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Martand Temple in Kashmir

Context: ASI had objected to the ‘Navgrah Ashtamangalam Puja’ on the premises of Martand Temple as it is a heritage site.

Martand Sun Temple

• The Martand Sun Temple is a Hindu temple located near the city of Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It dates back to the eighth century AD and was dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity in Hinduism.
• It was once a thriving place of worship, commissioned by Lalitaditya Muktapida.
• It was destroyed by Sikandar Shah Miri in the 14th century.
• It was an excellent specimen of Kashmiri architecture, which had blended the Gandharan, Gupta and Chinese forms of architecture.
• The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the Martand Sun Temple as a site of national importance in Jammu and Kashmir.

Who was Lalitaditya Muktapida?

• Lalitaditya was the most powerful ruler of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir. 
• The 12th-century chronicler, Kalhana characterizes Lalitaditya as a world conqueror in his ‘Rajtarangini’. He ruled for 37 years from 724 to 761 CE. 
• His rule is considered a golden age in Kashmir where art, architecture and learning flourished. Due to his conquests, scholars have called him Alexander of Kashmir. Kalhan’s ‘Rajtarangini’ states that the Karkota dynasty was founded by king Durlabhvardana in 625 CE. Lalitaditya was the 5th ruler.
• He built the largest empire after Ashoka.  Lalitaditya founded the township of Parihasapura on a plateau near Srinagar city . This township had many temples with images of Vishnu, Shiva, and Buddha.

Karkota Dynasty

• The Karkota Dynasty (c. 625 − 855 AD) ruled over the Kashmir valley and some northern parts of the Indian subcontinent during the 7th and 8th centuries.
• Durlabh Vardhana was the founder of the Karkota dynasty. 
• Their rule saw a period of political expansion, economic prosperity and the emergence of Kashmir as a center of culture and scholarship. 
• The Karkota rulers were Vaishnavas and constructed several Vishnu shrines in their dominions. 
• They also patronised Buddhism as some stupas, chaityas and viharas have been found in the ruins of their capital.

Other Living Monuments

• The best-known example of a living ASI monument is the Taj Mahal in Agra.
• Other notable living monuments include the remains of an old Hindu temple inside the Dayaram Fort in Hathras, three mosques in Kannauj, Roman Catholic Church in Meerut, and Nila Mosque in Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, Bajreshwari Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba, and several Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh.

Violation of ASI Rules

• The ASI, which functions under the Ministry of Culture, is the custodian of the protected monument.
  • It deemed the incident to be a violation of its rules.
  • Prayers are allowed at its protected sites only if they were “functioning places of worship” at the time it took charge of them.
  • No religious rituals can be conducted at non-living monuments where there has been no continuity of worship since it became an ASI-protected site.
  • Thus, at the time the ASI took over the temple ruins in the 20th century for conservation, no puja or Hindu ritual was being held there.

To read more information:

• Temple Architecture in India

Return of Nizam’s Sword

Why in News? 
A 14th century ceremonial sword that was sold in Hyderabad to a British General in the early 20th century is set to return to India.

• The sword is among the seven objects being repatriated by Glasgow Life, which manages Glasgow’s museums.

What do we Need to Know about the Sword?

• History of Sword:
  • The sword was exhibited by Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, Nizam of Hyderabad (1896-1911) at the 1903 Delhi or Imperial Durbar, a ceremonial reception held to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as Emperor and Empress of India.
  • The tulwar (sword) was purchased in 1905 by General Sir Archibald Hunter, Commander-in-Chief, Bombay Command (1903-1907), from Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur Yamin us-Sultanat, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad.
    • Kishen Pershad hailed from the family of Maharaja Chandoo Lal, who was the prime minister for Nizam Sikander Jah twice.
    • Kishen Pershad was known for his munificence where he was known to throw out coins to people chasing his motorcar.
  • The tulwar was donated by Sir Hunter’s nephew, Mr. Archibald Hunter Service, to Glasgow Life museums’ collections in 1978.
• Features: The sword, shaped like a snake, has serrated edges and a damascene pattern, with gold etchings of an elephant and tigers.
• Other Indian Objects at Glasgow: Six of the items include several 14th Century carvings and 11th Century stone door jams. They were stolen from shrines and temples in the 19th Century.

