The origin, development and importance of Hero-stones in India – special lecture by Dr Poongundran organized by the Indological Research Institute (IRI) (3)

The origin, development and importance of Hero-stones in India – special lecture by Dr Poongundran organized by the Indological Research Institute (IRI) (3)

Dr R. Poongundran gives lecture…

Discussion on the Special lecture: After the lecture, there was a discussion also and many asked questions and he answered and explained nicely. There were some PhD students, who asked specific questions and he replied. Thus, the discussion was live and enjoyable. Generally, in other meetings such free discussion is not allowed, but, here, all could get clarification from the speaker. Definitely, the session set an example for academic proceeding and healthy discussion, as it continued for half-an-hour.

• During which rule, the hero-stones were found maximum?
  • Considering the places (Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri) and other places of Thondaimandalam, it is believed that during the Pallava period, maximum Hero-stones were erected
• Under the category of “Hero” of Hero-stones, who were there?
  • Maximum warriors, soldiers and individuals, rarely King, chieftain or ruler of higher status. Now, interpretation has shifted to “marginalized” and so on.
• Where, the Hero-stones are found maximum?
  • According to the historian Upinder Singh, the largest concentration of such memorial stones is found in the Indian state of Karnataka. About two thousand six hundred and fifty hero stones, the earliest in Karnataka is dated to the 5^th century CE.
• Why the Kumbam / kalasam like object was depicted, what is its significance?
  • It is not Kalasam or Kumbam, as explained above. The one object which requires elucidation is what has been described as a receptacle (Simi, சிமிழ்). The relevance of a Simi = small container, is not clear. It looks more like a pedestal or a representation of what might have been the form of a shrine raised in memory of the dead hero.
• Is there any relation between the script found on the pottery and Hero-stones?
  • As for as the script is concerned, it is the same only and the language is Tamil. The script is called Brahmi, Tamil-Brahmi, Tamili and so on.
• When the transformation of nettuzhuttu to vattezhuttu took place?
  • During 5^th-6^th centuries writing transferred to different media and the script also changing from hard surface to soft surface.
• Whether Hero-stones convey any important message?
  • Hero-stones serve as memorial stones to the warriors, self-sacrifice, defender of villages etc., and hence they were elevated to the stages of God, Goddess or Protecting deity of the villages, group of people etc.

oppo_0

Development of Hero-stones: Whether megalithic burials led to the Nadukal practice has to be studied carefully. There were five stages in the evolution of the megalithic burials, said Rajan. They were –

(1) megalithic cairn circles,

(2) cairn circles with tall menhirs,

(3) tall menhirs with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on them,

(4) short menhirs, about one or two metres tall, with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, and

(5) the culmination of shortened menhirs into hero-stones with Tamil Vattelluttu inscriptions of the fifth and sixth century CE. In the last and fifth stages, the menhirs were reduced to hero-stones, each with the engraving of the hero who was killed in a cattle raid. Such hero-stones, during the transformation period of Tamil-Brahmi into Tamil Vattelluttu script, belong to the fourth century CE. They have Tamil Vattelluttu inscriptions, and are found in the Chengam area of present-day Tiruvannamalai district, and in Dharmapuri district[1].

oppo_0

The Sangam literary references and details about the Nadukals: The Sangam period (3^rd century BC to 3^rd century CE) literature such as Ahananuru and Purananururefers to the hero stones. They were not plain in character. Generally on the hero stones either at the top or bottom details like the name of the hero, the name of the king and the hero met with his death (his heroic exploits and philanthropic deeds) was engraved. The upper portion of the stone hero’s figure was depicted or appeared. They were mostly planted nearer to the irrigation tank or lake or outside the village. These everlasting stones were worshipped. Tolkappiyam, the earliest extant Tamil grammar, speaks of six stages in the ritual economies associated with the erection of hero stones. They were –

(1) katchi i.e. discovery,

(2) kalkol i.e. invitation,

(3) Nirpatai i.e. Bathing of the stones,

(4) Nadukal i.e. Erection,

(5) Perumpadai i.e. offering of food and

(6) valttu i.e. Blessing.

oppo_0

Evolution of Hero-stone: The origin of erecting hero stone or hero worship evolved from the Iron age megalithic burial tradition. There were three distinctive stages in the erection of memorial stones.

1) Megalithic monuments were raised as memorials.

2) The iron age graves were raised.

