Science and technology versus Arts and humanities –should the higher qualified candidates fight for lower jobs?

Science and technology versus Arts and humanities –should the higher qualified candidates fight for lower jobs?

Subjects changing during the course of time: In the academics, the difference, discrimination and competition between Science and technology versus Arts and humanities have been proverbial, memorable and continuing with time.  Before and after independence arts-subjects were considered inferior to other subjects. Thus, some students used to choose B.A. (Hon) and or proceed to law to become advocates. Otherwise, the arts-graduates go for office and administrative work. Typewriting and shorthand became necessary, as the clerk job required such experience.  Thus, till 1980s, the type-writer institutes were busy with job-seekers to get one-hour time slot either in the morning or evening. Even today typewriting and Computer typing[1] are insisted or made mandatory for clerical work. After the introduction of the computers, they mechanical typewriters were virtually scrapped and dumped and sold as scrap only. Even the electrical and electronic typewriters faced the same fate[2]. Anyway, computers serve for typewriting and none gets any qualification for computer-typing exclusively.

Discrimination among the engineering graduates, diploma holders and ITI certificate holders: The same type of competition has been there among the engineering degree graduates, diploma holders and ITI certificate holders. There was a general impression till 1980s, only the students who could not do their studies well would go for diploma and ITI. However, many times in industries, the ITI certificate holders work better than diploma holders and the diploma holders than the degree holders, because of the more practical training in handling with tools and machines, they had than others. Of course, from 1990 onwards, the workshops attached to the engineering colleges started imparting all practical training to the engineering students and thus, they were also exposed all types of drilling, honing, cutting, profiling, polishing processes and other machinery. In fact, they are sent to leading manufacturing factories under internship to get such experience.  Yet, we find 50-60-70 years old workers with or without qualifications excelling others on the floor of many factories.   

Candidates with higher qualifications cannot apply for lower posts: Many times, when getting a job is necessary or difficult, the candidates with higher qualifications used to suppress their higher qualifications and appear in competitive examinations with S.S.L.C, P.U.C and matric qualifications, as with degree, they cannot apply for clerical / typist job. In fact, there would be “Warning / Caution” to the extent, that “Higher qualification holders need not apply.” However, as the unemployment problem was acute, the degree holders had to get some jobs and proceed further. In fact, some used to do part-time job in the evening one or twor hours and go home. Because, for poor and lower middle-class people, they had to earn money for running the family.  Now, the Supreme Court categorically pronounced in a judgment[3], “…a candidate with higher qualification cannot claim right to apply for posts with lower qualification, unless the relevant statutory recruitment rules permit the inference that higher qualification presupposes the acquisition of lower qualification”! However, there are contrary judgments also.

Peon with degree can continue to work as a peon: The Judgment – Chief Manager, Punjab National Bank & Anr. v. Anit Kumar Das [Civil Appeal No. 3602 of 2020], held that lower educational qualification can be a criterion for employment of a candidate, given that there is a rationale behind it[4]. The appellant Bank had invited applications for the post of Peon by publishing an advertisement in the local newspaper. The advertisement clearly mentioned the eligibility criteria for the candidate to have passed the 12th class or its equivalent and basic reading/writing knowledge of English. It also specifically provided that the candidate should not be a graduate. The respondent, upon submitting the applications got selected for employment, after which it came to the knowledge of the appellant that the respondent was in fact a graduate, and thus, his candidature was cancelled. Aggrieved, the respondent filed a writ petition before the High Court arguing that higher education cannot be a basis for denying employment, relying on Mohd. Usmain Gani v. District and Sessions Judge, Nagpur [Civil Appeal No. 1010 of 2000]. The HC allowed the petition and directed the Bank to allow the respondent to discharge his duties as a Peon.

Central and State government employees are governed by the Conduct Rules: The rationale is by acquiring higher qualifications later, he cannot claim any salary, promotion and other benefits. As for as the government employees, the conduct rules have been very specific and the joining employee has to give all the details required at the time of joining. Not only about his qualification, but also about his marital status, caste, religion and family details.  He should inform the department / employer to get permission to pursue the higher study by giving an undertaking letter with conditions. Therefore, he cannot change his stand or go to court etc., as he is bound by the conduct rules. Unless, the conduct rules infringe the provisions of the Constitution, he cannot go to court also. Even for going to court, he should get permission from the department / employer. With all the restrictions, he has every right to get his qualified status, provided, had in informed. As the government deals with crores of people all over the country in thousands of departments, it hs to control the employers with such Conduct Rules.

For employment purposes equating or differentiating the similar degrees: The Tamil Nadu government has recently issued a G.O / ordinance regarding the unique academic list, which has affected those who have completed the course in ancient history and archaeology at the University of Madras[5]. In February, 2024 an expert panel deliberated on which courses are non-equivalent as defined by the University Grants Commission, UGC. Based on the recommendations made by the committee, the Tamil Nadu government recently issued a G.O / ordinance. In it, a list of courses which are not equivalent to Botany and History Department courses has been published. That is to say, the MA degree in Ancient History and Archeology offered by Madras University is not equivalent to the MA History degree. Due to this, those who have completed MA in Ancient History and Archeology in Chennai University cannot apply for jobs related to history[6]. Thus, such degree holders feel that they have been deprived of applying for jobs with their qualifications.

The Students of Ancient History and Archaeology apprehended their opportunity: In this regard, the MA, Ancient History and Archeology degree holders of Madras University said[7]: “Now, the Teachers Selection Board has released a notification for the recruitment of History Professors. For this, a new order has been issued so that even those who have obtained MA, Ancient History and Archeology degree and passed the ‘NET’ examination in Madras University cannot apply. In Central and State archeology departments and in the history education department, those who have studied in Madras University have achieved the most. They have effectively done various excavations in Tamil Nadu and contributed to history. Similarly, coins, inscriptions, palm-leaf mss etc. have also been investigated and history has been written. The Tamil Nadu government has issued a wrong order so that archaeologists cannot apply for the jobs of the archeology department while the history department is eligible to apply for the jobs in the history department. As a result, it will not be possible to conduct courses on ancient history and archaeology in the history curriculum, and employment will be lost for hundreds of qualified and talented academics who have studied in Madras University and done research and written many history books. This will have a major impact on archaeology graduates and students. On the other hand, archaeology graduates from Tanjore Tamil University are not barred from working in the history department. It is a discriminatory G.O. Government should take steps to change this and continue the old practice.”

Technically and scientifically different subjects cannot be equated: A careful reading of the order and its contents are summarized as follows:

Degree subject / subjects combined	Not equivalent to
B.A English Language & Literature	B.A. English
B.Sc Microbiology	B.Sc Botany
B.Sc Environmental Biology	B.Sc Botany
M.Sc Microbiology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Environmental Biology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Environmental science	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Biotechnology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Pharmaceutical Chemistry	M.Sc chemistry
M.Sc (Agriculture) Agronomy	M.Sc Agriculture (Extension)
M.Sc (Agriculture) Entomology	M.Sc Agriculture (Extension)
B.A. (History, Sociology, Philosophy)	B.A. History
B.A. (History, Sociology, Telugu Literature)	B.A. History
B.A Political History	B. A. History
M.A. Medieval History	M.. history
M.A. Political Science	M. A. History
M.A. Ancient History & Archaeology	M. A. History

Definitely, the subject, subject content and the syllabi of them have been different. Therefore, they cannot be compared or equated. Even a cursory look at the subjects shows how they are different. The subjects on the RHS appear to be specialized, specific and combo types meant for certain jobs, thus offered in different universities of India. In fact, they are higher standards than the normal M.A / M.Sc or B.A / B.Sc degrees. Hence, instead of barring certain subjects or disciplines, if the job does not require any expertise and is capable of managing the job with the degree held, then, the required qualification can be made in general as M.A / M.Sc or B.A / B.Sc degrees or it can simply be mentioned, “Any graduate can apply”. If specialization is required, then, naturally, no compromise can be made.

What students, candidates and others should ponder over: With all the above exigencies, one should take decision as follows:

1. Every candidate should be conscious about what he reads, in which subject, he can excel and try to proceed in that discipline.
2. Of course, nowadays, certain factors compel the candidates for going to different disciplines due to economic, forced and other factors and conditions.
3. As specialization of subjects started or each subject is masqueraded with different terminology, syllabus and so on, such subjects continue to increase and thrive.
4. In science and technology, the candidates could survive by updating, studying M.S and other studies to fulfill their job requirements.
5. Whereas, the students of arts and humanities have to acquire more and different diplomas to compete in the job market.
6. In any case, the employers (private sector) expect the candidates to join and start working immediately.
7. In the public / government jobs, immediately, the employees try to protest and take recourse to other methods.
8. In any case, they are governed by the conduct rules and the prevailing Supreme Court judgments.
9. Better aim for the suitable jobs with the qualifications one has, than aim for other ones attracting or forced on.
10. Whatever job, one gets, be loyal to the job and the employer, so it would award the sincere employee always.

©  K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

11-04-2024

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[1]  In government offices, mostly the computers are used as typewriters only, otherwise, the staff may be browsing. Some may use Excel for accounting and financial purposes.

[2]  Most of the factories manufacturing mechanical, electrical and electronic type writers [Halda, Remington etc.,] were closed down and disappeared from the market.

[3] Zahoor Ahmad Rather vs Sheikh Imtiyaz Ahmad on 5 December, 2018, AIRONLINE 2018 SC 872; https://indiankanoon.org/doc/85514936/

[4] Prime Legal, Employers cannot prescribe arbitrary qualifications for jobs: Supreme Court,

https://primelegal.in/2020/11/09/employers-cannot-prescribe-arbitrary-qualifications-for-jobs-supreme-court

[5] Higher Education (K1) Department – G.O. (Ms) No. 72 dated 15-03-2024.

[6] தினமலர், சென்னை பல்கலை தொல்லியல் பட்டம் பெற்றவர்களுக்கு சிக்கல், UPDATED : ஏப் 10, 2024 03:34 AM; ADDED : ஏப் 10, 2024 03:34 AM.

[7] https://www.dinamalar.com/news/tamil-nadu-news/-chennai-university-archeology-graduates-have-a-problem–/3596966

Why certain archaeologists should make hue and cry about the findings of skeletons, skulls and bones? – forensic anthropologists vs archaeologists (2)

Why certain archaeologists should make hue and cry about the findings of skeletons, skulls and bones? – forensic anthropologists vs archaeologists (2)

Many Indus Valley Civilization-type skeletons found In India before and after 1947: The human skeletons were found in the Mohanjadaro-Harappan sites since 1922 from India before and after 1947 as follows:

• The archaeological site of Mehrgarh is located in Baluchistan of Pakistan
• Kalibhangan – The site is located on the left riverbank of Ghaggar, in the northern part of Rajasthan, about 310 km northwest of Delhi. Kalibangan means black bangles by local dialect because the countless fragments of black terracotta bangles found scattered over the site.
• Lothal -This site is located in the Delta of Sabarmati River, Gujarat.
• Dholavira – This is an archaeological site of Kutch district in Gujarat state of India. The site is the fifth largest Harappan site ever discovered in Indian subcontinent
• Rakhigarhi – It is a village in the Haryana state of India, around 150 kilometers apart from Delhi
• Harappa –  Harappan Civilization was named after this type-site situated now in Pakistan.
• Mohenjo-daro This site is one of the largest settlements of Harappan Civilization ever discovered. It is an archaeological site in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay discovered this site as early as 1922.
• Farmana This site is located in the Rohtak district of Haryana state.