ASI finds Buddhist Caves in Bandhavgarh Forests

Why in News? 
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered Buddhist caves and stupas at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

What are the Findings?

• Buddhist Caves
  • 26 Buddhist Caves were discovered dating back to the 2nd and 5th centuries, pertaining to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
  • The caves and some of their remains had ‘Chaitya’ (rounded) doors and stone beds typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.
• Inscriptions in Brahmi text
  • 24 inscriptions in Brahmi text were, all dating back to the 2nd-5th centuries.
  • The inscriptions mention sites such as Mathura and Kaushambi, and Pavata, Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa.
  • The kings they mention include Bhimsena, Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.
• Remains of Temples
  • The remains of 26 temples dating to the Kalachuri period between 9th-11th centuries and the possibly world’s largest Varaha sculpture also dating to the same period were found.
    • The Kalachuri dynasty, which spread over parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, is also associated with the earliest Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments.
    • The Varaha sculpture is among the many monolithic sculptures of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
• Two Saiva mutts have also been found.
• Remains of the Gupta Period: Some remains of the Gupta period, such as door jambs and carvings in caves, have been found.

What are the Key Points of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve?

• About
  • In 1968, it was notified as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve- under the Project Tiger Network at the neighbouring Panpatha Sanctuary.
• Historical Significance: Its mention can be found in the ancient books of the ‘Narad Pancharatra’ and the ‘Shiv Purana’ that this place is being associated with Ramayana.
  • The Bandhavgarh Fort is a great masterpiece of “Treta Yuga” (one of the ages of mankind in Hinduism).
  • It was ruled by major dynasties including Sengars, the Kalchuris, and the Baghels (believed to rule the regions for the longer period).
• Geographical Aspect: It resides on the extreme north eastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpura mountain ranges.
  • Climate: Tropical monsoon climatic zone.
  • Streams: The whole park is filled with more than 20 streams out of which some of the most important streams are Johilla, Janadh, Charanganga, Damnar, Banbei, Ambanala and Andhiyari Jhiria. These streams then merge into the Son river (an important southern tributary to the river Ganga).
• Biodiversity: There is a large number of tigers in the core zone. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds.
  • Species Found: Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Leopard and Tiger, Wild Pigs, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur (a herbivore and the only coarse feeder).

What is the Archaeological Survey of India?

• ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
• It 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 etc.
• It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first Director-General of ASI. Alexander Cunningham is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.

Ambedkar Tourist Circuit

The Central government has announced a special tourist circuit encompassing five key sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Why in news?

• Activists have urged that Mahad, located in Raigad District of Maharashtra, famous for Mahad Lake Satyagraha should also be included in the proposed circuit.

Ambedkar Circuit

• The five cities in the tourist circuit as announced are Mhow (his birthplace), London (where he resided and studied), Nagpur (also studied here), Delhi (where he passed away) and finally Mumbai (where he was cremated).
• With a special AC train, the government is looking to trace the footsteps of Ambedkar in India by giving better connectivity to four of these spots.
• The idea is to attract tourists beyond the Dalit community, who mostly visit these places as a pilgrimage.
• The journey will include meals, ground transportation, and entry to the sites.

About the sites

• Janma Bhoomi: Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow
• Shiksha Bhoomi: the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK
• Deeksha Bhoomi: the place in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism
• Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi: the place of his demise in Delhi and
• Chaitya Bhoomi: the place of his cremation in Mumbai

Tourism Circuits

• The government had identified 15 tourist circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15.
• Besides the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits, others include Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage, North East, Himalayan, Sufi, Krishna, Rural, Tribal, and Tirthankar Circuits.
• In terms of train collaboration, the Ramayana, Buddhist, and North East Circuits are already active, while Ambedkar will be fourth.

Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC)

Context

• Warangal and two cities from Kerala have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in recognition of their outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality.

Key Details about the recognition

• Warangal and two cities from Kerala have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in recognition of their outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level.
• Warangal in Telangana, Thrissur and Nilambur are among the 77 cities from 44 countries which have joined this network of the world body.
  
• The new UNESCO learning cities were added to the network following their nomination by the National Commissions for UNESCO in the concerned countries and the recommendations of a jury of experts.

