Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Indian Culture PDF
Indian Culture PDF
CULTURE
9. Dances 43-46
MEANING AND ESSENCE CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
OF CULTURE A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Culture is collective expression of human with the way he lives. He has always struggled
interaction with nature, fellow humans and to make improvements. In this struggle which
himself. It evolves human capacity to classify has been both long and painful, he has been
and represent experiences with elaborate symbols successful. He has gone ahead to find better
and customs, and to act imaginatively and ways of earning his living, to set up better ways
creatively. It overtime assumes idiosyncrasy of cooperating with his fellow men, to discover
peculiar to society which results in cultural new knowledge to express his ideas in art and
differences world over. literature. To put all this in a few words, man's
culture has always been progressing. The cultures
Culture thus consists of the ideas, customs
of groups of people that have become highly
and art that are produced or shared by a
developed are often called civilizations.
particular society. A culture is a particular
Civilization is sometimes used as just another
society or civilization, especially one considered word for culture but generally in the sense of
in relation to its ideas, its art or its way of life. higher order of cultural development of people
One can also say, 'culture' is the intellectual and when they begin to live in large habitations
artistic lifeline of a society. NCERT simplifies the called cities, which represent a higher level of
term culture 'as how man earns his living, what material life or a higher standard of living. But
kind of house he lives in, what skills he uses, a higher standard of material life has a cultural
what he produces, how much knowledge he content only when it is imbued with, or serves
has acquired, how he lives with his fellow men, as a means of attaining some ultimate moral
what he believes, how much leisure time he has value. When such life is in conflict with one of
and what he does with this time. the moral values, or even when it is devoid of
Often 'Culture' is erroneously substituted for any such values, it will prove to be an obstacle
'Religion' and 'Civilization'. But, they are all to cultural progress. So civilization is not always
defferent although technically, never opposed an ally but sometimes an enemy of culture.
to each other. 'Religion' in its wider sense All cultures differ, but their differences stem
coincides with, and goes beyond, culture and in from variations in universal theme, such as
its narrower sense, forms an important part of language, religion, economy, law, technology,
it. Where religion signifies the inner experience etc. Since these are universal, here is much
which reveals to the mind the real meaning and potential for interaction between peoples.
purpose of life, it is the very soul of culture; but Another language may be adopted; one religion
where it is used for the external form in which discarded for another; new ways of making a
the inner experience has crystallized itself, it is living borrowed and so on. As cultures influence
only a part of it. Religion as the inner realization each other, they are in constant change. Whether
of the highest truth can never be opposed to an invention or an idea comes from within or
culture, but positive religion, when it has form without, a society must accept it before it
degenerated into mere form without substance, can become part of the culture.
is often in conflict with cultural life. When we talk of the peculiar common culture
Civilization is sometimes used as a substitute of a country, we are concerned with these
for culture but generally in the sense of a higher geographical factors which find expression not
order of culture. Man has never been satisfied only in material forms but also create a special
5
mental atmosphere. It is the atmosphere which influence on the shaping of her culture as a
gives to the people of country a common outlook whole. It stressed the values of peace and
and temperament though they may differ in constructive activity more emphatically than
their religions and philosophical ideas. This those of war and destruction.
common national temper and mind is the most The influence of climate and economic
important source of the common national culture. resources on the material life of people e.g. food,
Amongst other sources are the new religious or dress, modes of living, etc., is too evident. Also,
philosophical movements which take their birth
the physical environment shapes the physique
Y
in the country from time to time or the culture
AD LE
and features of a people and, no matter how
of peoples who have come from outside and
marked may be the differences in features
settled in that country or of those with whom
amongst the people of India, there are some
that country has come into contact in war or
EM
common characteristics which distinguish them
trade and commerce.
from other nations. This direct effect of the
India's national culture is an amalgam of the
AC IC physical environment on the development of
common temperament and outlook which their physique is fairly obvious. But its indirect
influence the Indian mind and the intellectual effect on their temperament and character, on
influences of various socio-religious movements their mental, social and moral life is not so
and other cultures which have sneaked in due apparent.
course and sit pretty in the national mind.
Religious philosophy has always occupied a
Prehistoric cultures in India, foreign cultures
S ON
Physical Environment of India the Indian mind and the modern western mind
India mainly consists of plains or low plateaus stands out clearly. The Western minds assign
watered by big rivers. The plains are well great moral importance to the struggle between
CH
irrigated. Sunshine is ample throughout the man and his physical environment and regard
year. Agriculture, therefore, is the main the conquest of nature as the key to cultural
occupation since the prehistoric times. Due to progress. The Indian mind, on the other hand,
difference in climate regime (mainly geared to has developed in an environment which is
the amount of rainfall received) in the country, blessed by a warm climate, a rich soil, abundant
the soils differ enormously from place to place. productivity and easy communication.
Each region produces a unique product of its Other important elements are the ideas,
own and is transported to the other regions beliefs, principles which have their origins in the
through waterways and roadways, thus consciousness to the higher values. Whenever
establishing a well-developed internal trade. any new movement of thought originated here
External trade was controlled mainly by or came from outside, it resulted temporarily in
foreigners, the reason being, the sea was far accentuating the existing differences. but soon
removed from the hinterland. People living in the Indian mind set into motion its process of
the coastal regions did, however, undertake seeking unity in diversity, and after some time
some initiative in maritime trade. So, under the the conflicting elements were harmonized to lay
influence of the physical features and forces, the foundation of a new culture. We must know
India's economic life developed on an in brief the cultural history of India to understand
agricultural pattern and this had a marked this phenomenon.
