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Heritage Education in India

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
 


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September 2009 Back
 
Heritage first, development later: Mehra

Hundred years ago, the British brought in a virtual divide between the ‘Old’ and the ‘New’ Delhi when Lutyens designed the present day New Delhi away from Shahjahanabad.

The present day rulers — the Municipal Corporation of Delhi — might end up doing the same if the proposed traffic management and circulation plan for the upcoming Civic Centre (on the Minto Road) and the New Delhi Railway Station are carried out in its current form, said the Delhi Chapter convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) AGK Menon.

INTACH has now been asked to carry out the urban design study and suggest alternatives so as to ensure that it will not in any way disturb the heritage fabric of the area.

MCD Commissioner K.S. Mehra agreed that INTACH has been asked to carry out the urban design study and suggest alternative plan in about a month.

“The idea is not to disturb the heritage but preserve it. The area (Shahjahanabad) is precious for the city in view of its heritage legacy.”

“INTACH has been asked to study if the urban form of the area vis-à-vis heritage should undergo change or not,” Mehra added.

Menon said, “There are several heritage monuments lining the roads surrounding the Civic Centre … Turkman Gate and Ajmeri Gate to name just two. The current plan does not consider the fact that area across Aruna Asaf Ali road is heritage city Shahjahanabad.”

Some of the major flaws in the design are that the roads — most of which would be 8-lane highways with one-way traffic — are not equally distributed for all users. For instance, the current plan shows just two-metres of space on the sides of the road for pedestrians, cycle rickshaws, tehbazari people and all other road users apart from private vehicles.

Coming from Turkman Gate, around the Ram Lila Maidan, to go towards Delhi Gate, one can see two big hospitals on the right side.

Then there are people living in huts on the pavement, on the sides of the road and scores of rickshaw pullers parking their vehicles on the sides.

There is a need to factor in these things also when the new plan is made.“These new roads would isolate Shahjahanabad from the Lutyen’s zone,” Menon said.

Heritage lovers are equally concerned about what transport is doing to the city but there should be a concern for heritage too, he added.

The Civic Centre has provided parking for 2,500 cars inside the complex. If the Income Tax office is given half the portion, one can imagine the number of visitors to the area. “There are two hospitals down the line towards east on the same road and some distance away is the New Delhi Railway Station. The planners did not at all consider all such factors in the planning stage,” Menon pointed out.
 
1 September 2009, Hindustan Times
How drains can yield twin gains

A group of NGOs says that by treating waste locally, the city can make its drains clean as well as cut down pollution in Yamuna by 80%
It could turn out to be the perfect solution for the Yamuna’s increasing pollution whilst providing the capital with a sustainable urban development strategy.

A group of NGOs under the banner of has proposed a plan to clean up the city’s nullahs: By treating the waste water on site in micro sewage treatment plants (STPs). The waste water would then be reused rather than discarded into the Yamuna. The proposal also aims to use Delhi’s neglected nullah network — over 350-km-long — to provide an alternative transport network.

Says Manit Rastogi of Morphogenesis, an architectural firm that is promoting the project, ‘‘There are various technologies available which can help to clean the nullahs at a low cost. Currently, the nullahs are just unhygienic drains. They smell, breed mosquitoes and pollute the Yamuna. However, this network can be turned into a valuable asset.’’

The process, according to the group, is simple. Clean the nullahs so that sewage is not allowed to pollute Yamuna. This would also provide the city with a transport network, creating walking and cycling paths along the nullahs, giving last mile connectivity to public transport like buses and the Metro. That’s not all. With the nullah system being as old as 700 years in some places, many of the wellknown archeological sites are built along the network. The network could thus prove to be a connection between cultural venues, including historical monuments.

But it’s easier said than done. Says Anupam Yog of Urban Habitat Forum, an arm of the India Habitat Centre, ‘‘there have been several attempts to clean the Yamuna. But this time, we have tried to look at a holistic solution, rather than just aiming for an aesthetic or beautification project.’’

Yog admits that a lot needs to be done before the project can get off the ground. ‘‘A physical mapping of the drains, followed by a feasibility report is needed before we can have a detailed project report,’’ adds Yog. That’s why the group is hoping that both the government and private enterprises can get together to launch the project. Adds Rastogi, ‘‘We have started a public petition as a public outreach programme. Once this is underway, there should be positive response to the project.’’

The advantages are many. As per the proposal, the cleaning of the nullahs is only a part of the plan. Thereafter, native plants can be used to slow the surface run-off and allow storm water to infiltrate back into the ground to recharge the water table. Using a system of organic reedbeds and aerators to clean the sewage entering nullahs, it could dramatically improve public health as well as help replenish aquifers.

With 73% of Delhi’s STPs functioning below capacity, it’s no wonder that NGOs are hoping the project will take off. Interestingly, Delhi is not the only one to redefine city development by transforming the functioning of local drains. The experiment has been carried out successfully in Seoul (Korea), Fuzhou in China as well as Valencia in Spain already..
 
1 September 2009, The Times of India, Times City
Clean Yamuna: NGO on a vigil near river bank

New Delhi: For almost three years, civic agencies in Delhi have not been able to construct 13 enclosures on the Yamuna banks for people to throw in their religious samagri and not pollute the river. On Tuesday, volunteers with Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA), a Delhi-based NGO, stood vigil at the Nizamuddin bridge, persuading people to hand over their offerings to them instead, so that they could be disposed off in a proper manner.
 
According to Manoj Misra of YJA, this has been planned as a month-long vigil specially at a time when, due to Diwali and Durga Puja, the river is inundated with idols and religious samagri that ruin the water quality of the Yamuna. We had a test run on Janmashtami and found that people were more than willing to dispose off their puja samagri safely provided an alternative was made available to them. On Tuesday, we started off with 12 volunteers. All kinds of people came to throw material into the river. With a few exceptions, most agreed readily to hand over the material to our volunteers. Around 21 packets were finally collected. One couple had come all the way from Dwarka for making their offering to the river, he said.
 
