A.R. Rahman, in concert. This composer revolutionised live shows, and with elaborate electronics, he achieved a level of perfection in sound seldom experienced on stage. Photo: K. Murali Kumar
HERITAGE WORLDWIDE... e newsletter.. on Heritage activities Worldwide.....inspired by my association with INTACH-Sikkim Chapter...Editor: S.K.Sarda........... You can mail news on Heritage to: topintown_sikkim@yahoo.com for publication.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Is ‘heritage' missing from the dictionary?
Source:Hindu
neglected: Mandi Market in Mysore needs more attention from the authorities. — Photo: M.A. SRIRAM
Is it all talk and no action on the heritage and conservation front in Mysore? Though the Government and the local authorities have “declared” R.K.Narayan's house at Yadavgiri in Mysore as a heritage structure, will they now notify the heritage regulations which is gathering dust and without which conservation efforts will be futile? What about the fate of nearly 230 other structures listed by stakeholders including the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Department of Archaeology and Heritage, Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), and Mysore Area Heritage Task Force.
Will the Government revive the Mysore Area Heritage Sub-Committee which has not met for three years and has become defunct? These are questions bothering heritage conservationists in the city which has witnessed many false starts on the restoration and conservation of important structures.
Only success story
There have been sporadic efforts in the past to take up restoration and conservation works by the government authorities in Mysore none of which have materialised so far. The only “success story” of restoration pertains to the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion at Manasagangotri which was funded by Infosys and the work was executed by a private conservation architect.
In 2007-2008, the authorities listed 15 buildings identified by the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) for conservation and it was announced that HUDCO would execute the project. Then came the announcement that funding would be through the JNNURM. It remained a non-starter.
A master plan for beautification and embellishment of the core heritage area around the palace made news. It is yet to take off. Finally the MCC itself came out with a plan to restore at least three markets — Devaraja, Vani Vilas and Mandi — constructed during the Maharaja's era. But none of these plans has materialised yet.
And now the public has been told that the Devaraja Market façade will be restored while the interiors will remain untouched. In the meantime, the MCC is equipping itself for the “long run” and is putting its staff through a workshop on urban heritage conservation with resource persons drawn from France and Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation. The objective is to build the capacity of the MCC to plan, coordinate and execute programmes in the field of urban heritage conservation and regeneration. Whether the theoretical exercise culminates in practical application remains to be seen.
Though the city is strewn with over 200 heritage buildings and monuments, their conservation without budgetary support and notification of the heritage guidelines and regulations will be difficult as averred by town planners.
Even as the government dithers on notifying the regulations, some of the structures are withering away due to lack of action though there are no dearth of “action plans.”
The core heritage zone surrounding the palace includes the Lansdowne Building which is in a bad shape. Though some of the encroachments were removed recently by the district administration, there is no follow-up action to strengthen the structure.
Devaraja Market is over 125 years old and continues to draw tourists and locals alike and is an emblem of a bygone era. Constructed during the regime of the Wadiyars, it has over 725 shops but the vegetable, fruit and flower market dominates the area. There are talks and talks of its restoration.
The latest buzz is that experts from France and those attached to Unesco will give technical support and the MCC will restore the façade without touching the interiors so as to increase the life span of the building by another 100 years.
Mandi Market and Vani Vilas Market too were constructed during the rule of the Wadiyars and have served the city well during their heydays. But both the structures are in a dilapidated condition and the MCC has plans to restore them but there is little concrete action on the ground. The agrahara area adjoining the Vani Vilas Market and Ramanuja Road, which is reflective of traditional Mysore, has been neglected over the decades
Among the slew of heritage structures located around the palace are the public office buildings south of the palace which are well preserved as they are in use. But the gun house to the west of palace and which was constructed around 1910 requires intervention. The list also includes the Harsha Road stretch which is dominated by old hotels, offices and theatres and require intervention for conservation. Jaganmohan Palace, which houses an art gallery, is protected but in the absence of heritage guidelines, there was flagrant violation of norms and hotels taller than the Jaganmohan Palace came up around it. The office of the MCC is just a stone's throw away but it turned a blind eye to the violations.
Gandhi Square is in the core heritage zone adjoining the Silver Jubilee Clock Tower and the Town Hall and has old buildings and shops that have defined the skyline of Mysore for decades. The place has witnessed overgrowth in the absence of regulation.
Ashoka Road had a few old buildings some of which have been demolished to pave way for new ones or the old buildings have been modified with glass and steel and they appear incongruous in many ways.
R. Krishna Kumar
Existing and forgotten traditions of Purani Dilli
Chief Election Commissioner Dr. S. Y. Quraishi narrates the story of Old Delhi at a lecture organised by INTACH
“Kanmailiya”, “saqqa”, “tongawallah”, “warq beaters” and calligraphy are words slowly fading away from the dictionary of Delhi, but Purani Dilli-wallas still remember how these and several other things were an integral part of the traditions of Old Delhi.
Etiquette
“Eating with a spoon was looked down upon, and not considered good etiquette. In fact, people would not wipe their hands after washing them because it was believed that impurities from the cloth would enter the food,” said Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi, sharing similar existing and forgotten traditions of Old Delhi.
He was speaking at a public lecture on “Old Delhi: Living Traditions” organised by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) as part of its campaign for nomination of Delhi to UNESCO's list of World Heritage cities. Dr. Quraishi, whose family has been living in Delhi for around 500 years, narrated the story of Delhi as a “personal account”. He spoke about traditions and practices that have been preserved by the city despite the changes in its appearance.
He spoke about the markets, food, culture, language, professions and mingling of cultures that is still evident in Shahjahanabad, Nizamuddin and Mehrauli.