6 Indian Culture
fact, they have generally been noted for their
The Role of History in the Cultural
warlike quality and temper. It may therefore be
Unification of India doubted if the prevalent Indian attitude to war
A brief summary of the history of India helps and violence is derived from the Aryans. The
us in understanding the process of cultural people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro seem to
unification. Recent discoveries indicate that have developed a pacifist attitude which
around 3000 B.C. there was a developed according to some historians was one main
civilization in the north western and northern reason for their defeat at the hands of the
Y
Aryans. In the scale of civilization, the Aryans
AD LE
regions of India, popularly described as the
Indus Valley Civilization. It is now known as ' were perhaps inferior to the people of Mohenjo-
Harappan Civilization'. Daro, but their more aggressive character and
their superiority in the art of warfare gave them
EM
It now seems clear that this ancient
the victory.
civilization was not confined to the valley of the
Indus but had spread east and south across half
AC IC There are no regular histories of this early
the Indian sub-continent. Who the people of phase of Aryan settlement in India. A picture
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were, and where of the life of the people, however, is obtained
they came from cannot be said with certainty. from the epics and other literature. Of the epics,
The available remains indicate striking similarities the most important are the Ramayana and the
with people of Sumer, but historians offer Mahabharata. Rama and Krishna dominate
these two epics. The impact of Buddha has been
S ON
different explanations of the similarity. Some
are of the view that the civilization spread one of the most significant in the history of man.
westwards from the Indus basin till it reached His was perhaps the first attempt to solve the
the banks of the Euphrates and the Tigris. mystery of existence in rational terms and
Others hold it that it came to India from Sumer. without recourse to mysticism. He emphasized
Be that as it may, it had around 3000 B.C. good conduct and taught the eight-fold way by
attained a high degree of maturity. One is thus which man can live at peace with his fellows.
justified in holding that its beginning must go He broke away from ritualism and the rigours
IA R
Y
AD LE
almost the whole of India was brought under invariably absorbed in the Indian social pattern.
the sway of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka was Many of these tribes did not have a developed
a great champion of the Buddhist faith. There culture of their own. Also the occupational
EM
was however no discrimination against men divisions of Indian society made it easy to fit
who followed other religions and in one of his them into an appropriate place in the social
famous edicts Asoka declared that a truly
AC IC structure.
religious man had regard for all faiths. It was From the ninth century onward, we find
due mainly to his patronage that Buddhism
continual reference to a group of people called
spread beyond the shores of India. There are
the Rajputs. They gradually replaced the
records of missions sent by him to Ceylon,
kshatriyas as the ruling and fighting caste. The
western Asia and Egypt and it has been
term Rajputs literally means the sons of kings.
suggested that his missions also visited Burma,
S ON
martial activities.
north and the south which offered peace and
The interregnum between the fall of the security to the people. With the establishment of
Mauryan empire in the second century B.C. and law and order, various forms of art and culture
the rise of the Gupta empire in the fourth flourished. Agriculture and crafts trades
century A.D. was one of turmoil and unrest, prospered. The restoration of peace was
at least so far as north India was concerned. accompanied by general prosperity throughout
With the weakening of the imperial power, new India, Buddhism had lost its pre-eminence but
tribes were continually pouring in. it was still widely prevalent. Harsha was a
Buddhism had suffered a setback after the patron of both Buddhism and Brahmanism and
fall of the Mauryan Empire. By the time of the welcomed to his court Hiuen Tsang, perhaps
Guptas, it was no longer the predominant the greatest of the Chinese pilgrims to India. He
religion of the land. The Guptas were patrons has left an extremely interesting record of the
of Hinduism but they did not prosecute the court of Harsha as well as of the life of the
Buddhists. In fact, both kings and the common Indian people.
people did equal honour to the Buddhist monks As in the case of the Aryans, the incursion
and to the priests and gods of Hinduism. of the Muslims into India was also spread over
The state maintained law and order but the centuries. Sind may have been the first Muslim
laws were mild and bore lightly on the people. principality in India but the first Arab outposts
8 Indian Culture
in the country had been established almost a Akbar was the greatest of the Mughals and
hundred years earlier in the far south. In fact, conscious integrator. His greatest contribution
it is generally accepted that the immediate was the abolition of distinctions based on religion
purpose of the Arab invasion of Sind was to and the offer of equal opportunity of service and
safeguard the trade routes with south India and advancement under the crown to all Indians.
Ceylon. It has been suggested that one of the Toleration had been forced on many of his
reasons for the flourishing of religious and predecessors by force of circumstances. This
philosophical activity in the southern India in applied particularly to the principalities that
Y
the eights and succeeding centuries was the
AD LE
were established in outlying areas. Bengal and
impact of a new and alien force on the indigenous Gujarat had kings who were remarkably tolerant
culture. in their attitude to their non-Muslim subjects.
This was equally true to the Bahami Kingdom
EM
Except in these two centres of Arab influence,
the large majority of Muslims who came to and other principalities in the south. Akbar's
India in different times were Turks, Afghans special distinction lies in his elevation of this
practice to a principle of sovereignty. He was,
AC IC
and Persians. Many of them were recent converts
to Islam and had imbibed only some of the however, essentially a ruler and his was perhaps
externals of Muslim culture. This did not prevent the conception of a Secular State.
them from regarding themselves as the standard The Mughal dynasty would have been
bearers of Islam. Many of the Hindu temples remarkable if it had produced only a Babar or
were great repositories of wealth. An attack on
S ON
an Akbar. In fact, it produced five or six
the temple was thus tempting to the invaders generations of exceptionally able men. This
for various reasons. partly explains the extent and duration of the
In discussing Muslim rulers of India, we Mughal Empire and the hold it had on the
must remember that the Muslims came in imagination of the people. Another reason was
succeeding waves. They were in most cases Akbar's reorganization of the administrative
armies of fighting men who did not bring their system. Though we cannot say that he
women with them and took local wives. Again, established the rule of law, his reforms did, to
IA R
in many cases the alternatives for Indian large extent, replace personal rule by governance
prisoners of war was permanent slavery or according to rules. His policy was followed by
acceptance of Islam. These facts combined with his successors till the time of Aurangzeb.
