National seminar on “Minor Deities in Indian Art,” held at the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, Chennai on March 28th and 29th 2024 (3).

National seminar on “Minor Deities in Indian Art,” held at the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, Chennai on March 28^th and 29^th 2024 (3).

28-03-2024 (Thursday): As I was expecting some photographs, I could not include them in the earlier postings and now included here. The paper, “The precept, concept and evolution of “minor deities” in India,” was presented first on the day with PPT. As only 15 minutes were given, it was wound up and completed. It covered the theme of the seminar, and it concluded with the following note:

Conclusion: In the Indian context, the question of “minor deities” covers thousands of years with many changes, modifications and incorporation. Thus, their representation in the art differs from time to time. Their position today as appearing in situ, at remote places, in the museums, temples functioning and deserted, inside and outside the temples and momentary worship for the occasion and all other exigencies also cannot decide the finality of the status of “minor deities”. In the modern context, to what extent, the syncretization, inculturation and inter-religious dialogue activities can be accepted has to be analyzed. They have to be two-sided and cannot be carried on in one way.

Only the believers of Gods and Goddesses have to be acceptable enough to accommodate all gods and goddesses, as they live in a secular state, if not a secular society. “If believers of Gods abuse Gods, seekers of Gods destroy Gods, faithful followers of one religion question the faith of others and, against all moral and ethical codes and universal principles, conduct pseudo-spiritual and psychological-religious warfare against another religion, then these activities are not “inculturation” but “outculturation”, as religion and culture are inseparable for Hindus[1].

“Theocentric and theocratic eclectics are as dangerous as nuclear, chemical and other warheads. The concept of “My God is your God, but your God is No God” does not foster understanding, co-operation and goodwill. The concept should be changed to “Your God is my God and my God is your God” and accepted by all religions…This is the only way for humanity today. Super God Rivalry, religious superiority, racial / arrogant theology, theocratic world domination and neo-spiritual globalism cannot make “believers” live in peaceful co-existence with others”[2].

In one way, the concept of “minor deities” creates an inferiority complex among the believers, as they have to accept the existence of “major deities.” However,  when kuladevata worship comes, all have to go there to remote places without any discrimination. Thus, such deities continue forever, as long as the believers are there. Only the families should remember their kula-devatas.

29-03-2024 4 to 5 pm: Technical Session – VI was held at the Gallery, parallel and chaired by  Dr. J. Soundararajan, Associate Professor & Head i/c Dept. of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras and the following papers were presented:

Kandasami temple

The 27 sculptures there…

Sculptures of Vethalas

1. Mrs. Geetha C[3] – “Vedhalas Worship in Cheyyur” – Cheyyur Kandaswamy temple is one of the Least Known temples of Tamilnadu. Cheyyur is a place that is located off the East Coast Road about 80 km from Chennai and the main deity of this temple is Lord Muruga who is worshipped as Kandaswamy. The Kandaswamy temple is an ancient temple that was built during the Chola period and it has no Gopuram at the entrance. The temple faces the South and the main deity faces the East. The main Lord of the temple is Sri Kandaswamy with his wives Valli and Devayanai.

There are 27 Vedalams (Bethals) on the inner side of the compound wall of the temple.[4]. These 27 Vedalams are found with their hands lifted up representing the 27 Birth Stars or Nakshatras worshipping Lord Muruga. These 27 Vedalams that are found here are believed to be the 27 Boodaganas who helped Lord Muruga in fighting the Demon Soorapadman. These 27 Vedalams obey the instructions of Lord Bhairava and so you can see the separate deity of Bhairava alongside the Vedalams. The day of Ashtami, that falls after the Full Moon is called ‘Theipirai Ashtami’. This day is considered to be more auspicious for Bhairava. On this day, the devotees worship the Vedalam that represents their Birth star. On the day of Theipirai Ashtami, the Vedala pooja usually starts with Vinayaka Sankalpa, followed by special Archanai for the Vedalams with Red Arali (Nerium) flower. Then it will be followed by Abishekam and Special Archanai for Bhairava with 8 different types of flowers.

Uma presenting paper on Kubera..

Uma presenting paper – audience………

Uma presenting paper – audience- another view

• Mrs. C. Uma[5] – “Kubera – The Lord of Wealth and his influences in Indian Society” – Kubera – कुबेर, also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine yakshas in Hinduism. He is regarded as the regent of the north (Dikpala), and a protector of the world (Lokapala). His many epithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species, and the owner of the treasures of the world. Kubera is often depicted with a plump body, adorned with jewels, and carrying a money-pot and a club. Originally described as the chief of evil spirits in Vedic-era texts, Kubera acquired the status of a deva (god) only in the Puranas and the Hindu epics. The scriptures describe that Kubera once ruled Lanka, but was overthrown by his half-brother Ravana, later settling in the city of Alaka in the Himalayas. Descriptions of the “glory” and “splendour” of Kubera’s city are found in many scriptures. Kubera has also been assimilated into the Buddhist and Jain pantheons. In Buddhism, he is known as Vaisravana, the patronymic used of the Hindu Kubera and is also equated with Pañcika, while in Jainism, he is known as Sarvanubhuti.

• K. Bakialakshmi[6] – Jyestha (Thavvai) – Jyestha or Jyeshtha = ज्येष्ठा, Jyeṣṭhā, “the eldest” or “the elder”) is the Hindu goddess of adversity and misfortune. She is regarded as the elder sister and antithesis of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and auspiciousness. She is commonly referred to as Moodevi in South India. Jyestha is associated with inauspicious places and sinners. She is also associated with sloth, poverty, sorrow, ugliness, and often depicted with the crow. She is sometimes identified with Alakshmi, another goddess of misfortune. Her worship was prescribed for women, who invoked her to keep her away from their homes. Jyestha appears in the Hindu tradition as early as 300 BCE. Her veneration was at its peak in South India in the 7th-8th century CE. By the 10th century, her popularity had waned, pushing her into oblivion. Today, numerous ancient images of Jyestha still exist, though she is seldom worshipped. She tried to equate Jyesta with Thavvai (Muthevi, Muthadevi etc) with sculptures of Tamilnadu. Nowadays, learned bloggers have been blogging on different subjects in detail and they can be converted into a book. For example, about this subject, a seven-part blog is available with all information, photos and other details in Tamil[7].

Tavvai sculpture found in Tamilnadu abandoned at several places……

• Ms. S. Nithya[8] –  “Iconography of Vārāhi” – Varahi = वाराही, is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion. Bearing the head of a sow, Varahi is the shakti (feminine energy) of Varaha, the boar avatar of the god Vishnu. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini. Varahi is more commonly venerated in the sect of the Goddess-oriented Shaktism, but also in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu). She is usually worshipped at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. The Buddhist goddesses Vajravārāhī and Marichi have their origins in the Hindu goddess Varahi. She tried compare the sculptures, but could not differentiate among the Jain, Buddhist, Hindu and other splinter tantric groups.

Varahi sculpture……..

