Culture: October 2021 Current Affairs - UPSC PDF Download

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Related News 
• Kallakurichi wood carvings from Tamil Nadu also received the 
geographical indication (GI) tag. 
• Kallakurichi wood carvings are specialised in carving temple-related 
items and also furniture, using traditional designs. 
• Other GI tags from Tamil Nadu include the Kanyakumari cloves, 
Dindigul locks, Mahabalipuram stone sculpture, Nilgiri (orthodox) tea, 
Virupakshi hill banana, Thanjavur doll, Thanjavur paintings, Coimbatore 
wet grinder, Kancheepuram silk and saree. 
About GI Tag 
• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin 
and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.  
• A geographical indication right enables those who have the right to 
use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product 
does not conform to the applicable standards. 
• Under Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, GIs 
are covered as an element of Intellectual property Rights. 
• They are also covered under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. 
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted 
the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) 
Act, 1999. 
• Tag is valid for 10 years only and it can be renewed from time to time 
for a period of 10 years each. 
Other Block printing art in India  
• Gujarat: Ajrakh Print 
• Rajasthan: Sanganeri, Ajrakh, Dabu 
• Madhya Pradesh: Bagh Print, Bherogarh Print (Batik). 
• Calcutta, Serampur (West Bengal), Varanasi and Farrukabad (Uttar 
Pradesh) are also important centres of block printing in India. 
Other folk arts depicting epic based mythology 
• Lepakshi Paintings: Andhra Pradesh 
• Mewar School of Painting: Rajasthan 
• Amber-Jaipur School of Painting: Rajasthan 
• Madhubani Paintings: Mithila region of India and Nepal 
• Kathakali: Kerala 
• Dalkhai Dance: Odisha 
• Pavakoothu: Kerala 
• Nayaka paintings: Madurai and Tanjavur 
8. CULTURE 
8.1. KALAMKARI PAINTINGS 
Why in News? 
Karuppur kalamkari paintings from Tamil 
Nadu recently received the geographical 
indication (GI) tag. 
More about News 
• Tamil Nadu, kalamkari paintings are done 
on pure cotton cloth, predominantly 
used in temples for umbrella covers, 
cylindrical hangings, chariot covers and 
asmanagiri (false ceiling cloth pieces) 
• Kalamkari paintings are done in Karuppur 
and its surrounding villages in the 
Udayarpalayam taluk in Ariyalur district, 
and in and around Sickhanayakanpatti 
and Thirupanandal in Thiruvidaimaruthur 
taluk, Thanjavur district. 
About Kalamkari Painting  
• It is a type of hand-painted or 
blockprinted cotton textile produced in parts of India for 
hanging on walls.  
• Kalamkari literally means, Kalam - pen & kari - work, i.e., art 
work done using a pen.  
• It is done on cotton or silk fabric with a tamarind pen using 
natural dyes.  
• This colourful art dates back to more than 3000 B.C.  
• The traditional style of Kalamkari flourished in Kalahasti 
(north of Chennai) and Masulipatnam (east of Hyderabad).  
• The paintings at that time used to depict Hindu Deities and 
scenes from Hindu mythology.  
• This art was patronised by the Mughals particularly in 
Golconda.  
• Mostly natural dyes are used in 
Kalamkari, which involves twenty-three 
steps. 
Distinctive styles of Kalamkari art in India: 
• Srikalahasti style:  
o It flourished around temples with 
Hindu patronage, thus has an almost 
religious identity. 
o Here the kalam or pen is used for 
freehand drawing of the subject, 
and filling in the colours is entirely 
done by hand.  
Page 2


