CULTURE

Table of Contents
1. SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE ______ 2 8. PERSONALITIES ___________________ 28
1.1. Lingaraj Temple ____________________ 2 8.1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose _________ 28
1.2. Other temples in news ______________ 2 8.2. Jyotiba Phule _____________________ 29
1.3. Monuments in news ________________ 4 8.3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak _______________ 30
2. PAINTINGS & OTHER ART FORMS ______ 6 8.4. 350th Jayanti of Baba Banda Singh
2.1. Cave Paintings _____________________ 6 Bahadur _____________________________ 30
2.2. India’s Traditional Toys ______________ 8 8.5. Purandara Dasa ___________________ 31
2.3. Textiles of Madhya Pradesh _________ 10 8.6. Other Personalities in News _________ 31
2.4. Other Art forms in news ____________ 12 9. HISTORICAL EVENTS _______________ 34
3. DANCES & MUSIC __________________ 14 9.1. Malabar Rebellion _________________ 34
3.1. Inclusion of Indigenous Sports in Khelo 9.2. All India Trade Union Congress _______ 35
India Youth Games 2021 ________________ 14 9.3. World War 2 _____________________ 35
3.2. Other Important News _____________ 15 9.4. Qissa Khwani Bazaar Massacre_______ 36
4. LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE _______ 16 9.5. Other Important News _____________ 36
4.1. Prabuddha Bharat Journal___________ 16 10. MISCELLANEOUS _________________ 38
4.2. Other Important News _____________ 16 10.1. Geographical Indication (GI) tag _____ 38
5. INITIATIVES OF UNESCO ____________ 18 10.2. Heritage Management ____________ 40
5.1. UNESCO's World Heritage Cities (WHC) List 10.3. Kushinagar ______________________ 42
____________________________________ 18 10.4. Kartarpur Corridor ________________ 42
5.2. Street Hawk Culture _______________ 19 10.5. Committee to Protect Language, Culture
6. FESTIVALS ________________________ 21 & Land of Ladakh _____________________ 43
7. ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL HISTORY ______ 23 10.6. Nobel Prize in Literature ___________ 43
7.1. Gurjara-Pratiharas _________________ 23 10.7. Tribes in News ___________________ 44
7.2. Kakatiya Dynasty __________________ 24 10.8. Prize and Awards _________________ 46
7.3. Evidence of Dairy Production in the Indus 10.9. Khelo India State Centres of Excellence
Valley Civilization (IVC) _________________ 25 ____________________________________ 46
7.4. Sadikpur Sinauli Excavations _________ 26 10.10. Other Important news ___________ 47

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Note:
PT 365 documents comprehensively covers the important current affairs of last 1 year (365days) in a
consolidated manner to aid Prelims preparation.
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 1. SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
1.1. LINGARAJ TEMPLE
Why in news? Kalinga school of temple architecture
• Kaḷinga architectural style is a sub-style of Nagara
Odisha government recently announced to give a
architecture, flourished in the ancient Kalinga region
facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple, similar - present state of Odisha, West Bengal and northern
to its pre-350-year structural status. Andhra Pradesh.
About Lingaraj Temple • In this, Shikhara (called deul in Odisha) is almost
vertical before it curves near the top.
• It was built in 11th century AD by King Jajati • Shikhara is preceded by a mandapa (called Jagmohan
Keshari of Somavanshi dynasty with later or ‘dance pavilion’ in Odisha).
additions by the Ganga dynasty rulers. • The style consists of three distinct types of temples:
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula.
o Temple signifies the syncretisation of • The Rekha Deula and Khakhara Deula houses the
Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha. sanctum sanctorum while the Pidha Deula constitutes
outer dancing and offering halls.
• Its Deul (tower) rises to a height of 180 feet and
• Examples of Kalinga architecture: Rajarani temple
marks the culmination of the temple (Bhubaneshwar); Jagannath Temple, Puri.
architecture in Bhubaneswar which was the
cradle of the Kalinga School of Temple
Architecture.
• The temple can broadly be divided into 4 main
halls –
o Garba Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum),
o Yajana Mandapa (the hall for prayers)
o Natya Mandapa (dance and music hall)
o Bhoga Mandapa (where devotees can have
the prasad/offering of the Lord).
• The exquisite carvings depicting chores of daily
life, the activity centres, apart from being a
place of worship makes the temple a place for
social and cultural gathering.
• Lingaraj is referred to as “Swayambhu” – (self-
originated Shivling) and the Shivling is known
as Hari Hara. It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha.
• The other attraction of the temple is the Bindusagar Lake, located in the north side of the temple.
• Shivaratri festival is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
• The temple compound is not open to non-Hindus, but there is a viewing platform beside the wall offering
a good view of the main exteriors. This was originally erected for a visit by Viceroy Lord Curzon.

1.2. OTHER TEMPLES IN NEWS

UNESCO Sites
Konark Sun • It was built in middle of 13th
Temple, Odisha century, by King
Narasimhadeva I of Ganga
dynasty.
• Temple is a representation of
sun god Surya's chariot with 24
wheels.
• It is a UNESCO world heritage
site.
• It is also known as 'Black
Pagoda' due to its dark color.
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has taken up the Complete Solarisation of Konark
sun temple and Konark town in Odisha to develop it as ‘Surya Nagri’.

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 Vittala Temple, ● Vittala Temple at Hampi was built during the reign of King Devaraya II (1422 – 1446 A.D.) of
Karnataka Vijayanagara Empire.
o Several̨ sections of the temple were expanded and renovated during the reign of
Krishnadevaraya (1509- 1529 A.D).
● Temple is dedicated to Vittala, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is located in the north eastern part
of Hampi, near banks of
Tungabhadra River.
● Temple is built in the
Dravidian style of
architecture. Highlight
of Vittala temple is its
impressive pillared
halls and the stone
chariot.
● It is one of the sites at
Hampi.
o Hampi is a UNESCO
World Heritage
Site located in
Karnataka.
o Its name is derived from Pampa (old name of Tungabhadra River) on whose banks the
city is built. It was the last capital of the Vijayanagar empire.
o Founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it fell to the Muslim rulers of the Deccan in 1565
(Battle of Talikota).
● Other Key sites at Hampi: Achyutaraya temple, Pattabhirama temple, Lotus Mahal etc.
Pashupatinath • Recently, India Nepal
Temple, signed MoU to improve
Kathmandu, the infrastructure in the
Nepal temple complex.
o Project is part of
Nepal-Bharat
Maitri:
Development
Partnership as a
high impact
community
development
scheme by India.
• It is a Hindu Temple and
is the largest temple
complex in Nepal. It
stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River.
• It is one of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites.
Other sites
Somnath Temple, ● Recently, Prime Minister of India has been appointed as Chairman of Somnath Temple Trust.
Gujarat ● Somnath temple is
located in Prabhas Patan
near Veraval in
Saurashtra on the
western coast of Gujarat
● It is considered the first
among the twelve
jyotirlinga shrines of
Shiva.
● Present temple was
reconstructed in
Chaulukya style of Hindu
temple architecture and
completed in May 1951 by
Vallabhbhai Patel.
● The site is considered to be a Triveni sangam (confluence of three rivers) of Kapila, Hiran
and Sarasvati.

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 Sree Sree Joykali ● It is among the oldest temples
Matar temple, in Bangladesh which was built
Natore, approximately 300 years back
Bangladesh by Shri Dayaram Roy, the
founder of Dighapatia Royal
Family.
● Recently, it has been
reconstructed with
assistance from India under
the High Impact Community
Development Project.
● MoU for the reconstruction of
the temple was signed in 2016.
Barikot Ghundai, ● Recently, Ancient Hindu temple was discovered in northwest Pakistan during an excavation
Pakistan at Barikot Ghundai.
● A Hindu temple of Lord
Vishnu has been discovered in
northwest Pakistan’s Swat
district.
● It was built 1,300 years ago
during Hindu Shahi period
● Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis
(850-1026 CE) was a Hindu
dynasty that ruled the Kabul
Valley (eastern Afghanistan),
Gandhara (modern-day
Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.
o Term Hindu Shahi was a royal title of this dynasty and not its actual clan or ethnological
name.
● Dynasty descended from Kushana Empire (Modern Afghanistan), or Turks (Tarushkas).

1.3. MONUMENTS IN NEWS

Golconda Fort, • It is located in the western
Telangana part of Hyderabad city
(Telangana) near Hussain
Sagar Lake.
• It was originally known as
Mankal, and built on a hilltop
in the year 1143 and was a
mud fort under the reign of
Rajah of Warangal.
• Later it was fortified between
14th and 17th centuries by the
Bahmani Sultans and then
the ruling Qutub Shahi dynasty respectively.
Architectural • Bundi, erstwhile
heritage of capital of Hada
Bundi, Rajasthan Rajput province
known as Hadauti, is
located in south-
eastern Rajasthan.
Bundi is also known
as City of stepwalls,
blue city and also as
Chotti Kashi.
• It’s Architectural
heritage can be
classified as:
o Garh (Fort):
Taragarh
o Garh Mahal (Royal Palace): Bhj Mahal; Chattar Mahal; Ummed Mahal

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 o Baori (Step well): Khoj Darwaja ki Baori; Bhawaldi Baori
o Kund (Stepped tank): Dhabhai ji ka Kund; Nagar Kund & Sagar Kund; Rani Kund
o Sagar mahal (Lake Palace): Moti Mahal; Sukh Mahal; Shikar Burj
o Chhatri (Cenotaph): Chaurasi
Hagia Sophia, ● Recently, Hagia Sophia, an iconic
Turkey Istanbul museum has been converted
into mosque.
● It was originally built as the cathedral
for the capital of the Eastern Roman
Empire in the 6th century, and
became a mosque in 1453 with the
Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.
● In 1934, it became a museum and is
now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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 2. PAINTINGS & OTHER ART FORMS
2.1. CAVE PAINTINGS
Why in news?
Recently, World’s oldest known cave painting (painted at least 45,500 years ago) was found in the limestone
cave of Leang Tedongnge, Indonesia.
More about News
• This cave painting uncovered in South Sulawesi consists of a life-sized depiction of a warty pig.
• The previously oldest dated rock art ‘scene’ at least 43,900 years old, was a depiction of hybrid human-
animal beings hunting Sulawesi warty pigs and dwarf bovids.

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 Evolution of the prehistoric cave paintings
Upper Paleolithic Mesolithic Cave paintings Neolithic Cave paintings
• Simple iconic animal and • Explosion of creativity in the form of • Paintings lose their sense
human forms appear for numerous motifs, designs with figures in of movement, figures are
the first time. gently flowing fine lines reflecting dynamic repetitive signs, humans
• Animals were shown in action. and animals start
their natural outlines and • Hunters are shown wearing simple clothes becoming more and more
humans always in the and ornaments, elaborate head-dresses and schematic and stylized.
dynamic action of masks. • Size, in general, goes on
hunting or dancing • Animal forms are naturalistic depictions while reducing, though a few
executed in abstract human figures are static and abstract. big figures are also there.
form. • Male figures are stick like while the women • Hunting scenes are there,
• Characterized by perfect are bulky box shaped with intricate body but hunting as an act of a
‘S’ shaped human figures designs as infilling consisting of spiral or large group is absent.
depicting activities that honey-comb. From now onwards, the
look as if they are • Mythical stories depicting huge defied solitary hunter is shown.
hunting, dancing and animals chasing diminutive human beings, • Example: Chaturbhujnath
running. medical treatment and burial like activity. Nala (Chariots appeared),
• Upper part of the rocks • Dance, pregnant women, childbirth and a Kupgallu, Piklihal and
in the shelter was mostly mother with a child are also drawn. Tekkalkota
painted. • Example: Lakhajoar (Fishing scene, family
feasting in a hut), Bhimbetka (Magical
treatment of an ill person), Chaturbhujnath
Nala (dynamic archers).

Other examples of cave paintings

• Ajanta Caves: Ajanta is the only surviving example of painting of the 1st century BCE.
o The subject matter of these paintings is almost exclusively Buddhist except for decorative patterns on the
ceilings and the pillars.
o During the Gupta period (5th- 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original
group.
• Bagh Caves: Located on the far banks of the Baghini river, these Caves contain Buddhist paintings and relics dating
back to 5th-7th century.
o Most significant is Cave No. 4, commonly known as the Rang Mahal (the Palace of Colours).
• Badami Caves: Badami was capital of the early Chalukyan dynasty (543 to 598 CE).
o These cave paintings are dedicated to Lord Shiva and have earliest Brahmanical paintings (belonging to the
6th century A.D.) known so far.

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 • Sittannavasal: It is a rock-cut Jain
temple of the Pandyan era (9th
century) near Pudukkottai, Tamil
Nadu. These cave paintings are
dedicated to the Jain themes and
symbolism.
• Ellora Cave: These caves show an
uninterrupted sequence of
monuments dating from A.D. 600 to
1000.
o They harbour Hindu, Buddhist
and Jain temples. Main theme of
these paintings is also centered
on these 3 religions.
• Elephanta/Gharapuri Caves: These
Caves were constructed about the
mid-5th to 6th centuries AD.
o They harbour Hindu and
Buddhist temples.
o The remains of the Buddhists
Stupas in Elephanta probably
belong to the early phase of
Buddhism dating 2nd century
BC.

