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

Hybrid Gamosas

Why in the News?

Recently, the Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Assam (BSSA) felicitated guests at a function with “hybrid gamosas” made up of Assamese Gamocha and Bengali Gamchas cut in half and sewn together. The organization issued an apology after a controversy erupted.

• The BSSA is a newly formed literary and cultural society with the aim of serving as a meeting point for Bengalis of Assam.

What is Assamse Gamocha?

• About:
  • Assamese Gamocha is a traditional handwoven cotton towel, which is an integral part of Assamese culture and tradition.
  • It is a rectangular piece of cloth. The towel comes in various colors and designs, and the most popular among them are the red and white ones with a Phulam known as the ‘Gamocha design’.
  • The word ‘Gamocha’ is derived from the Assamese word ‘Ga’ (body) and ‘Mocha’ (wipe), which means a towel to wipe the body. The weavers use a traditional loom called the ‘Taat Xaal’ to weave the towel.
• Recognition:
  • The Assamese Gamocha has gained national and international recognition for its unique design and cultural significance. It was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which is a recognition of its origin and unique characteristics.
  • The GI tag ensures that the Gamocha is protected from imitations and helps to promote the local weavers and their traditional weaving techniques.
• Cultural Significance:
  • The Assamese Gamocha is a symbol of Assamese culture and tradition. The towel is used in various ways in daily life, and each use has a specific cultural significance.
  • It is used as a headscarf by women during traditional ceremonies and functions, and it is a sign of respect and honor when it is presented to someone as a gift.
  • The Gamocha is also used during the Bihu festival, which is the most important festival of Assam. It is draped around the neck of the Bihu dancers, and it is an essential part of their costume. The towel is also used as a symbol of unity and brotherhood during the Bihu festival.

What is Bengali Gamcha?

Bengali Gamcha traditional handwoven cotton towel, which is an integral part of Assamese culture and tradition. It is a rectangular piece of cloth. It comes in a red-and-white chequered pattern.

Ministry of Culture's Initiative to Promote of Art and Culture

Why in News?

The Ministry of Culture has implemented a Scheme to protect all genres of artists, including folk song artists, called the 'Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture'.

• This scheme has three components that aim to support young artists, outstanding persons in different cultural fields, and those conducting cultural research.

What are the Components of the Scheme?

• Award of Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA):
  • Provides a scholarship for a period of 2 years to selected beneficiaries in the age group of 18-25 years.
  • Candidates should have undergone training under any Guru or Institution for a minimum of 5 years.
• Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships:
  • Senior Fellowship is provided to selected Fellows in the age group of 40 years and above for 2 years for cultural research.
  • Junior Fellowship is provided to selected Fellows in the age group of 25 to 40 for 2 years.
  • Up to 400 Senior & Junior Fellowships are awarded in one batch year.
• Award of Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research (TNFCR):
  • Candidates are selected under two categories, Tagore National Fellowship and Tagore Research Scholarship, to work on cultural research by affiliation under different participating institutions in 4 different groups.
  • Selection of Fellows and Scholars is made by the National Selection Committee (NSC).
• Additional Component:
  • Under the scheme of “Project Grants to Individuals for Research in the Performing Arts”, the Sangeet Natak Akademi provides financial assistance to individuals on recommendation of the Advisory Committee.

India’s Traditional New Year Festivals

Why in News?

Recently, India celebrated Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba. These festivals of the spring season mark the beginning of the traditional new year in India.

What are the Traditional New Year Festivals in India?

