The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31st to November 2nd 2023 (3)

The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities  (NMMA) – workshop at Chennai from October 31^st to November 2^nd 2023 (3)

The third day proceedings of the NMMA Workshop for the Southern Region: The following speakers delved upon their respective topics and specialized areas. Though, the topic has been documentation of the objects, the speakers mostly discussed about their findings with their valuable experience with important points.

• Prof. Deivanayagam, Tamil University , Thanjavur
• Shri Nishant Zodape and Shri Yash Gupta, on utilisation of open-source software for creating databases,
• Dr. Muthu Shankar, Head of GIS Applications, French Institute, Pondicherry ,
• Dr Arun Raj.T on strategies for stopping illicit trafficking of antiquities” and ultimately
• Dr Charuta Kulkarni, IIT, Madras talking about INQUA Database on Global South

Prof. Deivanayagam, Tamil University, Thanjavur: speaking on identification of Chola Bronzes. He explained with photographs pointing out the nuances of the bronzes. To understand his speech, one should know other subjects also, as because of his versatile experience, he explained many details about the icons and sculptures.

Cholas’ bronzes: Chola bronzes were typically of deities, royalty and the politically powerful people of the day-all in a distinctive Chola style, classically representative of the human form, and perfectly proportioned. The sculptures are recognizable by the way the bodies are posed. They are always graceful, elegant and sensuous, particularly if a sculpture is that of a couple, such as Siva and Parvati. The bronzes also depict the “mudras” or gestures derived from classical dance. Chola master sculptors created their works with the cire perdue, or lost wax process, which is still in use today.

There are two methods of casting metal images-solid and hollow casting. The required image is fashioned by the stapathi in bees wax. Then the wax model is given several coats of fine clay. The clay mould is then carefully dried under the sun. After a few days the clay mould is ready for casting. When the wax model is prepared and is ready for the preparation of the clay mould, arrangements for the preparation of the alloy are made. The five metals to be used in the alloy and they are -copper, silver, gold, brass and lead popularly known as panchaloha. In actual practice by chemical testing we have found the percentages of the metals as follows:

How manufactured – alloying technique[1]: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Normally bronze is a composite alloy of metals-copper, tin, lead, silver and gold in varying proportions. However analysis of South Indian bronzes reveals that they invariably consist of copper, tin, lead, zinc and iron. Trace elements such as arsenic, antimony, Bismuth etc., have been detected. Above l% is considered as a major element and below 0.1% is considered a trace element, e.g. Copper: 79%: Tin 5%, Lead: 13% Zinc 1%; Iron 1%; Trace elements arc arsenic, antimony, nickel and silver and no gold is Present. Manipulating the alloying elements, different shades of metal were produced. This shows tin has been used. Therefore, the alloy is predominantly of copper, tin and lead. The presence of gold and silver is rare or trace. The clay mould with the wax model inside it is baked skillfully over all the wax. When the alloy is ready, it is poured through the orifice into the empty mould in a thin, even and continuous stream. The molten metals allowed for cooling. Then the mould is broken open and the solid metal image is obtained. The image is given finishing touches by the sthapati. This part, the opening of the eyes of the image is what imparts the exquisite expressions on the faces. This is done under some sort of spiritual inspiration. Sometimes, Stapathis are known to take even weeks to open the eves. The science of Image making is dealt with in the ancient Indian science of Silpasastra (Sculpture Science).

Hollow casting- In this case, the object is moulded in clay and the core is coated with wax, which in turn is covered with a coating of clay. After draining the wax by heating, the mould is used for casting. This method is usually associated with North India.

Patina and patination: A Patina is a thin layer of corrosion, usually brown or green, that appears on copper or copper alloys as a result of natural or artificial oxidation. Patina is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper, brass, bronze and similar metals and metal alloys (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes).On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides, carbonates, sulfides, or sulfates formed on the surface during exposure to atmospheric elements (oxygen, rain, acid rain, carbon dioxide, sulfur-bearing compounds. The green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze, sometimes called verdigris, usually consists of varying mixtures of copper chlorides, sulfides, sulfates and carbonates, depending upon environmental conditions such as sulfur-containing acid rain.

Nishant Zodape and Yash Gupta: They explained “on utilization of open-source software for creating databases”. With “access” how the excel can be used for filling up data and create a document.

 Muthu Shankar: He explained about the “South Indian Historical Atlas” with many facilities, but, it is not available to the public. The primary data for the project comprise historical and geographical information collected from a large corpus of south Indian inscriptions besides archaeological data collected from a series of field surveys supplemented with the data taken from archaeological reports of ASI and other institutions.   Workshop/review meetings were held every six months are to evaluate the progress of the work. The atlas was developed as web-browser software allowing different basic GIS display and database querying functionalities necessary for a user-friendly usage of the Atlas. It uses W3C (WWW Consortium) compliant Graphics /Open GIS so that the system can be accessed through the internet. The atlas has a conceptual resilience on how to curate data, compile information from it, and disseminate it through new digital tools available then, even when illustrative examples in the application of data science mehods in historical research was scarce. This resulted in the curation and archival of historical data sets that encourage data-driven inquiries into the past, while integrating data, computational science methods into historical research.

T. Arun Raj, director NMMA, Noida: Talked on “strategies for stopping illicit trafficking of antiquities.” Perhaps, next to Pramod Joglekar, he directly discussed the issue with examples. He pointed out how Alexander Cunningham used to travel on a donkey visiting archaeological and ancient places for collecting details. The ASI at present listed 3697 monuments as protected. He pointed out how the Delhi Iron pillar was brought to the present place and Rajendra Cholas brought sculptures as “war trophy” to Thanjavur. Alexander Rae and others carried on excavations even before the formation of ASI and collected many objects. He left some at Egmore Museum and others were taken to London. Even now, the ASI is struggling to deal and store the smuggled artefacts returned back to India. In Trichy, the sculptures have been lying there for more than 20 years, which were recovered. Though HR & CE recorded more than 36,000 temples and quantified 9,000 bronzes many others appear to be not accounted. However, for the export of antiquities, thousands of applications are filed with the ASI, Chennai and they are pending. Nealy more than 20,000 applications have been pending, because, there are no expert persons to identify the objects mentioned in the applications as “less than 100 years” or not. Thus, the crucial problem comes here. Once the certificate is given, the antique object would go out of India legally. He pointed out that unlike Sri Lanka, India does not have “Heritage Police,” and hence, the illegal export / smuggling out of the antiquities have been going on. He also pointed out as how a lesson has been included in the CBSE syllabus to adopt a monument nearby school, so that awareness is created not only among the school children, but also the public living surrounding the monument.