Related news
Sulawesi Art
• Recently, World’s Oldest Cave Painting was
discovered in Indonesia
• Cave painting, dating back to more than 45,000
years, depicts a warty pigs endemic to
Sulawesi island of Indonesia, where the
painting was found.
o Painting was found in a limestone cave and
was made using red ochre pigment.
o Depiction of Sulawesi warty pigs implies
that these animals were important to
ancient humans.
• Archaeologists used Uranium-series isotope analysis, which uses calcium carbonate deposits that form naturally
on the cave wall surface to determine its age.
• Sulawesi island contains some of the oldest directly dated rock art in the world and also some of the oldest
evidence for the presence of hominins beyond the southeastern limits of the Ice Age Asian continent.
o Previous oldest painting, around 44000 years old, depicting a pig and buffalo was also found in Sulawesi.
o Hominins include modern humans, extinct human species and our immediate ancestors.
• Cave or rock paintings are paintings painted on cave or rock walls and ceilings. They have been found in Europe,
Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia.

2.2. INDIA’S TRADITIONAL TOYS

Why in news?
Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry has exempted Handicraft and Geographical Indications (GI) toys from Quality Control Order to
fulfill the vision of making India a global manufacturing hub for sale & exports of toys.
Status of Indian Toy industry
• India’s toy market stands at around $450-500 mn around 0.5% of the world toy market which is pegged at
around $ 90 bn.
o Also, India has one of the largest young populations in the world, owing to which, the toy industry in
the country has witnessed a rapid growth.

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 • Till the 1980s, most of the toys used in
India were made in India itself. However,
the opening up of the economy in 1991
changed this as made in China toys
began to flood the market.
• Currently, 80% of Indian toys are Chinese
imports and non-branded Chinese toys
account for 90% of India's market.
o China manufactures almost 75% of
the world’s toys.
About India’s traditional toys
• India is an old playground of a myriad of
toys made from a variety of materials
like wood, polymer, cloth, fibre, wood
pulp, rubber and metal.
• India has a rich culture of storytelling
Other steps taken to revive toy industry of India
through its toys which show a
• Toycathon-2021: It was recently launched which is a special
perspective of life.
kind of hackathon organised by the Centre.
• Historically, Indian toys date back to o It aims to promote indigenous toy industry and reduce
5000 years. The excavated toys and imports.
dolls found in Harappa and Mohenjo- o It provides students and teachers, design experts, toy
Daro included small carts, dancing experts and start-ups a platform to get together to
woman, etc. crowdsource ideas for developing toys and games that
o Some of the traditional toy are based on Indian culture, ethos, folklores, heroes and
manufacturing hubs are value systems.
Channapatna in Karnataka, • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: As part of the school
curriculum, toy- making will be introduced to students from
Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh,
the sixth standard onwards. This will be done through
Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh and workshops, visits to manufacturing factories as well as
Budni-Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. through local craftsmen.
• Traditional toy sector is eco-friendly
(they are made up of natural products like clay papers, wood, vegetable colours etc.)
• Under the 'Vocal for Local' slogan and the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign, the government is exploring
opportunities to tap the potential of the sector.
Name State Description
Channapatna Karnataka Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, impressed by a lacquer-coated wooden artifact he received as
toy a gift from Persia in the 18th century, invited Persian artisans to India to train the people
in his realm.
Kinnal toys Karnataka These are wood toys depicting mostly Hindu gods and goddesses.
Kondapalli Andhra Also Known as Bommala Koluvu (Dasara dolls) are made in Kondapalli of Krishna district,
toys Pradesh Andhra Pradesh. The style of these toys is a mix of Islamic and Rajasthani art, popular for
their realistic expressions.
Etikoppaka Andhra Etikoppaka Toys are made of soft wood and lacquer color. Coloured with natural dyes
Toys Pradesh derived from seeds, lacquer, roots and leaves. The way of toy making is also known as
turned wood lacquer craft.
Nirmal toys Telangana The style of Nirmal toys of Telangana is a beautiful assimilation Ajanta floral and Mughal
miniature.
Thanjavur Tamil Nadu Thanjavur Dancing Dolls, traditionally known as Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai, are a part
Golu Dolls of an eclectic heritage of beautiful handicrafts from Tanjore.
Laiphadibi Manipur Laiphadibi or doll is a feminine image of god made from shabby clothes. From being a
play thing to being an integral part of rituals, these dolls, popularly called laidhibi, are
treated as living spirits.
Asharikandi Assam These are similar to terracotta of Harappan civilization. They are made in Asharikandi
Terracotta (Madaikhali) craft village, Assam which is the single largest cluster where both
Toys Terracotta and Pottery crafts are found and practiced in traditional way.

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 Other • Odisha’s Sambalpur toys and paper mache and stone toys;
traditional • Bihar’s Kanyaputri Dolls and Sikki work;
toys • Uttar Pradesh’s Wooden toys of Varanasi;
• West Bengal’s Natungram Dolls.
• Tamil Nadu’s Choppu saman
• Gujarat’s Thigda dhingla
• Punjab’s chankana (a toy with a whistle), ghuggu (rattle box for babies), lattoo
(spinning top), handwai (kitchen sets)
• Maharashtra’s Bhatukali miniature kitchen sets and Sawantwadi toys

2.3. TEXTILES OF MADHYA PRADESH

Why in news?
Local tribals in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh are being trained in the
Bagh, Maheshwari and Chanderi textile crafts by TRIFED to ensure
continuous livelihoods.
More on news
• Barwani in Madhya Pradesh is an aspirational district due its poor
socio-economic development condition.
• There are no traditional crafts in Barwani, however, in the
surrounding districts of Khargone and Dhar, tribal artisans are
engaged in Bagh printing and traditional weaving of textiles in
the Maheshwari style.
About Bagh Print
• It is a traditional hand block print with natural colours, practised
in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh.
• Its name is derived from the village Bagh on the banks of the
Bagh River.
• In this printing technique the cotton and silk cloth are subject to treatment of a blend of corroded iron
fillings, alum and Alizarin (organic red dye).
• On completion of the printing process, the printed fabric is subject to repeated washing in the flowing
waters of the river and
then dried in the sun for a
specific period to obtain
the fine lustre.
• Usually geometric and
floral compositions with
vegetable colours of red
and black over a white
background are found in
this style.
• Bagh printing received the
Geographical Indication
(GI) tag in 2008.
About Maheshwari fabrics
• Maheshwari fabrics are
cotton and silk fabric
woven with zari or brocade
in varied designs primarily
used to make sarees.
• The Maheshwari sarees comes from Maheshwar (located on banks of Narmada) in Khargone district of
Madhya Pradesh.

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 • The grandeur of the forts in Related Information
Madhya Pradesh and their designs Korvai weaving
played an important role in • Korvai is an ancient and complex technique of weaving, practiced
inspiring the technique, weaves in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
and motifs on the Maheshwari • In this technique the body of the sari is woven separately and the
fabrics. border separately on the same loom and the two interlocked by
• Some of these popular designs skilful weaving.
include the Mat pattern (chattai), Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India
(TRIFED)
Jasmine pattern (Chameli), Brick
• It was established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative
pattern (Eent) and Diamond
Societies Act, 1984 by the Government of India as a National level
pattern (Heera). Cooperative body.
• There are 5 major categories of • It falls under the Ministry of Tribal Welfare.
sarees woven out of Maheshwari • TRIFED is mandated to ringing about socio-economic development
fabric which are namely - of tribals of the country by institutionalising the trade of Minor
Chandrakala, Baingani Forest Produce (MFP) & Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP)
Chandrakala, Chandratara, Beli collected/ cultivated by them.
and Parbi. These sarees are glossy • It plays the dual role of both a market developer and a service
and light weight. provider.
• Maheshwari sarees were • TRIBES India is the brand under which the sourced handcrafted
products from the tribal people are sold.
patronized by the royal family of
Holkars and are said
to be created by Rani
Ahilya Bai Holkar
herself.
About Chanderi fabrics
• It is a traditional
ethnic fabric
characterized by its
lightweight, sheer
texture and fine
luxurious feel.
• It is produced by
weaving in silk and
golden Zari in the
traditional cotton
yarn that results in
the creation of the
shimmering texture.
• The fabric borrowed
its name from the
small town Chanderi
in Madhya Pradesh
and can be classified
into 3 types –
Chanderi silk cotton,
pure silk and
Chanderi cotton.
• Chanderi sarees were
patronized by the
royal family of
Scindias.

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 2.4. OTHER ART FORMS IN NEWS
Kollam Drawing • It is a traditional Indian art form of drawing
geometric patterns on the floors.
• They are drawn to invite health and prosperity
into houses where they are displayed.
• The raw materials include edibles like rice flour,
pulse and leaves.
• Motifs may include lotus, fish, birds etc which
reflects the unity of man and beast.
• Most of the designs are circular exuding a
sense of endlessness of time. Sun, moon and other zodiac signs are also common themes.
Warli Paintings, • It expresses daily and social events of the Warli tribe of
Maharashtra Maharashtra. These paintings do not depict mythological
characters or images of deities, but depict social life.
• Images of human beings and animals, along with scenes from
daily life are created in a loose rhythmic pattern.
o Paintings depict scenes of human figures engaged in
activities like hunting, dancing, sowing and harvesting.
o In Warli paintings a series of dots and dashes make one
line.
• Women are mainly engaged in the creation of these
paintings.
Madhubani • It is also referred to as Mithila Art (as it flourishes in Mithila
Painting, Bihar region of Bihar) and is characterized by line drawings filled in
by bright colours and contrasts or patterns.
• It uses tribal motifs and paintings are done with mineral
pigments prepared by artists.
• Themes: Hindu deities, court scenes, wedding scenes, social
happenings etc.
• Floral, animal and bird motifs, geometrical designs are used
to fill up all the gaps.

Rogan painting, • It is a 300-year-old craft tradition that

Gujarat once flourished in Gujarat’s Kutch region.
• All the Rogan crafts are made without
khaka (which means layout or blueprint).
It’s basically a huge canvas and a metal
rod with colourful paint.
• Rogan is the technique of painting on
fabric, using a thick brightly coloured
paint-like substance made with castor
seed oil.
o Rogan is a mirror art; the paint is
sticky and transfers to the other
cloth.
Monpa ● Khadi and Village Industries
Handmade Commission commissioned a Monpa
Paper, Arunachal handmade paper making unit in
Pradesh Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh for
reviving the 1000-year old heritage art
● Monpa is a fine-textured handmade
paper, which is called Mon Shugu in
the local dialect, is integral to the
vibrant culture of the local Monpa
tribe in Tawang.
● The paper originated over 1000 years
ago and has great historic and
religious significance as it is the paper
used for writing Buddhist scriptures and hymns in monasteries.

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 o Monpas used to sell these papers to countries like Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand and Japan as
no paper making industry existed in these countries at that time.
o However, the local industry gradually began declining and the indigenous handmade
paper was taken over by inferior Chinese paper.
• The Monpa handmade paper will be made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng,
which has medicinal values too.
Pulikkali, Kerala • Pulikkali (Tiger Dance) is the folk
art form of Kerala.
• Performers painted like tigers and
hunters in bright yellow, red, and
black dance to the beats of
instruments like Udukku and
Thakil.
• Pulikkali was introduced by
erstwhile ruler of Cochin, Maharaja
Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran,
two centuries ago.
Dhokra ● Dhokra artefacts are metal figurines fashioned from
Decorative bronze and copper based alloys using a 'lost wax casting'.
Pieces, West o The name is derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes,
Bengal the traditional metal smiths of West Bengal.
• One of the oldest Dhokra artefacts is the ‘Dancing girl of
Mohenjodaro.’

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 3. DANCES & MUSIC
3.1. INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS SPORTS IN KHELO INDIA YOUTH
GAMES 2021
Why in News? Other martial arts of India
• Tamil Nadu: Silambam & Kuttu Varisai;
Recently, Sports Ministry has • Manipur: Sarit Sarak
approved the inclusion of four • Himachal Pradesh: Thoda;
Indigenous Games to be a part of • Bengal: Lathi Khela;
Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) • Maharashtra: Mardaani Khel
2021. The games include: Gatka, • J&K: Squay.
Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Related news
Mallakhamba, along with Yogasana as a competitive sport
Yogasana. ● Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced
the formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport.
More in News ● It will ensure new technologies and new strategies being inducted into
the disciplines to benefit athletes and officials.
• KIYG is a part of the
● It will encourage yoga, spread awareness about its benefits and to help
revamped national improve physical and mental wellbeing of the people.
programme for development ● Yogasana is an integral and important component of Yoga.
of sports ‘Khelo India’ which ● Proposed events include Traditional Yogasana, Artistic Yogasana
was approved by the Union (Single), Artistic Yogasana (Pair), Rhythmic Yogasana (Pair) etc.
Cabinet in 2017.
• Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level
by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting
nation.

Four Indigenous Games

Kallaripayattu • It is the martial art form of Kerala.
• Kalaripayattu has different techniques like meipayattu
(physical body exercise), vadipayattu (fight using sticks),
valpayattu (fight using swords) and verumkaiprayoga (bare
hand exercise).
• Another focus of Kalaripayattu is specialisation in
indigenous medicinal practices.
o Kalari treatment (a system of medicine) is a part of the
curriculum

Mallakhamb • It is the state sport of Madhya Pradesh.