Here, in all such excavated sites, forensic experts were present or not; samples taken for genetic studies; results published; how they helped the archaeologists to improve their hypotheses and theories of Aryans, Dravidian etc., are not known. Pitchappan with all the data has been inclusive or does not assert boldly about the researched genetic evidences  that the living here – had been Dravidian or otherwise. Here, modern-day experts of forensic experts, forensic anthropologists, anthropo-archaeologists, archaeo-anthropologists and related experts could object to each other for their individual methodology adapted and adopted in their respective studies. Just because, for specialization, each new expert-group created cannot dictate terms with others, as every discipline would claim the superiority, expertise and excellence of their subject.  So because of their inter-disciplinary rivalry, the material evidences cannot suffer and Indians should not be misled by their biased, ideologized and partial reports.   

Post-1980 grouping of skeletons: Several skeletal series came under anthropological scrutiny during the post‐1980 era[1]. Important sites studied include:

● Mesolithic: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves (Sri Lanka), Bagor, Kanavaypatti, Deulga rock shelters, Kalpi, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha, Bhimbetka, Lekhahia, Damdama.

● Harappan: Rakhigarhi, Sanauli, Farmana, Harappa, Mohenjo Daro (Pakistan).

● Neolithic–Chalcolithic: Ieej, Balijapalli, Banahalli, Budhihal, Tekkalakota (restudy), Inamgaon, Daimabad, Tuljapur Garhi, Hullikallu, Agripalli, Chinnamarur, Peddamarur, Tharsa, Kaothe, Walki, Ramapuram, Nevasa, Chandoli (restudy), Apegaon, Mehrgarh.

● Megalithic: Khairwada, Borgaon, Erladinne, Raipur, Kanyathirthum, Kodumanal, Naikund, S. Pappinayakkan Patti, Anaikkaraipatti, Kodanginayakkanpatti, M. Kallupatti, Mahurjhari.

● Historic–medieval: Kumar Tekri, Padri, Jotsoma, Roopkund, Chaul, Sanjan, Kuntasi, Bolpur.

Do the archaeologists neglect skeletal remains?: The forensic anthropologists note that archaeologists have not been so interested in the study of skeletal remains[2], “Human bones were never a priority area of research in Indian archaeology. Bioarchaeology in India, on some levels, is still hindered by the attitudes of archaeologists, which resemble those of American scientists of decades past”. So, already here our archaeologists have been compared with the American archaeologists.

Larson also is quoted[3], “Unaware of the potential of human skeletal remains, many archaeologists view them as, at best, an irrelevance, and when encountered in situ as objects whose excavation is time consuming and which somehow does not constitute “real” archaeology.” Here, the anthropologists have to be asked whether they really consider them so.

Along the same lines, the late S.S. Sarkar, a biological anthropologist at the University of Calcutta, wrote[4]: “I have felt that archaeologists of this country are not yet so interested in skeletal remains as they are with potsherds. I tried to ascertain in certain cases as to what happened with the excavated skeletal remains, their whereabouts, or the completion of their reports, but I failed to obtain a scientific answer from any quarter. And if those facts were available, some lacunae in our knowledge would have been filled up … The reconstruction of the skeletal remains should not be considered at par with pottery‐washing and mending.” (Sarkar, 1972: x). so even such trend continues in 2024 has to be analyzed to find out the fact. The response of the archaeologists in this regard also should be known and recorded.

Specialization, formation of new subjects and inter-disciplinary research: for job-market and other economic factors, now the same subject is studied with different banners, syllabus and school also. As the students of science and technology have also been struggling to get jobs, they also enter into other subjects for getting jobs. Moreover, with their scientific background, they could easily grasp and understand other subjects like history, anthropology, archaeology, forensic science, forensic anthropology, remote sensing etc. Thus, they too compete with others. However, none can dictate terms with others or expect others to give all data and information on a platter, so that he could start his research immediately. No non-archaeologist could grab all the work done by archaeologists for several days, months and even years. Therefore, inter-disciplinary studies would foster academics and not inter-disciplinary rivalry or accusations.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-04-2024

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[1] Walimbe, Subhash R. “Human skeletal studies: Changing trends in theoretical and methodological perspectives.” A companion to South Asia in the past (2016): 482-495.

[2] Walimbe, Subhash R. “Human skeletal studies: Changing trends in theoretical and methodological perspectives.” A companion to South Asia in the past (2016): 482-495.

[3] Larsen CS,  Bioarchaeology: interpreting behavior from the human skeleton. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Bush, H, Zvelebil, M, editors., Health in past societies: biocultural interpretations of human skeletal remains in archaeological contexts. Oxford: Tempus Reparatum, 1991, p.5.

[4] Sarkar SS., Ancient races of the Deccan. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1972, X.

culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (3)

culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (3)

Simultaneous session held on 15-03-2024: Simultaneously, a parallel technical session was held online at 10:30am which was chaired by Prof. Mallika Begum – assistant professor at SIET. There were four presenters in total, concentrating on the topics –

1. Healthcare among Adiyan and Mavidan Community[1],
2. Challenges faced by Tribes post covid,
3. Exploring collecting honey practices among the Alu Kurumbas[2] and
4. Cultural influences on Childhood Obesity[3].

As usual, for a regular listener, reader and researcher of these topics could easily remember, recognize and locate the sources (books, papers etc) of the last 50 or even 100 years. A simple Google search also shows many secondary sources with the same or similar titles. About the tribes, the Europeans have taken undue importance and studied with bias. Many times, they have tried to compare these Indian tribes with that of “the last tribes,” proceed and conclude accordingly. Therefore, the paper-presenters should see al tleast, they are mentioning them in their reference or acknowledging otherwise. It is impossible to mention and acknowledge all the sources and references, but, since the plagiarism check is done, such softwares always point to “copying”!    

Rangoli Competition held concurrently: Concurrent to both the sessions, the Rangoli Competition was held with the participation of seven teams from various colleges judged by Prof. Brinda – Ambedkar Law College. It was followed by Saritha Bowmick’s [4] Endowment Lectureship where Dr. B. Bindu– Former Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology, Kannur University was invited as the speaker. She discerned her thoughts on the anthropological research post Covid-19 and on the vulnerables where the former experienced the rise of the digital era and the latter experienced the influence by the anthropologists on restudying social flexibility, intimacy and sexuality.

Valedictory function: The second day of the conference came to an end with the Valedictory session. The Welcome address was given by Dr. Prabhu Kumari Vanama – the co-convener and organizing Secretary of the Conference. It was followed by a report on the Two Day – International Conference by Aishwariya Wincy- 1st year MA Anthropology student, the University of Madras. Presidential address was given by Dr. M.P. Damodaran, Head of the Department of Anthropology and Convener of the conference.

• The session moved on to the Chief Guest Address by Prof. CMK Reddy – President of the TN Medical Practitioners Association and the Chairman of the Linguistic Minorities Forum of Tamil Nadu.
• Following which Dr. G.J. Sudhakar who is a Professor Emeritus from CPR Institute of Indological Research was awarded with the Life Time Achievement Award and later, discoursed his words of wisdom with the audience.
• Prof. Pareshwar Sahoo – Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Utkal University was called to distribute the certificates to all the presenters, winners and participants.
• The Valedictory Address was given by Prof. K.S. Sarwani – Director at IQAC, TN Ambedkar Law University.  

The Valedictory session was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. M. Rajam – Guest Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras followed by a photo session.

How the papers were presented?: The papers delved upon the selective nature about the theme, area, survey, number of subjects etc., and thus have been with limitations. Though, the researcher acknowledges such “limitations,” they come to conclusions, making them universal, that is not accepted. Moreover, at that time, they bring many popular myths into their narratives to suit their conclusions. As every individual varies, no two individuals could be compared and equated. Though individual differences are accepted, they are identified as couple, family, group, society, nation, country and so on. Where, the coming together individuals have to bury their differences and co-operate to work for a common cause for the same entities of couple, family, group, society, nation, country and so on. That is how, they have been functioning since time immemorial or from Paleolithic to modern periods.

Research has to be updated even at crossroads: As the students, researchers and other young scholars have decided to present papers doing PhD, completing PhD and working as lecturer, Assistant Professor etc., they have to prepare papers to suit the topic and theme of the conference and they are ready or prepared to answer the questions asked. In such academic proceedings and processes, there cannot be any concession, compromise and adjustment. As in the modern times, many facilities are available at the University level, the students have to update their knowledge by reading the recent books and research papers on the subject. They have conducted field studies and get new details and they cannot rehash or manipulate the previous or already published data and information.

Topic may have to be explicit and straight: Had the topic “culture at cross-roads?” been “culture at cross-roads? In India,” specifically, then, the paper presenters and speakers would have come to their topic straight away, after all, here, Indians have to deal with their issues in the changing times. Much time need not be spent by the speakers and paper presenters to explain it again and again without reaching any consensus. As pointed out, it has been a Western concept dealing with the meeting of different people groups, in Europe where, the migration of people was taking place at different periods. As they were believing in race, racism, racialism, segregation, exclusion and other principles, they had been at crossroads to place them at a particular place. About silk-road, maritime-route, trade routes etc., the scholars are well aware of..

Scientific, unscientific, unscientific, pseudo-scientific and so on: There is a difference between scientific and humanities subjects, where research is carried on. The experiments carried on in science and technology have been universal, producing the same results and being accepted universally. The experiments conducted by the arts, humanities and other non-science and technology subjects have been selective, choosy and discriminating covering a small portion, area, issues or few issues of a community or society, at a particular place and time and so on. Though, they too nowadays, they claim that they follow “scientific methodology” etc., they cannot reproduce the same result every time. In fact, in history, history writing, and historiography, the concerned experts openly accept that they do not require any objectivity in their writings.

Note: I waited for many days, requesting the organizers to send the details, photos etc., to complete the blogging. As I have not received as on 24-03-2024, I post the concluding part with the available materials today, i.e, 24-03-2024.

I thank Dr Prabhu Kumari Vanama for sending photos today – 24-03-2-24 and they are also included.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-03-2024

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[1] The Mavilan are a Scheduled Tribe of the Indian state Kerala. They inhabit the hill country of the Kannur and Kasaragod districts. They speak Tulu as their primary language and also have knowledge of Malayalam.

Rohisha, I. K., Tessy Treesa Jose, and Jyothi Chakrabarty. “Prevalence of anemia among tribal women.” Journal of family medicine and primary care 8.1 (2019): 145-147.

