The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31st to November 2nd 2023 (4)

The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities  (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31^st to November 2^nd 2023 (4)

The CAG Report and the response of the ASI: On 02-11-2023, after lunch Dr Charuta Kulkarni, IIT, Madras talked about her subject, as detailed above. Then, the certificates were distributed to the participants and mementoes were given to some. Now, I discuss about some issues involved in the documentation of monuments and antiquities. As I worked in the GST (formerly Customs, Central Excise, Narcotics – indirect taxation) department, mostly in the Judicial, adjudication and legal sections for more than 38 years from 1980 to 2018, the CAG Reports on the various departments, institutions and others were periodically read, along with the judgments. Here, before coming to the workshop, I have read the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Follow-up on the Performance Audit of Preservation and Conservation of Monuments and Antiquities. The issues related to the documentation, workshop conducted etc., were pointed out therein.

The NMMA caught in the web of politics: The National Monuments Authority (NMA) has released draft heritage bye-laws for the supposed site of the Palace of Asoka in Patna, Bihar. The site, located in the Kumrahar area, is being protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The draft bye-laws aim to conserve and develop the site and have been released based on a field survey conducted by the competent authority. The NMA is responsible for the protection and preservation of monuments and sites, as well as granting permissions for construction-related activities in the prohibited and regulated areas. The Congress party has accused the Modi government of attempting to weaken a law that protects monuments and archaeological sites in India. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh praised the National Monuments Authority (NMA) for releasing draft heritage bylaws for the conservation and development of protected monuments in Bihar. Ramesh stated that the Congress and other parties have successfully resisted the government’s attempts to weaken the law so far. He also emphasized the need to strengthen and maintain the professional character of the NMA.

2015 to 2022 no workshop conducted: The CAG pointed out that, “Since March 2015, no workshop was held to facilitate documentation work, rectify mistakes or to provide clarification to agencies involved in the process. As a result, there was absence of a system for regularly up-grading the technical capability of executing agencies, which affected the work process.”

The documentation process carried on by NMMA: The CAG  pointed out the lacunae in the documentation of the monuments[1].

NMMA has given these figures to the CAG.

Issue of “Non-antiquity” certificates by the ASI: ASI (respective circle) issues a certificate of non-antiquity for the exportof art-objects, arms. Here, who issues such certificate, after analyzing the “non-antiquity” nature of te object. Otherwise, millions of Indian antiquities would not have been illegally exported out 0f India after 1947 or 1976.

2. To facilitate Custom Authorities in allowing non-antiquities to be exported, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has established Expert Advisory Committees to issue non-antiquity certificates.

India’s rich cultural heritage, bureaucratic apathy and poor implementation of antiquities protection law has made India a fertile ground for loot and smuggling of antiquities for sale in the International market. In recent years, there has been growing concerns over antiques being smuggled and sold to fund terrorists’ activists.

According to the Antiquities (Export Control) Act, 1947 [Act No. 31 of 1947]  – “antiquity” includes-

(i) any coin, sculpture, manuscript, epigraph, or other work of art or craftsmanship,

(ii) any article, object or thing detached from a building or cave,

(iii) any article, object or thing illustrative of science, art, craft literature, religion, customs, morals or politics in bygone ages,

(iv) any article, object or thing declared by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette to be an antiquity for the purposes of this Act,

Provenance (origin, attribution, derivation) includes the list of all owners from the time the object left its maker’s possession to the time it was acquired by the current owner. However, here in the workshop, it is taken as “Province”!

Most of the exports of antiquities take place from north India from airports: According to Section 2(1) (a) of the Antiquities and Art Treasurers Act, an antique is defined as an article or object of historical interest that has been in existence for not less than one hundred years.

The import and export of antiques is covered by the prohibition imposed under Section 11 (c) of the Customs Act 1962, specifically referred to as The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.

Similarly, exports are also under the prohibition category. The export of antiques can only be done by the central government or any authority or agency authorised by the central government.

 The law does not permit any private person to export antiques. If any private person exports antiques, there are penal provisions to confiscate the material and impose monetary penalties or prosecute the person.