When many research materials are available in the public domain research has to be new, different and appropriate: If any person, serious researcher, professor or an expert of the discipline attending conferences, seminars, congress or workshop continuously, he / she could find out that how papers are repeated with the material that is already available. The paper presenters, papers who prepares or researcher doing studies on any subject could also find such materials are available already in the public domain. After the advent of internet and the digitization of papers and books, anyone can easily access them. So also others, thus, the source, authenticity and veracity can be verified very easily. Nowadays, the plagiarism software points out, and it has become a tedious process of revising the PhD thesis again and again. The flow, way of expression and writing language also play important role, where the researcher has to maintain his / her individuality.  Therefore, the paper presenters should be judicious enough to take sources, use them properly and come out with new findings or at least new interpretation.

Research should be judicious and independent without bias: Research cannot be putting the “result” first and then finding the source or the supporting materials. Such researcher always tempts to take the material that is favourable and reject or ignore that is not required or against his “result.” The researcher has to follow the rule of “audi alterum partem” (to hear / listen the other side). Thus, a well-seasoned, unbiased and balanced researcher would go into all sources and learn from them. Suppose, if his hypothesis is wrong, then, definitely, he has to change the topic. How Newton discovered the Law of Gravitation, just by looking at the falling apples? Were apples flying in the sky instead of falling on the ground before? No, not at all. Therefore, thinking new is very much essential for a researcher, that too, different from others.

Academically conducted seminar: CPRIIR has self-contained expertise for conducting seminars, conferences and congresses also for many years. I have been attending for the last 30 years. The Director and the staff have been well-trained and they conducted the seminar academically giving an opportunity to the paper presenters. They have been meticulous in carrying out the programme very systematically. I had a feeling, as if I was there on Saturday also!

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-03-2024.

oppo_0

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[1] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Pollution of Hinduism, a letter appeared in Indian Express, March 28, 1989.

Collins, Paul. “The Praxis of Inculturation for Mission: Roberto de Nobili’s Example and Legacy.” Ecclesiology 3.3 (2007): 323-342.

[2]Sita Ram Goel, Catholic Ashrams, (Letter published in Indian Express March 28, 1989), Voice of India, New Delhi, 1994, p.161. Also, see here: http://voiceofdharma.com/books/ca/ch14.htm

[3] Abstracts, sl.no. 15; p.36.

[4]  Cheyyur Kandaswamy Temple – An Unique Temple With 27 Birth Star Vedalams – https://gosthala.com/cheyyur-kandaswamy-temple-a-temple-with-27-birth-star-vedalams/

[5] Abstracts, sl.no. 33; p.53.

[6] Abstracts, sl.no. 13; p.27.

[7] Vedaprakash, Muthevi, Muthadevi, Tavvai, Mundadevi etc., September 2018;

1. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/mudhevi-claiming-as-tamil-goddess-with-race-racial-and-racist-theories/
2. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/lakshmi-alakshmi-interpreted-by-dravidian-writers-without-any-basis-mudevi/
3. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/mudevi-tamil-experts-write-without-caring-for-historical-evidences-and-chronology/
4. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/mudevi-caught-in-aryan-dravidian-race-interpretation-without-historical-evidence/
5. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/tamil-writers-do-propaganda-without-any-historical-evidences-delving-upon-aryan-dravidian-myths/
6. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/vamacharya-amorous-sculpture-and-biased-research-mislead/
7. https://indianhistoriography.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/mudevi-muttadevi-thavvai-jyestha-devi-dravidian-witers-confusing-and-misleading-without-historical-evidences/

[8] Abstracts, sl.no. 19; p.35.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-03-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (3)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (3)

Mridula Mukherjee who inaugurated the session: Mridula Mukherjee is the daughter of V.D. Mahajan. Vidya Dhar Mahajan (1913-1990) was a historian, political scientist, and advocate. He married to Savitri Shori Mahajan who was a historian. They had two daughters and one son. Their son Ajay Mahajan and daughters Sucheta Mahajan and Mridula Mukherjee are also historians. Sucheta and Mridula have been professors of history at the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Historical Studies. Sucheta had been a visiting scholar at the College of Wooster in Ohio and Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (Foundation House of Human Sciences) in Paris. Mahajan died on 10 July 1990 at the age of around 77 years. Ironically, he studied at the Sanatan Dharma College, Lahore which was closed after 1947 and started in 1948 in India. Perhaps, the IHC might dub him as “nationalist” historian placing him along with Jadunath Sircar, KAN Sastri, Ajay Mitra Sastri and others[1]. However, Mridula Mukherjee has been that of “IHC category.” She has been rebellious and litigant also, as she fought legally against her brother and also with the government, when she was not given an extension for his post.

Ancient India

Hindu identity and Indian nationalism

Parallel sessions on different topics, symposiums etc: The Aligarh Historians Society started holding special sessions with invited historians on some selected themes and topics. Most of the lectures would be monotonous, as the speaker or the paper reader would go on to speak or read and most of the audience would be in the relaxing mode. Rarely, there would be interaction or questions allowed. College delegates might feel that it would be esteemed to be there and listen to them. This year, they announced that K.L. Tuteja delivered ‘Professor S C Misra Memorial Lecture’ and K.M. Shrimali a special lecture on ‘Sanatan Humanism’ at the university auditorium from 5.30 p.m. at the university auditorium on Thursday.

The three-day event also featured a symposium on –

1. ‘Reason and Ideology in Indian History’ and parallel sessions –
2. Aligarh Historians Society Panel on ‘Reconstructing Indian Economic History’ and
3. IHC panel on ‘Deccan: Past and Present’ and ‘Dalit History Panel’.

About, “dalit,” very often, they used to make hue and cry, but, none bothered about the constitutional validity and legality. Just like some vested media and the Christian groups, interestingly, these historians also engage themselves and rehash what they have already recorded in their writings and speeches. They would be verbose with narratives and discourses based on micro and macro studies with a lot of usage of statistics also[2]. In fact, to prove their points, they use statistics and such data manipulation can be easily found by the mathematicians and statistics experts. This also, I have been pointing out many times. 

Symposium on dalit..

What you should do, if your paper is not listed: These  details are included in the “List of papers” booklet issued by the IHC:

• If a paper is not listed here or in the Supplementary List, because a member’s paper was not received in time or for some other and the member wishes to present it at this session, he/she may please hand over two copies of the paper at the Secretary’s Office immediately.
• If a member had sent his/her paper in time, and it is not listed in the Section for which he had sent it, he may please check it in the Section to which by its theme it may have been assigned. For example, if a paper is sent to Section I or II, but deals with archaeological matters, it may be found in Section V (Archaeology). If it is still not found there, the member concerned may please immediately inform the IHC office at the venue of the session.
• Some members while sending their papers omitted to give their Membership Nos. They would need to let us have their Membership Nos. before presenting their papers, in the Assigned Sections.
• It will not be possible to include any paper that has not been received latest by 4 pm., on the first day of the session

So just to get into the “List of papers,” one has to pass through such ordeal, but, what they say about the publication of the paper presented. Read the following carefully.

Ancient India

Health and medicine

Health and medicine session.