CH
active proselytisation led to the growth of a Aurangzeb differed from Akbar in two
sizeable Muslim population in the course of few important respects. While keeping the policy in
centuries. his control, Akbar had delegated large powers
Social customs of Hindus were also to his officers and ran his administration on the
responsible for the growth in the number of basis of trust. Aurangzeb could not trust even
Muslims. Those who were low in the social scale his own sons and tried to control not only policy
found in Islam an opportunity to assert their but even the details of administration. Aurangzeb
dignity. The more sensitive among the socially also differed radically from Akbar in his attitude
privileged were often attracted by its democratic towards his subjects. Akbar had treated all of
appeal. Besides, Hindu society looked askance them equally but Aurangzeb could not treat
at released prisoners of war and they often had even the Muslims on the basis of equality as he
no option but to join the Muslim fold. Such kept his favours only for the Sunnis.
large-scale absorption of Hindus slowly changed The first contact between India and modern
the character of Muslim society. Even those who Europe took place in 1498 when Vasco de Gama
had originally came from outside gradually circled the African continent and landed at
looked upon themselves as Indians. There were Calicut. The Portuguese established a small
many instances where Muslims and Hindus of trading station but from the very beginning they
India combined to resist a Muslim invader from had imperial ambitions.
outside.
Indian Culture 9
The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch, triumph was the absence of Indian naval power.
the British and French who were all attracted Technical progress was the third and decisive
by the fabulous wealth of the East. It is difficult reason why the British were able to establish
to say if these later comers had any imperial their empire in India. From the seventeenth
ambition initially. When they first came to century onward, Europe started on a career of
India, the Mughal power was firmly established triumphant scientific discoveries. In course of
and they were content to get trade licenses from time, these led to a transformation of the
the government. Though they began as traders technique of industrial production and the
Y
they were soon tempted to share in the quest for science of war. Asia as a whole had fallen back
AD LE
empire. They had their trading stations on the in the race for knowledge and power. When
outskirts of the empire, and at first fortified therefore the clash came, Indian rulers were
them for self-defence against robbers and other unable to stand up to the British.
EM
raiders. It was, however, almost inevitable that The introduction of the western system of
their struggles in Europe should be reflected in education in India was not at first encouraged
their trading posts in India. In course of time,
AC IC
these fortifications became centres of both
by the Government of the day but the zeal of
a handful of Christian missionaries and Indian
defence and offence against Indian rulers.
leader of vision and faith, overcame all
When the Europeans first came to India, administrative inertia. The work of missionaries
they were certainly inferior to the Indians in the like Carey and Indian leaders like Raja Ram
arts of peace. In the science of war also, they
S ON
Mohan Ray received a great impetus as a result
were probably at first inferior, but nevertheless of Macaulay's vehement support for Western
finally won in the struggle for power. There education. With the establishment of the three
were many reasons for their ultimate triumph, Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay,
of which three major ones may be briefly the supporters of Western education had
indicated here. The first was the break-up of the definitely won. Indian minds now had direct
Mughal Empire and the failure of any other access to the scientific temper and the liberal
Indian empire to establish a strong central political thought of the Western world. Whatever
IA R
government. After the death of Aurangzeb in be our criticism of the defects of the existing
1707, there followed a period of about 150 years system of education, there is little doubt that it
when India was ridden with intrigues and was responsible for the Indian renaissance.
conflict. The second reason for the British
CH
10 Indian Culture
PREHISTORIC ROCK CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
PAINTINGS A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
The distant past when there was no paper It is interesting to know that the first
Y
AD LE
or language or the written word and hence no discovery of paintings was made in India in
books or written documents, is called prehistory 1867-68 by an archaeologist, Archibald Carlleyle,
or as we often say prehistoric times. How people twelve years before the discovery of Altamira in
EM
lived in those times was difficult to surmise until Spain. Cockburn, Anderson and Ghosh were
scholars began to discover the places where the early archaeologists who discovered a large
prehistoric people lived. Excavation at these number of sites in the Indian sub-continent.
AC IC
place brought to light old tools, pottery, habitats,
bones of ancient human beings and animals and
Remnants of rock paintings have been found
on the walls of the caves situated in several
drawings on cave walls. By piecing together the districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
information deduced from these objects and the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar. Some
cave drawings, scholars have constructed fairly paintings have been reported from the Kumao
S ON
accurate knowledge about what happened and hills Uttarakhand also. The rock shelters on
how people lived in prehistoric times. When the banks of the River Suyal at Lakhudiyar about
basic needs of food, water, clothing and shelter twenty kilometres on the Almora-Barechina
were fulfilled people felt the need to express road, bear these prehistoric paintings.
themselves. Painting and drawing were the Lakhudiyar literally means one lakh caves. The
oldest art forms practised by human beings to paintings here can be divided into three
express themselves, using the cave walls as their categories: man, animal and geometric patterns
canvas.