Misra said: “It is a sad commentary on the lethargy of civic agencies like the MCD where despite a court order directing them to identify locations and make arrangements along the river where people could safely dispose off their puja left overs, no action has yet been taken.”
 
However, Delhiites are taking matters in their own hands. An idol maker working at Chandralok Cinema in CR Park, Manik Pal, says he is using tamarind paste mixed with paint to ensure that the pollution caused by immersion is reduced as much as possible. We are equally concerned about the pollution levels and tried out this method which would reduce release of toxic elements into the river. We are making over 20 idols this year for the puja, said Pal.
 
 2 September 2009, Hindustan Times
Algae choke Hauz Khas lake

Now dying lake was to developed as a tourist spot according to a High Court order
THE 13th Century Hauz Khas lake, which was to be developed as a tourist attraction as per a 2003 High Court order, is dying a slow death.
 
When Newsline visited the spot, the water level in the 80,000-square metre lake was low and the water was covered with filamentous algae, which stops other aquatic plants from growing. Worse, the growth of algae may either prevent fish from reaching the mosquito larvae on the surface of the lake or lead to an increase in mosquitoes.
 
The maintenance and restoration of the lake has changed hands several times. Till recently, the lake's restoration was with INTACH and to augment the lake's water supply, treated sewage water from Vasant Kunj was let into the lake.
 
This was, however, stopped after residents complained that the water in the lake had started stinking. Now, the DDA has roped in private contractors to clean the lake, who haven't been able to restore the lake either. In 2003, the High Court ordered that six major lakes in Delhi -- Ladpur, Karala, Haus Shamsi, Hauz Khas, Harinagar and Mayapuri lake -- be restored as tourist spots. Six years later, the Hauz Khas lake is being advertised as a natural tourist spot. The boats at the Hauz Khas lake, however, lay unused.
 
Labourers who clean the lake daily told Newsline that they have got rashes due to contact with the lake's water. "The lake would stink when water from Vasant Kunj was put in here. Now, the water doesn't stink so much but its levels are certainly low. When we go inside the lake, it irritates the skin," a worker said.
 
Traditionally, the lake was fed by stormwater channels from the Aravallis. To restore and to remove the algae, ecologists say, water must be added to the lake. Higher levels of algae indicate an unhealthy aquatic eco-system.
 
"This lake was made by Khilji Sultan Alaudin in 1296 and is part of Delhi's natural heritage. It's unfortunate that though the lake's restoration was started, there is no scientific method of dealing with it. The plans were just abandoned mid way. This is despite the fact that the High Court Monitoring Committee under the Chief Secretary is supposed to look at the restoration and the upkeep of the lakes," said Vinod Jain, a member of NGO Tapas, which is involved in environmental campaigning.

2 September 2009, Indian Express

Thangkas on CANVAS

Idols, frescoes and thangkas in chokhangs or small family temples in the Spiti valley continue to remain inaccessible to outsiders
SANDWICHED between perennially snow-capped mountains, the valley of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh remains largely unknown. This is because there is neither air nor rail connection from the "mainland", and the valley has to be reached by narrow, rough roads through canyons, across streams, beneath overhangs and high mountain-passes.
 
The fortunes of this remote valley have forever been linked to those of its more powerful neighbours, the erstwhile kingdoms of Ladakh, Bushair, Kulu and Guge in western Tibet. Spiti’s history, however, goes back much further, to a time before the Indian subcontinent broke away from Gondwanaland and crashed into Eurasia some 60 to 100 million years ago. The Himalayas were born of this collision, and the Tethys Sea, until then, lapping the shores of these portions, disappeared into oblivion. Coming across fossils of maritime creatures belonging to that era, therefore, is not uncommon.
 
However, there’s more to Spiti’s heritage than just the fossils. For a seasoned walker, boundaries of the present-day Tibet are barely a day or two away. That explains why Vajrayana Buddhism, commonly known as Tibetan Buddhism, has flourished here. The last years have seen the founding of five major gonpas (monasteries) and more than 30 lakhangs (temples).
 
Besides these, there are the chokhangs (small family temples). Unknown and inaccessible to outsiders, there are a handful of them in every village, each having survived hundreds of Spitian winters when temperatures plummet to as low as -35`BA C. The condition of some of these structures demands immediate attention, as does the plenitude inside — idols, frescoes, ritual objects and thangkas.
 
The Archaeological Survey of India takes care of Tabo, the beautiful monastery founded in 996 CE, but the others, specially the smaller chokhangs have pretty much been left to their own devices.
 
The chokhangs in far-flung villages are unknown to the tour operators and well nigh inaccessible to the outsiders, but the rare thangkas hanging in them are breathtakingly beautiful. These are seen by none but the locals. The first challenge is to reach them, and then look through the cracks and the mould and the soot they have gathered from butter lamps lit over hundreds of years. Some of them are in near tatters, but these small temples lack the resources to maintain or restore them.
 
However, an exhibition of reproduction of these unique works of art was held recently in Delhi by the Tusita Divine Art. The works on display were not created by any contemporary artist but were actual reproductions of the ancient Thangkas hidden away in small family temples in Spiti. The project is the outcome of a decade of walking and driving through rough mountain terrain for research and meticulous documentation by a scholar of Spiti. The thangkas are reproduced aesthetically on the finest canvas and mounted with contemporary accessories. The description of the iconography (sometimes running into dozens of pages) accompanying each Thangka reproduction is presented in a never-before-done calendar-like format. Seventy five per cent of sales from the exhibition will go directly to the chokhangs for their preservation and also the restoration of these rare Thangkas.
 
