50-foot snake fossil found in Gujarat mine – could be the longest one? After Ramapithecus, Bramapithecus – nothing was found? (2)

50-foot snake fossil found in Gujarat mine – could be the longest one? After Ramapithecus, Bramapithecus – nothing was found? (2)

Why Vasuki?: Vasuki, named after the snake king associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, rivals in size another huge prehistoric snake called Titanoboa, whose fossils were discovered in a coal mine in northern Colombia, as announced in 2009. Titanoboa, estimated at 42 feet (13 meters) long and 1.1 metric tons, lived 58-60 million years ago. The reticulated python is the longest extant snake, sometimes measuring 20-30 feet (6-9 meters). “The estimated body length of Vasuki is comparable to that of Titanoboa, although the vertebrae of Titanoboa are slightly larger than those of Vasuki. However, at this point, we cannot say if Vasuki was more massive or slender compared to Titanoboa,” said palaeontologist and study co-author Sunil Bajpai, a professor at IITR. These huge snakes lived during the Cenozoic era, which began after the dinosaur age ended 66 million years ago. Incidentally, Vasuki hs been associated with the creation of the world, universe etc.

The largest-known Tyrannosaurus rex: Perhaps the largest-known Tyrannosaurus rex is a specimen named Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago, at 40-1/2 feet (12.3 meters) long, though a T. rex would have been more massive than these snakes. The biggest Vasuki vertebra was around 4-1/2 inches (11.1 cm) wide. Vasuki appears to have had a broad, cylindrical body perhaps around 17 inches (44 cm) wide. The skull was not found. “Vasuki was a majestic animal,” Datta said. “It may well have been a gentle giant, resting its head on a high porch formed by coiling its massive body for most parts of the day or moving sluggishly through the swamp like an endless train. In some ways, it reminds me of (fictional giant snake) Kaa from ‘The Jungle Book.’” The researchers are not sure what prey Vasuki ate, but considering its size it could have included crocodilians. Other fossils in the area included crocodilians and turtles, as well as fish and two primitive whales, Kutchicetus and Andrewsiphius.

Vasuki – member of the Madtsoiidae snake family that appeared roughly 90 million years ago but disappered about 12,000 years ago: Vasuki was a member of the Madtsoiidae snake family that appeared roughly 90 million years ago but went extinct about 12,000 years ago. These snakes spread from India through southern Eurasia and into north Africa after the Indian subcontinent collided with Eurasia around 50 million years ago, Bajpai said. This was a dominant snake family during the dinosaur age’s latter stages and into the early Cenozoic before its diversity dropped, Bajpai added. “Snakes are amazing creatures that often leave us stunned because of their size, agility and deadliness,” Datta said. “People are scared of them as some snakes are venomous and have a fatal bite. But snakes perhaps attack people out of fear rather than with an intent to attack. I believe snakes, like most animals, are peaceful creatures, and an important component of our ecosystem.”

The fossil background of the Tortoise, Siwalik range etc: Col. Wilford, F. E. Pargiter, D. C. Sircar, S. M. Ali[1], Maya Prasad Tripathi[2], and others have dealt with the geography, geology and cosmology as described in the Itihasas and the Puranas. They have shown that the authors of the Puranas have been updating and incorporating the geographical and geographical knowledge in the Puranas, in their own way. D. C. Sircar[3] has used inscriptions also to locate ancient cities and places. D. N. Wadia has shown the geological approach to studying India and recorded the presence of fossils of men, fauna and flora also. Hugh Falconer[4] (1808-1865) discovered a fossil of a huge tortoise in the Himalayan range and he explained its significance with the “Hindu mythology”. The Siwalik Fossil Fauna contained monkeys, camels, and giraffes, mixed with Anoplotherium, Sivatherium and other mammiferous remais[5].  Though his findings, interpretations and drawings were discussed, they are not known in India[6]. In fact, the material evidences and his papers have also been not accessible to Indian researchers. The particular genus Megalochelys, known as Colossochelys fossil of a tortoise, has spread to the coasts of the Bay of Bengal down to SEA countries till Timor islands. Thus, it explains the maritime contacts of these countries since early times. Pratik Chakrabarti and Joydeep Sen have pointed out the work done by Falconer and the significance of Kurma in Indian context[7].