• Chaitra Sukladi:
  • It marks the beginning of the new year of the Vikram Samvat also known as the Vedic [Hindu] calendar.
  • Vikram Samvat is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era.
  • It is the first day during the waxing phase (in which the visible side of moon is getting bigger every night) of the moon in the Chaitra (first month of Hindu calendar).
• Gudi Padwa and Ugadi:
  • These festivals are celebrated by the people in the Deccan region including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
  • A famous concoction served is jaggery (sweet) and neem (bitter), called bevu-bella in the South, signifying that life brings both happiness and sorrows.
  • Gudi is a doll prepared in Maharashtrian homes.
  • For Ugadi, doors in homes are adorned with mango leaf decorations called toranalu or Torana in Kannada.
• Cheti Chand:
  • Cheti Chand is the new year festival of the Sindhi community.
  • The festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jhulelal, the patron saint of the Sindhi community.
• Vaishakhi:
  • It is also pronounced as Baisakhi, observed by Hindus and Sikhs.
  • It commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
  • Baisakhi was also the day when colonial British empire officials committed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre at a gathering, an event influential to the Indian movement against colonial rule.
• Navreh:
  • Navreh is the Kashmiri New Year's Day.
  • The day is marked by performing various rituals, decorating houses with flowers, preparing traditional dishes, and offering prayers to the deities.
• Sajibu Cheiraoba:
  • It is considered one of the most important festivals of Manipur.
  • It is celebrated with great pomp and joy, especially by the Meiteis of the state.
• Vishu:
  • It is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, Mahé district of Union Territory of Pondicherry, neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu and their diaspora communities.
  • The festival marks the first day of Medam (falls in the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar), the 9th month in the solar calendar in Kerala.
• Puthandu:
  • Also known as Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year, is the first day of the year on the Tamil calendar and traditionally celebrated as a festival.
  • The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai.
  • It therefore falls on or about 14th April every year on the Gregorian calendar.
• Bohag Bihu:
  • Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu also called Xaat Bihu (seven Bihus) is a traditional aboriginal ethnic festival celebrated in the state of Assam and other parts of northeastern India by the indigenous ethnic groups of Assam.
  • It marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year.
  • It usually falls in the 2nd week of April, historically signifying the time of harvest.

Sandalwood Buddha Statue

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of India gifts a sandalwood Buddha statue to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the latter’s two-day state visit.

• The statue depicts Buddha sitting in ‘dhyana mudra’ under the Bodhi tree.

What is Sandalwood?

• About: Santalum album, commonly known as Indian Sandalwood, is a dry deciduous forest species native to China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
  • Sandalwood has been long associated with the Indian heritage & culture, as the country contributed 85% of the world’ sandalwood trade erstwhile. However, lately this has been declining at a fast rate.
• Features: This small tropical tree grows to 20m high with red wood and a variety of dark colors of bark (dark brown, reddish and dark grey).
• Uses: Because it is strong and durable, Sandalwood is mostly harvested for its timber.
• Indian Sandalwood is one of the most sacred herbs of Ayurveda.
• Distribution in India: In India, sandalwood is mostly grown in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Karnataka is sometimes called as ‘Gandhara Gudi’ or the land of sandalwood. The art of sandalwood carving has been an integral part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage for centuries. Its earliest origins can be traced back to the 3rd century B.C. The state has also set up a Sandalwood Development Board to ensure that the resources are sustainably managed.
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable.

What is Mudra in Buddhism?

In Buddhism, mudras are hand gestures or positions that are used during meditation and other practices to help focus the mind, channel energy, and deepen one's connection to the teachings.
Here are some of the mudras commonly used in Buddhism:

• Dhyana Mudra: In this mudra, the hands are placed on the lap, with the right hand on top of the left, and the thumbs touching.
  • This mudra symbolizes meditation, concentration, and inner peace.
• Anjali Mudra: This is the most common mudra used in Buddhism, and it involves pressing the palms together in front of the chest, with the fingers pointing upwards.
  • It represents respect, greeting, and gratitude.
• Vitarka Mudra: This mudra is also known as the "teaching mudra" or "gesture of discussion," and it involves holding the right hand up, with the thumb and index finger touching to form a circle.
  • It represents the transmission of knowledge and the communication of the Buddha's teachings.
• Varada Mudra: In this mudra, the right hand is extended downwards, with the palm facing outwards.
  • It represents generosity, compassion, and the granting of wishes.
• Abhaya Mudra: This mudra involves raising the right hand up to shoulder height, with the palm facing outwards.
  • It represents fearlessness, protection, and the dispelling of negativity.
• Bhumisparsha Mudra: This mudra involves touching the ground with the fingertips of the right hand, while the left hand rests on the lap.
  • It represents the moment of the Buddha's enlightenment, and the gesture symbolizes the earth witnessing his attainment of enlightenment.
• Uttarabodhi Mudra: In this the hands are held in front of the chest with the fingers of the left hand pointing upward and the fingers of the right hand pointing downward. The thumbs are then placed together in the center, creating a triangle shape.
  • This mudra represents the union of wisdom and compassion, the balance of masculine and feminine energies, and the attainment of enlightenment through the integration of all aspects of thyself.
• Dharma Chakra Mudra: In this the hands are held in front of the chest with the thumb and index finger of each hand forming a circle. The remaining three fingers of each hand are extended upwards, representing the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners). The circle made by the thumb and index finger represents the wheel of the Dharma, which
  • This mudra represents the constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and the Buddha's teachings as the means to break free from this cycle.
• Karana Mudra: In this the left hand is brought up to the heart, palm facing forward. The index and little fingers point straight upward. while the other three fingers are curled towards the palm.
  • This gesture is often seen in depictions of the Buddha or bodhisattvas, as a symbol of protection and dispelling of negativity. The index finger is said to represent the energy of wisdom and the ability to overcome obstacles.
• Jnana Mudra: In this the index finger and thumb are brought together to form a circle, while the other three fingers are extended outwards.
  • This gesture represents the unity of individual consciousness with the universal consciousness, and the connection between the practitioner and the teachings of the Buddha.
• Tarjani Mudra: In this, the index finger is extended upward, while the other fingers are curled towards the palm. Tarjani Mudra, also known as the "threatening gesture"
  • It is used as a symbol of warning or protection against evil forces or harmful influences.

Menace of Missing Antiquities in India

Why in News?

There is a formidable gap between artefact that has been “officially” declared missing and what is surfacing in global markets or being found in museum shelves and catalogues.

• Since Independence, 486 antiquities have been reported as missing from the 3,696 monuments protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

What are the Issues Highlighted Regarding Missing Artefacts?

• According to ASI, 292 antiquities have been brought back to India from abroad since 2014 and 13 between 1976 and 2013.
• The ASI’s list of missing antiquities covers 17 states and two Union Territories. It includes 139 from Madhya Pradesh, 95 from Rajasthan and 86 from Uttar Pradesh.
• The Parliament committee flagged that “number of antiquities retrieved” by the ASI from abroad “are not even the tip of the iceberg in comparison to the huge number of antiques smuggled out from the country”.
• Monuments and sites maintained by the ASI is only a “small percentage” of the total number of archaeological sites and monuments across the country.
• The menace of missing antiquities is also illustrated by UNESCO. It estimates that “more than 50,000 art objects have been smuggled out of India till 1989”.

What is Antiquity?

• About:
  • The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972, which came into effect on April 1, 1976, defines an "antiquity" as any object or work of art that has been in existence for at least 100 years.
  • This includes coins, sculptures, paintings, epigraphs, detached articles, and other items that reflect science, art, literature, religion, customs, morals, or politics from a bygone era.
  • For “manuscript, record or other document which is of scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value”, this duration is “not less than 75 years.”
• Protection Initiative:
  • Indian:
  • In India, Item-67 of the Union List, Item-12 of the State List, and Item-40 of the Concurrent List of the Constitution deal with the country’s heritage.
  • Before Independence, the Antiquities (Export Control) Act was passed in April 1947 to ensure that no antiquity could be exported without a license.
  • The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was enacted in 1958 to protect ancient monuments and archaeological sites from destruction and misuse.
• Global:
  • UNESCO formulated the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
  • The United Nations Security Council also passed resolutions in 2015 and 2016 calling for the protection of cultural heritage sites in conflict zones.

What is the Procedure of Bringing Back the Antiquities?

• Categories:
  • Antiquities taken out of India pre-independence;
  • Antiquities which were taken out since independence until March 1976;
• Antiquities have been taken out of the country since April 1976.
  • For Antiquities taken out of India before independence, requests for their retrieval must be raised bilaterally or on international fora.
  • For example, in November 2022, the Maharashtra government announced that it was working to bring back the sword of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from London.
  • Antiquities in the second and third categories can be retrieved easily by raising an issue bilaterally with proof of ownership and with the help of the UNESCO convention.