Each reproduction of these rare Thangkas brought out by the Tusita Divine Art is accompanied by a well-researched and detailed description written in close consultation with senior monks and with reference to authoritative works by scholars of Tibetan Buddhist art — a first of its kind again. Beautifully designed in a "calendar-like format", it complements the thangka and can be hung alongside the reproduction.
 
6 September 2009, Tribune
Taj builders used Harappan measurement units

DESIGNERS of the 17th century Taj Mahal, the finest piece of Mughal architecture, employed the same unit of measurement used by the Harappan civilization of 2000 BC, according to a new study reported in the latest issue of Current Science.
 
The study by R. Balasubramaniam of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has for the first time shown that the unit of length called angulam — mentioned in Kautilya’s treatise Arthasastra dated 300 BC — was used without a break by Indian builders for over 3,900 years until the British imposed their units in the 18th century.
 
The ancient angulam has been found to be equal to 1.763 modern centimetres, according to Balasubramaniam, a professor of materials and metallurgical engineering. He has carried out dimensional analysis of some of India’s historical structures, built during different times, to identify the measuring units used in their engineering plans.
 
He says he was surprised that angulam and its multiples vitasti (12 angulams) and dhanus (108 angulams) have been used as the unit of measurement right from the Harappan times till the pre-modern era when the Taj was built.
 
Balasubramaniam, who last year studied the dimensions of the 1,600-year-old Delhi Iron Pillar at the Qutub Minar complex, found that angulam and its multiple dhanus were used as the basic units of length in its design. For example, the total height of the pillar is exactly 4 dhanus, adds Balasubramaniam.
 
And now in a paper published in Current Science, Balasubramaniam has shown that the modular plan of the Taj Mahal complex is based on use of grids of sides measuring 60 and 90 vitasti.
 
He says the study has established that the design and architecture of the Taj is based on traditional Indian units codified in Arthasastra and that "there is nothing foreign" in its design.
 
"The fact that the unit of angulam of 1.763 cm could match very well the dimensions of historical monuments establishes the continuity of India’s engineering tradition through the ages for as long as 3,900 years," says Balasubramaniam in his paper.

"With the new knowledge we can analyse all the important ancient structures in India," he says, and hopes the findings "will open a new chapter in the study of metrology (science of measurements)".
 
But how did the angulam tradition remain unbroken for so long? As quoted in the website of Nature India, Balasubramaniam believes the workers from the Harappan days were perhaps using some kind of scale "that was handed over through generations".
 
6 September 2009, Tribune
Antiques database soon to check theft of idols

Chennai: With concerns growing over smuggling of Indian artefacts, many of them stolen from archaeological sites and unguarded temples, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) has stepped up pace on a Rs 90-crore project to document the country’s vast trove of ancient idols and sculptures.
 
Two years after the NMMA’s constitution, a template is finally ready for collating data on locations, drawings, photographs, satellite imagery and aerial photography of protected monuments and antiques as well as ancient treasures in unprotected areas. Implementation committees, comprising secretary, culture, and archaeological officials and experts, have been constituted in 20 major states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu which record a high number of idol thefts..
 
PLUNDER OF INDIA
Route Map: Smugglers gather data aided by galleries, collectors. Temples, ancient sites targeted
 
Loophole: Govt issues ‘non-antiquity’ , certificate based on sight and experience. No carbon dating of idols done
 
Big Thefts And Hauls
In Jaipur, antiques stolen by notorious smuggler Vaman Ghiya found their way to Sotheby’s, Christie’s. Ghiya was sentenced to life. In 2004, Indore court convicted six men to two years for stealing idols of Jain Tirthankaras from Shivpuri
 
Chennai dealer Sanjeevi Asokan held for antique smuggling. Main client was gallery owner in New York who remitted Rs 4cr into his bank accounts here
 
40 rare sculptures stolen in three years
Chennai: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) is working on a Rs 90-crore project to document the country’s vast trove of ancient idols and sculptures in light of growing incidents of smuggling.
 
The documentation is meant to help track stolen antiques and check trafficking in art treasures. Data computed and constituting the national registry of antiquities would be made available to the Interpol and other policing agencies across the globe, particularly US and Europe, where artefacts are often headed.
 
The NMMA’s task has acquired an urgency in the wake of a series of high-profile idol thefts in recent times. According to data available with the directorate of antiquities in Delhi, at least 40 rare sculptures have been stolen in the last three years, mostly from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
 
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Several more rare idols are being smuggled out of the country into antique markets in US and Europe,” said a senior official at the directorate. Well-entrenched networks, which tie up private collectors and museums abroad to a web of Indian art dealers, petty idol thieves and temple custodians, continue to fox governments, the official said.
 
‘Mission documentation’ is a step towards demystifying the network. ‘‘This is the beginning of an attempt to network with all agencies and create a database right down to the villages. In the event of a theft, we can alert the Interpol and other agencies and track the antique across the globe,’’ NMMA director Dr RS Fonia told TOI. Several states like Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir have held their implementation committee meetings to chalk out the strategy for documentation. ‘‘We want to take up Tamil Nadu and Gujarat now,’’ said Fonia who will chair the first meetings and later coordinate with the states.
 
Archaeological Survey of India director general K N Shrivastava says about 4,000 monuments and about three lakh ancient artefacts come under the ASI’s protection.
 
7 September 2009, Hindustan Times
Chandni chowk plan sent to Arts commission

The ambitious Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) may finally see the light of day. The civic agency has submitted a detailed project report of the redevelopment plan to the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) for approval.
 
This plan has been chalked out as part of the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan.
 
“One part of the central verge (on Chandni Chowk road) will have special buses plying similar to the open-air buses plying in Pragati Maidan while the other side will be for private vehicles to move out of Chandni Chowk,” said deputy commissioner of city zone, Vijay Singh.
 