Port	Location	Value (INR Million)
Pakwra	Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh	34..567
Kolkotta Air cargo	West Bengal	27.151
Nhava Sheva sea[2]	Raigad district, Maharashtra	20.475
Mundra[3]	Gulf of Kutch near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat.	11.141
Chennai sea	Tamilnadu	7.381

The ASI blaming the Customs department: When Arun Raj said that the Customs department was not co-operating, I pointed out that it is not that the Customs department did not cooperate with the ASI officials, but, the ASI officers only many times did not turn up, when they were requested to come and identify the objects of antiquity were seized at the airports. Moreover, they have to go by the certificates issued by the ASI only and in many cases, the Customs officers could get genuine doubt that older antiquities were taken out of India, instead of recent artefacts. Sreelakshmi responded that the ASI officers were asked to verify the import of Indian artefacts. Then, I clarified that it was different, because, the art-smugglers had been adopting a modus operandi, as if such antiquities were imported legally so that they could again export. That is why they sought the help of the ASI for the identification of the objects[4].  There have been several reports urging the ASI to co-ordinate with the RI, Customs etc., but, they are not doing so[5]. As the certificates issued by the ASI are / have to be relied upon and whenever, the Customs officers have any doubt about the object for antiquity, they used to seek the help of the ASI officers, but, they hesitate to come.  The famous VJA Flynn case also pointed out by me[6]. Here, VJA Flynn had contacts with many historians and archaeologists, but, caught red-handed in smuggling artefacts out of India[7].

The illegal import and export of Tipu Sultan’s sword: The classic case of Vijay Mallya in 2005, imported Tipu Sultan’s famed sword to India and exported it without any license[8]. Mallya was served a show cause notice by the Customs Department for exporting without informing the government, and not paying the duty for it[9]. However, the tycoon felt that since the sword was a matter of national pride, he should have been exempted. Thus, the provisions of the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, have been amended to do away with several lacunae in the Act, commonly recognised as the Customs Act. As per the Act, any private buyer that buys an antiquity of Indian origin and brings it to India must first acquire a license. This is granted on the basis of several factors, including the experience of the person in the art trade, the place of exchange of the art object, the name and the number of people involved, etc. Domestic trade of antiquities is currently unregulated, as the Act is silent on it. The statutory authority of the Act is usually the Director General of the ASI, who decides what an antiquity or art treasure is. As per Section 2 of the Act, any coin, sculpture, painting, epigraph, artwork, object from a building or cave and object of historical interest that is over one hundred years old, is defined as an antiquity. In circle offices of the ASI around the country, where the DG is usually not present, the Act cannot be implemented by any officer below the position of a director. “Yet, several circle officers have been flouting the rule, declaring several antiquities as invalid leading to the thriving of the smuggling of art objects,” said the official.

All departments of GOI should work together: The CAG has been part of the GOI and all other departments also have been parts of GOI. The CAG has been auditing the accounts of different departments and trying to advise to implement the Act and Rules under which they work. All have been working with the Public Finance and the government is responsible to account for every rupee that collected from the citizens. As our country has been handling more than 100 crores population, now 140 crores, we have more responsibility than other countries with less population. Moreover, our government and democratic polity have been so open that everybody can appreciate and criticize also, unlike other countries. Thus, the ASI has been having the most noble duty, virtuous responsibility and righteous accountability in handling thousands of years of monuments and temples; sculptures and coins; palaces and buildings; ghats, and others. It can invite the officers of the other departments for discussion to sort out the practical problems. After all should work for the progress and development of our country creating awareness about culture, tradition, heritage and civilization.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-11-2023

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[1] Report No. 10 of 2022; https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2022/Chapter 6-062f0de36c49e05.39285992.pdf

[2] Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as JNPT and Nhava Sheva Port, is the second largest container port in India after Mundra Port. Operated by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust Authority (JNPTA), it is located on the eastern shores of Arabian Sea in Navi Mumbai, Raigad district, Maharashtra.

[3] Mundra Port is India’s first private port (adani) and largest container port, located on the northern shores of the Gulf of Kutch near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat.

[4] Press Release dated 24-07-2023, Three Hundred Forty Eighth Report on the subject „Heritage Theft – The Illegal Trade in Indian Antiquities and the Challenges of Retrieving and Safeguarding Our Tangible Cultural Heritage,” Sansad News.

[5]https://sansad.in/getFile/rsnew/Committee_site/Committee_File/Press_ReleaseFile/20/173/656P_2023_7_12.pdf?source=rajyasabha

[6] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Historians involved in smuggling also – The historical case of Prof. V.J.A. Flynn, a friend of many Indian historians – arrested for smuggling, jailed and deported to Australia for further proceedings!, February 17, 2022.