IA R
or to keep a visual record of their day-to-day filled geometric designs and groups of dots can
life, like some of us who maintain a diary. also be seen here. One of the interesting scenes
The prehistoric period in the early depicted here is of hand-linked dancing human
development of human beings is commonly figures. There is some superimposition of
known as the Old Stone Age or the paintings. The earliest are in black; over these
Palaeolithic Age. are red ochre paintings and the last group
comprises white paintings. From Kashmir two
Prehistoric paintings have been found in slabs with engravings have been reported. The
many parts of the world. We do not really know granite rocks of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
if Lower Paleolithic people ever produced any provided suitable canvases to the Neolithic man
art objects. But by the Upper Paleolithic times for his paintings. There are several such sites but
we see a proliferation of artistic activities. Around more famous among them are Kupgallu, Piklihal
the world the walls of many caves of this time and Tekkalkota. Three types of paintings have
are full of finely carved and painted pictures of been reported from here-paintings in white,
animals which the cave-dwellers hunted. The paintings in red, ochre over a white background
subjects of their drawings were human figures, and paintings in red ochre. These paintings
human activities, geometric designs and symbols. belong to late historical, early historical and
In India the earliest paintings have been reported Neolithic periods. The subjects depicted are
from the Upper Palaeolithic times. bulls, elephants, sambhars, gazelles, sheep,
Indian Culture 11
goats, horses, stylized humans tridents, but
rarely, vegetal motifs. Mesolithic Period
But the richest paintings are reported from The largest number of Paintings belong to
the Vindhya ranges of Madhya Pradesh and period II that covers the Mesolithic paintings.
their Kaimurean extensions into Uttar Pradesh. During this period the themes multiply but the
These hill ranges are full of Paleolithic and paintings are smaller in size. Hunting scenes
Mesolithic remains and they are also full of predominate. The hunting scenes depict people
forests, wild plants, fruits, streams and creeks, hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears,
Y
AD LE
thus a perfect place for Stone Age people to live. pointed sticks, arrows and bows. In some
Among these the largest and most spectacular paintings these primitive men are shown with
rock shelter is located in the Vindhya hills at traps and snares probably to catch animals. The
hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and
EM
Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. Bhimbetka is
located fortyfive kilometres south of Bhopal, in ornaments. Sometimes, men have been adorned
an area of ten square kilometres, having about with elaborate head-dresses and sometimes
painted with masks also. Elephant, bison, tiger
AC IC
eight hundred rock shelters, five hundred of
which bear paintings. boar, deer, antelope, leopard, panther,
rhinoceros, fish, frog, lizard, squirrel and at
The caves of Bhimbetka were discovered in
times birds are also depicted. The Mesolithic
1957-58 by eminent archaeologist V.S.
artists loved to paint animals. In some pictures
Wakankar and later on many more were
animals are chasing men. In others they are
S ON
Y
These kinds of paintings might have given man
AD LE
various rocks and minerals. They got red from
hematite (known as geru in India). The green a sense of power over the animals he would
came from a green variety of a stone called meet in the open.
EM
chalcedony. White might have been made out This practice is common among primitive
of limestone. The rock of mineral was first people of today also. They engrave or paint
ground into a powder. This may then have been
AC IC on rocks as part of the rituals they perform
mixed with water and also with some thick or at birth, at death, at coming of age and at
sticky substance such as animal fat or gum or the time of marriage. They dance masked
resin from trees. Brushes were made of plant during hunting rites to help them kill animals
fibre. What is amazing is that these colours have difficult to find or kill.
survived thousands of years of adverse weather The paintings of individual animals show
conditions. It is believed that the colours have
S ON
close to the ceilings of rock shelters. One may and painted another painting on the previous
wonder why early human beings chose to paint one or some of the paintings and places were
on a rock in such an uncomfortable position. considered sacred or special or this was because
The paintings made at these places were perhaps the area may have been used by different
for people to be able to notice them from a generations of people at different times.
distance.
These prehistoric paintings help us to
The paintings though from the remote past understand about early human beings, their
do not lack pictorial quality. Despite various lifestyle, their food habits, their daily activities
limitations such as acute working conditions, and above all they help us understand their
inadequate tools, materials, etc., there is a charm mind the way they thought. Prehistoric period
of simple rendering of scenes of the environment remains are a great witness to the evolution of
in which the artists lived. The men shown in human civilization, through the numerous rock
them appear adventurous and rejoicing in their weapons, tools, ceramics and bones. More than
lives. The animals are shown more youthful and anything else the rock paintings are the greatest
majestic than perhaps they actually were. The wealth the primitive human beings of this period
primitive artists seem to possess an intrinsic left behind.
Indian Culture 13
ARTS OF THE INDUS VALLEY
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
The arts of the Indus Valley Civilization eyes are a little elongated and half-closed as in
Y
AD LE
emerged during the second half of the third meditative concentration. The nose is well
millennium BCE. The forms of art sound from formed and of medium size the mouth is of
various sites of the civilization include sculptures, average size with close cut moustache and a
EM
seals, pottery, gold jewellery, terracotta figures, short beard and whiskers; the ears resemble
etc. The artists of that time surely had fine double shells with a hole in the middle. The hair
artistic sensibilities and a vivid imagination. is parted in the middle and a plain woven fillet
AC IC
Their delineation of human and animal figures
was highly realistic in nature, since the
is passed round the head. An armlet is worn on
the right hand and holes around the neck
anatomical details included in them was unique suggest a necklace.
and in the case of terracotta art the modeling
of animal figures was done in an extremely Bronze Casting
S ON
careful manner.
The art of bronze-casting was practised on
The two major sites of the Indus Valley
a wide scale by the Harappans. Their bronze
Civilization, along the Indus river- the cities of
statues were made using the 'lost wax' technique
Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the
in which the wax figures were first covered
south-showcase one of earliest examples of civic
with a coating of day and allowed to dry. Then
planning. Other markers were houses, markets,
storage facilities, offices, public baths, etc. the wax was heated and the molten wax was
arranged in a grid-like pattern. There was also drained out through a tiny hole made in the clay
IA R
a highly developed drainage system. While cover. The hollow mould thus created was filled
Harappa and Mohenjodaro are situated in with molten metal which took the original
Pakistan, the important sites excavated in India shape of the object. Once the metal cooled, the
CH
are Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi clay cover was completely removed. In bronze
in Haryana, Ropar in the Punjab, Kalibangan we find human as well as animal figures, the
and Balathal in Rajasthan, etc. best example of the former being the statue of
a girl popularly titled 'Dancing Girl'. Amongst
Statues whether in stone, bronze or terracotta animal figures in bronze the buffalo with its
found in Harappan sites are not abundant, but uplifted head, back and sweeping horns and the
refined.