Dinosaurs in India: In 1980s, again much has been talked about “dinosaurs in India”, as India had its own dinosaurs, which roamed about 6.5 crores years ago. A joint Indo-American team of palaeontologists and geologists, which found the fossil, has given it a Sanskrit-Latin zoological name “Rajasaurs Narmadensius”[8] . However, it may be noted that D. N. Wadia has already recorded the find of the vertebrate fossils including Dinosaursrian reptiles on the beds of Narmada[9]. ‘The discovery of remains (in early 90s) of Cretaceous dinosaurs from Jabalpur and Dispura, Chanda District has greatly increased our knowledge of the fossil dinosaurs of India”, he noted. Ashok Sahni has given details as to how these species roamed through India[10]. Prof. Von Huene (1833) stated that Madhyapradesh fossil dinosaurs are closely allied to those occurring in the Cretaceous of Madagascar and also with those found in Patagonia and Brazil. This suggest land-bridge in the existing Indian and Atlantic oceans or the persistence of large remnants of the Gondwana continent. In Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kandam, specifically, Jurassic period birds and animals have been mentioned[11]. Even, if such descriptions are interpolated, it is significant that that poet noted some 1000 or 2000 YBP, long before the current scientific researches of the 20th and 21st centuries. Two hypotheses and theories suggest that Indian plateau moved towards north, collided with the land mass, thus, raising the Himalayas and production of rivers. According to the other theory / hypothesis, the whole Indian plateau moved towards north, hitting the northern mass and raising the Himalayas.

1935 Yale-Cambridge India Expedition: As usual, not only history, but also archaeology and even paleontology, geology, anthropology and other related subjects too, have to be known from the reports of the European experts. Now, their reports are available only in few pages with some photographs. After about 100 years of their research, Indians did not appear to pursue and continue such research. The Siwalik Hills are known for their remains of fossil primates, which made them known worldwide as one of the most important evolutionary centers of the sub–Human primates. The Siwalik ranges are the southernmost hills of the Himalayan foothills of the mighty Himalayas. They mostly maintain a regular course from the river Yamuna to river Ravi on the south of the western Himalaya. Helmut de Terra conducted a number of scientific expeditions into Asia and the Americas. He was the first to produce a glaciological map of the Eastern Himalayas and to advance the theory that humans were established in Asia almost as early as in Africa. He conducted three scientific missions to Asia, discovering stone-age cultures and collecting fossil remains of man’s remotest ancestors as well as making significant contributions to our knowledge of man’s geologic antiquity.

After Ramapithecus Bramapithecus – nothing was found?: Helmut de Terra was a close friend and colleague of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard joined de Terra’s 1935 Yale-Cambridge India Expedition, and together they carried out research in Burma in 1938. Even De Terra himself used this study as a standard reference for elaborating his observations regarding the lithic culture complex in the valleys of the Narmada and the Kortalayar (South India) during the course of the same expedition. Sivapithecus (lit. ’Shiva’s Ape’) (syn: Ramapithecus) is a genus of extinct apes. Fossil remains of animals now assigned to this genus, dated from 12.2 million years old in the Miocene, have been found since the 19th century in the Siwalik Hills of the Indian subcontinent as well as in Kutch. Any one of the species in this genus may have been the ancestor to the modern orangutans. Some early discoveries were given the separate names Ramapithecus (Rama’s Ape) and Bramapithecus (Brahma’s Ape), and were thought to be possible ancestors of humans.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-04-2024

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[1] S. M.Ali, Geography of Puranas, New Delhi, 1966.

[2]  Maya Prasad Tripathi, Development of Geographic Knowledge in Ancient India, Varanasi, 1969.

[3]  D. N. Wadia, Geology of India, MacMillan, London, 1944.

[4]  Probey T. Cautley (ed.), Fauna Antiqua Sivalesis being the Fossil Zoology of the Sewalik Hills in the North of India, Smith, Elder and Co, London, 1846.

[5]  Article V, Abstract of a Discourse by Falconer on the Fossil Fauna of the Sewalik Hills, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, John Paker, London, 1866, Volume 8, pp.107-113.

[6] Charles Murchison (ed.), Palaeontological memoirs and notes of H. Falconer, with a biographical sketch of the author, Robert Hardicke, London, 1868, Vol.I.

[7]  Chakrabarti, Pratik, and Joydeep Sen. “‘The World Rests on the Back of a Tortoise’: Science and mythology in Indian history.” Modern Asian Studies 50.3 (2016): pp. 808-840.

[8] Ashok Sahni, Dinosaur in India Dead but alive, http://www.ias.ac.in/meetings/myrmeet/14mym_talks/asahni/ashoksahni.html

[9] D. N. Wadia, Geology of India, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., New Delhi, 1981, pp.272-273.

[10] Ahsok Sahni, Indian Dinosaurs Revisited, in Current Science, Vol.85, No.7, October 10, 2003, pp.904-910, Also available at http://www.iisc.ernet.in/~currsci/oct102003/904.pdf

[11] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, A Jurassic Park  in Valmiki Ramayana!, Proceedings of the 20^th International Ramayana Conference, Tirupathi, Vol.II, 2006, pp.

50-foot snake fossil found in Gujarat mine – could be the longest one?

