“Quest for Equity”: proceedings of the Dr B.R Ambedkar International conference “Reclaiming Social Justice; Revisiting Ambedkar” held at Bangalore from 21st to 23rd July 2017 – First day (21-07-2017).

“Quest for Equity”: proceedings of the Dr B.R Ambedkar International conference “Reclaiming Social Justice; Revisiting Ambedkar” held at Bangalore from 21^st to 23^rd July 2017 – First day (21-07-2017). 

Well-managed International Conference: When I first saw the ad about the Dr B.R Ambedkar International conference “Reclaiming Social Justice; Revisiting Ambedkar” to be held at Bangalore 21^st to 23^rd July 2017, in “Business Standard”, I registered online to attend the Conference. Then, I tried for “Paper presentation”, but I got a message, it was over. I wondered with doubt as to how it could be over, immediately on the same day, the ad appeared. So I sent an e-mail to the organizers mentioning that I have specialized about the “Historical meeting of Jinnah, Periyar and Ambedkar” and I would like to present a paper[1]. I got a phone call from one “Shabin” (99565 53812) inviting me to attend the conference and talk at one session on 22^nd morning and informed that I would be receiving an official mail with details. On July 18, 2017, I got reply-mail, from Dr. S Japhet (Special Officer, Bengaluru Central University), Convener – Conference Organizing Committee – Ambedkar International Conference, “We are writing to confirm that you will be speaking at the scheduled in Bangalore from in Bengaluru.  Your session is planned on the 22nd July between 11:15 am and 12:45 pm. Topic: Nationalism and the idea of India. Request you to kindly send us an abstract and a short biography at the earliest.” Immediately, I send them. When they enquired about, travel, though I requested train journey, they booked flight tickets and sent making me surprised. I understood that the conference was sponsored by the Karnataka Government and various events were entrusted to professional event management personnel. When I landed in Bangalore, I was taken to Lalit Taj Hotel by a car and accommodated immediately, where I could meet my friend Dr S. Balakrishna Hegde also. There was a separate desk for the delegates and rooms allotted with the list. We were asked get ready immediately, as we had to reach the venue for inauguration. As CM and other VIPs were coming and there would be heavy security checking, we had to start immediately.

Some delegates can be seen already there at the Hotel.

Delegates were taken to the venue by bus.

The delegates were assisted by the “event management” experts.

Speakers / paper presenters – Dr Hegde, Chinnaiah Jangam and others (from Bharathidasan University, Trichy) could be seen.

We were taken inside the auditorium by the side entrance.

Yet, there was a huge crowd and we had to wait and get into with much difficulty.

The speakers, invitees and delegates had to pass different hurdles to enter.

We had to wait outside to get space inside.

Theme of the conference: The organizers had given the details of the conference as follows[2]: “This Conference takes place at a time when the values of social, political and economic justice are under attack at several levels: constitutional norms and public institutions created to fight against dominance and subservience have proved inadequate or have been subverted; norms and policies often pay lip service to egalitarian considerations; and the rise of social intolerance and exclusion tends to effectively whittle down or even sabotage an inclusive conception of polity and citizenship. The complexity of the social, political and economic environment in which the value of social justice has to be envisaged too has undergone significant changes too: we understand social inequality and diversity to be layered and multidimensional; and the state has to reckon with several competing centers of religious, communal and cultural allegiances. Despite these challenges new sites for social and political assertions have reemerged renewing the call for social justice. Social activism in India today is much inspired by Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s insightful work analyzing complex social and political challenges and proposing daring and radical policy measures in response. His approach to critical intellectual and policy challenges may inspire similar interventions elsewhere in the world, particularly in the global South.

View from gallery of the stage and auditouirm where already VIPs and press people sat down.

Selfie taken by me – Dr Balakrishna Hegde sitting by me. Other foreign speakers can be seen on the back row.

View of the speakers / invitees sitting in the galley.

Crowd suring inside the gallery, as there was no space down in the main hall.

Another selfie taken by me.

Yet another selfie taken by me from the gallery.

Social, political and Economic Justice: “This conference is an invitation to substantially re-think current social, political and economic paradigms motivated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s imaginative and creative work.

The conference has the following objectives:

(a). To explore the idea of social justice for a society that encompasses manifold social inequalities, deep diversities, exclusion and marginality.

(b). To suggest constitutional, institutional and policy responses to the concern of social justice.

(c). To reformulate the conceptual and policy linkages between social justice on one hand and other related norms and concerns.

(d). To identify modes of thought and social and political practices inimical to the pursuit of social justice.

(e). To delineate social and political agency and modes of action conducive to the furtherance of social justice.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s conception of social justice and his life’s work shaping the idea of India through it offers the Conference a vantage point for sustained reflection on concerns of social justice and its relation to other human values in India and elsewhere. Such a Conference would encourage a wide inter-disciplinary engagement among academics, scholars, activists and policy makers on the sub-themes outlined here below:

Hall getting filled, before the arrival of the CM and other VIPs.

Stage arrangement continued before the arrival of VIPs.

Idea of Justice: The idea of justice is considered as follows:

(a) Social justice and human equality

(b) Justice and the market

(c) Justice and culture

(d) Justice, exclusion and marginality

Conventionally the idea of social justice is primarily concerned with the distribution and redistribution of a variety of human wants and needs, powers and resources. While Ambedkar dwelt extensively on the wider concern of social justice he focused his attention primarily on social marginalities that keep people ‘outside the fold’ by denying them cultural and social access to social belonging. Under deep diversity which predisposes people to different ultimate values, social relations and cultural dispositions, he felt, some belief systems may even justify unequal access to social resources. Keeping the idea of human dignity in the forefront, Ambedkar embraced a model of social justice with radical equality and democracy at its core. The role and place of the market came to be redefined in the process.

Some commotion between the press, those sitting in the auditorium and others.

The commotion continued……………….

Political Justice: The idea of political justice is also pondered over as follows:

(a) Nationalism and the idea of India

(b) Nation-state, citizenship and sovereignty

(c) Democracy and representation

(d) Rights, constitutionalism and rule of law

Ambedkar was deeply committed to democratic modes of resolving social and political disagreements. He understood democracy to be a political association of equal and free citizens defining itself in the indefinite future. He was committed to designing democratic institutions for post-colonial India as a politician, lawyer and the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent of India. While he endorsed modern political institutions he invoked a complex notion of citizenship: one that recognized deep cultural and religious diversities and a sustained conversation across them. This socially embedded character of citizenship motivated ideas of political representation of groups that was novel and unfamiliar to conventional liberal democratic theory. Further, the prospects of nationalism as a political ideal was informed and limited by the nature of citizenship.

The commotion over ..standing of the press continued………

The police intervened to settle………………….

some adjustments………………………………….

Social Justice and Social Context: The Social justice, nowadays, a highly catchy expression is considered as follows:

(a) Caste, class and identity

(b) Marginality, degradation and exclusion

(c) Categorizing the disadvantaged and public policy

(d) Social movements and social transformation

Dr. Ambedkar undertook many studies examining specific social formations, particularly India, and proposed new categories for social analysis. In this work he emphasized the need to concretely study social relations before developing social categories for public policy. These new social categories and analysis were at the core of the theories of social justice he advanced. Ambedkar argued that political democracy without social and economic democracy has little to offer to the vast masses of India. He emphasized the interrelated ways in which caste and ethnicity sustained relations of patriarchy and reproduced marginality of women. He advanced the view that the category of class could not be the basis for a viable political movement unless it addressed caste and other social cleavages undergirding it. He argued that a democratic polity should be partisan to social movements striving for social justice. While the substantive concerns of Ambedkar were deeply bound with Indian society and its transformation, the methodological perspective that he developed has wider application. In this context the conversation across class, caste and gender inequalities needs to be reopened, and new strategies of mobilizing for social justice need to be forged.

At last, the CM and other VIPS came…………..