IHC standards coming down or it wants to go the easy way: The IHC claimed[3], “Due to constraints of space, summaries have not been published over the past several years. Since 2016, the list of papers presented has also been omitted, as all papers presenters are awarded certificates at the session itself.”

• 2016 to 2022, “the following papers were also presented” – list was not printed, in other words, those papers are rejected, they have to be happy with the certificates given!
• The editorial policy as had been recorded above shows their way of functioning, selecting and accommodating in the bulky volume. Therefore, “Due to constraints of space,” excuse becomes redundant.  
• That “all papers presenters are awarded certificates,” is quite amusing, as they have not come here to get such “awards,” that too, “at the session itself”!
• Because, they would not be given at any other place, as IHC would not conduct any ritual to do so.
• In fact, it is not any ISI or ISO 90021, such standard certification to be displayed.
• When the papers of Sectional presidents are already printed and distributed during the session, there is no necessity to print their papers again in the volume to waste paper. They are “awarded” for heading the session suitably.
• Yet, these rituals are conducted and going on.

The scientific approach to study history is also and always emphasised for the last 40 years.

How delegates react to the local media?: Some local media persons tried to get feedback from the delegates and the delegates mostly praised the IHC, organizers and the arrangements made, in a stereotype mode that appears artificial. There were cultural and entertainment programs arranged in the evening. The videos uploaded and available had been only of this nature and the critical discussion about the proceedings, particularly, about the academics, paper reading, questions asked, how the paper presenter and audience reacted and such other details were not forthcoming. Whether the same pattern of presenting papers, getting certificates and going away would serve the purpose or it should be changed and such other serious issues are not dealt with or discussed. In the social media, of course, there have been some photos, but, they have been that of individual nature. They appear to feel great to present paper at the IHC and get a certificate.  So this is a really unfortunate attitude and such mind-set would not be helpful to serious researchers. Moreover, the IHC has become very indifferent in the aspect, s year by year, they were making the paper presenting as a mere ritual.

Food and accommodation: From the feedback received from the delegates, food and accommodation had been satisfactory. Only about the Rs. 5,000/- delegate fees, many expressed that it was high. As for as the accommodation is concerned, at some places, the delegates were asked to vacate on 30th evening / night itself. Because of the chill and foggy climate, the trains were running late. Therefore, some were to be accommodated at the University guest house and they had to go to station to catch their trains. As has been dealt with this issue in earlier conferences, many times, it is better that the organizers have limited crown with complete academic-oriented proceedings, so that such crown can be accommodated satisfactorily. As hundreds of delegates come for sightseeing or as tourists, the increasing delegate fees only affect the genuine researchers, students and lower-middle class / poor categories.

Interested are going through the books…..

Book stalls etc: Book stalls and related items were also accommodated, where different publishers displayed their books. Definitely, interested delegates had visited the stalls, gone through some of books, but only few buyers. Obviously, the prices of books have been going on increase to Rs 1000/- and so, and ordinary readers, students and others cannot afford to buy such books. Therefore, they just do “window shopping.” They might ask about the price, giving discount and then, silently move away. As usual, the “Puducherry World History Congress” stall was there, but, none was there when, our representative had gone there. Definitely, the coterie of IHC might not like such an organization coming up. Anyway time would tell during the course of time, when people come and go. 

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

31-12-2023

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[1] During the BM-RJB issue, the historians got themselves divided into several categories – Masjid historians-Mandir historians; Babri historians – Bajrang historians; sacred historians – communal historians and so on; even archaeologists were divided accordingly.

[2]  Now, anyone carefully reads the articles in “Economic and political weekly, ” such trend can be noted. For social processes, none could fix the parameters  and decide the social behavior, conflicts and related processes. Perhaps, to prove their “scientific nature” of studies, they have been prone to use such methods.

[3] IHC proceedings, 80^th session, Kannur,2019, Preface,  p.ix

Why history curriculum has been losing importance, history departments closing down and history becoming useless in American and European Universities (1)

Why history curriculum has been losing importance, history departments closing down and history becoming useless in American and European Universities (1)

What to be taught and what not to be taught – how and why such a situation arises?: History, that too, recent history or the just 100 to 200 years past has becoming a conflicting issue among many world democracies in recent times. As the living persons of 70-80-90 and more years old know the recent past, the present generation of any category cannot suppress the facts of the recent past. Moreover, such happenings, incidents and occurrences have also been well recorded in the daily newspapers, papers and official records. Therefore, the history of just past cannot be changed, erased or brought under negationism on any account. As political parties align, realign and change alliances during the 50-100-150 years, their origins, original sins and after-sins cannot be forgotten. However, the moment one political party or leader comes to power, the party or he tries to change history and thus, the educational curriculum and syllabus are tampered. Of course, as the American and European countries continue to dominate global affairs, they too are interested in the subject of history. What to be taught and what not to be taught – are decided by the dominant global groups and they give pressure directly or indirectly. As the ideologies control historians, history teachersand history writers, they faithfully work, as per the directors and instructors of their masters.

2019 – How US started dealing with the history subject in the Universities: The closing down of the history department in the Europe and USA coutries has become a noticeable feature. The US media reported in 2019 itself that the U.S. colleges and universities were abandoning the study of American history and, at some institutions, the study of history altogether[1]. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni evaluates the general education programs of more than 1,100 colleges and universities every year[2]. The 2018–19 report found that only 17 percent of them required any kind of foundational course in American history or government. In other words, 83% of them did not require history. As of 2016, only four out of the top 25 national universities (as ranked by U.S. News and World Report) required a course in U.S. history in their history majors. Thus, it could be understood that how USA assess about the importance of history, its continuance in the academics and unility value in daily affairs.

2020 – The British Universities started closing down the departments of history, languages etc: The University of Sunderland has closed its history faculty after just 14 students wanted to study the subject this year 2020[3]. The same condition was found in the politics, languages and other departments[4]. In short, as the subjects of science and technology are attracted more in many aspects, these abstract subjects are losing their importance[5]. Moeover, as the strength of students joining these departments dwindling down and reaching less than 10, the authorities note that they had to spend more to keep the departments live[6]. As for as the university’s accounts department is concerned these departments are not profit making centres[7]. Many times, the authorities advised these departments to maintain austere methods in controlling the expenses incurred on any account[8].

Is history learned only by the elite?: Some of Britain’s biggest names in the education field of history are warning that the subject could be at risk of becoming a degree for the elite, after two modern universities announced plans to close down their history courses. Aston University in Birmingham and London South Bank University informed staff that they would be cutting history degrees. Aston is consulting on plans to close its entire department of history, languages and translation, and London South Bank has said its degree courses in history and human geography will not recruit from this autumn. Experts warn that with the government pushing universities to focus on perceived “high value” Stem and vocational courses leading to higher salaries, more history and other humanities courses could face closure. And with universities able to expand their numbers unrestricted, Russell Group institutions at the elite end of the sector are taking more students, while some modern universities are struggling to recruit.