[7] https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/the-historical-case-of-prof-v-j-a-flynn-a-friend-of-many-indian-historians-arrested-for-smuggling-jailed-and-deported-to-australia-for-further-proceedings/

[8] DNA India, ASI for easier norms for private import of antiquities, Amrita Madhukalya, Updated: Nov 02, 2016, 07:05 PM IST.

[9] https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-asi-for-easier-norms-for-private-import-of-antiquities-2269587

The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31st to November 2nd 2023 (1)

The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities  (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31^st to November 2^nd 2023 (1)

NMMA workshop first day programme 31-10-2023

National Database of all Monuments and Antiquities: With the objective of preparing a national database of all monuments and antiquities, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) was launched by the Government 36 (2007), initially for a period of five years i.e. 2007-2012. In order to complete the documentation process and continue the momentum, this period was extended by another five years (2012-2017) and later NMMA was merged with ASI (October 2017). Delay in setting up of NMMA and lack of planning leading to failure in achieving its objective was pointed out in the previous CAG Report.

Lighting lamp to inaugurate the workshop….

Objectives of NMMA: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities was launched in 2007. The time frame prescribed for its completion is five years. Documentation and creation of suitable database on built heritage and sites through published and unpublished secondary sources for information and dissemination to planners, researchers, etc. and for better management of such cultural resources. Documentation in a uniform developed by NMMA, of all Antiquities that are available in different formats in the form of Registered Antiquities, Catalogued Antiquities with Central as well as State Governments, Private museums and Collections, Universities, etc. Promote awareness and sensitize people concerning the benefits of preserving the historical and cultural aspects of built heritage, sites and antiquities. Extend training facility and capacity building to the concerned State Departments, Local bodies, NGOs, Universities, Museums, Local communities etc. Help in developing synergy between institutions Archaeological Survey of India, State Departments, concerned Institutions and NGOs to generate close interaction.

• Publication and Research.
• Expected output
• National Register on Built Heritage & Sites
• National Register on Antiquities.

Lighting lamp..

2022 onwards workshops conducted: The NMMA has been conducting workshops on the documentation from 2022 onwards[1] – November 2022 – Greater Noida; December – Guwahati; December – Aurangabad; 2023 January – Bhopal; 2023 January – Bangalore; 2023 February – Bhubaneswar; Why conduct workshops suddenly? As I am familiar with CAG audit, audit reports etc., and reading them carefully, I noted in the 2022-CAG Report[2] that, “It also stated that there was a need for reviewing the existing documentation process/guidelines, identify and revive Documentation Resource Centres (DRC)/State Level Implementing Committees (SLIC), initiate training programmes and workshops at the local levels. …….Since March 2015, no workshop was held to facilitate documentation work, rectify mistakes or to provide clarification to agencies involved in the process. As a result, there was absence of a system for regularly up-grading the technical capability of executing agencies, which affected the work process.”

NMMA workshop= audience view RHS

Three-day workshop at Chennai: A three-day workshop on “documentation of monuments” was held at Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Katti-Ma, Chennai, Kalakshetra Road, Thiruvanmiyur, organized by NMMA and ASI (Chennai circle) from October 31st to November 2nd 2023. It was inaugurated by  Prof Kishore Kumar Basa DG of ASI by lamping lamp and the proceedings continued with the speeches of Ravikorisettar, Sathyabhama and Samanta. Then, there was a practical session to identify the artefacts, measure their physical dimensions and note them down in the format for documentation. This was followed by photography practice, in which, how to take a photograph of an artefact was demonstrated.

Documenting of antiques will prevent their smuggling to other countries, said Archaeological Survey of India’s National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities director Madhulika Samanta on Tuesday [31-10-2023][3]. “A large number of antiques are getting smuggled out of the country. We do not have any knowledge that they were with us till they are showing up in museums in Europe and America,” she said[4]. She was speaking on the sidelines of a regional workshop cum training programme here on the documentation of monuments and antiques (southern region). “When we initiate legal proceedings to bring them back, we end up losing cases in international courts as we do not have any national data to show that they were with us,” Samanta said.

• The national mission had a target of documentation
• ASI’s NMMA has documented 17 lakh antiques and 58 lakh antiques and four lakh built heritage sites. , and 1.84 lakh heritage sites.
• “But we have published only 11,000 sites so far because the data was collected from secondary sources, including research articles, reports,” she added.

She said unprotected monuments are also getting demolished due to developmental activities. “If universities, state archaeological departments, colleges, organisations come up with project proposals to document antiques, we will recognise them as documentation resource centres and give them grants,” she said.

