Culture and Civilisational Digest: January-2025

AI can help decipher scripts of the Indus Valley Civilisation, says Omar Khan- The Hindu

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential and scope to assist scholars and researchers in deciphering the scripts of the Indus Valley Civilisation, and taking more information to the larger public, Omar Khan, an Indus enthusiast from San Francisco, the U.S., said. Mr. Khan, also the founder of harappa.com — a website that has been publishing scholarly articles on Indus studies for the past three decades — was one among the several researchers who spoke at the International Conference commemorating the centenary year of the discovery of Indus Valley Civilisation in Chennai. Click here to read... [2]

Mystery of the Indus script, and the over 100 failed deciphering attempts- The Indian Express

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation, an enigma that endures more than a century after Sir John Marshall announced the discovery of the Bronze Age culture that thrived in valley of the Indus between c. 3300 and 1300 BCE. Archaeologists, epigraphists, linguists, historians, and scientists have made more than 100 documented attempts to decipher the writing system of the Harappans, without success. Click here to read... [3]

The Revival of India’s Stunning Stepwells- Long abandoned, these deep, intricately designed wells are once again quenching water needs across India- Reasons to be cheerful

Stepwells are water reservoirs found in various parts of India that were created by digging deep down into the earth and making use of natural aquifers to trap rainwater and groundwater. Most of them have several levels going deep into the soil (typically at least 25 meters or 82 feet) and are reached through a series of stone steps. For several centuries, stepwells provided people with a perennial water source, particularly in areas prone to arid climates and drought, such as Delhi and Rajasthan — until they fell out of use under British rule in the 19th century. Click here to read... [4]

Vadnagar is one of oldest inhabited archaeological sites in India, says Union minister- Gujarat Samachar

Inaugurating the Archaeological Experiential Museum, the Prerna School, and the state-of-the-art sports complex in Vadnagar on Thursday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that Vadnagar is one of the four or five living archaeological sites in India. Pradhan said, “Vadnagar’s civilisation and culture are unique. In India, there are only four to five living archaeological sites, and Vadnagar is one of them.” Click here to read... [5]

Assam: Minister Bimal Borah Receives UNESCO World Heritage Site Certificate for Charaideo Maidam- The Sentinel

State Cultural Minister Bimal Borah formally received the certificate of recognition for Charaideo Maidam as a World Heritage Site from UNESCO from Paris on the day of Uruka on January 13—indeed, an immensely priceless gift on the eve of Magh Bihu. Now Charaideo Maidam is officially India’s 43rd World Heritage Site. The certificate was ceremonially received by Minister Borah on January 13 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The citation was handed over by the Assistant Director General for Culture, UNESCO, Mr. Ernesto Ottone Ramirej, which is dedicated to promoting education, culture, science, and heritage to foster peace and sustainable development worldwide. Click here to read... [6]

How Rajaraja Chola became the world’s richest king- The Print

The Brihadishvara Temple at Thanjavur is still one of the most stupendous monuments ever built in India. While often seen primarily as a religious monument, its inscriptions also reveal a Chola court of spectacular opulence, capable of gifting literal tonnes of gold and silver, thousands of animals, and tens of thousands of pearls. Sometimes we hand-wave the question of how medieval Indian kings obtained such vast riches. But in the figure of Rajaraja Chola – perhaps the most remarkable ruler of the period – we have some interesting, and counterintuitive, answers. Click here to read... [7]

Chhattisgarh to develop marine fossil park at 280-million-year-old site- The New Indian Express

Chhattisgarh's Manendragarh district is poised to attract history enthusiasts and geologists with the discovery of a 280-million-year-old marine fossil site along the Hasdeo River. Inspired by the significant findings of marine strata containing fossils, the state government has announced plans to transform the site into a Marine Fossil Park. The conspicuousness of this fossil site was first identified by structural geologist Professor S K Ghosh in 1954. Years later, in 2015, experts from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleo Sciences, Lucknow, confirmed the importance of the fossils found in this region. Click here to read... [8]

Maha Kumbh 2025: Authorities employ AI to handle rush, predict crowd surges- The Hindu