Dr Charuta Kulkarni, IIT, Madras: Talking about INQUA Database on Global South[2], she explained related issues. Stemming from the PAGES-INQUA supported early-career researcher workshop on “Past Socio–Environmental Systems (PASES)” (pastglobalchanges.org/calendar/26972) in 2020, the INQUA-funded project “The whole is not the sum of the parts: building a synthesis database of past human–environmental systems in the Global South (pSESYNTH)” has initiated research collaborations among paleoscientists from, and/or working on, the Global South and other underrepresented regions of the world (e.g. Australia, Southeast Europe). Pursuing the Integrated, Coordinated, Open, and Networked (ICON) approach (Koren et al. 2022), the overarching goal of pSESYNTH is to establish, articulate and strengthen regional, interdisciplinary teams for studying past socio–environmental systems of the Global South, and to build the first multi-disciplinary paleo database representing its regions.

pSESYNTH primarily focuses on the Holocene (the last 11.7 kyr) because: (i) there is greater spatial availability and better chronological controls of the datasets compared to the Pleistocene, and (ii) the Holocene is characterized by a progressive degree of anthropogenic influence over landscapes, offering ways to explore the evolution of diverse socio–environmental systems. Under the pSESYNTH framework, linking proxies of environmental change with climatic signals and societal processes (e.g. subsistence strategies, growth rates, migrations) will provide baselines to pose and test multiple hypotheses for explaining the trajectories of socio–environmental systems. Specifically, pSESYNTH activities are being developed around three main objectives.

To explore drivers of past environmental change combining a diverse set of proxy information, organized into three themes: paleoecology (e.g. pollen, charcoal, diatoms), paleoclimatology (e.g. biomarkers, stable isotopes, varves, numerical simulations), and archaeology (e.g. radiocarbon dates, phytoliths, archaeobotanical remains, material culture).

2) To quantitatively analyze the links among paleoecology, paleoclimatology and archaeology, with an emphasis on research questions that can be generic across the Global South (e.g. are there connections, or commonalities, between colonial legacies and the evolution of socio–environmental systems in the Global South?) or specific to each subregion (e.g. at what spatial and temporal scales were human–environmental systems coupled or uncoupled to climatic fluctuations?).

3) To share the outputs and products of the project in the form of a database that meets the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles (Wilkinson et al. 2016). pSESYNTH participants will capitalize on existing single- and multi-themed databases (e.g. Neotoma, NOAA, PANGAEA, p3k14c, ArchaeoGlobe) in complementing their data contributions in the novel Global South database. Together, the FAIR–ICON principles will underpin the database organization and will ensure geographic coverage, comparability, and accessibility for time-series data synthesis, which is crucial for mainstreaming paleoscience research from the Global South.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

04-11-2023

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[1] T. S. Sridhar (ed.), The Cholas Bronzes – 1000^th anniversary of Thanjavur Big Temple celebrations Sept 25^th to Oct.4^th 2010, The Tamilnadu State Archaeology Department, Chennai, 2011, pp.12-13.

[2] Charuta Kulkarni and others, pSESYNTH project: Community mobilization for a multi-disciplinary paleo database of the Global South, https://pastglobalchanges.org/publications/pages-magazines/pages-magazine/137240

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-04-2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The proceedings of the National seminar Buddhism and Sectarian Religious faith in India or Buddha and Anti-caste Bhakti Saints held at Acharya Nagarjuna University on March 1st and 2nd 2023 (3)

The proceedings of the National seminar Buddhism and Sectarian Religious faith in India or Buddha and Anti-caste Bhakti Saints held at Acharya Nagarjuna University on March 1^st and 2^nd 2023 (3)

01-03-2023 (Wednesday) – afternoon session: Afternoon, the second session, the following papers were presented:

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
P. D. Satya Paul[1]	Title – not known, not listed / included in the “Abstracts” He spoke twice for nearly two hours….	?
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao[2]	The Sectarian encounters between the Buddhist and Jain faiths during the Medieval period for commercialization and communalization	34-35

P. D. Satya Paul delved upon the communal Hinduism criticizing P.V. Kane who carried on the Maxmueller’s project, Dr S. Radhakrishan for his opinion about Buddha (Buddha’s movement was a protestant type of reformative Hinduism) and Swami Vivekananda for perpetuating caste. He was suggesting about a “proto-sramanic” tradition before IVC, based on which, the Buddhism could have been evolved.

Getting ready for power-point…..

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao presented his paper, “The Sectarian encounters between the Buddhist and Jain faiths during the Medieval period for commercialization and communalization,” based on the medieval inscriptions, sculptures, paintings and literature. The question of “Himsa and Ahimsa” (violence and non-violence), karma, atma, rebirth etc., the following issues were discussed:

• Why Jainism and Buddhism flourished before and after the “golden period” of the Guptas?:
• What happened between the Arab / Mohammedan invasion and European intrusion during the 12^th to 16^th centuries?:
• The impact of the Europeans on the Jains and Buddhists during the medieval period
• The psychology of Non-violence and violence
• A Dispute between the Mahayana Buddhists and Digambar Jains over Mt Girnar (Gujarat), where all sectarian groups had encounters
• Internal and inherent factors are also responsible for the decline of Jainism and Buddhism
• Transition of faiths in Andhradesa and clash of faiths
• The Jaina-Buddhist conflicts in Karnataka and Tamilagam
• Ahimsavadis – Jains and Buddhists eating flesh
• Vegetarianism, non-vegetarianism and Jaina-Buddha dynasties
• Rivalry among the Business men and Priests
• Dynasties following sectarian faiths and their transition
• Sectarian faiths made talented workers to loose their identity
• Rivalry Among the Jains and Saivites or Sculptors and Agriculturalists?:
• Brahmins versus non-Brahmins
• Sectarian conflicts recorded in the inscriptions
• Oil, oil-mill and their euphemism in Jainism
• Was there any nexus between Jains and extremist groups like Kapalika, Kalamuka etc?:
• Syncretism, eclectism and inculturation
• In-lieu of conclusion – Commercialization and communalization of sectarianism

The Jaina monks that were defeated in the debates were punished based on their agreed condition……

This type of sculptures are found in many temples…….

