Ancient Temples and Mosques under Archeological Survey of India

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Culture
20-May, 2018 11:11 IST
Major conservation, Up gradation and development works by ASI underway at the Purana Qila complex in New Delhi

CAC section at Purana Qila being upgraded to setup museum gallery of invaluable collection of artefacts for wider Public viewing

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up several important conservation, restoration, Up-Gradation & development works at the Historical Purana Qila in New Delhi.

In a unique initiative, the ASI has taken up conservation and upgradation of Central Antiquity Collection Section (CAC) which spread in the cells along the periphery of the fortification. The CAC section is being designed into a modern gallery which will display for the first time ever artefacts and pottery from Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Taxila, Chanhu-daro and Central Asia as well as from Indian sides like Kalibangan, Hastinapur, Arikamedu, Tamluk etc. It has been established that the total collection of pottery and artefacts of CAC Section at Purana Qila is over two lakhs.

Major development work has also been undertaken for reviving by desilting the moat area around the Purana Qila which is likely to be completed soon. Similarly, illumination of the magnificent mosque and other structures at the Purana Qila will also be done as in case of other historical monuments. The work of construction of toilet complex, public drinking water facilities, fixing red sandstone dustbins, developing parking facility, installation of publication counter is also in progress on a war footing. The turnstile gates for entry and exit are already provided near booking office and are working satisfactorily. Similarly, development of the garden in nearly 8 hectares of area inside the Purana Qila premises, stone benches, cleaning up the debris are other works undertaken to give a total facelift to the prime tourist destination.

The work of conservation of excavated remains is also in progress to protect it from direct environmental effects.

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[Hindustani78]

Six years after the restoration work on the 1200-year-old Bateshwar temple complex in the dense forest area of Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh stopped because of illegal mining activities, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to restart the restoration project ‘very soon’.

The decision has been taken after the Prime Minister’s Office intervened in the matter on the complaints of the Gujjar community across the country that the temple complex is in dire need of restoration.

Spread across 25 acres, it was declared a ‘protected monument’ by the ASI in 1924. But the restoration of the complex which houses about 200 sandstone temples could not be started till 2004 due to the fear of dacoit gangs in the area.

In an unusual turn of events, a former ASI official roped in dreaded dacoit Nirbhay Singh Gujjar in 2004 to start the restoration work for the first time.

“When I saw Nirbhay Gujjar for the first time in 2004, he was smoking a bidi on the stairs of the temple complex. I didn’t recognise him and admonished him for bringing disrespect to a holy place,” noted archaeologist KK Muhammed who was in-charge of the Bhopal Circle of ASI, remembers.

Muhammed’s associates, who had accompanied him to the site, told him that it was actually a dreaded dacoit whom he had scolded.

“I somehow handled the situation and requested Gujjar to help us restore the temple. I told him that the complex was constructed by his forefathers of Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty between 9th to 11th century,” added Muhammed, who was transferred from Bhopal to Delhi in 2010. He retired in 2012.

ASI officials say that Nirbhay Gujjar and his gang provided much help for the restoration work until the dacoit was killed in 2005 in an encounter with the police. In another couple of years, all the dacoits were either eliminated or surrendered.

Although the area became free of dacoits, the temple complex came under threat from the illegal mining and the associated use of dynamite.

“When dynamite is used in mines, it creates earthquake like vibrations and damage the temple,” says a senior official of the ASI requesting anonymity.

Out of the 200 temples, 80 were restored by 2012. People familiar with the restoration work alleged that mining lobby put pressure on the local administration to go soft on them which derailed the restoration work. The mining is for building materials.

Muhammed, who in his recently release book, ‘Main Hoon Bhartiya’ has also alleged that powerful mining lobby did not allow temple restoration work to on go and he himself made several attempts to get the mining work stopped.

A few months ago some locals and villagers of Gujjar community started a nationwide signature campaign for the temple complex’s restoration and then petitioned the Prime Minister’s office. The PMO forwarded it to the Union ministry of culture which asked ASI to look into it.

In a latest communication dates May 3, the ASI has informed the petitioners that in the financial year of 2018-19, arrangement has been made to start the restoration work of the temple complex.

A senior ASI official who requested anonymity, said, “We can’t use all our resources on one temple as with limited money we have to do the conservation work of other monuments as well. So we have devised a phase-wise restoration plan under which we will start the restoration work very soon.”

 

[Hindustani78]

A plan for preserving Charminar being presented by ASI official. | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

https://www.thehindu.com/news/citie...rminar-encroachments-free/article24774756.ece

GHMC pipelines laid as part of pedestrianisation project pose threat

The Archaeological Survey of India put up a strong case for clearing encroachments in and around Charminar for guaranteed protection of the 425-year-old heritage monument.

