Culture and Civilisational Digest: October-2024

Marathi gets classical language status: Celebrations in literary world- The Times of India

In a historic decision, Marathi, the language spoken by millions in Maharashtra and beyond, was officially declared a ‘classical' language by the central govt on Thursday. This long-awaited recognition is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and literary tradition associated with Marathi. The declaration came after a consistent push from the Maharashtra state govt and Marathi-speaking communities across the country. Click here to read... [2]

PM Modi to inaugurate Nangara museum during Poharadevi visit- The Times of India

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate Banjara Heritage Nangara Museum at Poharadevi, a revered shrine of the Banjara community in Washim district on October 5. The Nangara Museum was conceptualised in 2018 as part of Poharadevi development plan with a view to give visitors a glimpse of Banjara community's culture, history, and tradition. The five-story museum was built to showcase the rich history and heritage of the Banjara community. Today, it stands as a world-class museum. Click here to read... [3]

Made in haste, built at wrong place, no footfall—India’s site museums are a sad story- The Print

India is not a museum-going country in general. But there is a particular type of museum that gets the least number of visitors. They are called site museums, built alongside archaeological excavations. Retired archaeologist and museologist Rajeev Dwivedi said most of these site museums of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have been built very hurriedly and are mostly located in rural areas which impacts the footfall. Choosing the right location is very important, according to the museologist. “The site museum should not be too close to the site. And it should not be too far away that it loses its importance,” he said, adding that many museum buildings have been built at the wrong place. Click here to read... [4]

Modi govt set to bring in ‘neglected’ scholars to study rare ‘non-spiritual’ Indian manuscripts- The Print

The Indian Knowledge Systems division of the Union Ministry of Education is set to launch a new scheme to involve and acknowledge experts, who, according to the division, have remained “neglected” by mainstream academia, to study “rare and unpublished” manuscripts from ancient India, The Print has learnt. The programme named “IKS Vidvan” will help these experts study, edit and publish the texts in “non-spiritual” areas—science, agriculture, animal health, civil engineering and architecture, among others. Click here to read... [5]

Socially distanced layout of the world’s oldest cities helped early civilization evade diseases- The Conversation

Çatalhöyük, in present-day Turkey, is the world’s oldest farming village, from over 9,000 years ago. At Çatalhöyük, archaeologists have found human bones intermingled with cattle bones in burials and refuse heaps. Crowding of people and animals likely bred zoonotic diseases at Çatalhöyük. Ancient DNA identifies tuberculosis from cattle in the region as far back as 8500 BCE and TB in human infant bones not long after. DNA in ancient human remains dates salmonella to as early as 4500 BCE. Assuming the contagiousness and virulence of Neolithic diseases increased through time, dense settlements such as Çatalhöyük may have reached a tipping point where the effects of disease outweighed the benefits of living closely together. Click here to read... [6]

Viewing culture as a part of living heritage- Hindustan Times

The recognition of Intangible Cultural Heritage reflects a broader understanding of culture as an integral part of daily life. As we celebrate the significance of safeguarding these living traditions, let us recognise that this effort goes beyond preservation — it is a celebration of our shared humanity. October 17 marks the first-ever International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), following a decision by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2023. October 17, 2003, was the day the General Conference of UNESCO adopted the text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Click here to read... [7]

Delhi food has declined. From Mughals, British to modern era- The Print

On 14 October, the India Habitat Centre (IHC) hosted the panel discussion, ‘Dastaan Dilli ke Chatkhaaron ki: Food History of Delhi’, featuring renowned author Pushpesh Pant, casting director and scriptwriter Ashhar Haque, and chef Sadaf Hussain. Organised by Karwaan: The Heritage Exploration Initiative, the event also saw Pant launching his new book, “From the King’s Table to Street Food”, which explores Delhi’s rich culinary heritage and its evolution through the ages. Pant said that the flavours of Delhi aren’t originally from the city; they come from Rampur, Lucknow, Awadh, Meerut, Punjab, Bengal, and Bihar. “Delhi ka khana hai, par chatkaare bahar ke hain (The food may be of Delhi, but the flavours are from outside),” Pant said. Click here to read... [8]

Scholars highlight Buddhist wisdom in addressing modern challenges at International Abhidhamma Divas- ANI

Scholars and monks from across the globe gathered at the recently held International Abhidhamma Divas, to discuss how the teachings of the Buddha, preserved in the Pali language, offer valuable insights into contemporary challenges such as climate disasters, economic hardships, and social conflicts. The event, which saw over 2,000 participants, including scholars, diplomats, and youth, was organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. Click here to read... [9]