goat are of artistic merit. Bronze casting was
popular at all the major centers of the Indus
Stone Statues Valley Civilization. The copper dog and bird of
The stone statuaries found at Harappa and Lothal and the bronze figure of but from
Mohenjodaro are excellent examples of handing Kalibangan are in no way inferior to the human
three dimensional volumes. In stone are two figures of copper and bronze from Harappa and
male figures- one is at torso in red sandstone Mohenjodaro. Metal casting appears to be a
and the other is a bust of a bearded man in continuous tradition. The late Harappan and
steatite - which are extensively discussed. Chalcolithic sites like Dalmabad in Maharashtra
yielded excellent examples of metal cast
The figure of the bearded man interpreted as
sculptures. They mainly consist of human and
a priest, is draped in a shawl coming under the
animal figures. It shows how the tradition of
right arm and covering the left shoulder. This
figure sculpture continued down the ages.
shawl is decorated with trefoil patterns. The
14 Indian Culture
tiger, goat and also monsters. Sometimes trees
Terracotta or human figures were also depicted. The most
The Indus Valley people hade terracotta remarkable seal is the one depicted with a figure
images also but compared to the stone and in the centre and animals around. This seal is
bronze statues the terracotta representations of generally identified as the Pashupati Seal by
human form are crude in the Indus Valley. They some scholars whereas some identify it as the
are more realistic in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan. female deity. This seat depicts a human figure
The most important among the Indus figures seated cross legged. An elephant and a tiger are
Y
are those representing the mother goddess. In depicted to the right side of the seated figure
AD LE
terracotta, we also find a few figurines of while on the left a rhinoceros and a buffalo are
bearded males with coiled hair, their posture seen. In addition to these animals two antelopes
rigidly upright, legs slightly apart and the arms are shown below the seat, Seals such as these
EM
parallel to the sides of the body. The repetition date from between 2500 and 1500 BCE and
of this figure in exactly the same position would were found in considerable numbers in sites
suggest that he was a deity. A terracotta mask such as the ancient city of Mohenjodaro in the
AC IC
of a horned deity has also been found. Toy carts Indus Valley. Figures and animals are carved in
with wheels, whistles, rattles, birds and animals, intaglio on their surfaces.
gamesmen and discs were also rendered in Square or rectangular copper tablets, with
teracotta. an animal or a human figure on one side and
an inscription on the other, or an inscription on
S ON
Seals
CH
Y
designs etched onto them. Great technical skill
AD LE
the pans, always inside and to the dishes of
offering stands. Perforated pottery includes a has been displayed in the manufacture of these
large hole at the bottom and small holes all over beads.
EM
the wall and was probably used for straining The Harappan people also made brilliantly
liquor. Pottery for household purposes is found naturalistic models of animals, especially
in as many shapes and sizes as could be
AC IC monkeys and squirrels used as pin-heads and
conceived of for daily practical use. Straight and beads.
angular shapes are an exception, while graceful It is evident from the discovery of a large
curves are the rule. Miniature vessels mostly less number of spindles and spindle whorls in the
than half an inch in height are particularly so houses of the Indus Valley that spinning of
marvelously crafted as to evoke admiration. cotton and wool was very common. The fact
S ON
armlets and finger-rings were commonly worn From archaeological finds it appears that the
by both sexes, women wore girdles earrings and people of the Indus Valley were conscious of
anklets. Hooplas of jewellery found at fashion. Different hair-styles were in vogue and
Mohenjodaro and Lothal include necklaces of wearing of a beard was popular among all.
CH
gold and semi-precious stones copper bracelets Cinnabar was used as a cosmetic and face
and beads gold earrings and head ornaments, paint, lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner) were also
faience pendants and buttons and beads of known to them. Many stone structural remains
steatite and gemstones. All ornaments are well are also found at Dholavira which show how
crafted. It may be noted that a cemetery has the Indus valley people used stone in
been found at Farmana in Haryana where dead construction.
bodies were buried with ornaments. The artists and craftsmen of the Indus Valley
The bead industry seems to have been well were extremely skilled in a variety of crafts-
developed as evident from the factories metal casting, stone carving, making and
discovered at Chanhudaro and Lothal. Beads painting pottery and making terracotta images
were made of cornelian, amethyst, jasper, crystal, using simplified motifs of animals, plants and
quartz, steatite, turquoise, lapis-lazuli etc. Metals birds.
16 Indian Culture
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
The earliest extant remains of recognizable animal most frequently depicted in the seals is
Y
AD LE
building activity on the Indian subcontinent the single horned 'Unicorn'. Other animals
dates back to the third millennium, to the Indus depicted on the seals were elephants, tigers,
Valley cities of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Lothal, bisons and Rhino. These seals probably were
EM
Kalibangan and several others. These cities are used to mark the ownership of property.
among man's earliest attempts at organizing an Besides the seals, a large number of terracotta
urban environment. The remarkable thing about figurines of men and women, birds and animals
AC IC
the arrangement of the houses in the cities was
in that they followed the grid system. Streets
have also been found. They were mostly used
by the commoners as toys or objects of worship.
were laid out in a grid pattern and there was They are considered crude artistic creations
a defined system of land use. The buildings, when compared to the seals and images which
made of bricks- both burnt and unburnt, were were meant for higher classes.