Speaking at a public forum in Lamakaan on Friday, ASI Superintending Archaeologist Milan Kumar Chauley of Hyderabad Circle said the monument faces grave threat due to encroachments and ill-designed and executed civic engineering work near the site.

“Part of the temple abutting the site has now encroached into the minaret. We are unable to carry out any conservation work in a vast space in that area,” said Mr. Chauley showing a series of photographs from 1950s till 2018 to bolster his case. “The recent pedestrianisation project by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was carried out without consulting us. The pipelines have a number of joints due to curvature leaving scope for leakages,” said Mr. Chauley.

“Part of the problem is there are no revenue maps to clearly define the boundaries of monuments. This problem is hampering ASI’s work in almost all of the 3,668 monuments under its protection. We have British-era notifications, or as in Hyderabad, Nizam-era notifications, which name a monument but don’t give a demarcation of the area in terms of extent and directions,” said Mr. Chauley.

The ASI official listed out the difficulties faced by the organisation for carrying out repair and conservation work on Charminar. “Charminar defines Hyderabad. You take the name of the city and the image of the monument comes to mind. We cannot treat such a monument in a shabby way,” he said.

 

[KAMDEV]

Great work .

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...-temple-cic/story-31laPB3UrRWHaeOjDvYumK.html

Where are ornaments donated by 16th century Vijayanagara ruler to Tirupati temple: CIC

The commission was hearing the plea of one BKSR Ayyangar who had sought to know from the Prime Minister’s Office the action taken by the government on his representation for declaration of TTD Tirumala Temples as historical and as national heritage monuments.
Updated: Sep 02, 2018 18:28 IST

Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India

A-40, TIR-160901, SEPTEMBER 16, 2007: Tirumati : A view of Venkateswara Temple, on Tirumala hills, on the occasion of beginning of the nine-day 'Adhikmaasa Brahmotsav', that comes once in three years, in Tirupati on Saturday night. PTI Photo(PTI)


Where are the ornaments donated by 16th century Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Devaraya to the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, the CIC has asked.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has posed this question to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the culture ministry, the Andhra Pradesh government and the shrine of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu in a stern order also asked the Prime Minister’s Office to make public the action contemplated by the Union government to declare Tirumala temples as national monuments and to enforce international obligation to protect the world heritage structures and ornaments.

The commission was hearing the plea of one BKSR Ayyangar who had sought to know from the Prime Minister’s Office the action taken by the government on his representation for declaration of TTD Tirumala Temples as historical and as national heritage monuments.

The query was transferred to various authorities but no satisfactory response was provided to Ayyangar who then approached the commission, highest appellate authority in the RTI matters, seeking directions for disclosure in the matter.

During the hearing he alleged TTD, a trust body, was not protecting the 1500-year-old structures in Tirupati as it shelved a 2011 proposal to declare the temple and temples around as ancient monuments under the provisions of Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Citing a report of Director of Archaeology and Museums, Hyderabad in 2011, the information commissioner pointed out a 20-member team had found that inscriptions engraved on the walls of the Lord Venkateshvara Temple at Tirumala mention ornaments donated by Vijayanagara King Sri Krishna Devaraya.

The report, however, says “no ornament” with the temple tallied with any of those donated by the king, the commissioner noted.

“It is not a wild allegation of the appellant, but a major finding by the director of the Ministry of Culture, which was not acted upon since 2011,” he said.

Acharylu said the TTD had appointed a self-appraisal committee under former Supreme Court justices DP Wadhwa and Justice Jagannadha Rao.

The panel also noted the ‘Tiruvabharanam’ register, being maintained in Tirumala temple since 1952, had no mention of any temple ornaments received from Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishna Devaraya and concluded all the items were intact, he said.

“The report pointed out that there was no register for the ornaments in the temple before 1952, except the information of handing over the jewels by a priest in 1939,” he noted.

He said it was not known whether all valuable ornaments were recorded in any document and what kind of system was followed to document all old and new valuable ornaments, he said.

The team had also recommended surprise verifications of ornaments and valuables by a special team and also by a team of ‘archakas’ of the main deity as others are not allowed to enter sanctum sanctorum, he said.

Acharyulu said the TTD had not published any action taken report on the recommendations of the Justice Wadhwa committee report.

While hearing the 2009 PIL, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had wondered why the temple administration was reluctant to make a comprehensive inventory of the jewellery, he said.

The petitioner, Ayyangar, also alleged Veyi Kalla Mandapam (Thousand pillared ‘Mandapam’) in front of ‘Mahadwaram’ (main entrance of Lord Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala) built by 15th century king Saluva Malladevera Maharaj was demolished by TTD in 2003 without any reason.