50-foot snake fossil found in Gujarat mine – could be the longest one?

India was a land of snake charmers!: The Westerners and others some sort of anti-Indian propagandists always used to dub that “India was a land of snake charmers,” i.e, the Indians were more interested in myths and unscientific activities. They also give the example of “Four blind men and elephant,” Indians dying at the wheels of Juggernaut and so on. Such disparaging, insulting and derogatory remarks are made, even by some sort of anti-Indian ideologists of all sorts.  They never discuss about the Surya Siddhanta, Aryabhatiya and such other astronomical and mathematical works and their relation to art and architecture. They do not relate Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita to the skeleton sculptures, where all bones and skull have been depicted exactly like, as if a medical student looking at a dissected cadaver at the laboratory. They could not understand the science and technology behind the woven and dyed cloths. Under such circumstances, really a fossil of 5 50-feet snake has been found and studied scientifically.  How the general public read and react – we have to wait and see.

50 feet snake fossil found in Gujarat mine: Another day in science, another massive, ancient snake discovery. Palaeontologists in India have unearthed fossilized vertebrae from a snake that slithered around the sub-continent about 47 million years ago and may have grown as long as nearly 50 feet[1]. The newly discovered, extinct species is named Vasuki inidicus, after the mythical serpent coiled around the neck of the Hindu god Shiva, and is described for the first time in a study published April 18 in the journal Scientific Reports[2].  “Vasuki is an important piece of an ancient puzzle. It contributes to our understanding of this extinct group, and also to our understanding of large, apex, top-of-the-foodchain snakes in general,” says John Jacisin III, a palaeontologist at the University of Texas at Austin who researches reptiles but was uninvolved in the new study. Beyond reptiles, the fossil find carries broader clues to India’s climate tens of millions of years ago[3]. “It’s also just a cool snake because it was so big,” he says, comparing its length to longer than that of a yellow school bus[4].

Found in 2005 and reported in 2024: Sunil Bajpai, co-author of the study and a vertebrate palaeontologist at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, first discovered the fossilized snake remains in 2005 at a coal mine in western India[5]. The mine is located in the Panandhro area of the Kutch district in western India’s state of Gujarat. Lignite is the lowest grade of coal. Over the course of a slow and careful excavation, 27 vertebrates–all likely to be from the same individual–were uncovered[6]. By analyzing the size ratios of various parts of the vertebrae and the fossils unique shapes and protrusions, Bajpai and his co-researcher established the remains were that of a new species in the extinct family of Madtsoiidae, which were primitive snakes similar to boas and pythons[7]. The fist-sized fossils are second only in girth and width to those of Tintanoboa, another giant snake estimated to have lived about 58 million years ago in what is now present-day Colombia[8]. Based on the age of the rock the newly described vertebrae were found in, the researchers date Vasuki to about 47 million years ago, just a few million years after the Indian tectonic plate began colliding with Eurasia.

Further study made: According to the new study, the timing supports the idea that Madtsoiids originated in India, and later moved to North Africa and southern Eurasia, where other, later fossil specimens have been found[9]. It’s a challenge to accurately deduce the total species body size from a single individual’s incomplete skeleton[10]. But using model equations incorporating data on current, living snakes and the known fossil record, Bajpai and his colleague, Debajit Datta–another vertebrate palaeontologist at the same institution, estimate that V. indicus was somewhere between about 36 and and 49.9 feet (10.9 and 15.2 meters) long. The only known snake of comparable size was Titanoboa, currently the record-holder for the largest snake to have ever lived. Titanoboa clocked in at an estimated 35 to 50 feet long, with the mean estimate of around 42 feet in length. The relative vertebrate sizes indicate that Titanoboa was a heavier, thicker-bodied snake than V. indicus, yet it’s impossible to know exactly which snake species would’ve won the measuring contest.

Which was the longest snake?: “Based on the data at hand Vasuki was only slightly smaller in length than Titanoboa,” Bajpai and Datta write in a joint email to PopSci. “However, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility of Vasuki being slightly larger than Titanoboa, because the fossil vertebrae in our collection may not have come from the largest individual of Vasuki. The same, however, can also be said for Titanoboa. Since neither of these snakes are known from complete skeletons, we cannot say with certainty whether one was longer or wider than the other.”Exact size estimates are liable to change as more fossils are found and more analysis is done. “Everything shrinks when the tape measure comes out,” says Alexandra Howard, a paleobiologist and herpetologist at Texas A&M University who was not involved in the new research. “It’s a running joke [in palaeontology], everyone always finds the biggest thing,” she adds–and with more discovery and scrutiny the biggest size estimates tend to scale down.

