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UNESCO's list of iconic Indian textiles

Why in news:

• UNESCO has recently published a report titled Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile, which features a list of 50 unique and symbolic textile crafts of India that hold heritage value.

UNESCO's Report on Indian Textile Crafts

Overview:

• UNESCO recently released a report titled "Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile," which lists 50 exclusive and iconic heritage textile crafts of India.

Textile Crafts:

• The report describes the histories, processes, causes for dwindling popularity, and preservation strategies for various iconic handcrafted textiles, including:
  • Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka
  • Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Thanjavur
  • Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu
  • Himroo weaves from Hyderabad
  • Bandha tie and dye weaving from Sambalpur in Odisha
  • Khes from Panipat
  • Chamba rumals from Himachal Pradesh
  • Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh
  • Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi
  • Kunbi weaves from Goa
  • Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat
  • Garad-Koirial from West Bengal

Significance:

• The textile crafts hold significant cultural heritage for India and have been admired by the world for centuries. The report emphasizes the need to promote these heritage crafts as contemporary treasures and provides recommendations for their protection and revitalization.

Challenges:

• According to UNESCO, lack of proper inventory and documentation is a significant challenge to safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in South Asia. Currently, no Indian textile practices are included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and an inscription in the list would provide recognition to the country's weaving traditions.

ASI finds Buddhist Caves in Bandhavgarh Forests

Why in News:

• The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has been found to contain Buddhist caves and stupas by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

What are the Findings?

Buddhist Caves:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered 26 Buddhist Caves at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, dating back to the 2nd and 5th centuries.
• The caves belonged to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
• The caves had 'Chaitya' doors and stone beds, typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.

Inscriptions in Brahmi text:

• ASI also found 24 inscriptions in Brahmi text, dating back to the 2nd-5th centuries.
• The inscriptions mention various sites such as Mathura, Kaushambi, Pavata, Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa.
• They also mention kings such as Bhimsena, Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.

Remains of Temples:

• The ASI found remains of 26 temples dating to the Kalachuri period between the 9th-11th centuries.
• Possibly the world’s largest Varaha sculpture, dating back to the same period, was also discovered.
• The Kalachuri dynasty is associated with the earliest Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments.
• Two Saiva mutts were also discovered.

Remains of the Gupta Period:

• Some remains of the Gupta period were found, including door jambs and carvings in caves.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

(i) Notification and Declaration: The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was declared as a national park in 1968 and as a tiger reserve in 1993 under the Project Tiger Network.
(ii) Historical Significance: The reserve is mentioned in ancient books such as the Narad Pancharatra and Shiv Purana and is associated with Ramayana. The Bandhavgarh Fort is a great masterpiece of “Treta Yuga” and was ruled by major dynasties such as the Sengars, Kalchuris, and Baghels.
(iii) Geographical Aspect: The reserve is located on the northeastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpura mountain ranges.
(iv) Climate and Streams: The reserve has a tropical monsoon climate and is filled with more than 20 streams, with some of the most important ones being Johilla, Janadh, Charanganga, Damnar, Banbei, Ambanala, and Andhiyari Jhiria, which merge into the Son river.
(v) Biodiversity: The reserve has a large number of tigers in the core zone, as well as more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Some of the notable species include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Leopard, Tiger, Wild Pigs, Nilgai, Chinkara, and Gaur.

Archaeological Survey of India

(i) About: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an organization under the Ministry of Culture that carries out archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
(ii) Responsibilities: The ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national importance. Its activities include carrying out surveys of antiquarian remains, exploration and excavation of archaeological sites, conservation, and maintenance of protected monuments.
(iii) Founding: The ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham, who is also known as the "Father of Indian Archaeology".

Return of Nizam’s Sword

Why in news:

• A ceremonial sword from the 14th century is going to be returned to India.
• The sword was sold to a British General in the early 20th century in Hyderabad.
• Glasgow Life, the entity in charge of Glasgow's museums, will repatriate the sword along with six other objects.
• The sword is one of the objects that have been identified as looted and sold during the colonial era.

What do we Need to Know about the Sword?

History of the Sword:

• The sword was displayed by Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, Nizam of Hyderabad, at the 1903 Delhi Durbar.
• The sword was bought in 1905 by General Sir Archibald Hunter, Commander-in-Chief, Bombay Command, from the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur Yamin us-Sultanat.
• The sword was donated to Glasgow Life museums’ collections in 1978 by Mr. Archibald Hunter Service, the nephew of Sir Hunter.

Features of the Sword:

• The sword is shaped like a snake and has serrated edges.
• It has a damascene pattern and is adorned with gold etchings of an elephant and tigers.

Other Indian Objects in Glasgow:

• Six of the seven objects being repatriated are 14th-century carvings and 11th-century stone door jams.
• These objects were stolen from shrines and temples in the 19th century.

Modhera Sun Temple

Context: 

• The Sun temple, constructed during the Chalukya dynasty and considered of great historical significance, was recently the subject of a 3D light and sound demonstration attended by the Prime Minister of India.