The CM, Congress leader, Martin Luther – III, Sathyarthi …………………and others.

Economic Justice: And economic justice is theorized as follows:

(a) Constitutionalism and the market

(b) Development and redistribution

(c) Equity, marginality, and affirmative action

(d) Environmental concerns and social justice

Ambedkar envisaged a pro-active role for the state and public policy to intervene in favour of the disadvantaged and marginalized. While he supported state intervention in the economy, he also stressed the need to adopt strong policies for affirmative action that reshaped the state and made it representative, responsive and accountable. Above all, Ambedkar developed a pragmatic view on the relative ability of the state and the market to achieve social, political and economic justice. The turn to market oriented economic reforms in India and elsewhere poses new challenges for the social vision that Ambedkar bequeathed. This conference is an apt platform to think through Ambedkar and offer imaginative and creative strategies to achieve economic justice in a modern complex economy.

Social Justice and the Cultural Domain: Social justice is placed in cultural domain and placed as follows:

(a) Religion and social justice

(b) Religion and communalism

(c) Secularism and cultural pluralism

(d) Cultural dominance and the cultures of the marginalized

For Ambedkar, religion is of critical personal and social value as it upholds the moral fabric of a society and ensures its creative reproduction. In his work he emphasized the public and social effects of religion. However, his critical engagement with existing religions was far-reaching and he saw in the Buddha’s teachings essential ingredients to sustain a good society. He understood the relationship between culture and human agency dialectically: cultures can undermine human agency and sustain subservience and marginality or they can nurture a positive and affirming human agency. There is only one world to cherish: the human world. The secular domain of everyday and ordinary living becomes the space for self-perfection. He strongly believed that the clue to resolution of incommensurable beliefs lies in the expansion of the secular domain.

21-07-2017 (Friday) – First Day: The three-day conference to be held at the complex of GKVK [Gandhi Krishi Vigjana Kendra], Bellary Road, Bangalore – 560 065. We left for the venue by 1.30 pm by bus. We were taken in a side entrance to the hall, as there was huge crowd pouring continuously at the venue and auditorium. The delegates were asked to go to gallery and sit and even there, many persons (activists and party workers) coming inside, forcibly occupying and sitting in the chairs. They did not bother the Hotel-escorts and police. All were made to wait for more than three hours. There was commotion over sitting, position of media persons and others. Many times, they were shouting at each other for obvious reasons. Then, we came to know that the organizers were expecting Rahul Gandhi, the Vice President of AICC. Heavy security, as Rahul Gandhi was coming there to inaugurate the conference. The evening was politicized with discourses of politicians and invited VIPs like Martin Luther – III, Nobel laureate Kailash Sathyarthi, Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr Ambedkar  and of course Rahul Gandhi. Notably, the speakers in general, delved upon criticizing the present rulig Central Government, the PM and his party.

VIPs – Mallikarjuna Garge, Sathyathi, Martin Luther, Rahul Gandhi, Siddharamaiah, Prakash Amedkar………………

Sathyaethi and Prakash Ambedkar speaking…….

After the much political discourse, the politicians left the podium for the cultural program…….

Much inconvenience caused to the speakers and delegates: There was a lot of inconvenience caused to the speakers and delegates including who came from aboard. Actually, the auditorium could accommodate only 1,000, invitation was sent to 3,000 of various categories like SC, Ambedkar and related organizations. Therefore, the huge crowd came tried to enter every nook and corner of the auditorium, and gallery too, where, central seats were allotted for the speakers and delegates. As the crowd was surging and pouring, they tried to occupy every seat. Moreover, all were kept there for three hours, till the VIPs started coming and occupying the stage. Rahul Gandhi came with VIPs by 5 pm and inauguration started. As usual, the rituals started and when they tried to lit the lamp, they were with shoes on. Even during the lighting the lamp, nowadays, as it was done by a candle, they were searching for a candle. Then, it was over. The English speech of Martin Luther King – III  had been Latin, as his accent and pronunciation of names created waves of laugh among the audience. After a cultural programme, the VIPs and speakers were taken to “Taj West End” Hotel and given extravagant food, drinks and hospitality. Then, we returned to the hotel. Thus, the first day conference was over!

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

24-10-2017

[1] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, The Historic Meeting of Ambedkar, Jinnah and Periyar, Proceedings Volume of the 21st session of the South Indian History Congress,  Madurai, 2001, pp.128-136.

Ilankovan Rajasekaran, On the same page, Frontline, Print edition : November 27, 2015, Volume:32
Issue:23; Issue Date: 27-11-2015; http://www.frontline.in/politics/on-the-same-page/article7865983.ece

[2] https://www.questforequity.org/about.php – Themes

“Culture, Commerce and Empire: Exploring the Coromandel Coast”, the National Seminar held on 8th and 9th February 2017 at Puducherry (2).

“Culture, Commerce and Empire: Exploring the Coromandel Coast”, the National Seminar held on  8^th and 9^th February 2017 at Puducherry (1).

Technical session conducted on 08-02-2017 (Wednesday): After lunch, the technical session was started with the paper presentation.  The “Abstract volume” and the program list were provided. As per them, there were 28 papers, but, 9 had not turned up. At the end, there were 21 papers were presented and thus, it is evident that two were accommodated, but listed earlier.

Section	Theme	Chaired by[1] (as per the program)	Actually chaired by
I	Culture and commerce in Colonial India	B. B. Mohanty	Venkata Ragotham
II	Renaissance and the Making of Modern India	K. Srinivas	Do
III	Pre-Colonial, Colonial  and Post colonial India	D. Subramanyam Reddy	G. J. Sudhakar
IV	Science, Technology and Empire Building	Deepak Kumar	Deepak Kumar
V	Colonialism and its Multifarious Impact	Shri Krishan	Shri Krishan
VI	Emergence of New cultural practices, public spaces and architecture	G. J. Sudhakar	Venugopala Reddy

Audience view on 08-02-2017

The first paper “The Indigenous merchants and the English East India Company on the Coromandel Coast in the Seventeenth century” was presented by S. Babu[2]. Under Session – I chaired by G. J. Sudhakar.  He argued that the commodification of convicts’ labour through enforced work on various public works and the indoor labour within the prisons went beyond the colonial concerns of punishment, reform and disciplining of the delinquents to constitute a captive body of enforced labourers available at beck and call of the colonial state.

Then, G. J. Sudhakar[3] presented, “Socio-political views of Vivekananda and an overview of the work of the Ramakrishna Mission”.  He explained how Swami Vivekananda with his Vedantic universalism treated all equal and tried to achieve such goal thriugh the establishment of Si Ramakrishna Mission rendering services to all.

Next paper, “Fishing and fisher folks on the Coromandel Coast (fromcolonial period to present): A social history” was presented by Shri Krishan[4].

Vineeth Thomas[5] presented a paper on the position of Dalits in the pre-colonial period.  He was rather confused about the semantics of SC, “dalit” and other expressions.

Raman P. Sinha[6] presented his paper on “The Making of a culture in Pre-colonial India: A case study of Dakkani”.  He pointed out as to how Dakkani (Proroto-khari- boli Hindi-Urudu) literary corpus was created in large numbers during the 14^th to 18^th centuries in the Deccan India.

Sudharshan Kumar[7] presented a paper on “Maritime networks of Kollam in the Pre-Colonial period”, pointed out the role of  maritime relations of Kollam in the pre-colonial period based on inscriptions.

The last paper “From Cholas ocean to Lake to “Bay of Bengal”: The Chnge in the Colonial Cartography, Historiograhy and Maritime Ethics” was presented by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao[8], where he explained with maps as to how the name of “Bay of Bengal” came from earlier expressions of golfo di bangala, sinus ganteticus, Ganga-darya, Mahadadhi, Cholas’ lake, Cholas’ ocean. Thus, the concept of “Coromandel” was changed to attain the present cnntation. There were querries, clarification and lively discussion about the papers presented.