These fossils were well preserved: Nonetheless, Howard says the new discovery includes some very well-preserved fossils and is an interesting addition to our knowledge of ancient reptiles. “The past was full of giant snakes. That’s really cool,” she says. And, either way, second place in size isn’t so bad, especially when you’re separated from your closest competitor by about 10 million years. Vasuki was probably a slow-slithering ambush predator that constricted its prey like a python, according to Bajpai and Datta. Based on morphology and the location it was found in, the researchers believe the monstrous snake was either terrestrial or semi-aquatic–living in marsh or coastal swamp. It was found in rock that also contains fossils of rays, sharks, bony fish, turtles, crocodiles, and primitive whales, Bajpai and Datta note–though what it ate is unclear.

Climatic condition of the snake lived: Beyond its massive size, the new paleontological discovery is notable for what it can tell us about our planet 47-50 million years ago. “It’s an important discovery because it shows us another example of extreme gigantism in snakes… and because you can use snakes as a thermometer to reconstruct climates of the past,” says Jason Head, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Cambridge in England who was one of the primary researchers involved in discovering Titanoboa. We know from geological and paleontological research that the time period, part of the Eocene Epoch, was warm, but Vasuki offers another data point indicating exactly what the climate may have been like where it was found. Snakes are ectotherms (commonly known as “cold-blooded”), so their body temperature and size is closely linked with the ambient temperature. The larger a snake is, the slower its metabolic rate, and so the warmer the climate must be for it to survive, Head explains. Estimates from modelling equations indicate that Vasuki’s habitat averaged around 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit), which is slightly warmer than the average annual temperature in the same region today.

India could have the ancient fossils: The ancient climate data can aid in understanding the present and where we’re headed under current climate change, says Head. “Those are the hottest latitudes and the hottest intervals, that’s going to tell us a lot about what those places might be like in the future.” As palaeontologists continue to dig into the past, predictions of the future may become clearer. And also, massive, ancient snakes are liable to keep appearing. “We understand so little about the past diversity of life on Earth,” Head notes. “I think there are probably more giant snakes to come.” “Considering its large size, Vasuki was a slow-moving ambush predator that would subdue its prey through constriction like anacondas and pythons. This snake lived in a marshy swamp near the coast at a time when global temperatures were higher than today,” said Debajit Datta, a postdoctoral researcher in palaeontology at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) and lead author of the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Because of the incomplete nature of the Vasuki remains, the researchers gave an estimated length range of 36-49 feet (11-15 meters) and a rough estimate of a metric ton in weight.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-04-2024

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[1] Populr Science, Enormous snake in ancient India was longer than a school bus – ‘The past is full of giant snakes.‘, by Lauren Leffer, Published April 18, 2024 11:00 AM EDT. https://www.popsci.com/environment/giant-snake-india-fossil/

[2] https://www.popsci.com/environment/giant-snake-india-fossil/

[3] The Hindu, Fossils of massive prehistoric snake found in lignite mine in Gujarat, Jacob Koshy- NEW DELHI,  April 19, 2024 08:02 pm | Updated April 20, 2024 10:22 am IST.

[4] https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/fossils-of-massive-prehistoric-snake-found-in-lignite-mine-in-gujarat/article68083916.ece – :~:text=The%20vertebrae%20of%20Vasuki%20Indicus,period%20called%20the%20Middle%20Eocene.

[5] Civils.dily, Vasuki fossil found- 50 feet, April 19, 2024.

[6] https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/vasuki-indicus-50ft-snake-fossil-found-in-gujarat/

[7] NDTV, Move Over Titanoboa, Fossil Of “Largest Snake To Have Ever Existed” Found In Gujarat, Science Edited by Amit Chaturvedi, Updated: April 19, 2024 10:57 am IST.

[8] https://www.ndtv.com/science/move-over-titanoboa-fossil-of-largest-snake-to-have-ever-existed-found-in-gujarat-5474872

[9] DD News, Fossils Of Colossal Snake Vasuki Unearthed In India Mine, 19/04/24 | 3:26 pm | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | Kutch | Vasuki | Vasuki indicus

[10] https://ddnews.gov.in/en/fossils-of-colossal-snake-vasuki-unearthed-in-india-mine/

Science and technology versus Arts and humanities –should the higher qualified candidates fight for lower jobs?

Science and technology versus Arts and humanities –should the higher qualified candidates fight for lower jobs?

Subjects changing during the course of time: In the academics, the difference, discrimination and competition between Science and technology versus Arts and humanities have been proverbial, memorable and continuing with time.  Before and after independence arts-subjects were considered inferior to other subjects. Thus, some students used to choose B.A. (Hon) and or proceed to law to become advocates. Otherwise, the arts-graduates go for office and administrative work. Typewriting and shorthand became necessary, as the clerk job required such experience.  Thus, till 1980s, the type-writer institutes were busy with job-seekers to get one-hour time slot either in the morning or evening. Even today typewriting and Computer typing[1] are insisted or made mandatory for clerical work. After the introduction of the computers, they mechanical typewriters were virtually scrapped and dumped and sold as scrap only. Even the electrical and electronic typewriters faced the same fate[2]. Anyway, computers serve for typewriting and none gets any qualification for computer-typing exclusively.