3) Later graves were abandoned menhir with inscription (memorial stone) was raised. The recent discovery from Pulimankombai, Thathapatti, just a few km from Pulimankomabi (on the southern bank of river Vaigai; Dindigul district) are the earliest best example for short menhirs about one or two metres tall, with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions. Later the Menhirs were reduced to hero-stones. There was a difference between the memorial stone and hero stone. Memorial stones contained funeral remains but the hero stones were erected to show respect over to a death person without his remains. The Pandyas were one of the three crowned monarch of the Sangam age, ruling the southern part of the present Tamil Nadu State (from 6th century to 16th century CE). They followed this tradition as in the Sangam age.

oppo_0

Nadukal[2]: The given details about Nadukal[3] (literally meaning ‘an erected stone’) show how the practice is evolved into a full-fledged ritual. Initially, the place where the person died is considered as important or sacred and nadukal is erected there[4]. Then, a place is selected for erection[5] followed with other rites –

1. covered with cloth;
2. stone is placed on an elevated platform;
3. washed with good waters;
4. name and fame of the dead are inscribed;
5. worshipped with the offer of flowers, food, and incense; even animals are sacrificed;
6. lamps are lit;

thus the dead is elevated to the status of god and considered as God[6]. The direction was chosen as ‘south’ perhaps coinciding with the direction in which the body fell or found. From this, the concept of fore-fathers living in the southern direction with the status of god might have been developed. In fact, Puram emphasizes that one should perform the duty of offerings to their forefathers, who live in the southern direction, implying the pitrs or departed ancestors[7]. Similarly, a son saves his forefathers of his lineage by his actions. Thus, the offering of panda or rive ball is recognized as an important ritual[8].

oppo_0

Nadukal[9]: For the preparation of Nadukal, six steps have been prescribed:

1. Selection of stone,

2. Chiselling,

3. Immersion in water (for cleaning),

4. Erection (at a place),

5. Engraving and

6. Paying homage (with offerings)[10] .

Surprisingly, very similar rites are followed by Brahmins even today on 10^th day for the dead. The ceremony contains the following steps:

1. Selection stone,
2. Cleaning with water, milk etc.,
3. Seating on darpa (Kusa) grass and writing the name of death on it with the grass symbolically,
4. Pashana Sthapanam (consecration of stone = stone fixing, one at the house and another on the banks of river or where rituals are conducted)
5. Invoking spirit to enter and
6. Offerings with Vastodharana (offering of dress) etc.

Pitā (पिता)	Pitāmaha (पितामह)	Prapitāmaha (प्रपितामह)
Father	Grand father	Great grand father

These practices appear similar and therefore, they have to be studied critically, how such practices could have existed in two different cultures, as now some researchers may try to interpret[11].

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-05-2024

---

[1] Rajan, K. 2000. South Indian Memorial Stones, Manoo Pathippakam, Thanjavur

[2] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Karanams of the Ancient Tamils, The paper was presented at the first session of Tamilnadu History Congress, held at Madras from September 10 and 11, 1994. Accepted for publication, but not published in the Proceedings, because there was no space (as accepted by the organizers)!

[3] Puram. 221, 260, 263, 264, 265, 329, 335.

  Agam.35, 53, 67, 131, 179, 269, 289, 297, 298, 365.

  Malaipadukadam lines 387-389; Ing. 352 (references about Nadukal).

[4] Puram.260:22-28, 263:7-8, 265:1.

[5] Puram.260:1-4.

[6] As in.Puram, all references about nadukal;

God – Puram. 335:11-12, 265:4-5, 329:1-4; Agam.35:8-11.

[7] Puram.6:4-5, 58:4-5.

[8] Puram.234:2-6, 249:12-14, 360:17-20, 363:10-14.

[9]   K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, A Critical Study of Karanams of the Ancient Tamils and the Samskaras, A paper presented at the Swadeshi Indology Conference – 3 “Tamilnadu – the Land of Dharma” held at from to 2017

[10] Tol.Purattinaiyiyal.Sutra.60. Similar steps are found in the Sangam literature as explained.

[11] Under the Aryan-Dravidian dichotomy and the racial interpretation that is favourable to the Dravidologists, these practices could pose chronological challenges.

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….

oppo_16

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.

oppo_16

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.

oppo_16

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.

oppo_16

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].

oppo_16

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.

oppo_16

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.

oppo_16

The reporter at the site explaining the excavated brick!

