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

---

[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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audience- students

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

oppo_0

Students audience- backside

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

Dr Pareswar Sahoo heading the session

Audience…….

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

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

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

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

The following papers were also presented:

Ganesan – Lambadis

Venkatesan – Tirukkural

Ramesh – Rock art of Tamilnadu

Vibin – Temples in Kanyakumari

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

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

19-03-2024

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

[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

---

[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

---

[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 – Commercialization of Archaeology, related issues (10)

Recent Advances in South Indian Archaeology – The 2^nd International Symposium in memory of Iravatham Mahadevan – Commercialization of Archaeology, related issues (10)

From the bible to crude oil: As for as the “west” is concerned, archaeology was born, encouraged and developed with the creation of myths related to their religious beliefs. There has been a separate subject, “Biblical archaeology,” and it is not known, is there any counterpart of such “archaeology” in other competing and competitive religions and faiths. Deluge, flood, Ark, cross, and so other subjects have been discussed archaeologically and volumes of reports and books produced. Whether Eve was created from Adam or both created individually, they married together as brother and sister or born separately so that they could marry and beget children, yet the children split and speak different languages.  From the Paleolithic to the modern men are found in many places. Now, the demand is for crude oil, as from which only, common men get LPG, petrol, diesel etc., and not from the archaeological diggings, DNAs, or chromosomes or by calling man white or black, Aryan or Dravidian…….etc., Two world Wars were fought and millions were massacred in the name of race, racism and racialism. Even today war is going on in the name of peace, petrol and production of weapons.

From “white and black” to “Aryan and Dravidian” the problem continues: If the past 300 years period is divided as 1700-1800, 1800-1900 and 1900-2000, or  1750-1800, 1800-1850, 1850-1900,  1900-1950 and 1950-2000, the origin of human has not been settled with in spite of the scientific approach was / is applied, methodology adopted and studied samples even in the laboratories of high orders. From morphological to internal, blood to blood cells, cells to neurons, DNA to chromosomes, the principles of race, racism and racialism consciously work in the minds of the faithful researchers, dedicated experts and obedient technicians in laboratories.  In English, more verbose with scientific terms and terminology are / have been created, but the same old issues continue. Whether monogenetic or heterogenetic, out of Africa or out of Europe, the problem of Black or White remain the same. So for 50, 100, 200, or 300 again and again to prove the same hypothesis or theory, why more and more diggings, new laboratories and others are required? Common people have not got any benefit out such research and they are not worried also.

Why cut funds for Archaeological studies?: Globally, American and European Universities do not want to encourage archaeology, as the more and more such excavations are carried on in other continents, the more the extermination of the past civilizations, genocide and other crimes and acts of violence are coming out. They are not useful to the past-colonial masters and rulers. Under the economic exploitation of natural resources, the MNCs ae interested in pursuing more sites for getting natural resources like crude oil, gas and minerals. Therefore, when UK announced 50% cut for archaeology, some came out apologetically as follows. Under the caption[1], “Six Reasons to Save Archaeology From Funding Cuts,” what is discussed is – “Here are six reasons why archaeology has never been more relevant to society”:

1. Archaeology is (not( only about the past
2. Archaeology is a science
3. Archeology is a universal discipline
4. Archaeology can help shape a better world.
5. Archaeology is important to the economy
6. Archaeology is an excellent foundation for any career

Incidentally, in UK, archaeology hs become business – Companies working in development-led archaeology on average returned a profit (or surplus, for charitable organisations) of 2%. This low level of profit being reported across the sector is potentially unsustainable. 41% of respondents reported profits of less than 5% of the value of their turnovers, including several that reported annual losses of up to £482,373. The average profit/surplus per FTE member of staff was £3,663, the median was £2,550.

Large-scale development-led archaeology has changed the very nature of archaeological datasets. In addition to the familiar positive evidence of structures and deposits, there is now a wealth of ‘true-negative’ evidence: the confirmed absence of archaeological remains. Making good use of such data presents a challenge and demands new ways of thinking. Using case studies based on recent developer-led work in the UK, the authors suggest that focusing on ‘fingerprints’ of past human activity at a landscape scale provides a useful approach. The results argue in favour of changes to existing recording systems, as well as the need to integrate more fully both positive and negative evidence in archaeological interpretation[2].