The “Historia” – T-shirt and the Students: “Historia”, the Greek word was borrowed into Classical Latin as historia, meaning ‘investigation, inquiry, research, account, description, written account of past events, writing of history, historical narrative, recorded knowledge of past events, story, narrative’. The colur red has been chosen for the shirt. Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. In fact, I was asking many students as to how it came, how the T-shirt was designed and so on. A Google search showed some designs. The students of the History department have designed, ordered and worn the T-shirts during the seminar. Incidentally, I too wore a red shirt on the first day.  Yes, the students have been young, energetic, with strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love for history and they were seen everywhere like birds and flowers rendering their services.

Technical session conducted on 09-02-2017 (Thursday): The second day proceedings started with the paper presentation as follows:

G. Chandrika	Edward Green Balfur: Surgeon, scholar and environmentalist[9].
T. Sandeep	Conception, obsevation and reflection: the cartographic representation of south India under the European colonialism[10].
Kale Sanjay	Introduction of Technical Education in Shipbuilding Industries: An Inevitable outcome of Industrial revolution[11].
Krisha Kumar Panjaje	Naval warfare in the colonial coast in the eithteenth century.
Manoj Kumar Sahu	Early colonial intervention in health services in Odisha[12].
Sovon Sanyal	Nature of colonialism and anti-colonialalism in India: Studies on the Revolts of 1878 and 1857[13].

However,  Sanyal’s paper topic was changed to “Reading an Indo-Portuguese novel in the light of the Revolts of 1878 and 1857”.

Bitin Thakur	Colonialisation and its effect on Indegenous culture – Reconsidering the statement of Doodnath Tewarry[14].
A. Arul Jothi

After lunch, the following papers were presented:

N. Chandra	The cultural impact of the French Empire in Puducherry: A postcolonial Reading[15].
Nivedita Ejilane	The influx of French culture, Architecture, Cuisine and Recreation in Pondicherry[16].
G. Balajee	The New Architecture of colonial Madras[17].

G. Balajee’s papar was the last one and the technical session was wound up, getting ready for the valedictory function.

Valedictory Function (4.00 on 6.00 pm): The valedictory function was held in the same auditorium. Dr / Prof / HOD Chandramouli, Rila Mukherjee, Venugopal Reddy, Subramanyam Reddy and Venkata Ragotham were on the dais. The special address was about “Armagaon and Pulicat: The first fortified ports and factories of the Dutch and the English on the Coromandel Coast od India” was delivered by Subramanyam Reddy. He gave many details as to how Alfondo de Souza came with soldiers and tried to loot Tirumala but went away; as the Dutch was dominating at the Pulicat, the British moved from Armagoan to Machlipatnam; how Mallayaa Chetti was dominating; how varities of textiles were manufactured for export; and finally pointed out that both ports were now disappeared and become neglected villages / spots.

Audience during the valedictory – from LHS

“Envisioning the Maritime silk Roads” – Rila Mukherjee: The valedictory address, “Envisioning the Maritime silk Roads” was delivered by Rila Mukherjee. She emphasized that research should be oriented towards “interpretation with critical thinking useful to the present reality with active engagement with the present”. She went on explaining as to how Silver had connected the world. It created the Eurasian silver century long before the First Global Age between 1400 and 1800.

Even earlier, when Arab and Persian traders traded across the Indian Ocean from the seventh-eighth centuries, silver coins had been the trade currency of the Indian Ocean, while usage of copper cash was the norm in Southeast Asia. China, lacking adequate sup-plies of both, repeatedly tried to break into the Indian Ocean trade by way of its paper currency, but was not successful;

silver remaining the currency of long distance Indian Ocean trade until the nineteenth century. A ‘lesser’ currency—the kauri shell or cypria moneta—bridged the gap between silver and local currencies all along the Indian Ocean littoral. One of the more intriguing aspects of the monetary history of early medieval Bengal is the almost total disappearance of silver coming in from Bagan (a medieval kingdom in present Myanmar) from the 9th century by the traditional land routes into Bengal. China chronically required metals during the 7^th to 10^th centuries and getting from India.

How India was important in the maritime trader – Venkata Ragotham: The presidential address was delivered by Venkata Ragotham and he gave many important points to ponder over. He pointed out that till 19^th century, India was exporting goods, but now exports people. He gave specific examples to prove as how India was dominating in the export of steel, sugar, salpetre etc. With the story of Walters Scott, he brought out the uniqueness of Indian steel, “Wootz”.

He asked why should India now import steel fro m China and Korea.  With the establishment of sugar mills at Jamaica, the importance of Indian sugar was reduced by the British.  The slave trade was controlled by the Arabs. In India, actually, the rulers prevented export of men as slaves. He pointed out that the Raja of Thanjavur intervened the export of slaves through Karaikal. He showed how the “House of Commons” became rich citing the scandal of Warren Hastings. The sugar profits were used to buy tea and coffee that enriched China. Thus, Opium exported from India to balance the trade of tea. Therefore, the research should be oriented to facts, instead wasting time of hypothetical “nation-state” debates, he emphasized. The function was ended with vote of thanks and National Anthem.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

11-02-2017

[1] All are Dr / Prof  / HOD and therefore for brevity, they are not repeated here in the list.

[2] Abstract Volume, p.2.

[3] Abstract Volume, p.11.

[4] Abstract Volume, pp.17-18.

[5] His paper was nether listed nor included in the abstract volume.

[6] Abstract Volume, p.15.

[7] Abstract Volume, p.16-17.

[8] Abstract Volume, p.17.

[9] Abstract Volume, p.21.

[10] Abstract Volume, p.24.

[11] Abstract Volume, p.23.

[12] Abstract Volume, p.25.

[13] Abstract Volume, p.31.

[14] Abstract Volume, p.33.

[15] Abstract Volume, p.35.

[16] Abstract Volume, p.37.

[17] Abstract Volume, p.38.

“Culture, Commerce and Empire: Exploring the Coromandel Coast”, the National Seminar held on 8th and 9th February 2017 at Puducherry (1)

“Culture, Commerce and Empire: Exploring the Coromandel Coast”, the National Seminar held on  8^th and 9^th February 2017 at Puducherry (1).

The National Seminar On “Culture, Commerce and Empire: Exploring the Coromandel Coast” was held on 8^th and 9^th February 2017 at the Convention-cum-Cultural Centre, Pondicherry University under the UGC – SAP [DRS-II] program. The SAP and DRS may apear differently for engineering and IT students, but, here, they have different connotations. SAP = Special Assistance Programme and not SAP SE[1] or SAP [Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte] as known. DRS = Departmental Research Assistance and not anything else. The delegates were accommodated at the Convention Centre and the “International Guest House”, Pondicherry[2].

The International Guest House was started in 1972 by the Aurobindu Ashram[3] situated near to Manakkula Vinayagar temple. The registration was done at the Convention Centre on February 8^th 2017 and the proceedings were conducted at the Convention cum cultural centre.

On 7th evening, Kanaka Ratnam and Paldurai came to take us [Shri Krshna, Sovon Sanyal, Bijender Singh, Raman Sinha and myself] for dinner.

I could meet Prof Venkata Ragotham after several years!

The Theme of the Seminar: The theme of the seminar was given a follows by the organizers[4]:The onset of modern age intersected with the emergence of colonial empires in the non- European world. Therefore, the expansion of modern culture contributing to the explosion of commerce which in turn culminated in the rise of empires in the non-European world are closely interconnected. The commercial and trading activities of the European powers close to the first half of the eighteenth century had not brought about a significant impact on social and cultural realms of the non-European societies. The cultural transaction between the European and non-European worlds was non-intrusive and not very contagious. However, with the coming of the Industrial Revolution and the rise of Capitalism, the European countries witnessed unparalleled growth in their economies and in the realms of culture. Following this, there was an intense drive for acquisition of colonies. The non- European world, powerless to prevent the onset of this rapacious process, began to experience a decisive and irreversible transformation. The advancement of the European nations and disintegration of the non-European countries was thus simultaneous and parallel process. Cultural transformation was concomitant with the intensified expansion of commerce. The emergence of new libertarian culture accelerated the endeavours to explore new frontiers of the world and seek new avenues for expansion of trade and commerce. The culture changes assisted commercial expansion and the commercial contingencies contributed to the construction of empires in the non-European world. Indian Ocean trading network massively expanded after 1500 A.D. The network of long-distance commerce and creation of network of communications climaxed ultimately in founding empires in India and elsewhere. The exchange of commerce eventually led to the control of the territories and colonization. Commerce was thus connected to the colonization and vice versa.