[2] Sathyanarayanan, C. R., and Nirmal Chandra. “The lost landscapes and livelihood: a case study of the Alu Kurumba of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.” J Anthropol Survey India 62.2 (2013): 821-50.

Jayaprakash, Prabhakar. “Uunending cultural and economic colonization: the case of Alu Kurumba Adivasi women” Perspectives in Social Work 30 (2015): 1.

[3] Kumanyika, Shiriki K. “Environmental influences on childhood obesity: ethnic and cultural influences in context.” Physiology & behavior 94.1 (2008): 61-70.

Chatham, Rebecca E., and Sandra J. Mixer. “Cultural influences on childhood obesity in ethnic minorities: a qualitative systematic review.” Journal of Transcultural Nursing 31.1 (2020): 87-99.

[4] Sharit Bhowmik 1948-2016; https://www.ces.uc.pt/emancipa/cv/gen/sharit.html

The excavation carried on at Chettimedu on the banks of Palaru basin in February 2024 by the Department of Archaeology, University of Madras

The excavation carried on at Chettimedu on the banks of Palaru basin in February 2024 by the Department of Archaeology, University of Madras

The located site is near a Church….

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Archaeology, excavation and findings in Tamilnadu: Archaeology, excavation, artefacts, dating of objects, Keeladi and such other words and expressions become “buzz words” in Tamilnadu[1], as politicians to ordinary people talk about at least once in a week or so. Some news would be coming in the media about something about all these things. Enthusiast explorers and others always come out with some stories that they “discovered” so-and-as sculpture, broken or abandoned idol here at some remote place and so on. However, they never bothered to investigate why they have been there in such conditions for many years. Ironically, many times, they are already known to local people, who are periodically visiting those places and villages and onlookers. In fact, 10 years back, already such “discovered” news would have been published in some local newspaper. Yet, such news is catchy and hence they are published again generously. If one has some friend in any media house, such news would appear immediately.

You-tube archaeology, history etc: To what extent, this news and coverages would create an impact on the general public, academicians and others have to be noted. Nowadays, You-tube hs also become famous and hence, such videos immediately swarm the cyberspace wying with each other and uploading exaggerated and hence misleading stuff also. Ironically, the you-tube enthusiast archaeologists do not bother about the science and technological facts, but, mix everything and make sensational stories. About the Chettimedu excavation, already, sensational videos have come up and attracting the viewers. Cyber plagiarism has been so easy, immediate and attractive, even the original creator, author and writer would be bombarded with such pirated and plagiarized stuff. The You-tube stuff would be of such nature that even academic snobbery would be afraid of. After Keeladi, some sort of cold war appeared to have between the Central and State archaeological departments.

About CABA: Recently, the Government reconstituted the Central Advisory Board Archaeology (CABA) over seven years since its last meeting. It is meant to strengthen contacts between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and those in the field of archaeological research. The ASI re-constituted the board with the Culture Minister as the chairperson and including officials from the Culture Ministry and ASI, MPs, nominees of State governments, representatives of universities, scientists and experts on Indus Valley script among the members. It is revised for a period of three years. The board will meet once a year and its functions would include advising the Centre on “matters relating to archaeology” referred to by its members. It may also make suggestions on such matters for the consideration of the Government. It also set up a Standing Committee of the board to be chaired by the ASI D-G. It also allocates funds for each state related to the sites identified for excavation.

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University of Madras getting permission from the GOI: The GOI granted permission to carry out excavation at Chettimedu vide order dated 05-02-2024[2]. Based on this, the students and professors from the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras, proceeded to excavate at the sanctioned site.  As last year students could not get permission, they were debuted to different sites for getting excavation experience. This year, after getting permission, the students landed there with enthusiasm. Interestingly, a female student just delivering a baby landed there with the baby, taking a room to participate in the excavation. Her husband also accompanied and really, we have to appreciate the boldness of the girl to land there with her family to conduct an excavation. And there have been certain students with ill-health, yet they too joined the excavation.

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Excavation started yielding good results: As part of the excavation that began on February 5, four trenches (CTM 1, 2, 3 and 4) were laid to understand the cultural sequence of the site[3]. Among them, two have been completed and excavation at the other two is in the last stage[4]. Based on preliminary analysis, the material evidence and layers could be divided into five cultural periods:

1. First from the Neolithic period,
2. second from the Iron Age,
3. third from the Early Historic period,
4. fourth from the Early Medieval period, and
5. fifth from the Medieval period from when red ware dominated. A Ceylon Man-type coin from the Chola Period was collected from the last one.

They have unearthed an ancient burial site of a child with a pot beside it likely dating back to the Neolithic period, at Chettimedu Pathur in Chengalpattu. The professors involved in the excavation said it is rare to find burials dating back to the neolithic period, which is between 5000-1500 BCE, and added it would be sent for dating to various laboratories in India to ascertain its exact age.

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The location of Chettimedu: Chettimedu is situated about 14 kms northwest of Nerumbu, another site excavated by the Department of Archaeology, University of Madrasi 2022.

A still closer view also shows that the site is situated on the Palar basin, but, now surrounded by the houses.

As Palaru has dried up, the banks have been shrunk with urbanization and the number of houses have been increasing. However, the agricultural activities continue, as could be noted from the fields surrounding the houses. While the old temples are neglected or relegated to less importance, new temples have come up.

Now, ironically, the site has been located within the compound of a Church.

A closer view shows the site as follows

The aerial view shows the newly constructed church and the adjacent site chosen for excavation

University of Madras researchers have found a neolithic site with burial remains of a child at Chettimedu Pathur near Chengalpet, around 77km from Chennai, in what is being deemed a rare archaeological find[5]. Along with potsherds of burnished grey ware, a neolithic period characteristic, the researchers found rare Chola-era coins, potsherds of black slipped ware, black slipped ware with graffiti marks and bricks from the early historic period (Sangam era) and Iron age red slipped ware with designs in black[6].

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The site could be dated between 2500 BCE and 3500 BCE: The site, they say, could be between 2500 BCE and 3000 BCE[7]. “Only a few neolithic sites including Vellore, Dharmapuri, Salem have been reported so far. Even in those sites, burnished grey ware was not found. At this site, we found burnished grey ware with a burial which is very rare,” said Jinu Koshy, in-charge of excavation, department of ancient history and archaeology, University of Madras[8]. Burnishing involves polishing a pot using items with a hard smooth surface such as pebbles or leather for a shiny look. “Burnished ware has not been not found anywhere in the state except at Valasai in Vellore district,” he added.

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What are the objects recovered there: Initial exploration at Chettimedu Pathur showed hopscotch, bone tools and brickbats, different types of potsherds as well as burnished grey ware, burnished red ware, black and red ware, all-black ware, red slipped ware, red ware and coarse red ware. A few potsherds with graffiti marks were on the surface of the mound due to soil erosion and human activity[9]. “To understand the context of the cultural material at the site, we began excavating on Feb 5,” said J Soundararajan, associate professor, head-in-charge, department of ancient history and archaeology[10]. Four trenches were dug and preliminary analysis of the material evidence shows the layers could be from five different cultural periods. “Another important artefact is the red slipped ware having designs painted with black pigment and design resembling pottery types from the chalcolithic period, especially Malwa culture[11]. The painted type of potsherds found in Chettimedu Pathur could be from Iron Age,” he added[12].

About the skeletal remains: The skeletal remains found have become sensational and the media gave much publicity about it. Koshi said the child, whose remains have been found, could be between 9 years and 11 years of age as the mandibular deciduous first molar tooth hasn’t started to shed. The skeleton is in a north-south direction, with the head placed north and rest of the body oriented to south, the face turned towards west. “This practice has been followed since the protohistoric era and the pot near the skeleton is typical neolithic era pottery.” Researchers plan to date the site and extract DNA samples from skeleton or material in the pot.  

The study of skeletal remains important, before coming up with hypotheses and theories: The study of the human skeleton (osteology[13]) involves many scientific methods. It is said that paleaodemocratic method is there to date and analyze the skeletal remains[14]. Archaeologists have long used carbon-14 dating (also known as radiocarbon dating) to estimate the age of certain objects. Traditional radiocarbon dating is applied to organic remains between 500 and 50,000 years old and exploits the fact that trace amounts of radioactive carbon are found in the natural environment. Bones are one of the most common materials sent to accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) labs for radiocarbon dating. This is because the bones of animals or humans are often subjects of archaeological studies. A lot about the prehistoric era has been learned due to archaeological studies and radiocarbon dating of bones[15]. More in-depth information about old civilizations is also available due to radiocarbon dating results on bones. DNA method is also followed, but each method has limitations[16].

A reporter sitting by the side of the skeleton and explaining its age, date and all……..

Head and teeth of the skeleton.

teeth visible, closer view……

Lower jaw portion…..

while the study is not complete, the media has come out with sensational reports that the skeleton belongs to 5000 YBP period and so on! The You-tubers have been so exhilarating that they started circulating videos according to their own imagination. One such video claims that this excavation excels Keeladi and so on!

To what extent, the comparative dating can be applied and accepted?: Nowadays, archaeologists are trying to date the excavated by the comparative dating method. If the stratigraphical layers are not disturbed, then, artefacts that are found in successive undisturbed cultural layers can be dated relatively based on the principles of stratigraphy. The principle of cultural/archaeological stratification is fundamental and it plays a dominant role in archaeological investigations. The technique is borrowed from geology and applied in archaeology[17]. Sir Charles Lyell shaped the concept of stratigraphy in geology and published it in his outstanding book Principles of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell in 1830. There are certain basic laws and notions that are followed in identifying and studying stratigraphy. They are Laws of Superposition, Laws of Original Horizontality, Laws of Original Continuity and Laws of Faunal Succession. This concept was introduced in archaeology by the scholars like C.J.Thomsen, J.J.Worsaae, Kathleen M. Kenyon and Mortimer Wheeler.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

19-03-2024.

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The reporter at the site explaining the excavated brick!

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[1] A buzzword is a word or phrase, new or already existing, that becomes popular for a period of time. Buzzwords often derive from technical terms yet often have much of the original technical meaning removed through fashionable use, being simply used to impress others.

[2] GOI order for excavation, Digital Mapping of Ancient Sites, dated 05-02-2024

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1715/AU456.pdf?source=pqals

[3] DtNext, In a first, Neolithic child burial site found in TN, DTNEXT Bureau|28 Feb 2024 7:00 AM  ( Updated:28 Feb 2024 7:01 AM.

[4] https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/in-a-first-neolithic-child-burial-site-found-in-tn-770670

[5] Times of India, Madras univ researchers unearth neolithic site near Chengalpet, Ragu Raman / TNN / Updated: Feb 28, 2024, 09:37 IST,

[6] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madras-univ-researchers-unearth-neolithic-site-near-chengalpet/articleshow/108059076.cms

[7] Indian Express, Tamil Nadu: Child burial site dating back to neolithic age unearthed in Chengalpattu, Updated on: 28 Feb 2024, 7:29 am

[8] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Feb/28/tamil-nadu-child-burial-site-dating-back-to-neolithic-age-unearthed-in-chengalpattu

[9] The Daily Guardiam, Neolithic child burial site discovered in TN, By: Latha Srinivasan, Updated on: February 29, 2024, 4:55 am IST.