Singh added the idea of using trams as a mode of transport in Chandni Chowk could still be explored.
 
The buses will run from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid and back. There will be bus stops in the middle. On the other side of the central verge will be a one-way 3.5 m motor lane for private vehicles to ply on.
 
There are also plans of reviving water canals and other water bodies that once existed in Chandni Chowk.
 
The plan also includes streetscaping work. Facades of government buildings will also be restored. Shopkeepers will be encouraged to carry out similar restoration work.
 
Private vehicles entering from Delhi Gate and SP Mukherjee Marg will have to park in Parade Ground and Gandhi Maidan, respectively, and take the bus inside Chandni Chowk or walk. These vehicles will then exit from the Walled City via Town Hall, HC Sen or Church Mission roads and will take the motor lane.
 
“Special emphasis has been laid on pedestrian walkways. A space of six metres has been dedicated on both sides on the road for footpaths. The cost of re-laying the main Chandni Chowk road along with other roads in the Walled City and carrying out ducting of service lines is Rs 45 crore approximately. We will build centralised plazas around Fatehpuri Masjid, Town Hall and Lajpat Rai Market which will serve as open public spaces,” Singh added.
 
7 September 2009, Hindustan Times
Congested Chandni Chowk to get its own BRT

MCD Redevelopment Plan Proposes Dedicated Bus Corridor, Residents Feel It Will Fuel Confusion
New Delhi: The bus rapid transport (BRT) corridor may be leading to traffic snarls in south Delhi, but the Delhi government has similar plans for the Walled City. The Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan entails a dedicated bus corridor as part of the traffic circulation plan for decongesting the area. MCD will be the executing agency
 
‘‘One part of the central verge will be dedicated to special buses — similar to the open-air buses in Pragati Maidan — while the other side will be for private vehicles to move out of Chandni Chowk. A detailed project report of the plan has been submitted to Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) for approval,’’ said MCD’s deputy commissioner city zone, Vijay Singh.
 
Singh said this dedicated corridor is being built to encourage use of public transport within Chandni Chowk.
 
The dedicated bus corridor will run from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid on one side of the central verge and just like the BRT, there will be busstops in the middle of the corridor. On the other side of the central verge will be a one-way 3.5m-wide motor lane for private vehicles to ply on.
 
Private vehicles entering from Delhi Gate and S P Mukherjee Marg will have to park in Parade Ground and Gandhi Maidan respectively and take the bus inside Chandni Chowk or walk inside. These vehicles will then exit from the Walled City via Town Hall, H C Sen or Church Mission Road and will take the motor lane.
 
The idea of using trams as a mode of transport in Chandni Chowk has been put on hold. Said Singh: ‘‘Special emphasis has been laid on pedestrian walkways. A space of 6 meters has been dedicated on both sides on the road for footpaths. The cost of re-laying of the main Chandni Chowk road along with other roads in the Walled City and carrying out ducting of service lines is Rs 45 crore approximately. We will build centralised plazas around Fatehpuri Masjid, Town Hall and Lajpat Rai Market which will serve as open public spaces.’’ There are plans of reviving water canals and other water bodies that once existed in Chandni Chowk.
 
The plans also includes streetscaping work and facade improvement of government buildings. Shopkeepers will be encouraged to restore the facades of their properties.
 
Said a resident of the area: ‘‘The idea of having a dedicated bus corridor in Chandni Chowk will lead to chaos. What will happen to other modes of public transport, such as cycle-rickshaws and autorickshaws? Not everyone wants to use the bus. By shrinking lane space for other vehicles you are just adding to traffic problems.’’
 
Roadmap for Walled City
According to the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan, there will be a dedicated bus corridor running from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid on one side of the central verge
  • Open-air buses, similar to the ones plying in Pragati Maidan, will ply on this stretch
  • Just like the BRT, there will be bus stops in the middle of the bus corridor
  • Special emphasis has been laid on pedestrain walkways
  • Private vehicles entering from Delhi Gate and S P Mukherjee Marg will have to be parked at Parade Ground and Gandhi Maidan. From there people can take a bus to go inside Chandni Chowk or walk
  • The vehicles exiting from the Walled City via Town Hall, H C Sen or Church Mission Road will have to take the motor lane
7 September 2009, Hindustan Times
Gandhi memorabilia to go under hammer

London: A bronze statue of a seated Buddhist deity presented by Mahatma Gandhi to his Irish friend Emma Harker will go on sale on Tuesday.
 
The 13-inch-high figure, possibly of the Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokitesvara, is estimated to sell for 3,000-5,000 pounds at Bonhams sale of Asian art.
 
The sale comes at a time when buyers are showing a renewed interest in Gandhi memorabilia. On July 14, three of Gandhi’s autographed letters sold for 4,750 pounds while a signed Khadi cloth which was said to have been woven by him fetched 2,125 pounds.
 
Emma went to India to stay with her daughter whose husband was in the civil services there. It was through that influential connection that she became close friends with senior politicians, particularly Sarojini Naidu who accompanied Gandhi in his famous Dandi salt march. AGENCIES
 
7 September 2009, Hindustan Times
Govt helpline fails to stem capital’s tree-felling spree

New Delhi: The government may be trying to extend its green cover in the city but the existing greens seem to be in trouble. Residents claim that despite the setting up of a tree helpline, no action is generally taken on complaints made. At times, even the complaint number is not given. Incidentally, the Delhi Tree Protection Act says that no trees can be cut or pruned without permission from the forest department of the Delhi government.
 