How the initial commercial and cultural transaction had taken place in the early stages in India was alluded by a foreign traveller, who extols the ingenuity of Indians. Pyrard de Laval (1619), exudes: “I have never seen men of wit so fine and polished as are these Indians: they have nothing barbarous or savage about them as we are apt to suppose. They are unwilling indeed to adopt the manners and customs of the Portuguese; yet they readily learn their manufactures and workmanship, being all very curious and desirous of learning. In fact the Portuguese take and learn more from them than they from the Portuguese; and they that come fresh to Goa are very simpletons till they have acquired the airs and graces of the Indies. The European trading companies seeking to establish their trading contacts with the Eastern world initially traversed along the coastal regions establishing their trading posts and in the process nurturing their territorial ambitions on account of the politically volatile environments in India. European commerce and its expansion with the East were essentially hinged on the policy of conquest and control. It was the lucrative trade and commerce and the unlimited opportunities for exploitation of the natural resources of the non-European world, which finally set off the colonization process”. W.H. Carey (1882) writes thus: “At the commencement of the Company’s commercial operations in India, the trade was not extensive; but small as the Company’s power to trade was, limited as their means were, the profits were nevertheless large. It was not uncommon to make 100 per cent, of profit on their capital and in some cases it even exceeded that percentage. It is axiomatic that it was the prospect of unlimited profits that lured the British trading company to India. Despite of initial hiccups, the Britishers were firm on pursuing their trade and commerce with India”.

The lust for fortune more than their appetite for territories tied the British firmly to Indian trade till the mid-eighteenth century. The commercial and trading company was finally transformed into a Colonial Power. Ports turned into Fortresses. Merchants found themselves reincarnated as Messiahs of India, a development, which had been described by Adam Smith as a “strange absurdity”: that is, a Company-State and a merchant-empire, and which was further ‘pilloried’ by Edmund Burke as “a state in the disguise of a merchant”. (Philip J, Stern, 2011). The seminal theme for the seminar is the great expansion in interaction between the world’s distinct terrains, cultures and peoples and the change that was caused by contact with the foreigners and their armies, commodities and ideas. Aspects particularly the trajectory of trade and commerce, the emergence of new markets, the transformations in the production process in the areas of agriculture and industry, the demise of old cities and emergence of new ones, the process of de-industrialization and its attendant social and economic outcomes, the growth of the capitalist enterprises, the emergence of new social classes, viz., capitalist class, working class would also be covered.

The Objectives of the Seminar:  It would focus on the trajectory of Coromandel Coast from early modern era to the end of the colonial rule in India. It primarily seeks to focus on the interconnections between culture, commerce and empire building process in the Coromandel Coast.

• The phenomenon of Colonialism unleashed the consequences, which were disastrous for the colonized people. The foundation of British colonial rule in India was a protracted and painful process. In the process of its establishment, it devised varied instruments and endeavoured to alter or disorganize the Indian economy, distort the society and disorient the patterns of development. Precisely, the National Seminar seeks to interrogate this excruciating process, explore the narrative of colonial trauma, and the strategies employed by the colonial powers in building their empires.
• The Seminar aims at providing comprehensive understanding of the transformations in the economy and society of colonial south India. It covers the introduction of diverse policies under the British rule. It also discusses the transformation that was effected in the urban space of British India. It focuses on the endeavours to reconstruct India and also on the emergence of modern industry and the rise of new social classes in colonial India.
• The Seminar also attempts to bring focus on the spread of Western science, the condition and contribution of science in the colonial process and the nature of scientific progress in a colony with special reference to India. It seeks to critically survey the role played by the East India Company in the diffusion of science and technology in India, and also the introduction and the degree of support extended to Western medicine in India with particular emphasis on the Coromandel region.
• The seminar chiefly focuses on the interrogation of the cultural and commercial transactions between the Western colonial powers and India, the foundation and the role of Colonialism in India’s social, political and economic evolution. It aims to reassess the adequacy of the interpretive strategies or the historiography hitherto followed in the study of nature of the Colonial State.
• It also endeavours to articulate on the necessity to look for new sources i.e., non archival sources to construct or reconstruct the history of Colonial State and its accountability in the transformation of social, political and economic aspects of colonial India especially the Coromandel region. It also seeks to address the emergence of new perspectives on history and historiography of Colonial State.

The Broad Sub-themes of the Seminar: Besides the above, the broad sub-themes were suggested as follows:

• State and Society in pre-colonial India
• Trade and Commerce (17th -20th Century).
• Empire building: Wars and Technology: Ship Building Technology (17th -20th Century)
• Early Cultural Transaction and Travelers’ Accounts.
• Debate on Indian Economic Transformation in 19th Century
• Rise and growth of New Market Networks
• Advent of New Technologies: Printing Technology
• Indian Renaissance and Making of Modern India
• Influx of New Cultural Practices: Western Food Culture and New Recreational Avenues
• Emergence of New Public Spaces: Museum, Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Herbarium
• Rise of New Architecture: Insignia of Colonial Rule
• Science, Technology and Empire: Growth of Scientific and Technological Research Centres and Laboratories
• Colonial rule and its multifarious impact on Coromandel Coast

The convener of the seminar was Dr. K. Venugopal Reddy, Associate Professor and Head, Department of History[5].

Inaugural, keynote, felicitation and presidential addresses: As usual, though the inauguration was to start by 10.30, it was delayed slightly. Again, as usual, the “Kuttuvilakku” (lighting the traditional lamp) was lighted by the VIPs with shoes, as a sign of inauguration. Prof G. Chandrika recalled as to how the department of History was started in 1986 with K. S. Mathew as HOD and then had association with S. Gopal, Chempakalakshmi, M. G. S. Naraynan and others. Of course, it has grown with Dr Venkata Raghotham with the tradition of “dissent and debate”. In 1992, there were only three students in history department, but, now, there are more than 150 students.  Thus, the history department here has been active. Then, K. Venugopal Reddy explained the theme of the seminar. He pointed out that it was a collective effort to organize the seminar with the participation of all. Even the topic of the seminar was discussed and decided with much thought process gone into. He appreciated Deepak Kumar for his contribution to “History of Science and Technology”.

Deepak Kumar in his inaugural address stressed about the “dispersion of knowledge” is more important than the “generation of knowledge” in the context of “knowledge-society”. The volume of exports carried on from India to other countries has not been quantified, as such statistical figures are important for research. “Canonized knowledge” (Sastra sambanda gyan) is useless, as it leads to static society.

During inauguration, a section of audience with students

 During inauguration, a section of audience with students, another view

Ratan Lal Hangloo in his keynote address elaborated the historical background starting with Persians, Alexanander to 13^th century.  Some of his observations are intriguing – greek langage was studied in the Indus valley[6], Ramayana was copied from Odessy[7], Chinese sponsored pagoda at Nagapatnam which bore the inscription dated 1267 a Tamil temple was built in Quanzhou[8], a recently discovered papyrus[9] contract recording the terms of shipment of goods between Muziris in India and Roman port etc., had been intriguing as they were involved with the complexities of controversies and extra-historical enthusiastic activities[10].