[10] https://thedailyguardian.com/neolithic-child-burial-site-discovered-in-tn/

[11] BNN Breaking, Revolutionary Neolithic Child Burial Site Unearthed in Tamil Nadu: A First in State History, Hadeel Hashem, 27 Feb 2024 20:46 EST.

[12] https://bnnbreaking.com/world/asia/revolutionary-neolithic-child-burial-site-unearthed-in-tamil-nadu-a-first-in-state-history

[13] A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and paleontology, osteology is the detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, microbone morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification (from cartilaginous molds), and the resistance and hardness of bones (biophysics). Osteologists frequently work in the public and private sector as consultants for museums, scientists for research laboratories, scientists for medical investigations and/or for companies producing osteological reproductions in an academic context.

[14] Boldsen, Jesper L., George R. Milner, and Stephen D. Ousley. “Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past.” American Journal of Biological Anthropology 178 (2022): pp.115-150.

[15] Radio carbon Dating bones, https://www.radiocarbon.com/ams-dating-bones.htm

[16] Mays, Simon. The archaeology of human bones. Routledge, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315171821

[17] K. Rajan, Relative dating methods, e-Patashala, https://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in/epgpdata/uploads/epgp_content/S000829IC/P001688/M020081/ET/1493287698P07-M17-RelativeDatingMethods-ET.pdf

Note here, the reporter mentions that “it is believed to be from 5000 B.C….. “, that is 7000 YBP!

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (2)

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (2)

14-03-2024 afternoon session[1]: The afternoon’s session (3 pm to 5:30 pm) commenced with a special lecture by Dr. Ananta Kumar Giri, who talked about what lies beyond cross cultures.  It was followed by the 1^st technical session from, where Assistant Professors of Post Graduate and Research Department of Historical Studies of Government Arts College for Men, Dr. M. Palani and Dr. J. Sadayamuthu preceded as the Chair and Co-chair respectively.  There were six presentations in this session. All the presenters focused on how various ideas, disciplines, concepts and issues overlap with cultures.  

Simultaneously, competition and cultural exhibitions were held where participants took part in Poster making, Crafts and Culinary exhibitions on the theme “Cultural diversity”. The judges for the competition were Ms. Arokiya Anbazhagi, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Women’s Christian College and Dr. Sasikala, Head of the Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Madras. The first day of the International Conference concluded with a talk by the chairperson Dr. M Palani.

15-03-2024 – the second day of proceedings:  The second day was held on 15^th March 2024. It started with the 2^nd technical session from 9:15 – 10:30 am with 8 presenters who presented a large variety of disciplines that interact with culture from street art to food, from uniform civil code to globalization.  This session was chaired by Dr. M.P. Damodaran – Head of the Department of Anthropology.  

It was followed by the 3rd technical session from 10:45am – 1pm chaired by Dr. Pareshwar Sahoo – Assistant professor in the Department of History at Utkal University and co-chaired by Dr. T Kausalyakumari– Head of the department of History – Ethiraj College. There were 7 presenters who focused on the topics such as women’s participation in politics, menstrual hygiene, archaeology, culture in early Madras and cultural identity vs intellectual property rights.

The student-paper presenters, generally had dealt with the topics taken for the purpose.

The paper presenter delved upon the topic of “theatre hall” and went on to list out all such auditoriums, halls, theatres, lecture halls etc., making sweeping remarks, before the establishment of such halls by the British, there was no culture (perhaps theatre culture) in Madras!

Audience- students

The paper presented on “menstrual hygienic”: The topic dealt with “menstrual hygienic” has been limited, but, making conclusions universal. Already many has researched in this topic[2]. It has been a favourite topic for many[3]. In Tamilnadu itself, there have been many studies covering Salem[4]. She conducted a survey with an English questionnaire, where, the subjects do not know English. This type of research has to be careful, as with the few samples, it cannot decide the fate of an entire state or country. Just by surveying the conditions of 100 persons, one cannot conclude the conditions of 100 crores population. She was stressing as if such “taboo” has been peculiar in India, without mentioning such taboo prevalent in other countries, perhaps, throughout the world. The Google Scholar shows thousands of books and papers on the topic[5] and therefore, it is better the paper presenter avoid bias and interpret the data restricting to her chosen area.

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Students audience- backside

Intellectual property rights of the indigenous people: The Indian tribes, traditional knowledge etc., have been also a favourite topic[6]. The indigenous and tribals have many skills in science and technology, but they pass on them to their progeny from generation to generation[7]. They are not registering their cultural heritage and hence, others are copying and using it. Actually, in India, the Vanavasis (forest-dwelling people) were never disturbed and they continued to live with their facilities.  Even today, few islands of Andaman & Nicobar are not disturbed, as the indigenous tribes living there for millions of years never want to mix with others. Food, medicine and other requirements are provided periodically, some persons come and take them away, but, none are allowed to enter their islands.

Dr Pareswar Sahoo heading the session

Audience…….

Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in 21st century: K. V. Ramakrishna Rao  – Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in the 21st century. After discussing about many case laws, he concluded as follows: As it has been mentioned as “crossroads,” what the roads crossing each other has to be mentioned specifically, as it cannot be hypothetical. When people or peoples meet at the “crossroads,” i.e, the place of intersection of two or more roads, the action, interaction and counteraction among them have to be studied.  Thus, the judiciary, judicial judgments and Acts applicable to civil society have to be secularized completely.

• Utopian concepts of egalitarianism in all spheres of Indians can be achieved only by true and complete secularization of Indian society leading to Social Justice.
• Therefore, religion should definitely be treated as personal concept instead of putting it on national agenda.
• As the ideals of Social Justice can be materialized by actual commitment, keeping reality in mind, all efforts should be taken to have uniform civil and criminal laws in the Indian context.
• If the secularization process is completed in true spirit, then there will not be any objection to such uniform civil code. For this broad-minded, educated and liberal scholars of secular but religious personalities should be consulted without any discrimination on any factor. As the UCC Bill introduced in 2019 has been still pending even in 2024, Indians may have to wait and see.
• In such process, not only the Indian Constitution, but also all Acts and rules can be secularized to the satisfaction of all sections of Indian society.
• But, unless all Indians follow them strictly, the ideals may not be implemented.
• Therefore, the people should not only be taught about their rights, but also others should sincerely help them to get their rights with responsibility.
• Thus, it is believed that Indians would achieve Social Justice through secular principles.

Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads?: J. Soundaraajan and K. V. Ramakrishna Rao discussed about Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology in the context of culture. After discussing the issues, he concluded as follows:

• As historical and archaeological chronologies have been different, they have to be correlated, corroborated and corresponded for the purpose.
• How the prehistoric (archaeological) dates and historic (written) evidences could be brought together at a meeting point has to be considered.
• Whether historical and archaeological cultures could be fit into such chronology or not- should be decided with the eras, dates and chronograms appearing in the inscriptions.
• Now archaeo-astronomical evidences and datings are not accepted by the field-archaeologists, but, they are used by others in the multi-disciplinary approach, even in the megalithic sites.
• The study of cultural change in the countries like India, is very difficult. As the vast country with the largest coastal areas had been interacting with many other cultures, the cross-cultural, cultural influence and related processes would vary during every 50-100 years, yet, the culture exhibited show some commonness.
• The 2500 years old sculptural evidences prove orderliness of the Indian art and architecture.
• The 3500-2500 years old literature and other non-material culture also show such uniqueness with less variance.
• All such consistencies are noted even in 21^st century proves that processural archaeology also works in India. 
• Thus, coming to the question – Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads? – answer can be given – Yes.

The following papers were also presented:

Ganesan – Lambadis

Venkatesan – Tirukkural

Ramesh – Rock art of Tamilnadu

Vibin – Temples in Kanyakumari

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

Note: I was expecting inputs from our friends and waiting. As I could not get it, I posted this second part with the available material.

19-03-2024

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[1]  Based on the report received from the one of the convenors Dr Vamana Praphu Kumari.

[2] Sinha, Rabindra Nath, and Bobby Paul. “Menstrual hygiene management in India: The concerns.” Indian journal of public health 62.2 (2018): 71-74.

[3] Kamath, R., et al. “A study on knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among rural and urban adolescent girls in Udupi Taluk, Manipal, India.” Global journal of medicine and public health 2.4 (2013): 1-9.

[4] Balamurugan, S. Sangeetha, S. Shilpa, and Sheethal Shaji. “A community based study on menstrual hygiene among reproductive age group women in a rural area, Tamil Nadu.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences 3.2 (2014): 83-87.

[5] Van Eijk, A. M., Sivakami, M., Thakkar, M. B., Bauman, A., Laserson, K. F., Coates, S., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2016). Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open, 6(3), e010290.

[6] Munzer, Stephen R., and Kal Raustiala. “The uneasy case for intellectual property rights in traditional knowledge.” Cardozo Arts & Ent. LJ 27 (2009): 37.

[7] Bengwayan, Michael A. Intellectual and cultural property rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in Asia. London: Minority Rights Group International, 2003.

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (1)

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (1)

Banner kept at the entrace of the F-50 Hall of the University of Madras

 The International Conference on “Culture at cross-roads?”: The International Conference on “Culture at cross-roads?” was held on March 14th and 15th 2024 at the University of Madras, F-50 hall jointly organized by the Anthropology department and Vanama Arts Trust, T. Nagar. Dr M. P. Damodaran and Dr Prabhu Kumari Vamana convened the conference accordingly. Last year, 2023, the Two Day International Academic (Blended Mode Summit on “Culture, Heritage and Nation Building” was held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 at the Hall of Management Studies, University of Madras[1]. I have posted the proceedings in detail and they can be accessed and read from here[2]. It is happy to note that they have been active and organizing conferences every year, encouraging young students, researchers and others. As they have been delving into culture mainly, they gave a concept note on the topic and it is as follows.

The anthropology department hosted the conference….

“Culture at crossroads?” – concept note: Culture is regarded as the spectacle of human life, the prettiness of humanity! Culture made us unique beings of the world. It is a complex whole, including knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom and any capabilities. It is acquired and transmitted from generation to generation over time and space. Culture is our expression, verbal, non-verbal, and visual composition of human history and ways of life itself. The charm of culture and heritage shines in and on art, architecture, dance, music, folklore, integrity of the people and what not. The food, textiles, antique costumes, jewellery exhibits a phenomenal difference of assimilation, acculturation and diffusion due to enormous influence of modernity and globalization. Culture on CrossRoads is a multidimensional process that has created and is continuously creating unique traditions in transformation multifariously.

The culture at crossroads, how understood….