 
96                                                                                                                                                                       
Related News 
• Kallakurichi wood carvings from Tamil Nadu also received the 
geographical indication (GI) tag. 
• Kallakurichi wood carvings are specialised in carving temple-related 
items and also furniture, using traditional designs. 
• Other GI tags from Tamil Nadu include the Kanyakumari cloves, 
Dindigul locks, Mahabalipuram stone sculpture, Nilgiri (orthodox) tea, 
Virupakshi hill banana, Thanjavur doll, Thanjavur paintings, Coimbatore 
wet grinder, Kancheepuram silk and saree. 
About GI Tag 
• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin 
and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.  
• A geographical indication right enables those who have the right to 
use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product 
does not conform to the applicable standards. 
• Under Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, GIs 
are covered as an element of Intellectual property Rights. 
• They are also covered under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. 
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted 
the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) 
Act, 1999. 
• Tag is valid for 10 years only and it can be renewed from time to time 
for a period of 10 years each. 
Other Block printing art in India  
• Gujarat: Ajrakh Print 
• Rajasthan: Sanganeri, Ajrakh, Dabu 
• Madhya Pradesh: Bagh Print, Bherogarh Print (Batik). 
• Calcutta, Serampur (West Bengal), Varanasi and Farrukabad (Uttar 
Pradesh) are also important centres of block printing in India. 
Other folk arts depicting epic based mythology 
• Lepakshi Paintings: Andhra Pradesh 
• Mewar School of Painting: Rajasthan 
• Amber-Jaipur School of Painting: Rajasthan 
• Madhubani Paintings: Mithila region of India and Nepal 
• Kathakali: Kerala 
• Dalkhai Dance: Odisha 
• Pavakoothu: Kerala 
• Nayaka paintings: Madurai and Tanjavur 
8. CULTURE 
8.1. KALAMKARI PAINTINGS 
Why in News? 
Karuppur kalamkari paintings from Tamil 
Nadu recently received the geographical 
indication (GI) tag. 
More about News 
• Tamil Nadu, kalamkari paintings are done 
on pure cotton cloth, predominantly 
used in temples for umbrella covers, 
cylindrical hangings, chariot covers and 
asmanagiri (false ceiling cloth pieces) 
• Kalamkari paintings are done in Karuppur 
and its surrounding villages in the 
Udayarpalayam taluk in Ariyalur district, 
and in and around Sickhanayakanpatti 
and Thirupanandal in Thiruvidaimaruthur 
taluk, Thanjavur district. 
About Kalamkari Painting  
• It is a type of hand-painted or 
blockprinted cotton textile produced in parts of India for 
hanging on walls.  
• Kalamkari literally means, Kalam - pen & kari - work, i.e., art 
work done using a pen.  
• It is done on cotton or silk fabric with a tamarind pen using 
natural dyes.  
• This colourful art dates back to more than 3000 B.C.  
• The traditional style of Kalamkari flourished in Kalahasti 
(north of Chennai) and Masulipatnam (east of Hyderabad).  
• The paintings at that time used to depict Hindu Deities and 
scenes from Hindu mythology.  
• This art was patronised by the Mughals particularly in 
Golconda.  
• Mostly natural dyes are used in 
Kalamkari, which involves twenty-three 
steps. 
Distinctive styles of Kalamkari art in India: 
• Srikalahasti style:  
o It flourished around temples with 
Hindu patronage, thus has an almost 
religious identity. 
o Here the kalam or pen is used for 
freehand drawing of the subject, 
and filling in the colours is entirely 
done by hand.  
 
97                                                                                                                                                                       
 
o The themes and deities are drawn from great epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and other 
mythological classics.  
o These are depicted on scrolls, temple hangings and chariot banners. 
• Machilipatnam style:  
o Pedana Kalamkari also known as Machilipatnam style involves vegetable dyed block-painting of a fabric.  
o It is influenced by Persian art.  
o The motifs used are trees, flowers and leaf designs are printed using blocks. 
8.2. NEWS IN SHORTS 
8.2.1. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2021 
• Awarded to: Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. 
• Contribution: For their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting 
peace." 
o In 2012, Ressa co-founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism. Ressa has focussed on 
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial “war on drug” campaign that has claimed thousands of lives.  
o Russian journalist Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov co-founded the newspaper Novaja Gazeta. Murato has for decades 
defended freedom of speech in Russia under “increasingly challenging conditions.” 
8.2.2. NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2021 
• Awarded to: Tanzanian writer Abdulrazak Gurnah 
• Contribution: For work that explores uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and 
the fate of the refugees in the gulf between cultures and continents. 
8.2.3. NIHANGS 
• Nihang is an order of Sikh warriors, characterised by blue robes, antiquated arms such as swords and spears, and 
decorated turbans surmounted by steel quoits.  
• The order can be traced back to the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh (10th Sikh Guru) in 1699. 
• The term ‘Nihang’ signifies the characteristic qualities of the clan — their freedom from fear of danger or death, 
readiness for action and non-attachment to worldly possessions.  
• Nihangs are today divided into several groups, loosely organised into two “dals” (forces) — Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal, 
names initially given to the two sections into which the ‘Khalsa’ army was divided in 1733. 
• Nihangs had a major role in defending the Sikh panth after the fall of the first Sikh rule (1710-15), and during the 
onslaught of Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani (1748-67). 
• Gatka (martial arts in Punjab) is performed by Nihangs.