Then, the following conclusions were drawn:

It could be noted in the most of the sectarian encounters of whatever nature, whether it was philosophical debate, theological polemics, right over property, manufacture and production of goods and services, imports and exports, monopoly of trade route and related issues. Thus, the following features could easily be noted working:

• Commercialization and communalization of sectarianism had been the hallmark of medieval inland and oversea trade and commerce.
• As more and more goods and services had to be manufactured and produced, more labourers, workers and technicians were required for carrying out various assembly, fabrication and construction activities.
• Such experts had to be trained, organized and made to work according the exigencies, emergencies and requirements at national and international obligations.
• Thus, such experts had to be faithful, loyal and obedient to the authority, rulers and government.
• Here, the merchant guilds, trade groups and commercialized communal organizations worked effectively aiding and abetting the rulers.
• Accordingly, most of them had to be polyglots, dubashis, sailors, warriors, pirates and profiteers also.
• Under such compulsions, complexities and commitments, social, political, commercial and maritime set-up, the moral, ethic and code of conduct were relegated to background, operated selectively and sectarianism ruled roost.
• The violators of their own imposed acts and rules were punished, prosecuted and even killed without any mercy, but, all carried on in the name of faith and religion only.
• Finally, syncretism had taken place to accommodate all deities, idols or the defied symbols in the places of worship.

Such depiction is found in the Buddhist paintings also…..

There was a discussion and questions by the Chair and Satya Paul and the paper presenter clarified. They questioned about the mentioning of Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Asoka as grandfather, father and son, but, I do not find any chronological or historical issue in the lineage.

Then, the former HOD of the department, who presided over the session, was facilitated.

Former HOD of the Mahayana Buddhism centre was facilitated.

02-03-2023 (Thursday) – second day proceedings:

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
Yadhava Raghu[3]	Dasa movement and its impact on Telugu villages bordering Karnataka: a case of Pyalakurthy village, Kurnool district[4].	37-38 46
John Weasley[5]	Siddha cults in South India.	57
Sugandha[6]	The Buddhist perspective of social sratification	5 8
N. Kanakaratnam[7]	Caste revenge on adigas and Malas.	60
Eluri Harshavardhan[8]	Egalitarian ideals of Buddhism: A repository of counter discourse in Andhradesa	49

About dasa, dasari, dasari caste etc: Dasari is a Vaishnava mendicant caste in Telangana region and Andhra Pradesh, India. They are involved in various business, trades, poojas, marriage rituals, plays and agriculture. Their traditional work is in temple service. They perform death rites in burial grounds as their main occupation. Some of them work as day laborers. They are landless. Some of the Dasari Mala work in business and agriculture. They use both modern and traditional medicines. They are not vegetarians and eat rice as a staple food. The Dasari Mala prefer marriage between cousins. The bereaved and divorced can marry again. The dead are buried rather than cremated like most Hindus. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate. They observe birth and marriage rituals. They are also known as Poosala Balija, Bukka Dasari, and Krishna Balija in different areas of their habitation. However, in Karnataka, how castes with similar sounding names can be mistaken can be noted. In Karnataka, the Dasari caste comes under Category-1 whereas Channa Dasar is SC. Similarly, Bhoyi is Category-1, but Bhovi is SC. Jangama comes under the general category, but Beda Jangama is SC. Therefore, just with the word, “Dasari,” one cannot come to any conclusion. Moreover, the paper readers started with Kanakadasa story and then switched over to the Pyalakurthy village, Kurnool Dist., to claim that the “Dasari caste” people there could be connected with the “dasaris” of Karnataka. Obviously, he is confused with “dasa” of Madhwa tradition, “Dasari” caste and other “Dasari” tradition (being obedient servant / slave.)

These are some of the Tamil Siddhar as found on the temple pillars etc., dated to later medieval and modern periods….

About Siddha, Siddhi, Cittam etc: The seminar brochure claims, “Siddha Tradition in South India was evolved out of Buddhist school of Vajrayana was more prevalent among the lower strata, strived to attain equality in religious sphere. Many Siddha cult centres of present Andhra and Telangana states including Siddhavatam, Siddeswaram, Siddula Guttalu etc. are the live examples for this phenomenon. The medieval text (14-15^th CE) in couplet form ‘Navanadha Charitra’ written by Gourana also mentioned about the Siddhas.” It is not known what is the proof to claim that “Siddha Tradition in South India was evolved out of Buddhist school of Vajrayana..,” as the Tamil Siddha tradition has nothing to do with any Buddhism.  Taking the word “Siddha”( సిద్ధ), the Telugu scholars, researchers and even historians try to link them with “Siddhar, Siddha medicine” and so on, whereas, the Tamil Siddha (சித்த, சித்தர்) nothing to do with. In the process it attempts to narrate the relationship of places like Mahendragiri (of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh) with sage Agastya (one of the very important Siddhars of Siddha medicine) and possible origins of very old common religion (Siva Siddhanla) propagated by Dakshinamurti, through his four disciples from this place. names like Siddha, Sangam, Nandi which are still used in the same sense as they were used from time immemorial. Without knowing the fundamentals, Tamil language and reading the texts of Tamil Siddhas, they misinterpret taking the words. Many list of the places, cities etc., with “సిద్ధ” in Telugu, go on interpret that all such places are connected with Siddhas since immemorial. Of course, they take the Agastya myth also for strengthening their argument.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-03-2023

These are imaginary pictures of 18- Tamil Siddhars…

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[1] Department of Anthropology, Andhra University – Visakhapatnam – appears to be involved in Dalit, Christian and related studies.

[2] Guest faculty, University of Madras and Visiting faculty for Annamalai University, Research Scholar, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras, Chennai.