Views in a national and international perspective: The physical crossroads from time immemorial are reifying the human imagination to such an extent that subjects ranging from arts to science or sports to archery did ever remained as an exception. While migration processes conditioned by historical and anthropological events created a unique culture that is now on crossroads. Each twist and turn in the development of mankind has not only created a uni-fold unique environment in any and every sphere of escarpment, influencing the lifeways absolutely or else. This international conference is a channel to express where the indigenous ideas when mixed with heterogeneous ideologies of any or the same country, developed and is also incessantly creating an amalgamating, unifying, revivifying novel unique cultures, of course at times or vice versa! Hence, the Conference will offer a worthwhile exercise of exchange of knowledge and sharing of views in a national and international perspective through a multi-disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary viewpoint.

Bharatiya Samskruti – the Culture of Bharat – has been mentioned in a Telugu daily!

Cross-roads – what it connotes?: By and large, all dictionaries Oxford, Cambridge, Collins, Brittanica, Merriam-Webster etc., give the following connotation:

• As many roads meet at a point, the traveller is bewildered as to proceed further in a particular direction;
• a crucial point especially where a decision must be made
• a crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must be made
• one has reached an important but uncertain stage to take a decision
• one has reached a very important stage in its development where it could go one way or another.

Thus, the Western connotation has been searching for, reaching at crossroads and thus find a resolution. However, in India, the travellers, drivers and caravans are happy to each chowk (चौक), kutroad (கூட்ரோட்) or crossroad, as they could meet fellow-travellers, eat food, take rest, spend time with others or even do business. Thus, the contrast can be found and appreciated.

Prof B. V. Sharma, Director, and Anthropological Survey of India: Generally the paper speakers and presenters first discussed about “culture at cross-roads?” according to their own understanding and then proceeded to their topic. Prof B. V. Sharma, Director, and Anthropological Survey of India also proceeded in the same way to deliver his inaugural address. He first discussed about “culture at cross-roads?”, taking in as a metaphor, pointing to a situation, where, decision-making process becomes difficult. That men are different from the animals, he explained how cultures change with time. The globalization also affects culture and creates “digital divide” among the people of the world. In the context of India, it is well-known that how unity and diversity held continue to preserve its culture. Each ethnic group has a cultural marker and transmission of culture takes place from generation to generation.  There have been certain practices that are still followed even today, as followed some 2500 years ago. This has been the uniqueness of India.

The HOD, the Dance-historian, the Registrar, the host……

Dr S. Elumalai, the Registrar of the University -presidential address: Dr S. Elumalai, the Registrar of the University delivered his presidential address differentiated between the clash of civilizations and clash of cultures. Agriculture, sericulture, aquaculture, horticulture, etc., he tried to interpret that culture shows the diversity, differences and variance. Yet, there have been common factors in Indian culture. The “Clash of Civilizations” is a thesis that people’s cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post–Cold War world. The American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington argued that future wars would be fought not between countries, but between cultures. It was proposed in a 1992 lecture at the American Enterprise Institute, which was then developed in a 1993 Foreign Affairs article titled “The Clash of Civilizations?”, in response to his former student Francis Fukuyama’s 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man. Huntington later expanded his thesis in a 1996 book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. After “the Clash of civilizations,” though, “the clash of cultures” is also talked about[3], there have been differences of opinion. Under the context of globalization also, it is discussed.

Dr Swarnamalaya…..

the audience

Dr Swarnamalya, Dancer & Cultural Historian – special address: Dr Swarnamalya, Dancer & Cultural Historian delivered a special address. She used Tamil words to denote culture and it appears superficial. Though she tried to interpret “Panpadu,” (பண்பாடு) with different nuances, but, she had forgotten “Kalacharam” (கலாச்சாரம்). However, in India, cultural strands have been interwoven and connected to each other. She recollected her association with the university also, as she got PhD from here, and she was rehearsing practice for the inaugural function of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, for President of India etc.

the audience

Dr T. Chandralekha, former Dean, Dr MGR Educational Institute & University: Dr T. Chandralekha, former Dean, Dr MGR Educational Institute & University gave a special address online. In general, she talked about culture and other aspects. As it was online mode, it was not clear, what she was speaking about and the audience was at a crossroads. The students at the back were also talking to each other. Therefore, this type of “online” discourse can be avoided.  

the audience

On-line / hybrid mode and its effectiveness: Nowadays, the on-line mode is used, but, it has been monotonous and there is no connect between the speaker and the audience. The speaker goes on speaking or reading from the paper or from the screen of the computer and there would not be any “lively” interaction. Many times, the audience starts talking with each other, without listening to the speech of the invited guest.  because of the artificiality. Even, if a person presents a paper or talks at regular conference, the whole audience may not be interested in listening to. Also, some time is wasted from the beginning to end due to technical and other problems. During the Corona period, it was used and now sometimes continues with inherent limitations.

the audience

List of papers not given: As the list of papers was not given, it was very difficult to know who was the paper presenter and what was his paper. Each paper presenter, just came and presented the paper. There was much generalization without any specifics, where the audience could not get attracted. Too much repetitiveness, vague narrative and verbose also do not attract the audience.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

17-03-2024

the audience

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[1] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, The Two Day International Academic (Blended Mode[1]) Summit on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building was held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 at the hall of Management Studies (1), February 9, 2023.

The Conference on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 (1)

[2] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, The Two Day International Academic (Blended Mode[1]) Summit on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building was held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 at the hall of Management Studies (2), February 9, 2023.

The Conference on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 (2)

[3] Fagan, Brian M. Clash of cultures. Rowman Altamira, 1998.

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

Today, the last day of the conference had two sessions VII and VIII with the following papers.

09.01.2024, Tuesday – 10.00-11.30 AM Session – VII: Microscopy and compositional study:  this session was chaired by Dr. Mudit Trivedi and the following papers were presented.

Scientific Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics – K. Krishnan: The first compositional analysis of ceramics from the Indian sub-continent dates back to the 1920s. Those were wet chemical analyses that led to the identification of the elemental composition. The 1960s witnessed the application of petrographic methods to study ceramics. However, interpreting those results was difficult and offered many challenges. Therefore, the results of those early studies were presented as additional information in the respective excavation reports or as research notes. Though isolated, problem-oriented studies on ceramics using scientific techniques in recent years have brought out several interesting results that benefitted the scientific discipline and archaeological studies. This paper will present the applications and limitations of scientific analyses of pottery and its relevance to cultural studies through reviews and case studies. For this, studies on ceramics from different Harappan settlements in Gujarat will be presented. He focussed on understanding general issues such as provenance and clay paste preparation techniques. He also elaborated on the applications and limitations of the methods employed and how a balancing interpretation was made to satisfy the archaeological goals

Northern Black Polished Ware: An Ancient Science  – Alok Kumar Kanungo: Ancient sciences often denote to traditional knowledge systems, when the practices involved in the production cycle of the artefact are situated and contextualized to particular geo-cultural zone. When a knowledge system stands apart from its contemporary and remains in action only for a particular time period, that leaves behind more questions than answers. Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) is one such pottery type of India. The paper will deal with this ware’s history, science and technology by mapping the distribution trends of NBPW, and microscopic and elemental composition analyses of a selected sherds.

Some Aspects of NBPW Manufacturing Technologies  – Sidharth Shankar Rai: Potteries are the most fascinating artefacts for archaeometric investigation because separate pottery tradition represents distinct cultural tradition and the development of pottery manufacturing technology indicates societal innovation for producing a better product. Ancient Indian Glazed ware commonly known as Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) in archaeological literature is the iconic black glazed pottery produced in early Historic India from 7th century BCE to 1st century CE in the Ganga Valley. The NBPW has been manufactured in such a way that the gloss of this pottery has remained unaffected after passage of more than 2,500 years. . The production of glaze is a major achievement of ancient craftsmen. It is a result of different processes including the melting and solidification of a variety of vitreous compounds. Seven black coloured NBPW sherds and one ancient brick sample from archaeological site of Kausambi are analysed in order to understand the composition of clay, firing process and nature of the surface of the pottery. The samples are analysed through SEM, EDS and XRD. It is reported that locally available clay is used for pottery manufacturing and pyrolysis of clay minerals is responsible for the sparkling beauty of the NBPW.

From the East to the West: Investigating the Presence of South China Sea Ceramics in South Asia – Aude Favereau: Research on the movement of people and goods from the Mediterranean world to China via South- and South-East Asia aroused a great deal of interest, particularly on cultural exchanges that occurred by the end of the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of the 1st millennium CE. Evidence of contact between communities in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea basins during this period highlighted complex cultural interactions involving the exchange of artefacts but also the dissemination of technologies and styles. But what about the circulations from East- and South-East Asia to South Asia? Were there imported ceramics or vessels used to carry commodities? Are South China Sea ceramics known in South Asia? This paper proposes (1) to review the ceramics of South Asia reported in the literature as being potentially linked to the East and to assess what is known about these vessels in South-East Asia; (2) to introduce a selection of ceramic types that circulated widely in the South China Sea and that are also found at sites facing the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar to question whether these types travelled up to South Asia; and (3) to make inferences about interactions and exchange activities during pre- and protohistoric times.

Provenience Unveiled: Exploring Torpedo Jars through Geochemical and Petrographic Analysis – Ritvik Balvally: The regions of West Asia, Arabia, Eastern Africa, and Roman-Byzantine territories had trade connections with China, and India in the 1st millennium CE. Western India was a hub for Indian Ocean trade, especially between 3rd to 10th centuries CE and ceramics; glazed and un-glazed were a major part of this exchange. Torpedo Jars are West Asian transport vessels used for overseas exchange during this period lined with bitumen. But the provenience of these ceramics has so far eluded us. Although attempts have been made to study the bitumen and petrographic analysis of Torpedo Jars separately, the picture is still unclear as to where the Torpedo Jars are exactly manufactured. Thus, this study emphasises a two-pronged approach to bolster data further and infer it to understand the provenience of these ceramics. The geochemical data comprising biomarker and carbon isotopes on chromatographic fractions of the bitumen lining of these Torpedo Jars is compared to oil seep references from different areas in southern and southwest Iran. Data on bitumen collected from numerous Iranian archaeological sites has been used as proxies to complete the investigation. On the other hand, thin-section petrographic studies would help in determining the petro-mineral profile of the ceramics.

The Elemental Composition of Late Medieval Glaze on Ceramics from the West Coast India – Laure Dussubieux: Glaze is a thin layer of a vitreous material fused at the surface of a ceramic. It is applied either for decorative purposes, adding colours and shine to the ceramic paste, or for practical reasons, as it improves the impermeability of the ceramics to liquids. Glazes often have compositions very similar to glass and are either silica or lead-based, with the addition of different alkali or alkali-earth rich ingredients depending on when and where it was produced. Metals and oxides are added to modify the colour or opacity of the glazes. Being able to determine the elemental composition of the glaze is important as it is a way to obtain information about the dating and provenance of the ceramics. In west coast of India, there are several medieval sites which have given evidence of glazed ware of Monochrome variety, and the epicenter of production evidence comes from the Gulf of Khambhat during 14-16th c. CE. This paper will illustrate the study of glaze on ceramics with the case of artefacts found at the site of Bhagatrav in Gujarat, dating from the 14th to 17th c. CE. Several types of glazes were identified based on their compositions: a Celadon from China, two samples possibly manufactured at or around Bhagatrav, two samples possibly produced in Khambhat, Gujarat and two samples with a likely Indian origin, although a more precise place of manufacture cannot be proposed. These results indicate a connection of Bhagatrav with the long-distance trade of the Indian Ocean as revealed by the presence of a ceramic sherd from China, contrasting with more local or regional exchange networks that connected Bhagatrav to Khambhat and possibly other localities nearby.