Venkata Ragotham pointed out that India and China were controlling the 2/3rds of world economy, but such details were not discussed. History seen beyond the confinements of “nation-state” is better concept for understanding India. Both oppressive nationalism and post-colonialism marred the historiography of India and that is why we know more about historians than history, as historians have become the prisoners of the state. With K. N. Chaudhury, the Indian Ocean studies developed. In “construction and deconstruction” processes, opaque language as some (e.g., Gyan Prakash) use should be avoided. The “academic deception” could be noted more in the post-colonial historiography. He concluded with the note that history is not survey, collection of data etc., but is is what actually happened in the past.

Anisa Basheer Khan, VC of Pondicherry University briefly touched upon the seminar theme.  She suggested that the topic of the seminar “Culture, Commerce and Civilizations” could be better. She also pointed out that Puducherry is a mini “India”!

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

11-02-2017

The students serving the participant delegates and others.

After lunch, the scholars had discussion

[1] SAP SE, a global software company, is one of the largest vendors of ERP and other enterprise applications. The company is headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. SAP was started in 1972 by five former IBM employees in Mannheim, Germany. The original name for SAP, Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte, is German for “Systems, Applications and Products.”

[2] “International Guest House”, 47, Subash Chanra Bose Road, Pondicherry – 605 001; 0413-23366999  / 2221812; ingh@aurosociety.org Amenities – Internet – None; Laundry facility – Available; vehicle parking space – None; In rooms – TV – None; Refrigerator – None; Water Heater (shower) – In select rooms only. Those who want hot water should inform and get one bucket with charge of Rs.5/-

[3] http://www.aurosociety.org/visiting/accommodation.aspx – International Guest House (INGH)

[4] http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/sites/default/files/national_seminar_history10112016_0.pdf

[5]  Dr. K. Venugopal Reddy, Seminar Convener, Department of History, Pondicherry University Puducherry-14 ; Mobile: 09994190670; Office:0413-2654382 / 2654771; e-mail: rk_venugopalreddy@yahoo.com, or kvgreddy.his@pondiuni.edu.in

[6] The dispute that the Indus script and its language was Aryan or Dravidian has not yet resolved in spite of thousands of attempts made by the various experts and pundits. Under such circumstances, the study of Greek language in the VC is intriguing.

[7] For more details – see at http://navalanthivu.blogspot.in/2006_02_01_archive.html

D. C. Boyd, Weber on the Ramayana, Indian Antiquary, 1872,Vol. I, p.120, 172, 239 and 1875, Vol.I.

Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Was the Ramayana Copied from Homer? A Reply to Professor Weber, (first printed in 1873), Publishers Parlor (India), New Delhi, 1976.

Krishnamachariar, History of Classical Sanskrit Literature, Motila Banarasidas, New Delhi, 1937, pp.14-22.

[8]  The Quanzhou inscription was a bilingual (Tamil-Chinese) informing that the Siva temple there was built by one Sambanda Perumal with the permission of Senis khan. However, that temple was demolished by the Chinese authorities in 20^th century.

[9] This is related to the controversial “Pattanam excavations” stopped by the ASI, where the archaeologists have differed widely about the claims made.

[10] See  his paper “Commerce, Culture and Empire: Interests Intertwined” circulated – p.7, 9, 11, etc.

National Seminar on “The Chola Art and Architecture in South India with special reference to Rājēndra I” held at the University of Madras on October 20th and 21st 2016.

National Seminar on “The Chola Art and Architecture in South India with special reference to Rājēndra I” held at the University of Madras on October 20^th and 21^st 2016.

20-10-2016-registration done for the seminar

The two day seminar “The Chola Art and Architecture in South India with special reference to Rājēndra I” to commemorate the 1000^th coronation year of Rajendra Chola – I was held at the auditorium, Centenary Buildings of the University of Madras. The seminar was sponsored by the ICHA and ASI and conducted under the auspices of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology. It was inaugurated by Sri Thirumagan, Controller of Examinations on October 20^th 2016 instead of Dr. P. David Jawahar, Registrar, University of Madras could not attend the function. ICHR and ASI sponsored the seminar. Prof. Dr. Raju Kalidass, Former Prof. and Head, Dept. of Sculpture, Tamil University, Thanjavur gave a keynote address. Thirumagan released the volume containing the papers to be presented in the seminar and the first copy was received by Raju Kalidass.

20-10-2016-inauguration – Panneerselvam, Amarnatha Ramakrishnan, Srilaksmi, Tirumagan, Raju Kalidass, Sadasivam, Tirumurthy (L to R)

20-10-2016-inauguration-j-sundararajan-convenor-of the seminar -invites

20-10-2016-inauguration-audience-view-LHS-second-session- AVG can be seen

20-10-2016-inauguration-audience-view-RHS

20-10-2016 (Thusday) – the First day proceedings: Thirumurugan while speaking stressed for the importance of promoting the art and architecture. “India differs from other countries, only because of its unique culture. We have to create awareness about archaeological monuments and protect our historical evidences. During the Chola period, the architecture attained great heights.”

11.20 to 11.27 am: Mrs. T. Sreelakshmi pointed out the connection between the sculptures of Cholas with that of Kerala with three temples. As she was transferred to Chennai circle from Trissur, he told that he had to study more.

The proceeding volume containing papers was released

11.28 to11.49 am: K. Amarnath Ramakrishnan, Superintending Archaeologist and director of the current excavation told that the Bengaluru-based Excavation Branch VI of the ASI has taken up the excavation at Keezhadi village, 12 km south east of Madurai, in Sivaganga district to prove “city-type” civilization existed in Kizhadi coinciding with the Sangam period. “This is the ASI’s major excavation in Tamil Nadu after Adichanallur, nearly 293 Sangam Age towns along the course of River Vaigai ever, ” says.

20-10-2016-inauguration-audience-view-rhs-second-session

11.50 am to 12.29 pm: Raju Kalidass gave many details as to how to locate a place of significance for carrying out archaeological excavation. The names natham kishati etc., actually point to the fact that they were not only ancient, but also, contains antiques. He gave the following points about the Cholas: For the last several years, he was researching Nalayiya Divyaprabantham, but, he could not find a single word “chola” in it. But, the expressions like “Kochengannan”, are found and they denote Cholas only. Interestingly, while the Sangam literature mentions the names of the Cholas as Maran, Vazhuthi, Tiraiyan etc., the inscriptions record Adithyan, Kesari, Varman and so on. After Kalbhras, the Cholas must hace come to domination by replacing the Mutharaiyar. One may read “Kalingattupparani”, “Muvarula” etc., to research into the history of the Cholas.

20-10-2016-inauguration-avg-discussing-with-raju-kalidass

12.30 to 1.10 pm: R. Nagaswamy pointed out that Rajendra was unique in conquering countries by taking his fleet across the ocean. The Southeast Asian countries were taken aback by his excellence. He did not get pride, but bakti and hence decided to bring Gangous water in a different way by conquering the Kings on the banks of the river and made them to bring water to his capital. His learned all arts and sciences including Vedas, warfare and other techniques. He established Vedic colleges at Chozhamadevi and Puthur in memory of his mother. Karanthai copperplates give these details. At the time of dying, he called all people and ministers and requested to keep their sons in their laps and stand for good governance and breathed his last.

rajendra-chola-seminar-r-nagaswamy

Thirumoorthi, gave a vote of thanks and the inaugural function was over.