The utility value of history is analyzed: The Guardian discussed this issue with verbose getting opinion from many[9]. A spokesperson for LSBU said that out of its 7,000 new students for the current academic year “fewer than 40 enrolled in the courses that are closing”. At Aston, the university is involved in a consultation with affected staff and the University and College Union[10]. Prof Kate Williams, a popular historical author and presenter on TV history programmes including the BBC’s Restoration Home and Time Watch: Young Victoria, said: “I’ve heard people say, ‘Well, history is protected at the top Russell Group universities’. But that is a really dangerous route to go down. Are we saying that if people don’t get 3As, they don’t deserve to do history?”

History in the job-market: Williams, who is a professor of public engagement with history at the University of Reading, fears that working-class students who don’t want to leave home to go to university, or can’t afford to, may find themselves unable to study the subject. “It should be a degree that is open to all, and that means it must be available to those who want to study locally. Otherwise we might as well be going back to the Victorian period when this sort of university education was only for elite men.” Williams said she was angry that the government is “pushing a vision that only Stem subjects [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] matter and degrees are only worthwhile if you immediately move to a job paying a very high salary”. “History is so important,” she said. “It explores and tells us who we are. We should be doing more of it as a country, not less.”

History is required to understand World History: Michael Wood, a professor of public history at the University of Manchester, who has been presenting popular history TV programmes since the 1970s, agreed: “You can’t understand the world without history. For universities not to offer that possibility to people, and not to offer it to ordinary folks, the sort of general audience I have been in contact with, is terrible.” Richard J Evans, a former regius professor of history at the University of Cambridge and the author of bestselling books on the Hitler era, said: “History is an absolutely core subject, along with English and modern languages, which are also under threat in some of the modern universities.” Evans argued that Conservative MPs have attempted to portray history as just “a collection of facts about the British past which you instil into young people to make them patriotic”. He said a history degree should be about equipping students from all backgrounds with the critical skills needed to navigate modern life. “In the present day, where we are overwhelmed by floods of misinformation and conspiracy theories, it is more important than ever to have the skills to look critically at the evidence and to distinguish fact from fiction,” he said.

If history degree does not get a job, it worries the history students and degree-holders: Amal Al-Azzani, a third-year history student at Aston University, who grew up in a single-parent family in Birmingham and was the first generation to go to university, said: “We are all so confused and shocked. I feel like the skills I am learning in this degree, I could take anywhere. It’s about putting together information and backing up an argument with evidence. The idea that history isn’t an employable degree is just bizarre.” Historians want the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, to end his frequent threats about pushing out so-called “low value” courses, and to publicly back humanities subjects. Research by the British Academy has shown that of the 10 fastest-growing sectors in the UK economy, eight employ more graduates from the arts, humanities and social sciences than other disciplines, with these graduates working in areas including financial services, education, social work, the media and creative industries.

History subject is required: Emma Griffin, the president of the Royal Historical Society and professor of modern British history at the University of East Anglia, was anxious that her degree, which she said was very accessible and produced “rounded” graduates, must not become the preserve of the middle classes. “For reasons of cost, many students need to study at their local university. Understanding our own past shouldn’t be a luxury pursuit for the privileged few, and we think that everyone should have a history option.” Griffin warned that more history closures are already on the horizon. “There are more in discussion, and there are academics at other universities who feel their positions are threatened.” She said the removal of the cap on student numbers, allowing elite universities to expand, made the demise of smaller history departments in less prominent universities “inevitable”. “These aren’t blips or unfortunate mishaps, it is the government’s policy working as it was designed to,” she said.

History degree is cheap to get: Unlike subjects with expensive kit or laboratories, expanding a subject like history is a relatively cheap way for a successful university to increase its income from £9,250 a year fees. But Griffin said that cramming more students in has negative effects on the degree. “A history department cannot suddenly absorb lots more students without an impact on quality. Universities won’t employ new permanent teaching staff for a trend that might prove temporary, so inevitably you just get a casualised workforce managing the extra teaching workload, as well as a lot of stress and overwork amongst the existing staff.” Prof Catherine Fletcher, an expert on Renaissance and early modern European history at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “History colleagues at more than one Russell Group university have told me of the stress they are under with soaring numbers of personal tutees and lecture theatres packed to the rafters.” She added: “This gives more choice to some students, but leaves others from less privileged backgrounds with no options at all.” The University and College Union is fighting the closures at Aston and LSBU, as well as other proposed humanities job cuts at universities including Chester, Leicester and Hull.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

17-09-2023

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[1] The Federalist, While Americans Gobble Up History Books, Colleges Shut Down History Departments, BY: Jonathan Pidlunzy, JUNE 19, 2019

[2] https://thefederalist.com/2019/06/19/americans-gobble-history-books-colleges-shut-history-departments/

[3] Chronicle.Live, University of Sunderland closes history, politics and language departments, ByWill Metcalfe, 07:37, 23 JAN 2020UPDATED08:07, 24 JAN 2020.

[4] https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/university-sunderland-closes-history-department-17616249

[5]  Times.higher.education, History departments face ‘unprecedented turbulence’ in UK sector, Patrick Jack, June 13, 2023

[6] https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/history-departments-face-unprecedented-turbulence-uk-sector

[7] UCU, UCU to fight closure of history & language courses at Aston University, 16 April 2021

[8] https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11509/UCU-to-fight-closure-of-history–language-courses-at-Aston-University

[9]  The Guardian, Studying history should not be only for the elite, say academics, Anna Fazackerley,,Sat 1 May 2021 08.30 BST.

[10] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/01/studying-history-should-not-be-only-for-the-elite-say-academics

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

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[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..

Recent Advances in South Indian Archaeology – The 2nd International Symposium in memory of Iravatham Mahadevan – the second-day proceedings (3)

Recent Advances in South Indian Archaeology – The 2^nd International Symposium in memory of Iravatham Mahadevan – the second-day proceedings (3)

The Vdakkappattu prehistoric site

Site lay out plan – above……

Trench details…..artefacts found details below……………..

artefacts list..

sectional diagram of one of the pits of the excavated site…

prehistoric tools found…..

palaeolithic tools found…..

the Pallava period sculpture found..

11-03-2023 – second-day proceedings: Appasamy Murugesan headed the 5th session on the second day. First Kalimuthu, ASI presented his paper on “Archaeological excavation at Vadakkapattu, Tamilnadu.” 500 prehistoric sites in Tamilnadu, but, only a few sites were excavated. Vdakkuppattu, locally called as Nathamedu has been chosen, of course in 1998 itself, it was discovered by ASI. We got many prehistoric tools on the surface itself. Nearly one-half metre height from the ground of the mound has already been disturbed by the local people, as they took out the materials for levelling etc., and levelled for cultivation. Recently, one Sivalinga was found, therefore, the site could have been used for worship. Then he started about the site layout, trenches etc with photographs. ……………..The pallava period sculpture was found. In short, he explained about the excavation carried on at the site. He went on to show different prehistoric tools, beads, glass bangles, terracotta figurines, iron objects, gold ornaments,  broken conical jar, potsherds with graffitis, PGW, bones, and other items found, but, accepting that they could be identified specifically. This excavation has been only preliminary nature. When the chair asked, “any question,” none came forward to ask. Incidentally, most of his presentation has already appeared in the media with sensation. A google can prove with more photographs of the site etc.

paper presented by Aruna Manathunga……

Anuradhapura period…..

