History, Art & Culture: August 2023 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

National Manuscripts Bill 2023

Central Idea

• India’s rich heritage of ancient manuscripts, ranging from mathematical texts to religious scriptures, holds invaluable historical and cultural significance.
• The proposed National Manuscripts Bill, 2023, aims to safeguard and document this wealth, ensuring accurate records, accessibility, and conservation.

Unveiling the National Manuscripts Bill

• Bill Objectives: The forthcoming National Manuscripts Bill, 2023, plans to document, catalog, and preserve Indian heritage texts. It is set to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament.
• NMA Composition: The bill proposes the formation of a 10-member National Manuscripts Authority (NMA) with representatives from Culture, Finance, and Education ministries, Central Sanskrit University, State representatives, and private agencies.
• Apex Policy Making Body: NMA will oversee digitization, conservation, preservation, editing, and publication of manuscripts. It will function as the apex policy-making body in these areas.

India’s Manuscript Treasure

• Historic Significance: The Bakhshali manuscript, with its early use of zero, symbolizes the intellectual and mathematical achievements of ancient India. Numerous such manuscripts in various scripts exist in libraries worldwide.
• Vast Manuscript Collection: India boasts around 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts, encompassing themes like history, religion, literature, and more.
• Cultural Diversity: Manuscripts are written on diverse materials and span themes in Sanskrit as well as regional languages.
• Preservation Challenge: The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) is tasked with preserving this treasure, an essential endeavor to safeguard cultural and historical identity.

Empowering the National Manuscripts Authority

• Regulation and Investigation: NMA will possess the powers of a civil court to manage manuscript access. It will also have an investigative arm to probe theft and desecration incidents.
• Collaboration: NMA can partner with educational institutions for scholarships and fellowships related to manuscript studies.
• Digital Portal: The NMA will establish a dedicated digital portal for indexing, cataloguing, and sharing manuscript copies.
• Private Ownership: The authority can acquire manuscripts from private owners if their uniqueness and content’s significance warrants it. Compensation would be determined by experts.

Revitalizing Manuscript Studies

• Linking Manuscripts with Livelihood: There is a need to intertwine manuscript studies with livelihood, fostering renewed cultural engagement.
• Global Interest: The proposed survey and documentation of Indian manuscripts abroad are expected to elevate global interest in these texts.

Digital Endeavors by NMM

• Digitization Efforts: The National Mission for Manuscripts has digitized a substantial number of manuscripts, totaling around 3.3 lakh manuscripts and 3.1 crore folios.
• Online Access: While over 1.18 lakh manuscripts have been uploaded, approximately 70,000 are accessible to the public online.
• Other Cultural Institutions: Manuscripts are housed in esteemed institutions like the Sarasvati Mahal Library in Thanjavur, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi, and the Oriental Research Institute in Jammu and Kashmir.

Conclusion

• The proposed National Manuscripts Bill seeks to bridge the past with the present, ensuring the preservation and accessibility of India’s diverse manuscript legacy.
• By establishing the National Manuscripts Authority and promoting digital initiatives, India aims to share its invaluable cultural wealth with the world, fostering a deeper understanding of its historical and intellectual heritage.

Quit India Movement Day 2023

About 

• Every year Quit India Day is observed on August 8 to commemorate the occasion.
• This year marks the 81st anniversary of the event.

What is the Quit India Movement?

• The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or Bharat Chodo Andolan, was a significant civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress on August 8, 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan also known as August Kranti Maidan in Bombay.
• On this day, August 8th, in 1942, Gandhi gave the famous "Do or Die" speech, urging the Indian people to act decisively and nonviolently against British rule.
• Reasons:
  • While factors leading to such a movement had been building up, matters came to a head with the failure of the Cripps Mission.
  • The failure of the Cripps Mission made Gandhi realise that freedom would come only if Indians fought tooth and nail for it.
  • The movement aimed to demand an end to British colonial rule in India and achieve full independence.
• Mass Protests:
  • The movement saw widespread protests, strikes and acts of civil disobedience across the country.
  • People participated in marches, demonstrations, and various forms of nonviolent resistance.
  • Women played a vital role in the Quit India Movement, displaying immense courage and leadership.
  • During the movement, parallel governments were set up in Ballia (Uttar Pradesh), Satara (Maharashtra), Tamluk (West Bengal), and Talcher (Odisha).
  • Numerous arrests were made following the protest. Many top leaders of Congress, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, were also arrested.