There was also an exhibition with excavated archaeological evidences, coins, specimens and charts depicting the arts and architectural features of the Cholas Empire.

kvr-at-chairing-a-session-21-10-2016 – Angelo Nzarabahi presenting paper

Rajendra Chola’s Oversea Expedition and the Historiography involved in interpreting the Tanjore inscriptions: The first technical session was started with paper presentation. K. Sridharan, Deputy S.A (Retd) and Mr. Gandhi, Museum Curator (Retd), conducted the first technical session. Only one paper was presented. K. V. Ramakrishna Rao presented his paper “Rajendra Chola’s Oversea Expedition and the Historiography involved in interpreting the Tanjore inscriptions.” He pointed out that during 1950s itself, too much emphasis of Indian influence of SEA countries given through the expressions like “Greater India”, “Hindu colonies”, “Hindu-Javanese monuments” had been questioned by the western scholars[1] cautioning the “nationalistic historiography” of Indian scholars. Even historians B. Ch. Chhabra[2], R. C. Majumdar[3], H. B. Sarkar[4], K. A., Nilakanta Sastri[5] were accused of for such Indian bias / India-centric approach exhibited in their history writing. The oversea expedition of Rajendra Chola affected many scholars and they got divided in interpreting and accepting the Tanjore inscriptions. George W. Spencer[6] straight away dubbed the Prasasti / Meikirti description of such alleged nautical narratives as simply poetic fantasy, as the Cholas could not have fought any naval battles at all. Thus his “tax-tribute-continuum” hypothesis has been carried out by others, who deny the overseas expedition of the Cholas. However, recent studies have again depended upon the proposition that the Cholas had, in fact, carried out such voyages. He objected on another ground that the Cholas could not have had enough troops and fleet to carry out such operations simultaneously within two or three years moving from Gangaikonda Cholapuram to Ganges to SEA and back and also to guard their Kingdom and as well as control the occupied areas of Ceylon. Pointing out that the Victory pillars erected at Pegu (Myanmar)[7], Mauritius, Kedah (Malaysia)[8] were found missing, he argued that some researchers in future might declare that even those “erection of pillars” are also myth!

After lunch, three sessions were held with paper presentation.

21-10-2016 (Friday) – the Second day proceedings: The second session was chaired by Dr. K. Karuppaiah. Deputy Superintending Epigraphist (Retd) and K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, IRS. There were seven papers presented:

No	Title of the paper	Paper presenter
1	Vestiges of Cholas in Sri Lanka
2	Brihadheswara Temple of Rajendra I at Ariyalur District – a study	K. Kamala
3	Contribution of Cholas to Education with reference to “Ennayiram”	Gayatri, ASI.
4	Cholas inscriptions	Veeraraghavan
5	Rajaraja Chola – I Memorial Mantap and its renovation.	Mani, ASI
6	Monetary System of Cholas	Guhan Babu
7	Supernova and Nataraja Icon	Srushti Sankara Narayanan

The last paper used up much of information from the article of Sharada Srinivasan[9]. Arudra/Ardra darisanam is a ten-day annual festival in December related to the moon being full in the lunar asterism of the naksatra ardra (the reddish star Betelguese or Alpha Orionis), associated with the wrathful aspect of Siva. The constellation of Orion and surrounding stars is bathed in the soft glow of the full moon when it is high in the sky at Chidambaram. A thousand years ago, devoid of the present smog and light flares, the stars must have been even brighter in the tropical night sky.

Another annual festival at Chidambaram, the Brahmotsavam of Ani Thirumanjanam, which is related to the lunar asterism of Uttara Nakshatra around June-July, seems to have begun in the mid-eleventh century from inscription. The Indian zodiac of 360 degrees is divided into 27 parts based on the moon’s sidereal period such that a nakshatra denotes the longitudinal position of the moon within 13 degrees 20 minutes. Thus, by using astronomical software, Dr. Raghavan could ascertain that in 1054 AD the moon would have been full in Uttara Nakshatra on 11 July[10]. This is uncannily close to the date that Chinese astronomers recorded the crab supernova explosion of 4 July! Although this is a preliminary finding, it could suggest a perceived metaphoric link between an observed cosmic phenomenon and notions of cosmic dance.

Indeed, a drawing from a Tamil manuscript sourced by Raja Deekshitar of Chidambaram shows how the Nataraja icon itself was probably traditionally visualized within the stars around Orion. In an exciting collaborative study with Dr. Raghavan, we took some photographs of Nataraja images dated from archaeometallurgical fingerprinting and plotted star charts for the constellation Orion of that corresponding era onto them. As reported in Orientations (Srinivasan, 2006), the star positions were found to a fair extent to correlate with iconometric design as noted in an image in the British Museum attributed from archaeometallurgical fingerprinting to the Pallava period (c. 800 CE). Moreover, the star chart for 1054 AD fitted well the iconometric design of a Nataraja image from Kankoduvanitham archaeometallurgically fingerprinted to the mid-eleventh century AD. Here, the hypothetical position of the crab supernova which exploded in 1054 AD lies near the top left of the head, close to the crescent moon. Chinese records suggest that the crab supernova came into view with a morning crescent moon near it and was visible for 23 days, being four times as bright as Venus. Even American Indians are believed to have made cave paintings of a supernova with a crescent moon. Could it be that the iconometric design of this icon had indeed taken into account the observation of the supernova explosion?

 

When Raju Kalidass expressed his view that it was better to learn many languages including Sanskrit, as it would help the researchers and therefore, it need not be objected to. For this some delegates protested and claimed that Sanskrit was used only to oppress Tamil and so on. The arguments took usual turn of “political overtones”.  Anyway, other delegates requested to calm down.

 

Name	Title of the paper
Angelo Nzarabahi	Chola vestiges in sri Lanka: Their contribution toward History building and tourism
M. Gandhi	Tiruvallam temple under Rajendra Chola’s time
S.Rajagopal, K. Vijayanarasimhan and B.Thaamarai	Rajendra Chola and his achievements in different fields
பெ. அர்த்தநாரீசுவரன்	முதலாம் ராஜேந்திரனின் மெய்கீர்த்தி
மா. சந்திரமூர்த்தி	முதலாம் ராஜேந்திர சோழனின் அங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரத்து செப்புத்திருமேனிகள்.

The third session was conducted by Dr. K. Sadasivan, Former Prof and Head, Dept. of History, M.S University, Tirunelveli. Er. R. Mani, Retd, Conservation Asst, was Rapporteur. The next session was conducted by Dr. S. Rajavelu, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Underwater Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur. Dr. K. Venkatesan, was Rapporteur. Most of the papers had been of repetitive nature, giving the details that are already available in hundreds of thousands of papers and books. Half of the papers had been in Tamil. The Valedictory session was held with a special by Dr. D. Dayalan, Director (Retd) ASI, New Delhi.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

25-10-2016

[1] D. G. E. Hall (Ed.), Histories of South East Asia (Historical writings on the Peoples of Asia), Oxford University Press, London, 1961. The book has been a collection of papers presented in conferences held between 1956 and 1958. Incidentally, no paper of Indian scholar was included for either not presented or attended is not known.

[2] B. Ch. Chhabra, Expansion of Indo-Aryan Culture During Pallava Rule (as evidenced by inscriptions), Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 1965.

[3] R. C. Majumdar, The Overseas Expeditions of King Rajendra Chola, in Fecilitation volume presented to Prof Geoge Codes on the occasion of his sevrnty fifth birthday, 1961, pp.338-342.

[4] H. B. Sarkar, Trade and Commercial Activities of South India in the Malaysia-Indonesian World (upto A. D. 1511), Firma KLM private Limited, Calcutta, 1986, pp.109-111.

[5] K. A. Nilakanta Sastry, The Colas, University of Madras, Madras, 1984,

[6] George W. Spencer, The Politics of Expansion – The Chola Conquest of Sri Lanka and Sri Vijaya, New Era Publications, Madras, 1983

[7] Taw sein Ko, Burmese Sketches, British Burma Press, Rangoon, 1913, pp.103-104.

[8]Sullivan, Michael. Excavations in Kedah and Province Wellesley, 1957, Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 31.1 (181 (1958): 188-219.

[9] Sharada Srinivasan, Cosmic Dance, India International Centre Quarterly, Volume 34, Number 2, Autumn 2007 issue.

[10] Raghavan, Nirupama. Is Siva Iconography Inspired by the Stars?. Indian journal of history of Science, 41.3 (2006): 271.