---

[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!

The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (5)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (5)

Paper presentation: As per the first list printed, there were 676 papers and supplementary lists were added and thus total number approaching 1067, however, the break-up figures are not known.

Sl. no	Session	Prof/Dr	Listed	No. of papers presented[1]
1	Ancient India	Shalini Shah	100
2	Medieval India	Najaf Haider	113
3	Modern India	Sajal Nag	274
4	Countries other than India	S. Srinath	23
5	Archaeology	Seema Bawa	49
6	Contemporary India	Kalpana Kannabiran	117
	Total		676	1067

Kalpana Kannabiran[2] presided over the “Contemporary India” session and S. Srinath the “Countries other than India” section. Definitely, the young researchers had taken an interest in presenting their papers.

Ancient India session, paper reading……

Ancient India -paper reading…….

Above – Ancient India, paper reading…..

Modern India below……..

Medieval session – below

Contemporary India session – paper reading………below……

Countries other than India – below……

Archaeology session – below

Contemporary India – below……

The details about the Supplementary papers: As anticipated, many brought their papers, at the time of coming to the congress and the organizers accommodated such papers, lists were prepared and uploaded to the official website also. The details can be accessed and verified from here:

List of papers

Click to access flp82.pdf

Supplementary  list for Ancient India

Click to access slp82anc.pdf

archaeology

Click to access slp82arch.pdf

Contemporary India

Click to access slp82ci.pdf

Medieval India

Click to access slp82med.pdf

Modern India

Click to access slp82mi.pdf

Countries other than India

Click to access slp82oti.pdf

This clearly proves that many students, researchers and others are interested in presenting papers, at IHC still has such clout.  Therefore, such academic proceedings should be given more importance than other un-academic activities and routine rituals. Actually, the students are spending Rs 5,000/- to 10, 000/- to attend IHC and present papers, and therefore, they should be taken care of properly without any discrimination.

Symposiums, special lectures etc carried on: The list of papers document also contains details of symposiums, special lectures etc., organized by the IHC and as well as IHC joining with other organizations. The following details were given:

SPECIAL LECTURE, 6:30 pm

SANĀTANA DHARMA OR DHAMMA SANTATI ?

Professor Krishna Mohan Shrimali

(Former) Professor of History, University of Delhi

SYMPOSIUM

‘Reason and Ideology in Indian History’

29th December, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Speakers:

1. Professor R. Mahalakshmi (JNU)

2. Professor Y. Subbarayalu (Coimbatore)

3. Professor Arun Bandopadhyay (Kolkata)

SYMPOSIUM

29th December, 5: 30 pm

Kunwar Singh Tail Chitra Staphna Parishad, Arrah

Short felicitation for the outgoing Secretary, IHC

ALIGARH HITORIANS SOCIETY

Panel

“RECONSTRUCTING INDIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY”

29th–30th of December 2023

INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS &

UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD

Two-Day Symposium

“Deccan: Past and Present”

29th–30th December, 2023

When amounts are spent for these symposiums, all connected are responsible for accountability.

Transparency should be there in “awards rewards and prizes”: As mentioned many were to be honoured with awards, but, several of the chosen had not turned up. After all, awards rewards and prizes are liked by everyone. Just look at the students, who pose for photographs at the time of receiving certificates after reading paper. Yes, similar condition is there for the receivers of awards rewards and prizes. Definitely, without informing the recipients or their acceptance, none would have gone to print the brochures with their photos and all. Having done all processes, if they were not coming to receive raise several questions. Even the selected sectional presidents were not to be seen and they were replaced with others. Generally, the selection of such persons would be decided during the General Body meeting with the “consensus” of other executive members. The “in-absentia” selection / rejection process would lead to such problems. Moreover, many times, they did not bother about the status of the “chosen ones,” as to whether they are “members of IHC” or not. Just for the purpose, they come and disappear and they would be forgotten by other 1000s of members.

Academic processes should be balanced without partiality: At least, the present and future generation of the IHC members should know how the “chosen ones” are chosen, according to whom prerogative and such other prevailing conditions. When they talk about democratic, social, transparent, reasonable etc., in such processes, such changes should be announced to the members. Moreover, the booklets are printed in their names and duly circulated. When so much restrictions are introduced, imposed and duly implemented to the paper presenters (already explained many times) and reducing such important academics to ritual, as pointed out elsewhere and in the previous blogs-postings, the privileged members and groups should not exploit the situation and conditions.