He claimed Mandapam was used to offer quiet space for pilgrims to sit, relax, and chant the name of the God in front of the Mahadwaram, read the inscriptions on the stone walls of temples and enjoy the sculptures on the pillars.

“He believed that if Tirmala temples been declared ancient monuments, TTD could not have dared to pull it down,” Acharyulu sad.

He said TTD was answering RTI questions earlier, but now refusing to respond, though part of endowment department of AP which is undoubtedly a public authority.

“Justice Wadhwa and Justice Jagannadha Rao Committee reports are not made public so far. Why? They recommended for ‘transparent and foolproof system for the protection of jewels’. What is the response on this recommendation,” he asked.

He said the Ministry of Culture and its Department of Archaeology have a duty to protect national monuments and ornaments of Vijayanagara empire.

“The ministry under the leadership of the PMO is expected to take all measures to ensure the protection of the national or world heritage coupled with the ancient Hindu Religious Organisation like TTD,” he said.

He said it is the duty of Ministry of Culture and Department of Archaeology of Union of India to coordinate with the state bodies to know what exactly happened and assure the people that ancient monuments would be protected.

“The PMO needs to understand that it was not simple question of weeding out a representation of appellant, but taking up concrete measures for securing the monuments of glorious cultural past of India reflected in Tirumala temples and diamond studded golden ornaments of olden times, without leaving it to the sweet will of political bosses of TTD,” he said. PTI ABS AAR

First Published: Sep 02, 2018 18:28 IST

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Culture
15-October, 2018 18:58 IST
Dr. Mahesh Sharma addresses the 11th convocation of National Museum Institute (NMI), in New Delhi, today.



Minister of State for Culture (I/c) and Chancellor, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology (NMIHACM) Dr. Mahesh Sharma conferred degrees at the 11th convocation ceremony in New Delhi today. Prof. V.S. Shinde, Vice Chancellor, Deccan College, Pune was the Guest of Honour and the event was attended by Dr. B.R. Mani, Vice Chancellor, NMIHACM among other dignitaries.

Delivering the Convocation Address, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that it is a challenge to the new generation to harness the power of technology to the benefit of mankind. He stressed on the need to empathise with the situation and the needy in order to be succesful. He also announced that the new campus of National Museum Institute coming up at Noida would be completed by this year End.

As many as 176 students were awarded degrees including 23 PhD. NMI commenced its M.A. and Ph.D. courses in the stream of History of Art, Conservation and Museology from the year 1990 within the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi. In addition to these regular courses, NMI also conducts short term courses of five months duration i.e . Art Appreciation and Bhartiya Kalanidhi. This Institute is a unique institution which imparts higher research education in the streams which are related to the heritage of the country and have signed MOUs with various educational institutions and museums outside and within the country to provide them expertise in the setting of museums, conservation work of the artefacts.

Four new departments; (i) Archaeology, (ii) Palaeography/Numismatics, (iii) Structural Conservation and (iv) Heritage and Tourism Management have also been approved and efforts are being made to set up these four departments to start the courses as soon as possible. The new campus of the NMI is coming up in Sector 62, Noida and is expected to be inaugurated in the end of November, 2018.

KSP/PS

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[Hindustani78]

Experts say it has affected excavation and exploration in State

There has not been a full-time director for the Department of Archaeology for more than two years now, and this has purportedly affected exploration and excavation in the State.

The State has more than 770 monuments that is under the protection of the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage. This is the second highest in the country, after Uttar Pradesh.

Hence, it calls for the appointment of a full-time director, with a background in archaeology, to take a holistic view of fresh exploration, excavation, conservation and prepare a long-term action plan to take forward the exercise. In the absence of a full-time director, the department is being headed by the Deputy Director of Archives.

Sources admitted that the absence of a full-time director had affected the functioning of the department as its core functions of exploration and excavation have taken a back seat.

‘Government at it’
Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, said that “the government was already at it” and the post would be filled soon.

The department was established in 1885 in Mysuru that led surveys, explorations and excavations in the State, culminating in the publication of Mysore Archaeological Reports.

In the past, the department has taken up major excavation works in Hampi, Talakadu, Annigeri, Sannati, and T. Narsipur, as wellas various megalithic, neolithic and pre-historic sites. In addition, it is also vested with the responsibility of epigraphic studies and numismatics.

Retired professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, said in addition to about 780 monuments protected by the Archaeology Department, there are 30,000 sites, temples, and monuments, which are not protected and need to be documented.

Meanwhile, a scholar said there was an acute shortage of qualified archaeologists and other staff.

Village survey

He also called for restarting the village survey and establishing an idol wing in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to stop the smuggling and theft of antiques.

Other suggestions include recruiting conservation engineers with knowledge of temple architecture and hiring professors to meet the shortage of staff, including epigraphists.