Beginning with the marketplaces of Old Delhi, he said that most continue to deal in the same wares as they did years ago. “Dariba was a real scene of culture, not just a market…Khari Baoli was and still is the largest wholesale spice market in Asia, Chawri Bazar is for wholesale paper, Darya Ganj for medical equipment and book publishing, Urdu Bazar is famous for its street food, Nai Sarak for books and stationery, even though some sari trading shops have come up in recent times,” said Dr. Quraishi.
He also mentioned the fading and some extinct traditions like “saqqa”, who would distribute cool water in sheepskin, “kanmailiya” or ear cleaner, who was extremely important for travellers who would want their ears cleaned of dust and sand accumulated along the way.
“Poetry was a full time profession,” said Dr. Quraishi, reciting poetry of greats like Mir Taqi Mir and Ghalib, who belonged to Delhi. “Poetry was, in fact, not confined only to the poets. Hawkers, “saqqa”, “dhobi”, everyone indulged in some form of poetry. More importantly, it was not a preserve of the Muslims alone,” he added. He also spoke about the Urdu language, which was an integral part of the culture of the city.
Dr. Quraishi also brought out the “mingling and closeness of communities” in Old Delhi. “Monuments of five religions stand shoulder in Old Delhi,” he said. The Digambar Jain Temple, which is the “oldest Jain temple in Delhi”, the Gauri Shankar Temple, Sis Ganj Gurdwara, Sunehri Masjid and the Central Baptist Church, are testimony to unity that has existed in the city since centuries.
Diverse festivals
The diverse festivals celebrated in the Walled City, and the famous Old Delhi food which is still sought after, was also mentioned. Dr. Quraishi agreed that the Delhi Metro had helped put Old Delhi back on the culture map of Delhi, especially the variety of food available in the by-lanes.
He also spoke about the “tehzeeb” and culture that people took pride in. “The “ugaldaan”, “paandaan” or spittoon, which people carried with them were a far cry from the present day situation, where every several walls in the city seem to be splashed with “paan” stains,” he added.
The CEC then spoke about the sports and recreational activities that Old Delhi-wallahs indulged in, some of which are still practised, while others like “chaupar”, animal fights, “kabootarbaazi” (pigeon fighting) are slowly dying out.
He ended the talk by taking the audience through pictures of the Anglo-Arabic School where he had studied, the original building of St. Stephen's College, the Hardayal Library (which was renamed from Hardinge Library), Ghalib's house in Ballimaran and Old Delhi railway station, which despite being an architectural “eyesore”, is still an essential part of Old Delhi.
Four appointed on INTACH committee
District Collector V. Anil Kumar issued orders appointing two professors, a lecturer and a journalist of Kadapa to extend voluntary service to INTACH for listing out the national heritage structures in Kadapa district, INTACH district convenor S. Sitaramaiah said on Friday.
Voluntary service
Assistant professor of Department of History and Archaeology in Yogi Vemana University V. Ramabrahmam, Professor of Biology and Geoinformatics in YVU K. Raghubabu, lecturer in history in Government Junior College for girls in Kadapa A. Ramanjul Reddy and reporter of Andhra Prabha J. George (as photographer) were appointed on the INTACH committee to render voluntary service without any remuneration, he said in a statement.
Rs.3.5 crore spent on Durbar Hall renovation, says Biennale
Source: The hindubusinessline
In the thick of a controversy over the utilisation of funds released to it by the government, the Kochi Biennale Foundation says that it has spent Rs. 3.5 crore from the State allocation of Rs. 5 crore to renovate the Durbar Hall.
The Foundation, a trust registered in August 2010 with artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu in the lead for the conduct of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, an ambitious international exhibition of contemporary visual arts later this year in the city, has written in response to a set of questions mailed to it by The Hindu that it is “transparent and accountable to its stakeholders, the Kerala Tourism Department, the Department of Culture [and] the people of Kerala and India”.
“Our accounts are independently audited and were submitted to the government on December 27. These account for the Rs.5 crore received from the government, of which Rs. 3.5 crore was spent on the renovation of Durbar Hall,” says Michelangelo Bendandi, director of Communications of the Foundation.
“The Durbar Hall renovation was conducted to the highest standards by specialists in conservation, lighting and climate control. The Kochi Biennale Foundation has funded and overseen the transformation of Durbar Hall into a word-class exhibition space that meets international museum standards and will serve as a community gallery for local and international shows year-round.”
“Vikas Dilawari, consulting architect on the project, is a leading conservation architect with more than two decades of experience exclusively in conservation. He is presently the head of [the] Department of Conservation at Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture and Environmental Studies, Mumbai. He was instrumental, with [the] Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Mumbai chapter, in listing the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station as a World Heritage Site. His projects have received national and international recognition including a UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Excellence.” Mr. Bendandi says that the State Archeology Department and the Lalitha Kala Akademi have not raised any objection to the renovation. “Projects of this scale are certain to come under question… Scrutiny is something we have been prepared for from the beginning.”
Arguing that the biennale will be beneficial to the State's artists and the art scene in general, Mr. Bendandi says that it will attract “the international art community and thousands of art-loving visitors to Kerala and stimulate investment in local arts infrastructure”.
“Above all, the inaugural Kochi-Muziris Biennale is about creating spaces. In order for a platform like a Biennale to exist, we have to discover and open up spaces — spaces that will be handed over to Kochi for the benefit of India's art community,” he maintains.