• It is a traditional sport of India in which a gymnast performs Aerial
yoga and wrestling on hanging wooden poles, cane or hanging
rope.
o There are various types of mallakhamb like mallakhamb
on cane, niradhar (supportless) mallakhamb, pole
mallakhamb, hanging mallakhamb and rope
mallakhamb.
• The origin of Mallakhamb can be traced to the 12th century,
where it is mentioned in "MANASOLHAS", a classic by Chalukya
in 1135 A.D.
Gatka • It is a style of fighting with wooden sticks that originated in
Punjab in the 15th Century.
• It is stick fighting between two or more practitioners, with
wooden sticks called Soti, which is intended to simulate
swords.

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 Thang Ta • It is a Manipuri martial art, also called the Art of the Sword and
Spear.
• It is dedicated to fighting skill and worship.
• It integrates various external weapons - the sword, spear,
dagger etc. with the internal practice of physical control that
involves breathing methods, meditations, and rituals.

3.2. OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

Bhavai, Gujarat ● It is a form of
traditional street
play performed
across villages of
Saurashtra and
North Gujarat.
● It is a unique stage
art form, performed
with ‘Bhava’,
meaning expression
revealing emotions.
● It is exclusively
performed by male
members in various
costumes and character forms.
● It is mainly performed by the Targala community also known as Bhavaya; they hail from both
the Hindu and Muslim communities.
Garba -folk • The word “Garbo” has originated from
dance of Gujarat Sanskrit word “Garbhdeep”, means an
earthen pot with circular holes.
• It is linked with the worship of “Shakti” –
performed during Navratri & during
weddings.
• Either a lamp (Garba Deep) or an image of
Goddess Durga is placed in middle of
concentric rings.
• In this, people dance around the centre
clapping their hands to the beats of the
Dhol.
Yakshagana, • It is a traditional
Karnataka Indian theatre form of
Karnataka based on
mythological stories
and Puranas. Most
popular episodes are
from Mahabharata
and Ramayana.
• It combines dance,
music, dialogue,
costume, make-up,
and stage techniques
with a unique style and
form.
• Yaksha means Demi-God, and gana means song.
• It is believed to be originated during Bhakti movement in between 11th and 15th century.

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 4. LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
4.1. PRABUDDHA BHARAT JOURNAL
Why in News?
Recently, ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ journal celebrated its 125th anniversary.
About Prabuddha Bharata
• Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India is an english-language monthly journal of the Ramakrishna
Mission.
• Prabuddha Bharata was founded in 1896 by P. Aiyasami, B. R. Rajam Iyer, G. G. Narasimhacharya, and B. V.
Kamesvara Iyer, in Madras (now Chennai), at the behest of Swami Vivekananda.
• It is the "longest-running" monthly English magazine of the country.
• It carries articles on social sciences and
About Ramakrishna Mission
humanities comprising historical, • Ramakrishna Mission was founded near Calcutta (now
psychological, cultural and social sciences Kolkata) by Vivekananda in 1897 with a twofold purpose:
themes. o to spread the teachings of Vedanta as embodied in the
• Luminaries like Netaji Subhas Chandra life of the Hindu saint Ramakrishna (1836–86) and
Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sister o to improve the social conditions of the Indian people.
Nivedita, Sri Aurobindo, Sarvepalli • It is a philanthropic and volunteer organisation.
Radhakrishnan etc. wrote in the journal. • Mission Motto is Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Cha,
• Other publications from Ramakrishna “For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world”.
It was formulated by Swami Vivekananda.
mission:
• Organization is based on the three core ideals: Work as
o Udbodhan, Bengali Monthly started
worship, potential divinity of the soul, and harmony of
by Swami Vivekananda in January religions.
1899,
o Vedanta Kesari is cultural and spiritual magazines in English. It was started in 1914
• Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam, the Tamil monthly magazine started in 1921

4.2. OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

Mongolian Kanjur • Ministry of Culture has taken up project of reprinting of 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur
under National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM).
• Mongolian Kanjur is Buddhist canonical text which is held in high esteem by Mongolian
Buddhists and they worship Kanjur at temples.
o It is a source of providing a cultural identity to Mongolia.
• NMM under Ministry of Tourism and Culture has mandate of documenting, conserving and
disseminating the knowledge preserved in manuscripts.
Tangam ● It is an oral language that belongs the greater Tibeto-Burman language family.
o It is spoken by Tangams, a community in Arunachal Pradesh.
● It is marked ‘critically endangered’ under UNESCO World Atlas of Endangered Languages.
• Endangered language
o Around 197 languages are in various stages of endangerment in India i.e. more than any
other country in world.
o According to UNESCO, any language that is spoken by less than 10,000 people is
potentially endangered.
ü Critically endangered languages are those whose youngest speakers are
grandparents or older.
o In India, after the 1971 census, any language spoken by less than 10,000 people is not
included in official list of languages.
o Steps taken for preservation of endangered languages
ü Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages.
ü Government provides funds to set up centres for endangered languages in nine
central universities.

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 Bakhshali ● A black dot on a Bakhshali manuscript
manuscript has been identified by Oxford University
as the first recorded use of the
mathematical symbol for zero.
o The earliest recorded example of
the use of zero was previously
believed to be a ninth-century
inscription on a wall in a temple at
Gwalior in India.
● Bakhshali manuscript is a third-century
Indian mathematical manuscript
written in ink on birch bark.
● It was found in 1881 in the vicinity of the village of Bakhshali, near Peshawar, Pakistan.
● Zero has also been used in Lilavati which was composed by astronomer and mathematician
Bhaskaracarya (Bhaskara II).
Delhi govt nod to • Konkani an Indo-European language is spoken in Goa (Sate language) and coastal areas of
set up Konkani Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala
language • It is written in five scripts‒ Roman, Nagari, Kannada, Persian-Arabic and Malayalam.
academy • It was included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution in 1992, alongside Manipuri and
Nepali.
o Other in 8th Schedule includes: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,
Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu Bodo, Santhali,
Maithili and Dogri.
• Indo-European language has the highest number of speakers in India accounting for about
73% of the total Indian population.
o It comprises of all the principal languages of northern and western India such as Hindi,
Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Sindhi, Rajasthani, Assamese, Oriya, Pahari, Bihari,
Kashmiri, Urdu and Sanskrit.
World Urdu • It is being organized by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).
Conference • NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Department of Secondary and Higher Education.
o It was set up to promote, develop and propagate Urdu language.
• Urdu is one of the languages under 8th schedule of the Constitution of India.

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 5. INITIATIVES OF UNESCO
5.1. UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE CITIES (WHC) LIST
Why in News?
Gwalior, Orcha of Madhya Pradesh (MP) have been included under UNESCO’s urban landscape city
programme.
Details
• Prior to this India
had 38 world
heritage sites that
include 30 Cultural
properties, 7
Natural properties
and 1 mixed site
(refer box).
• Historic Urban
Landscape
approach moves
beyond
preservation of
physical
environment and
focuses on the
entire human
environment with
all of its tangible
and intangible
qualities.
o It focuses on
involving more
people in
preservation
efforts, raise
levels of
awareness,
and seek
innovative
schemes.
• Gwalior was
established in 9th
century and ruled
by Gurjar Pratihar
Rajvansh, Tomar,
Baghel Kachvaho
and Scindias.
o It is known for its palaces and temples, including Sas Bahu Ka Mandir temple.
• Orchha is located in the Bundelkhand region of MP and was the 16th century capital of the erstwhile
Bundela dynasty.
o Famous spots in the town are Jehangir Mahal, Ramraja Temple, Laxminarayan Temple etc.
• After Inclusion in WHC list
o Chemical treatment of historic spots will be done so that art inscribed on them will become more
visible.
o UNESCO will suggest best measures and resources for the development of these places.

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 5.2. STREET HAWK CULTURE
Why in News?
Recently, Singapore’s popular and vibrant Street Hawker culture was designated an Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) by UNESCO.
Details
• ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ indicates ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills –
as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that
communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their Cultural Heritage’. Examples
of intangible heritage are oral traditions, performing arts, local knowledge, and traditional skills.
• ‘Tangible Cultural Heritage’ refers to physical artefacts produced, maintained and transmitted
intergenerationally in a society. It includes artistic creations, built heritage such as buildings and
• monuments, and other physical or tangible products of human creativity that are invested with cultural
significance in a society.
• The hawker centres are representative of Singapore’s multiculturalism with stalls selling cheap and
delicious food of Chinese, Malay, Indian origins among others.
• The Singapore government under its National Environment Agency has implemented various steps to
keep the hawker culture alive.
• It has set up the Incubation Stall Programme and Hawkers’ Development Programme among others to
equip aspiring and existing street hawkers with relevant skills.
ICH from India inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List
Kerala
Mudiyettu • It is a ritual theatre form of Kerala based on the mythological tale of the battle between
Goddess Kali and Darika, an evil king.
Kutiyattam • It is a Sanskrit theatre and is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions.
Ladakh
Buddhist • The recitation of ancient sacred Buddhist texts are chanted every day by the monks living in
Chanting of various monasteries and following different sects of Buddhism in the trans-Himalayan region
Ladakh of Ladakh in India
Manipur
Sankirtan • It is the artistic manifestation of Manipuri worship.
Punjab
Thatheras of • The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru represents the traditional technique of
Jandiala Guru manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab.
Rajasthan
Kalbelia • Kalbelia Dance is an expression of the Kalbelia community's way of life as snake charmers.
Uttarakhand
Ramman • It is a form of traditional ritual theatre celebrated every year in the courtyard of the temple
of Bhumiyal Devta of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
Ramlila, the • It is a performance of the Ramayana epic in a series of scenes that include song, narration,
traditional recital and dialogue.
performance of • It is performed across northern India during the festival of Dussehra, held each year
the Ramayana according to the ritual calendar in autumn.
Other Elements Common in India
Nowrouz • It is a festival of whole community of Parsi Zoroastrians and Irani Zoroastrians.
Tradition of • The Vedas comprise a vast corpus of Sanskrit poetry, philosophical dialogue, myth, and ritual
Vedic chanting incantations developed and composed by Aryans over 3,500 years ago.
• Regarded by Hindus as the primary source of knowledge and the sacred foundation of their
religion, the Vedas embody one of the world’s oldest surviving cultural traditions.
Kumbh Mela • It is a mass congregation of generally Hindu pilgrims in which people gather to take a
bath/dip in a sacred river.
• It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world.
• It is celebrated four times every 12 years, the site of the observation rotating between four
pilgrimage places on the four sacred rivers at Allahabad (UP), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain
(MP) and Nashik (Maharashtra).

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 • Ardha ("Half”) Kumbh Mela is held at only two places, Haridwar and at Allahabad, every sixth
year.
• Maha Kumbh is held after every 144 years.
• In Ujjain, the Kumbh Mela (Simhastha Kumbh) is held every 12 years when the zodiac position
of Jupiter is in Leo.
Chhau Dance • It is a major dance tradition of Eastern India.
• There are three distinct forms of Chhau: Seraikella Chhau of Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj Chhau
of Orissa and Purulia Chhau of West Bengal.
• It traces its origin to indigenous forms of dance and martial practices using masks to identify
the character.
• Dancers perform a repertoire that explores a variety of subjects: local legends, folklore and
episodes from the epics Ramayana/ Mahabharata and abstract themes.
• Chhau dance is intimately connected to regional festivals, notably the spring festival Chaitra
Parva.
• The dance is accompanied with loud beats and instruments like drum and marui.
Yoga • It is a traditional and time honoured Indian holistic system of personal, physical, mental and
spiritual wellness focusing on all-round unification of body, mind and soul.