The 8th conference on Marine Archaeology and Indian Ocean Countries, Goa 2013

The 8th conference on Marine Archaeology and Indian Ocean Countries, Goa 2013

About the Conference and organizers: The Society for Marine Archaeology, Goa organized the 8th National Conference on Maritime Archaeology (NCMA) in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography and Archaeological Survey of India (Goa Circle) on July 1-2, 2013 in the memory of late Dr. S.R. Rao. The conference was supported by National Centre for Ocean and Antarctic Research, Goa, State Government of Goa and others. The National Conference on Maritime Archaeology (NCMA) is being held to bring into focus the latest findings by the researchers, academicians and amateur archaeologists[1]. A brief was given by the TOI[2].

Origin and the proceedings of the conferences[3]: The Society for Marine Archaeology was founded in 1988 as a brain child of Dr S. R. Rao consequent to the International Conference on Marine Archaeology was held in Goa in 1987. The Journal of Marine archaeology was started published from January 1980. Though, it was registered as a “society” in July 1989[4], subsequently, the registration lapsed for some reasons.  So far, the following conferences were held at different places. Though, originally it was planned that the conference should be held once in two years, it was not followed or feasible due to some reasons.

The NIO building where the conference was held

The inside view of the NIO entrance

For NIO building, the corner stone was laid by the then president of India Sri V. V. Giri on 07-04-1973

Conference	Dates / year when held	Where held	Theme of the conference
1	October 1987	Jarhnagar[5], Gujarat from 12 to 14 October, 1987
2	January 20 and 21, 1990	Hotel Rama, Bangalore	Recent advances in marine archaeology
3	April 10-12, 1992	Kartanak University, Dhawar	Role of universities and other research organizations i preserving underwater cultural heritage
4	September 20-21, 1994	Andhra University, Vishakapatnam	An integrated approach to marine archaeology.
5
6
7	October 6-7, 2005	Goa
8	July 1 and 2, 2013	Goa	In memory of Dr S. R. Rao, Harappan civilization and Indian Ocean

The conference was held in memory of  Dr. S.R. Rao and a brief about him: Marine Archaeology in India was pioneered by Dr. S.R. Rao –  Shikaripura Ranganatha Rao  (1920-2013), one of the well known archaeologists of Independent India[6], in 1981 and steered Centre for Marine Archaeology at NIO till 1994. He was also founder President of Society for Marine Archaeology and took up on himself to spread reaches of Marine Archaeology across the globe. Dr. Rao passed away on 3rd January, 2013 at his residence in Bangalore, Karnataka and India has lost a brilliant and dedicated archaeologist who dominated Indian archaeology for over a five decades. His best known contribution to the Indian archaeology is the excavations at Lothal which set the tone for major research on the Harappan Archaeology in India. The site gave astonishing evidences on external trade and commerce particularly with Mesopotamia and other Gulf nations. He extensively explored Gujarat and discovered as many as 40 sites of various phases of Harappan Civilization. Dr. Rao believed[7] that India has a 5000 years old history of overseas trade and commerce and in the process several shipwrecks should have occurred[8]. To unravel the mystery, the systematic research in Maritime Archaeology was essential. After his retirement from the Archaeological Survey of India in 1980, Dr. Rao seeded the idea of a Unit for Marine Archaeology studies at the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa in 1981. He obtained funds, built infrastructure and needed manpower for this unit. He also organized much needed training in diving for the archaeologists for underwater explorations and the legacy continues even today. He successfully led several Marine Archaeological expeditions to Dwarka[9], Bet Dwarka, Somnath, Lakshadweep and Poompuhar.

The theme of the Conference: The main theme of the conference was given in the 1^st and 2^nd circulars sent by the organizers[10]:

• Harappan Archaeology – recent excavations interpretations and Indus script.
• Underwater Archaeological Investigations in the Indian Ocean adjacent Countries and their contribution to science.

The Registration Fees was collected from the delegates as follows:

• Delegates:                             Rs. 500.00
• Local Delegates & students    Rs. 200.00
• Accompanying person            Rs. 1000.00

The Local Organising Committee consisted the following: The organizing committee consisted the officers of NIO and ASI of Goa region as follows:

• Dr. SWA Naqvi, Chairman, NIO.
• Dr. A. G. Untawale
• Shri K H Vora    (Organising Secretary)
• Dr. Rajiv Nigam[11], Chief Scientist, NIO.
• Dr. A C Anil[12], Chief Scientist, NIO.
• Dr. Pratima Kamat, Professor of History, Goa University,
• SA, Goa Circle,  ASI, Old Goa,
• Director of Archaeology and Museums, Panaji,
• Dr. Aniruddh Singh Gaur[13], Principal Technical Officer, NIO.
• Dr. Sila Tripati[14], Principal Technical Officer, NIO.
• Mr. Sundaresh[15], Convenor and Principal Technical Officer, NIO.

The circular[16] informed that NCMA would provide a platform for discussion on the problems, solutions and recommendations on critical aspects faced by researchers and scholars for futuristic approaches in the field of maritime archaeology of India. As NCMA is a national event, its importance among the archaeologists, historians, geologists and oceanographers can never be overemphasised.  About 30 scholars from various parts of India working on above themes participated and presented papers in the conference. “Abstract” notes containing papers were given to the delegates[17].

The 8th conference on Marine Archaeology and Indian Ocean Countries: It was inaugurated at the conference hall of NIO, Goa. First, Dr A. G. Untawale recalled about the contribution of Dr S. R. Rao and felt that he was not there in the conference. He informed that 1^st July was his birth day and hen had chosen the date as a tribute to him. He regretted that many archaeological sites have been without boards for visitors or tourists.

Dr SWA Naqvi, Director, NIO presided over the function and he inaugurated by lighting the lamp in the Seminar Hall of the NIO. The ceremony was carried on with another small lamp by the dignitaries and the lamp had enough wicks to accommodate all. He pointed out that India had a lengthy coast line and therefore had a great potential to offer for the marine archaeologists.  He also regretted that now the coastal areas were disturbed by different human activities like offshore drilling, SEZ etc.

Dr A. G. Untanwale briefed about the theme of the conference.

Dr Naqvi Director NIO in his inaugural speech pointed out the potential offered by the lengthy coast of India for the marine archaeologists.

Padma Shri Dr. R. S. Bisht[18] (Former Joint Director General, ASI) delivered Key note address on “Maritime Activities of Harappans”[19]. He explained the “meluha” link with the following:

1. Stone and pearls.
2. Wood and plants
3. Animals
4. Metal
5. Meluhan style objects.

The depiction of Harappan traders known as “meluha” was there on many Mesopotamian cylindrical seals.

He also pointed out the similarities in the figures depicted in the seals of the interacting civilizations.The pattern found has been striking pointing the trade relation.

Elite audience listening to R S Bisht on the maritime trade of Harappans.

Dr Dayalan of ASI informed that Sri Pravin Srivastava, IAS and Director General of ASI could not come there, as he had to rush to Uttarakhand. He mentioned about the limited underwater excavations carried on at Mahabalipuram, Arikkamedu, Kaveripumpattinam, Lakshadwip islands, Elephanta, Gujarat and other places. He pointed about the Tamil /South India trade connection with China during 4^th cent.CE and the Tamil Brahmi script appearing on potsherd recovered at Oman.Drs V K Vora, Naqvi, Dayalan and Untawale on the stage during inauguration.A. S. Gaur welcomed the delegates of the conference.A.S. Gaur welcoming – the other view.A sectional view of the participant delegates from all over India.Another view of the audience – the participant researchers.Same as above – another view or rather shot by another camera.Yet another view of the participant audience on the first day of the conference.General body meeting held on the evening of 01-07-2013.

Dr V. K. Vora read the message given by Dr Nalini Rao[20]  professor of Art History and Archaeology, Soka University, U.S of late Dr S. R. Rao on the occasion.

Technical session and paper presentation: There were three sessions for paper presentation on 1^st and 2^nd July 2013.