 

[Hindustani78]

Chandragupta dominations extended from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and "it is not likely that he would
have failed to secure such an important port as Tamralipti" In all probability Chandragupta (321-297 B.M.)took the sovereignty of the country of Bengal,which included Tamralipti.

On the conquest of Kalinga by Asoka(261B.M.)/the area known as district of Midnapore became a part and
parcel of the great Mauryan empire and shared in its civilization,Tamralipti being a principal port on the Bay of Bengal

Pathra’s ancient temples | Photo Credit: Ashok Nath Dey

Today, 19 of the 34 temples in Pathra in West Bengal have been restored to their former glory

Pathan was a child. Captivated by the terracotta temples he chanced upon in Pathra, a village close to his own, in Midnapore district of West Bengal, their dilapidated condition set him thinking. And by the time he was 17, he had kick-started his ‘save the temples’ mission. This was in 1971. He had no archaeology or history degree to show on his CV, but Pathan realised the temples were “part of our heritage, and people should be prevented from walking away with bits of it.”

The descendants of the zamindars who had built the structures, Pathan mobilised rallies at the district headquarters in Midnapore to demand funds.

Pathra Archaeological Preservation Committee, which, apart from its core agenda, also became a forum for communal harmony. The then Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson, Pranab Mukherjee, sanctioned ₹20 lakh for Pathra. The biggest victory for Pathan was when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took over restoration work in 2003.

Today, 19 of the 34 temples in Pathra have been restored to their former glory. All under the eagle eye of Pathan, who says ruefully: “Such a big area, and only one guard to protect it.” Some 9.5 acres around the temples are being beautified by ASI. Pathan’s new fight is to get 70 farmers their compensation for the land they had to give up around the temple.

The history of Pathra goes back to the Gupta age, when the place was the hinterland of Tamralipta port, a gateway to southeast Asia. From 8th Century to 12th Century, it was an important hub for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists

In due course, by the 17th and 18th centuries, it had come under the sway of the Nawabs of Bengal-Bihar, Aliwardi Khan. Khan employed a Hindu accountant named Bidyananda Ghoshal. He became popular with the Nawab and won his trust. He slowly started building temples using funds from the state treasury

The turning point in the history of the village came in 1732, when Nawab Alivardi Khan appointed Bidyananda Ghoshal as the revenue collector of Ratnachawk pargana . Bidyananda established temple after temple in the village, making it a major draw for Hindu pilgrims.

The Ghoshal family changed its surname to Majumdar and continued building temples till the end of the 18th Century.

The navaratna temple on the western bank of the river is the grandest. The 250-year-old, 40-ft high structure has nine towers and many terracotta panels on its walls. A small aatchala temple established in 1816 stands in the same compound.

Just opposite to it is a cluster of three aatchala temples and a small navaratna temple called Shivalaya. Terracotta artworks adorn these temples, too. Behind them is a Durga dalan , a temple-like structure made of stone.

Some distance away is another group of pancharatna temples, built in the typical Bengal style and enriched with terracotta sculptures.

Most of the temples offer glimpses of Islamic architectural styles. Stucco lime and seashell are the main materials used.

The terracotta panels that still exist bear images of Ram, Balaram, Radha and Krishna, Dashavatar, Hanuman, Durga and hunting. The majority of the temples are dedicated to Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva.

The second biggest temple of Pathra is a Sitala temple popularly known as Burimar than . It, too, is 40 ft high. The other important temples are Sarba Mangal, Kalachand, Das Mahavidya and Hansa.

There's also a simple yet attractive rasmancha , built in 1832. It has nine small towers.

Alivardi Khan's father was Shah Quli Khan (Mirza Muhammad Madani) and his mother was the daughter of Nawab Aqil Khan Afshar (Mir Muhammad Askari). Alivardi's birth name was Mirza Muhammad Ali. He was a Muslim. His father was an Arab, In 1728, Shuja-ud-Din promoted Muhammad Ali to Faujdar (General) of Rajmahal and entitled him as Alivardi Khan. In 1733, he was assigned as the Naib Nazim (Deputy Subahdar) of Bihar. A year later he was titled Shuja ul-Mulk (Hero of the country), Hassemm ud-Daula (Sword of the state) and Mahabat Jang (Horror in War) and the rank of Paach Hazari Mansabdar (The rank holder of 5000) by Nawab Shuja ud-Din and returned to Azimabad.


The Mughal Empire's Nawab of Bengal Alivardi Khan adopted strict attitudes towards European mercantile companies in Bengal.

The nawab, however, was not too pleased with Bidyananda's work. He was thrown into prison and then sentenced to death. Legend has it that the elephant that was to crush Bidyananda's head refused to do so. The village reportedly gets its name from the incident.