Cultural programmes at the evening: The students and other groups performed cultural programs for the delegates and they were good. Each group exhibited their skills in their own way and the delegates from all over India could enjoy them. The delegates encouraged and appreciated their performance. Many sat there throughout the program taking photographs. Definitely, such cultural performances unite Indians and they could understand the fundamental linkages running through the strands of music, dance and other forms of performance arts. They may be called tribal, banjara etc., but they have unique styles, postures, rhythms, tunes etc., for each category. That is perhaps, it is said that music requires no language.

The delegates fees collected are to be accounted properly: The accounts details printed in the proceeding volume points out that certain amounts are not included in the IHC account[3], as recorded by M/s. Mehta Associates, Chartered Accountants[4]. Their letter dated 21-10-2023 addressed to the Members, Indian History Congress, but the office bearers think that the remarks need not be elaborated and explained to the members. “Value of various proceedings and symposia papers s on the closing date have not been considered as no details are provided to us”………….. “Fixed deposits are not renewed – appears to be ridiculous. All these can be elaborated and discussed, but not done. The IHC should look at the interests of the member who pay lakhs to run the show every year through their delegate fees. If 1000, 1500 or 2000 delegates attending the conference means, they are spending Rs 50 lakhs, 75 lakhs and 100 lakhs / one crore Rupees or ₹ 5 million, ₹ 7.5 million, and ₹ 10 million respectively. Therefore, the organizers are responsible to answer the members about their accounts. Here, also how the General Body Meeting was conducted, accounts submitted and other details were not coming. Of course, equally, they might be receiving funds from the State and Central government funding agencies and sponsors for kits, food, transport and other itineraries. Therefore, money should not be wasted for any account.

We can meet again: Kakatiya University has hosted two IHC and other conferences and it is capable of hosting one more also. They have expertise and experience of holding many national and international seminars and conferences. Thus, all the delegates, friends and well-wishers can meet again on another occasion. The new-year 2024 may bring all successes, happiness and peaceful results with the blessings of God and our teachers.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

02-01-2024

---

[1] Despite the requests made, as the details could not be obtained, the column was left blank. The total figure mentioned is based on the newspaper’s reports.

[2] Kalpana Kannabiran is an Indian sociologist, lawyer, human rights columnist, writer and editor based in Hyderabad, India. In March 2021, after a decade-long tenure, she retired from the post of Professor and Regional Director of the Council for Social Development, Southern Regional Centre, a research institute recognised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

[3]  IHC proceedings, 81^st session, 2022, p.1283.

[4]  Their letter dated 21-10-2023 addressed to the Members, Indian History Congress.

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

---

[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

Teaching of Science and Technology to the students of History or History to the students of science and technology?

Teaching of Science and Technology to the students of History or History to the students of science and technology?

Utility of the subjects and their immediate usage to humanity: Just like tourism, tourism management etc., “History of science and technology”  has been discovered, created and covered under the syllabus and offered as an “elective” subject to the postgraduate students of various disciplines. “History syllabus” has also been formulated to be taught to the students of professional courses like science and technologies, medicine, commerce, management etc., thus, much hype is created with the syllabus to reach and teach history to others.

• No teacher of those subjects proposed such a scheme that they would go and teach “science and technology” to them. 
• So why such exigency arises and for what purpose etc., have also to be analyzed.
• By going through the syllabus, it is clear that the students of professional courses do not gain much by reading such subjects.
• In every subject, mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics, commerce, accounting etc., the origin, progress and development and also the present and future status and scope of them have already been included in the syllabus and taught.
• If fact, their subjects have been and are updated and therefore, such subjects lead to innovative inventions that are immediately converted into parts, accessories, spares, gadgets, appliances, tools and so on useful to humanity.

History of Science and Technology: To write, read, teach and learn “History of Science and Technology”, one need not learn the core subject history, but, the history students cannot understand the “History of Science and Technology,” unless, they are taught from the fundamentals.

• Definitely, all non-history subjects are taught with its origin, which is nothing but history of that subject or perhaps more than that.
• That is how mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology at one side, and commerce, accounts, management, factory physics, industrial chemistry, bionics, mnemonics[1] etc., on the other side are taught in the schools and universities.
•  Though more and more science and technological subjects increase, there is demand for admission.
• However, recently, the subject “History of Science and Technology” is included for the students of history, archaeology, anthropology, numismatics and related subjects with their own formulated syllabus.
• But, they are taught only as history and not as the “History of Science and Technology.”