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists: When archaeology has been commercialized, definitely the involved would talk only in the name of capital and investment, profit and loss and so on. Thus, in UK they have business working at different levels[3]. Research Ltd This project was commissioned by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers and funded by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers and Historic England.State of the Archaeological Market 2018 – This report has been prepared by Landward Research Ltd in its professional capacity as research, training and project management specialists, with reasonable skill, care and diligence within the agreed scope and terms of contract and taking account of the manpower and resources devoted to it by agreement with its clients, and is provided by Landward Research Ltd solely for its clients, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers. It may be further distributed as the clients see fit if Landward is fully credited as the originator of this report and Kenneth Aitchison is fully credited as the author.

Archaeology as disaster capitalism: The “corporate / business / commercial archaeology” wants only making money and not interested in preserving the past. Archaeologists commonly sign non-disclosure agreements for the corporations and developers for whom they work, limiting their ability to communicate about the work being done. Thus, there is little opportunity for truthtelling. Our conclusions destabilized four conventional tropes that we learned in our formal state education in archaeology[4]:

1. archaeology is not about the preservation of sites and materials, but rather is about facilitating the destruction of heritage landscapes;
2. archaeology is not undertaken in the name of research to learn about the past, but is undertaken to fulfill legal and regulatory obligations in the present;
3. archaeologists do not have a responsibility to disseminate their results, except to their clients and the government; and
4. archaeology is not undertaken for the public good, but is instead a private, for profit enterprise.

Archaeology is a form of disaster capitalism, characterized by specialist managers whose function is the clearance of Indigenous heritage from the landscape, making way for economic development. When presented with this critique, archaeologists respond strongly and emotionally, defending archaeology. Anger emanates from and revolves around the assertion that archaeologists are not just complicit in but integral to the destruction of the very heritage they claim to protect. In what we believe is an act of philosophical and economic self-preservation, mainstream archaeologists actively forget the relationship between archaeology, violence, and the global heritage crisis. Securely defended by its practitioners, archaeology, therefore, remains an imperial force grounded in the ideology of growth, development, and progress.

Commercialization in Archaeology: Problems, Old and New: C. Ann Bauermeister[5], summarized as, “Archeology has long enjoyed popularity among the public. Such interest is an asset to the discipline, for it can generate the support integral to the profession and to the study of the archeological record. Unfortunately, the allure of archeology also has the potential to be . destructive to the archeological record. When archeology is viewed as a hobby is when problems can–and do–arise. The term “amateur archeologist” has been applied to nonprofessional or untrained persons who pursue archeological work. Why our profession is thought of as one where amateurs are welcome is not entirely clear, though perhaps it is due in part due to how archeology has been romanticized through entertainment mediums. This paper addresses the current situation regarding collectors or “amateur archeologists”. More specifically it focuses on the commercialization of antiquities, the problem with fake and replicate artifacts, and finally the role that the Internet now plays”. According to Murphy et al.[6], “commodification is the process through which objects of archeological value are transformed through market activities into commodities with monetary value and transferred from public ownership to private” (1995:39). The problems addressed is attest to the fact that this is indeed a dilemma. The role of collectors, the influx of fraudulent artifacts, and the Internet as a trading network are current issues that archaeologists will have to confront. Given the situation, they need to take a proactive stance against the commercialization of artifacts.