S ON
strictly utilitarian and built with skill and a
sound knowledge of building principles. Among Some images of stone and metal have also
other structural techniques, the builders of these been discovered from the Harappan sites. The
cities used corbelled arches. best and the most famous is the steatite image
of a bearded man wearing an ornamental robe
The great tank of Mohenjo-Daro, now called found in Mohenjo-Daro. From Harappa a nude
the Great Bath, shows that large, ritualistic male torso of red sandstone and a small nude
structures were not unknown. The Great Bath dancing figure made of grey stone have been
IA R
measures 11.88 x 7.01 x 2.43 metres. Flights of found. A few bronze sculptures have also been
steps at either end lead to the surface. There are discovered from places like Mohenjo-Daro,
side rooms for changing clothes. The floor of the Harappa, Chanhudaro and Diamabad. The
Bath was made of burnt bricks. Water was best specimen is the figure from Mohenjo-Daro
CH
drawn from a large well in an adjacent room, of a nude dancing girl with right hand on hips,
and an outlet from one corner of the Bath led arms loaded with bangles, head slightly tilted
to drain. So, it is suggested that the Great Bath and covered with curly hair. Models of Bullock
served ritual bathing, which was so vital to any carts and 'ikkas' have been found form Harappa
religious ceremony in India. and Chahnudaro. Recently, four unique bronze
The greatest artistic creation of the Indus figures have been discovered at the site of
people was the seals. Numbering about 2000, Diamabad.
they have been found at a number of sites. They After the decline of the Indus Valley cities in
were made from a soft stone called 'steatite'. The the second millennium, the highly developed
technique of cutting and polishing these seals and standardized brick architecture of this period
with white luster was a unique invention of the gave way, in the Vedic period that followed, to
Harappans. The seals were of many shapes- pastoral settlements of mud, thatch, bamboo
square, rectangular, button shaped, cubical, and timber in the Valleys of the Saraswati and
cylindrical and round. However, the two main Ganga rivers. Although we have no extant
types were the square type with a carved examples of the perishable timber structures of
animal and inscription and the rectangular type the Vedic period, our knowledge of the building
with an inscription only. Each seal had an of this time is based on evidence left by
emblem and name or a brief inscription. The subsequent Buddhist sculptures of the third and
Indian Culture 17
second centuries B.C. which often depicted 2. Archaemenid columns had their base.
episodes from the life of the Buddha in the 3. The bell form is used as supporting base.
architectural setting of the Vedic period. The
base reliefs at the gateways to the magnificent Mauryan Column
stupa at Sanchi in central India, for example, 1. The Stone columns of the Mauryan palace
depicts clusters of circular huts with domed are without capitals.
thatched roofs, gables, arched timber palace 2. Mauryan columns had no base at all.
and loggias, clearly distinguishing them from
3. The bell form serves as capitals. The
Y
the workman-like streets of Mohenjo-Daro and
AD LE
Harappa. Mauryan bell seems to have been derived
from the stylized lotus motif. They used the
tapering shaft and inverted lotus.
Mauryan Art
EM
The Mauryans excelled in cave architecture.
The growth of new religions and larger In fact they were the pioneers of rock-hewn
states provided the climate for the development caves. The Barabar caves, of which the Sudama
AC IC
of arts and craft in the Mauryan period. The age
of Mauryans witnessed a distinct school of art
cave is the earliest, are the earliest examples of
such caves. The Sudama and Lomas Rishi caves
and architecture. Stone culture emerged as the have wood imitating chambers and their walls
principal medium of Indian artists. are polished like glass mirror. Another cave
The Mauryan art types can be classified as called the karma chupar contains an in scription
S ON
(i) state executed and (ii) Local. The former of Asoka. The granite Nagarjuni hills possess
includes palaces, columns, pillars etc. and the three major caves. Dasarath dedicated them to
latter manifests itself in the Yaksha of Parkham, the Ajivika sect. The largest of these is known
Yakshini of Besnagar etc. as 'Gopi'.
The royal place at Kumarhar near Patilputra The Mauryan period also saw the
has been lavishly praised by Arrian, who says development of sculpture. These sculptures were
that in grandeur it outscores even the palaces found atop pillars. The elephant sculpture of
IA R
Y
sculpture, and the stupa itself has now vanished.
AD LE
Karle has architectural grandeur and a
disturbing beauty in its sculptures, The sculptures show very realistic relief of
especially the male and female figures on Indian city life. They also show crowds of
the capitals. worshippers reverencing the symbols of Buddha,
EM
not his image. The upright posts of the stupa
A Chaitya consists of portico in front of a
railings are carved with Yakshas and Yakshis,
large window on top. Inside, under a high
beautifully finished and very decorative. The
AC IC
vaulted roof are three constituent parts: a
mandapa in the centre with a double column on
medallions of the crosspieces mostly depict scenes
from the jataka stories. The railings of the stupa
the two sides, behind there is a
are built of red sandstone. They give us valuable
pradakshinapatha and a garbhagriha at the
insight into the religious faith and city life
further end which contains a stone stupa called
during that period. However, the art of sculpture
S ON
the Chaitya. Its highest development has been
was still developing and lacks finishing and is
found in cave no. 19 at Ajanta.
archaic.
(b) Vihara- It consists of a central hall entered
by a doorway from the verandah in front. 2. The Gaya Stupa
The viharas or monasteries were excavated At Bodh Gaya, there is a railing around the
near Chaityas for the residence of monks great stupa. The railing probably belongs to the
in rainy seasons. It is full of sculptors which 1st century B.C. but the Stupa is of a later date.
depict various scenes from the life of the
IA R
Monuments but also the earliest brahminical deeper, more vital and rounded and show an
brick temples. advance over the medallions containing human
head.