The idea behind tree helpline, which was set up by the Delhi government three years ago, was to involve citizens in protection of trees. However, residents claim that despite repeated complaints to the helpline to report ‘‘merciless’’ pruning of trees in the Rohini area, the forest department has not initiated any action. Upset by the inaction of the department, Sanjiv Kumar, a resident of sector 9, Rohini, says he’s even shot off a letter to the environment secretary. ‘‘Over the past few weeks, trees in the Rohini area have been pruned and even cut without the requisite permission. Repeated complaints to the tree helpline have not rescued the trees from their fate,’’ says Kumar.
 
Kumar, in fact, says that ‘‘hacking’’ of trees indiscriminately has been happening for some time now, with no response from the forest department. ‘‘Not only written complaints but even pictures of the felled trees have been provided. But no action taken,’’ adds the resident. Residents in the area allege that the unconcern shown by the local authorities has resulted in several trees falling in the recent storms. ‘‘The roots are left exposed during all the road digging and other civic works that happen here. We’ve called the tree helpline to register complaints but nothing has been done about the trees. As a result, even as small storm makes these trees topple over,’’ added Parul Chhabbra, a resident. Adds Kumar, ‘‘We’ve obviously no complaints about pruning. But this is killing the greens, and the tree helpline should be more accessible to residents.’’
 
Government authorities claim that the helpline has been registering calls, with no complaints coming in about complaint number not being provided. However, they do admit that lack of adequate manpower means that not all calls are attended immediately. ‘‘Permission for pruning and cutting trees has to be taken from us. But it is not possible for us to attend to every complaint that we receive. We don’t even have the required manpower,’’ said a senior forest department official.
 
7 September 2009, Hindustan Times
New hope for vulture conservation: About 300 sighted in Gurdaspur

Yesterday — September 5 — when zoos, aviaries, individuals and conservation organizations around the world were observing the first International Vulture Awareness Day through events and educational programmes on the ground and on the Net, conservationists in Punjab had an added reason to celebrate.
 
Unknown to many, there have been fresh sightings of the Indian White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in the Katlour wildlife sanctuary in Gurdaspur district over the past year, raising renewed hopes of saving these natural scavengers whose numbers have declined catastrophically in the past several years.
 
SS Bajwa, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Government of Punjab, one of the first to have spotted the vultures, estimates there are now around 300 of these birds in the sanctuary.
 
“There are two flocks of around 150 vultures each,” he told The Indian Express. “The flocks operate in a radius of roughly 100 km. I have been consistently bringing their presence to the notice of wildlife authorities. Around a year back, I even wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office, but there has been no response yet.”
 
The Indian White-rumped is listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network with a presence in over 160 countries. The White-rumped has broad wings and short tail feathers, and gets its name from the adult bird’s whitish back, rump and underwing coverts that contrast with its otherwise dark plumage.
 
Dr Vibhu Prakash of the 125-year-old Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) — the largest nature conservation research NGO in the Indian subcontinent — who heads the Vulture Care Centre in Pinjore, Haryana, said: “We have heard about some recent sightings of flocks of this bird in Punjab. This certainly is a very interesting phenomenon.”
 
Dr Prakash said: “The last ten years has witnessed a steep decline in the population of the White-rumped Vulture. From around 40,000 birds, their population has plummeted to 11,000 and as such they are today listed as ‘critically endangered’.”
 
Gunbir Singh, of the Punjab Chapter of the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF), said the Katlour area presents a suitable habitat for vulture populations.
 
“As compared to the rest of Punjab, Gurdaspur district has witnessed comparatively less environmental degradation,” Singh said. “The forest cover is largely intact and the river Ravi which flows through the region is not as polluted as the other rivers in Punjab, especially the Sutlej, which is the state’s biggest cesspool.”
 
BNHS’s Dr Prakash, however, cautioned against concluding that the sightings indicated a reversal of the trend of decline in vulture populations in India.

“Let us just say that this is a welcome opportunity. Now we have to ensure that these two flocks are taken care of. We will have to act fast.”
 
Last month, the Punjab government announced the setting up of a vulture conservation centre in Gurdaspur district. Government officials said the centre would function along the lines of vulture restaurants set up in other parts of the world, where clean animal carcasses are provided to the birds.
 
“Punjab has one of the largest cattle populations in the country. So there is a lot of food available for these birds. The decline in vulture population has been attributed largely to the use of diclofenac, a veterinary painkiller which farmers inject cattle with. The consumption of the carcasses of these animals causes visceral gout in vultures, leading to their death,” an official said
 
But more important is the need to save the ecosystem of the region, said Bajwa. “Three stone crushers have been recently installed on the Ravi riverbed. They are in the same area in which I saw the birds for the first time. There is no reason they would go there again,” he said. “Similarly, diclofenac has been banned by the Indian government, but it continues to be available at local chemists because of a lack of awareness.”
 
Barely a decade ago, six kinds of vultures were abundant in Punjab: the White-rumped, Slender-billed, Long-billed, Egyptian, Griffon and the King Vulture. “The effects of the decline in vulture population are everywhere to see,” Dr Prakash said. “Decaying carcasses lead to the spread of diseases. Stray dogs who consume this flesh end up becoming more ferocious.”
 
WWF’s Singh agrees: “There has been a worrying increase in the number of cases of street dogs mauling and even killing little children in Punjab in the last two years. There is also a direct correlation between the emergence of new viruses and the decline in vulture population.”

7 September 2009, Indian Express

Jama Masjid facelift approved

Decks have finally been cleared for the redevelopment of the historic Jama Masjid.
 
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that they have secured the requisite clearance from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Archeological Survey of India.
 
Work could not begin earlier due to the delay in getting the nod from these agencies. The court had approved all plans and estimated cost for the work, way back on Oct 6, 2006.
 
Apart from restoration and beautification of the 17th century Mughal monument, the restoration plan included constructing a huge basement-level mall in the forecourt of the mosque with provision for 3,000 shops and a three-level underground parking beneath it.
 
Much of that original plan has been done away with as both DUAC and ASI insisted on minimum intervention in the sensitive zone to preserve its historical glory.
 