Outsourcing, ethics and handling of samples: Nowadys, privatization works in archaeology, archaeological excavation, collection, testing of samples, disposal of samples, commercialization of samples etc. thus, outsourcing has also come into play with engagement of workers (who do not know any archaeology), students (under the guise of giving training) and others (trained but contract labourers). L. M. Shaffer Raab and others pointed out that[7], “The client-oriented approach to contract archaeology is a technical service rather than genuine scientific research. Such an approach fails to meet the requirements of the law, fails to satkfy the needs of archaeological science, and frequently fails to Protect the client i interests. A client orientation encourages an excessive emphasis on profits from contract work. Profits not only exclude a balance of archaeological, client, and public interests but threaten the scientific future of contract work. Solutions to the problem of client-oriented work include better academic training as researchers, support for government archaeologists, a strong professional consensus on ethical and performance standards, and attention to public interests. [contract archaeology, client-oriented archaeology, research profits, research obligations, professionalism]”

“Hypotheses” presented as Conclusion: Three days sitting there and listening to many archaeologists, epigraphists, numismatists and related experts, make any serious researcher and ordinary person would definitely think, what is the use of the conference and the results, if any, proposed or made to understand by others.

• Iravatham Mahadevan honestly accepted, “neti, neti”= neither this or that, thus, no conclusive conclusion can be arrived at the decipherment of Indus symbols, pictograms and script like features.
• But, many have been discussing as if the script has been deciphered, it is finalized and so on.
• Most of the paper presenters have not come  with their results, but, went on asserting that their findings have not be conclusive, as they have been preliminary;
• samples have not been sent to laboratories for dating; and other fats are not revealed;
• still “hypothesis” is boldly mentioned in the last slide as “conclusion,” why then such one hour long discourse is required is not known. Therefore, it is evident that sill such “hypothesis” is forced o the viewers.
• The theme “Recent advances in archaeological investigations of South India,” has been ignored, neglected or forgotten more that 70% paper presenters.

Questions, discussions avoided, evaded and conference proceeded: When different scholars, experts and others are coming together, Thus, slowly, asking questions were discouraged and stopped also on the pretext of time. Every year, hundreds of seminars, conferences and workshops are conducted throughout India spending crores of rupees. But, again and again, the expects come out the same or similar results and conclusions that divide people based on language, literature, race, ethnicity and so on. For bringing people together and progress in other aspects, nothing is suggested, brought out or concluded with specific points. Here also with all the expertise, scholarship and research, directly or indirectly, most of the papers come to revolve around the question of “Dravidian, Dravidians, Aryan, Aryans, invasion, migration, vegetarian food, non-vegetarian food, Vattezguthu (round script[8]), Tamil ezhuttu (Tamil script), ” etc. More than 100 years such research was conducted, now also is being conducted, but, what is the use to the general public, the people of Tamilnadu and India.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

18-03-2023.

---

[1] The U.K. government recently- 2021,  announced plans to cut its subsidy for English university teaching of the subject (along with many arts courses) by 50 percent because it is not part of the government’s “strategic priorities.” https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/reasons-to-save-archaeology/

[2] Thomas, R., & Darvill, T. (2022). What haven’t we found? Recognising the value of negative evidence in archaeology. Antiquity, 96(388), 955-967. doi:10.15184/aqy.2022.69

[3] https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/Archaeological Market Survey 2017-18.pdf

[4] Hutchings, R., & La Salle, M. (2015). Archaeology as disaster capitalism. International journal of historical archaeology, 19, 699-720.

[5] Bauermeister, Ann C. “Commercialization in Archaeology: Problems, Old and New.” (1999). University of Nebraska – Lincoln, DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1114&context=nebanthro

[6] Murphy, L.E., M.e. Beaudry, R.E. Adams, and J.A Brown  Commercialization: Beyond the Law of Above It? Ethics and the Selling of the Archaeological Record. Ethics ill American Archaeology. 1995

[7] Raab, L. M., Schiffer, M. B., Klinger, T. C., & Goodyear, A. C. (1980). Clients, contracts, and profits: Conflicts, in public archaeology. American Anthropologist, 82(3), 539-551.

[8] https://www.tamilvu.org/ta/tdb-titles-cont-inscription-html-vatteluttu-280369

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.