Introduction to Sun Temple at Modhera

• Built during Solanki dynasty, protected by Archaeological Survey of India
• Divided into three components: Gudhamandapa, Sabhamandapa, Kunda
• Built in Maru-Gurjara style to commemorate defense of Modhera by Bhima I
• Jewels in art of masonry of Solanki period

Modheshwari Mata Temple

• Located near ruins of Sun Temple, has original place of worship below step-well
• Famous amongst Modh clan of Gujarat
• Goddess Modheshwari believed to be a form of Parvati, has 18 arms with weapons to protect clan from danger

Evolution of Coinage System in India

Why in News:

• Recently, Delhi government requested Prime Minister of India for printing images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on new currency notes
• India has a longstanding tradition of using images of gods and goddesses on coinage
• The Kushans, who ruled until the 3rd century AD, were the first to use the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins.

A Brief History of Coinage in India

Punch Marked Coins:

• Considered as the first documented coinage in India, dating back to the 7th-6th century BC and 1st century AD.
• Made of silver and punched with separate symbols using a punch.
• Broadly classified into two periods: Janapadas or small local states, and Imperial Mauryan period.
• Motifs featured on the coins were mostly from nature, such as the sun, animals, trees, and hills.

Dynastic Coins:

• Refers to the coins issued by various dynasties in India.
• Earliest coins were issued by Indo-Greeks, Saka-Pahlavas, and Kushans between the 2nd century BC and 2nd century AD.

Indo-Greeks Coins:

• Silver coins featuring Greek gods and goddesses, apart from the portraits of the issuers.

Saka Coins:

• Coinage of the Western Kshatrapas, dated using the Saka era which begins in AD 78.

Kushan Coins:

• Depicted Oesho (Shiva), moon deity Miro, and Buddha.
• Earliest Kushan coinage is attributed to Vima Kadphises.
• Depicted iconographic forms from Greek, Mesopotamian, Zoroastrian, and Indian mythology.

Satavahana Coins

• Dates of their reign are contentious, varying from 270 BC to 30 BC.
• Coins were made of copper, lead, and silver.
• Featured motifs of fauna, such as elephants, lions, bulls, horses, and natural elements like hills and trees.
• Silver coins featured bilingual legends and portraits, inspired by Kshatrapa types.

Gupta Coinage:

• Gupta coins were issued during the 4th to 6th centuries AD.
• They followed the tradition of Kushans and featured the king on the obverse and a deity on the reverse.
• The deities depicted were Indian, and the legends were written in Brahmi script.
• The earliest Gupta coins are attributed to Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, and Kumaragupta.
• Gupta coins often commemorated dynastic succession and significant socio-political events.
• Examples of such events include marriage alliances, the horse sacrifice, and artistic and personal accomplishments of royal members (Lyrist, Archer, Lion-slayer, etc.).

South Indian Coinage

Cheras:

• Cheras, Cholas and Alupas of Udupi are significant contributors to the South Indian coinage.
• The Cheras are believed to have ruled from the Sangam period to the 12th century AD.
• Chera coins were predominantly of copper, featuring legends in Tamil-Brahmi script and carried the image of the bow, fish and tiger.

Chola:

• The Chola dynasty is renowned for its naval conquests and exquisite temple architecture.
• The Chola coins were predominantly made of copper, gold and silver.
• The coins featured the Chola tiger emblem, royal portraits, along with symbols from Hindu mythology like the bull, the lotus, the conch, and the bow.

Alupas of Udupi:

• The Alupas of Udupi were a dynasty of the Tulu region.
• The Alupa coins are predominantly made of copper and gold, featuring depictions of lions, bulls, and goddesses like Durga and Saraswati.

Foreign Coins

British Coins:

• Coins minted by the British East India Company in Madras Presidency
• Labelled as the Three Swamy Pagoda
• Features Lord Balaji, Sridevi and Bhudevi

Other Coins:

• Ancient India had extensive trade links with Middle East, Greece, Rome, and China
• Trade conducted over land and sea
• Silk route was one of the main land trade routes
• South India had a thriving maritime trade
• Roman coins circulated in their original form in South India
• Sometimes defaced to indicate non-acceptance as a symbol of foreign rule.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: The Man of Peace

• About:
  Lal Bahadur Shastri, who served as the second Prime Minister of India, was well-known for his honesty and humility.
• Shastri Ji was a prominent statesman who led India during some challenging times.
• He was a down-to-earth personality and served the country in various roles throughout his career.
• Shastri played a crucial role in promoting the White Revolution and Green Revolution in India.
• During his tenure, India fought the India-Pakistan War of 1965, and Shastri gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ which became very popular.

The Early Life of Lal Bahadur Shastri

Birth and Family:

• Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2nd October 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.
• He was born to Sharada Prasad Srivastava and Ramdulari Devi.

Education:

• Shastri's early education was in Urdu at East Central Railway Inter College, Mughalsarai till the sixth class.
• He moved to Harish Chandra High School, Varanasi for further studies.
• In 1925, he completed his studies with a first-class degree in philosophy and ethics from The Kashi Vidyapeeth.
• He was given the title of 'Shastri' (scholar) after completing his bachelor's degree.
• In 1928, he married Lalita Devi, and the couple had four sons and two daughters.