On the first day of the conference (01-07-2013, Monday), the following papers were presented:

1. The Harappan Cooking and Serving Vessels from Shikarpur and the Importance of Harappan Cuisines!  – P. Ajithprasad
2. Three Years Comprehensive Report of Excavation at Kotada Bhadli in Kachchh District, Gujarat  – Prabodh Shirvalkar and Y.S. Rawat
3. Recent Excavation at Rupnagar, Punjab  – V.N. Prabhakar
4. An Overview of the Harappans and their Mesopotamian Contacts  – V.N. Prabhakar
5. Further Excavations at Khirsara  – R.N. Kumaran

After lunch, the following papers were presented:

1. Environmental Impact on Cultural Landscape in Hinterland of a Harappan Metropolis – Tejas Garge
2. A possible modulation of rise and demise of civilizations along the west coast of India by the sea level changes – Rajiv Nigam
3. Extension of Harappan Culture in North – Western Maharashtra – Manoj Kumar Kurmi
4. Exposed Harappan Objects : Engaging the Audience – Sanjib Kumar Singh
5.  Dr.S.R.Rao-An Unforgettable Archaeologist of India  – Balakrishna Hegde
6. Maritime Trade of Goa from Times Immemorial – Fr. Cosme Jose Costa sfx.
7. Source of stones for Casa de Polvora, a gunpowder manufacturing site and cannon balls, a scientific analysis  – Abhijit Ambekar
8. The military fort in Mandovi estuary: its relation with the present river bank  – Antonio Mascarenhas, Sila Tripati, R. Mani Murali
9. At the Tide’s End: Some Ethno-archaeological Observations about the Goan Port of Ganjem – Pratima Kamat

 

Evening the Annual General Body Meetingof the Society for Marine Archaeology was held in the seminar hall.

On the second day of the conference (Tuesday 2nd July 2013), the following papers were presented:

1. Packaged food from the sea: Dietary Use of Marine Molluscs at coastal Harappan settlements in Gujarat India – Arati Deshpande-Mukherjee
2. Oceanic Elements among the Nagas – Alok Kumar Kanungo
3.  A Study of Chinese Porcelain found in the Indian Ocean – Aprajita Sharma
4. Ancient Ports on Kerala Coast – Recent Investigations  – M. Nambirajan
5. Some Early Historic Ports of Tamilakam: Revisited – N. Athiyaman
6. Offshore Technology & Marine Archaeology  – A.C. Kulkarni
7. Applications of remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) in Archaeology – R. Mani Murali
8. Robot: application in Maritime Archaeology – Pramod Maurya
9. A Review of the Marine archaeological findings recovered from the sea waters of SEA and Chinese regions during 10th to 12th centuries  – K.V. Ramkrishna Rao
10.  Excavations at Dwarka: Critical Analysis of Archaeological Remains – Alok Tripathi
11. Shivaji’s Navy & his marine Forts – Shreekant S. Jadhav
12. Naval power of The Goa Kadambas and Its depiction on Memorial Stone Slabs – Ramesh Mulimani
13. 5. Early Historic Shipwreck Archaeology of the Indian Subcontinent region  – A.S. Gaur

 Dr S. Balakrishna Hegde presenting a paper on the contribution of Dr S. R. Rao.Fr. Cosme Jose Costa sfx.  of Pilar monastery presenting a paper.Dr Adhiyaman, Tanjore University presenting paper.Sri K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Independent researcher from Chennai presenting a paper.

There were discussions, debates and exchange of ideas after the presentation of papers. There have been reservation, reluctance and ambivalence about the dating of the samples, correlation of data and interpretation of material objects recovered at different marine and land archaeological sites. Though all the marine and land archaeologists follow the same principles and methodology, it is intriguing to note that each questions the same of the others. However, the two days deliberations were closed with a customary Valedictory Function. Some views of the participants were welcome and discussion went on about the furthering of the activities of the society. The vote of thanks was given by Sundaresh.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

© 06-07-2013

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[1] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_eventdisplay/task/view/tid/4/sid/24/eid/204

[2] Conference on maritime archaeology: The society for marine archaeology, Goa, is organizing its 8th national conference on maritime archaeology (NCMA) in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Archaeological Survey of India (Goa circle) and supported by the national centre for ocean and Antarctic research on July 1 and 2 in memory of the late Dr S R Rao, a well-known archaeologist from India. Padma Shri Dr R S Bisht (former joint director general, ASI) will deliver the keynote address on ‘Maritime activities of Harappans’ at the inaugural session of the conference at 9.30am in the NIO seminar hall.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-29/goa/40271555_1_archaeology-nio-seminar

[3] I tried to get these details from the proceeding volumes (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 7th) received on 2^nd July 2013, but unfortunately, the dates of the conferences themselves are not found in the volumes.

[4] Journal of Marine Archaeology, Vol.3, July, 1992, p.75.

[5] Annual Report 1987-88, p.65; http://www.nio.org/userfiles/file/annual_report/1987-88.pdf

[6] Shikaripura Ranganatha Rao completed his education from Mysore University. He worked in the Archaeological Department of Baroda State and subsequently served theArchaeological Survey of India in various capacities. Dr. Rao has led excavations of many important sites such as Rangpur, Amreli, Bhagatrav, Dwaraka, Hanur, Aihole,Kaveripattinam and others. One of his most important works were leading the research and excavations at Lothal, the earliest known port in history and the most important Indus-era site in India. Dr. Rao was the recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship and a doctorate of literature from Mysore University. Rao had supervised excavation of several historic sites across the country in the West and South. He was also associated with conservation of monuments such as Taj Mahal and forts. Despite officially retiring in 1980, Dr. Rao was requested to work for the ASI Director General in leading Indian archaeological projects. It was under the initiative of Dr Rao that the NIO opened a marine archaeology research centre in 1981, under the stewardship of then director Dr S. Zahoorul Quasim, which grew into a world recognised body. He was the founder of the Society of Marine Archaeology in India. Rao has been at the forefront of Indian archaeology for many decades – he was involved in extensive research into India’s ancient past, from the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization to excavations pertaining to the Kurukshetra War.

[7] I have just reproduced from their website. Interestingly, it is not the question of what Dr S. R. Rao believed or not, as the general public want to know what exactly the excavations carried on by him or others are useful to them or for historians to update and correct the Indian history.

[8] Interestingly or ironically Dr. R. S. Bisht (Former Joint Director General, ASI) delivered Key note address on “Maritime Activities of Harappans” showing the slides dating such events going back to such periods.

[9] His interview with the Hindu is available here – Wednesday, Nov 20, 2002, http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/20/stories/2002112000450200.htm

[10] For more details contact Shri Sundaresh (phone 0832-2450372;  email:sundares@nio.org).

[11] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_researcherdisplay/task/show/tid/2/sid/69/rid/552

[12] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_researcherdisplay/task/show/tid/2/sid/69/rid/995

[13] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_researcherdisplay/task/show/tid/2/sid/69/rid/1006

[14] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_researcherdisplay/task/show/tid/2/sid/69/rid/985

[15] http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_researcherdisplay/task/show/tid/2/sid/69/rid/986

[16] Two circulars were sent by the Society in the months of April and May 2013 giving these details.

[17] 27 pages containing 38 abstracts of the papers to be presented.

[18] In a recent article “The Harappan Hub” appearing in the Frontline, more details can be seen:

http://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/heritage/the-harappan-hub/article4840474.ece

[19] Abstracts, pp.1-2.

[20] S. Kamala Rao, wife of the former Director of the Archaeological Survey of India S.R. Rao, died at her residence here on Sunday (Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009). She was 86. The Carnatic vocalist is survived by her husband, daughters Shakuntala Rao, paediatrician in Chennai; and Nalini Rao, professor of Art History and Archaeology, Soka University, U.S.; and son S. Gopala Rao, Deputy General Manager, BEML, and daughter-in-law Meena Rao, writer.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/21/stories/2009102155260500.htm