---

[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…

---

[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 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 (2)

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 (2)

Objectives of the Seminar: There are serious studies available purely either on Buddhism or Bhakti movement and anti-caste traditions. But, it is noticed that deliberations on continuity of non- Vedic and anti-caste intellectual tradition, initiated by Buddha in another forms and their variations are absent. In view of absence of comparative studies on Buddha and other anti-caste philosophers during lhe subsequent period, present seminar is proposed. Present Two Day National Seminar is aimed at serious deliberations on the impact Buddhist egalitarianism on other sectarian religious faiths after the defeat of Buddhism in India. And it is also intended to identify the basic differences and resemblances of all anti-caste sectarian religious movements.

Sub- themes: The subthemes and others are also listed out for illustrative purpose:

1. Buddhism — Buddhist anti- caste Philosophy

2. Vajrayana/ Siddha cults in South India

3. Sectarianism — Medieval Bhakti movements and anti-casse philosophy

4. Virasaivism- Basaveswara, Akkamahadevi, Panditaradhya

5. Vaishnavism —Ramanuja, Brahmanaidu

6. Pothuluri Virabrahmam- Vemana

7. Nasarayya- Dunna Iddasu- Yadla Ramadasu

8. Sufi saints

9. Tukaram- Sant Ravidas- Chokkamela

10. Meerabai- Kabir- Bhima Boi

11. Any other relevant theme Submission of Papers

01-03-2023 (Wednesday): The seminar was inaugurated with a prayer to Buddha sung by the Buddhist students followed by the prayer song of the University invoking Acharya Nagarjuna. The seminar convener Ch. Swaroopa Rani invited the dignitaries, the guests and delegates, introducing the Mahayana Buddhist centre and explaining the theme of the seminar. Prof Rajasekar, VC, talked about the theme with examples. Then, 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. Dr Ramabhadra Kumar pointed out delving upon some books that caste problem has been spread to all other countries, now working in 33 major countries. He emphasized the consolidation of caste, annihilation of caste and dissolution of caste. K. S. Chalam, the key-note speaker spoke about many issues and they have been printed in the “abstract” booklet. K. S. Chalam was sarcastically talking about “Brahminical virus” / brahmin diaspora virus spreading in the “Diaspora” countries throughout the world, it is more dangerous than Carona virus and so on.

Brahmin  diaspora virus – S.K. Chalam: First, Ramabadhrakumar was telling that caste has been there in 33 countries of the world and then, S. K. Chalam mentioned about “Brahmin diaspora virus,” affecting and it is more dangerous than Carona virus. Incidentally, such idea has been floated by the left-oriented media in the internet[1]. The Wire came out with a story[2] that “Communal Virus Injected into Diaspora, and the Culture is Growing” and claimed that it was published originally somewhere[3], giving a link. That link contains another story[4], “Supreme Court Pulls Up Union Govt & TV For Allowing Hate Speech; Communal Virus Injected Into Diaspora And The Culture Is Growing.” So they could find virus suddenly comparing it with caste. S. K. Chalam directly christened it as “Brahmin diaspora virus”! As usual, it is not known, why “Khastriya diaspora virus,” “Vaisyha diaspora virus,” and “Sudra  diaspora virus,” are not found or located in their narratives and discourses. Talking about “hate speech,” they are producing more “hate speech” and it is not known as to whether they understand or not.

“Abstracts” of papers: The “Abstracts” contain 35 papers and full papers of key-note and valedictory addresses.

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
K. S. Chalam, Key-note address	Impact of Buddhism on Anti-caste Egalitarian movements in India[5] (Key note address)	1-19
M. Koteswara Rao	Buddhism:  a philosophy of social transformation.	25
Pannasami	Caste system in Theravada Buddhist perspective.	26
M.M. Vinodini	Akkammadevi’s literature that called for women’s emancipation
P. D. Satya Paul	Title – not known, not listed / included in the “Abstracts” He spoke twice for nearly two hours….
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao	The Sectarian encounters between the Buddhist and Jain faiths during the Medieval period for commercialization and communalization	34-35
Yadhava Raghu	Dasa movement and its impact on Telugu villages bordering Karnataka: a case of Pyalakurthy village, Kurnool district[6].	37-38 46
John Weasley	Siddha cults in South India.	57
Sugandha	The Buddhist perspective of social sratification	5 8
N. Kanakaratnam	Caste frevenge on adigas and Malas.	60
Eluri Harshavardhan	Egalitarian ideals of Buddhism: A repository of counter discourse in Andhradesa
E. Sudha Rani, Valedictory address	Women Bhakti saints’ voices: the radical anti-caste movements in medieval India.	20-24