Back to Basics

• Thrissur the cultural capital of Kerala
  • Popularly known as the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur is home to academic and research institutions. It is also known for its jewellery industry, especially gold.
• Nilambur, Kerala’s eco-tourism destination
  • Nilambur is an eco-tourism destination in the Kerala. It is a city with various socio-economic patterns marked by an urban and rural mix.
  • The majority of the population depends on agriculture and allied industries.
  • The city offers free healthcare facilities to all citizens and utilizes health volunteers to provide door-to-door treatment for bedded patients. It also promotes first-aid training for students and young citizens.
  • Nilambur aims to promote sustainable development, gender equality, inclusivity and democracy through community ownership.
  • It also aims to ensure employment opportunities and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, ‘zero hunger’.
• Warangal, the tourism spot
  • Warangal has a rich cultural heritage. The city is a major tourism venue, welcoming 3.2 million tourists every year. Warangal’s economy is primarily composed of agricultural, industrial and service sectors.
  • The city promotes equity and inclusion, for which it has implemented several strategies, including Women and Child Welfare policy, Urban Policy, and the creation of an advisory committee to monitor and evaluate the impact of initiatives on marginalized groups.
• About the Global Network of Learning Cities
  • UNESCO GNLC is an international network consisting of cities that successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities.
  • It includes 294 cities from all around the world that share inspiration, know-how and best practice among each other, the world body.
  • The Network supports the achievement of all seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDG 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all) and SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable).
  • It is coordinated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

What is a learning city?

• According to UNESCO, a learning city is one that
  • effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education;
  • revitalizes learning in families and communities; facilitates learning for and in the workplace;
  • extends the use of modern learning technologies;
  • enhances quality and excellence in learning;
  • fosters a culture of learning throughout life.
• In doing so, the city enhances individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in India

• Srinagar, Chennai and Varanasi – UNESCO Cities of music,
• Jaipur – UNESCO City of crafts and folk arts;
• Mumbai – UNESCO city of film and
• Hyderabad – UNESCO City of gastronomy.

Bhagat Singh’s Birth Anniversary

Why in News? 

28th September is the birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

Key Points

• Born in 1907 in Lyallpur district (now in Pakistan), Bhagat Singh grew up in a Sikh family deeply involved in political activities.
  • He belonged to a generation that was to intervene between two decisive phases of the Indian national movement - the phase of the 'Extremism' of Lal-Bal-Pal and the Gandhian phase of nonviolent mass action.
• In 1923, Bhagat Singh joined the National College, Lahore which was founded and managed by Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhai Parmanand.
  • The College was set up as an alternative to the institutions run by the Government, bringing to the field of education the idea of Swadeshi.
• In 1924 in Kanpur, he became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), started by Sachindranath Sanyal a year earlier. The main organiser of the Association was Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.
  • It was as a member of the HRA that Bhagat Singh began to take seriously the philosophy of the Bomb.
  • Armed revolution was understood to be the only weapon with which to fight British imperialism.
  • In 1928, HRA was renamed from Hindustan Republican Association to Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).
• In 1925, Bhagat Singh returned to Lahore and within the next year he and his colleagues started a militant youth organisation called the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
• In April 1926, Bhagat Singh established contact with Sohan Singh Josh and through him the 'Kirti Kisan Party' which brought out the monthly magazine Kirti in Punjabi.
  • For the next year Bhagat Singh worked with Josh and joined the editorial board of Kirti.
• In 1927, he was first arrested on charges of association with the Kakori Case accused for an article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel).
• To take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police. However, the revolutionaries mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders. The incident is famously known as Lahore Conspiracy case (1929).
  • In 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai had led a procession to protest against the arrival of the Simon Commission. The police resorted to a brutal lathi charge, in which Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured and later succumbed to his injuries.
• Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a bomb on 8 April, 1929 in the Central Legislative Assembly, in protest against the passing of two repressive bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.
  • The aim, as their leaflet explained, was not to kill but to make the deaf hear, and to remind the foreign government of its callous exploitation.
  • Both Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt surrendered thereafter and faced trial so they could further promote their cause. They were awarded life imprisonment for this incident.
• However, Bhagat Singh was re-arrested for the murder of J.P. Saunders and bomb manufacturing in the Lahore Conspiracy case. He was found guilty in this case and was hanged on 23rd March, 1931 in Lahore along with Sukhdev and Rajguru.
  • Every year, March 23 is observed as Martyrs’ Day as a tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.