9th National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day 2023

National Handloom Day 2023: National Handloom Day is celebrated on August 7 every year. On this day, the nation remembers its long history of handloom weaving and pays tribute to the role that weavers have played in preserving the nation’s cultural legacy. In this article, we will provide you with complete information about National Handloom Day 2023, its theme, significance and its history to commemorate this day.

Overview

• The eighth National Handloom Day celebration will take place this year. The primary goal of the day will be to increase the revenue of Indian weavers. 
• This time, the emphasis is still on growing the selling volume of handloom products on e-commerce websites because of the broad COVID-19 in 2022. National Handloom Day 2023 would encourage all citizens to work together to support handloom weavers who face challenges.
• The day increases their income and promotes the popularity of Indian woven goods. The best thing you can do to support National Handloom Day is to support more individuals in buying handcrafted goods. To encourage and assist weavers, consumers should purchase their handcrafted goods in addition to purchasing items on National Handloom Day.
• The handloom industry in India is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Below given is the overview of National handloom day 2023.

National Handloom Day Theme 2023

National Handloom Day Theme 2023 is “Handlooms for Sustainable Fashion”. This year’s theme emphasises the significance of handloom weaving as an environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute for machine-made fabrics.

National Handloom Day Purpose

• Additionally, the Swadeshi movement, which began in 1905, is remembered on this day. Millions of weavers and artisans all throughout India rely on the handloom industry for their livelihoods, which has contributed significantly to the country’s economy.
• On this day, a number of exhibitions and events are held to highlight the beauty of handcrafted goods and to entice consumers to purchase them. It’s important to reflect on the significance of National Handloom Day and the part that handloom weavers play in maintaining India’s indigenous culture as we get closer to 2023. It aims to acknowledge and honour the textile industry’s contribution to the socioeconomic development of India.
• India celebrates National Handloom Day to educate the public about the handloom industry and its importance to the socioeconomic growth of the country. The objective also remains to safeguard the long-term viability of the Indian textile sector, thereby economically strengthening handloom artisans and fostering pride in their fine artistry. It also aims to preserve India’s handloom tradition and to offer more opportunities for those involved in the handloom industry.

National Handloom Day Significance

A prime example of the nation’s extensive cultural legacy is the handloom industry. For those that live there, it is a crucial source of income. The second-largest economic pillar in India after agriculture is the textile and handloom industry, which provides employment for citizens.

• Women make up 70% of the workforce for handloom weavers and related industries in India. As a result, it is crucial to the emancipation of women.
• In addition, the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019–20 reports that around 31.45 lakh families derive their income from handloom, weaving, and related activities.
• By putting in a lot of effort and ensuring money flow, India’s handloom and artisan industries have traditionally supported soft power.
• Saree diplomacy and Khadi diplomacy are two notable examples.
• The Textile Ministry established Handloom Craft Villages in three states to commemorate National Handloom Day: Mohpara Village in Assam’s Golaghat district; Kovalam in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district; and Kanihama in Srinagar’s Budgam district.

National Handloom Day Objectives

National Handloom Day highlights the current issues facing this industry in addition to celebrating the handweaver community. Governments need to emphasise the importance of the handloom sector by addressing issues including inadequate infrastructure, ageing looms, and restricted access to important markets. The government should support initiatives like Make in India, Vocal for Local, and Atma Nirbhar Bharat to increase demand for locally produced goods from the handloom sector.

National Handloom Day Celebration

People need to make an effort to appreciate the goods made by Indian weavers and employees on the impending National Handloom Day in 2023. Indians can participate in any of the following activities on this unique occasion:

• Attend Handloom Fairs: On National Handloom Day 2023, spend some time attending a handloom fair in your city or online.
• Help Local Weavers Obtain Raw Materials and Market Access: You may also assist a local weaver by providing some volunteer work or financial support.
• Raise Awareness About Indian Handloom: On National Handloom Day, anyone with a social media presence can do this. It will make other citizens more aware of why handcrafted goods are superior to manufactured ones.