Discrimination among the engineering graduates, diploma holders and ITI certificate holders: The same type of competition has been there among the engineering degree graduates, diploma holders and ITI certificate holders. There was a general impression till 1980s, only the students who could not do their studies well would go for diploma and ITI. However, many times in industries, the ITI certificate holders work better than diploma holders and the diploma holders than the degree holders, because of the more practical training in handling with tools and machines, they had than others. Of course, from 1990 onwards, the workshops attached to the engineering colleges started imparting all practical training to the engineering students and thus, they were also exposed all types of drilling, honing, cutting, profiling, polishing processes and other machinery. In fact, they are sent to leading manufacturing factories under internship to get such experience.  Yet, we find 50-60-70 years old workers with or without qualifications excelling others on the floor of many factories.   

Candidates with higher qualifications cannot apply for lower posts: Many times, when getting a job is necessary or difficult, the candidates with higher qualifications used to suppress their higher qualifications and appear in competitive examinations with S.S.L.C, P.U.C and matric qualifications, as with degree, they cannot apply for clerical / typist job. In fact, there would be “Warning / Caution” to the extent, that “Higher qualification holders need not apply.” However, as the unemployment problem was acute, the degree holders had to get some jobs and proceed further. In fact, some used to do part-time job in the evening one or twor hours and go home. Because, for poor and lower middle-class people, they had to earn money for running the family.  Now, the Supreme Court categorically pronounced in a judgment[3], “…a candidate with higher qualification cannot claim right to apply for posts with lower qualification, unless the relevant statutory recruitment rules permit the inference that higher qualification presupposes the acquisition of lower qualification”! However, there are contrary judgments also.

Peon with degree can continue to work as a peon: The Judgment – Chief Manager, Punjab National Bank & Anr. v. Anit Kumar Das [Civil Appeal No. 3602 of 2020], held that lower educational qualification can be a criterion for employment of a candidate, given that there is a rationale behind it[4]. The appellant Bank had invited applications for the post of Peon by publishing an advertisement in the local newspaper. The advertisement clearly mentioned the eligibility criteria for the candidate to have passed the 12th class or its equivalent and basic reading/writing knowledge of English. It also specifically provided that the candidate should not be a graduate. The respondent, upon submitting the applications got selected for employment, after which it came to the knowledge of the appellant that the respondent was in fact a graduate, and thus, his candidature was cancelled. Aggrieved, the respondent filed a writ petition before the High Court arguing that higher education cannot be a basis for denying employment, relying on Mohd. Usmain Gani v. District and Sessions Judge, Nagpur [Civil Appeal No. 1010 of 2000]. The HC allowed the petition and directed the Bank to allow the respondent to discharge his duties as a Peon.

Central and State government employees are governed by the Conduct Rules: The rationale is by acquiring higher qualifications later, he cannot claim any salary, promotion and other benefits. As for as the government employees, the conduct rules have been very specific and the joining employee has to give all the details required at the time of joining. Not only about his qualification, but also about his marital status, caste, religion and family details.  He should inform the department / employer to get permission to pursue the higher study by giving an undertaking letter with conditions. Therefore, he cannot change his stand or go to court etc., as he is bound by the conduct rules. Unless, the conduct rules infringe the provisions of the Constitution, he cannot go to court also. Even for going to court, he should get permission from the department / employer. With all the restrictions, he has every right to get his qualified status, provided, had in informed. As the government deals with crores of people all over the country in thousands of departments, it hs to control the employers with such Conduct Rules.

For employment purposes equating or differentiating the similar degrees: The Tamil Nadu government has recently issued a G.O / ordinance regarding the unique academic list, which has affected those who have completed the course in ancient history and archaeology at the University of Madras[5]. In February, 2024 an expert panel deliberated on which courses are non-equivalent as defined by the University Grants Commission, UGC. Based on the recommendations made by the committee, the Tamil Nadu government recently issued a G.O / ordinance. In it, a list of courses which are not equivalent to Botany and History Department courses has been published. That is to say, the MA degree in Ancient History and Archeology offered by Madras University is not equivalent to the MA History degree. Due to this, those who have completed MA in Ancient History and Archeology in Chennai University cannot apply for jobs related to history[6]. Thus, such degree holders feel that they have been deprived of applying for jobs with their qualifications.