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 6. FESTIVALS
Odisha
Raja Parba • It is a unique three-day festival of Odisha celebrating the onset of monsoon and beginning of
festival earth’s womanhood.
• As a mark of respect towards the earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works, like
ploughing, sowing are suspended for three days.
Nuakhai Juhar • It is an agricultural festival to welcome the new crop of the season.
• It is also called NuakhaiParab or NuakahiBhetghat and is celebrated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and
areas of neighbouring states.
• Nuakhai is a combination of two words that signifies eating of new rice as ‘nua’ means new and
‘khai’ means eat.
Lord • Rath Yatra marks the annual ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother
Jagannath Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra, from their home temple to another temple, located
Rath Yatra in what is believed to be their aunt's home.
• Jagannath temple was sculpted by Anantavarman Chodaganga, a ruler of the Eastern Ganga
dynasty, in 11th Century.
Chaitra Jatra • It is an annual festival organised at Tara Tarini hill shrine.
• Shrine, is located at Kumari hill, Odisha on banks of the Rushikulya river.
• It is a major centre of Shakti worship.
Bishnu Sendra • It is an annual hunting festival observed by tribals of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
Parva • It was reported that for the first time, not a single animal was killed in Jharkhand on Bishnu
Sendra Parva.
Kerala
Thrissur • Thrissur Pooram is one of the biggest temple festivals of Kerala and has a tradition of more than
Pooram 200 years.
• This is a post-harvest festival. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month Of Medom (April-May) in
Thrissur.
• This event was started by Sakthan Thampuran, the erstwhile ruler of Kochi.
• Festival related events take place at the Vadakkumnathan temple, Thrissur.
Thumbimahot • It is first-ever State Dragonfly Festival in Kerala
savam 2020 o ‘Pantalu’ is the official mascot of the festival.
• This is part of National Dragonfly Festival organised by WWF India, Bombay Natural History
Society and Indian Dragonfly Society in association with National Biodiversity Board, UN
Environmental Programme, UN Development Programme and IUCN-CEC.
• Dragonfly Festival started in 2018 to educate and inform the public about the integral role that
dragonflies, and their lesser known siblings damselflies, play in our environment.
Malayalam • First day of the Chingam month in Malayalam calendar is considered as the New Year day.
New Year • This is also known as Puthuvarsham.
Makaravilakku • Makaravilakku festival is set to begin at Sabarimala.
festival • It is an annual festival held on Makar Sankranti at SabarimalaTemplein Kerala.
• The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments of Lord Ayyappan) procession
and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.
Assam
Ambubachi • It is an annual festival held at Kamakhya temple, atop Nilachal hills of Guwahati, Assam on the
Mela bank of Brahmaputra river.
• Devi Kamakhya is worshipped as Goddess of fertility.
• Kamakhya temple is one of 51 Shakti Peethas, important shrines in the Hindu tradition of
Shaktism that are spread across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka.
Gujarat
Ashadhi Bij • It is associated with beginning of rains in Kutch, Gujarat.
• Kutchi people celebrate their New Year on Ashadi Beej.
Nagaland
Hornbill ● It is one of the largest celebrations of the indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland. It is
Festival organized every year in the first week of December
● The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its
extravaganza and traditions.
● The festival is named after Hornbill, one of the most venerated bird species in the state whose
importance is reflected in a number of tribal cultural expressions, songs and dances

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 Others
Sankalp Parva • Ministry of Culture will be celebrating Sankalp Parva from 28th June to 12 July 2020.
• Under this, Ministry expects all its Subordinate Offices, Academies, Attached Institutions, and
Affiliated Institutions to plant trees in its campus or at the surroundings wherever it is
possible.
• Five trees recommended are Bargad, Awla, Pepal, Ashok, Bel.
Dharma ● International Buddhist Confederation, under Ministry of Culture is celebrating Asadha
Chakra Day / Poornima on July 4, 2020, as Dharma Chakra Day.
Asaadh ● Day commemorates Buddha's First Sermon to his first five ascetic disciples at the Deer Park,
Poornima Rsipatana in present day Sarnath near Varanasi, UP.
● It is celebrated by Buddhists as day of Dharma Chakra Parvattana or Turning of the Wheel of
Dharma.
● This day is also observed as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark
reverence to their Gurus.
Paryushan ● Paryushan Parva is annual festival of Jain religion celebrated for spiritual upliftment and self-
Parva purification.
● For Jains, fasting during Paryushan is a chance to eliminate bad karma. It helps one develop
discipline, self-control, patience, forgiveness and repentance.
Destination • It is an annual festival organised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
North East- • Objective is to take the north-eastern region to other parts of the country and bringing them
2020' closer together in order to strengthen national integration.
• For this year, theme is The Emerging Delightful Destinations.

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 7. ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL HISTORY
7.1. GURJARA-PRATIHARAS
Why in news?
Natesa, a 9th century’s rare sandstone idol of Rajasthan temple smuggled out of country in 1998 returned to
India.
About Natesa sandstone idol
• Natesa is a rare sandstone idol from the Pratihara Style of architecture in Rajasthan.
• It is originally from the Ghateswar Temple at Baroli, Rajasthan.
• The sandstone Natesa figure stands tall at almost 4 ft in a rare and brilliant depiction of Shiva.
o A depiction of Nandi (sacred bull calf) is shown behind the right leg of the Natesa icon.
• Pratihara Style of architecture is associated with Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty around 800-900 AD.
About Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty
• Dynasty
o Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty ruled much of
Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th
century.
o They were one of the first four patrilineal clans
of the caste group referred to as the Rajputs.
o The Pratiharas, derived their name from the
Sanskrit meaning doorkeeper, are seen as a
tribal group or a clan of the Gurjaras.
o Important rulers:
§ Nagabhata I contained Arab armies
moving east of the Indus River and rose to
fame in the late 8th century CE.
§ Nagabhata Il, Mhir Bhoj (Bhoja) and
Mahendrapala I were the other important
rulers of dynasty.
o The expansion of the Gurjara-Pratihara
kingdom involved constant conflicts with
other contemporary powers such as the Palas and the Rashtrakutas known as the tripartite struggle
for Kanauj (refer to infographics).
• Administration and military
o They retained terms of administration, on line of the Gupta Empire's and Harshvardhana’s ideas.
o Some areas were administered directly by the centre and some were divided into provinces (bhukti)
and districts (mandala or vishaya), respectively, governed by a governor (uparika) and a district head
(vishayapati).
o Governor and district heads were tasked with collecting land revenue and maintaining law and order
with the help of the army units stationed in their areas.
o They were well-known for their cavalry in which horses were imported from Central Asia and Arabia
etc.
o After Bhoja, military power of the Pratiharas declined, and they suffered defeats under successive
kings.
• Architecture
o The Pratiharas extended Gupta architecture tradition by adding a full-fledged mandapa to the single
shrine temple and mandovara too got articulated into either the triratha, or the pancharatha plan. E.g.
Gadarmal temple, Badoh-Pathari etc.
o Gurjara-Pratiharas were known for their open pavilion temples.
o They are known for their new space concepts, structural and functional constructs, motifs
[Link] with aesthetic and iconographic norms temples belonging to Nagara Style of temple
Architecture.

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 • Trade/economy
o Economy in Gurjara-Pratihara Empire was mainly dependent on agricultural production and major
source of government revenue at that time was the tax derived from the bulk of agricultural
production.
o Horses were important commodity in trade of Gurjara-Pratihara Empire.
• Primary literary sources include the accounts of Arab merchants like Suleiman, al-Masudi and poet
Rajashekhara in court of Mahendrapala I.

7.2. KAKATIYA DYNASTY

Why in news?
A temple constructed by Kakatiya ruler, in
Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravathi has
been converted into an abode of local
goddess Balusulamma (Goddess Durga).
More on news
• The temple was constructed by emperor
Ganapati Deva, a mighty ruler of Kakatiya
dynasty.
• The presiding deity at this 13th century
temple was Kakati Devi, the deity of
Kakatiya rulers.
About Kakatiya dynasty
• They were earlier feudatories of Western
Chalukyas. All three contemporary
dynasties of Deccan i.e., Hoysalas,
Yadavas and Kakatiyas were feudatories
of Western Chalukyas.
• The independent dynasty was established when Rudradeva (Prataparudra I) became first independent
ruler of Kakatiya dynasty in 1158AD.
• Warangal was the capital of Kakatiyas.
• They faced Islamic invasion from 1310 (by Alauddin Khilji) and ultimately came under control of Delhi
Sultanate in 1323 (invasion by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq).
• Prominent rulers:
o Ganapatideva’s reign was the longest amongst all the Kakatiya rulers, starting from 1199 till 1262 CE
during which he expanded his kingdom from the coastal Bay of Bengal in the east to Kanchipuram in
the south.
o Rani Rudrama Devi (1262-89) was one of the few queens in Indian history belonged to Kakatiya
dynasty.
• Socio-Economic history:
o Motupalli was the famous trading seaport of the Kakatiyas.
o Marco Polo- the famous Venetian traveler visited Kakatiya kingdom through this port and wrote
about the prosperity and power in Andhras in his travelogue.
o Kakatiya dynasties were famous for the construction of large tanks and used the
sluice-weir device in it to boost crop production.
o The Koh-i-noor diamond was mined during Kakatiya rule from the Golconda mines
• Architecture:
o Rudreswara Temple: also known as VeyyisthambalaGudi (Thousand pillars temple) in Telugu is one of
the earliest structures of Kakatiya architecture.
ü It was built by Rudra Deva in 1163 AD.
ü The temple is known for its richly carved pillars, perforated screens, special icons like rock-cut
elephants and monolithic Nandi.
ü The temple was desecrated by the rulers of Tughlaq dynasty during their invasion of the Deccan
region.
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 o Rammappa Temple (Telangana): It is the only temple in India known by the name of the sculptor who
built it, rather than after the presiding deity
ü It was built on behalf of the king, Kakati Ganapathi Deva by his chief commander Rudra Samani.
ü The sculptural work of dance postures in the temple were great inspiration for the famous work
‘Nritya Ratnavali’, by Jayapa Senani.
o Warangal Fort: Warangal fort was built by King Ganapathi in 13th century and completed by his
daughter Rudrama Devi, in 1261 A.D.
ü The fort has four paths with decorative and lofty gateways known as Keerthi Thorana or Hamsa
Thorana.
o Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple, and Ramappa Temple of this region have been added to the
tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

7.3. EVIDENCE OF DAIRY

PRODUCTION IN THE
INDUS VALLEY
CIVILIZATION (IVC)
Why in news?
The year 2020 marks 100 years of discovery
of IVC or also known as Harappan
Civilization., and a new study has shown
that dairy products were being produced
by the Harappans as far back as 2500 BCE.
Key findings
• Earliest evidence of industrial level of
dairy production: These were based on
analysis of the absorbed lipid residues
in unglazed ceramic vessels.
• Evidence of dairy processing: that is, the preservation of milk through fermentation and other techniques.
o The results are based on molecular chemical analysis of residue of pottery found at Kotada Bhadli, in
Gujarat. Related News
o Even in the present day, Cattle, Buffalo Meat Residue Found in Indus Valley Vessels
Gujarat is still a major • According to new study in North Western India sites
producer of dairy products in o Diet of people of IVC had a dominance of meat, including
India. extensive eating of beef.
• Animal used for dairy o It finds dominance of animal products such as meat of pigs,
production: They studied the cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat, as well as dairy products.
tooth enamel from fossils of o Ceramics are one of the most ubiquitous artefacts recovered.
o Wild animal species like deer, antelope, gazelle, birds, and
cattle, water buffalo, goat and
riverine/marine resources are also found in small proportions
sheep found in the area. Cows
and water buffalo were found to consume millets, while sheep and goats ate nearby grass and leaves.
o The large herd indicates that milk was produced in surplus so that it could be exchanged and there
could have been some kind of trade between settlements.
• Hence, these findings throw a light on rural economy of IVC.
About Indus Valley Civilization
• It is one of the four earliest civilizations of the world along with the Mesopotamia, Egypt and China.
• IVC was a cultural and political entity which flourished in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent between
c. 7000 - c. 600 BCE.
• Dayaram Sahni first discovered Harappa in 1921.
• Its modern name derives from its location in the valley of the Indus River, but it is also commonly referred to as
the Indus-Saraswati Civilization (after the Saraswati River mentioned in Vedic sources which flowed adjacent to
the Indus) and the Harappan Civilization.
• It remains unclear how the Indus civilization came to an end.
• The civilization’s southernmost parts may have continued until Iron Age civilization developed in India about
1000 BCE.

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 Recent IVC related discoveries
• According to a recent study shifting monsoon patterns linked to climate change likely caused the rise and fall of
IVC.
• Bhirrana, Haryana is now considered the oldest discovered IVC site, dating back to 7500 BCE.
o Previously, Mehrgarh, in Pakistan (7000 BCE) was considered the oldest site.
• DNA sample of skeletal remains excavated from Rakhigarhi has claimed that inhabitants of IVC were a
distinct indigenous people and challenges theory of an Aryan invasion ending Harapan culture.