Mhavamsa says the encounters between Tamil and Sri Lanka kings…..

Aruna Manathunga – “Polonnaruva- the Chola capital of Sri Lanka”: The next paper presenter was Aruna Manathunga and he had dealt with “Polonnaruva- the Chola capital of Sri Lanka” and he was pointing out that the Colas were the for 70 years.  As per Mahavamsa, the Tamil kings ruled during the Anuradhapura period. Karikalan invaded and carried away 24,000 Lankans used for building dam across Kaveri and Gajabahu in turn took revenge in thousands of Tamil as slaves. In 1173, an invasion began against the dynasties of South India by the Sinhalese king and conqueror Maha Parakramabahu. His armies first captured the Pandyan kingdom, and then advanced into Chola Nadu, attacking the Tondi and Pasi regions. In approximately 1173, the Sinhalese kingdom of Polonnaruwa, invaded the neighbouring Pandya kingdom and overthrew its leader Kulasekhara Pandyan. The Sinhalese monarch, Parakramabahu I ordered Vira Pandyan to be installed to the throne. However due to the Chola king, Rajadhiraja’s increased his involvement in the war, the Chola mainland became a target of the invading forces. After conquering the Pandyan kingdom, the leader of the expeditionary forces, Lankapura invaded the Chola states of Tondi and Pasi, which the Chola inscription describes as “striking fear into the hearts of its residents”. He burnt up to 30 kilometers of the Chola kingdom as a punishment for interference in the war. The captives were sent for works, such as repairing the stupas. Rajadhiraja instructed his general to kill Lankapura. Meanwhile, the fear-ridden residents, started performing for Shiva, expecting for relief from the invaders.The worshippers carried the worship for 28 days, until they received the news Lankapura had retreated. The chief who ruled the village of Arapakkam, Edirisola Subramanam, granted the village to a Hindu priest who helped conduct worships.

He found similarities between SEA and Sri Lanka. About one sculpture, there were varieties of interpretations. These were questioned by one participant and he (Aruna) agreed. For SEA similarity, he showed one structure, for “Karaikkal Ammaiyar,” he interpreted as “Avaloteswar.”

P. J. Cherian – Muciri Pattinam: The epicentre of Tamil classical culture: started paying tribute to I. Mahadevan…..there was continuance maritime contacts between the Mediterranean and India coast…….. The Pattanam archaeological site (N. Lat. 10°09.434’; E. Long. 76°12.587’) is located in Vadakkekara village of Paravur Taluk, about 25 km north of Kochi in the Ernakulam District in Kerala, India. This is a coastal site located in the delta of the Periyar River and is now about 4 km from the Arabian Sea coast. The Paravur Todu, presently a distributory of the Periyar, flows about 1 km south of the site. The river Periyar flows 5 km north of Pattanam. The site is surrounded by palaeo (old) channels, a backwater, lagoons and streams. Though the site is surrounded by marshy areas with saline water, the Pattanam mound has sweet water suitable for drinking, which may be one of the reasons for the ancient settlement there.

second urbanization…

Global Tamil culture, he located on the southwest, because of seasonal / trade winds…..“classical” means, the earlier period was not classical…classical was rural, kinship, social organization etc., inferior to the classical period. Muciripattinam was in no way inferior to the Greek-Roman culture..When Greek-Roman culture is meant, it is implied that all other cultures were non-classical or inferior to Greeko-Roman culture…from that time onwards, a certain type of parochialism crept into historiography…my parochialism that Tamil is superior is also developed…this attitude is continuing in the varied different ways..and such self-congratulating attitude is thoroughly established in today’s world, because of these three forces. Structural forces that existed from those classical time – 1. Straight, 2. Market and 3. Religion. Urban-rural dichotomy played economic imbalance.

Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Chinese civilizations were existing.. pyramidical power structures..existed in the classical period as power structures. Whereas the Tamil culture is more horizontal, and flexible, with rational thinking…1st cent BCE to 3rd cent CE, the Tamil culture spread to three areas – the Mediterranean, middle-east and SEA. Most of the excavated objects belong to the Early Historic period (3rd century BCE to 5th century CE). The objects and features discovered suggest that Pattanam was probably the ancient port of Muziris, or Muciri Pattinam, mentioned in classical Tamil, Greek and Latin sources as a key port in the maritime networks of the period. The Pattanam finds point to the presiding role of the Indian sub-continent in transforming the Indian Ocean into a trading lake[1].

Most of the material related to trans-oceanic trade was found in layers belonging to the Early Historic period. Non-local ceramics such as amphorae, terra sigillata, Turquoise Glazed Pottery, torpedo and ovoid jar suggest these and their contents were brought into Pattanam. The Indian Rouletted Ware sherds in significant numbers mark the links with the Indian sub-continent trade network. Other materials such as glass beads, Roman glassware and stone cameo blanks indicate trade exchanges. In this period, Pattanam seems to have achieved an urban status as seen by burnt bricks, roof tiles, terracotta ring wells and other finds like early Chera copper and lead coins. Pattanam, as presently known, had connections with the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals (from East Africa to the South China region) and with other parts of the Indian subcontinent during various phases in its history spanning three millennia. The uniqueness of Pattanam is that it had contacts with the outside world before the Roman phase.

The frankincense crumbs, Turquoise Glazed Pottery, Torpedo and Ovoid jar fragments from the South Arabian and Mesopotamian regions point to the PreRoman, Roman and Post Roman links of Pattanam, from 300 BCE – 1000 CE. Ample evidence of Pattanam’s Mediterranean connections, during the period 100 BCE – 500 CE, is available at the site in the form of sherds of amphorae, terra sigillata, intaglios, cameo blanks, Roman glass fragments, Roman gaming counters etc. The Blue and White ceramics and other Chinese sherds point to later trade links of Pattanam with the eastern Indian Ocean regions, from 1500 – 1900 CE. Thus, gemstones, glass beads, semi-precious stone beads, inlays, intaglios, cameo-blanks, gold jewellery, copper coins, spices and pottery, vouch for Pattanam’s trade links with the Indian subcontinent and beyond, for much of its history (1000 BCE to CE 2000).

Cherian paper – subjected to many questions: When K. V. Ramakrishna Rao asked him the following questions,

1. What were the material evidences of the ancient Tamil that they had boats and ships to have maritime contacts with the ancient civilizations you mentioned.
2. Why Alexander should have invaded the illiterate Mauryans than the literate Tamils, when the Greeko-Romans were having much contacts with the Sangam Tamils, that too giving the best and taking the best out of them, as you claimed.
3. You claimed that the Greeko-Romans were having pyramidal structure of social hierarchy, whereas, the Sangam Tamil horizontal, thn what about the classification of மாங்குடி மருதனார் , “துடியன், பாணன், பறையன், கடம்பன் என்று இந்நான்கல்லது குடியும் இல்லை ”,

He was responding differently telling that tones teak of others (non-Indians) were found there etc., so he again he requested to give a direct answer, but, he could not give it. For the second question, he accepted that he himself wanted to raise such a question (but, praising the Geeeko-Roma classical culture indirectly). Similarly, about the non-existence of any religious object in the excavated materials,  asked, he could not answer directly. By that time, it was announced that time was over.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

13-03-2023.