What traveller type are you?
source:The Hindu
Flamingos at Pulicat. Photo: Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath gives you options from across India on a platter. Take your pick
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
This quote from Mark Twain has always been my constant companion, egging me in my journeys to seek new experiences, as I wander away aimlessly. For most of us, the word ‘travel' conjures up many images — blue skies, serpentine roads, an endless array of milestones, an elusive horizon, the distant hum of a train, clusters of dusty villages, sun kissed ferns, a flap of a wing, stately mountains, sandy shores, the call of the wild, a lost monument. And somewhere amidst all of them are people waiting to tell you their stories.
But travel very often is all about choices. While some of us prefer the Road Not Taken, others choose the weathered road. Whether you travel rudderless or with a purpose, the buzzword is alternative travel. Move out of your comfort zone, leave the regular destinations behind, chart your own rugged paths and detours and discover a different personality within you as we help you map your choices in 2012.
1. Bird watcher
There is a whole community of travellers out there who are into birds and bees and butterflies. Join this breed even if you do not understand words like ‘endemic' and ‘raptors', for these birders will take you to exotic and faraway lands in search of their feathered friends. There are close to 1,500 species of birds distributed across different habitats and states in India — be they forests, water bodies, mountains, deserts. Corbett alone, for instance, is home to over 600 species of birds. The Himalayas, the Northeast and the Western Ghats should be in your travel itinerary if you want to go birding in 2012. My favourite haunts are the lakes. I was lucky to be blinded by a flock of orange, black and white colours up in the sky as the flamingos flew overhead in Pulicat Lake. Look for the migratory birds that arrive in the lakes in winter. Chilka in Orissa is strongly recommended. If you are however, a beginner, start by birding in your own backyard and in the water bodies and lakes around your city.
2. Wildlife enthusiast
All that the brochures keep crying about is tiger tourism. But with their numbers dwindling, it is indeed a stroke of luck if you do see even a hide of the majestic creature in your safaris. However there is more to Indian wildlife than just the tigers. Even as you make Corbett, Bandhavgarh, Sundarbans, Ranthambore and Bandipur your wildlife destinations of 2012, do visit some of the biodiversity hotspots in our country. I would recommend Valparai in the Annaimalai Hills, known for several endangered species including the Nilgiri tahr and lion tailed macaque, and the tropical rainforest of Agumbe in Karnataka.
3. Eco warrior
The gentle rustle of a stream, a distant echo of a waterfall, the scent of a spice plantation, a carpet of colourful wild flowers, the endless expanse of the backwaters, quaint hill stations with lost charm — eco-tourism encompasses both wildlife and birding. There are several destinations that are high up in the hills or in the plains that make you a pantheist. The strawberries of Mahabaleshwar, the coffee plantations of Coorg, the carpet of tea in Nilgiris, the shola forests in Kodaikanal, the Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra, the backwaters of Kerala, the house boats in Kashmir, the orchids in Sikkim and Kalimpong — there is a hint of magic everywhere . Don't just go green this 2012: head out and embrace the world of colours.
4. Culture vulture
In a small little village called Pinguli in Sindhudurg lives a puppeteer who tells stories of how his ancestors were spies during the Maratha period. The tribals of Nagaland and Ladakh tell you that dance is their way of life. The Kodavas in Coorg will explain their many rituals in the marriage ceremonies. The Chettiars at Chettinadu will take you on an architecture tour of their mansions. Learn a bit of Kalari Payatu, the martial art, in Kerala. Celebrate 2012 with the local communities in various parts of India — the weavers, the potters, the goldsmiths, the healers, the musicians, the dancers, the folk artists, the painters, the sculptors and many others who were once part of our cultural fabric . Explore their cultures and join in with their festivities . The Mysore and Madikeri Dussera in Karnataka, the Theyyam in Kerala, the Hemis festival in Ladakh, the Sonam Losar in Sikkim are some of the cultural events that you should attend in 2012.
5. Festival fiend
2012 is all about celebrations. While waiting at the Mumbai airport to board for Jordan, I met this Israeli who had lovely silver rings adorning her fingers. We got talking and she mentioned that she was just returning from Pushkar and the festival was a must-see for most of her compatriots. She also mentioned the Hampi festival and Kumbha Mela in the same breath and added she would soon be visiting India again
We are in a land of festivals, where we celebrate everything — the sun, moon, stars, water, land, animals — every tourist destination has its own festival. If you like music and dance, visit Mahabalipuram, Ajanta and Ellora and Khajuraho Dance festivals. The Rann Utsav in Kutch, the Desert Festival in Rajasthan, the sand art festival in Konark, the kite festival in Gujarat, the Nagaland Hornbill festival, the Ladakh festival — your calendar is filled with festivities.
6. Heritage lover
One of my best trips in 2011 was to the remains of a 3rd century BC stupa in the district of Gulbarga in Karnataka called Sannathi. Even as the excavated sculptures are carefully pieced together by historians, they claim that they have unearthed a visual record of Emperor Ashoka. There is heritage in almost every corner in India — behind fields, inside coffee plantations, in dusty towns, high up in the hills, inside the caves. There are close to 20 World Heritage Sites in India and another 15 which have been tentatively selected for recognition.
7. Rustic traveller
If yellow is your favourite colour, then visit the mustard fields in Punjab or the sunflower fields in Karnataka. But rustic tourism is not just about fields and colours. It is the simplicity and the local hospitality of India's rustic villages combined with an experience of local food, arts, heritage, sports and culture and interactions with local communities. Almost every state offers a rustic experience. Kerala lives up to her image of God's own land in her rusticness. The small quaint hamlets high up in the mountains in Himachal and Uttaranchal have a charm of their own.