National Handloom Day & Government Scheme

The Indian government has been implementing numerous programmes to aid small-scale industries, particularly handloom workers. Here are some of the most important plans:

• Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana: When accidents or natural disasters occur, this programme offers handloom weavers insurance coverage.
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): This programme offers small enterprises loans of up to Rs. 10 lakhs as financial support. The goal is to aid in these companies’ expansion and development.
  
• National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): The purpose of this programme is to give handloom weavers financial support so they may improve their technology, promote their goods, and develop their talents.
  
• Skill India: This plan aims to provide the young of the country with skills training, particularly in the handloom and small industries sectors.
  
• Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): This programme aims to give micro and small businesses access to operating capital and term loans without the need for collateral.
  

National Handloom Day 2023 UPSC

India observes National Handloom Day on August 7. The purpose of the day is to honour the handloom weaving community for their great contribution to the social and economic growth of the nation. National Handloom Day honours and celebrates all of the artisans who have contributed to the country’s traditional handicrafts.

Aadi Perukku 2023

Recently, the Tamil community people celebrated the Aadi Perukku festival.

• It is an auspicious festival, which is celebrated by the Tamil community people.
• It is celebrated on the 18th day of the Aadi month of Tamil Calendar.
• It is also known as Pathinettam Perukku.
• It is celebrated to show gratitude to the monsoon.
• It marks the beginning of the monsoon season in Tamil Nadu.
• People of Tamil Nadu express their gratitude to the God of monsoon, mother nature and the Cauvery River.

World Sanskrit Day 2023

Background

• World Sanskrit Day has a history that can be traced back, to 1969.
• It was during this year that the Indian Government decided to honor and celebrate the contributions of P??ini, a figure, in the realm of Sanskrit language and linguistics.
• The declaration was made to commemorate Pāṇinis work on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Since then this special day has been.

• Key Facts:
  • Ashtadhyayi was a Sanskrit treatise on grammar written in the 6th to 5th century BCE by the Indian grammarian Panini.
  • This work set the linguistic standards for Classical Sanskrit.
  • It sums up in 4,000 sutras the science of phonetics and grammar that had evolved in the Vedic religion.
  • Panini divided his work into eight chapters, each of which is further divided into quarter chapters.
  • Beyond defining the morphology and syntax of Sanskrit language, Ashtadhyayi distinguishes between usage in the spoken language and usage that is proper to the language of the sacred texts.
• About the day:
  • The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and promote Sanskrit, one of India’s oldest languages.
  • Sanskrit holds importance as it serves as the foundation, for classical texts in disciplines such, as Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics and Science.
  • Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world, and it is considered to be the mother of all Indo-Aryan languages.
  • It is a highly inflected language, with a complex system of grammar and morphology.
• Significance of World Sanskrit Day
  • To promote the ancient language Sanskrit, and highlight its historical, cultural, and intellectual value.
  • World Sanskrit Day acknowledges the contribution of Sanskrit language in different fields like Literature, Science, Philosophy, and more.
  • Currently, Sanskrit is not widely spoken in India. The purpose of World Sanskrit Day is to encourage people to study and use Sanskrit language.
  • World Sanskrit Day focuses on highlighting the linguistic, literary, and cultural aspects of Sanskrit on a global level.

Red Fort: Venue for the India’s Independence Day Celebration

Why in News?

As India proudly celebrated its 77^th Independence Day, the spotlight once again fell upon the iconic Red Fort in Delhi.

What are the Series of Events Associated with Red Fort?

• Historical Significance of Red Fort:
  • Under the Delhi Sultanate: Delhi emerged as a pivotal capital during the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1506).
  • Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, termed Delhi the 'capital of all Hindustan' in the 16th century.
  • Despite brief relocations (Akbar shifted his capital to Agra) the Mughals, under Shah Jahan, reestablished Delhi as their capital with Shahjahanabad in 1648, known today as Old Delhi.
  • Shah Jahan laid the foundation of his citadel, Lal-Qila or Red Fort.
• Symbolic Significance of the Mughal Emperor: By the 18^th century, the Mughal Empire had lost most of its territories and power.
  • They were still regarded as symbolic rulers of India by some sections of society, especially by those who opposed British colonialism.
    • The 1857 Rebellion epitomized this connection, when people marched towards Red fort and declared the aged Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader.
• British Imperial Rule and Transformation of the Red Fort:
  • British Capture of Delhi: After subduing the 1857 Rebellion, the British intended to erase the Mughal legacy by demolishing Shahjahanabad.
    • While sparing the Red Fort, they stripped it of its grandeur, looted artworks, and replaced inner structures with British buildings.
    • This transformation left an indelible mark of British imperial authority on the Red Fort.
• Utilizing Symbolic Authority: Britishers recognized Delhi's symbolic power.
  • The Delhi Durbar ceremonies reinforced British dominance and proclaimed the monarch as the Emperor of India.
  • In 1911, the British moved their capital to Delhi, constructing a new city that embodied the Indian ethos and centralized authority.