Pakistan sanctions PKR 1 crore to rebuild Hindu temple in Punjab province- Hindustan Times

A budget of one crore Pakistani rupees has been allocated to reconstruct the Baoli Sahib Hindu temple in Zafarwal, Punjab province, Pakistan, marking the first phase of restoration 64 years after it became non-functional. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), responsible for minority worship places, has begun the project. The temple, which has been inactive since 1960, will now be restored to serve Narowal's Hindu community, which numbers over 1,453 people. Currently, there is no functional temple in the district, forcing locals to travel to Sialkot and Lahore for worship. Click here to read... [10]

Declaring Jama Masjid protected monument will have big impact: ASI to HC- Business Standard

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that declaring the historic Jama Masjid a "protected monument" would have a "substantial impact" and no steps have been taken in this regard so far. In an affidavit filed in response to PILs on the issue, the ASI said once a monument is declared a protected monument, certain regulations and prohibitions in the area around it come into force. It further said that although the Mughal-era Jama Masjid is currently under the protection and guardianship of Delhi Waqf Board, the ASI has been undertaking conservation and preservation work there. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh orally said it was not inclined to declare Jama Masjid a "protected monument" in view of the stand of the ASI and ordered the petitioners to file their notes with respect to the steps that should be taken for the protection of the historic structure. Click here to read... [11]

How the Sangeet Natak Akademi is democratising Indian dance- India Today

October 2024 will go down in dance history as a month of revolution. Indian dance culture is so layered with history, geography, chemistry and biology rolled in one that ordinary citizens can’t easily access its nuances. Its ecosystems also limit dialogue as the Guru Shishya Parampara, is top heavy. Some elders are stuck in time and young ones want to break away and do something new. To then put 500 dancers of varying age, status and stature in one big room to discuss and discourse needs a DNA that the SNA (Sangeet Natak Akademi) mutated in order to find answers. Six days of over 25 sessions on dance, with over 500 attendees from five generations, brought to fore the key concerns, major discussions and absolutely no rancour that the dance field otherwise suffers from. To get most of the known gurus and dancers in one place in India—a country half the size of Europe—is a no mean feat. Click here to read... [12]

Ancient India’s ideas travelled across cosmopolitan Asia. Manuscripts exhibition shows- The Print

‘Manuscripts and the Movement of Ideas across Asia’, exhibition was inaugurated at IIC Annexe on 17 October. The exhibition explores how Indian texts and narratives have influenced cultures across Central, West, and East Asia throughout history. It is part of the SAMHiTA (South Asian Manuscripts Histories and Textual Archives) project, which is steered by Sudha Gopalakrishnan—executive director of the International Research Division at IIC—and supported by the Ministry of External Affairs. Conceived by Gopalakrishnan, the exhibition features selected works such as 2,000-year-old birch-bark scrolls of Mahayana Buddhism discovered in Afghanistan in the 1990s, now housed at the Library of Congress. Click here to read... [13]

Varanasi court rejects plea seeking additional survey of Gyanvapi mosque by ASI- The New Indian Express

The Varanasi Fast Track Court of Civil Judge rejected Advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi's petition for an additional survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque. This petition especially aimed for an additional survey to examine the area under the central dome of the mosque. The court, on October 19, had reserved its order on the plea of Rastogi, who is contesting this original suit as the next friend of Swayambhu Adi Vishweshwar, the presiding deity of Gyanvapi complex. The court had reserved the order after Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (AIM) filed its reply against the claims and demand for an additional survey of the mosque by ASI in connection with the 1991 original suit of the Gyanvapi case. Click here to read... [14]

‘Dying MP traditions like Thatiyaand Matki need oxygen of support’- The Times of India

“I was barely five when my grandmother started teaching me the intricacies of Matki dance that has been a part of people's lives in Malwa region, but it is painful to see that it is now almost on the verge of extinction," said 47-year-old folk artiste Swati Ukhale, who participated in the ‘Vilupt Lok Evam Janjatiya Kala Uthan Mahotsav (Dying folk and tribal arts resurgence festival) - jointly organised on Friday by North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj, and department of culture, Madhya Pradesh. The event organised at Tribal Museum, saw over 60 artistes throwing their collective might behind one cause- revival of some beautiful performing arts of the state. Click here to read... [15]