8. Hill hunter
For a lot of us travellers, mountains conjure up images of the endless massive range of the Himalayas which is a destination by itself. Be it hill stations or peaks, the mountains lure you either for a relaxed tour or for a trek. Starting from Kashmir and Ladakh in the North to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the Northeast, you need to acclimatise to heights before you start your Himalayan odyssey. Leh, Zanskar, Tawang, Sela Pass, Pelling, Yuksom, Kufri, Auli, Dharamshala are your picks for 2012 in the Himalayas.
9. Mountain goat
A lot of us love to see the mountains by road. While we choose the comfort of a four-wheel drive, the strong and the brave hearts prefer to trek. There is nothing like carrying a backpack, looking at an open sky from your sleeping bag and living right in the open. Almost every region in the Himalayas can be straddled upon by foot — from Ladakh to Sikkim, from Himachal to Uttaranchal.
10. Adventure seeker
If travel means a rush of adrenalin, then let go of the conventional travel routes and give in to your adventurous spirit. Besides camping, there are several expeditions that take you across glaciers and frozen lakes in mountains and hills in the Himalayas. River rafting in Rishikesh and Ladakh, scuba diving in Netrani island, a hot air balloon ride in Rajasthan, skiing in Auli are some experiences that you must try.
11. Beach buddy
If beaches in Goa are known for their wild parties, the beaches in neighbouring Gokarna, Karwar and Sindhudurg are virgin and quiet. Some of them like Bekal Fort lend a touch of heritage as well. But nothing like a visit to the exotic shores of the islands — Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep — to rejuvenate yourselves.
12. The faithful
Ours is a country where we have more deities than communities, where religious festivals are part of our cultural fabric, where many religious shrines are secular, historic and have become tourist destinations. From Vaishnav Devi to Char Dham, from Tirupati to Sringeri, from Annai Velankani to Ajmer Dargah, Golden Temple in Amritsar to Dharamshala monastery, from Akshardham to Madurai Meenakshi temple, the list is endless. As for me, I want to visit Kolkata during Durga Puja.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Folk music draws huge crowds at Sec 17
Dec 31, 2011, 04.02AM IST
CHANDIGARH: As part of the ongoing New Year Extravaganza at Sector-17 plaza, diverse folk music and dance forms of Eastern states besides the evergreen Sufina kalaams by Manak Ali of Patila gharana were a great hit. Manak had performed at leading venues in India besides Austria, Vienna and Singapore.
Setting the Sufiana mood, Manak kickstartedthe evening with kalaams, "Baba Bulleh Shah Waris Shah" and others like "Raiye Wo Naal Sajjann De Raiiye Wo" followed by "Kinu Kinu Dassan Raaz Diyan Gallan", "Sathon Ni Majjha Chaar Hundiyan" and more.
He won great applause from the audience, especially for his ghazals "Tujhe Kaun Janta Tha Meri Dosti Se Pehle", "Aap Mashook Kya Ho Gaye", "Layiyan Layiyan Mein Tere Naal."
Around 50 Sikkim students gave a traditional Sikkim dance performance. Group song by artist Lek Chering described the beauty of Sikkim girls by comparing them with a tree named Rhododendron found only in hills.
Girls lepcha dance by artist Phursong and Group described the nature and beauty of Sikkim.
Solo song by artist Lek Chering was the New Year song of the Lepcha tribe of Sikkim. The evening was inaugurated by the UT home secretary Anil Kumar.
Dec 31, 2011, 04.02AM IST
CHANDIGARH: As part of the ongoing New Year Extravaganza at Sector-17 plaza, diverse folk music and dance forms of Eastern states besides the evergreen Sufina kalaams by Manak Ali of Patila gharana were a great hit. Manak had performed at leading venues in India besides Austria, Vienna and Singapore.
Setting the Sufiana mood, Manak kickstartedthe evening with kalaams, "Baba Bulleh Shah Waris Shah" and others like "Raiye Wo Naal Sajjann De Raiiye Wo" followed by "Kinu Kinu Dassan Raaz Diyan Gallan", "Sathon Ni Majjha Chaar Hundiyan" and more.
He won great applause from the audience, especially for his ghazals "Tujhe Kaun Janta Tha Meri Dosti Se Pehle", "Aap Mashook Kya Ho Gaye", "Layiyan Layiyan Mein Tere Naal."
Around 50 Sikkim students gave a traditional Sikkim dance performance. Group song by artist Lek Chering described the beauty of Sikkim girls by comparing them with a tree named Rhododendron found only in hills.
Girls lepcha dance by artist Phursong and Group described the nature and beauty of Sikkim.
Solo song by artist Lek Chering was the New Year song of the Lepcha tribe of Sikkim. The evening was inaugurated by the UT home secretary Anil Kumar.
'Better streets will make Delhi safer for women'
TNN | Dec 26, 2011, 06.16AM IST
NEW DELHI: That Delhi is India's rape capital is a fact repeatedly stressed by crime statistics, but recent studies show safer streets could help to make the city safer for women. Research by Jagori, with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, shows that wider pavements offer women more manoeuvring room when challenged.
Another survey showed 42% women were harassed while waiting for public transport. "We have suggested sites for hawkers near bus stops to ensure these areas are not isolated," says Kalpana Viswanath of Gender Inclusive Cities Programme.
TNN | Dec 26, 2011, 06.16AM IST
NEW DELHI: That Delhi is India's rape capital is a fact repeatedly stressed by crime statistics, but recent studies show safer streets could help to make the city safer for women. Research by Jagori, with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, shows that wider pavements offer women more manoeuvring room when challenged.
Another survey showed 42% women were harassed while waiting for public transport. "We have suggested sites for hawkers near bus stops to ensure these areas are not isolated," says Kalpana Viswanath of Gender Inclusive Cities Programme.