To tackle the rush of devotees at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, as well as to predict sudden surges in crowd numbers, authorities are relying on CCTV cameras equipped with Artificial Intelligence. Approximately 50 to 60 lakh people are present every day within the fair precincts. On the days ascribed for the ritual bath the numbers surge. On Paush Purnima, for instance, the city witnessed 1.6 crore people taking a dip in the holy waters, while on Makar Sankranti which fell on January 14, the figure swelled up to around 3.5 crore. During the next major bathing day on January 29 known as Mauni Amavasya, it has been estimated that around six to seven crore people will participate in the ritual bathing, authorities said. Click here to read... [9]

Massive reservoir found at Rakhigarhi is giving us more clues on Saraswati River- The Print

The team of archaeologists teamed up with village labourers and pulled out several fistfuls of silt from a 10×10 trench a few weeks ago. Their eyes widened and they let out a collective gasp. With trembling mud-streaked hands, they brushed away centuries of mud. They had long suspected that there was a Harappan-era water storage system at the dig site in Haryana’s Rakhigarhi. But their discovery that day exceeded all expectations—a mammoth reservoir, second only to the one at Dholavira in Gujarat. Click here to read... [10]

A colossal Buddha head, a giant palm unearthed amid ASI excavation in Ratnagiri- The Indian Express

In December, when Archaeological Survey of India’s superintending archaeologist D B Garnayak and his team took up excavations at the 5th-13th Century Buddhist complex in Ratnagiri, in Odisha’s Jaipur district, after a gap of 60 years, their aim was two-fold – to uncover more of the complex and to find material evidence of the state’s link to the larger Southeast Asian culture. Click here to read... [11]

Sambhal: Excavation begins of ancient well found near Shahi Jama Masjid- National Herald

The Sambhal administration began excavating an ancient well found under alleged illegal encroachments near the Shahi Jama Masjid of this Uttar Pradesh district town. The well, located about 50 m from the disputed Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar temple in the Kot Garvi locality area, is believed to be one of the 19 ancient wells in the region. According to locals, the well holds historical and religious significance. Speaking to reporters, local resident Sanjay Kumar said, "This well is situated near the Harihar temple. It used to be a place of worship where people came during auspicious occasions like childbirth or weddings. Over time, it was covered and its original form altered. The excavation will restore its historic appearance." Speaking to the media, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Shirish Chandra confirmed that the excavation was initiated following complaints from locals about the well having been illegally covered up. Click here to read... [12]

Hinduism was losing relevance in 8th century. Shankaracharya revived it through Kumbh Mela- The Print

In the eighth century, when Hinduism was losing its relevance due to the advent and domination of Buddhism, Jainism and other faiths, a saint and religious reformer from southern India, Shankaracharya, popularised Kumbh as a religious gathering among the common masses. He successfully established the Kumbh Mela as a meeting place for people with religious and spiritual inclinations. As a natural consequence, with each passing year, more and more people started to attend the fair. Click here to read... [13]

Military prowess, cultural diversity, development on show at Republic Day fete- The Hindu

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto special guest for the ceremony; tableaux celebrating 150 years of tribal activist Birsa Munda and 75 years of Constitution highlighting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar key attractions; the ‘Dare Devils’ display their bravery and determination through a number of formations. Click here to read... [14]

Historic discovery in Cuddalore, ancient iron knife unveils Marungur’s significance- DT Next

In a significant archaeological find, a team of archaeologists has unearthed a 13-centimetre-long iron knife at Marungur in Cuddalore district. This remarkable discovery, announced by Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu, has unequivocally established Marungur as a site of immense historical significance. “The iron knife, weighing 22.97 grams and measuring 2.8 millimeters in thickness, was excavated at a depth of 257 centimetres. Its discovery is a testament to the sophisticated metalworking techniques employed by the ancient Tamil civilization. The find is all the more remarkable, coming as it does on the heels of Chief Minister M K Stalin's announcement of a landmark scientific study on the antiquity of iron,” said Thangam Thennarasu. Click here to read... [15]