Important IVC Sites

Places Locations Archaeological Findings
Harappa Pakistan, River Ravi Six Granaries, stone symbol of Lingam and Yoni, Mother Goddess
figure, Sculpture of dog chasing a deer in bronze metal, a Red
sandstone male torso.
Mohenjodaro Pakistan, River Ravi Citadel, the Great Bath, Sculpture of bearded priest, the Great Granary,
the famous bronze statue of the Dancing Girl and Pashupati seal.
Dholavira Gujarat, India Giant water reservoir, unique water harnessing system.
Lothal Gujarat, India Dockyard, fire altars, terracotta figure of horse and ship
Rakhigarhi Haryana Largest site of Indus Valley civilization, Granary, Terracotta bricks
Ropar Punjab, India located on Dog buried with human oval pit burials, Copper axe
River Sutlej
Balathal and Rajasthan, India Bangle factory, toy carts, bones of Camel, decorated bricks, Citadel
Kalibangan and lower town, fire altar
Surkotada Gujarat, India First actual remains of Horse bones
Banawali Haryana, India on dried up Beads of semi-precious stones, terracotta, steatite and bangles of clay,
River Saraswati shell, faience and copper.
Well-planned fortified township laid in a radial pattern
Alamgirpur Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on Eastern most site of IVC, blade made of Copper, Ceramic items
River Yamuna
Mehrgarh Pakistan Precursor to IVC, Pottery and Copper tools have been found

7.4. SADIKPUR SINAULI EXCAVATIONS

Why in News?
ASI declared site and remains at Sadikpur Sinauli in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district to be of National
Importance.
About Sadikpur Sinauli
• First excavated in 2003-04, site reveals a late Harappan period necropolis- largest known burial site in
India.
• It is located on the left bank of the River Yamuna.
• Carbon dating has confirmed burials date to 1900 BC i.e., 3800 years ago
• Findings at site
o Wooden coffin burials, “chariots”, copper swords.
o Royal burials discovered first time.
o Impressions of cloth found on bodies suggesting purification similar to Hindu rituals.
o Pottery -Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture.
o Horse debate: Excavation found chariots, swords and other objects pointing to the presence of a
warrior class of people in the region during the Copper-Bronze Age (3300 BC –1200 BC).
§ Size and shape of chariots indicate they were pulled by horses.
§ Other supporting evidence is domesticated horse bones found at Surkotda, mature Harappan
site.
o Questions Aryan Invasion Theory: Theory claims that horse was brought from central Asia by
invading Aryan army around 1500 to 1000 BC and that gave Aryans edge over “Dravidians” with bullock
carts.
§ However new findings are suggestive that horse driven chariots were used by the OCP people
around 2000 BC.
§ Other supporting evidence is the domesticated horse bones found at Surkotda, mature Harappan
site.
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 About Aryan Invasion Theory
• According to theory by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler, a nomadic, Indo-European tribe (Steppe
pastoralists or from Anatolian and Iranian farmers), called the Aryans, suddenly overwhelmed and conquered
the Indus River Valley, causing the decline of Indus Valley civilization.
• He posited that many unburied corpses found in the top levels of the Mohenjo-Daro archaeological site were
victims of war.
• The theory suggested that by using horses and more advanced weapons against the peaceful Harappan people,
the Aryans may have easily defeated them.
• Evidence from Rig Veda:
o The Rig Veda time and again refers to the fortresses of the Dasas and Dasyus. The Vedic god Indra is called
'Purandara' meaning 'the destroyer of forts'.
o The geographical area of the habitation of the Rig Vedic Aryans included the Punjab and the Ghaggar-Hakra
region.
o Since there are no remains of other cultural groups having forts in this area in this historical phase, Wheeler
believed that it was the Harappan cities that were being described in the Rig Veda.
o In fact, the Rig Veda mentions a place called Hariyupiya. This place was located on the bank of the river Ravi.
The Aryans fought a battle here. The name of the place sounds very similar to that of Harappa.
o These evidences led Wheeler to conclude that it was the Aryan invaders who destroyed the cities of
Harappa.
About National Importance Tag
• Archaeological site and remains means any area which contains or is, reasonably believed to contain ruins or relics
of historical or archaeological importance, which have been in existence for not less than one hundred years.
• National importance tag puts sites on world tourism map, and ensure them regular fund for conservation,
preservation and maintenance by ASI on priority basis.

Related News
Rare Renati Chol Inscription Unearthed
• Inscription was unearthed in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. It is written in archaic Telugu language.
o It shows record of a gift of six Marttus (a measuring unit) of land gifted to a Brahmin
• It was assigned to 8th Century A.D., when region was under the rule of Chola Maharaja of Renadu.
o Telugu Cholas of Renadu (also called as Renati Cholas) ruled over Renadu region,present day Cuddapah district.
• They were originally independent, later forced to suzerainty of Eastern Chalukyas.

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 8. PERSONALITIES
8.1. NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE
Why in News Related information
rd • He cleared the Indian Civil Service examination in
On 23 January, 2021, India celebrated the 125th birth
1920. However, he resigned during the probation
anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as period in April 1921.
‘Parakram Divas.’ • Along with Chittaranjan Das, Jawaharlal Nehru,
Subhash Chandra Bose served as the President of
Political Career All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
• He was inspired by Bhagvad Gita and teachings of
• His work under political leader Chittaranjan Das
Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh.
in early 1920s:
o In 1921, Bose edited the newspaper ‘Forward’ and later started his newspaper ‘Swaraj’.
o He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, with Das as
mayor of Calcutta.
• His role as a youth leader in INC in late 1920s:
o He had been a leader of the younger, radical wing of the INC.
o He was arrested countless times, and deported to Burma (Myanmar) in 1925 as he was suspected of
connections with secret revolutionary movements.
o He authored the book ‘The Indian Struggle’, which covered the country’s independence movement
in the years 1920–1934.
• His role as the President of INC in 1930s
o He took over as the elected President of Haripura session of INC in 1938 in Bardoli district of Gujarat.
§ He mentioned the need of a comprehensive scheme of industrial development under state-
ownership and state-control.
§ During the session he talked of economic development of country through planning and was
instrumental in setting up a National Planning Committee (under the Chairmanship of Pt. Jawahar
Lal Nehru) later.
§ It is in this session where his ideological differences with Gandhiji emerged.

o In 1939 at Tripuri session, he was again elected as the President defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya who
had been supported by Gandhiji himself. This was the first time when Gandhiji’s authority had been
challenged within the INC. Netaji did not want the national movement to look divided and preferred
to withdraw.
o Then, he formed the All India Forward Bloc, a faction within the INC aimed at consolidating the
political left. However, he was EXPELLED from the INC because of his extreme left, anti-imperialist
stand.
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 • His exile from India
o Alarmed by Netaji’s radical activities the British Indian Govt put him under house arrest.
o Netaji believed that India could not be liberated unless a military campaign was launched from
outside India.
o He knew also that facilities could be obtained for such a campaign only from Britain's enemies and
not from Britain's allies during the course of World War II.
o With these basic ideas, in 1942 he made well his escape from India and proceeded first to Germany
and thence to Japan.
• His military activities during World War II
o After reaching Germany in 1942, he started ‘Azad Hind Radio’ and established ‘Free India Centre’ (a
precursor of the Azad Hind Government).
o He arrived in Singapore in July 1943 and took charge of the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind
Fauj and expanded it to three divisions. INA was established by Mohan Singh. Rash Behari Bose, a
veteran nationalist exiled in Japan came to aide Netaji.
o In Singapore, he formed an Indian government-in-exile ‘the Azad Hind Government’. This
provisional government also had its own currency, court, civil code, Army (the INA) and national
anthem.
o In 1943, as the Head of the State of the Provisional Government, he declared war on Britain for the
liberation of India.
o The INA under the clarion call of “Chalo Delhi” reached Moirang in Manipur and shook the British
confidence.
§ The INA was able to win back Rangoon, Imphal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
§ Netaji renamed Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Island as Shaheed and Swaraj. In 2018, the Ross
Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island of (A&N) Islands were renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
o The great salutation every Army personnel uses today, ‘Jai Hind’, was coined by Netaji’s aide Abid
Hasan.

8.2. JYOTIBA PHULE

Why in news?
Recently 130th death anniversary was observed.
About Jyotiba phule
• Jyotirao ‘Jyotiba’ Govindrao Phule was a prominent social
reformer and thinker of the nineteenth century India. He was
born in Satara district of Maharashtra in 1827. His family
belonged to 'mali' caste of gardeners and vegetable farmers.
• At the age of thirteen years, Jyotirao was married to
Savitribai.
• After reading Thomas Paine's famous book 'The Rights of
Man'(1791), Jyotirao was greatly influenced by his ideas. He believed that enlightenment of the women
and lower caste people were the only solution to combat the social evils.
• He was bestowed with the title of Mahatma by Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888 and passed away in
1890.
• Efforts Towards social reform
o Education:
§ Suggested compulsory, universal and creative education.
§ He and his wife Savitrirao Phule opened the first-ever school for Dalit girls at Bhide Wada, Pune,
in 1848.
§ Curriculum of the school was based on western education and included mathematics, science
and social studies.
o Women empowerment:
§ Believed in the equality of men and women.
§ Stressed on women's education and emancipation of women.
§ Opposed social evils like Child marriage and Female infanticide.

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 § Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (1863), first-ever infanticide prohibition home helping pregnant
Brahmin widows and rape victims deliver children.
o Advocated the idea of Widow Remarriage.
o Against Caste System:
§ Radical opponent of untouchability
§ First person to coin the term ‘Dalits’ to apply to all people considered lower caste and
untouchables.
§ Condemned the Vedas and held Brahmins responsible for framing exploitative and inhuman laws.
§ He was a source of inspiration for Maharshi Shinde, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gadgebaba and
Sahu Maharaj.
• Association: In 1873, he formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) in Pune. It was a
social reform society that fought for equal rights for the depressed classes. The community included
Muslims, non-Brahmins, Brahmins and government officials.

8.3. BAL GANGADHAR TILAK

Why in news?
Recently, Bal Gangadhar Tilak 100th Death Anniversary (23 July 1856 – 1 August 1920) was observed.
Details
• Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, popularly known as Lokmanya Tilak, was among the first leaders of the Indian
independence movement.
o He belonged to extremist faction of Indian National Congress, supported by Bipin Chandra Pal in
Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab. Tilak was called father of the Indian unrest by British colonial
rulers.
o He advocated for Swaraj or self-rule and was a proponent of boycott and Swadeshi movements.
o He organised festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Shiv Jayanti to create unity and a national spirit
among the people.
o While Jawaharlal Nehru called him the father of Indian revolution, Mahatma Gandhi described Tilak
as the maker of modern India.
• Organisations associated
o He was one of the founders of the All India Home Rule League (1916), along with Annie Besant.
o He was founding fathers of the Deccan Education Society created in 1884 with an aim to educate
common people in English.
• Literary works
o Weekly newspapers namely Kesari (in Marathi) and Mahratta (in English).
o Book: Gita Rahasya, Arctic Home of the Vedas.

8.4. 350TH JAYANTI OF BABA BANDA SINGH BAHADUR

Why in news? Contemporaries of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
The Prime Minister recently paid tribute to Baba Banda • Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) – He was 10th Sikh
Guru who transformed Sikhs into a martial race
Singh Bahadur Ji on his 350th Jayanti. and established Khalsa (Pure) Panth.
About Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (1670-1716) • Shah Alam (1643-1712) – He was 7th Mughal
Emperor and son of Aurangzeb.
• He was a Sikh warrior known for his struggle
against the Mughal Empire in the early eighteenth century after meeting with Sri Guru Gobind Singh.
• He was also called Lachman Das, Lachman Dev, or Madho Das and was born in a Minhas Rajput family.
o He established a monastery at Nanded (in present day Maharashtra), on the bank of river Godavari,
where in 1708 he was visited by, and became a disciple of, Guru Gobind Singh, who gave him the new
name of Banda Bahadur.
• After the fortress town of Gurdas Nangal fell to the Mughals in 1715, Baba Banda Singh was captured and
brought to Delhi where he was tortured to death in 1716 in the reign of Mohammad Farrukhsiyar.
• Contribution of Banda Bahadur
o He was known for the abolition of the zamindari system, and granting proprietary rights to the actual
tillers of the land.

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 o He minted coins in the names of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh and issued orders under his
seal.
o The name of Mukhlisgarh in Haryana was changed to Lohgarh (Fort of Steel), and it became the
capital of the first Sikh state.

8.5. PURANDARA DASA

Why in news? Hindustani Music Carnatic Music
It has its roots in Vedic traditions It developed significantly
Karnataka government will commence where hymns in Sama Veda, a during the Bhakti
field research at Keshavapura in sacred text, were sung rather than movement.
Karnataka to solve the mystery regarding chanted.
the birth place of Purandara Dasa. Indian It is raga-based. It is Kriti-based.
Classical Music is mainly divided into two It features a number of Turko- No Turko-Persian influence.
parts: Persian musical elements.
There is bandish of time. There is no such Bandish.
More on news There are more than one style of It is written to be sung in a
• Till now, it was believed that singing known as gharanas. specific way.
Purandara Dasa was born in Use of tabla, sarangi, sitar, Use of veena, mridangam,
santoor, clarionet, violin & flute. mandolin, jalatarangam,
Purandaragarh near Pune,
violin & flute.
Maharashtra.
• However, an expert committee constituted by Karnataka Government reported that there is enough
evidence to suggest Keshavapura as his birth place and recommended further research.
About Purandara Dasa
• Purandara Dasa (1484- 1564) was a saint, poet and singer during the Vijayanagara empire.
• He was the disciple of Vyasatirtha, Rajaguru of Vijayanagara empire.
• Prior to his initiation to Haridasa tradition (music and literary tradition followed by Vaishnavaits),
Purandara Dasa was a rich merchant and was called Srinivasa Nayaka.
• He is regarded as the ‘Pitamaha’ of Carnatic music. His systemized method of teaching Carnatic music is
followed till present day.
• He introduced the raga “Maya malava gowla” as the basic scale for music instruction.
• Under the pen name ‘Purandara Vittala’, he has written around 4.75 lakh devotional songs in simple
Kannada, known as kirtanas touching the local issues and traditions of South India.
• Swami Haridas, teacher of the foremost Hindustani musician Tansen, was a disciple of Purandara Dasa.

8.6. OTHER PERSONALITIES IN NEWS

Ancient & Medieval India
Lachit Borphukan • He was a commander in the erstwhile Ahom kingdom (Assam) and is considered as
cultural idol in Assam after he defeated a large Mughal Army on the banks of
Brahmaputra in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 to defend Guwahati.
• Lachit was appointed as ‘Borphukan’ by King Chakradhwaj Singha.
o Borphukan is a position embedded with both executive and judicial powers.