Important Stupas
3. Sanchi Stupa
The stupa began as an earthen burial mound,
This is one of the most striking architectural
which was revered by the local population. The
remains of ancient India. It contains three big
cult of the stupa was taken up by Buddhism.
stupas. The big stupa originally built by Asoka,
Asoka is said to have built 84,000 stupas all over
was enlarged to twice its original size in the 2nd
India. The stupas were large hemispherical
century B.C. It thus becomes a hemisphere of
domes, containing a small central chamber, in
about 120 feet in diameter. The old wooden
which the relics of Buddha were placed in a
railings were replaced by stone ones and towards
casket, often beautifully carved in crystal. The
the end of the 1st century, four glorious gateways
core of the stupa was of unburnt brick and the
(Toranas) were added at the four cardinal
outer face of burnt brick, covered with a thick
points. Although the railings are quite plain, the
layer of plaster. The stupa was crowned by an
gateways are full of sculpture illustrating the
umbrella of wood or stone, and was surrounded
jataka stories and various episodes in the life of
by a wooden fence enclosing a path for the
Gautama Buddha. Though the scenes resemble
ceremonial clock wise circumambulation (Prada-
those at Bharhut, they show a far higher
Indian Culture 19
standard of technical skill and artistic conception,
inspired by a sense of beauty, rhythm and
symmetry.
4. Amravati Stupa
In the lower valley of the Krishna River, the
beautiful stupa of Amravati was erected. In the
late satavahana period, the railings of Amravati
Y
Stupa were made of marble. The dome was also
AD LE
covered with slabs of marble. The stupa
contained reliefs depicting scenes of Buddha's
life and were surrounded with free standing
EM
Buddha figures. They mark a difference from
the northern style and hence said to belong to
a new school viz. that of Amravati. The image
AC IC
of Buddha occurs here and there but mostly he
Important Caves
The art of building artificial caves for religious
is represented by a symbol. The influence of
Amravati school was felt in Southeast Asia and purpose began during the period of the
Ceylon. Besides, it influenced the south Indian Mauryans. The Barabar and Nagarjuni caves
sculpture. have been dealt with earlier. Some other
S ON
20 Indian Culture
The great Chaitya at Karle is situated at a of them Hindu but some Buddhist and
distance of two miles north of the Bombay- Jaina. The caves generally resemble those
Poona Highway. The Chaitya is cut 124 feet of Nasik and Karle but the façade of the
deep into the rock. Its pattern is similar to Buddhist Visvakarma cave shows a
the Bhaja caves but is much more pleasing modification. Caves No. 14 and 15
developed in size and splendor. are famous and are known as 'Ravan Ki
4. Kondan Caves: It is situated 10 miles north Khai' and 'Dasavatar caves' respectively.
of the Karle Chaitya. It consists of both The Jaina caves include 'Indra Sabha' and
Y
AD LE
Chaityas and Vihars. 'Jagannath Sabha'. These caves are at a
5. Bedsa Caves: The Bedsa caves are located short distance from the Kailashnath temple
in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. The built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
EM
Chaityas of Bedsa are smaller in size than 9. Elephanta Caves: The cave temples of
those of Karle. The preponderance of stone Elephanta, a beautiful little island off the
in compression to wood is its distinctive
AC IC coast of Bombay belong to the 8th century
feature. A.D. They are in the same style as those of
6. Peetalkhor Caves: These caves are located Ellora. They are famous for their sculpture
in the satamala hills, 50 miles south-west especially for the great Trimurti figure of
of the Ajanta caves. Shiva. Besides, some other notable
sculptures include Ravana shaking the
7. Ajanta Caves: Ajanta in Maharashtra has
S ON
Kailash, Ardh-narishwara, Tandav dance
no less than 29 caves some going 100 feet
of Shiva etc.
deep into the rock. They were excavated in
the horse shoe curve of a hill side. The 10. Kanheri Caves: The Kanheri caves are
earliest caves date from 2nd century B.C. situated near Bombay. The Chaityas of
while others are of as late as 7th century Kanheri follow the pattern of the Karle
A.D. The Ajanta mural paintings are world Chaitya. The influence of Mahayana is
famous. The walls were first covered with evident. The outer walls of the caves bear
images of Buddha. There are more than 100
IA R
nature. The paintings of cave No. 10 date 150 caves, of which 10 are Chaityas and
from the beginning of the Christian era the rest are Vihars.
while those of cave No. 1 and cave No. 16 12. Mandapeshwar Caves: It has 3 caves
are from perhaps six centuries later. The dating from the 8th century. The caves have
murals chiefly depict scenes from the life of now been converted into a Christian shrine.
Buddha and the Jatakas. Though painted
13. Nasik Caves: These caves date from the 1st
for religious purpose, the murals bear a
century A.D. An inscription from the cave
secular rather than a religious message. We
reveals that it was built during the reign of
see a whole life of ancient India in a
the Satavahana ruler Krishna. The doorway
panorama. It includes princes, beggars,
of the chaitya has ornate emblems denoting
peasants, ascetics, beasts, birds, flowers etc.
crescent. The Pandu Lena cave is symbolic
The famous paintings are of "the dying
of Hinayana influence as Buddha is
princess" and "the mother and child". Most
represented only through symbols.
of the caves belong to the Gupta period.
14. Bagh Caves: These caves are situated in
8. Ellora Caves: Ellora caves are situated near
Madhya Pradesh, some hundred miles
Aurangabad, some 30 miles from Ajanta.
north of Ajanta. On the walls of the veranda
There are no less than 34 caves constructed
of a cave at Bagh, a procession of elephants
from the 5th to the 8th centuries A.D., most and a scene of a dancer and women
Indian Culture 21
musicians are depicted. They are more Buddha form Loriyan Tongai and Hastanagar
impressive than even those of Ajanta. and a standing Hariti figure from sakrah Dheri.
However, the best specimens are found in the
Dharamaraja Stupa at Taxila and at Jauliana
and Hadda near Jalalabad.
The Gandhara School was influenced by
Greco- Roman art traditions. It has the tendency
to mould the human body in a realistic manner
Y
AD LE
with great attention paid to accuracy of physical
details like delineation of muscles, moustaches,
curly hair etc. It is marked by the representation
EM
of thick drapery with large and bold fold lines.
It is also known for rich carving, elaborate
AC IC ornamentation and complex symbolism.