The Students of Ancient History and Archaeology apprehended their opportunity: In this regard, the MA, Ancient History and Archeology degree holders of Madras University said[7]: “Now, the Teachers Selection Board has released a notification for the recruitment of History Professors. For this, a new order has been issued so that even those who have obtained MA, Ancient History and Archeology degree and passed the ‘NET’ examination in Madras University cannot apply. In Central and State archeology departments and in the history education department, those who have studied in Madras University have achieved the most. They have effectively done various excavations in Tamil Nadu and contributed to history. Similarly, coins, inscriptions, palm-leaf mss etc. have also been investigated and history has been written. The Tamil Nadu government has issued a wrong order so that archaeologists cannot apply for the jobs of the archeology department while the history department is eligible to apply for the jobs in the history department. As a result, it will not be possible to conduct courses on ancient history and archaeology in the history curriculum, and employment will be lost for hundreds of qualified and talented academics who have studied in Madras University and done research and written many history books. This will have a major impact on archaeology graduates and students. On the other hand, archaeology graduates from Tanjore Tamil University are not barred from working in the history department. It is a discriminatory G.O. Government should take steps to change this and continue the old practice.”

Technically and scientifically different subjects cannot be equated: A careful reading of the order and its contents are summarized as follows:

Degree subject / subjects combined	Not equivalent to
B.A English Language & Literature	B.A. English
B.Sc Microbiology	B.Sc Botany
B.Sc Environmental Biology	B.Sc Botany
M.Sc Microbiology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Environmental Biology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Environmental science	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Biotechnology	M.Sc Botany
M.Sc Pharmaceutical Chemistry	M.Sc chemistry
M.Sc (Agriculture) Agronomy	M.Sc Agriculture (Extension)
M.Sc (Agriculture) Entomology	M.Sc Agriculture (Extension)
B.A. (History, Sociology, Philosophy)	B.A. History
B.A. (History, Sociology, Telugu Literature)	B.A. History
B.A Political History	B. A. History
M.A. Medieval History	M.. history
M.A. Political Science	M. A. History
M.A. Ancient History & Archaeology	M. A. History

Definitely, the subject, subject content and the syllabi of them have been different. Therefore, they cannot be compared or equated. Even a cursory look at the subjects shows how they are different. The subjects on the RHS appear to be specialized, specific and combo types meant for certain jobs, thus offered in different universities of India. In fact, they are higher standards than the normal M.A / M.Sc or B.A / B.Sc degrees. Hence, instead of barring certain subjects or disciplines, if the job does not require any expertise and is capable of managing the job with the degree held, then, the required qualification can be made in general as M.A / M.Sc or B.A / B.Sc degrees or it can simply be mentioned, “Any graduate can apply”. If specialization is required, then, naturally, no compromise can be made.

What students, candidates and others should ponder over: With all the above exigencies, one should take decision as follows:

1. Every candidate should be conscious about what he reads, in which subject, he can excel and try to proceed in that discipline.
2. Of course, nowadays, certain factors compel the candidates for going to different disciplines due to economic, forced and other factors and conditions.
3. As specialization of subjects started or each subject is masqueraded with different terminology, syllabus and so on, such subjects continue to increase and thrive.
4. In science and technology, the candidates could survive by updating, studying M.S and other studies to fulfill their job requirements.
5. Whereas, the students of arts and humanities have to acquire more and different diplomas to compete in the job market.
6. In any case, the employers (private sector) expect the candidates to join and start working immediately.
7. In the public / government jobs, immediately, the employees try to protest and take recourse to other methods.
8. In any case, they are governed by the conduct rules and the prevailing Supreme Court judgments.
9. Better aim for the suitable jobs with the qualifications one has, than aim for other ones attracting or forced on.
10. Whatever job, one gets, be loyal to the job and the employer, so it would award the sincere employee always.

©  K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

11-04-2024

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[1]  In government offices, mostly the computers are used as typewriters only, otherwise, the staff may be browsing. Some may use Excel for accounting and financial purposes.

[2]  Most of the factories manufacturing mechanical, electrical and electronic type writers [Halda, Remington etc.,] were closed down and disappeared from the market.

[3] Zahoor Ahmad Rather vs Sheikh Imtiyaz Ahmad on 5 December, 2018, AIRONLINE 2018 SC 872; https://indiankanoon.org/doc/85514936/

[4] Prime Legal, Employers cannot prescribe arbitrary qualifications for jobs: Supreme Court,

https://primelegal.in/2020/11/09/employers-cannot-prescribe-arbitrary-qualifications-for-jobs-supreme-court

[5] Higher Education (K1) Department – G.O. (Ms) No. 72 dated 15-03-2024.

[6] தினமலர், சென்னை பல்கலை தொல்லியல் பட்டம் பெற்றவர்களுக்கு சிக்கல், UPDATED : ஏப் 10, 2024 03:34 AM; ADDED : ஏப் 10, 2024 03:34 AM.