How Red Fort Became Venue for India's Independence Day Celebration?

• The Indian National Army's trials at the Red Fort in the 1940s elevated its symbolism. These trials sparked sympathy for the INA and intensified nationalist sentiments against British rule, reinforcing the Red Fort's role as a symbol of defiance.
• As India approached independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, decided to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort.
  • On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the National flag “Tiranaga” at Princess Park, followed by his historic "Tryst with Destiny" speech at the Red Fort on August 16, 1947.
  • This was a symbolic gesture of reclaiming the fort from British colonial rule and asserting India’s sovereignty and identity. It also marked the culmination of India’s long and arduous struggle for freedom.
• Since then, every year on 15th August, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag and addresses the nation from the Red Fort.
  • This tradition has become an integral part of India’s Independence Day celebrations and reflects its pride and patriotism.

Nataraja Statue Headed to G20 Summit Venue in Delhi

Introduction

• A 28-feet Nataraja bronze sculpture, considered the world’s tallest of its kind, is set to adorn the G20 Leaders’ Summit venue in New Delhi.
• The statue hails from Swamimalai, a small town in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district known for its bronze sculptures. (GI Tag)
• The Union Culture Ministry commissioned the sculpture on February 20, 2023.

Details of the Sculpture

• The statue weighs 19 tonnes and is made from eight metals, including gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron, and zinc (Ashtadhatu).
• Crafted by Srikanta Stapathi and his brothers Radhakrishna Stapathi and Swaminatha Stapathi, sons of the renowned sculptor Devasenapathy Stapathi.
• The sculpture follows the Chola period’s Nataraja models, specifically those from Chidambaram and Konerirajapuram.
• It stands at 22 feet in height, with a 6-foot pedestal, making the complete structure 28 feet tall.

Significance and Symbolism

• The Nataraja statue symbolizes Lord Shiva’s dance and is an iconic representation of Tamil culture.
• Chola bronzes, noted for their beauty and craftsmanship, hold a prestigious place in the art world.
• Swamimalai Bronze Statues of Tamil Nadu: GI-Tagged Craft

Origins

• Swamimalai artisans (sthapathi) create bronze statues using the ancient lost wax technique.
• The tradition started during the Chola dynasty with temple construction fostering diverse crafts.
• Crafting Tools:
• Traditional tools like leaf strips for measurements, spatula for wax shaping, and knife for carving.
• Scraper refines relief, soldering iron smooths wax, hammer-chisel removes excess metal.
• Engraving tools, files, and forceps for intricate carving.

Casting Process

• Sculptors utilized the ‘lost-wax’ casting method, a time-tested technique since the Chola era.
• Beeswax-resin-groundnut oil mixture is used to create a wax model based on Agama Shastra.
• The process involves creating a wax model encased in clay; the clay is sourced from the alluvial soil near the Cauvery River in Swamimalai.
• Model covered in loam, holes drilled for metal pouring, then cooled to harden.
• Molten bronze is poured into the hot mold, breaking it after cooling, and details are carved, with emery paper polish.

Evolution

• The Chola dynasty’s temple construction attracted artisans to Swamimalai.
• Sthapatis continued the bronze statue-making tradition over centuries.
• Diverse Creations:
• Initially religious statues, primarily Hindu deities.
• Present demand extends to cultural figures, like Ramayana and Mahabharata heroes.

GI Tag

• Swamimalai Bronzes was awarded a Geographical Indicator (GI) tag.
• Assures authenticity for consumers, especially for international buyers.
• Guarantees genuine, original craft from the region.