In India, it is a problem of plenty: “Heritage is our strength. If not managed well it could be a liability,” ASI director general Kishore K Basa[5] said while speaking at the inaugural function[6] pointing out, as for as the antiquities and monuments are concerned, it is a problem of plenty. However, it has to be accepted as positive manner in presenting them. There is a difference between the attitude and approach of the people towards the monuments by the colonial period and till 21st century. During the colonial period, the natives were kept away from te exploration, excavation and heritage management. But, now the citizens have to be taken into account in heritage management. ASI has to work with citizen-centric approach, as money comes from the public. He emphasised the necessity of the documentation of all the monuments, artefacts and others[7]. In the documentation processes, multilayered information should be provided and even children should be made to take an interest in heritage management.

Who is responsible for the illegal trafficking of the artefacts?: Sathyabhama Badrinath talked about, “Objectives of NMMA and future course of action,” tracing the creation of NMMA somewhere in 2006-2007 period under the Five years plan and then extended to 2011-2012. On 01-10-2017, it was merged with the ASI. With te urbanization and looting of antiquities, the monuments started disappearing. Illicit trafficking has been taking place. There have been 4 lakh heritage sites, 3  lakhs of the ASI and one that of Built-heritage categories. The Customs and Postal Department have seized many artefacts, but they are lying and the condition is not known. Thus, she tried to blame the other departments. The private collectors should register with the ASI. It appears that the ASI is interested in adding more numbers in their NMMA register.

Prehistory artefacts, ulture, terminology etc. – to follow European o African model?: Ravikorisettar talked about, “Documentation of Antiquities Chennai circle, Southern region – from documentation perspective.” He explained about the exploration, excavation and recovery of the prehistoric artefacts from different sites of South India. He also listed out the sites according to their location, geographical and geological importance and the nature of artefacts recovered. He also pointed out as to how these sites have been getting affected by quarrying, infrastructure development and climatic conditions.As he has been an expert in the prehistory, he covered most of his findings with slides for about one hour and then come to the issue of documentation, classifying / grouping such prehistoric / paleolithic sites. He pointed out how the lithic objects, cultures and related issues were / are mentioned with different terminology. The European model / terminology is not applicable to India. Thus, Africal example are followed and expression like  “Madrassian complex” is also used. Coming to the upper Paleolithic, it is not known to identify them as European or African model?

Madhulika Samanta – vote of thanks: The Archaeological Survey of India’s National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) director, Madhulika Samanta, has emphasized the importance of documenting antiquities to prevent their smuggling out of the country. Samanta stated that India often loses legal cases in international courts because there is no national data to prove that the smuggled antiquities were originally in India. The NMMA has documented 17 lakh antiquities and 1.84 lakh-built heritage sites so far, but the data published on their website is limited as it is collected from secondary sources. Samanta also highlighted the need to protect monuments from demolition due to development activities.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

03-11-2023

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[1] http://nmma.nic.in/nmma/workshop.do

[2] Report No. 10 of 2022; https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2022/Chapter 6-062f0de36c49e05.39285992.pdf

[3] Times of India, Director of ASI’s NMMA suggests a way to prevent smuggling of antiquities, A Ragu Raman / TNN / Oct 31, 2023, 19:26 IST

[4] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/director-of-asis-nmma-suggests-a-way-to-prevent-smuggling-of-antiquities/articleshow/104860696.cms

[5] Prof. Kishor K. Basa,  Utkal University Professor (Retired on 31.03.2018), Ph. D. (London); Phone No.: 8895615636; E-mail ID: kishorkbasa58@gmail.com

[6] Times of India, Documenting of antiques will curb smuggling: ASI’s NMMA director, TNN / Nov 1, 2023, 08:17 IST

[7] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/documenting-of-antiques-will-curb-smuggling-asis-nmma-director/articleshow/104872987.cms

Indian antiques in the London Museum – to be returned to India or not? Is it ASI’s folly or colonial bungling?

Indian antiques in the London Museum – to be returned to India or not? Is it ASI’s folly or colonial bungling?