Malik Ambar • He was an African slave turned warrior who founded city ‘Aurangabad’.
• Born in 1548 in southern Ethiopia’s Khambata region, Ambar is believed to have been
associated with the Oromo tribe.
• Ambar was amongst one of a thousand other ‘Habshi’ (a term used to refer to members
of various ethnic communities from the Abyssinian highlands) purchased by Chengiz
Khan, when fate brought him to the Deccan.

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 Rahim • Rahim was one of the Navratnanas, a reputed military commander and a poet in the
court of emperor Akbar.
o He is known as the proponent of a secular all-embracing all-encompassing culture
of inclusiveness.
• He wrote extensively in Braj, Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian. He translated Babur’s
autobiography Baburnama from Turkish to Persian.

Modern India
Narmadashankar Dave • Prime Minister paid tributes to Narmadashankar Dave on his 187th birth anniversary.
('Narmad') (1833 –1886) • He was a Gujarati poet, playwright and social reformer.
• He is considered to be the founder of modern Gujarati literature.
• His magazine: Dandio.

Ram Manohar Lohia • He was a Socialist leader who played a major role in Independence struggle.
• Lohia set up underground radio stations called, Congress Radio, at Bombay and
Calcutta during Quit India Movement.
• He was one of the founders of ‘Congress Socialist Party’ in 1934 and edited its
periodical called ‘Congress Socialist’.
• He opposed India’s involvement in World War-II.
• He suggested compulsory intercaste marriages for government servants and
community festivals for eradication of caste system.

Gurajada Appa Rao (1862- • He was a Telegu a poet, writer and social reformer.
1915) • He wrote in support of gender equality and against caste and communal prejudice.
• His work includes Kanyasulkam, Desamunu Preminchumanna, Kondu Bhatteeyamand,
Bilhaneeyam, Pedda Maseedu, Mee Peremiti, Puthadi Bomma Poornamma

Kushok Bakula Rinpoche ● During Prime minister’s visit to Nimu in Ladakh, PM recalled greatness of Ladakh’s
culture as well as the noble teachings of Kushok Bakula Rimpoche.
o He was a prominent Buddhist monk, statesman and international diplomat often
called “the architect of Modern Ladakh.
o He made a detailed case for Ladakh to remain a part of India following an attack by
tribal raiders from Pakistan and talk of UN-backed plebiscite.
● Nimu is surrounded by Zanskar range and is on banks of river Indus.
Mahatma Ayyankali • He is a social reformer in Travancore, British India (present day Kerala).
(1863- 1941) • He belonged to the 'untouchable' Pulaya caste and faced caste discrimination.
• He founded Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (association for the protection of
the poor) which raised funds to start their own schools.
• He also became a member of the assembly of Travancore, known as Sree Moolam
Popular Assembly or Praja Sabha

Jainacharya Shree Vijay • Recently, 151st Birth Anniversary of Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji
Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj was celebrated and Prime Minster unveiled Statue of Peace on the occasion
Maharaj of Birth Anniversary of Surishwer Ji Maharaj in Pali, Rajasthan.
• Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj (1870-1954) was a Jain Saint who worked
dedicatedly to spread the message of Lord Mahavira.
• He worked relentlessly for the welfare of masses, the spread of education, eradication
of social evils etc.
• He also gave active support to the freedom movement and the cause of Swadeshi.

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 Sri Viswanatha • He was a Telugu writer whose works included poetry, novels, drama, short stories and
Satyanarayana speeches,
• In 1971 he was awarded with Jnanpith Award for his book “Ramayana Kalpavriksham”.
He was the first telugu writer to receive Jnanpith Award.
o Jnanpith Award is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith (a literary and research
organisation) to an author for their outstanding contribution towards literature.
• His ‘Veyipadagalu’ was translated into Hindi by former Prime Minister PV Narasimha
Rao as Sahasraphan.
• Some of his poems and novels have been translated into English, Hindi, Tamil,
Malayalam, Urdu and Sanskrit.
Pandit Jasraj • He was one of the prominent Indian classical vocalists. He was associated with Mewati
gharana.
o Mewati Gharana is a Khayal-based Hindustani Classical musical family-hood
(Gharana) founded in the late 19th Century.
o Mewati Gharana acquired its name after Mewar region of Rajasthan, from which
its founding exponents hailed.
• Pandit Jasraj was awarded Padma Vibhushan and was also a master of haveli sangeet.

Others
Florence Nightingale • th
200 birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing was
celebrated.
• Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) also known as “The Lady with the Lamp” was a British
nurse, social reformer and statistician best known as the founder of modern nursing.
• She established St. Thomas’ Hospital, London and the Nightingale Training School for
Nurses in 1860.
• She is credited with being the first healthcare professional to use data to show that
infections control improves health outcomes.
o Through her career she stressed on practice of handwashing that is relevant as ever
today.
• She was instrumental in setting up training for midwives and nurses in workhouse
infirmaries. She was the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit (1907).
• The International Nurses Day is observed annually on May 12 commemorating her birth
and celebrates the important role of nurses in health care.
• World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as the “International Year of
the Nurse and the Midwife,” in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence
Nightingale's birth.
Nanaji Deshmukh • Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh also known as Nanaji Deshmukh was a social
reformer and politician. He worked in the fields of education, health, and rural self-
reliance.
• He set up the Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh, which is
considered the country's first rural university.
• He was inspired by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak and his thoughts on nationalism.
o In 2019, he was awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’ posthumously.

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 9. HISTORICAL EVENTS
9.1. MALABAR REBELLION
Why in news?
The year 2021 will be the 100th-year anniversary of the Malabar uprising.
About Malabar rebellion
• It is also known popularly as the Moplah rebellion, was an armed revolt staged by the Mappila Muslims
of Kerala against the British authorities and their Hindu landlords in 1921.
• The six-month-long rebellion is often perceived to be one of the first cases of nationalist uprisings in
Southern India.
• It occurred within the broader spectrum of the Khilafat/Non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma
Gandhi.
• Moplahs/Mappilas were the Muslim tenants (kanamdars) and cultivators (verumpattamdars) inhabiting
the Malabar region where most of the landlords (janmi or jenmies) were upper caste Hindus.
o Moplahs had gained some prominence over their landlords during the Mysorean invasions by Hyder
Ali and Tipu Sultan.
Causes of the revolt
o But after the British occupation of
rd • History of feudal conflicts in the Malabar region: Peasant-
Malabar in 1792 (following the 3
landlord relations were historically strained in the region.
Anglo-Mysore war), the domination Evidently, about 32 uprisings were organized by the Moplahs,
of the Hindu landlords was re- between 1836 and 1919, against high caste Hindu landlords,
established. their relatives or assistants and British officials.
• In this scenario, the Mappilas soon • Agrarian discontent: The economic condition of Mappila
found themselves at the mercy of their tenants had deteriorated overtime due to oppressive British
Hindu landlords who were sustained by policies resulting in increased taxation, insecure tenancy, rack
the British authority as their agents. renting, forced evictions etc. This had given rise to anti-British
and anti-feudal sentiments.
Course of the rebellion • Political mobilization of mappilas: The Congress reached out
to the Mappila cultivators to mobilize support for
• It largely took the shape of guerrilla- independence through Khilafat movement and support
type attacks on janmis, police and agrarian reforms in the region.
troops. o A Khilafat committee was formed in Malabar in June
• Symbols of the colonial state – 1920, which became increasingly active.
telegraph lines, train stations, courts, o In August, 1920, Gandhi along with Shaukat Ali (the
post offices etc. and homes of leader of the Khilafat movement in India) visited Calicut
landlords were attacked. to spread the combined message of non-cooperation and
Khilafat among the residents of Malabar.
• When the rebellion spread across the
o By January 1921, the Mappilas, under their religious head
Malabar district, British officers and the Mahadum Tangal pledged support to the non-
local police escaped, leaving vast tracts cooperation movement.
of territory firmly under the control of • Immediate cause: Mappilas under the leadership of
the local rebels. Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji took up arms in August
o The territory was declared an 1921 due to the arrest of Khilafat leader Ali Musaliyar and a
‘independent state’ in August 1921 widespread rumour that a prominent mosque in Thirurangadi
with Haji as its ruler. has been raided.
o For nearly six months, he ran a
parallel Khilafat regime headquartered in Nilambur, with even its own separate passport, currency
and system of taxation.
o Tenants were granted the power over the lands they cultivated along with tax incentives.
• Although the movement started off largely as a protest against British authorities, it acquired communal
overtones that culminated into communal violence.
• British suppression of the revolt-
o The British government responded to the movement with much aggression, bringing in Gurkha
regiments to suppress it and imposing martial law.
§ Wagon tragedy: Approximately 60 Mappila prisoners on their way to a prison, suffocated to death
in a closed railway goods wagon.
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 o By January 1922, they had taken back the areas held by the rebels and captured all their key leaders.
§ Haji was arrested and was sentenced to death along with his compatriots.

9.2. ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CONGRESS

Why in News?
Recently, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) completed 100 years
of formation.
About AITUC

• AITUC was formed in 1920 to provide labour representation for

India at the International Labor Organization (ILO).
• Lala Lajpat Rai was elected as the first president of AITUC and
Dewan Chaman Lal as the first general secretary.
o C.R. Das, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose also served
as AITUC presidents.
• Gaya session of the Congress (1922) welcomed formation of the AITUC and a committee was formed to
assist it.
• Later, AITUC was split to form National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) in 1929 and Red Trade Union
Congress (RTUC) in 1931.
• In the aftermath of Second World
War, AITUC played significant role in
the foundation of World Federation
of Trade Unions (international
federation of trade unions).
• Labour unions or trade unions are
organizations formed by workers
from related fields that work for
common interest of its members like
fairness of pay, hours of work, etc and
hence providing a link between the
management and workers.
Factors that led to formation of Trade
Unions

• Influenced by world labour

movements like Russian Revolution in
1917 etc.
• Industrial unrest like Strikes in Bombay against extension of working hours etc.
• Oppression and exploitation under British rule
• National freedom movement.

9.3. WORLD WAR 2

Why in news?
US, Europe and Russia celebrated May 8, 2020 (May 9 in Russia) as Victory Day to mark 75th anniversary of
end of Second World War in Europe.
About Second World War

• It was total war and most destructive war that world has observed till date.
• Primary combatants
o Axis nations - Germany, Italy, Japan
o Allied nations - Great Britain (and its Commonwealth nations), France, Soviet Union and United States.

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 Events related to WW II
• Holocaust and Nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• United Nations was established in 1945 for maintenance of world peace, protection of rights of individuals
etc.
Causes of Second World War
• Universal Declaration of
• Versailles Treaty which was considered humiliating and caused resentment
Human Rights (UDHR), was in Germany.
drafted. • Failure of the League of Nations to uphold concept of ‘Collective Security’.
• European domination of • Global economic crisis - spurred by Great Depression in America, as it led
world ended and balance of to rise of Hitler and other Fascist powers.
power shifted in favor of • Hitler’s Role
USSR and US. o He attacked Poland on all fronts, rather than just capturing the Polish
• Start of Cold war Corridor and Danzig. This is considered most immediate cause of war.
• Non-Aligned Movement o Hitler wanted to destroy Russia and use its territory as ‘Living Space
for Germans’ and his propaganda capitalized on anger among
(NAM) and Third World
Germans who approved of Hitler’s action.
Concept emerged which
• Role of Appeasers: Policy of Appeasement by UK and France raised Hitler’s
meant to be non-Aligned to prestige at home.
any of two super powers.
• Decolonization & rise of
nationalism in colonies in Asia & Africa and emergence of many new nation states from 1950s.

9.4. QISSA KHWANI BAZAAR MASSACRE

Why in News? About Khudai Khidmatgar
• Khudai Khidmatgar was a Pashtun non-violent resistance
Qissa Khwani Bazaar massacre in movement against the British Raj in the North-West Frontier
Peshawar completed 90 years in April Province.
2020. Also, it is the 100th Anniversary of o It was also called Surkh Posh or "Red Shirts". The movement
was led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, known locally as Bacha Khan
Anjuman-e Islah ul-Afghan in 1921, which
or Badshah Khan.
is seen as the precursor of the Khudai o It was initially a social reform organization focusing on
Khidmatgar Movement. education and the elimination of blood feuds from Afghan
society but turned more political later.
About the Massacre • In June 1947, the Khudai Khidmatgars declared the Bannu
• Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was Resolution, demanding that the Pashtuns be given a choice to
have an independent state of Pashtunistan, composing all
arrested during protests arising out
Pashtun territories of British India, instead of being made to join
of the Salt Satyagraha in 1930s. A Pakistan.
crowd of Khudai Khidmatgars o Later, a plebiscite resulted in the Frontier Province becoming
gathered in Peshawar's Qissa part of the newly independent Pakistan.
Khwani (Storytellers) Bazaar.
• In order to bring the situation under control, the British troops opened fire on the unarmed crowd,
leading to Massacre killing over 400 people.
About Abdul Ghaffar Khan
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan earned himself the nickname Frontier Gandhi by his close associate Amir Chand
Bombwal for his devotion to non-violent resistance.
• He strongly opposed the proposal for the partition of India, siding with the Indian National Congress and
All India Azad Muslim Conference.
• He founded the Pashto language monthly political journal ‘Pashtun’ in 1928. His autobiography My Life
and Struggle, was made public in 1969.
• In 1987 he was awarded the Bharat Ratna Prize, and was the first non-Indian to receive this honour.