[7] https://www.dinamalar.com/news/tamil-nadu-news/-chennai-university-archeology-graduates-have-a-problem–/3596966

Artificial Intelligence – can it be useful for archaeology, anthropology, history and related subjects?

Artificial Intelligence – can it be useful for archaeology, anthropology, history and related subjects?

What is artificial intelligence?: Simply, it is the “intelligence,” that is “artificial,” virtual and imaginary and thus, not real. When, “intelligence,” brainpower and acumen become artificial, man loses his mental power. Then, who is acquiring that “intelligence other than man? Machine, man-created machine only replaces. However, again, man only controls the computer giving inputs to create such AI. However, the man knows how even another man is controlled through “brain control, brainwashing” etc., either by inducement or threat. A master-slave example is applied for many exigencies with positive and negative connotations and applications. Accordingly, the application of AI is subjected to limitations.

Doing a job, again and again, mechanical and robotics: A robot is considered as human substitute that could do some specific work, as per the computer software program. In industries, wherever, repetitive processes were there, they were controlled to be carried on again and again by man-operated machine, switch, timer and later with computer. Gears and continuously rotating parts are replaced with software programs, where, many processes are repeated. Thus, profile cutting machines have already been used in electrical, electronic and mechanical industries. Slowly, more processes were brought under the computerized control. In the design and development processes of many industries, they are frequently used. In Textiles, garments and related industries, they become essential, as they do such jobs easily with software manipulation. For FMG, its role becomes far and wide. Now, the film, media and ad-companies exploit the maximum.

AI could bring more profits to Internet-dependent companies: Artificial intelligence leverages computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind[1]. However, it is not simply man-created robots imitating man, but, more than that in many cases.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of humans or other animals. It is a field of study in computer science that develops and studies intelligent machines.
• AI technology is widely used throughout industry, government, and science. Some high-profile applications are: advanced web search engines (e.g., Google Search), recommendation systems (used by YouTube, Amazon, and Netflix), understanding human speech (such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa), self-driving cars (e.g., Waymo), generative and creative tools (ChatGPT and AI art), and superhuman play and analysis in strategy games (such as chess and Go).
• The companies involved in the Internet business directly or indirectly, are very much interested in this field, as the more time man spends on it, the more usage and the more income and profits to them (manufacturers and service providers).

What will happen to the buyers, users and consumers?: With the internet, many of students (from pre-KG to PhD) stopped reading books and just “google” and get prepared for exams. For project work etc., they just copy Wiki[2]. With the rise of mobiles, they virtually become slaves and affecting the human relations. More Internet usage, more men turning to cyber, cyber crimes have also started increasing. Of course, money has been the target, for that all ethics and morals are sacrificed. Thus, unimaginable crimes are committed affecting humanity. It is not that one community, nation, country or continent, but, the whole world gets affected.

India required “demythologization” and not more mythologization through AI: What is important in Indian/Bharat history today is not further mythologization, but the retrieval or recovery of science and technology from such myths. Such a method is called demythologization. At Somnathapuram, the linga was floating, and it was a scientific technique. Here, historically, there is no myth or falsehood. Though, even historians like Romila Thapar have mentioned it, they could not explain the scientific aspect, as they do not know it. Magnetic levitation refers to the floating of an object without the aid of any other object, but only by the magnetic force of like poles repelling each other. It is noteworthy that this technology has now extended to trains as well. German trains called Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) fly like this. A magnetic levitation or floating train is a train that can float without the help of wheels through magnetic levitation technology. When it starts crawling, not all of its parts hit the ground. The speed of these trains going on the magnetic track can exceed 580 kilometres per hour. In the same way, the science and technology behind the Indian material culture can be explained.

The demythologization of Indian history is more important than AI-sponsored pictures: In ancient India, the process of rewriting the epics was started by various vested groups, before the various impacts caused by foreign invasions in Bharat. Jains-Buddhists in particular had rewritten them with many interpolations to show off their antiquity. In other words, they added a narrative of Tirtankaras and Buddhas made available in every yuga[3]. This is why there are so many slokas in Ramayana and Mahabharata increasing from one recension to another. Again the slokas were added when those who learned and realized the legends and tried to remove them, i.e. to change the matters which had already come into prevalent, known and recorded in the manuscripts. First, they tried to give a proper explanation so that such contradictions were understood and ignored. Rewriting, expurgation and editing processes were involved in such correcting processes. Such interchanges ranged from the Jain period to the medieval Muslim and 19^th century colonial periods.

Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence cannot create new myths by putting on a scientific mask and technical masquerade in methods like pseudo-science, and alchemy. Already now scientific researches like DNA and genetics have been diverted by ideological delusions[4], hybrids with their likes and dislikes. In graphics, models, pictures, films etc. have already been realistically captured and available in circulation. Although somewhat reflective of the real situation, more fictional characters were created. But artificial intelligence is turning real historical heroes into fictional characters. Gods, who are already worshipped as idols, as deities in sanctum sanctorum, are transformed by artificial intelligence into some sort of living human beings. Thus, even the remnants of reality that exist today will eventually disappear or be denied by the ignorant one day.

Commercialization of Science and Technology: Now many people are working to commercialize using the current technologies as how to make money in a short period of time by increasing internet usage. That is, especially in a country like India where there are 140 crore people, even if one crore or just one lakh people become buyers for a product, the manufacturer or seller will get considerable income and profit. So, keeping it in mind, they use their new and novel aggressive campaign tactics. For that, they need advertisement and publicity vigorously. They don’t even bother about quality, standards, efficiency, etc. in such unethical and unspiritual business. Therefore, even when education, textbooks, teachers who teach them; schools and universities come, the idea that anyone should read and study the sources becomes less important in terms of need, status and benefits. That’s why there are so many people who just study and get marks in some subject and qualified, go to work, earn and live comfortably. So in that case, no one seems to care if he says, “Go and read the sources and write with evidence.”

Caution about AI: There is concern about the increase in malpractice in the field of scientific research[5]. As shown by various institutions and studies, institutional, economic and cultural factors have encouraged an increase in cases of professional malpractice including fraud, corruption, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, financial doping, improper attribution, illicit appropriation of ideas, concepts and results, influence peddling, falsification of evidence, data manipulation, exaggeration of results, lack of protection of research subjects, misappropriation or misuse of resources, the commodification of knowledge, use of phantom sources, nepotistic or inbred citation, improper or fraudulent use of information. The researchers have also pointed out that, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a double-edged sword for scientific research. While, on one hand, the incredible potential of AI and the different techniques and technologies for using it make it a product coveted by all scientific research centres and organisations and science funding agencies. On the other, the highly negative impacts that its irresponsible and self-interested use is causing, or could cause, make it a controversial tool, attracting strong criticism from those involved in the different sectors of research…”

Limitations of usage to archaeology, anthropology and related subjects: About the usage of AI for archaeology, anthropology and allied subjects has been discussed and debated, because of the advantages and disadvantages involved[6]. The easy availability of Machine Language (ML) algorithms and lack of expertise on their proper use among the anthropological research community has led to foundational misapplications that have appeared throughout the literature. The resulting unreliable results not only undermine efforts to legitimately incorporate ML into anthropological research, but produce potentially faulty understandings about our human evolutionary and behavioural past[7].

1. Why don’t the AI experts try to analyze and decipher the Indus Valley pictograms, signs or fonts with their artificial intelligence?

2. There are many chronological puzzles in Indian history, why not solve them with their machine language and artificial intelligence?

3. Those who earn money by singing Ramayana and enjoying discourses, can solve the problem of such chronological issues faithfully?

4. Those who are disputing and fighting about Advaita-Dvaitam etc., can bring them under timelines acceptable to commonman?

5. By the application of AI for religious depiction, in an attempt to humanize the gods, they turn them into dehumanized cute cartoon characters only.

6. Therefore, they have to act as a tool to break counter-ideologies and not to be in a position to feed them.

7. What is important in Indian history today is not the mythologization of the existing, but, demythologization, scientifically.

8. But the science and technology contained in the Vedangas, Itihasas, Puranas etc.,  is to be restored and given to the people in an understandable way.

9. There is no need to create new historical problems without solving existing historical and archaeological issues and contradictions.

10. Artificial Intelligence should not become some sort of pseudo-science, alchemy, etc.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

17-01-2024

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[1] https://www.ibm.com/topics/artificial-intelligence

[2]  In fact, I have also referred to Wiki to understand the fundamentals, later to proceed to read other research papers in the context.

[3] Even in Ramayana period, Hains and Buddhists were found. The dates of Titankaras are traced back to Kaliyuga. In Buddhism, buddhas were there in every aeon.

[4]  In spite of “Out of Africa,” theory, Neanderthal exists and the so-called “Aryan-Dravidian” hypotheses and theories continue in India.

[5] González Esteban, Elsa, and Patrici Calvo. “Ethically governing artificial intelligence in the field of scientific research and innovation.” Heliyon 8 (2022) e08946, 2022.

[6] Tenzer, Martina, et al. “Debating AI in archaeology: applications, implications, and ethical considerations.”, 2023.

[7] Calder, Jeff, et al. “Use and misuse of machine learning in anthropology.” IEEE BITS the Information Theory Magazine 2.1 (2022): 102-115.

“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.