BCE 5,4,3,2,1,0,1,2,3,4,5 CE or BCE 5,4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,5 CE which is correct?: The scientific study of the origin of the subject “History of Science and Technology”, has been different from the simple subject of “History of Science and Technology, for science students. In fact, under such expected conditions, the history teachers cannot teach the “History of Science and Technology”, to them.

• The concept of “zero” and infinity, decimal number system, calendar, planetary system, etc., have been perplexing even for science students, and therefore, how the history students read and understand them, is not known.
• In fact, for chronology, studying eras, dating and other exercises, history teachers have to understand these concepts. 
• Yet, no history expert is worried about “0” year in between BCE 5,4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,5 CE years, while computing.
• Why the Roman numerals – I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X did not have “0” is also not known to them!
• Why the Fibonacci series does not start with “0,” (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.,) they cannot explain.

These are given only for illustrative purposes and are not exhaustive. Therefore, without knowing “o,” how history teachers would teach about, chronology and related historical developments.

Historical time is linear or cyclic, if “history repeats”!: In science and technology, anything linear or cyclic is understood easily and applied practically, but, in history, nowadays, some historians claim that history is linear and not cyclic. However, having claimed, they have not been able to define exactly how the history has been linear, when “history repeats itself”[2]. Just because, historian has decided take the expression “linear,” he cannot make history “linear.”[3] Again such expertise and elite historians do not bother about the axes and the origin, the zero point. Not only X and Y axes, even Z axis has the other side also.  How then, historians visualize the –ve axes and interpret historical events. Of course, they are totally not bothered as to whether it is 2D or 3D, yet, they prefer to use such terminology in history and historiography.

Using scientific terminology is different from actually working scientifically: Just by using certain terms and expressions, scientific, scientific temper, linear, dynamic, static, etc., at one side and heuristic[4], holistic, euphemistic, epistemological, on the other side, history cannot become scientific or technological, as none of the historical hypotheses, theories and concepts can be tested in the laboratory.

• Earlier, historians used to claim with pride that they should have object in mind, objective mentality and objectivity in dealing with historical facts.
• Now, they assert that they need not have such standards (objectivity).
• Ten historians can write history about the same “object,” and all the ten histories become histories of the object!
• But, science says one is one only; 1+1=2 only, all have accepted universally for thousands of years and it continues.
• Historians and history teachers cannot say in history about anything within a year, 10 years, 100 years… in the same way again and again.
• In India itself,
  • grandfather / grandmother read one history,
  • father / mother read another history,
  • son / daughter read yet another history and
  • now grandson / granddaughter reads still-yet another history!
• This type of history is found in the case of the –
  • Grandfather – Chandragupta Maurya c.324/31 – 297 BCE
  • Father – Bindusara – c.297-273 BCE
  • Grandson – Asoka – c.268-232 BCE

Thus, within three generations, grandfather and father were prehistoric, illiterate and unhistorical also, wheras, the grandson was historic and literate! Again, the grandfather was a Jain, the father Hindu and the grandson a Buddhist! A perfect secular model family!

• In India, there had / have been millions of practices, procedures, and standards followed in day to day life for more than 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 YBP and more. They had / have  and are historical only, unlike their “histories” produced or manufactured by the European Company writers and the 1947-Indian history writers.
• Once a history writer becomes ideological, then, no two historians accept and history in India, it always becomes some sort of TV-debate where four persons come and talk about the same subject in four different ways! They come together only to differ from each other and not to come to any conclusion.

Blind Men and an Elephant: The history writers of the European Companies always mention this “cock and bull story”[5] to denigrate Indians for their acumen[6].  Not only non-Indians have read the sources properly, understood the concept and interpret such stories, but also the listeners, readers and others to verify the authenticity of the stories floated about themselves. The irony has been, this “cock and bull ……….story” has been and is still included in the syllabus and the naïve and gullible teachers go on teach and our students read and appreciate the “idiocy” – stupidity, absurdity and silliness of Indians, and believe that they (the Europeans) only taught Indians how to count, learn and dress properly. More and more “Mayos”[7] have been created to spread such “maya,” and when they would be liberated and brought to light from such darkness[8] is not known.