9.5. OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

60th Goa ● Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year and it marks the day Indian armed
Liberation Day forces freed Goa in 1961 following 450 years of Portuguese rule.
● Portuguese colonised several parts of India in 1510 but by the end of the 19th-century
Portuguese colonies in India were limited to Goa, Daman, Diu (liberated on December 1961) and
Dadra, Nagar Haveli (liberated on August 2, 1954).

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 Punnapra- • A report to the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) has suggested dropping
Vayalar revolt Communist martyrs of Punnapra-Vayalar, Karivelloor, and Kavumbayi agitations from list of
martyrs of India’s Independence struggle.
• Punnapra Vayalar movement was an armed struggle movement against the Maharaja of
Travancore and his Prime Minister, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, under the leadership of the
Communist Party of India.
• The year 1946 witnessed the Dewan of Travancore Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyer declaring the
"American Model" for Travancore princely state, according to which it would remain an
independent state.
• The Punnapra Vayalar struggles served the cause of strengthening the peasant worker unity
in the struggle for agrarian reforms and labor rights.
100 years of • Recently, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) completed 100 years
Jamia Millia • It was established as the Independent National University at Aligarh in 1920 during the Khilafat
Islamia and Non- Cooperation Movement in response to Gandhiji’s call to boycott Government -
supported educational institutions.
• It was established by Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud Hasan, Maulana Mohammed Ali, Hakim
Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Abdul Majeed Khwaja and Dr. Zakir Husain.
• It aimed to have an indigenous education free from British influence.
• It was renamed Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and shifted from Aligarh to New Delhi.
• Jauhar became its first vice-chancellor and Hakim Ajmal Khan was its first chancellor.
• The first batch graduated in 1921 comprised 21 students - all male.
• In 1938, Jamia established the Ustadon ka Madarsa, which came to be called the Teachers’
Training College at Karol Bagh, and the Idara-e-Talim-o-Taraqqi that would provide evening
classes for adult education.

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 10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) TAG
Why in news?
Recently, GI tags were awarded to multiple products.
About GI tag

• GI Tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a
reputation that are due to that origin.
• These are regulated under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,1999 and
given by Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks who is Registrar of Geographical
Indications.
• GI is covered under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
• A GI Tag is valid for a decade, after which it can be renewed for another 10 years.
Products to which GI tags were granted

GI Tags State Features

Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir • It is cultivated in Karewas (highlands) of Jammu &
Saffron Kashmir.
• It is only saffron in world grown at an altitude of 1,600
m to 1,800 m.
• In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as
‘bahukam’.
• Characteristics: Longer and thicker stigmas, natural
deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-
free processing, and high quantity of crocin (colouring
strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin
(bitterness).
• Three types include: Guchhi, Lachha and Mongra
Saffron.
• Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India comes
second.

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 • Other GI products from J&K: Kashmiri Pashmina,
Kashmiri Sozani Craft, Kani Shawl, Kashmir Paper
Machie, Kashmiri Walnut Carving, Khatamband, and
Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet.
Chak-Hao Manipur • It is a scented glutinous rice which has been in
(black rice cultivation in Manipur over centuries, is characterised
of by its special aroma.
Manipur) • Chak-Hao has also been used by traditional medical
practitioners as part of traditional medicine.
• This rice takes the longest cooking time of 40-45
minutes due to the presence of a fibrous bran layer and
higher crude fibre content.

Gorakhpur Uttar Pradesh • It is a centuries-old traditional art form, where the

terracotta potters make various animal figures like, horses,
elephants, camel, goat, ox, etc. with hand-applied
ornamentation.
• The entire work is done with bare hands and artisans
use natural colour, which stays fast for a long time.
There are more than 1,000 varieties of terracotta work
designed by the local craftsmen.

Sohrai Jharkhand • It is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being

Khovar practised by local tribal women in the area of
painting Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
• It is done during local harvest and marriage seasons
using local, naturally available soils of different colours.

Telia Telangana • It involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom

Rumal displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three
particular colours — red, black and white.

Arumbavur Tamil Nadu • Arumbavur wood carvings made by the artisans of

Wood Perambalur are mainly made out of wooden logs of
Carvings lingam tree, mango, Indian ash tree, vaagai,
maavilangai, aththi, vembu, vengai, teak wood, neem
and rosewood tree.
• Artists make wooden cars for temples, statues,
decorative and other wooden products of various
kinds.
• The craftsmen follow rules of iconography prescribed
in the Shilpa Shastra.
• Temple cars are mostly made of illuppai. They are
handmade with the artisans using traditional
instruments.
• No machine is used for different stages of carving right
from sizing, chiselling and carving the patterns and
details.

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 • The wood supply comes from the Pachamalai Hills
along the Trichy - Perambalur boundary and the
Thanjavur - Kumbakonam zone.

Thanjavur Tamil Nadu • It is a traditional craft crafted from Netti (pith), a

Netti marshy plant known as Aeschynomene Aspera.
Works • Netti Works are visible in the Brihadeeswara Temple,
(pith garlands, idols of Hindu deities, door hangings and
works) decorative items.
• Netti works are produced in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam
and Pudukkottai.
• The pith work models are delicate to handle and are
usually preserved inside glass boxes. They resemble
ivory and marble handicrafts in looks.

Kovilpatti Tamil Nadu • It is a candy made of peanuts held together with

kadalai glistening syrup, and topped with wisps of grated
mittai coconut dyed pink, green and yellow.
• It is made using all natural ingredients such as the
traditional and special ‘vellam’ (jaggery) and
groundnuts and water from the river Thamirabarani is
used in the production, which enhances the taste
naturally.

Other GI tags in News

• Vazhakulam pineapples
o Mauritius variety of Vazhakkulam pineapples from Kerala had got the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2009.
o It is grown in the districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and the low elevation areas of Idukki
district in Kerala.
o Vazhakulam pineapple is unique in aroma, flavour and sweetness due to its high sugar content and low
acidity. It has a shelf life of around 10-15 days.
• Toda Embroidery
o It is an art work among the Toda pastoral people of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
o It has received GI tag in 2013.
o It is also locally known as “Pukhoor” and is made exclusively by women of Toda community.
o The embroidery is made with the use of red and black threads with a white cotton cloth background. It has a
fine finish and appears like a woven cloth.

10.2. HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

Why in news?
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
NITI Aayog released a working group • It is the nodal agency responsible for archaeological research and the
report on ‘Improving Heritage conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
• It was founded in 1861.
Management in India’. • It functions as an attached office to the Ministry of Culture.
Overview • The important functions of ASI are identified as: Exploration/
Excavation; Protection of Monuments and archaeological sites;
• There are roughly 5 lakh plus Registration and Regulation of trade of antiquities; Maintenance and
heritage sites and monuments Conservation and Environmental Development; Archaeological Site
Museums; Research and Publications; Epigraphical Surveys (Sanskrit,
across the country. It includes
Dravidian, Arabic and Persian); Institute of Archaeology.
3691 ASI Protected Monuments, • Recently, Ministry of Culture announced 7 new circles of ASI.
38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, o The new circles: Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi, Meerut
6000 + State Archaeology and Hampi.
Protected Monuments and 4 lakh o Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across country.
plus Religious Heritage sites.
• The Constitution of India has divided the jurisdiction over these monuments, cultural heritage, and
archaeological sites as follows:

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 o Union: Ancient and Historical Monuments and
Related statistics:
Archaeological sites and remains, declared by
• India ranked 34th on the World Travel and
Parliament to be of national importance. Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019,
§ Under the above provision union government has released by the World Economic Forum.
enacted Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) of 1958.
§ Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 was enacted to regulate the export trade in antiquities
and art treasures and to provide for the prevention and smuggling of, and fraudulent dealings in,
antiquities.
NGOs in Heritage Conservation and Management in India
o State: Ancient and Historical
• The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) focuses on the physical,
Monuments other than those
social, cultural, and economic revitalisation of communities in the
declared by Parliament to be of developing world.
national importance through • Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
Departments of Archaeology spearheads heritage awareness and conservation in India.
for the State Protected • International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is
Monuments and Museums. global monument conservation body (non-government
o Concurrent: Besides the above, organisation) dedicated to promoting the application of theory,
both the Union and States have methodology and scientific techniques for the conservation of
concurrent jurisdiction over architectural and archaeological heritage across the world.
archaeological sites and remains o It is also an advisory body to UNESCO for cultural heritage, in
particular for the implementation of the World Heritage
other than those declared by
Convention.
law and Parliament to be of o It was founded in 1965 in Warsaw (Poland) as a result of the
national importance Venice Charter of 1964.
• Other constitutional provisions: o It is headquartered in Paris, France
o Article 253 enables Parliament • World Monuments Fund focuses on heritage conservation
to legislate for the projects and awareness programmes in India. Established in 2015,
implementation of any treaty, WMF India serves as a local representative for WMF, assisting with
agreement or convention with project management and outreach.
any other country or countries,
or any decision, made at any international conference, association or other body.
o Article 51-A (f) – puts a duty on every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite
culture.
Initiatives by the Government of India to conserver heritage
• HRIDAY - National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana –by Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs for preserving and revitalizing the unique character of the heritage cities in lndia.
• PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive)- Scheme was launched by the
Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 for integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage
destinations.
o The scheme aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points (Road, Rail and Water Transport), last
mile connectivity, basic tourism facilities like Information/ Interpretation Centers, ATM/ Money exchange,
eco-friendly modes of transport, area Lighting and illumination with renewable sources of energy, parking
etc.
• Swachh Iconic Places- under Swachh Bharat Mission to transform monuments as model ‘Swachh Tourist Destination’ to
enhance the experience of tourists.
● ‘ADOPT A HERITAGE’- “Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan”: It is launched by Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with
Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and State/ UTs Government for developing tourism amenities
at heritage/ natural/ tourist sites spread across India for making them tourist friendly, in a planned and phased
manner.
o Project aims to encourage companies from public sector, private sector, corporate citizens, NGOs, individuals
and other stakeholders to take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading the basic and advanced
tourist amenities at these sites
o These organizations would be known as “Monument Mitras” for their collaboration initiative.
• Swadesh Darshan scheme by Ministry of Tourism to develop theme-based tourist circuits & world class
infrastructure
• Incredible India 2.0 campaign, (2018) international tourism promotion campaign
• Adarsh Smarak: ASI has identified 100 monuments to be developed as Model Monuments.
• Project Mausam: to re-connect and re-establish communications between countries of the Indian Ocean world,
which would lead to an enhanced understanding of cultural values and concerns in their regional maritime milieu.

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 10.3. KUSHINAGAR
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International
Airport.
About Kushinagar

• Kushinagar is one of
the important
Buddhist Pilgrimages
sites and is also a part
of the Buddhist
Circuit as Lord
Buddha attained
Mahaparinirvana
here.
o Mahaparinirvana
in Buddhism
refers to the
ultimate state of
Nirvana
(everlasting,
highest peace
and happiness) entered by an awakened being at the moment of physical death.
• Prominent archaeological sites in the city are the Mahaparinirvana Stupa and temple (the latter houses a
stunning 1,500-year-old reclining Buddha) and the Muktabandhan Stupa (representing the Buddha’s
cremation site).
• The site of Kushinagar was first identified by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1877, the first Director-General
of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

10.4. KARTARPUR CORRIDOR

Why in news?
Recently, First Anniversary of Kartarpur corridor was observed.
About Kartarpur Corridor

• Kartarpur corridor was opened in November 2019 on the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak
Dev Ji.
• Corridor connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district (Punjab) with the Gurdwara Darbar
Sahib in Kartapur (in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province).
• The length of the corridor is about 4 km, 2 km on either side of the international border and runs cross
over Ravi River.
• Gurdwara Darbar Sahib was ordered by Maharaja of Patiala between 1921-1929 and is believed to be place
where Nanak ji spent about last 18 years of his life.
About Guru Nanak Dev ji
• He was the founder of Sikhism (the first of the ten Sikh Gurus) and a Bhakti saint.
• He was born in 1469 in Nanakana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan and died in Kartarpur, Pakistan.
• Guru Nanak and Sikhism were influenced by the nirguni (formless God) tradition of Bhakti movement in
medieval India.
• He believed that God is Formless (Nirankar), and there is ‘One God’ that dwells in every one of his
creations, and that all human beings can have direct access to God without the need of any rituals or
priests.
• Guru Nanak founded and formalised the 3 pillars of Sikhism.

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 o Naam Japna- meditation on God
o Kirat karni- To honestly earn by ones physical and mental effort
o Vand Chakna- Sikhs were asked to share their wealth within the community by practising Vand Chakna.

10.5. COMMITTEE TO PROTECT LANGUAGE, CULTURE & LAND OF

LADAKH
Why in News?
Centre recently decided to form the committee headed by Minister of State for Home Affairs as there has been
a demand from locals to include Ladakh in 6th schedule of the constitution to protect its unique identity.