Afternoon first session, the following papers  were presented:

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
K. S. Chalam[7], Key-note address	Impact of Buddhism on Anti-caste Egalitarian movements in India[8] (Key note address)	1-19
M. Koteswara Rao[9]	Buddhism:  a philosophy of social transformation.	25
Pannasami[10]	Caste system in Theravada Buddhist perspective.	26
M.M. Vinodini[11]	Akkammadevi’s literature that called for women’s emancipation

M. Koteswara Rao was talking about caste, case system, Ambedkar etc., in a general manner and explaining the contemporary conditions. He was stressing that the process of thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis should take place.

Pannasami’s paper perplexed some audience because, he was explaining about, “Caste system in Theravada Buddhist perspective,” while the seminar was about how Buddhism could pave way for anti-caste movement. That is Buddhism could not have any type of social discrimination, when it was against caste system.

The last paper presenter was virtually speaking as if she was giving a literary discourse (like pattimanram in the Tamil context) and spoke for one hour explaining the poetic nuances in Telugu, repeating points again and again. Though, he was narrating other stories, she  did not mention that according to legends, she was a beautiful woman with long tresses and Kaushika, the Jain ruler of the region, fell in love with her. However, some accounts suggest that despite Kaushika’s proposal to marry Akka, the latter not only refused, but when forced, renounced her family, discarded her clothes and left the village covered only in her long tresses. Thus, here also, the Jaina-Saiva conflict is known. In other versions, it is claimed that the wedding did actually take place but on the conditions that the king would neither touch Akka without her permission nor hinder her worship. However, when Kaushika failed to honour the agreement, Akka left his palace leaving behind all his presents, including her clothes and acknowledged Lord Chennamallikarjuna as her sole husband.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-03-2023

---

[1] The Wire, Communal Virus Injected into Diaspora, and the Culture is Growing, Sidharth Bhatia, 23-09-2022.

[2] https://thewire.in/communalism/communal-virus-leicester

[3] Pratik Kanjilal, Supreme Court Pulls Up Union Govt & TV For Allowing Hate Speech; Communal Virus Injected Into Diaspora And The Culture Is Growing, September 22, 2022

[4] https://www.theindiacable.com/p/supreme-court-pulls-up-union-govt?utm_source=email

[5]  Though his paper has been printed in about 20 pagers, it is not complete and of course, he accepted that it was only “abstract,” and he would send his full paper.

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

[7] Prof. Chalam held the position of –

• Vice- Chancellor, Dravidian University, Kuppam (AP) (2005);
• Member, Planning Board, Govt. of M.P., (2002-04);
• Founder Director, UGC Academic Staff College, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (1987-2005);
•  Director, Swamy Ramananda Tirtha Rural Institute, Pochampally, Hyderabad (1997-98);
• Professor of Economics, Andhra University (1990-2005).
• He is on several Committees as Hon’ble Chairman, Member such as UGC, NCRI, A.U etc.
• He was Search Committee Member for selection of Vice- Chancellor for Telugu and Telangana Universities in Andhra Pradesh.

[8]  Though his paper has been printed in about 20 pagers, it is not complete and of course, he accepted that it was only “abstract,” and he would send his full paper.

[9] Associate Professor, Department of English – Krishna University, Andhra Pradesh.