The CAG, ASI, DAP and the Parliament: During the decade, there have been many attempts made for the return of Indian antique objects and in fact, they have been returned with official, friendly and diplomatic efforts. Therefore, such narratives and discourses increased and the claims have gone to the extent of asking the “Kohinoor” back. Meanwhile, there have been the Audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General every year about the functioning of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and related divisions. Definitely, the findings and objections of the auditors have been interesting, and informative and they amount to some sort of research paper. Their methodology and procedure followed at every level could be noted to be appreciated. How they raise the objections from the field level to the Parliament can be noted carefully. Definitely, the auditors have read the related Acts and Rules, history, archaeology and related subjects and that is why they could raise such informative objections.

700 pieces of the Aural Stein Collection not returned to India:  About 700 pieces belonging to the Aural Stein Collection of Central Asian antiquities owned by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) were lent to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London about 100 years ago[1].  The artefacts are still lying with the borrower in the United Kingdom and the ASI has not made a single effort to get hold of the noted assortment dating between 200 BCE and 1200 CE despite the issue being flagged by the CAG in its two previous audit reports in 2013 and 2022[2]. Non-action of the ASI has apparently upset the Committee of Parliamentarians[3]. Taking note of the position of the national watchdog of national monuments, the 31-member parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture has recently asked the ASI to establish contact with the London Museum and set off the process of repatriating the collection[4].

How tones and tones of Indian antiquities could have gone out of India?: Any Indian would be surprised and astonished also to find out how the tones and tones of Indian monuments, sculptures, parts of temples and even temples in CKD conditions could have been smuggled out of India and displayed there at thousands of museums t the EU, USA and other countries. Perhaps such items could have been more that are displayed in the Indian museum. How it could have happened, definitely, the European Company directors, officers, traders and others have taken such items out of India, whenever, they left India for vacation, function or official sojourn. Perhaps, before the introduction of the acts and rules, there was no legislative control over their movement in India. Anyway, ships loaded with such articles went out of India. Even for exhibition, borrowal, lending and other exigencies, Indian artefacts were given away, but not received back. The “committees” formed and all have been the politicians and they would have had a trip of visiting London on this account, but, slowly forgotten and silently suppressed.

CAG pointed out in audit several times: Auriel Stein, a British-Hungarian archaeologist, collected a large number of artefacts — Chinese, Tibetan and Tangut manuscripts, paintings, Buddhist sculptures, textile fragments, and ceramic objects during his archaeological expeditions to Central Asia at the beginning of the 20^th century. A part of Stein’s collection consisting of nearly 600 textile fragments and over 70 ceramic and Buddhist objects were loaned to the museum by the Indian Government through ASI between 1923 and 1933. The Committee in its recent report titled “Heritage Theft – the illegal trade in Indian antiquities and the challenges of retrieving and safeguarding our tangible cultural heritage—has also expressed dissatisfaction over the response of the Culture ministry.

The routine action of the Committee: The ministry stated that ‘there was no record or document in the National Museum regarding the loan of the 700 objects of the Aural Stein collection to the museum’ since it was taken away before Independence. The ministry additionally submitted the Temporary Export Permit (TEP) rule didn’t for the same reason. “The Committee is well aware that since the objects of the collection were taken out of the country prior to independence, the TEP did not apply to them…as per records these antiquities were still ‘owned by the ASI’ and were on loan but there was no evidence of any efforts of ASI to retrieve them…It is noted that the ASI has not even taken the basic steps to try and ascertain the background in which these objects were loaned to the museum and make efforts for their retrieval,” read the report. TEP authorises the Central Government of any authority or agency authorised by the Government to temporarily export any antiquity or art treasure for a certain period.

CAG objections and settlements: The Committee highlighted in its report that the website of the Museum in London acknowledges that the antiquities are ‘on loan from the Government of India’. The Panel has further recommended that the ministry and ASI make efforts to find out other cultural objects loaned to foreign museums or collections before the independence or 1972 and initiate action for their retrieval. After all, the “committee” comprises politicians and they do such rituals to “make efforts,” and ASI would submit a report of such “efforts made,” by writing letters, sending reminders and if possible, a visit to the “London museum” with government expenses. But the condition and position would not change. The CAG may convert into DAP and they would be discussed in the parliament.  Mostly, these are discussed and settled within the respective ministries.

In 2019, a British barrister pointed out that the London Museum has the world’s largest receiver of stolen property: The British Museum has been likened to a criminal operation by one of Britain’s most famed barristers, who called the London institution the “world’s largest receiver of stolen property”. Geoffrey Robertson QC, a human rights barrister and author, criticised the landmark for showcasing objects taken from “subjugated peoples” by “conquerors or colonial masters”. Robertson made the blistering comments in his new book, Who Owns History? Elgin’s Loot and the Case for Returning Plundered Treasure, which was released today[5]. “The trustees of the British Museum have become the world’s largest receivers of stolen property, and the great majority of their loot is not even on public display,” he wrote, according to The Guardian[6].