[3] Asst.Prof, History Dept, Sathya SaiUniversity for Human Excellence, Kalaburagi, Karnataka.

[4] His paper has been printed twice as shown – this shows the mechanical way of preparation of “Abstracts” without going into the details.

[5] Research scholar, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, ANU, AP.

[6] Research scholar, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, ANU, AP.

[7]  Professor, History, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana.

[8] Dept. of History and Archaeology, Dravidian University, Kuppam, AP.

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (3)

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (3)

May 29, 2021 – Kurnool – eight-member gang arrested: Owk police arrested a 6-member gang for allegedly practising witchcraft to unearth hidden treasure near Kanigiri Swamy temple premises in Yerramala forest[1]. Speaking to media persons on Friday, Owk Sub Inspector Jagadeeshwar Reddy said that six persons, Srinivasulu of Anantapur, Venkataramana of Owk, Dudekula Kadar Vali of Banaganapalle and Mekala Ramesh, Talari Hanumanthu and Golla Rangaswami of Goruman Palle in Kolimigundla after forming as a gang, tried to unearth hidden treasures near Kanigiri Swamy temple premises in Yerramala forest[2]. The 100-year-old Kanigiri Swamy temple is constructed in Yerramala forest zone, 8 kilometres away from Owk town. People will hardly visit the temple on normal days. Thus, they might have chosen such deserted and remote temples for looting.

Occult prayers and witchcraft practised to divine treasure: There was a rumour that precious treasures will be hidden beneath the temple or its surrounding areas. Believing the rumours, some treasure hunters used to dig the surrounding areas or demolish the age-old temples searching for hidden treasures. The six-member gang with greed to own the precious trove has sketched a plan to dig the temple premises. Taking the advantage of no one present on the temple premises, they first performed some occult prayers before commencing digging works. However, some locals noticed them and immediately brought it to the notice of the police, said the Sub-inspector. Based on the information, the police conducted a search operation at the forest zone. After a while of searching, all six members were caught and taken to the police station. A case has been filed under relevant sections and all accused would be sent to remand, stated the SI. Here, the local people appear to be honest and report to the police, so that the culprits were arrested.

April 12, 2021 – Nandi destroyed to find diamonds: Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor police arrested 10 persons for stealing and destroying a Nandi idol from a temple in a Dalit colony in Jagamarla village, believing that diamonds were embedded inside it[3]. Police arrested M. Venkata Chalapathi (43), K. Srinivasulu (34), K. Hari (34), B. Sridhar (27), G. Venkatesh (24), P. Dasaradaiah (40), G. Narasimhulu (60), K. Ranga Babu (40), D. Prakash (34) and B. Munendra (29)[4]. On April 4, police received a complaint that the Nandi idol belonging to Vandana Malleswara Swamy temple, located in the Koundyana forest area near the Scheduled Tribes (ST) colony in Devalampeta locality of Jagamarla village in Palamaneru mandalam was stolen. Acting on temple priest S. Narasimhulu’s complaint, police registered a case under IPC Section 379 and started an investigation. Around 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, police received a tipoff that five people were moving suspiciously in the Jagamarla forest area, prompting the cops to round them up and question them. Chittoor superintendent of police (SP) S. Senthil Kumar said that Srinivasulu, also known as Ashwathama, belonging to Nagarkurnool district in Telangana and his local friend Hari from Kandada together went to check the idol on March 21, which they would eventually decamp with. Kumar said on March 26, Srinivasulu dispatched Hari, who along with Chalapathi, Sridhar, Venkatesh and Ranga Babu stole the idol and hid it in a pond at Gangasagaram village belonging to one Munindra.

The treasure hunters planned to do their job: The treasure hunters planned to break open the idol on March 27, 2021  but one of the thieves, Ranga Babu, came with Prakash Naidu, Narasimhulu, Dasaradhayya and Gopi to steal it again from the place where it was hidden. In the second theft of the idol, Ranga Babu and his accomplices stole it away to Poyya village in Thottembedu mandalam and buried it. On April 2, 2021 they dug out the idol and hammered it into pieces to find no diamonds in it. Since abandoning the idol pieces will raise suspicion, they threw the Nandi pieces in the Swarnamukhi river. “Gopi, who broke the idol into pieces died in a road accident three days ago while the remaining 10 accused have been arrested, along with the confiscation of an auto-rickshaw, one Tata Ace, three two-wheelers and the idol pieces,” he said. This incident comes in light of several alleged temple attacks which already rocked the southern state.

January 2021 – Police diaries reveal treasure hunters for Idols: The Indian Express looked at the case diaries of some of these cases, and found that treasure hunters were responsible for six of them. Director General of Police Damodar Goutam Sawang said 42 people had been arrested in these six cases[5]. Amid a political row in Andhra Pradesh over a series of incidents of vandalism of temples, with the ruling party and the Opposition pointing fingers at each other, The Indian Express has found that police investigations into these incidents show that the motive behind most of them was largely apolitical — from the hope of unearthing a treasure in one case to miscreants breaking into a temple in a drunken state in another[6]. However, Director General of Police D Gautam Sawang, however, said it was too early to comment on a possible political conspiracy behind the spate of attacks on temples[7].

Attack on temples: Andhra govt sets up SIT to investigate cases: As the temple desecration of all sorts became an issue, the Andhra govt decided to set up SIT to investigate cases[8]. Ranging from the destruction of idols of various Hindu gods and goddesses in Pithapuram in East Godavari district to the destruction of a statue of Lord Rama in Ramathiratham in Vijayanagaram district there were about 150 incidents in AP since January last year[9]. Incidents of burning of Prasanna Venkateswaraswamy temple chariot in Nellore, Lakshminarasimhaswamy chariots in Antarvedi and theft of silver lions of Sri Kanaka Durga temple chariot in Vijayawada have raised concerns among the people. Why are temples being attacked? Who is doing it? Investigative agencies have no answer to such questions. In the incident of destruction of the idol of Lord Rama in the Ramatirtham temple, silver ornaments of the deity were not stolen. This has happened in a number of cases coming to light in connection with the damage to temples in the state. Due to this, devotees and Hindu communities are commenting that the intention of those who are doing these things is clear. Despite this, there are criticisms that not apprehending the culprits will lead to more incidents.