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[1] P.J. Cheriann and Jeya Menon, Unearthing Pattanam- histories, cultures, crossings, Kerala Council of Historical Research, can be downloaded from here –

Click to access PAMA_Amity_Excavation_Catalogue_Masterlayout_Unearthing_Pattanam.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? (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

A National Seminar held on “Understanding the Cultural Focus on Thiruvarur Region Heritage of Tamil Nadu – Focus on Thiruvarur region” on March 17th and 18th 2022 at the Central University of Tamil Nadu – CUTN, Thiruvarur (2)

A National Seminar held on “Understanding the Cultural Focus on Thiruvarur Region Heritage of Tamil Nadu – Focus on Thiruvarur region” on March 17^th and 18^th 2022 at the Central University of Tamil Nadu – CUTN, Thiruvarur (2)

The seminar hall

17-03-2022 (Thursday): As usual I got up by 3.45 am, but, I could not do anything here. I could listen to peacocks screaming, as they have been plenty here in and around. Mayiladurai – the place where peacocks dance is also nearby[1]. There was no internet connection also, though it was a Central University. Of course, nowadays all have a wireless internet connection that has become the order of the day. Thus, I was going through the papers and materials that are there in my laptop. Till 8.00 am nobody was there to tell anything about the seminar, inaugural function etc. No arrangement was made for coffee. We came down to the ground floor and saw people going here and there. One person was carrying a steel-flask with tumblers going to VIPs rooms, evidently serving them at their rooms. I saw Dr Rajendran coming after walking. We were talking for some time. I learned that has father Sri M. K. Narayanan aged 91 enjoying life with grandchildren and great-grandchildren also. I am happy to know about him, as he was the principal of our Pachaiyappas’ College.

The banner and backdrop

2020 circular/ brochure

The seminar is held after two years: It was to be held in March 2020 and then perhaps getting on postponed due to pandemic reasons[2].  Thus, as pointed out from January 2022, it was postponed to March 2022. Meanwhile, the faculty, persons involved with the seminar and others were also changed. Thus, with God’s grace, now the delegates have gathered here and the seminar is conducted. I am also happy to see, meet and talk with many old friends and others after two or three years.

Registration of delegates………………….A paper presenter from Tirupati, AP

Lighting the lamp

10.30 am – Seminar hall: All were sitting, perhaps expecting the arrival of the VC of the CUTN, Prof. M. Krishnan. As usual, the lighting of the lamp also started with the VIPs sharing each wick and with shoes and without shoes. The Tamil-Mother praising song was sung with the clear instruction that all should stand. During the facilitation of the VIPs, I could notice that the VC had been generous enough to offer his shawl to a student! And of course, he did it last also, i.e, first the guests, a good gesture noticed.

Tamil Mother Hail song sung…….

Tamil Mother Hail song sung…….all stood up

10.43  to 10.7 am: Then, the VC started describing the importance of Thiruvarur and pointed out that had the delegates come a day before i.e, on 15-03-2022, they could have witnessed the “Great Chariot Festival”. Tiruvarur Chariot festival, known in Tamil as Tiruvarur Therottam, is a historical event that still follows the same rituals and traditions associated with the Thyagaraja Swamy temple, Tiruvarur, in Tamil Nadu. The Lord Veethividangar (வீதிவிடங்கர்) now called as Thiyagarajaswami (Shiva) comes out of the massive ancient temple, with his consort Kondi (கொண்டி) (Parvathi) to bless the devotees who always comes to visit him in his abode, one of the world’s biggest chariots. And this chariot was constructed by Kothanars and it is Asia’s biggest chariot of 95” high,  weighing about 350 MT. After mentioning many temples, he pointed out that Kodikkarai is very near to Sri Lanka.

Importance of Vedaranyam, Kodokkarai etc: Kodiakkarai, also called Point Calimere or Cape Calimere, is a low headland of the Coromandel Coast, in the Nagapattinam district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Cape is located about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south of Vedaranyam in the delta region of the Cauvery River, and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline. Vearanyam is also associated with the Salt Satyagraha conducted by Rajaji. The antiquity of the area is evidenced by the Kodi Kuzhagar temple built during the Chola period, and a Chola lighthouse, which was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Kodiakkarai has been designated as a Ramsar site since August 2002. Point Calimere is also associated with the mythological Hindu epic, the Ramayana. The highest point of the cape, at an elevation of 4 metres (13 ft), is Ramarpatham, meaning “Rama’s feet” in Tamil. A stone slab on the Cape bears the impressions of two feet and is said to be the place where Rama stood and reconnoitred / watched over Ravana’s kingdom in Sri Lanka, which is 48 kilometres (30 miles) to the south of the Point. It is also mentioned by Kalki in his historical novel Ponniyin Selvan.

10.58 to 11.11 am  Prof Bhagabana Sahu[3], HOD History Department, CUTN:  he pointed out that Tamil Nadu has retained her distinctive cultural heritage from the rest of India and Tamil is the oldest classical language. It had an impact on the South East Asian region through maritime activities. R. Balakrishnan in his book, “Journey of a Civilization from Indus to Vaigai” stated the continuity of the culture and it can be traced back to c.500 BCE, Sangam Age.

11.12 to 11.17 am Louis Mushary: He introduced the dignitaries mentioning their qualifications, papers and books published, positions occupied, their management skills etc. The VC of CUTN left, as he was having the UGC meeting.

11.18 to 11.44 am Prof N. Rajendran, Former VC, Alagappa University: He distinguished the IVC, Mauryan and Asokan script, stone at etc with that of the Sangam literature and period. Tamilagam was not secluded from India and the Sangam literature has a pan-Indian identity. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar points out in one chapter in his book giving many examples from the Sangam literature (the gold of Nandas hidden under the Ganges)  and also from Ramayana and Mahabharata….The inscriptions of Asoka and Kharavela mention about the Tamil kings. In fact, the Kharavela Hatigumpa inscription gives the date of the Tamil kings matching with the Sangam Literature. While the Asokan Brahmi had been already a well-developed script, the Keeladi script had been in the developing stage.

11.44 to 11.8 am Prof Byomakesh Tripathy, VC, Utkal University[4]: he emphasized about the importance of the transfer of archaeological findings to the textbooks, so that it could spread to the academician. Writing history sitting at the tables without visiting the sites cannot bring out the full details and the facts. The intangible culture and cultural heritage have been very important and they should be recorded, as otherwise, many of such evidences may disappear. The elements of change and continuity have also should be noted, taken into account and writing history and historiography.  