According to sources, the DUAC has approved the overall plan based on the condition that MCD come back to them to get separate clearances for each component of the plan.
 
Several rounds of checks and modifications were necessitated as PIL petitioner lawyer Usha Kumar, representing the non-profit Heritage and Cultural Forum, argued that the MCD "was now only concerned about the surroundings and commercialization of the mosque while the main task entrusted to them was to restore the mughal monument.”
 
Another petitioner Varun Goswami had argued that there was already a plan approved by the court in October 2006.
 
"But the MCD came up with a drastically altered plan with 3,000 shops without the approval of the court which means it is completely illegal."

8 September 2009, Hindustan Times

Finally, Badarpur sites in focus

6 Monuments Surveyed Almost 15 Yrs After Notification
Almost 15 years after Delhi government notified six monuments — three kos minars and three gateways — in Badarpur following an HC order, Intach and the department of archaeology have for the first time conducted a survey of the sites. According to experts, a survey within 150sqm of a structure is essential before it is notified, but in an exception, this did not take place in the case of the Badarpur monuments.
 
‘‘The Badarpur monuments were notified in 1995 after a court case. At that time, Delhi Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was also passed by the LG. But during the notification of the six monuments, only a site plan was passed and a survey under Section 17 was not undertaken due to hostile conditions then,’’ said a source. Survey of monuments is essential to map out existing constructions and structures to ensure no encroachment takes place in future. A similar survey was carried out in an unprotected tomb to be notified by the government in Katwaria Sarai.
 
To date, 33 monuments have been notified by Delhi government as protected and will be awarded protection on the same lines as those under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). With the state government identifying 92 unprotected monuments to take under its umbrella, a proper survey and site planning of these structures is essential. ‘‘These monuments are mostly located in villages and many of them are badly encroached. To conduct the survey for the Badarpur monuments and tomb at Katwaria Sarai, we had to use police protection, otherwise locals turn very hostile,’’ said a senior official.
 
The department of archaeology, Delhi government, has prepared a list of 250 monuments to be conserved/ protected in a phased manner depending on resources and infrastructure under the provisions of The Delhi Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 2004. Out of these, 92 monuments have been selected for the first phase, including those falling on the route of Commonwealth Games 2010.
 
‘‘An attempt is being made to protect and conserve monuments in Delhi by signing an MoU with Intach. Since Delhi will host the Commonwealth Games in 2010, monuments are being spruced up,’’ said an official.

16 September 2009, Times City, Times of India

Waqf Board, govt dept spar over ownership of heritage sites

After weeks of sparring with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over the right to pray at protected monuments, the Delhi Waqf Board is now on the warpath with the Department of Archaeology over heritage structures.
 
The Department of Archaeology has begun a notification process of monuments that will ultimately give the ‘protected status’ to 92 heritage structures. But the Waqf Board has sent in objections, claiming that some of these structures belong to the Board.
 
In the first phase, the Department covered 14 monuments but the Board claimed 10 of them as its property. They include the Tomb of Muhammad Quli Khan, Baghichi Ki Masjid, Chaumachi Khan’s Tomb and seven others in Mehrauli.
 
Chairman of the Board Mateen Ahmed said: “Ten of these monuments were transferred to us in 1970. Prayers are offered regularly at these structures. If the Department takes over, such activities will be prohibited.”
 
“Why should we part with our property?” Ahmed asked, adding, “But if the Department wants to conserve them, they are free to do so.”
 
Thirteen monuments in the second phase have been notified and the last day to file objections is October 11.
 
Members of the Waqf Board said objections are likely, though they are yet to ascertain which structures in the second list belong to them.

On the other hand, government officials are not worried at the rush of objections from the Waqf Board.
 
Additional Secretary (Art, Culture and Language) and Director, Department of Archaeology, Keshav Chandra said: “These monuments are significant heritage structures. They need the protection of the Department for conservation and maintenance. The necessary judicial proceedings will be carried out on the objections.”
 
The Delhi Wakf Board owns 1,977 properties in the city. Many have run into controversy over the years. While members claim some protected monuments under the ASI — but owned by the Board — can be used for prayers, the ASI is now strict about restricting entry to these monuments. They have even sought the help of the police to keep people out.
 
“Structures where prayers were being offered when the ASI took them over have been given the status of living monuments. At present, there are 12 living monuments under the ASI. No new monument will be opened for religious activities,” said K K Mohammad, superintending archaeologist, Delhi circle, ASI.

17 September 2009, Indian Express

Jama Masjid’s makeover gets final nod

The last hurdle in the redevelopment of the historic Jama Masjid was cleared on Wednesday. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) standing committee cleared the redevelopment plan for the 17th century-mosque.

The highlight of the plan - which adopts the 'minimum intervention' idea - is that, once completed, there would be a clear, barrier-free visual field between the Jama Masjid precinct and the Red Fort, a World Heritage Site, across the road.

Architect Pradeep Sachdeva made a presentation during the meeting of the standing committee.

As per the plan, all shops in the Meena Bazar in Red Fort would be re-located to the north, i.e., at the Parade ground side and would be single-level, retaining the same cover area.

On the same lines, shops in front of the Dargah - which actually block the visual field between Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, would be remodeled at the same place to single ground-level shops as against the present two or three storeys.

There would be bus alighting bay for tourists on the Subhash Marg at the southeastern side of the whole complex. The ASI conditions included that the overall re-development should be in sync with the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Red Fort.

Deputy Commissioner City Zone Vijay Singh said, "The most important is the clearance of visual field between the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort."

The civic body had earlier faced lot of flak for its original plan, which mentioned of underground parking and heritage malls.

All this has now been done away with, only after which the MCD was given a go ahead by the Delhi Urban Arts Commission. Two weeks ago, the plan was submitted the Delhi High Court, which too cleared it.