Experts visit Golconda, Qutub Shahi tombs
Jan 5, 2012, 03.25AM IST
HYDERABAD: The government-constituted expert sub-committee formed to pitch for Unesco's World Heritage Status to Qutub Shahi era monuments in the city visited the Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi tombs on Wednesday.
The experts suggested preparation of individual plans for each monument, along with a composite conservation plan. Noting that the gardens in their present form do not represent the original layout, the team suggested that they should be laid in the grid pattern followed by the Qutb Shahis, after consulting the archival material of the period.
On the contentious Naya Qila issue, an Intach official told TOI, "This is one area which has not been scientifically excavated. At the Deccani gardens, recent excavations revealed cisterns and water channels. So it is essential to make thorough excavations at historically important sites." She also noted that the problems of new settlements coming up in the vicinity should be addressed.
The team said that a master management plan for regular maintenance was required by involving all the stakeholders including GHMC, department of tourism, APTDC, horticulture department, QQSUDA and Archaeological Survey of India. "We have suggested a high level committee or Task Force under the chairmanship of the state chief secretary," the team members said.
Jan 5, 2012, 03.25AM IST
HYDERABAD: The government-constituted expert sub-committee formed to pitch for Unesco's World Heritage Status to Qutub Shahi era monuments in the city visited the Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi tombs on Wednesday.
The experts suggested preparation of individual plans for each monument, along with a composite conservation plan. Noting that the gardens in their present form do not represent the original layout, the team suggested that they should be laid in the grid pattern followed by the Qutb Shahis, after consulting the archival material of the period.
On the contentious Naya Qila issue, an Intach official told TOI, "This is one area which has not been scientifically excavated. At the Deccani gardens, recent excavations revealed cisterns and water channels. So it is essential to make thorough excavations at historically important sites." She also noted that the problems of new settlements coming up in the vicinity should be addressed.
The team said that a master management plan for regular maintenance was required by involving all the stakeholders including GHMC, department of tourism, APTDC, horticulture department, QQSUDA and Archaeological Survey of India. "We have suggested a high level committee or Task Force under the chairmanship of the state chief secretary," the team members said.
The young at art
by SOMA BASU
"Meendum-2012" promises to be a mega fete spreading knowledge about arts and crafts
One may think why the hard-to-motivate age group should take to subjects that deal with the past when the present has so much more excitement to offer? But intriguingly enough, the response has been “overwhelming” to Madurai's annual event “Meendum-2012” , a socio-cultural programme for city schools organised by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Madurai Chapter.
Says convenor Arvind Kumar Sankar: “This year, the number of registrations is very encouraging. Teaching our children about the country's heritage is important. Appreciating one's heritage is a prerequisite for taking actions to sustain it. This is our attempt to use the rich cultural heritage of our country, State and city as a powerful tool for learning and for preparing our future custodians.”
All the fun and learning is slated for Saturday when over 1,500 middle and high school students drawn from 35 institutions are expected to explore and experiment all art forms.
The idea of ‘Meendum' was first conceived in 2009 as a display of talents of school children showcasing the city's manifold social, cultural and architectural treasures. In the first year, half-a-dozen schools, who were all members of INTACH Heritage Club put up a cultural show.
Last year, the participation doubled and students worked on heritage-specific projects.
This year the participation is up by three-folds as requests poured in from rural schools and also non-Heritage Club members.
The organizers feel, “the opportunity to know one's ancient history and tradition should not be denied to children.”
This time round, the cultural and historical background of the city will be celebrated through 18 workshops and two separate dance and music sessions.
While the star attraction on stage will be two-hour performances by Chennai-based Vidwan Vijay Siva who will introduce the nuances of Carnatic music to the students and a training session in ‘nritta', ‘abhinaya' and ‘hastalakshana' by the Kaladiksha Dance Trust artistes, the buzz of activity would be in the wide spectrum of workshops on painting with coffee powder, vegetable bloc and glass painting, jewellery, paper bag, greeting card and flower making to making photo frames, and learning to make pulli, kanya and neermael kolams and rangolis.
The Madurai Malli and Kattuchungdi that are trademarks of the city will also be taught exclusively during the day long programme. There will be oodles of information available and every participant will find enough scope to learn and understand the relationship between daily life and local economy and traditions.
“Students have the best abilities for learning productively. The aim is to help them discover the importance of maintaining and preserving their culture and traditions not only for self-enhancement but also for use by others.
Such an experience will encourage them to go back to their roots, and respect, appreciate and protect the different forms of heritage. The idea is to inculcate a sense of belonging,” says Arvind Sankar.
The venue for meendum-2012 is SDH Jain Vidyalaya Higher Seconday School, Thirupalai. The programme will be on from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Those interested can also register at the venue. Entry fee is Rs.1,500 per school for participating in all the workshops and events. Two students per school will be allowed in each workshop except for the dance and music workshops which maximum of 10 students from every school can attend.
For further details or queries, call 9994499974, 9486148288, 9442103490.
by SOMA BASU
"Meendum-2012" promises to be a mega fete spreading knowledge about arts and crafts
One may think why the hard-to-motivate age group should take to subjects that deal with the past when the present has so much more excitement to offer? But intriguingly enough, the response has been “overwhelming” to Madurai's annual event “Meendum-2012” , a socio-cultural programme for city schools organised by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Madurai Chapter.
Says convenor Arvind Kumar Sankar: “This year, the number of registrations is very encouraging. Teaching our children about the country's heritage is important. Appreciating one's heritage is a prerequisite for taking actions to sustain it. This is our attempt to use the rich cultural heritage of our country, State and city as a powerful tool for learning and for preparing our future custodians.”
All the fun and learning is slated for Saturday when over 1,500 middle and high school students drawn from 35 institutions are expected to explore and experiment all art forms.
