Subject: Art and Culture

Why in the News?

In recent years, community member few activists have emerged documenting and preserving Dard-Shin heritage.

About the Dard-Shin Tribe:

• Origin: Ancient Indo-Aryan group from migrations (2000–1500 BCE).
• Historical Mentions: Herodotus, Pliny, Ptolemy, Kalhana’s Rajatarangini.
• Homeland: Dardistan – Chitral, Yasin, Gilgit, Chilas, Bunji, Gurez Valley, Ladakh, N. Afghanistan.
• Political History: Chak dynasty ruled Kashmir for 25+ years in the 16th century before Mughal takeover.
• Current Location: Gurez (Bandipora, J&K), smaller clusters in Drass, Tulail, Chanderkote.
• Status & Language: Scheduled Tribe; speak Shina, distinct from Kashmiri.
• Population: ~48,440 (2011 Census).
• Livelihood: Farming, pastoralism, forest produce, handicrafts; tourism rising.

Cultural Significance:

• Heritage: Among the last Indo-Aryan groups in the Himalayas, preserving language and traditions.
• Historic Role: Gurez Valley – Silk Route link between Kashmir, Central Asia, Tibet.
• Traditions: Rich marriage customs, wool attire, juniper leaf burning for land purification.
• Architecture: Mix of ancient wooden style and modern influences; tools suited for mountain climate.
• Oral History: Migration legends, e.g., families from Gilgit to Ladakh.
• Religion: Islam, Buddhism, remnants of animism from cultural exchanges.

Why in the News?

A Ground Penetrating Radar survey in Topra Kalan, Haryana, has uncovered signs of a 1,500 BCE settlement, with painted grey ware (PGW), stamped pottery, moulded bricks, and a possible Buddhist stupa.

About Topra Kalan Excavation:

• Agencies: Haryana Archaeology and Museums Department with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
• Method: Ground Penetrating Radar survey in January 2025 to map subsurface features without extensive digging.
• Purpose: Assess archaeological significance and preserve ancient heritage sites in Haryana.
• Location: Topra Kalan, Yamunanagar district — believed to be the original site of the Delhi-Topra Ashokan pillar moved by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century.
• Estimated Age: ~1,500 BCE, indicating continuous habitation and possible Buddhist presence.

Key Findings:

• Structures: Buried walls, platforms, and room-like enclosures at 4–5 m depth.
• Religious Feature: Dome-like structure possibly a Buddhist stupa.
• Material Culture: Painted grey ware, black-and-red ware, black-on-red ware, black ware, stamped pottery, moulded bricks, beads.
• Discovery Sources: Both official surveys and artifacts unearthed by locals during construction.
• Historical Links: Accounts by Sir Alexander Cunningham and Hiuen Tsang identify the site as a Buddhist centre.

Why in the News?

The 64th National Exhibition of Art (NEA), organized by the Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s National Academy of Art, was inaugurated in New Delhi.

About Lalit Kala Akademi:

• Establishment: Located in New Delhi, as an autonomous organisation.
• Inauguration: Launched on 5 August 1954 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister for Education.
• Legal Status: Granted statutory status in 1957 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Funding: Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Structure: Operates through the General Council, Executive Board, and various Committees.
• Regional Centres: Present in Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, and Garhi (New Delhi).
• Functions:
  • Scope of Work: Promotes modern, contemporary, folk, and tribal visual arts of India.
  • Art Collection: Maintains a permanent collection of Indian visual art.
  • International Role: Facilitates global cultural exchange through international cultural agreements.

Key Events and Initiatives:

• National Exhibition of Art: Annual flagship event since 1955, showcasing artists from across India.
• 64th Edition (2025): Held from 5 August to 15 September at Kamani Auditorium and Lalit Kala Art Galleries, New Delhi.
• Triennale India: Major international art exhibition featuring global artists.
• Print Biennale India: Dedicated to printmaking; 3rd edition scheduled for 2025–26.
• Artist Promotion: Provides platforms for both emerging and established artists; strengthens India’s soft power through cultural diplomacy.

Why in the News?

The 155-year-old Patalpani–Kalakund heritage train services has resumed after a temporary halt.

About the Patalpani–Kalakund Heritage Line:

• Route: 9.5 km metre-gauge section between Patalpani and Kalakund in Madhya Pradesh.
• Section: Part of the Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow)–Khandwa route.
• Restoration Year: Revived in 2018 as a heritage line after being excluded from gauge conversion due to difficult terrain.
• Operational Details:
  • Average speed: 5–10 km/h.
  • Features scenic gorges, tunnels, embankments, Patalpani waterfall, and natural springs.
• Historical Origins:
  • Proposed by Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II in 1870.
  • First constructed as part of Holkar State Railways, completed in 1878.
  • Became part of Rajputana–Malwa Railway in 1881–82.
• Cultural Significance:
  • Patalpani station named after Tantia Bhil, a tribal revolutionary.
  • Kalakund station named after a local sweet delicacy.

Other Heritage Railways of India:

Why in the News?

The second Kala Utsav 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan celebrated India’s tribal art, with artists from Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal showcasing Sohrai, Pattachitra, and Patua paintings.

About Sohrai Paintings:

• Origin: Indigenous to Jharkhand, especially the Hazaribagh region.
• Etymology: Derived from ‘Soro’ meaning “to drive away with a stick.”
• Historical Roots: Traces back to the Meso-chalcolithic period (9000–5000 BC).
• Archaeological Evidence: Similar rock paintings found at Isko Rock Shelter in Barkagaon.