11.58 to 12.02 Prof Sulochana Sekhar, Registrar In-charge: Taking a clue from the Tamil words and expressions (திருவாரூரில் பிறந்தாலும், திருவாரூர் என்ற பெயரை சொன்னாலும் முக்தி கிடைக்கும், Jallikkattu, kal thondri man thondra kalattu ‘கல் தோன்றி மண் தோன்றாக் காலத்தே வாளொடு முன்தோன்றி மூத்தகுடி’ என்று புறப்பொருள் வெண்பா … etc..), she explained the cultural heritage of the Tamils.

12.03 to 12.2 pm Dr Dayalan, ex-Director, ASI: He read his paper with the PPT showing the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, microlithic, Neolithic, megalithic evidences and conjectural dwelling of the ancient people. All were expecting his findings of Keeladi, as other dignitaries were referring to him, but he told that he would be restricted to the earlier findings. He also asked the organizers to take copies of his paper and circulated them among the delegates, as he had given his full paper.

After a vote of thanks, the delegates disbursed for a lunch. By 2.30 pm, all assembled for the technical session to begin.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

19-03-2022

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[1] The famous Mayuranatha Svami (Siva) temple in Mayiladuthurai is one among the 275 Padal Petra Sthalams or temples which have been praised in the Tamil verses of the Nayanmars (important devotees of Siva).  It is the thirty-ninth temple on the south bank of River Kaveri to be extolled in the hymns of the Nayanmars. Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Thirugnanasambandar of the 7th century C.E. have sung in praise of the main deity here. Mayuranatha Svami is believed to have stopped the floods of River Kaveri to make way for Thirugnanasambandar to visit this temple. The Siva Linga worshipped as Mayuranatha Svami is said to be Swayambhu (self-manifested).

[2] https://cutn.ac.in/events/understanding-the-cultural-heritage-of-tamilnadu-focus-on-thiruvarur-region/

[3] Former President ,Odisha History Congress, Former Professor & Head, Department of History Berhampur University, Professor & Head , Department of History , Central University of Tamil Nadu.

[4] Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy, the professor of the Department of History in Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Utkal University of Culture in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Governor and Chancellor Prof Ganeshi Lal issued a notification in this regard. Prof Tripathy, a Ph.D. from Sambalpur University in 1994 has 27 years of teaching experience and out of that he has worked as Professor for 17 years. He is a resource person in ‘Formulation of Courses of Studies in History and Archaeology’.  Prof Tripathy has authored at least five books and edited 13 books. He has attended 24 national conferences and nine International Conferences. He was the topper in History Honours of Sambalpur University in 1984. Besides, he has guided eleven research scholars for Ph. D. Earlier Prof. Tripathy has worked as the HOD of Dept of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Chairman, Board of Studies, Director (Academics), Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.

The Fifth Telangana History Congress held at Nadigudem, Suryapet, Telangana on January 19th and 20th 2020! [1]

The Fifth Telangana History Congress held at Nadigudem, Suryapet, Telangana on January 19^th and 20^th 2020! [1]

The Ayyappa groups have been developed manifold in Andhra-Telangana and lakhs of devotees going and coming back through Tamilnadu

From Chennai to Nadigudem: After attending IHC at Kannur and APHC at Kurnool, then, I had to go to Nadigudem to attend THC session, as I had planned, papers prepared and tickets booked. The Fourth / Fifth Telangana History Congress [తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర కాంగ్రెస్] was held at Nadigudem, Suryapeta Mandal, Telangana. As I always book tickets, make confirmation about accommodation, after sending my paper, I used to proceed to attend any conference / seminar. This time also I did the same, as usual, to attend the Telangana conference held at Nadigudem, Suryapet. However, I did not receive any response from them. I sent a letter requesting for a room and the paper by e-mail and by post. Earlier, I rang up for the Local secretary, “9490663333” dozen times, there was no response. When I reminded again by e-mail on 13-01-2020, I received a mail from Veerender Mallam, “Thank you for showing interest in THC and also presenting s paper. As mentioned by you, when you reach Munagala or before reaching please contact us so that we can arrange somebody to receive you. My phone number is 9440747957. Best, Veerender Mallam.” Actually, I have been a life member of THC and attending the previous sessions held at Warangal and Hyderabad presenting papers. As I planned, I started from Chennai to Khammam by train. Here, I had to record the experience I had in the train with the Ayyappa baktas. When the Korba express came to central, the reserved compartments were full of Ayyappa baktas in hundreds. They were virtually blocking incoming passengers entering inside. They were occupying all seats without any order. After reaching the reserved berth also, they again swarmed us in dozens sitting and laying down o the floor without leaving any space. If at all, we had to go to the bathroom, we had to rummage and lurch through them, touching their bodies. Of course, they did not mind! I could not have proper sleep. At Vijayawada only, they had disappeared! Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!

Location of the venue, where the THC session was held

From Khammam to Godada to Munagala to Nadigudem: The train reached Khammam on 17-01-2020 by 8.00 am. Instead of Munagala, I was asked to go to Godada, as there was no bus from Khammam there to Muagala and also suggested by the organizers. So I caught a bus to reach Godada. After reaching Godada, I had to catch another bus to Munagala. Then, I had to get down at the police station stage, as there were four stages, as suggested by the organizers. When I got down there at “Police station” stage, I saw Dr Jai Kishan, whom I met earlier several times in different conferences. Last time, I met him at the “Iron in India” seminar held at the Dravidian University, Kuppam. He took me in his car going through paddy fields. At last, we reached the venue – Kalaprapurna Nayani Venkata Rangarao Bhawanam.” I recollected about the building, the deserted building complex known as “Munagala gadi, fort, palace,” and so on, as I saw two videos on the internet. It was almost a deserted building complex, known as “Munagala gadi,” as described in the video[1].

Nadigudem gada, fort, or  palace as looked before renovation

Wood has been used extensively for long life and aesthetic value with carved designs for supporting pillars, hand-rails, steps, rafter etc

The Nadigudem gadi: From the court cases[2], we can get a lot of information about the owners of the building / gadi / fort complex. Munagala Province was in longer existence than the other Samasthanams of Nizam State. It came into being as a part of the army officers who had displayed valour in the battlefield were given Estates as gifts. Munagala was one of them. The Munagala Zamindar existed as a subordinate to the Kakatiya rulers between 1262 and 1323; in 1300 it was under the rule of Cheruku Jagadadu Marayya Ganapathi. Reddy. From 1306 onwards Cheruku Jagadadu Annayya Reddy inherited the rule, according to Tadavai inscription. As per the historical evidence available, the region enjoyed provincial status during the reign of Rachakonda, Devara konda Velama Rayalu and Golkonda kings. At the time of Aurangazeb, it passed into the hands of Moghuls. The District of Kistna in which Munagala is situated forms part of the Northern Circars, which was at first under the Hindu Rajas, and then formed part of the Kingdom of Golconda which was conquered by Aurungazebe at the close of the seventeenth century.

The view from the top – the main building of the palace, horse stables can be seen. In other way, it was built in that way for observation.