Any subject is offered as an elective, choice or forced: Again teaching history to other disciplines commerce, economics, management, medicine etc., is different from the teaching of “History of Science and Technology” to history students themselves. Just because, history subject is losing its scope in the academics, the history teachers cannot introduce some syllabus and try to impose the same old stuff on the non-history students.

• The utility, benefit and value of the subject also come into play, when any student selects any subject voluntarily, as an elective or for some other reason.
• The students of the “History of Science and Technology” are interested in progress, development and growth in their studies, research and further pursuits.
• Therefore, they may not be interested in what the dynasties fought with each other, rulers invaded other territories or autocrats made the people suffer.
• Even the social, communal, religious, societal, and other aspects and related issues are also irrelevant to them, as long as they divide people based on any factor.

The utility value of the subject: Ultimately, when job, assignment and employment are decided on the certificates and diplomas received, yet, the application of the learned subject in the field decides the fate of the employee, worker or staff.

• A fitter, electrician, plumber and any other technician after getting certificates, has been ready to work in the field, as he has to carry out his job, as otherwise, he will be sent out immediately on the first day, when he is found that he is not able tp work in his field, in spite of having diploma / certificates in his trade or many certificates including other disciplines. “A jack of all trades but master of none”.
• So also a professionally qualified engineer or doctor or any other expert.
• “If you know the job, come and join immediately,” that type of policy is followed today, walk-in interview, selection and appointment order.
• All the certificates and diplomas come thereafter, just for verification.
• If you have 10 certificates, diplomas and degrees in one discipline or 10 different disciplines, but, you cannot work properly, you will be fired, because, the employers want the work to go on.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

12-08-2023

---

[1] Mnemonics is the study and development of systems for improving and assisting the memory, A mnemonic device (or memory device, is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval (remembering) in the human memory for better understanding.

[2] Historic recurrence is the repetition of similar events in history. The concept of historic recurrence has variously been applied to overall human history (e.g., to the rises and falls of empires), to repetitive patterns in the history of a given polity, and to any two specific events which bear a striking similarity. Hypothetically, in the extreme, the concept of historic recurrence assumes the form of the Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence, which has been written about in various forms since antiquity and was described in the 19^th century by Heinrich Heine and Friedrich Nietzsche. While it is often remarked that “history repeats itself”, in cycles of less than cosmological duration this cannot be strictly true. In this interpretation of recurrence, as opposed perhaps to the Nietzschean interpretation, there is no metaphysics. Recurrences take place due to ascertainable circumstances and chains of causality.

[3]  In the case of electricity, electronics, computers, digital technology etc., the electric pulse is sinusoidal, digitized to square-shaped pulses and so on. All such processes cannot be brought under any “linear” explanation or interpretation of history.

[4] A heuristic is a mental shortcut commonly used to simplify problems and avoid cognitive overload. Heuristics are part of how the human brain evolved and is wired, allowing individuals to quickly reach reasonable conclusions or solutions to complex problems.

[5] Cock and bull story, far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity produced by the British county hoteliers / inns to attract their customers.

[6] The Buddhist text Tittha Sutta, Udāna 6.4, Khuddaka Nikaya, contains one of the earliest versions of the story. The Tittha Sutta is dated to around c. 500 BCE, during the lifetime of the Buddha. An alternative version of the parable describes sighted men, experiencing a large statue on a dark night, or feeling a large object while being blindfolded. They then describe what it is they have experienced. In its various versions, it is a parable that has crossed between many religious traditions and is part of Jain, Hindu and Buddhist texts of 1st millennium CE or before. The story also appears in 2^nd millennium Sufi and Baháʼí Faith lore. The tale later became well known in Europe, with 19^th century American poet John Godfrey Saxe creating his own version as a poem, with a final verse that explains that the elephant is a metaphor for God, and the various blind men represent religions that disagree on something no one has fully experienced. The story has been published in many books for adults and children, and interpreted in a variety of ways.

[7] Katherine Mayo, an American lady  and also reportedly a historian wrote a book Mother India (1927) became  a polemical book as it contained many narratives of  grudge, hate and vengeance against Indian – society, religion and culture. Indians do not know any such book has been written about American or European society, religion and culture.

[8] Mohammedan or Mughal court historians always dub that the kafirs (non-believers, non-Mohammedans) of Hindustan were in the jahallia (in the darkness) and they were trying to show nur (light) through jihad (holy war) with their revealed book (al-kitabiya), as the kafirs do not are any revealed scriptures / book..