The only thing that the MCD is not very sure about is parking for the busloads of tourists. Sources said, the civic body will possibly go ahead with an underground multi-level parking for 1,500 vehicles at the Parade ground.

24 September 2009, Hindustan Times

Monumental neglect - Garbage knocking on heritage's door

WASTELAND 21st century upends its pail in the backyard of a 14th century mosque and overruns the quiet majesty of south Delhi's longest fort
Nestled between the plush south Delhi neighbourhood of Sarvapriya Vihar and the urban village of Begumpur, Begumpur Mosque is an example of how the present usurps the past.
A walk through the sunlit compound, with broken domes topping the elegant, square gallery is something of a transporting experience...till you run into an iron gate to a verandah.
Heaped on the other side is a pile of stinking garbage.
Residents of the area treat the large verandah of the mosque as their personalized recreation spot, or worse, dumping ground.
Locals laze around on a sunny winter morning, fly kites and calmly upend their garbage bins in the courtyard of this 14th century heritage monument.

BELEAGUERED FORT
Not far from the Begumpur Mosque is one of Delhi's most picturesque citadels: the qila of Tughlaq, better known as the Tughlaqabad fort.

Like the Begumpur mosque, the wall of the fort--that runs along the Mehrauli-Badarpur road in south Delhi--possesses an evocative beauty.

But a different story unfolds inside.

This early 14th century citadel, built by Tughlaq dynasty founder Ghias Ud Din Tughlaq is one of the worst encroached monuments in the Capital. Three roads hack the compound into separate portions. A mini-settlement has mushroomed in each area.

The extent of the encroachment can be imagined by the fact that inside one portion, more than 100 bighas are categorized as lal dora land, on which construction is not allowed.

"Another 2,500 plus bighas of land is crowded by unauthorized houses," say sources. Although, a city existed inside its premises when the fort was built, the present encroachment is a gift of the late 20th century.

"When Jagmohan was the Minister (of Culture), he ensured much of the encroachment was removed in 2001-02. However, nothing has been done after that," ASI sources said.

When questioned about the encroachment, ASI chief K.K. Mohammad said: "Yes, we are aware of the problem and are coordinating with agencies for removal of encroachment."

In April 2005, the Delhi High Court asked the state to appoint a committee to look into encroachment at heritage monsites. "Many committees have been formed over the years. But to no avail," rued A G K Menon, Delhi Chapter convenor of INTACH, a non-profit body.

24 September 2009, Hindustan Times

Sign akin to Indus Valley’s found in Kerala
MALAPPURAM: A rock engraving, similar to a sign of the Indus Valley Civilisation, has been found at Edakkal in Wayanad district of Kerala. A recent exploration at the Edakkal Caves revealed a picture of a man with a jar, a unique sign of the Indus civilisation.

Tangible evidence
Engraved supposedly with a stone-axe in linear style, the sign has proven itself to be a tangible evidence to link it to the Indus culture. It was the first time that an Indus sign is discovered in Kerala.

“But we do not claim that the Indus people reached Wayanad; nor do we argue that Edakkal was a continuity of the Indus civilisation,” said historian M.R. Raghava Varier, who identified the sign during the exploration in August.

He said, “What is striking in the Edakkal sign is the presence of an Indus motif, which has been rare and interesting.”

Man-with-the-jar has been a recurring motif of the Indus Valley signs. Though it uses the Indus motif, the Edakkal engraving has retained its unique style. With linear strokes, the engraver has tried to attain a two-dimensional human figure.

“The ‘jar’ is the same as in Indus ‘ligature.’ But the human figure is slightly different. This is where the influence of the Edakkal style predominates,” said Dr. Varier.

Unique
Though rock art sites are plenty in different continents, the rock engravings at the Edakkal Caves are unique in the world. The Indus Civilisation has been dated between 2,300 BC and 1,700 BC. The Edakkal culture, however, is yet to be identified with any particular time.
Historians say Edakkal represents quite a long period. The figures of ritualistic nature found at Edakkal represent different stages of human development, both historic and pre-historic. “But this one is definitely pre-historic,” Dr. Varier said.

26 September 2009, Hindu

Row over building near Nizamuddin sites
New Delhi: Residents of Nizamuddin basti are up in arms against an unauthorized multi-storey building that is coming up near the dargah. Despite several complaints to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), residents claimed construction work was going on in fullswing at the building. They said recently work on the third storey was completed.

The building falls within 100m of two centrally-protected monuments — Chausath Khamba and Atgah Khan’s tomb — and thus, lies in a prohibited zone. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1954, no construction work is allowed within 100m of a protected site. The construction work also does not have any sanction from the MCD, residents said.

‘‘Despite complaints to the concerned authorities and the police, no action has been taken so far and unauthorized work is still going on. They (the building occupants) have erected projections towards the graveyard and have opened a door illegally,’’ said Syed Kamal Nizami, a resident who lives nearby.

Residents said most of the work was undertaken in night and though, an emergency call was made to PCR at 2:45am on September 7, work was discontinued for merely 20 minutes and then re-started again. ‘‘We have seen the speed at which the work is being completed in the building. Within a year, all three-storeys have come up and no authority has intervened,’’ said Nizami.

The matter was also taken to a Patiala House court. Last month the trial court directed MCD to file a status report on the alleged construction. Next date of hearing in the case is October 10. Residents have also filed an RTI with MCD, inquiring into the nature of the unauthorized construction and the action, if any, that MCD has initiated against the people carrying out the construction. A reply to the RTI plea is expected within the next few weeks.

ASI Delhi circle chief K K Mohammed said the construction was very much in a prohibited zone and in violation of their guidelines. ‘‘We have issued a notice to the persons concerned and also sent a copy of the complaint to the police and the MCD,’’ he said.