March 2016 – Kadiri (Anantapur): Several heritage structures and ancient historical temples dating back to the 16th century AD in the district with rich cultural and historical value, are being systematically defaced and vandalised by treasure hunters, due to a lack of coordination between the departments of Endowments, Mines and Geology, Tourism and Archaeology[10]. About 200 treasure hunt teams both local and from neighbouring Karnataka are on the prowl for ancient treasure engaged in digging operations at secluded places with the help of sophisticated metal detectors, according to Archaeology and Museums department sources[11].

Vandalise structures, loot: Some of them had reportedly benefited from such secret excavations and turned into multi-millionaires overnight. Late Kaleshwar Swamy of Penukonda was a major beneficiary of such a bonanza from the treasure find nearly a decade ago. According to department sources, one person was killed six months ago in Penukonda, the hot seat of the treasure hunt due to clashes among the treasure hunt teams. Vested interests are digging up historical temples in Penukonda hoping to find precious gold and silver articles of antique value. Kadiri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple and Penna Ahobilam temples are glaring examples of tampering of ancient structures in the name of renovation by the departments of Endowments and Tourism. This practice has become a matter of concern for lovers and students of history and also to the Department of Archaeology which is the chief custodian of all ancient structures in the country. Treasure hunters are the main culprits as they vandalise these structures, which are vulnerable as there is none to guard them. Archaeology assistant director Lakshmi Devi says there are no funds to guard temples and structures and idols of antique value and unless the Central and State governments allot funds for the purpose, guarding these treasure troves will be a difficult proposition.

Changes, modifications and meddling with structures could be investigated and known: Renovation, reconstruction, restoration and such other acts are also used for treasure hunting and meddling with the ancient and medieval structures. When such groups of persons of the Central or State archaeological departments work, nothing could be suspected. Nowadays, for digging, excavating and removing mud, earth-moving equipment like Bokline, JCB etc., are used and such job is carried on under “outsourcing,” where, outsiders are involved. “Consultants” and others also come and go and their interests are known only to them. The local people would be watching their activities and from them also details could be gathered by others. “Temple cleaning” groups, service doing devotees and others are too knowing many details about temples. Of course, regular visitors, committed devotees, and Kuladeivam-temple goers would be visiting many temples and they could recognize any change that occurred in the structure, as they have been witnessing them many times through decades. Some have photographs taken on those occasions.

Central Government instructions: The Ministry of External Affairs have sent advisories to Diplomatic Missions that their baggage should not contain any antiques which are more than one hundred years old except under the authority of a licence issued by the competent authority. The Government also lays stress on modernisation and strengthening of infrastructure relating to intelligence and enforcement agencies to enable them to take more efficient steps to prevent smuggling of antiques/ idols etc. out of the country. Now, efforts are made with foreign countries to identify, claim and bring back the Indian antiquities that have been illegally shipped out of India based on fake documents. In fact, many Idols have been received back also. In spite of all these efforts, as the State governments, certain vested politically connected officials, ruling politicians and others have been trying to violate the norms and procedure and thus, illegal activities thrive with their blessings. The result has only turned out to be Idol-theft, treasure hunting and looting, desecration and other unlawful activities.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

18-09-2022

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[1] HansIndia, Kurnool: 6-member gang held for treasure hunt,  The Hans India Hans News Service | 29 May 2021 12:00 AM IST.

[2] https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/kurnool-6-member-gang-held-for-treasure-hunt-688274

[3] Etv.bharat, Andhra police arrest 10 treasure hunters for hammering Nandi idol, Published on : April 12, 2021, 4.35 PM IST.

[4] https://www.etvbharat.com/english/national/state/andhra-pradesh/andhra-police-arrest-10-treasure-hunters-for-hammering-nandi-idol/na20210412163533733

[5] Indian Express, Andhra temple desecrations: treasure hunters to drunks, Written by Sreenivas Janyala, Hyderabad | First published on: 18-01-2021 at 04:30:49 am; Updated: January 18, 2021 1:32:37 pm

[6] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/andhra-temple-desecrations-treasure-hunters-to-drunks-7150638/

[7] Indian Express, Andhra Pradesh temple attacks probe points to political angle: Sources, Published: 07th January 2021 08:50 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th January 2021 10:42 AM.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2021/jan/07/andhra-pradesh-temple-attacks-probe-points-to-political-angle-sources-2246680.html

[8] Etv.bharat, Attack on temples: Andhra govt sets up SIT to investigate cases, Published on January 9, 2021, 8.27 PM IST.

[9] https://www.etvbharat.com/english/national/state/andhra-pradesh/attack-on-temples-andhra-govt-sets-up-sit-to-investigate-cases/na20210109202717149

[10] HansIndia, Treasure hunters ravage temples, THE HANS INDIA 4 Mar 2016 7:27 AM IST

[11] https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-03-04/Treasure-hunters-ravage-temples/211234

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (2)

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (2)

September 2022 – Nagulagudi, Rayachoti, Nandavaram, Kurnool district ransacked for treasure: Kurnool District, Nandavaram Mandal. The oldest temple in Rayachoti village is Nagula Gudi, a temple dating back to the Ashoka period. This temple is in the archaeological area. Night after night they dig in the mandapam for hidden treasures. If the way of digging is observed carefully, it is not done by humans, i.e, a machine was used. Locals complain that hidden treasures were stolen by digging with JCB. Andhra and Telangana have been witnessing many temple desecration, temple structure demolitions, Idol lifting, sculptures stealing, treasure hunting, chariots burning etc., going on for the last ten years. With the division of the Andhra State, formation of Telengana, changed governments, political ideology etc., these activities have been increasing.  Some videos have been in circulation in the social media. The police standing nearby the digging site confirms the incident.