India was not depicted properly in her slides….

Marine Seismics and its use in Marine Archaeology  – Rajesh Nair: Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

Discussion: The questions may be written down and sent to the paper presenters, s announced by the organizers. . In the slides shown by Laure Dussubieux, India was depicted in the truncated form. The organizers could have noted to avoid such depictions. When asked about the holes found in the tripod type ceramics, the paper presenter could not answer, but explained away mentioning that was only hypothesis. In fact, she went to teacher / guide telling that she would better explain. Suggestion was also made to compare the tripod pottery with that of South India. Perhaps, the Thailand researchers my not be knowing about the tripod ceramic potteries fund in the South India.

2.30-4.00 PM Session VIII: Pyrotechnology: The session was chaired by Prof. Ajithprasad P.

Chemical-technological Analysis of the Li People Ceramics of Hainan Island: The Problem of Preserving Pottery Traditions  – Ekaterina Girchenko and Oleg Kardash: This paper investigates the pottery traditions of the Li people of Hainan island in southern China. The Li people till recently, lived isolated in mountainous areas for a long time, so they have preserved many ancient traditions up to the present day. It is a matter of principle for our respondents from the Donghe village not to use modern tools and containers in the ceramic crafts, but to make all the necessary attributes from bamboo, wood and shells. All stages of pottery-making were recorded in the study. Eight samples of clays and ceramic fragments, both fired and unfired, were selected for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis, in order to reconstruct the structure, mineral composition and chemical properties of clays that according to potters were suitable and unsuitable for pottery-making. The chemical research has made it possible to establish temperatures that are quite high for firing over an open fire, which means that the complex structure of the fire pit with coconut shells and branches made it possible to achieve reducing roasting parameters for ceramics over an open fire as if they were fired in a kiln. The results of the experiments are correlated with the archaeological materials, so it is possible to recreate the specific characteristics of ancient pottery.

More ideas on Harappan Stoneware Bangles  – Massimo Vidale: The presentation summarizes what is presently known about the complicated pyrotechnology of Harappan stoneware bangles based on discoveries at Mohenjo-Daro and following important experimental studies during the excavation at Harappa. He went into the technical details of how the bangles were manufactured with the furnace etc. We propose critical considerations of what has been published so far and some new possible interpretations about the firing technology of this amazing and unique class of personal ornaments. He has already published papers and books on the topic individually and also with his colleagues.

On the importance of Technical Ceramics: Archaeometric Analyses and Historical Interpretation of Crucibles, Furnaces, Moulds and Tuyères and a Case Study from Southern Thailand  – Thomas Oliver Pryce: In a traditionally constituted archaeological team, ceramic artefacts fall under the purview of the ceramicist, while metal artefacts lie within that of the metallurgist. However, while the former is usually chiefly concerned with huge amounts of pottery, the latter is often asked to consider technical ceramics, or all ceramics that are not pottery or fragments thereof. This category can include materials from a wide variety of sources: ceramic building materials like adobe, bricks, clay flooring, cob and tile, as well as crucibles, furnaces, hearths, moulds and tuyères from a range of high-temperature industries. Of course, such division of specialist labour is rarely planned as such, and rather it results from the uncertainties implicit in discoloured, degraded, fragmentary and/or vitrified artefacts as they come out of the ground.

And such evaluation must be initiated as they are excavated, as passage via the pot wash can destroy vital information. With this paper, I will give the case study of Khao Sam Kaeo, a 4th-1st c. BCE entrepot and proto-city state in peninsular Thailand, which has produced exceptional evidence for exchanges of raw materials, techniques and even artisans across the Bay of Bengal. In Southeast Asia, there is a class of metal artefacts called ‘Indian high-tin bronze bowls’, due to comparators from the subcontinent with a particular configuration of typo-stylistic, technological, elemental and lead isotopic characteristics. Applying a ‘technological approach’ to these bowls, demonstrating how, where and by whom these artefacts were produced depends upon the associated technical ceramics, in particular vitrified and slagged fragments and globular vessels with a nippled base.

Live potters (Handmade Naga Pottery and Black Pottery of Azamgarh) workshops and kilns for hands-on experiments will be available throughout the conference at KV Ground, adjacent to TTJ Auditorium. Nagaland  – Mrs. Chahang Phom and Ali Phom with Interpreter Mr. Pangtuk Phom and Uttar Pradesh  – Mr. Ramjatan Prajapati and Sohit Kumar Prajapati explained the process. The participants and delegates carefully noted the manufacturing activities carried on for the purpose. The artisans came here for the purpose.

After the paper presentation, the certificates were distributed to some of the participants ad delegates. Alok Kumar Kanungo thanked all who participated and attended the conference and as well as the organizations helped them accommodating to host by providing all facilities. Rajan also thanked all hoping to meet again on some other conference. The Five-day deliberations concluded with the National Anthem.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (4)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (4)

Today, it was raining from the early morning and it continued thereafter also…….

08.01.2024, Monday -10.00-11.30 AM SESSION V: Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental studies: It was chaired by Prof. Kuldeep Bhan and the following papers were presented:

Conservation and Restoration of South Indian Ceramics – Stephen Koob: He had dealt with care, conservation and restoration of South Indian ceramics; detailing, cleaning, choice of adhesive, use of adhesive, treatment and retreatment. The selection and usage of tools for various operations have also been very important in preserving and conserving the objects. About solvable and unsolvable salts, care should be taken in cleaning ceramics. Desalination can be useful for keeping the ceramics in good condition without any further attack. Deionizing tap and such other methods can be used for removing unwanted chemicals deposited on the surface of the ceramics recovered. He also dealt with the restoration for display or publication with practical examples and suggestions. He warned that the potteries, ceramics and similar objects should not be staked, as they might get damaged with their own weight falling on them, as they were already in brittle conditions. Nowadays, modernized electronic and digitized instruments give internal structure of the ceramics and the can be subjected to preservation and conservation processes.

Experimental Reconstruction of a 5th Century Vertical Pottery Kiln, and its Technical Parallels to Harappans – Massimo Vidale: The experimental reconstruction of a Greek kiln of the 5^th century BCE, carried out at the Laboratory of experimental archaeology of the University of Padova, was based on faithful coeval iconographic evidence. It allowed us to appreciate the manifold technical constraints of the yard for the erection of this kind of infrastructure. As the kilns used in Greece and southern Italy between the 6^th and the 4^th centuries BCE have important similarities with Harappan pottery kilns, our experience may provide useful considerations also for the study of Harappan pyrotechnology.

Ethnoarchaeology in the Field: A Cautionary Tale from Potters in Mewar  – Amrita Sarkar: Ethnoarchaeology is an ever-expanding sub-discipline and pottery undoubtedly gets its fair share of attention. However, with recent social and economic trends, it can be seen that opportunities for undertaking certain kinds of ethnoarchaeological study are diminishing. By an interesting coincidence the village of Gilund in Rajasthan, NW India, was host to an important third millennium BCE Chalcolithic settlement of Ahar- Banas Complex in Mewar and at the same time to some of the last indigenous potters still working in 21st c. CE. She showed how the study of prehistoric potters was enhanced by what was learnt from their modern successor and also pointed out that the researcher was only just in time as they will be the last to practice; and in this respect, ethnoarchaeology is itself under threat. The involvement or not involvement of women the pot-making had been natural and not connected with any taboo or gender bias. As the material culture of Indians have been continuously changing, in due course, the pottery-making and related skills might disappear. Even in the traditional rites, rituals and ceremonies, metallic vessels have been replacing the ceramic ware.

11.30 AM -12.00 Hrs – Discussion: There was a discussion about the practical and technical usage of particular clays to withstand the atmospheric and klin temperatures in different cultures. Generation by generation, the potter-makers had / have been forgetting the traditional science and technology followed and practised by them. [the elite researchers have been going on analyzing on the vanishing culture, tradition, heritage and civilization, but, in historiography, they are not pointing out, if such practices of culture, tradition, heritage and civilization are nor preserved, practised and continued.]

12.00- Noon Tea

Ceramic Tradition of Ladakh – P. Anuradha: The Trans-Himalaya Ladakh, a mountainous and rugged terrain, was a vital trade outlet from the Silk Route that connected China with Europe and West and South Asia. Several ancient routes have been discovered in this region. In the recent past, a number of campsites dating to 10000 BCE and 500 CE of ancient travellers have come to light. During their temporary stay, they used ceramics for cooking and serving. According to local belief, during the reign of King Dragspa Bumdle (14^th century CE), the village Likir was assigned to make pottery for the royal as well as the general public. The ceramics have been manufactured in this village and exported to the other parts of Ladakh. However, at present, only a few families are associated with ceramic manufacturing in Likir. In the past, the majority of pottery items were plain and devoid of much decoration. The exquisite and decorative items were reserved for the royals and the elite classes. Over time, this tradition and preferred design have gone through many changes as per the needs of the people. This paper is an outcome of ethnographic documentation, including raw materials used, shapes made as per the usage, and glazing technique of the surviving pottery-making tradition at Likir.

Ceramics in Northeast India: Recent Studies – Manjil Hazarika: The study on ceramics from Northeast India goes back to the 19^th century when several British administrators and researchers contributed through their writings on pottery-making traditions prevalent among various communities. Moreover, sporadic references to these communities are in the Census of India reports published in the last two centuries. Specific studies on the technology, types, artistic features, the community of the potters and their socio-economic background have been dealt with in recent past. centuries. Case studies by anthropologists, archaeologists and historians on the Hiras and Kumars, which are two distinct groups engaged in the manufacture of pottery in Assam, apart from ethnographic accounts of the Naga and Apatani potters have also added significantly to the subject. Pottery from archaeological and historical contexts gained considerable attention with the discoveries of Neolithic pottery during the excavations at Daojali Hading in the Dima Hasao district of Assam in the 1960s. These and pottery from historical sites have provided further details on the craft’s antiquity, chronology, evolution, provenance, and technology. The paper provides an outline of the prehistoric, historical and ethnographic pottery based on our recent studies conducted in Northeast India, especially in parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.

Naga Indigenous Pottery: Disappearing Skills, Knowledge and Vessels – Ditamulu Vasa: This study investigates the most remarkable feature of Naga pottery production: the absolute simplicity of raw materials and tools involved in indigenous and traditional production related to 6 or 7 tribes and districts. She reviewed the manufacturing techniques and tools adopted by the various potters’ communities alongside the ontology of art and clay-winning processes with associated beliefs, taboos, and practices. The number of potters’ communities making traditional ceramic forms using traditional materials and techniques is fast dwindling. However, findings from the ethnographic study conducted among a few surviving potters show the original features handed down transmission of knowledge through generations and analyse the stability and technological changes that have taken place in the pottery community over the last decades. Mainly Female potters controlled this indigenous technology except for the Rünguzu village, where the potters comprised male potters, who had long experiences producing pots, jars, and other clay products.