The idea of ‘Meendum' was first conceived in 2009 as a display of talents of school children showcasing the city's manifold social, cultural and architectural treasures. In the first year, half-a-dozen schools, who were all members of INTACH Heritage Club put up a cultural show.
Last year, the participation doubled and students worked on heritage-specific projects.
This year the participation is up by three-folds as requests poured in from rural schools and also non-Heritage Club members.
The organizers feel, “the opportunity to know one's ancient history and tradition should not be denied to children.”
This time round, the cultural and historical background of the city will be celebrated through 18 workshops and two separate dance and music sessions.
While the star attraction on stage will be two-hour performances by Chennai-based Vidwan Vijay Siva who will introduce the nuances of Carnatic music to the students and a training session in ‘nritta', ‘abhinaya' and ‘hastalakshana' by the Kaladiksha Dance Trust artistes, the buzz of activity would be in the wide spectrum of workshops on painting with coffee powder, vegetable bloc and glass painting, jewellery, paper bag, greeting card and flower making to making photo frames, and learning to make pulli, kanya and neermael kolams and rangolis.
The Madurai Malli and Kattuchungdi that are trademarks of the city will also be taught exclusively during the day long programme. There will be oodles of information available and every participant will find enough scope to learn and understand the relationship between daily life and local economy and traditions.
“Students have the best abilities for learning productively. The aim is to help them discover the importance of maintaining and preserving their culture and traditions not only for self-enhancement but also for use by others.
Such an experience will encourage them to go back to their roots, and respect, appreciate and protect the different forms of heritage. The idea is to inculcate a sense of belonging,” says Arvind Sankar.
The venue for meendum-2012 is SDH Jain Vidyalaya Higher Seconday School, Thirupalai. The programme will be on from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Those interested can also register at the venue. Entry fee is Rs.1,500 per school for participating in all the workshops and events. Two students per school will be allowed in each workshop except for the dance and music workshops which maximum of 10 students from every school can attend.
For further details or queries, call 9994499974, 9486148288, 9442103490.
INTACH to hold lectures on Haryana’s heritage
GURGAON: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritgae (INTACH) will be holding a series of public lectures on Haryana's heritage in Gurgaon and other parts of the state. As a part of an awareness campaign, INTACH also announced field trips to lesser known heritage sites in Narnaul, Rewari and Mewat for students and other enthusiasts.
On Sunday, the organization held first of their heritage lectures in Gurgaon on the ancient Saraswati river. There is ample evidence as to the route the river took through Haryana and passing into Rajasthan, but why did the river start to dry up at around 5,000 BC is still moot.
"The Saraswati, like all rivers, changed directions, changed paths very often. And there is a theory that around 5,000 BC, the river dried up due to volcanic activity in one of tributaries of the river," said Jayant Sanyal, convener, INTACH Mewat.
The tributary was in the Dhosi hills in Narnaul region, and even today the igneous rock formations can be seen in the area.
"People can visit the area and see how the volcano affected the river. It's simply fascinating," Sanyal said.
Places like Narnaul, Rewari, and Mewat, Sanyal said, should be of immense interest to Gurgaon residents, who are living in such proximity to ancient symbols and monuments. "Haryana, in a way, was the focal point of Indian culture and civilization, and most of us in Gurgaon have no idea what riches lie right in our backyard," said Sanyal.
Currently, renovation work by INTACH is being carried out in Tauru in Mewat, where the famous domes are being restored. "Apart from that we are working on the heritage spot, Chuhimal Talaab in the village Nuh," he said. A comprehensive list of heritage monuments, which need immediate restoration, is also being prepared.
INTACH has also been organizing trips of Gurgaon's school students to heritage sites, and heritage walks for the residents.
GURGAON: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritgae (INTACH) will be holding a series of public lectures on Haryana's heritage in Gurgaon and other parts of the state. As a part of an awareness campaign, INTACH also announced field trips to lesser known heritage sites in Narnaul, Rewari and Mewat for students and other enthusiasts.
On Sunday, the organization held first of their heritage lectures in Gurgaon on the ancient Saraswati river. There is ample evidence as to the route the river took through Haryana and passing into Rajasthan, but why did the river start to dry up at around 5,000 BC is still moot.
"The Saraswati, like all rivers, changed directions, changed paths very often. And there is a theory that around 5,000 BC, the river dried up due to volcanic activity in one of tributaries of the river," said Jayant Sanyal, convener, INTACH Mewat.
The tributary was in the Dhosi hills in Narnaul region, and even today the igneous rock formations can be seen in the area.
"People can visit the area and see how the volcano affected the river. It's simply fascinating," Sanyal said.
Places like Narnaul, Rewari, and Mewat, Sanyal said, should be of immense interest to Gurgaon residents, who are living in such proximity to ancient symbols and monuments. "Haryana, in a way, was the focal point of Indian culture and civilization, and most of us in Gurgaon have no idea what riches lie right in our backyard," said Sanyal.
Currently, renovation work by INTACH is being carried out in Tauru in Mewat, where the famous domes are being restored. "Apart from that we are working on the heritage spot, Chuhimal Talaab in the village Nuh," he said. A comprehensive list of heritage monuments, which need immediate restoration, is also being prepared.
INTACH has also been organizing trips of Gurgaon's school students to heritage sites, and heritage walks for the residents.
After Bhadrakali, INTACH to focus on submerged temples
by Malvika Pathania
After having successfully restored a 450-year-old leaning temple of Bhadrakali - a popular local deity at Sarah,near Dharamshala - the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), on Thursday, announced its plan to take-up a project for the relocation and restoration of ancient temples submerged in the Govind Sagar since 1960.