ASI officials said action in this matter has to be taken by MCD and that they have already written to the civic agency regarding this. MCD deputy commissioner (city zone) Vijay Singh said: ‘‘we have issued a showcause notice to the occupants of the building. No further construction work will be permitted. The premises will also be sealed in the next few days after which we will book the building and give demolition orders for the illegal construction.’’ Locals in the area also said sub-standard material was being used in the construction and it could cause harm to those who live near the under-construction structure or to tourists visiting the shrine of Nizamuddin Aulia.

28 September 2009, Times of India

Vulture flock sighting in Lahaul offers hope
Chandigarh: At a time when the vulture population has all but disappeared — 99% of India’s four crore vultures have died in the last three decades — the sighting of around 200 bearded vultures in Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, comes as a ray of hope for wildlife enthusiasts.

These vultures are spread around the rocky mountains of the cold desert area that includes some parts of China.

Indian vultures have all but vanished because of feeding on dead livestock that were administered a drug called diclofenac that increased the working life of cattle by reducing joint pain.

The Lammergeiers or bearded vultures breed in crags in high mountains, laying one or two eggs in mid-winter that hatch at the beginning of spring. The population is resident. In Himachal Pradesh, their population is found in the Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts bordering China.

State chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sanjeeva Pandey said there is a larger presence of bearded vultures in higher areas because people here do not feed diclofenac to their cattle. The bearded vulture helps keep the environment clean, he added.

Back From The Brink?

Almost 99% of India’s 4 crore vultures have died in the past three decades.
Near-extinction blamed on anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac given to cattle that led to high mortality among vultures feeding on the carcasses, India banned production and sale of diclofenac in 2006.

Bearded vultures make Rohtang Pass home

Chandigarh: Forest officials from Lahaul-Spiti said that higher reaches of Rohtang and Kunzams passes have become home to bearded vultures, while vultures from China are found in Lidong, Demul, Koumik, Kibber and Hikkim of Spiti valley.

The spotting of bearded vultures in such large number has raised visions of saving the majestic bird at least in Himachal Pradesh that saw the tragic disappearance of White Back vulture and King vulture from the lower parts of the state. Scientists at G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Mohali, said the presence of vulture colony in the Western Himalayas is very encouraging. ‘‘A proper survey should be conducted to make plans for their breeding and conservation,’’ he said.

Pandey said that during a recent visit to Kibber village in Spiti, he came across a small colony of bearded vultures. ‘‘While the dwindling vulture population in lower parts of Himachal is a cause of concern, their presence in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti gives us hope,’’ he said.

The state wildlife department is planning to start a conservation and breeding programme with the help of Bombay Natural History Society for breeding vultures in lower Himachal Pradesh.

29 September 2009, Times of India

Buried Siri Fort wall may hold secrets, ASI plans excavation
New Delhi: Delhi will have a new tourist destination in a few months. For visitors to get a better understanding of the second city of Delhi, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is for the first time planning to excavate all buried portions of the 14th century Siri Fort wall.

According to a top ASI official, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has agreed to sanction Rs 8 crore to expose buried portions of the historical wall. ‘‘Up to 3-km of the wall is still underground. We’re planning to excavate it for the first time. Half the length of the wall is on DDA land and only 1.5-km is with ASI. Of the portion that lies with ASI, all but 200m of the wall is exposed and conserved by us,’’ said a senior official.

The plan is to conserve the wall located on both sides of the road leading to Shahpur Jat. ‘‘Ideally, we want to expose the entire circle of Siri Fort wall — the way Qila Rai Pithora was done some years ago. DDA is looking to develop it as a green area that can serve as a tourist destination,’’ said the official. Currently, the underground portions of Siri Fort wall are not accessible to the public. The structure is hidden by dense vegetation.

ASI is also hoping to rediscover the site’s history during excavation. Officials said there were chances of unearthing forgotten artefacts like glazed pottery or vessels. The skeletal remains of Mongol warriors can be discovered in the fortification wall and officials are hoping to make a discovery that will shed new light on the era of Alauddin Khilji.

"In historical references, the second city of Delhi — Siri — derives its name from the Hindi word ‘sar’ meaning head — as about 8,000 heads of Mongol soldiers were buried in the city’s walls. Most of the wall is still buried and we are working on excavating the lower part. We hope to find more evidence of the Khilji dynasty and might also find skeletal remains of Mongol soldiers buried inside the fortification wall,’’ said a senior ASI official.

While experts admit most of the evidence might have been in the higher part of the wall which is already exposed, there is a good chance of coming across unexplored treasures in the buried parts. ‘‘Many archaeologists are working on the complex. If nothing is found during the conservation work, it will be negative evidence,” added the official. Historians say there are chances of coming across glazed or kagaazi pottery, non-glazed ware and vessels in this heritage-rich zone.

Earlier, ASI managed to trace the pattern of the exposed fortification wall and assessed it was on the lines of Qila Rai Pithora and Lal Kot, which are of earlier periods. ‘‘It was a tradition with all rulers to set up their own cities in Delhi. When the city of Siri was set up in the early 14th century, it received visitors from faraway places. Our aim is to expose these buried cities and make them accessible for the public,’’ said a senior ASI official. The excavation has yielded new discoveries for ASI in the form of gates, bastions and rampart walls. Earlier, only two out of the existing seven gateways could be traced in the debris. According to historians, there could be a buried palace complex within the Siri wall ruins.

Siri — the second city of Delhi — was built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 AD. Few remains of the city can be seen in the Siri Fort complex near Asian Games Village area. High rubble-built walls in stretches in the southern and western direction, some bastions and flame-shaped battlements is all that is left of the strong fortress city which compelled ferocious fighters like the Mongols to accept defeat.

29 September 2009, Times City, Times of India