Ditamulu Vasa showed many examples…..

The next session was chaired by Dr. Peter Johansen and the following papers were presented:

Past and Present of the Pottery Craft of Northeast India – Sukanya Sharma:  From the Northeastern part of India and especially from Assam, the only pottery type known is the Neolithic cord-marked pottery from Daojali Hading dated to 2.7±0.3 ka (LD1728). The ‘Ambari ware’ is the next known type, dated to 1030±105 CE (TF-1019). But the assemblages have no sturdy storage jars or prolific occurrences of a particular design or shape. Pottery found is highly fragmented and mostly of the plain variety. Colours are of different shades of red and black. Medium-sized globular pots, 20-30 cms in height with a rim diameter of 15-20 cms are most common in the Neolithic, Megalithic and Historical period sites. Both handmade and wheel-made traditions existed with certain points of convergence. The paper attempts to map the development of the craft of pottery in Assam starting from a known past through provenance analysis and the theory of utilitarianism. For any tradition to evolve it must be relevant to the community, it has to be continuously recreated and transmitted from one generation to another. Did this fail to happen in Assam as the craft has always co-existed or rather competed with the ‘lignic’ or the bamboo, wood and cane crafts?

Analytical Indexing of the Pottery from 6th to 13th c. CE: Case study of the Ceramics from Ancient Bengal – Lefrancq Coline: In South Asia, the ceramics produced from 5th/6th c. to 13th c. CE are much less known than the ceramics from the so-called Early Historical period (5th/4th c. BCE – 4th/5th c. CE). The lack of well-stratified archaeological contexts and of marker-potteries are some of the reasons. Indeed, the archaeological reports speaks often about ceramics with general terms like “red ware” or “grey ware” without providing a proper description of the technical features making it difficult for the person reading the report to identify the potsherds. Some observations of the archaeologists on the ceramics dated to the period from 6th to 10th c. CE are recurrent like the fact that the ceramics were produced locally and were made for cooking or transport, not for the table service. However, because of the few detailed studies available on the assemblages of this period, it is still difficult to understand the main characteristics of those ceramics and, subsequently to work on provenance studies and trade either local, regional or longue-distance (even if it is known thanks to written sources that trade was well present during that period). The first step is to create an analytical index – either at a regional or pan-Indian scale – that would allow a better understanding of all the technological features of the ceramics in order to easily identify the wares and compare the different assemblages between them. The goal is also to include and enhance the few previous detailed studies. Through this presentation focusing on several case studies (ceramics from ancient Bengal and the Eastern coast of India), I will discuss the different possibilities of classification methods.

Experimental Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology- Pottery Techniques Perspective – S. Udayakumar: Experimental archaeology is a convenient way of describing the collection of facts, theories and fiction assembled through a century of interest in the reconstruction and function of ancient remains. In this experimental pottery technique research, the author is trying to indicate how experimental archaeology plays a very prominent role in understanding archaeology and ancient technology from a different view. Concerning pottery technique, the author has nailed all stages involved in pottery techniques such as preparation of clay, hand-made pottery, wheel-made pottery, coil method, slab method, moulding method, burnishing, pre-heating the pottery and firing method. This experimental research has three major understandings and interrelated aims. The first aim of this experimental research is to understand the basic approach of making pottery and to observe the techniques and method of pottery in the eyes of an artisan and archaeologist. The second is to identify the method or way of burnishing the pottery, to know the clay moisture during the burnishing of the pottery, and to analyse the outcome of burnishing pottery after firing. Third, to see the role of the firing method in pottery techniques in an open pottery kiln. This experimental research will give the whole light to understanding the pottery techniques. With concern to the ethnoarchaeology approach, the author has undertaken systematic fieldwork of pottery techniques in the parts of Tamil Nadu (Kota pottery, Nilgiris, Manamadurai, Villapuram, Mambedu) and Karnataka (Pottery town and Nandi hills); ethnoarchaeology research will talk about the migration of artisan, materials involved in the pottery making and firing methods.

He also showed how the pottery was made….

4.00-4.15 PM Discussion

How to differentiate pottery of medieval and later medieval period pottery, particularly, when they were found as “surface collection.”  Coline replied that it was vey difficult to do so.

How to differentiate between man-made and wheel-made pottery? Udhyakumar replied that thickness and the wheel impression found at the bottom are for identification. However, if they are plastered sufficiently, then, it is difficult to identify.

Sukanya Sharma was asked about the correlation of the pottery with temperature of different period pottery, she responded affirmatively.

6.00 PM Tea break

SESSION VI: CHRONOLOGIES AND SCIENTIFIC DATING

Chairperson: Prof. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer . He was asking audience to come and sit in the front, as the session was important.

Revisiting Bronze Age Ceramics of Gujarat – Kuldeep K. Bhan: Recent archaeological data suggest that during the Early Harappan (ca. 3200-2600 BCE) and the Early Harappan – Mature Harappan Transition (ca. 2600-2500 BCE), there was a migration of agro-pastoralists of the Indus cultural tradition in the Gujarat region. The routes are not precisely known. But it appears that the people met and interacted with a diverse set of people who were already present in Gujarat, as indicated by the presence of distinct pottery traditions of the Bronze Age of Gujarat. Presence of these pottery traditions had mostly been overlooked. These potteries now have been well documented at the sites of Loteshwar, Nagwada, Padri, Somnath, Rangpur and Lothal – representing, what is usually known as Micaceous Red Ware, Anarta, Padri, Pre-Prabhas and Soarth ceramics. In order to understand the cultural relevance of these wares it is important to understand the spatial and temporal distribution, typological and other cultural material associations that seem to provide most of the information about how to look at these various cultural traditions. Based on the present literature, archaeological data and the typological studies of these wares an attempt is made to hypothesize an Early Harappan Tradition (Regionalization Era Ca. 3300 BCE) was very well prevalent in Gujarat that finally led to the emergence of the complex cultural mosaic that has been known as the Sorath Harappan Domain, (borrowing the terminology of Posshel) during the second half of the third millennium BCE.

Bhan thanked all his gurus, teachers, colleagues etc…..

Tracing the Origins: Investigating Chalcolithic Ceramic Traditions in Gujarat, India – Rajesh S.V: Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

Relative Chronology, Ceramic Typologies and Communities of Practice: Historicizing Ceramic Consumption Practices in South Deccan Mortuary Ritual – Peter Johansen: Since its inception, South India’s cultural history sequence has been reliant upon a ware-based ceramic typology to order its relative chronology. Radiocarbon and stratigraphic analyses have demonstrated that the hard chronological lines between archaeological cultures and their periodicity are more fluid than commonly acknowledged. A re-evaluation of Neolithic mortuary ritual, and its associated ceramic consumption practices, point to the very early production and use of slipped and polished ware pottery – e.g., black-and-red ware, as serving vessels in localized South Indian funerary contexts. These findings trouble the epistemological foundations of South India’s ware-based relative chronology and point to important theoretical and methodological problems with the use of ‘archaeological cultures’ as analytical units that seek to understand cultural practices and deep history. This paper will discuss the development of ceramic consumption practices in Neolithic and Iron Age mortuary ritual practices in the South Deccan. It argues for an approach to chronology, and indeed history that focuses on ceramics in the context of particular communities of practice through which social relations and meaning were negotiated and distributed through particular cultural activities rather than simply using ceramics as imprecise markers of time and the proxies of totalizing, ahistorical archaeological cultures.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

08-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (2)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (2)

06.01.2024, Saturday academic proceedings: The session II was about “Graffiti and inscribed potshred” chaired by Prof. Massimo Vidale held between 10-11 AM with the following papers:

Ceramic Chronologies of Tamil Nadu: An Overview by K. Rajan and R. Sivanantham: Rajan presented the paper, delving upon the following: In recent years, Tamil Nadu witnessed tremendous progress in field archaeology. The recent excavations conducted at Pattaraiperumpudur, Vadakkupattu, Perumbalai, Budhinattam, Kodumanal, Vembakottai, Keeladi, Algankulam, Adichanallur, Sivagalai, Korkai and Thulukkarpatti supported with intensive explorations provided certain basic information on the ceramic sequences.

The ceramics are unearthed in two contexts, one from the settlement which is used in day-to-day life and another from the graves, mostly ritual in nature. Though both settlement and grave met with black-and-red ware, but it needs to be understood in the given contexts. Likewise, our understanding of the stratigraphic positions of various kinds of ceramics, namely white painted black-and-ware, plain black-and-red ware, black slipped ware, russet coated ware, rouletted ware, NBP and other wares such as torpedo jar, amphorae, Arretine, Turquoise Glazed pottery, etc., encountered in Early Historic Tamil Nadu need to be analysed in the backdrop of inscribed potsherds.

More than 10,000 graffiti inscribed potsherds and more than 1500 Tamili (Tamil-Brahmi) inscribed potsherds have been unearthed to date. These were engraved with personal names on the shoulder portion of the pot, a social context marker. In the same way, there is a region-specific ceramic such as russet-coated ware, which are found only in Kongu region of Tamil Nadu.

However, its presence in other regions reflects its commercial or cultural contacts. Thus, they attempted to understand the contextual position of each ware and their stratigraphical and chronological settings based on the data collected both from excavations and explorations.

He started cautiously what is early historic, iron, or Neolithic – is a big issue as for as the Tamilnadu is concerned, yet conclude with the following results:

Megalithic – 7000-3000 BCE

Iron Age – 3000-700 BCE

Early historic – 700-300 BCE

When the north India was enjoying copper age, south India Iron age and were contemporaries

The Tamilnadu early historic period goes much before Asokan  period.

Ceramics in the Indus Tradition: Technology, Gender and Ideology – Jonathan Mark Kenoyer: The long trajectory of pottery making documented at the sites of Mehrgarh, Nausharo and Harappa provide a unique opportunity to understand the changes in ceramic technology over time in the Indus Tradition. During the Regionalization Era, or Early Harappan Phase (5500-2600 BCE) the production of pottery in Baluchistan and the Punjab regions will be examined in terms of its association with household crafts and later household industry. During the Harappa Phase of the Integration Era (2600-1900 BCE) Indus ceramic production became quite diversified and involved a wide range of production modes, from household industry to mass production of common wares for use in the urban context. There is also evidence for highly controlled workshops producing elite symbols of power, such as stoneware bangles. Various types of production were involved in these different workshops, including hand building, coil and slab construction, moulds and carved pottery. The firing was also carried out in different types of kilns, including covered pit kilns, updraft kilns and high firing reduction furnaces. During the Late Harappan Phase or Localization Era (1900-1300 BCE) new production technologies, pottery styles and kilns were introduced. The role of women, men and children in ceramic production over time will be examined using comparisons with ethnographic data as well as the study of fingerprints and footprints on pottery. The production of pre-firing and post-firing graffiti on pottery as well as pottery decorative motifs will also be discussed to show the possible role of women in the development of writing and ideological symbols that became important during the Harappa Phase.