From the French to the British to independence[3]: Subsequently, the Circars were included in the Subbah of the Deccan and were governed by the Nizam until the middle of the eighteenth century, when they passed for a time into the hands of the French. Then after Col. Forde’s successful operations, Lord Clive obtained a Sannad from the Imperial Court at Delhi assigning them to the East India Company. There is no reason to doubt that at the time the District or Pergunah of Munagala was in the possession of the last survivor of a very ancient Reddi family who held it as deshmuk or Chauduri under the ruling power. In 1759 AD Munagala was given to the East India Company. In 1802, East India Company adopted the method of “Permanent Settlement “ permanent “Sanad” was issued in the name of Keesara Vekata Narasimha Rao. From 1766 the proprietary right of the Zamindar of Munagala does not seem to have been questioned. From 1900 onwards, Raja Nayani venkata Ranga Rao was the ruler of the zamindari. there used to be 22 major villages including three Mukhasa Villages.There were a total of 17 hamlets for some major villages. Nayani lachamma‟s adopted son Ranga Rao was minor and the Estate passed into the Court of Wards. Venkata Ranga Rao ascended to the power in 1900 and continued ruling the Estate. The Zamindari System was abolished in 1948, thus bringing an end to Ranga Rao‟s regime. He died in 1958 and in 1959 the Province of Munagala was added to the Nalgonda District from Krishna District. Thus the History of Munagala Samsthanam crossed so many landmarks in the hands of Jamindar‟s and finally merged in Nalgonda Dist. of Andhra Pradesh. Now, it is in the Telangana State.

First floor where wooden chair can be seen.

From pre-independence date to independence and thereafter – reaching 2020: During 1925-1935, the Jamindar was reportedly occupied many fertile areas and exploited labour. He even prevented water flowing to other fields, but diverted to his lands. The issue had even gone to court. Now, it has been sprawling over 5.5 acres area with the two-storied buildings. Earlier a school was functioning in the buildings for about 10 years. Then, there was a proposal to establish a polytechnic, but, for some reasons, the idea was shelved and forgotten. Anyway, now, the heirs have leased the complex to the Deccan Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute (DACRI) and they have renovated to hold the THC in 2020.

The horse stables or prion, incidentally, one of these rooms was allotted to me without any current connection!

View of the Darbar hall / Diwan’s main building.

I went to nearby streets to observe the condition of the Nadigudem village. This is LHS of the view of the street, where the palace stands.

Going still further in the street….one depilated old house and another house, its entrance has been whitewashed recently, can be seen.

View of the same from other side

Closer view of the house recently whitewashed

the other side of the road

An old house can be seen..

The room allotted to me at Nadigudem without electricity connection: He dropped me at the venue and also showed a room, where I could stay. A cot, bed, pillow etc., were provided. He told that by evening, they would provide current connection and fan. There had been hundreds of workers working at different places within the Fort complex. Actually, it was one of the horse stables, also used to keep the prisoners inside. It had only one door and window at the top about 20 feet from the ground. I was sitting and going here and there to spend time watching them. I had gone through the nearby streets taking photographs. Still, there have been many old houses in the dilapidated conditions. With urgent and haste, they were rushing through the processing of whitewashing, painting, levelling, cleaning, pandal constructing and so on. The work continued even in the evening and there was no sign of giving electrical connection to the room allotted to me. Slowly, delegates started coming. They were so busy with other work. The organizers had also definitely avoiding the delegates. Actually, they could have informed through mail about the prevailing condition, but, they did not do.

 

The outer compound wall leading to the entrance of Raja gadi / Munagala gadi, the fort or palace of Nayani Rangarao.

The entrance of Raja gadi / Munagala gadi, the fort or palace of Nayani Rangarao, just going inside

The reception building leading to the main building. It has very big doors of 20 x 10 feet dimension!

The reception building leading to the main building. It has very big doors of 20 x 10 feet dimension! The doors can be seen partially.

The Raja / Jamindar darbar hall, house getting facelift after renovation, here, not much difference noted, except whitewashing and painting.

Work going on, part of the entrance – reception building can be seen.

The stage / podium in between the reception and main buildings has been getting final touch-ups, painting etc.

Clearing and construction of toilets on LHS

The backyard of the gadi

The backyard of the gadi – corner

The horse stables / prison, as viewed from the backside

The horse stables / prison

 

Srinivasulu, Raakrishna, Veerender and others could be seen, 17-01-2020 evening before moving out to Suryapeta.

Moving to Suyapet: Therefore, I was thinking to decide to move out. When I saw S/Sri Ramakrishna and Srinivasulu, I requested them that I would also join them, if they wanted to move out. After some time, they came to me to inform that we would go to Suryapet and take a room. So somehow, we reached the main road / national high way to catch a bus to reach Suryapet. There was demand in getting a room, as local elections were held the next day i.e, 19-01-2020. Somehow, we got a room at the Tirumala Grant and settled down. Then, only, I could sleep to some extent, because of the last night disturbances on the train.

The first-day proceedings at Nadigudem on 19^th Jan.2020: Got up by morning, got ready and started going to Barkargudem by bus. Actually, as I was not familiar with the names etc., I just had gone with Srinivasulu. We got down there at Barkatgudem junction. Fortunately, a car was returning from the main road and we could get dropped at the venue. Took breakfast and sat at the pandal. We got registered ourselves paying the delegate fees of s 500/- per head. Inside the bag, one souvenir, booklet of papers of the sectional presidents, pen and badge were there. The list of papers was missing. First, there was the inaugural function of the Deccan Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute (DACRI).

Registration done here…

The function was to start by 10 am, but, it started at 11.15 am. There was a lengthy list of VIPs,

SSS Jagadguru Vidyaranya Bharathi Swamili, Virupaksha Vidranya Mahasamasthanam, Hampi,

Sri Mandali Buddha Prasad, Former Dy speaker, Govt of AP,

Sri Chennuri Anjaneya Reddy[4] IPS, former Chairman, APTDC, Govt.of AP,

1. Rajendra Prasad, General President
2. P. Rao, sectional president – Ancient section
3. Rekha Pande, Medieval section
4. Deepak kumar, Modern section
5. Jitendra Babu, Local history

Swamiji lit the lamp by striking a match to matchbox – after many years. I saw this, as usual, a candle is used to lit lamp. In fact, when Swamiji asked for a matchbox, they could not provide and then, a person came running towards him with a matchbox. Sivanagi Freddy was compeering with his highly wordy Telugu flow of words. Others followed to complete the wicks of the lamp as usual.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-01-2020

 

[1] V6 News Telugu, “Munagala Gadi”, http://youtube.com/watch?v=QlAnW5MUqgY

[2] Madras High Court, Raja Keesara Venkatappayya Alias … vs Raja Nayani Venkataranga Rao And … on 1 May, 1919, Equivalent citations: (1920) 38 MLJ 149, Author: Wallis, JUDGMENT Wallis, C.J. http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1199541/

[3] P. Lingaiah, The History of Munagala Samasthanam, International Journal of multidisciplinary Empirical Research, Vol.VI, Issue 1 (1), January, 2013, pp.134-141.

[4] He resigned, as he was not given the DGP posting before retirement.