• Key Features of Sohrai Art:

• • Practiced By: Women of Kurmi, Santhal, Munda, Oraon, Agaria, and Ghatwal tribes.
  • Geographical Spread: Found in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.
  • Materials Used: Natural substances like charcoal, clay, and soil.
  • Themes: Celebrates nature—forests, rivers, animals—along with harvest and fertility.
  • Festival Link: Painted during the Sohrai festival, marking the harvest season and winter.
  • Ritual Role: Rice-gruel mandalas drawn to welcome cattle into homes.
  • GI Tag: Awarded in 2020 for Sohrai Khovar Painting.

Why in the News?

A replica of the Ashoka Pillar was unveiled at Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya highlighting Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

The original pillars, like those at Rampurva and Lauriya Nandangarh in Bihar, are key symbols of India’s Buddhist and Mauryan heritage and are on UNESCO’s Tentative List.

About Rampurva Ashoka Pillars (West Champaran, Bihar):

• Location: Near the Nepal border in West Champaran district, Bihar.
• Discovery: Found by archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, Lamb Carlleyle in 1876.
• Pillars: Two monolithic sandstone pillars, 300 meters apart:
  • Lion Capital Pillar: Contains Major Pillar Edicts I–VI in Brahmi script.
  • Bull Capital Pillar: Known for artistic refinement and Persian-inspired motifs.
• Design Features:
  • Polished sandstone with Mauryan craftsmanship.
  • Height: 12–15 meters; Weight: Up to 50 tons.
  • Lion Capital: Preserved at Indian Museum, Kolkata.
  • Bull Capital: Housed at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi; praised for its lifelike form and “velvet touch” finish.
  • Decorative motifs include rosette, palmette, and acanthus—showing Persian influence.
• Legend: Marks the site of Buddha’s renunciation near the Anoma River.

About Lauriya Nandangarh Ashoka Pillar (West Champaran, Bihar):

• Location: 22–28 kilometers northwest of Bettiah town.
• Surviving Structure: Only one complete pillar remains from an original group.
• Material and Size:
  • Made of Chunar sandstone.
  • Stands about 12 meters above ground with ~3 meters underground; Weighs over 50 tons.
• Capital Design:
  • Features a seated lion with hind legs extending beyond the abacus.
  • The abacus is adorned with hamsa (flying geese), symbolizing spiritual liberation.
• Inscriptions:
  • Engraved with Major Pillar Edicts I–VI in Brahmi script, dated to 244 BCE.
  • Promotes dharma, non-violence, religious tolerance, and compassion.
• Symbolism:
  • The lion capital represents Mauryan imperial strength and Buddha’s Sakya lineage.
  • The lion’s open mouth symbolizes the dissemination of Ashoka’s ethical and Buddhist teachings.

Why in the News?

Machilipatnam, once a flourishing ancient port city on India’s east coast, is witnessing a major transformation with the construction of a modern Greenfield port.

About Machilipatnam:

• Alternate Names: Also known as Masulipatnam, Maisolia, or Manjarika.
• Geographic Location: Located in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, on the southeastern Coromandel Coast, at the mouth of River Krishna, ~70 km east of Amaravati.
• Historical Importance:
  • One of the most significant east coast port cities for ~1,700 years.
  • Played a key role in maritime trade across ancient, medieval, and early modern periods.
• Global Trade Connections:
  • Attracted traders from Rome, Arabia, Persia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
  • Known for exporting high-quality Muslin textiles prized in Roman markets.
  • The term “muslin” likely derives from “Maisolia,” an ancient name of the city.
• Cultural Contributions:
  • Known for Kalamkari art, a traditional textile art featuring hand-painted or block-printed designs.
• Dynastic Port Usage:
  • Satavahanas (1st BCE – 2nd CE): Used as a major trade gateway.
  • Vishnukundins (4th–6th CE): Trade wealth supported Buddhist monument construction (e.g., Nagarjunakonda).
  • Qutb Shahis (16th–17th CE): Transformed it into a global hub for diamonds, muslin, and Kalamkari.
  • Nizams of Hyderabad (18th century): Controlled the port until partial cession to the British.
• Mentions in Ancient Texts:
  • Appears as Maisolia in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
  • Listed as Maisolos in Ptolemy’s Geographia.
• Colonial Involvement:
  • Dutch built a fort in the 17th century.
  • British East India Company established its first Bay of Bengal factory here in 1611.
  • Between 1686–1759, it changed hands among French, Dutch, and British; seized by British from the French in 1759.
• Decline of the Port:
  • Anchorage Issue: Unsuitable for large ships, with anchorage 5 miles offshore.
  • Cyclone Damage: A severe cyclone in 1779 killed ~20,000 and destroyed Dutch structures.
  • Trade Shift: Decline due to growing prominence of Madras (Chennai) and Visakhapatnam under British rule.
• Post-Independence Claim:
  • In 1947, 7th Nizam of Hyderabad attempted to reclaim it for sea access to an independent Hyderabad state.
• Modern Revival:
  • A Greenfield port at Manginapudi is under construction, expected to be operational by 2026.
  • Aims to restore Machilipatnam’s historical maritime legacy.