Lal Bahadur Shastri's Foray into the Freedom Movement:

• His high school teacher Nishkameshawar Mishra’s patriotism inspired Shastriji to take an interest in the freedom struggle.
• In 1921, he started attending public meetings in Benares hosted by Gandhiji and Madan Mohan Malviya while in 10th.
• Shastri withdrew from Harish Chandra High School to join the Non-Cooperation Movement inspired by Gandhiji's call for students to withdraw from government schools.
• He joined the local branch of the congress party as a volunteer and actively took part in picketing and anti-government demonstrations.
• He was arrested and jailed but was let go as he was still a minor.
• He later became a life member of the Lok Seva Mandal (The Servants Of The People Society) founded by Lala Lajpat Rai and began to work for the betterment of Harijans at Muzaffarpur.
• He later became the President of the society.

Lal Bahadur Shastri's Political Path

Early Political Life:

• Joined Indian National Congress in 1928 on the advice of Gandhi
• Appointed as Secretary of Allahabad District Congress Committee in 1929
• Became General Secretary of UP Pradeshik Congress Committee (PCC) in 1935
• Elected to UP Legislative Assembly in 1937, served as organizing secretary of the parliamentary board of UP

Political Journey Post-Independence:

• Appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in Uttar Pradesh in 1947
• Became Minister of Police and Transport in 1947 under Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant
• Won the UP Vidhansabha seat from Saraon North and Phulpur West in 1952
• Called by Nehru to the centre as Minister of Railways and Transport in the first cabinet of the Republic of India in 1952
• Resigned in 1956 after railway accidents in Tamil Nadu that killed 144 people
• Called back as Minister of Commerce And Industry in 1959
• Made the Minister of Home Affairs in 1961.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: Prime Minister of India (1964-1966)

Prime Minister of India:

• Lal Bahadur Shastri became the second Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru's death in May 1964.
• He was sworn in under President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.
• Initially, he handled the portfolios of external affairs and atomic energy but later transferred external affairs to Swaran Singh.
• Shastri retained the main ministers of the Nehru cabinet and also included Indira Gandhi as the minister of information and broadcasting.

Contributions during his tenure:

• Shastri established the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand and supported the Amul Milk Cooperative of Gujarat, which became the White Revolution of India.
• He started the Green Revolution to fight the growing food crisis in the country.
• In January 1965, Shastri set up the Agricultural Prices Commission (APC), Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Seeds Corporation, and Central Warehousing Corporation to support the Green Revolution.

Foreign Relations of India during Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Tenure

Lal Bahadur Shastri's term as Prime Minister of India witnessed several significant events in foreign relations, including the Indo-Ceylon Agreement, the Burmese deportation of Indian families, and the Indo-Pak War of 1965.

Indo-Ceylon Agreement/Bandaranaike-Shastri Pact:

• In 1964, the Prime Ministers of India and Ceylon signed an agreement that determined the status and future of people of Indian origin in Ceylon.
• The agreement was crucial for the descendants of tea estate laborers who were taken to Ceylon by the British.

Burma:

• Following the military coup of 1962, Burma deported several Indian families in 1964, causing strain in relations between India and Burma.
• Shastriji visited Rangoon in 1965, which helped restore cordial relations between the two countries.

Indo-Pak War of 1965

• The war was also called the Second Kashmir War, resulting from various skirmishes between India and Pakistan in 1965.
• Pakistan initiated Operation Gibraltar to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the outbreak of hostilities.
• Although a firm follower of Gandhiji’s principle of non-violence, Shastriji led India during the war.
• The slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" was coined by him, paying tribute to the soldiers at the border and farmers fighting the food crisis.
• The hostilities ended with the declaration of a ceasefire through UNSC resolution 211 following diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States, leading to the Tashkent Declaration.

Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri

• Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away on January 11, 1966, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, one day after signing the peace treaty to end the 1965 war.
• The official reason for his death is given as a heart attack, but there are many controversies surrounding his death.
• The Raj Narain committee was constituted in 1977 to investigate the mysterious death of Shastriji by the Janata Party government.
• The committee's investigation was also riddled with mysterious happenings as two crucial witnesses were killed in accidents en route to their statement recording before the committee.
• The report of the committee was never made public, and many petitions have been filed to declassify them.
• Shastriji's resting place is called the Vijay Ghat situated in Delhi.
• A book by M.L Verma, ‘Lalita ke Aansoo’ was published in 1978, narrating the tragic story of his death by his wife Lalita Devi.

Legacy of Lal Bahadur Shastri

• Lal Bahadur Shastri was the most honest prime minister and politician of India.
• He was a true believer of Gandhian philosophy and did not accumulate any wealth and personal belongings.
• He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1966, and a stamp featuring him was also released the same year.
• He was nicknamed "The man of peace" as he always preferred maintaining cordial relations with neighbors through peaceful means.
• The IAS training institute in Mussoorie is named in honor of him- Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).