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

[11] Associate Professor, Department of Telugu, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-516005., Andhra Pradesh

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 (1)

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 (1)

Started on February 28^th and reaching Vijayawada on March 1^st, 2023: The National seminar on “Buddhism and Sectarian Religious faith in India,” was conducted at the Acharya Nagarjuna University on March 1 and 2, 2023. Many papers were presented by the academicians delving upon the subject matter mainly interpreting that Buddha or Buddhism was responsible for the creation of anti-Bakti movement. Though, I have come to the ANU for many times to attend the seminars and conferences for presenting papers, now I am visiting here after five years, for various reasons. January 2023, I might have come, but, my paper was not accepted on last minute[1]. Anyway, now I received a mail that my paper had been accepted. So I started preparing to come. As usual my friend Dr Madhusudhana Rao also prepared to come, but, suddenly he was not feeling well because health problem and he had to stay back. With much difficulty, I started travelling towards Vijayawada on 28^th February 2023. Now, as I am a Guest Faculty, I had to apply for leave and attend the seminar. Unusually, the Pinakini Express was late and I could reach Vijayawada by 11.50 PM instead of 9.20 PM. When I reached the Guest House of the ANU, it was 12.40 PM and I had to write March 1, 2023, as the next day started. The following paragraphs contain details that are reproduced from the brochure issued for the seminar.

The Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies[2]: The seminar was held under the auspices of The Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies. It was established in 1982 under the scholarly guidance of Padma Vibhushan Prof. K. Satchidananda Murthy, the inspiration of late Prof. R. Subrahmanyam, who extensively excavated the Nagarjunakonda site in 1960 and the then External Affairs Minister Dr. P.V. Narasimha Rao. His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk inaugurated the Chair of Mahayana Buddhism and donated an endowment fund. The UGC grant had provision for constructing a Chaitya model building to house the Centre. Padma Vibhushan Prof. K. Satehidananda Murthy is the Honorary Director of the Centre. Teaching Programme: In accordance with the guidelines provided for the Centre by the National Committee of Experts, the Centre lays focus on the multidimensional study of Buddhism in general and Mahayana Buddhism in particular. In 1993, Master degree in Philosophy with emphasis on Buddhism was started. I find many Buddhist students from Myanmar and other countries are studying there.

About Acharya Nagarjuna University: The Name, Acharya Nagarjuna University, is quite significant in that the greatest Buddhist preceptor and philosopher Acharya Nagarjuna founded a University on the banks of river Krishna some centuries ago, and made it great of centre learning, attracting a large number of teachers and students from distant parts of the world[3]. The present Acharya Nagarjuna University is not very far from the hallowed spot, as it derives its moral and intellectual sustenance from Acharya Nagarjuna. In 1967, Andhra University started a Post-graduate centre in Nallapadu, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, as an Extension Centre to cater to the needs of higher education of the people of this region. It is in the fitness of things that a university should grow from this Centre to fulfill the desire of the people of this belt. Accordingly, Nagarjuna University came into being in August 1976. Acharya Nagarjuna University since then has grown into a large University with 37 Academic Departments. Its jurisdictions was extended to two districts now having over 400 affiliated colleges offering Under-Graduate, Post- Graduate, Engineering, Education, Law, Pharmacy and Oriental Languages courses. Now it has 55 Post-graduate teaching — cum — research courses on the campus, while around 70 affiliated colleges offer P.G. Courses. The theme of the seminar is explained as follows:

The non-Vedic Sramanic tradition[4]: The contemporary interest in Buddhism is based on its social appeal. Within India Buddhism has appeared as an alternative to the hierarchical and in egalitarian ideology and Hinduism. Buddhism is viewed as a system which was more sympathetic to oppressed groups and social solution to the problem of caste oppression. After a pioneering work of Dr. Ambedkar on the social philosophy of Buddha some scholars like Eleanor Zelliot (1992), Uma Chakravarthi (1996), Rhys Davids (1997), Gail Omvedl (2003) and others worked on the social dimensions of Buddhism. With the social revolution of Buddhism, an alternative culture to the Vedic or Brahmanical culture also evolved in all parts of India. Buddha emerged from the non-Vedic Sramanic tradition and opposed the superstitious belief system and encouraged scientific enquiry.

Medieval Virasaivam and its impact: Though Buddhism was defeated and erased physically from its birth place, it is surviving in several forms of faiths and cults. Buddhist thought has been perpetuating in the form of local religious Traditions and customs. The rise of different sectarian religious movements during the medieval and late medieval periods in India carried forwarded the anti-caste and non-Vedic philosophical notions of Buddha. Those sectarian leaders rejected Vedic Brahmanism and propagated egalitarian ideas within the framework of the religion. 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.