11-11.30 AM – Address  by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director – IIT Madras: He could not come, because of his pfeoccupation.

Prof. Amitabh Pande, Director – Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya MoU Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department and Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute: The MoU documents exchanged between the parties.

11.30-12.00 Noon Tea and Inauguration of Live Potters’ Workshops: The workshop was conducted demonstrating how the man-made and wheel-made potteries were manufactured.

12.00-1.30 PM Third session Tradeand Culture contact:  The third session was chaired by Prof. K. Krishnan and the following papers were presented:

The Manifestation of Rouletted Ware – Dayalan Duraiswamy: [not presented today] Rouletted ware is a deluxe ware of the early historic period. The continuous rolling motion of the roulette produces the patterns. These decorations are found on black, grey, red and black-and-red wares. The distribution pattern of rouletted ware in India shows a concentration all along the eastern coast, mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This pottery is also reported from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Oman and Yemen – a strong association of the ancient maritime trade centres. Thus, it is important evidence for exchange between South and Southeast Asia from the 3^rd century BCE to the 3^rd century CE. Initially, this pottery and/or rouletted technique was thought to have come from the Mediterranean. However, later evidence substantiated that the pottery was produced somewhere in Asia. He discussed the probable origin, evolution and diffusion of the ware, the nature of the fabric, types of rouletted or chattered decoration, and its regional variation, dealing with the comparative study of the geochemical analysis and the archaeological data of the pottery from various sites.

Impact of Roman Wares on Indian Early Historic Ceramics Repertoire: Stratigraphic, Visual and Typological Analysis  – Sunil Gupta: Dealing with the occurrence of Mediterranean pottery in the stratigraphy of Early Historic sites in western and southern India, he started comparing with the IVC. Mortimer Wheeler observed in his report on the excavations at Arikamedu, the coastal trading station on the Tamil coast, that the ‘uninterrupted’ occurrence of Mediterranean amphorae in the Arikamedu strata signified regular Roman sea trade in the BC-CE transition as compared to the ‘spasmodic’ Ptolemaic ventures to India. Similarly, another well-known archaeologist, M.S. Subbarao of M.S. University of Baroda, was of the view that the appearance of the fine Red Polished Ware at a certain point of the Early Historic horizon in western India was indicative of Roman trade contact, the allusion being that the fine RPW derived from the deluxe Roman red wares. H.D. Sankalia voiced the same opinion as Subbarao, dividing the Early Historic stratigraphy at the site of Nevasa on the basis of the appearance of Mediterranean amphorae and the Fine Red Polished Ware. He  emphasized that the initial separation or demarcation of Mediterranean derived red wares in Early Historic India is stratigraphic more than visual or typological. From this stratigraphic understanding, it is possible to examine closely the various Roman red ware and amphorae imports as well as a range of fine red wares which appeared suddenly on the western coast of India and triggered a red ware tradition which permeated into northern and peninsular India. In fact, the red fabric techniques were adopted in the terracotta tradition, with Roman inspired doubled moulded figurines appearing in western India. He intended to demonstrate with the aid of stratigraphic profiles, drawings and photographs and some site videos played in the workshop.

Ceramics and Interactions in the Early Historic Indian Ocean Region  – Selvakumar V: Ceramics is one of the well-preserved materials indicating long-distance cultural interactions. Ceramics were traded as commodities and also they were used as storage containers for commodities. Ceramic wares and other glass wares were used by the sailors and traders and some of them were also probably traded. Amphora jars were used for the transport of wine, olive oil and fish sauce. They are distributed across several sites in South Asia. Similarly, West Asian ceramics such as TGP and ovoid jars are found at several sites. Rouletted ware and associated ceramics are one of the widely distributed ceramics materials of Indian origin. Inscribed ceramic sherds are also distributed across the Indian Ocean suggesting the nature of the individuals who travelled across. Terra sigillata is reported from a few sites in South Asia. These ceramics are mostly found in coastal port sites and market centres. He discussed the patterns in the distribution of ceramics in the Indian Ocean region with a specific focus on South Asia.

He responded to the querries:

How these goods were imported and exported so that they were available at the different places?

Scientific analysis done on the ceramics point to a common source.

Changing colour of the ceramics – oxidation and reduction for ging red and black colous.

The significance of black and red colour potteries.

Next session was chaired by Sunil Gupta.

Introducing Diversity in South and Southeast Asia Cultural Exchange: Combined Analyses of Ceramic and Ornament Technological Systems Bérénice Bellina and Aude Favereau: Research on commercial exchanges has long been dominated by texts and exotic imported products, leading to a homogenous and elitist view of the groups involved; commonly mercantile and/or religious elites. More rarely have studies focused on imported common/everyday craft products or those produced locally and involving exogenous stylistic and/or technical elements (i.e., ’hybrid’ products), which are indicative of different modes of interaction. Moreover, studies of different assemblages are often compartmentalized: local vs imported, ceramic vs ornaments. However, every configuration of industry provides different information, such that the comparative analysis of technical systems enriches interpretations. This is particularly the case for pottery and stone ornaments omnipresent in ports and their hinterlands. This paper offers a diachronic synthesis of comparative studies of the different categories of ceramic and ornament assemblages from Southeast Asian ports and related to South (imports, hybrid, inspired), providing a chrono-technological sequence spanning almost a thousand years. Do the proportions of the different categories of imports vs hybrids vary over time? Are there changes in the production systems (raw materials, technologies used, etc.)? If so, what can be inferred about the South and Southeast Asian groups using them and their cultural interactions? This research shows how cross-fertilising studies of the technical systems of ceramic assemblages and finery enrich our understanding of both South and South-East Asian groups, the exchanges they had with each other and how they evolved over time.

From the East to the West: Investigating the Presence of South China Sea Ceramics in South Asia – Aude Favereau: Research on the movement of people and goods from the Mediterranean world to China via South- and South-East Asia aroused a great deal of interest, particularly on cultural exchanges that occurred by the end of the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of the 1st millennium CE. Evidence of contact between communities in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea basins during this period highlighted complex cultural interactions involving the exchange of artefacts but also the dissemination of technologies and styles. But what about the circulations from East- and South-East Asia to South Asia? Were there imported ceramics or vessels used to carry commodities? Are South China Sea ceramics known in South Asia? She proposes –

(1) to review the ceramics of South Asia reported in the literature as being potentially linked to the East and to assess what is known about these vessels in South-East Asia;

(2) to introduce a selection of ceramic types that circulated widely in the South China Sea and that are also found at sites facing the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar to question whether these types travelled up to South Asia; and

(3) to make inferences about interactions and exchange activities during pre- and protohistoric times.

Torpedo Jars of Mesopotamian Origin at Vadnagar – A Tale of Interaction During the 1st Millennium CE– Abhijit S. Ambekar, Ananya Chakraborty and Amol Kulkarni: Recent excavations at Vadnagar have identified certain ceramic traditions dating back to the 1st millennium CE. This period witnessed the appearance of new wares such as Red polished ware, Coarse grey ware, Black burnished ware, and among imported ceramic types -Torpedo jar sherds and turquoise glazed ware (both non-Indian in origin). Among these, the latter distinct ceramic types indicate a relationship of the Indian subcontinent with the Western world (including Mesopotamia) and its overall cultural and economic connections through seaborne trade. The significant quantity of torpedo sherds discovered across various locations and cultural layers at the site highlights a considerable demand and supply to Vadnagar. Torpedo jars had likely served as vessels for transporting liquid commodities such as wine, oil, or other valuable food items over long distances. The presence of such a large number of torpedo jar specimens not only entails substantial import demands but also implies the affordability of the inhabitants residing in an urban centre such as Vadnagar. These findings collectively indicate a sense of prosperity among the town’s residents and direct or indirect commercial ties with neighbouring regions and the Western world over a millennium.

Next Stephen Koob chaired the session – IV, “Terracotta, stoneware glazing and residue analysis,” and the following papers were presented.

A Matter of Colour: An Insight into the Colouring Technologies of Indian Glazed Ceramic Tiles -Maninder Singh Gill: Glazed ceramic tiles in medieval to pre-modern India were coloured and decorated using a relatively restricted palette of colorants. The glaze colorants were typically oxides of metals – either natural minerals or synthetic products – of which the oxides of cobalt and copper were the most frequently used to obtain shades of blue. Other colorants used include oxides of manganese for purples and synthesised compounds of lead and tin for yellows and greens. The colorants were added to a fritted glaze or, at times, painted over the ceramic tile body, before the firing sequence. Published results of scientific investigations indicate that the colorants and colouring technologies have specific distinguishing regional characteristics. This paper, which combines available analytical findings with evidence in historical records, enables inferences to be drawn on the original materials and technologies of glaze colouration, and assists in elucidating artisanal practices that were being followed for the glazing of ceramics at that time.

Which Way Forward for South Asian Ceramic Sociology? Three Vignettes from Medieval Mewat – Mudit Trivedi: Ceramics encode and mediate relationships. Through these mediations these ordinary objects influence and determine our social relationships. They inform how we cook, eat and store foods and shape our notions of self, other and relation. South Asian studies of ceramics have attended to distinct aspect of Ceramic Sociology in several different ways: through detailed ethnoarchaeological studies of production communities, through equally detailed studies of the skills and learning demanded in standardized production, through discussions of the role of caste in ceramic production, use, exchange and formal variation and by developing multivariate techniques for the recovery of distinct sociological patterns of ceramic use. Yet, a typological, formal and technical focus often outweighs the potential of ceramic sociology in South Asian archaeology. This paper will provide a review of ceramic sociology in the context of both South Asian archaeology and archaeological theory more widely. It will then review exemplary case studies. In addition, drawing upon fieldwork in the region of Mewat (Rajasthan), which provides insight into profound ceramic changes over the medieval era it poses and explores the following questions: What is a midden? What architectural arrangements inform ceramic social relationships? How do we understand the coming of glazed wares?

Ceramic Residue and Indian Archaeology, the Past, Present and the Future – Kalyan Sekhar Chakraborty: Since its first application in the 1970s, lipid residues absorbed and adherent to the surface of unglazed ceramic vessels have provided crucial information on foodways and ceramic utilization. Ceramic residue analysis is a technique that extracts and analyses the microscopic and molecular remains of food items to reconstruct the nature of food items that were once processed, stored, served, and consumed in unglazed ceramic vessels. Despite the robustness of this technique and its successful application across the world, its application in Indian Archaeology is far from adequate. In those few attempts where ceramic residue analyses were incorporated into Indian archaeology, they were primarily carried out abroad. In this presentation, he discussed the current status of its application, how this technique has solved some of the pertaining questions related to Indian archaeology, the future of this technique, and whether we should mainstream ceramic residue analysis in Indian archaeological investigation.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

06-01-2024

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