December 16, 2021 – eight-members gang arrested: Kurnool police on Sunday arrested an eight-member gang of treasure hunters for allegedly digging up an ancient shrine at Maddikere village in Chippagiri Mandal of Chittoor superintendent of police (SP) S. Senthil Kumar said that Srinivasulu, also known as Ashwathama, belonging to Nagarkurnool district in Telangana and his local friend Hari from Kandada together went to check the idol on March 21, which they would eventually decamp with on December 16, 2021[1]. Briefing reporters about the case, Kurnool SP Kaginelli Fakeerappa said the local village revenue officer (VRO) had lodged a complaint claiming that some unidentified miscreants had dug up the ancient Ammavari temple in the village in search of hidden treasure[2]. In course of the investigation, police found that there was a popular belief in the Mandal that treasure may be hidden beneath the feet of Ammavari at the ancient shrine. According to the police, the prime accused, Dasari Venkatesh of Kubdanagurthi village, hatched a plan to dig up the temple to look for treasure. Thus, if this person is interrogated thoroughly, the motive could be known.

How the plan was hatched to loot: He shared his plan with his brother-in-law Jaya Ramudu. The duo roped in Mangali Venkateswarlu, O Bhaskar Reddy, Golla Peddaiah, P Mareppa and G Ramanjaneyulu. Fakruddin, the owner of an earthmover, was also roped in. The gang reached the temple on December 16 and executed its plan without a hitch. But the group had to return empty-handed as they did not find any treasure even after digging 10 feet below the shrine. Special teams probing the case arrested all eight accused on Sunday and seized one earthmover, three bikes and eight mobile phones from the accused.  Thus, here, when such activities were going on with earth mover, definitely, the nearby persons have known the activities.

Aug 14, 2021 Bikkavolu (Andhra Pradesh): In a startling development, the four Treasure Hunters who stole the ancient Nandi idol from the 9^th century Sri Golingeswara Swamy temple at Bikkavolu village in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district in their quest for diamonds, had actually Surveyed and made a list of more than 15 Idols at various temples in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana[3].  Bikkavolu Treasure Hunters Surveyed Over 15 Idols in Andhra[4]. The police have arrested Chukkapatla Prasad (30) from Guntur district and Kunchala Venkatesh (26), a mason from Kandukuru in Prakasam district, while Guvvala Bhaskar Reddy from the same district and Ravi Pantulu from Nellore district are on the run. All these four accused persons had prepared the list of idols.

Idol lifting gang identified their target: The Idols which featured in their list include Veerabhadra Swamy and Nandi Idols at Unchala village in Kurnool district, Vinayakudu and Nandi Idols at Yanamadula village in Guntur district, three Nandi Idols at Guduru in Nellore district and another black Nandi idol in the same place. Likewise, Nandi idol and gold coloured ornaments at a Sivalayam in Ongole, finely sculpted and embellished Nandi idol in Nellore and another Nandi idol atop a pillar in Vinukonda Shivalayam also featured in the list. So they planned, studied and looted the temples.

The extended list of Idols to be stolen: The list also included a peacock idol in Nellore, Nandi idol in Kammampadu village in Guntur district, Nagula (serpent) idol and a broken idol of a God at Narsapuram in Prakasam district. A white Nandi idol at Kuduri village in Nellore district, a yellow Nandi idol at Injamuru village in the same district, a black Nandi idol at Someswaram in East Godavari district, Sivalayam at Jagityala district in Telangana and finally the Nandi idol they stole from Bikkavolu completed the list. The pater has been to steal particular type of Nandi from Shiva temples and thus, somebody would have ordered so.

Changed politics, anti-Hindu attitude etc: Two of the four accused persons — Prasad and Reddy — are well educated with post-graduate degrees, who fell for the make-believe tales of an accomplice, Pantulu, that ancient Idols contained diamonds which could be cracked open. Prasad is an MCA graduate while Reddy studied MBA.“The educated but broke quartet superstitiously believed that ancient Idols will have diamonds inside them,” said a police officer. This crime assumes significance as the southern state has seen a slew of alleged temple attacks, leading to provocative politics being played around these developments by political parties to corner the state government, making accusations that it is allegedly anti-Hindu[5]. Thus, such fact has been also explicitly revealed and reported by the media. Why and how such highly educated youth involved in Idol-theft cases? Either they must have been unemployed (this cannot be a reason, but, engaged in this job or they decided that such looting would fetch quick money in crores easily. Moreover, the atheist, anti-religion and other propaganda also must have conditioned and moulded their psyche to carry out such unlawful acts.

Iconoclast Idol-thieves: Following the police taking the temple offences with utmost seriousness and installing surveillance cameras in thousands of temples across the state, crimes have come down drastically[6]. Back in January, the East Godavari district police had caught a drunken butcher (name not mentioned) on camera for damaging the trident (trishul) of a local temple in Kakinada. Similarly, even in the Bikkavolu incident, the police managed to capture the movement of a suspect on CCTV surveillance, though not very clear. On Saturday, the police arrested two of the four Treasure Hunters and seized a car, besides recovering the smashed Nandi idol and a hammer.

July 2021 – Treasure hunt gangs ar Ahobilam area: Treasure hunters are exploring the Nallamala deep forest area to try their luck, particularly in the vicinity of the historic Ahobilam belt where a closed well in Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple is believed to have treasure larger than that of Padmanabhaswamy temple[7]. The stone and palm leaf scriptures reveal that an underground den sealed with big stones just in front of the main deity contains a huge golden and diamond treasure hidden by South Indian King Sri Krishnadevaraya of the 16th century[8]. For three decades several attempts were made to plunder this treasure, but whoever attempted had died immediately, say locals[9]. “One archaeology professor, who tried to dig the surface, died on the spot when some poisonous fumes erupted from the side hole of the earth 20 years ago,” said a priest on the condition of anonymity[10]. Thus, the involvement of the professionals is also noted.

Whoever opens the treasure would die: “Recently, an engineer who attempted to break open the treasure not only failed in his attempt but also lost his life,” narrates Penchalayya, a tea stall owner at Ahobilam. Some people say former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Marri Chenna Reddy also got some secret survey done in and around the temple to find out the treasure, but for some mysterious reasons, he withdrew from that task. Subsequently, no attempts were made by anyone to find the treasure. It is believed in Ahobilam that when the Ghajani Mohammad and other Arabs invaded on India to plunder the vast opulence of the then Indian Kingdoms, the Kings used to hide the treasures below the temples or in dens to protect them from being plundered by enemy countries. However, these details are not mentioned or studied and required references are not given. Thus, they are forgotten without understanding the background. Assuming that a “communal problem” might arise due to such studies, generally, the experts could avoid with secularism, but, the scientific temper must evoke them to study honestly without any bias. As even in the 21st century, people believe and engage themselves in such treasure hunt coupled with witchcraft, divining etc.