In 2010 Britain rejected the Indian claim and demand of returning antiquities: Britain has rejected Archeological Survey of India’s demand for the return of artifacts that were carted away from India, mostly illegally, during British colonial rule[7]. The British foreign office said domestic laws prevented museums from removing items from their collection[8].‘‘The British Museum Act 1963 prevents our national museums from removing items from their collections, with the exception of human remains and objects lost during the Nazi era, and government has no plans to change the law,’’ a spokesperson of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said. The spokesperson said people felt strongly about the restitution debate and that museum trustees take decisions relating to the items vested in their care and politicians don’t interfere. ‘‘It’s a long-established principle in the UK, supported by successive governments.”

Reality, fact and narratives: Like the British writer, nowadays, in India also, several writers have come up with books, by compiling all data gathered from the government documents and newspapers, but, in reality, nothing happens. India has been a huge country with 130-140 crores population with varied interests. Though, most of them have been Indian conscious, some 1, 2, 3 or 4% people of groups have been manipulating the processes of many happenings. Days by day, morality comes down and people think that they could get what they want through power, money, politics and such other factors. Thus, disciplined, controlled and faithful continue to follow their path, do their duties and continue their lives. With them only, Indian lives forever. Of course, there have been undisciplined, uncontrolled and unfaithful groups, they create problems and carry out their activities with their negative powers,  destructive forces and harmful tendencies. Thus, India carries on her journey to the future.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

13-08-2023.

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[1] Indian Express, About 700 ASI antiquities lent to London museum a century ago yet to return, Published: 07th August 2023 09:08 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th August 2023 03:42 PM.

[2] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/07/about-700-asi-antiquities-lent-to-london-museum-a-century-ago-yet-to-return-2602787.html – :~:text=New%20Indian%20Express-,About%20700%20ASI%20antiquities%20lent%20to%20London%20museum%20a%20century,hold%20of%20the%20noted%20assortment.

[3] MSN, About 700 ASI antiquities lent to London museum a century ago yet to return, Published: 07th August 2023 09:08 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th August 2023 03:42 PM.

[4] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/about-700-asi-antiquities-lent-to-london-museum-a-century-ago-yet-to-return/ar-AA1eSM5k

[5] The National, British Museum is the world’s largest receiver of stolen property,’ claims top barrister, Nov 05, 2019

[6] https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/british-museum-is-the-world-s-largest-receiver-of-stolen-property-claims-top-barrister-1.933622

[7] Times of India, ‘Britain rejects ASI demand for artifacts, Ashis Ray / TNN / Jun 4, 2010, 02:12 IST.

[8] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/britain-rejects-asi-demand-for-artifacts/articleshow/6008374.cms

CAG Report on missing monuments – ASI searching for, found and lost; how and why they are missing, hiding, getting lost etc?

CAG Report on missing monuments  – ASI searching for, found and lost; how and why they are missing, hiding, getting lost etc?

CAG Report on the function of ASI and missing monuments: Whether, 2013 or 2023, the picture does not change, as the monuments, “protected monuments,” listed monuments have been missing from the sites, monuments and paces. As India Today[1] sarcastically noted, “Persons go missing. Valuables, watches, cellphones, pens go missing. Sometimes even coal block allocation files go missing. Now monuments have gone missing; the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) admit to 35 lost and not found. And it gets worse”. The government has been caught lying to Parliament on this number[2]. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had indicted the culture ministry and ASI for furnishing incorrect data to Parliament on the number of national monuments that are missing. This has not been new in the ASI history or Indian history or history of archaeology[3]. Just to satisfy, a committee would be formed to trace the missing monuments and they declare that some missing monuments were found[4]. Whenever CAG Report or Audit objections come, every government office used to give some preliminary report and then detailed report as a matter of routine. Interestingly, these issues are discussed for the competitive exams entrance exam coaching classes also.

How monuments in India are missing, hiding, getting lost etc: The media has been describing the issue with its own way in a different manner and with narratives.