The followers of Virasaivam: Virasaivism advocated the notion of equality among all human beings irrespective of caste, creed and gender. Basaveswara, the chief profounder of Virasaiva religious movements is known for his social reforms. Palkuriki Somandha, the Saivate poet also reflected Virasaiva anti- caste philosophy through his works including ‘Panditaradhya Charitra’ and ‘Basavapuranam’. Akkamahadevi, a woman saint and radical challenged all sorts of hegemony including patriarchy has been emerged out of this sectarian movement. A peculiar community by name Jangama among different lower castes has been emerged from the followers of Virasaivism.

How Virasaivam paved way for the upliftment of lower-caste people: Similarly, Vaishnavism also propagated social equality during the medieval period. Ramanuja had admitted lower castes into his Vaishnava fold and mentored them as Maladasu and Madigadasu. Dasari community has been emerged among the lower castes as one of the influential inter sub-caste, maintained some sort of high rank as priestly class within lhe same group. Brahmanaidu, a medieval social reformer and staunch follower of Vaishnava cult has organized inter-dinning among different communities and gave priority to Mala Kannamadasu, the army commander from lower community. Evolution of Chennakesava cult among the lower castes witnesses for this phenomenon. It s interesting to note that the priests of the Chennakesava temples were appointed from the Mala community.

Non-Brahmin Bakti saints: Saint Ravidas, Kabir, Chokkameta, Bhima Boi and others form North India also framed anti caste and non-Brahmin philosophy. A woman saint Meerabai and her Bhakti also considered to be an anti-hegemonic philosophy. Similarly there are many social reformers in Telugu speaking regions. Philosophers from Sudra communities such as Pothuluri Virabrahmam, Yogi Vemana and others revolted against the hypocrisy of Brahmanism in Andhra. There are many spiritual leaders at local level including Nasarayya, Dunna Iddasu, Yadla Ramadasu and others rejected the Vedic Brahmanism and promoted spiritual democracy. There are Sufi saints emerged from Muslim background also propagated equality among all sections of the society. Dargas are the centres acted for social harmony, integrated all communities and strived for the unity among Hindu and Muslim groups.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-03-2023

---

[1]  Earlier, I used to get the circular by post and based on that paper preparation used to get started. After submitting and getting confirmed about presentation, tickets would be booked and journey planned.  Nowadays, the information about the seminar is sent only to the selected friends. It is posted in the social media one day earlier or on the same day, thereby virtually stopping others, particularly, even willing persons from other states cannot come. Actually, nowadays, I do not understand what has started taking place or going on in conducting seminars or conferences, though, I have been attending more than 650 in the last 40 years different parts of India. May be some sort of “politics,” personal likes-dislikes and such other factors may have started playing role.

[2] Based on the ANU website – https://www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in/deptdet.php?id=1023

[3] Based on the ANU website- Acharya Ngarjuna University- A profile – https://nagarjunauniversity.ac.in/profile.php; more details – history, location, emblem etc., can be read from website.

[4] A śramaṇa (Sanskrit: श्रमण, or samaṇa (Pali: 𑀲𑀫𑀡; Chinese: 沙門 or 沙门, shāmén) means “one who labours, toils, or exerts themselves for some higher or religious purpose” or “seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic”. During its development, the term came to refer to several non-Brahmanical ascetic religions parallel to but separate from the Vedic religion. The Śramaṇa tradition includes primarily Jainism, Buddhism, and others such as the Ājīvika. The śramaṇa religions became popular in the same circles of mendicants from greater Magadha that led to the development of spiritual practices, as well as the popular concepts in all major Indian religions such as saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death) and moksha (liberation from that cycle).The Śramaṇic traditions have a diverse range of beliefs, ranging from accepting or denying the concept of soul, fatalism to free will, idealization of extreme asceticism to that of family life, renunciation, strict ahimsa (non-violence) and vegetarianism to permissibility of violence and meat-eating.