered their senses)
    2. Ezhadipattam (a cavern with 17 polished rock beds), megalithic burial sites and the
    3. Navachunai tarn (small mountain lake) with a submerged shrine

    What makes it special?

    • The artwork on the ceiling of the sanctum and the ardha mandapam of Arivar Kovil is an early example of post-Ajanta cave paintings of the fourth to sixth centuries.
    • It was also done using the fresco-secco technique (a process that dispenses with preparation of the wall with wet plaster).

    Features of the cave paintings

    • The ceiling paintings show ‘bhavyas’ (exalted souls who work to achieve moksha or spiritual liberation) enjoying themselves in a pool, full of lotuses; today much of it is obscured by patchy plastering.
    • Faint outlines linger of dancing girls on the ‘ardha mandapam’ pillars.
    • The colours are a mixture of plant dyes and mineral elements such as lime, lamp black, and clay pigments such as ochre for yellow and terre verte for the greyish-green tints.

    Why in news now?

    • Unrestricted public access and general exposure to the elements have led to a gradual fading away of these paintings.
    • At the Ezhadipattam, inscriptions have been vandalised beyond recognition.

    Also try this PYQ:

    Q.There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

    (a) Bagh caves

    (b) Ellora caves

    (c) Lomas Rishi cave

    (d) Nasik caves

     

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  • What is Ambedkar Tourist Circuit?

    The Central government has announced a special tourist circuit encompassing five key sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

    Why in news?

    • Activists have urged that Mahad, located in Raigad District of Maharashtra, famous for Mahad Lake Satyagraha should also be included in the proposed circuit.

    Ambedkar Circuit

    • The five cities in the tourist circuit as announced are Mhow (his birthplace), London (where he resided and studied), Nagpur (also studied here), Delhi (where he passed away) and finally Mumbai (where he was cremated).
    • With a special AC train, the government is looking to trace the footsteps of Ambedkar in India by giving better connectivity to four of these spots.
    • The idea is to attract tourists beyond the Dalit community, who mostly visit these places as a pilgrimage.
    • The journey will include meals, ground transportation, and entry to the sites.

    About the sites

    1. Janma Bhoomi– Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow
    2. Shiksha Bhoomi– the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK
    3. Deeksha Bhoomi– the place in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism
    4. Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi- the place of his demise in Delhi and
    5. Chaitya Bhoomi- the place of his cremation in Mumbai

    Back2Basics: Tourism Circuits

    • The government had identified 15 tourist circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15.
    • Besides the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits, others include Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage, North East, Himalayan, Sufi, Krishna, Rural, Tribal, and Tirthankar Circuits.
    • In terms of train collaboration, the Ramayana, Buddhist, and North East Circuits are already active, while Ambedkar will be fourth.

     

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  • Who was Dara Shikoh?

    dara shikoh

    The Vice President has released the Arabic Version of “Majma Ul-Bahrain” of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh.

    The course of the history of the Indian subcontinent, had Dara Shikoh prevailed over Aurangzeb, has been a matter of some conjecture among historians. Critically analyse.

    Who was Dara Shikoh?

    • Dara Shikoh, who was Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s son and expected heir, was killed on the orders of his brother Aurangzeb in 1659 after losing the war of succession.
    • He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
    • Dara was designated with the title Padshahzada-i-Buzurg Martaba (Prince of High Rank) and was favored as a successor by his father and his older sister, Princess Jahanara Begum.
    • In the war of succession which ensued after Shah Jahan’s illness in 1657, Dara was defeated by his younger brother Prince Muhiuddin (Aurangzeb).
    • He was executed in 1659 on Aurangzeb’s orders in a bitter struggle for the imperial throne.

    His legacy

    • Dara was a liberal-minded unorthodox Muslim as opposed to the orthodox Aurangzeb.
    • He authored the work Majma Ul-Bahrain (The Confluence of the Two Seas), which argues for the harmony of Sufi philosophy in Islam and Vedanta philosophy in Hinduism.
    • It was Dara Shikoh who was responsible for making the Upanishads available to the West as he had them translated.
    • He had commissioned a translation of Yoga Vasistha.
    • A great patron of the arts, he was also more inclined towards philosophy and mysticism rather than military pursuits.
    • He translated the Upanishads and other important works from Sanskrit to Persian. He was convinced that the Upanishads are what the Qur’an calls ‘Al-Kitab Al-Maknoun’ (The Hidden book).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?

    (a) Humayun

    (b) Akbar

    (c) Jahangir

    (d) Shah Jahan

     

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  • Three Indian Cities are now in UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

    unesco

    Warangal, Nilambur, and Thrissur have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC).

    What does UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities mean?

    • An international policy-oriented network, the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is a network of inspiration, know-how and best practices.
    • It is coordinated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).
    • The Network has member cities that it supports in aspects like promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and best practices; building partnerships; capacity development; and more.

    What is a learning city?

    • According to UNESCO, a learning city is one that
    1. effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education
    2. revitalizes learning in families and communities
    3. facilitates learning for and in the workplace
    4. extends the use of modern learning technologies
    5. enhances quality and excellence in learning
    6. fosters a culture of learning throughout life
    • In doing so, the city enhances individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development

    Inclusion of Indian cities

    • The Indian cities, Nilambur and Thrissur in Kerala, and Warangal in Telangana became the nation’s first entrants in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
    • As per UNESCO, 77 cities from 44 countries across the globe have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
    • The group of global cities also includes cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hamburg, Athens, Incheon, Bristol, and Dublin.
    • The inclusion will foster sharing of ideas with other cities, provide already applied solutions to issues and much more.

    About the cities

    (1) Thrissur – the cultural capital of Kerala

    • Popularly known as the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur is home to academic and research institutions.
    • It is also known for its jewellery industry, especially gold.
    • As a member of the UNESCOI GNLC, Thrissur hopes to contribute to the intellectual and peer learning processes, focusing on equitable access to learning for all, digital learning ecosystems and skills for sustainability.
    • Thrissur ticked UNESCO’s check boxes in aspects of good practices, equity and inclusion among other factors.
    • For e.g., the presence of a MSME-Development Institute of India regional centre in Thrissur offers institutional support in promoting decent work and entrepreneurship through upskilling.

    (2) Nilambur, Kerala’s eco-tourism destination

    • Nilambur is an eco-tourism destination in the Kerala.
    • It is a city with various socio-economic patterns marked by an urban and rural mix.
    • The majority of the population depends on agriculture and allied industries.
    • The city offers free healthcare facilities to all citizens and utilizes health volunteers to provide door-to-door treatment for bedded patients.
    • It also promotes first-aid training for students and young citizens.
    • Nilambur aims to promote sustainable development, gender equality, inclusivity and democracy through community ownership.
    • Nilambur also aspires to become a women-friendly city by ensuring equal opportunities in all sectors, promoting capacity-building and reducing harassment.
    • As a learning city, Nilambur aims to work to innovate in agriculture and handicrafts, promote eco-tourism and improve water management.

    (3) Warangal, the tourism spot

    • Warangal has a rich cultural heritage. The city is a major tourism venue, welcoming 3.2 million tourists every year.
    • Warangal’s economy is primarily composed of agricultural, industrial and service sectors.
    • The city promotes equity and inclusion, for which it has implemented several strategies, including Women and Child Welfare policy, Urban Policy etc.
    • Further, it also provides free training to the transgender community which helps in employment opportunities.

     

     

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