• In a scene from Satyajit Ray’s mystery-adventure film Sonar Kella (The Fort of Gold), 1971, one of the antagonists says Rajasthan is a state where every nook and cranny hides a fort or monument, and it will be nearly impossible to know which one is the golden fort[5]. The actors of Ray’s cult classic endure several gruelling adventures before they finally realise that they are looking for the Jaisalmer Fort[6]. Ray’s film reveals an intriguing truth about monuments in India.
• Despite their near-ubiquitous presence in both urban and rural areas, monuments are not always the easiest structures to locate.
• Sometimes it is the stories that blur the maps; at other times they are simply missing.
• Take the tomb of Razia Sultan in Delhi, for instance. The resting place of one of the most-storied women rulers of the medieval India, is an unassuming cluster of weathered sandstones hidden in the packed bylanes of Old Delhi, surrounded by the walls of neighbouring houses, and no roof overhead. The responsibility of its upkeep is on the shoulders of a tiny adjoining mosque with few visitors.
• In Telkupi, a village in West Bengal’s Purulia district, the construction of Panchet dam over the Damodar river submerged a set of six to eight 11th-century stone temples. Only a few remain visible above the surface of water.
• In Karnataka, about 18 km from the Thirthahalli taluk, the 9th-century Kavaledurga Fort valiantly fights off surrounding jungle’s persistent overgrowth. Despite attempts and restoration and maintenance by several succeeding dynasties and kingdoms over the centuries, as well as central and state governments, the fort remains neglected and hidden beneath overgrown shrubs.

Since 2006, the CAG has been pointing out about the missing monuments: The CAG report says that on more than one occasion the culture minister has told Parliament that 35 of its monuments have gone missing. When the CAG checked about 1,655 protected monuments and sites-comprising 45 per cent of the total-they found 92 monuments missing. This is more than 2.5 times the number of its monuments have gone missing. When the CAG checked about 1,655 protected monuments and sites-comprising 45 per cent of the total-they found 92 monuments missing. This is more than 2.5 times the number being provided by the culture ministry since 2006. Since the CAG verification covers about half the total number of monuments, the total figure would be much higher if the inspection covered all monuments. The CAG report has brought the boom down on the ASI for hiding facts, quoting instances where some monuments “missing” in Delhi from the 1970s have not even been listed by the ASI as such. The story of General Nicholson’s statue, a protected monument near Kashmere Gate in the Capital at the time of Independence, is as good an example of the ASI’s inertia as any. The statue was gifted by the government to Ireland in the 1960s, but the ASI has been unaware of the transfer till recently. Of course, the statue still features in the list of protected monuments.

The vested commercialization and politicization lead to encroachments and disappearance of monuments: The CAG audit has found that the premier custodian of our heritage does not even know the number of monuments it is supposed to protect. It has been found that the ASI does not even possess notification documents for many of its monuments. This document is the legal basis of the boundary of a monument, and is the prime tool to beat back encroachments, the bane of common properties and public spaces in India. The CAG audit also says that these valuable monuments across the country are sites of neglect, marred as they are by encroachments and unauthorised constructions. Once again, the auditor has caught the ASI sleeping, as it notes that in its inspection of 1,655 of centrally protected monuments there were encroachments in around 546 monuments as against 249 intimated by the ASI. The nation’s showpiece monuments-the Taj Mahal and Red Fort- are not better off, the report says. Red Fort in Delhi has poorly maintained gardens, and its water channels have yet to be made operational. An illegal mazaar and temple have come up inside Red Fort in recent years; prayers are being offered at both places. Similarly, only one of 24 unauthorised constructions near the Taj Mahal has been removed. The more the tourist flow, the more the shops, hotels, touts, agents and all sorts of related activities. The more the space encroached near to the monuments, the more the profits, where all deals start and thus, the ASI Acts and Rules are simply forgotten.

In India, for everything and anything, there have been hundreds of Acts and Rules: To oversee archaeological excavations and conservation, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was founded in 1869. Numerous protected monuments were placed under the ASI’s care between the 1920s and the 1950s. The Antiquities and Art Treasure Act of 1972 is also governed by it. James Cunningham, a British Army engineer who had a passion for Indian archaeology, founded it in 1861. After gaining independence, it became a statutory body under the AMASR Act of 1958. The Director-General of the ASI is in charge, and New Delhi serves as its headquarters. The Government of India’s Ministry of Culture is home to the Archaeological Survey of India, or ASI. It works to protect and preserve the nation’s historic buildings and archaeological sites as well as conduct archaeological research. The provisions of the 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) are used by ASI to regulate all archaeological activities carried out in the nation. Following independence, the functioning of ASI was hampered by the poor policies of the succeeding governments, which placed a greater emphasis on infrastructure, education, and health than on preserving cultural heritage.