The temples were submerged because of the reservoir built on the Satluj river for the Bhakra hydel project. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had done a study on the temples and found possibilities of their relocation to new sites.
Malvika Pathania, new state convenor of INTACH Himachal Pradesh, said, “Talks are on with ASI and other experts on conservation of the submerged temples of Govind Sagar. We are told that the stones used in these temples could be retrieved, cleaned-up and reused. There should also mines around Bilaspur with the same quality of stones. Plans are also afoot for restoration of temples at Bathu-ki-larh (Pong Dam).”
by Malvika Pathania
After having successfully restored a 450-year-old leaning temple of Bhadrakali - a popular local deity at Sarah,near Dharamshala - the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), on Thursday, announced its plan to take-up a project for the relocation and restoration of ancient temples submerged in the Govind Sagar since 1960.
The temples were submerged because of the reservoir built on the Satluj river for the Bhakra hydel project. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had done a study on the temples and found possibilities of their relocation to new sites.
Malvika Pathania, new state convenor of INTACH Himachal Pradesh, said, “Talks are on with ASI and other experts on conservation of the submerged temples of Govind Sagar. We are told that the stones used in these temples could be retrieved, cleaned-up and reused. There should also mines around Bilaspur with the same quality of stones. Plans are also afoot for restoration of temples at Bathu-ki-larh (Pong Dam).”
Thursday, 5 January 2012
An animation film, the first one from Sikkim
An animation film, the first one from Sikkim, is in pre-production.
An Animation Workshop has brought a group together at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology for the past three weeks to develop a folk tale from the state into a five minute long animation film. The team that has been established for this project includes eight young thangka art students who are creating the artwork with the aim of giving the film a unique look inspired by the beautiful thangka art of the region. Six of the students are in their third year of a four year course, while the other two, Purna and Birbal, will graduate this year.
The team also includes several animators from the National Institute of Design and various other institutes of animation. Some are particularly interested in drawing cartoons and caricatures and they have gravitated towards designing the characters for the film, while others are competent on software such as Maya, Flash and Adobe After Effects and are providing the technical inputs into the production.
Having written a script for the story based on a Lepcha folk tale and then visualised the film scene by scene as a storyboard, the team are finishing the Animatic (filmed storyboard) and they are also working on a promo that will give a good indication of the look and pace of the film. It promises to be a beautiful production, with landscapes from the mountainous state and all the right cultural details.
The animation novices are also having a go at doing some test sequences of their own using plasticene and cut out puppets. Tara Douglas, coordinator of the workshop on behalf of the Adivasi Arts Trust,explained that while computers are a very useful tool, animation has been done at an expert level by hand long before computers became the norm.
A Sikkimese based design collective, Echostream is providing all the local support for the project.
The workshop has received support from the Commonwealth Foundation and from INTACH (UK)
11.3.2010
For more information contact:
Tara Douglas, Adivasi Arts Trust
tarapurnima@hotmail.com
Sikkim
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
 Area | 7,096 sq. km |
 Population | 540,493 |
 Capital | Gangtok |
 Principal Languages | Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu and Nepali |
History and Geography
Tashiding Monastery
Sikkim is a small hilly state, bounded by vast stretches of Tibetan Plateaux in the North, the Chumbi Valley of Tibet and the Kingdom of Bhutan in the East, the Kingdom of Nepal in the West, and Darjeeling (West Bengal) in the South. The State has a total area of 7,096 sq km, and is stretched over 112 km from North to South, and 64 km from East to West. It lies in the North-Eastern Himalayas between 27 degree 00' 46" to 28 degree 07' 48" North Latitude, and 88 degree 00' 58" to 88 degree 55' 25" East Longitude.
The world's third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, regarded as the guardian deity of Sikkim, dominates the tiny Himalayan State with its awe-inspiring beauty and majesty. Sikkim is one of the 18 bio diversity hotspots in the world. The Sikkim Himalayas show tremendous biological diversity. More than 5000 species of angiosperms are found in the State, which is nearly one third of the total species of angiosperm found in the country. There are 4,000 species of flowering plants, 300 species of ferns and allies, 450 to 500 species of orchids, 36 species of Rhododendrons, 40 species of oaks, 30 to 40 species of Primulas and bamboos, 144 species of mammals, 500 to 600 species of birds, over 400 species of butterflies and moths, and many species of reptiles in the State. Rare Blue Sheep, Tibetan Mastiff, Yaks and Red Pandas are found here.
Agriculture
The State's economy is basically agrarian. More than 64 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural land in Sikkim is estimated to be around 1,09,000 hectares, i.e., 15.36 per cent of the total geographical area. Farmers commonly follow mixed farming. Maize, rice, wheat, potato, large cardamom, ginger and orange are the principal crops. Sikkim has the largest area and highest production of large brown cardamom in India. Ginger, potato, orange and off-season vegetables are other cash crops.Industry
Though Sikkim has been declared an industrially backward state, the existence of craftsmanship based traditional Sikkimese cottage industries dates back to several centuries. Lepcha's skill in bamboo-craft, woodwork, spinning of yarn and carpet weaving in traditional textures, Bhutia's excellence in ancient Tibetan practice of carpet and rug weaving and Nepali's celebrated craftsmanship of their metalwork, silverware and woodwork are very exclusive.Sikkim Jewels Limited is one of the sophisticated and precision oriented industries for the manufacture of jewel bearings for electric meters, water meters and other measuring instruments like watches and clocks. Ten ancillary units have been set up to manufacture watch jewels. The SIDICO provides long-term loans for cottage, tiny, small and medium scale industrial units, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and taxis.
