Culture and Civilisational Digest: November-2024

69 stone inscriptions dating back to 9th century discovered in Karnataka's Kodagu, transcription done- Deccan Herald

The transcription of newly found stone slab inscriptions in Karnataka's Kodagu district has now been completed. The discovery of the inscriptions by Archaeology, Museums and Heritage department curator B P Rekha during a survey that started in 2023 is considered to be the largest one in Kodagu after B L Rice. Click here to read... [2]

ASI to begin excavation at megalithic burial site at Amoor in Chengalpattu district- The Hindu

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chennai Circle has planned to undertake excavation at Amoor, a protected site located on the banks of lower Palar River valley near Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district. The ASI, in 1921, had discovered a megalithic burial site having cists and cairns in a 130-acre odd parcel of land located in Amoor village in the lower Palar valley, official sources said. After the discovery of the ancient burial site, the parcel of land owned by the Forest Department was declared as a protected site by the ASI. Click here to read... [3]

Researchers glimpse urbanization in ancient Israel at site of 5000-year-old public building- The Jerusalem Post

A 5,000-year-old settlement was recently uncovered near Beit Shemesh at the site of Hurvat Husham in an excavation project that was preparing for a new industrial zone, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported late October. The site was uncovered during the expansion into Beit Shemesh's Western industrial zone as part of a new initiative by the Shamir Engineering Group along with the Bet Shemesh Economic Development Company. The uncovered settlement, and the encompassed remains of some of Judea’s first public buildings, provided IAA researchers with a visualization of the urbanization process undergone during that period. Click here to read... [4]

Day 3 of 'Kaveri Meets Ganga': A spellbinding evening of cultural heritage and artistic brilliance- Business Standard

The Ministry of Culture's Amrit Parampara series continued its captivating journey on the third day of the 'Kaveri Meets Ganga' festival. Held at Kartavya Path and CCRT Dwarka in Delhi, the event offered a powerful celebration of India's cultural diversity, highlighting traditional and folk arts in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, graced the event with his presence at Kartavya Path. At CCRT, Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas, honoured the gathering with his esteemed presence. Audiences were treated to mesmerizing performances that brought alive the essence of unity in diversity. Click here to read... [5]

Cracks noticed on Puri Jagannath temple boundary wall; ASI urged to conduct survey- The Hindu

Authorities of the Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri have urged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the boundary wall of the 12th-century shrine since cracks have been noticed on it. Click here to read... [6]

CPWD to start work on restoring North Block next year to accommodate ‘world’s largest museum’- The Print

Having received a go-ahead from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is set to start restoration of North Block to its original design next year to accommodate the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum. Click here to read... [7]

Abhay Prabhavana Museum Opens in Pune- Business Standard

The Abhay Prabhavana Museum, arguably the largest "Museum of Ideas", dedicated to Jain philosophy and Indian heritage, was officially inaugurated amidst much anticipation and interest. Established by Abhay Firodia, Chairman of the Amar Prerana Trust, the Museum represents a significant milestone in preserving and promoting India's spiritual legacy. This landmark event drew esteemed dignitaries, scholars, and leaders who gathered to celebrate the museum's mission: to instil a deeper understanding of Jain values, their crucial impact on the Indian Value system, and its relevance in contemporary society. Click here to read... [8]

Sanskrit to satellites, embassies in Delhi are using culture to show ties, get close to India- The Print

The embassies in Delhi are on a cultural overdrive. It’s no longer just about trade and strategic partnerships. In the run-up to Diwali, diplomatic circles in Lutyens’ Delhi lit up. One evening at the Swiss Embassy, two dancers—one Indian, one Swiss—intertwined mid-air with the song Kajra Re playing in the background, as the who’s who of Delhi watched spellbound. A few days earlier, a Nordic band made its debut performance outside its homeland at the Norwegian Embassy before heading to Jodhpur for a folk music festival. A week after, the Austrian Embassy hosted a reception ball. Click here to read... [9]

US returns looted antiquities worth $10 million to India- CNN Style

The United States has returned more than 1,400 looted artifacts worth $10 million to India as part of an ongoing initiative to repatriate stolen art from countries across South and Southeast Asia, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced Wednesday. The trafficked goods recovered include items that, until recently, were on view at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among them is a sandstone sculpture of a celestial dancer that was smuggled from central India to London, before being illegally sold to one of the Met’s patrons and donated to the museum. Click here to read... [10]

CIIL commits to preserving tribal languages at national symposium- The Times of India

CIIL director Shailendra Mohan on Monday affirmed the organisation's dedication to protecting tribal languages and their cultural heritage during the opening of a two-day national symposium on ‘Tribal language, culture, and education'. The symposium commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda and Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, emphasising the significant role tribal communities have played in shaping India's historical and cultural landscape. Click here to read... [11]

Tribals from ASR district interact with PM Modi at programme held on ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’- The Hindu

Tribal people from Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district had an opportunity on November 15 to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jamui in Bihar during a programme organised to celebrate ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ on the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Click here to read... [12]

India's first constitution museum opens, honouring 75 years of democracy- India Today

The Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, and the Hon’ble Minister of State for Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, officially inaugurated India’s first Constitution Museum at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat today. The event was graced by the presence of Mr Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor of JGU and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), along with other esteemed dignitaries. The Constitution Academy and the Rights and Freedoms Museum, an initiative by Jindal Global University, seeks to explore the foundation of India’s democracy and the fundamental rights and freedoms it upholds. Click here to read... [13]

ASI decodes ancient Sanskrit inscriptions from Nepal and Vietnam- The Times of India

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decoded two significant Sanskrit inscriptions, one from Vietnam and the other from Nepal. These inscriptions shed light on the cultural and geopolitical influences of ancient India in Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region during 3rd and 6th centuries CE. Click here to read... [14]

Missionaries saw Hindu gods as monsters & representations of Satan: Manu Pillai- The Print

New Delhi: The history war of the past decade has largely split India’s past into a glorious ancient Hindu era, followed by a dark period of around 1,000 years, marked by endless cycles of invasion and conversion. While conversions did happen, the story isn’t so simple, as author and historian Manu Pillai argues in his new book, Gods, Guns, and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu. He writes about the valiant Hindu pushback against the British Raj’s Christian conversion project. And it is in this response that Pillai locates the roots of modern Hindu identity and Hindutva. Click here to read... [15]