10.6. NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE

Why in news?
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 was awarded to Louise Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with
austere beauty makes individual existence universal."
About Louise Glück
• The Nobel Prize in Literature is given by Royal Swedish Academy for a writer’s entire body of work and is
regarded as perhaps the world’s most prestigious literary award.
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 • Glück is the first female poet to win the prize since Polish writer Wisława Szymborska won in 1996.
• Born in New York
City in 1943, Glück About Nobel Prize
• Nobel Prizes, as designated in the will of Alfred Nobel, are in physics, chemistry,
has written 12
physiology or medicine, literature and peace.
collections of
• It is not awarded posthumously and is awarded to maximum of three person for
poetry and 2 single category.
books of essays. • Alfred Nobel specifically designated the institutions responsible for the prizes he
• She has also won wished to be established:
the Pulitzer Prize o The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the Nobel Prize in Physics and
for Poetry in 1993 Chemistry,
for her work ‘The o Karolinska Institute for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,
Wild Iris’ written in o The Royal Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature
1992. o Committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting)
for the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Her themes
• Rabindranath Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature
include childhood, in 1913 for Gitanjali.
family life,
trauma, death and healing.

10.7. TRIBES IN NEWS

Katkari Tribe • They are located primarily in Maharashtra and in some places of Gujarat.
o Katkari is one of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, as per the classification by
Ministry of Home Affairs.
• A group of tribal youth from the Katkari community has come together to market Giloy through
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana run by TRIFED,
o Giloy is a herb used in treatment of viral fever, malaria as well as diabetes. The herb has a
huge demand from pharmaceutical companies.
Siddi • Siddi community has got its first representative in Karnataka State legislature.
Community • They are an ethnic group inhabiting India and Pakistan.
• They are descendants of Africans from North-East and East Africa who were brought to India as
slaves, soldiers or servants.

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 • In India, they are spread along the coast of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra
Pradesh.
• Current estimated population: 20,000–55,000 individuals.
• Religion: Siddis are primarily Sufi Muslims, although some are Hindus and Roman Catholic
Christians.
Tharu Tribe • Recently, Uttar Pradesh government has embarked upon a scheme to take the unique culture of
its ethnic Tharu tribe across the world
• About Tharu tribes
o Tharu people are an ethnic group indigenous to the Terai in southern Nepal and northern
India. In India, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
o Most of them are forest dwellers, and some practice agriculture.
o They speak various dialects of Tharu, a language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup, and variants
of Hindi, Urdu, and Awadhi.
§ In central Nepal, they speak a variant of Bhojpuri, while in eastern Nepal, they speak a
variant of Maithili
o Tharus worship Lord Shiva as Mahadev and call their supreme being “Narayan”, who they
believe is the provider of sunshine, rain, and harvests.
o Tharu tribes celebrate ‘Barna’ festival during the month of Shrawan every year. During the
festival, they remain indoors so that the plants are not trampled. The festival shows their
love for nature and commitment towards conservation of forests.
o Tharu women have strong property rights.
Bonda Tribe • Bondas, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), live in settlements comprising small
hutments in the hill ranges of Malkangiri district in Odisha.
• Bondas follows a matriarchal society. They still continue to speak in their language, Remo.
• As per Census 2011 there are around 12,000 Bondas left.
Great • Great Andamanese are one of five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) that reside in
Andamanese Andamans archipelago. Others are: Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and Sentinelese.
tribe
Maldhari tribe • It is being reported that project Lion has proposed relocation of Maldhari settlements from
within the Gir Conservation Areas.
• Maldhari community is a tribe of herdsmen in Gujarat. They live in settlements called ness and
make their living by selling milk from their water buffaloes.
• The Maldharis have lived in the Gir National Park, in the Banni Grasslands Reserve area, for the
past thousand years.
‘Miya’ • Recently, a proposal “Miya museum” reflecting the “culture and heritage of the people living in
community char-chaporis” has stirred up a controversy in Assam.
o ‘Miya’ community comprises descendants of Muslim migrants from East Bengal (now
Bangladesh) to Assam.
• Char-chaporis are shifting riverine islands of the Brahmaputra and are primarily inhabited by the
Muslims of Bengali-origin (referred to as ‘Miyas’).
• A char is a floating island while chaporis are low-lying flood-prone riverbanks.
Sentinelese ● Anthropological Survey of India has warned of threat to these 2 endangered groups from
and Great commercial activity.
Andamanese ● Sentinelese and Great Andamanese both are among the 5 particularly vulnerable tribal groups
(PVTG) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (others are Onge, Jarawa, and Shompen).
● Sentinelese with a population of about 50 to 100 live on the North Sentinel Island and their
contact to the outside world is almost nil.
● Unlike the other PVTGs in the Andamans, the Great Andamanese are in contact with the
general population.
Malayali tribes ● Giant Rock Bee Honey, a unique variant of honey sourced from Malayali Tribes was added to
Tribes India collection.
● Malayali is a tribal group from the Eastern Ghats in North Tamil Nadu. Tribals are usually hill
farmers and they cultivate different types of millet.
● Malayalis originally belonged to the Vellala caste of cultivators and emigrated from the sacred
city of Kanchi to the hills about ten generation ago, when Muhammadan rule was dominant in
Southern Indian.
Chakmas and • Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region has directed Arunachal Pradesh
Hajongs government to include these communities in COVID-19 relief programme.
• Chakmas and Hajongs are ethnic people who lived in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, most of which
are located in Bangladesh.

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 • Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists, while Hajongs are Hindus. They are found in northeast
India, West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Mankidia tribe • Recently a newly constituted Panda committee under the Tribal Affairs Ministry is to look into
the issue of forest rights of the Mankidia tribe in Simlipal Tiger Reserve.
• Mankidiya is one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha.
• They critically depend on making rope with siali fibre that is richly available in Similipal Tiger
Reserve (STR).
• They were denied habitat rights inside STR under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.

10.8. PRIZE AND AWARDS

Prize Features
Ramon • Ramon Magsaysay awards have been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic,
Magsaysay • It is regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize. It was started in 1957.
Awards • The awards are named after the third president of the Republic of the Philippines.
• The awards were traditionally given every year to individuals or organisations in Asia in five
categories: government service; public service; community leadership; journalism, literature, and
creative communication arts; and peace and international understanding.
• However, post 2009, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation annually selects the awardees for
the field of Emergent Leadership.
Pulitzer • Three photojournalists from Jammu and Kashmir - Channi Anand, Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin - are
Prize 2020 among 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners.
• Pulitzer Prize awards across 22 categories in journalism and the arts (newspaper, magazine and
online journalism, photojournalism and literature) annually.
• The award is administered by Columbia University. It is named after American newspaper publisher
Joseph Pulitzer and is being given since 1917.
Gandhi • Government has extended last date for receipt of nominations for 2020 up to 15th of June
Peace • It is annual award given by Ministry of Culture to individuals, associations, institutions or
Prize (GPP) organizations who have worked selflessly for peace, non-violence and amelioration of human
sufferings.
• It was instituted in 1995 & is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste,
creed or gender.
• Jury of GPP is a high level committee headed by PM.

10.9. KHELO INDIA STATE CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Why in News? About the Khelo India scheme
• It has been introduced to revive the sports culture in
The Sports Ministry will establish Khelo India State
India at the grass-root level by building a strong
Centres of Excellence (KISCE) under the ministry’s framework for all sports played in our country and
flagship, Khelo India -National Programme for establish India as a great sporting nation.
Development of Sports Scheme. • Objective
Details o Conduct structured annual sports competition and
encourage Mass participation of youth.
• Aim: To scale-up State/UTs existing training o Identify talent through these competitions.
centre to world standard level. One of the o Guidance and nurturing of the talent through the
existing training centres in each state and existing and new infrastructure
union territory will be designated as KISCE o Creation of Sports infrastructure at various levels.
• It is the merger of three schemes Rajiv Gandhi Khel
under the State Level Khelo India Centre
Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme
(SLKIC) vertical of Khelo India Scheme.
(USIS), National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).
• In the first phase, the Ministry has identified
state-owned sports facilities in eight states of India, including, Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Telengana and
the north east states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland which will be upgraded into
KISCE.
• In order to upgrade the existing centre to the KISCE, the government will extend a ‘Viability Gap Funding’
for the following components:
o sports science and technology support for sports disciplines practiced at the respective centre
o bridging the gaps in requirement of sports equipment, expert coaches and high performance
managers.

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 • Implementing agency: Sports department of the respective State/UT.
• Financial assistance: All eligible centres will receive annual grant for the identified KISCE.
• The project is part of India’s pursuit for excellence in Olympics.

10.10. OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

Indigenous • Recently, Kannapuram Panchayat in Kannur town in Kerala has been declared as Indigenous
Mango Mango Heritage Area.
Heritage Area • The Kerala State Biodiversity Board has identified the area as heritage zone in coordination with
the Kannapuram grama panchayat.
• Kannapuram is home to over 200 varieties of mangoes, and is home to various indigenous
mango varieties.
• As part of the heritage area declaration, nurseries would be set up at each household for selling
the mango sapling of the varieties available at the household. It is the first of its type in the
country.
Gandhi-King • This bill was recently passed by US House panel.
Scholarly • It seeks to establish an exchange program between India and U.S. to study the work and
Exchange legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Initiative Bill • It also seeks to establish Gandhi-King Global Academy, a conflict resolution initiative based on
the principles of nonviolence.
Saathi • Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI), to assist the
Initiative Hospitality Industry through an initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness and
Training for Hospitality Industry).
• It seeks to:
o sensitize the industry on the COVID regulations by the government
o instill confidence amongst the staff and guests that the hospitality unit has exhibited intent
towards ensuring safety and hygiene at the workplace.
• This initiative is in 3 phases:
o Self Certification by the hotels
o Webinars to builds capacities on the guidelines issued.
o Site-assessment (optional) through QCI accredited agencies
• United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated 2020 as the Year of
Tourism and Rural Development.
Kala Sanskriti • Ministry of Culture issued guidelines for holding cultural events/activities in Virtual / Online
Vikas Yojana’ mode under various scheme components of Central Sector Scheme KSVY.
(KSVY) o KSVY is an umbrella scheme for the promotion of art and culture in the country.
o KSVY has the following sub-schemes through which financial assistance is provided to
cultural organizations.
§ Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.
§ Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure.
§ Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
San Isidro • It is a campaign in Cuba by artists and activists demanding greater freedom of expression in the
Movement country which is under an authoritarian communist regime for more than six decades.
• San Isidro is a Black-majority locality that is among Havana’s poorest yet most culturally active
wards, and which also forms part of the Old Havana UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visva-Bharati ● It was founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1921.
University ● In 1951 it was declared to be a Central University and "an Institution of National Importance" by
an Act of Parliament.
● It is also the oldest Central University in the country.
● Prime Minister is the Chancellor of the University.
Sarna Code • Jharkhand Assembly passed resolution on Sarna Code which seeks the inclusion of Sarna as a
separate religion in Census, 2021. It will now be sent to the centre for approval.
• Sarna followers are nature worshippers who do not consider themselves Hindus and have been
fighting for a separate religious identity for decades.
o Tribal leaders across Jharkhand had been demanding the implementation of Sarna Code in
census surveys.
o So far, the census surveys have included them as “others” in the religion column.
Ek Bharat • Under this, Every State and UT is paired with another State/UT for a year, during which they
Shreshtha would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language,
Bharat literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.

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 • Knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different States & UTs will lead to an
enhanced understanding and bonding between the States, thereby strengthening the unity and
integrity of India.
• Ministry of Education has been designated as Nodal Ministry.
Nazca Lines, • A massive carving of a resting cat
Peru (figurative geoglyph) was recently
discovered in Peru’s famous Nazca Lines.
• The Nazca lines are huge drawings in the
soil of the Nazca desert, in Peru.
• These Nazca Lines were created by the
Nazca culture between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The cat figure is 37 meters long when seen
horizontally, and dates from the late
Paracas era (500 BC – 200 AD).
Avadhanam • The 'International Satavadhanam' program has been launched virtually by the Vice president
recently.
• He observed that 'avadhanam' as a literary feat has greatly contributed to the Telugu
language's glorious tradition.
• Avadhanam is a literary performance popular from ancient days in India.
• It originated as a Sanskrit literary process and revived by the poets in Telugu and Kannada in
modern times.
• It also involves the partial improvisation of poems using specific themes, forms, or words.
Jallikattu ● It is a traditional bull-chasing sport of
Tamil Nadu which is organised during
the harvest festival Pongal.
o There are references to
Jallikattu in Sangam literature
too.
o Also, a reference to bull taming is
found in a seal discovered at
Mohenjodaro, which is dated
between 2,500 BC and 1,800 BC.
• The term ‘jallikattu,' comes from
Tamil terms ‘salli kaasu' which
means coins and kattu which means package tied to the horns of bulls as prize money.
SPIC MACAY ● It is a non-political, nationwide, voluntary movement founded in 1977 by Dr Kiran Seth.
(Society for ● It seeks to inspire youth through experiencing the mysticism embodied in the rich and
the Promotion heterogeneous cultural tapestry of Indian and World Heritage.
of Indian ● SPIC MACAY is supported nationally by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Classical Music Sports, and the HRD Ministry.
And Culture ● Internationally, SPIC MACAY is recognised and supported by Rikskonsertene (Norway) and
Amongst Goethe Institute (Germany)
Youth)

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Copyright © by Vision IAS
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
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