Irrigation and Power
Tenth Five Year Plan targets to irrigate 34,118 hectares of agricultural land. Total installed capacity of power in the State is 36 MW that is hydro based with transformation capacity of 123 MVA. Rangeet hydel project has installed capacity of 560 MW. The total power potential of the State is estimated at 8,000 MW. The Teesta Valley Project now under construction is a run of the river scheme located in the East District and the proposed installed capacity of this project is 510 MW.Transport
Roads: Gangtok is connected by roads with Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri, and also with all the district headquarters within Sikkim. The total road length of the state is 2,383 km, including 41 km of National Highway.Railways and Aviation: The closest railway stations are Siliguri (113) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km) connecting Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Lucknow and other important cities. There is no airport in Sikkim, although there is a helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra, heavily subsidised by the State Government. The State has also initiated construction of a number of helipads to connect the district and sub-divisional headquarters and important tourist places.
Information Technology
A new Information Technology Department has been created in the State, and has prepared extensive projects to give top priority to this department. The newly created department has already launched a number of Web sites on Sikkim, and is now aiming for e-governance through the use of information tools. The official Web site of Sikkim, hosted and maintained by the Department of Information Technology, Government of Sikkim, is www.sikkimgovt.orgFestivals
Sikkim's population comprises the three principal ethnic communities of the Bhutias, Lepchas and the Nepalese. Maghey Sankranti, Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and Chaite Dassai/Ram Navami, Dassai, Tyohar, Sonam Losoong, Namsoog, Tendong Lho Rum Faat (Worship of Mt. Tendong), Lohsar (Tibetan New Year) are the major festivals. The other festivals include Sakewa (Rai), Sonam Lochar (Gurung), Barahimzong (Magor), etc.Tourism
Gangtok, Sikkim
The premier monastery of Sikkim is Pemayantshe in Pelling. Apart from this, there is Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim, which is considered the holiest of all the monasteries in Sikkim. The most ancient monastery of Sikkim is in Yuksom, called the Drubdi monastery. It was the personal hermitage of Lhatsun Chenpo (Patron Saint of Sikkim), and was possibly built in 1700 A.D. Some of the other monasteries are Phodong, Phensang, Rumtek, Ngadak, Tolung, Ahlay, Tsuklakhand, Ralong, Lachen, Enchey and others. Of the Hindu temples, the best known is the Thakurbari, in the heart of Gangtok. There is also a holy cave in South district, which has a Shiva Lingam that irradiates the cave where no other light finds its way. There are some important Gurdwaras and Mosques, chief among them being in Gangtok and Ravangla.
Source: India 2010 - A Reference Annual
INTACH-UK Chapter
INTACH-UK Chapter recognizes that the three most serious, and not unrelated, challenges that currently face the prosperity of the peoples on this planet are climate change, the global food shortfall, and fresh water shortages. The front lines in our responses to these three challenges lie as heavily across India as elsewhere.
While India is blessed with abundant water resources, the mismanagement of these resources has resulted in a resource crisis, mainly affecting the rural poor. The crisis has been precipitated in recent years by the growing demand of an increasing population, growth in irrigation demand, erratic monsoons, rapid industrial growth and development and, most importantly by extensive and uncontrolled deforestation in the uplands and areas of topographical relief. This has resulted in reduced rainfall, far lesser retention of water in unforested surfaces, and an alarming drop in the level of the water table. The uneven spread of resources has caused vast areas to be underserved, and other areas to be overfed, and together with an increased demand from urban areas, the water crisis has spiralled out of control.
Whilst only international agencies and national governments can address these challenges on a global basis, there is a distinct role for small and focused charities such as INTACH-UK Chapter to extend some modest support to specific local projects, such as the 'Yogira Talab' project in Rajasthan, our first fresh water project in India. In due course when the number of such projects expands, sponsored by NGOs and small charities such as the UK Chapter, some significant progress will be achieved at the local level.
The Trustees of INTACH-UK Chapter seek to raise funds to cover the cost of its projects in India, such as the 'Yogira Talab' water project, through programmes of public events and targeted appeals to various philanthropic organizations and individuals. The Trustees will be approaching corporations and banks, trusts and foundations, entrepreneurs and celebrities. A new Members drive will play a part in the programmes as this might prove a useful first step towards identifying potential donors. A series of open lectures on subjects related to our appeals will be offered.
While India is blessed with abundant water resources, the mismanagement of these resources has resulted in a resource crisis, mainly affecting the rural poor. The crisis has been precipitated in recent years by the growing demand of an increasing population, growth in irrigation demand, erratic monsoons, rapid industrial growth and development and, most importantly by extensive and uncontrolled deforestation in the uplands and areas of topographical relief. This has resulted in reduced rainfall, far lesser retention of water in unforested surfaces, and an alarming drop in the level of the water table. The uneven spread of resources has caused vast areas to be underserved, and other areas to be overfed, and together with an increased demand from urban areas, the water crisis has spiralled out of control.
Whilst only international agencies and national governments can address these challenges on a global basis, there is a distinct role for small and focused charities such as INTACH-UK Chapter to extend some modest support to specific local projects, such as the 'Yogira Talab' project in Rajasthan, our first fresh water project in India. In due course when the number of such projects expands, sponsored by NGOs and small charities such as the UK Chapter, some significant progress will be achieved at the local level.
The Trustees of INTACH-UK Chapter seek to raise funds to cover the cost of its projects in India, such as the 'Yogira Talab' water project, through programmes of public events and targeted appeals to various philanthropic organizations and individuals. The Trustees will be approaching corporations and banks, trusts and foundations, entrepreneurs and celebrities. A new Members drive will play a part in the programmes as this might prove a useful first step towards identifying potential donors. A series of open lectures on subjects related to our appeals will be offered.
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