Guess about the location of temple treasure: The scriptures around the temple say the treasure cannot be taken out now as still, one more generation has to pass as per the dates of the scripture. So it is better not to make attempts to discover the treasure below the temple to avoid premature death, according to temple priests. Similarly in Vundavalli rock caves in the Guntur district of the state, there is a 15-foot single stone of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swami statue which resembles Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swami of Tiruvananthapuram. It is said that there is a large treasure inside the caves and a secret tunnel towards the temple of Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami which is located on a Passive Volcano on Mangaliri road.

Digging under and breaking Nandis: Last week (July 2011), in Gopanpalli village in Zaheerabad Mandal of Medak district, unidentified people entered an old Siddeswaraswamy temple located in the village and dismantled two Nandi statues in the pursuit of searching for treasure. Those who entered the temple for the treasure also offered prayers, lit lamps, and broke coconuts before digging. This is typical for the iconoclasts who have been imbibed with atheistic ideology. In yet another incident in the Malkapur village of Rangareddy district, unidentified people damaged the Shivalingam and Nandi statue hoping to find some treasure. The treasure hunters also dug up huge pits in the premises of the local Hanuman temple located on Bacharam-Korremula road in Hayathnagar Mandal in the same district of the state.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

18-09-2022

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[1] Times of India, Eight treasure hunters held for digging up ancient shrine in Andhra Pradesh, Sandeep Raghavan / TNN / Updated: Jan 11, 2021, 08:20 IST.

[2] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/treasure-hunters-held-for-digging-up-shrine/articleshow/80202026.cms

[3] Indo-Asian News Service, Bikkavolu treasure hunters surveyed over 15 idols in Andhra, Telangana,  Posted by Sakina Fatima |  Updated: 15th August 2021 11:44 am IST

[4] https://www.siasat.com/bikkavolu-treasure-hunters-surveyed-over-15-idols-in-andhra-telangana-2178064/

[5] Telugu-stop, Bikkavolu Treasure Hunters Surveyed Over 15 Idols In Andhra, Telangana, News Desk- News Desk Last Updated Time: 2021-08-14 23:46:02  IST

[6] https://telugustop.com/bikkavolu-treasure-hunters-surveyed-over-15-idols-in-andhra-telangana-national-crimedisasteraccident-latest-eng-news

[7] Deccan Herald, Treasure hunt begins in Andhra temples, Hyderabad, July 16, DHNS:, JUL 16 2011, 23:43 IST; UPDATED: JUL 16 2011, 23:43 IST

[8] https://www.deccanherald.com/content/176929/treasure-hunt-begins-andhra-temples.html

[9] OneIndia, Treasures in AP temples worth more than that of Padmanabha?, By Anita | Published: Sunday, July 17, 2011, 12:09 [IST].

[10] https://www.oneindia.com/2011/07/17/treasure-in-ap-temples-more-than-that-of-padmanabha-aid0113.html?story=2

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (1)

The Idol-theft, temple desecration and illegal export of antique objects in Andhra and Telangana: Is it a political, politicized or organized racket? (1)

Anti-temple attitude, iconoclasm and Idol-theft etc in Andhra and Telangana: Recently, there have been many instances of temple attacks, desecration and demolitions taking place in Andhra and Telangana. Generally, the people of Tamilnadu think that their State has been prone to such temple-demolishing, idol-breaking, icon-lifting gangs working with political iconoclasm, anti-Hindu ideology and anti-iconogenesis morbid mentality. But, such psyche has been exhibited in Andhra and Telangana also is surprising and shocking. The mindset and ideology have been same as observed by the media and the Police. Thus, how Telugu-speaking people have been infested with a sinister psyche leading to iconoclasm has to be analyzed. How these stolen idols are passed on hands, whom they are sent, what is the destination, and finally who pays for such operations and such other questions are also to be answered. As for Andhra and Telangana are concerned, there has not been any systematic study of such event involved.

How deserted, mutilated and desecrated Idols are found at many remote places?: There have been thousands of temples situated across the state in the remote places and villages. For the people of those areas, they have been witnessing them for many generations.  The nonagenarians, octogenarians and other elders could give more details also. Many times, in local newspapers, there have been routine and stereotyped claims that a broken sculpture or inscription was found in a remote village, nearby temple, or in the paddy field and so on. Most of them have been there and known to local people and the visitors. However, some enthusiastic people take photographs and publish such stuff in the local newspapers, as they might be knowing some friends working there. Ironically, many times, for the same sculpture or inscription, there have been more than one “discoverer” and news reports appearing one after another or after a gap of some months.

Idol-theft started rising since 1980 in Andhra- Hundreds of Idols not traceable: During the 1980s, there was a sudden increase in thefts of Panchaloha idols and the spectre is once again returning with three cases of arrest in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recently[1]. Thus, it is clear that such activities have been going on since 1980 i.e, more than 40 years. In other words, they have been organized, planned and controlled. In one instance, three Panchaloha idols of deities Varadarajula Swamy, Sridevi and Bhoodevi from an ancient temple at Rajole in Kuravi mandal in Warangal district which were stolen on March 15, 2016, are now in safe custody but hundreds of idols from the temples across the two Telugu-speaking States are missing for years[2]. According to the Telangana State Department of Archaeology, about 38 idols from across Telangana and AP were recovered between 2008 and 2013 but these idols are the ones that the police hand over to the department once a case is resolved, for safe custody. According to experts, there are close to 100 precious idols that date back to over 300-400 years that come under “untraceable category”. This implies that such Idols were passed over to the regular smugglers and exporters of antiques and it is evident that the Andhra-Telangana gangs have nexus with them.