How monuments, temples, sculptures etc have been missing or made to miss: The ASI officials claim that activities like encroachments, the building of dams and reservoirs, and rapid urbanisation have slowly sunk many monuments and heritage sites. Yes, but, why ASI has not been able to implement its authority is surprising. When for infrastructure development, the government has been keen to put road, construct dam, dug a tunnel, break mound, and so on.so when such activities are planned and they go through their decided areas, the planners ignore the “monuments” and only think about “development.” Of course, in the tender, MOU, agreement etc., there have been hundreds of conditions printed in the documents running to 200-300 pages and one should have patience to go through and understand. In spite of all conditions, when the project starts, many trees are cut, temple walls demolished, why even temples were demolished silently during night times under the guise of shifting or promising to relocate and so on[7]. If few people are there, they can be easily managed and none would know, except, when pilgrims come to identify, knw and declare that the temple is missing.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture received the report, “Issues Relating to Untraceable Monuments and Protection of Monuments in India.”50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments under ASI, according to the Union Ministry of Culture’s submission to the Parliament, are now untraceable, raising serious concerns. ASI safeguards and preserves more than 3500 protected monuments and archaeological sites of national significance.

• 14 monuments have been engulfed by rapid urbanisation, according to the ASI submission in Parliament.
• By building dams and reservoirs, as many as 12 monuments have been submerged, and 24 have vanished.
• Only 248 of the 3,693 monuments are reportedly guarded, according to the report. Due to financial limitations, the government could only afford to provide 2,578 security personnel at 248 locations, according to the report.
• Eleven monuments are missing from Uttar Pradesh, two from each of Delhi and Haryana, and others are missing from Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, among other states.
• Other missing monuments include:
  • the Guns of Emperor Sher Shah, Tinsukia (Assam);
  • the Ruins of Copper Temple, Paya, Lohit (Arunachal Pradesh); Kos Minar, Mujesar, Faridabad (Haryana);
  • Kutumbari Temple, Dwarahat, Almora (Uttarakhand);
  • Rock Inscription, Satna (Madhya Pradesh);
  • Old European Tomb, Pune (Maharashtra);
  • 12th Century Temple, Baran (Rajasthan); and
  • Telia Nala Buddhist ruins, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

According to the Ministry, untraceable monuments are those that, despite numerous ASI efforts, could not be located on the ground for a sizable period of time. As cited by the Indian Express, the ASI officials claim that no physical surveys of any monuments were ever done following Independence. Nevertheless, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report from 2013, the nation’s at least 92 centrally protected monuments were believed to be missing. The CAG report claims that the ASI lacked information on the precise number of monuments it was responsible for protecting[8]. The CAG report recommended that ASI officers conduct routine inspections of each protected monument. Even though the Ministry approved the proposal, there was little evidence of appropriate action[9]. In 2017 itself, Minister of Culture (in charge of archaeology etc) gave a list of monuments[10].

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-04-2023

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[1] India Today, CAG discovers 92 protected monuments missing, slams ASI for negligence, Edited By: At Migration, Published On: Aug 24, 2013.

[2] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/cag-discovers-protected-monuments-missing-slams-asi-174812-2013-08-23

[3] The Hindu, Special ASI committee to trace 24 ‘missing’ monuments, THE HINDU BUREAU, February 05, 2023 10:40 pm | Updated February 06, 2023 07:51 am IST – New Delhi

[4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/special-asi-committee-to-trace-24-missing-monuments/article66474342.ece

[5] Business Standard, Withering legacies: A curious tale of India’s ‘missing’ monuments, Debarghya SanyalNew Delhi, Last Updated : Feb 15 2023 | 12:04 PM IST

[6] https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/withering-legacies-a-curious-tale-of-missing-india-s-monuments-123021301558_1.html

[7] Here, perhaps the Idol smugglers and the related persons might have a nexus, as they only knew which temples were demolished, how many parts, pillars, sculptures, idols etc., were removed, delivered safely and faithfully, damaged and missing.

[8] India Times, Explained: How Did 50 ASI-Protected Monuments Disappear?, Hera Rizwan, Updated on Jan 08, 2023, 11:24 IST.

[9] https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/explained-how-did-50-asi-protected-monuments-disappear-589674.html

[10] Unstrred question no.5913 answered on 10-04-2017 about the survey conducted about the missing of documents: https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/701331/1/52351.pdf