CAG Report on the Idol-theft and Telugu speaking people: Stolen idols data from 2014 till date is being corroborated, said an official and on condition of anonymity confirmed that there are at least a couple of cases reported every month  (may be 1000 in a year). According to a CAG report in 2013, 91 idols of archaeological importance in India had been missing or untraceable. Telangana State Department of Archaeology director NR Visalatchi says, “The police hands over the stolen idols to the department for safe custody. The department has its limitations in protecting the idols.” It is estimated that the illegal trade of art and artefacts is estimated to be worth Rs 40,000 crore a year. No doubt that the Tamil Nadu government started a special Tamil Nadu Police Idol Wing which is in constant touch with the US Homeland Security. But, the position of Andhra and Telangana is not known.

Many Idol-theft cases not reported: Though many precious idols go missing from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh every month and rarely get reported, there is no such wing in either State. So, it is shocking to know why such a wing has not been formed since 1950, when the Andhra state was formed first in India. In the garb of ‘researcher’ and ‘antique collector’ smuggling of international antiquities goes on which requires capital and connections. Such is the volume of stolen idols that earlier this year in June, the US government returned over 200 stolen idols to India during PM Modi’s visit. But there are thousands of idols stacked away in museums and private collections the world over. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, over 4,000 items were stolen from Indian temples just in a span of three years between 2010 and 2012 and in the past two decades about 2,913 idols and antiquities have been traced in museums. K Padmanabha, Deputy Director, Telangana Department of Archaeology says, “We recovered two Lord Rama, two Lakshmana and one each of Sita and Radha Devi idols that were stolen from Parlapalli village and date back to 400 years. There are scores of idols strewn across the State that need protection.” The expression “seen across” can be noted and understood. The fact is that the remote temples are regularly ransacked for the purpose and evidently the people of those areas must have been aiding and abetting the gangs foor monetary benefits,

Modus operandi of the Companies exporting the stolen Idols: The modus operandi is complex as companies buy and sell objects among themselves to hoodwink officials before forwarding them to auction houses and collectors. Objects are first shipped to Switzerland which is considered safe because of the free trade zone. Auction houses claim that they buy the objects from Swiss soil and not from India. Dealers have a deep network connecting remote areas of the country. The modus operandi used by smugglers is to prepare a copy of the looted antique and submit it to the Archaeological survey; once the tag of ‘non-antiquity’ is granted, the certificate is used to tag to the genuine antique and ship it out of the country. Smugglers use a paperless money remittance system (hawala) which is virtually untraceable. Ghiya from Jaipur and Subhash Kapoor, a US citizen (who is now in Tamil Nadu jail), have been involved in smuggling idols out of India for decades. Subhash Kapoor who owns Art of the Past, an art gallery in New York, is accused of smuggling more than $100 million worth of stolen art from India.

So here, the same questions are raised in the context of Andhra and Telangana: A careful analysis of events clearly points to an agenda, systematic plan and organized operations orchestrated by some unknown people of these two Telugu-speaking states.

1. Who hoodwinks the officials and deal with such antiques, selling and buying easily?
2. If Objects are first shipped to Switzerland which is considered safe because of free trade zone, how it is possible crossing so many authorities?
3. The modus operandi used by smugglers is to prepare a copy of the looted antique. Then, how such a duplicate Idol is manufactured, who has such highly sophisticated technology?
4. Producing moulds and dies, the alloy (of panchaloha), furnace and other equipment? They cannot be handled by ordinary people.
5. Who is granting the tag of ‘non-antiquity’?  [like F.J.A.Flynn case, many archaeologists, historians and others must have been involved]
6. Whether such person issuing such certificate has been unaware of the facts or is a part of the game-plan aiding and abetting?
7. How the duplicate is substituted[3] inside the temple?
8. How is it possible without the knowledge of so many of the temple, transport, logistics, handlers and others?
9. Having known a or conditioned so, how and who are making them silent and the whole issue is muted?
10. At the point of export, how the invoice, packing slip, Bill of lading and other documents are filed, who is getting such clearance?
11. After export, at the point of import (destination country), how are they cleared?
12. After crossing all hurdles, how they are again getting that antiquity, so that they can be auctioned, sold and bought?

Thus, the top persons are having contacts at destination countries to carry out the job, as per their agenda. As the profits have been in crores, they could easily bribe the intermediaries and operators with lakhs and thousands..

The statistics of temple desecration, looting etc in Andhra and Telangana: Under the TDP government, 163 temple offences were reported in 2015, 139 in 2017, 123 in 2018 and 177 in 2019, when the government transitioned to the YSR Congress Party.

Year	No. of desecration cases	Remarks
2015	163	As these have been reported and obviously – officially declared figures,the actual figures could be more, as the “untraceable” ones are also to be added with these figures.
2016	?
2017	139
2018	123
2019	177
2020	228

In 2020, a year that saw an uproar following the chariot burning at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Antarvedi, there were 143 alleged temple offences. In spite of the political overtones, and accusations against each other party and other vested interests, the fact remains that temples have been desecrated, idols stolen and many arrested. Thus, the investigations and motives clearly point to Idol-theft connected with the antique smuggling passing hands.  The political façade is perhaps thrusted to divert the issue and suppress the facts. Police are understood to have achieved some progress in the probe into attacks on temples in the state by tracing the mobile phone calls made by some of the suspects to some politicians[4]. When contacted, Director General of Police D Gautam Sawang, however, said it was too early to comment on a possible political conspiracy behind the spate of attacks on temples[5]. Let some incidences be studied in the context, to understand the intricacies.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

18-09-2022

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[1] HansIndia, Missing idols cause concern in Telangana, AP T P Venu, 14 Sept 2016, 9:28 AM IST.

[2] https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-09-14/Missing-idols-cause-concern-in-Telangana-AP/253744

[3] This is impossible without the knowledge of the priest, as he could immediately identify that the Idol has been replaced or changed. Then, the temple servants and workers of all categories, officials and nearby people can know the fact within time.  Thus, the gangs must have either cajoled or threatened the concerned persons and allow them to carry on such unlawful acts.

[4] Indian Express, Andhra Pradesh temple attacks probe points to political angle: Sources, Published: 07th January 2021 08:50 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th January 2021 10:42 AM.

[5] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2021/jan/07/andhra-pradesh-temple-attacks-probe-points-to-political-angle-sources-2246680.html