The Gandhara architecture includes large
and small monasteries like those at Taxila
(Dharamraya), Mamakhja (Rawalpindi), Mohra,
Marada and Jaulian. Though essentially Indian,
they used Hellenistic motifs like the Corinthian
S ON
Y
AD LE
renunciation. After an early period of experimentation,
The Royal statues of Mathura school have two distinct styles of temple architecture
been found in Mat, near Mathura and at Surkh emerged, and the major difference between
EM
Kota in Afghanistan. Besides, the headless statue them was the shape of the temple spire, that
of Kanishka is widely renowned. became the characteristic feature of the Hindu
AC IC temple. In the north the spire, called the shikhara,
was more or less smoothly pyramidal in outline,
Gupta Art rising in an uninterrupted slope to a rounded
The architectural output of the great top and pointed tip. In the south, the spire was
resurgence under the Guptas was phenomenal. called the vimana and it rose in a series of
The artistic creativity became a mighty upsurge diminishing steps, like a stepped pyramid,
of the national art during the golden age of this creating a singular and distinctive shape. The
S ON
empire. It created a whole new stream of earliest examples of the shikhara and the vimana
architectural tradition, one which came to be were evident in the masonry forms of the
closely woven around the forms of the Hindu Chalukyan temples at Aihole, Pattadakal and
temples that became powerful centres of worship Badami, and were later refined by the skill of
and learning in the centuries that followed. sculptors at Mahabalipuram in the 7th-8th
Until this period, the general plan of all religious century who fashioned a series of experimental
shrines was, by and large apsidal. During this temples out of outcrops of rock, adding yet
IA R
period, the temple evolved from the simple another dimension to the traditions of rock cut
square chamber that existed in the early Gupta architecture in India.
shrines at Sanchi to a more elaborate structure.
CH
Y
AD LE
are regarded as the distinctive characteristics of contributed to the growth of architecture. At
the Dravida temple. As later innovations, pillared Mahabalipuram, we have several rock-cut caves.
mandaps and gateways (Gopuram) were added. In the Adivaraha cave, we have effigies of
EM
The vesara style is also called the Chalukyan Mahendravarman and his two queens.
style. This style is a fusion of Dravida and Monolithic temples, known as rathams, belong
Nagara styles. Aihole and Pattadakal have many
AC IC to the reign of Mahamalla. The Dharmaraja
temples of these styles. Ratham had portrait of Mahamalla himself. A
third type of Pallava monument is the tirtham
or magnificent open- air carving in relief on a
rock surface. The differences between the
monuments of this period and those of Gupta
period are quite obvious. The Pallava monuments
S ON
(ancient Aryapura) show a juxtaposition of the Kailashnath temple is a kind of structural temple.
Nagara and Dravida Shikara style. Virupaksha There are three separate parts of it: a sanctum
temple at Pattadakal, near Badami, clearly with a pyramidal tower, a mandapa and a
CH
24 Indian Culture
various other activities such as ceremonial dances cities of Halebid and Belur, the so-called northern
which were performed by devadasis. The entire and southern styles were submerged once again
structure was enclosed in a courtyard into a single entity in the greater creation of the
surrounded by high walls which were pictured Hoysala dynasty. The rectangular off sets of the
by lofty gates called gopurams. In course of time pyramidal form of the vimana and the
the vimanas rose higher and higher and the curvilinear profile of the shikhara were
Gopurams also became more and more elaborate. transmuted into a bell shaped tower planted
Thus, the temples became a miniature city. over a star-shaped tower garbhagriha or shrine.
Kalashnath temple (8th century) is an early
Y
The stones that were used in the temples are of
AD LE
example of Dravida style. One of the finest and much finer grain, kind of greenish or bluish
the most elaborate examples of this style is black coloristic schist, which being close textured,
Brihadeswara Temple of Tanjore which was can take delicate and minute carving. Keshava
EM
built by Rajaraja I. This is also called Rajaraja Temple at Somnathpur and a group of temple
temple because the cholas were in the habit of at Belur in Hassan district are fine examples of
installing image of kings and queens in the Hoysala art. The greatest achievement of this art
AC IC
temples, in addition to the deity. The temple at
Gangaikonda-cholapuram is another example
is Hoysaleshvara Temple at Halebid.
The last monumental, if not innovative
of this style.
outcome of Hindu building talents was the
Temple architecture was refined and given legendary city of Vijayanagar, in a place called
clarity between the 10th and 13th centuries in Hampi in modern Karnataka. We have evidence
S ON
the soaring temple of Khajuraho in central of architecture which sought to preserve the
India, Konark in eastern India, and Thanjavur existing landscape, using it as a means of
in the south where the form of the temple came enhancing the buildings designed at Vijayanagar.
to fruition in triumphantly confident structures The architecture seems to virtually have been
that are rich and satisfying. Intricate carvings built in the landscape. At places, one is unable
on the surfaces of these temples provided a rich to discern where landscape ends and
texture to the forms and united them stylistically, architecture begins. A profusion of heavily
IA R
Hoysala Art
Orissa School
The wheel came full circle once again in the
The temples of Orissa form one of the most
region of modern Karnataka. Here, in the twin
compact and homogeneous architectural groups
Indian Culture 25
within the Nagara style. In fact the Orissa the Orissan style and as in Orissa, developed its
temples are regarded as the nearest to the own regional features. Its crowning glory is the
original Nagara archetype. In Orissan temple Khajuraho group of temple. While in Orissan
the plan of the sanctum and the hall in front of temples the sanctuary, assembly hall and
it (called Jagmohan) is plainly square in the entrance portico were considered as separate
interior but externally the walls exhibit series of entities joined by a vestibule, Khajuraho temples
buttress like projections in the middle of each
treat them as a whole. In central India pillars
side because of which the ground plan tends to
have been introduced in the interior as well as
Y
assume a cruciform shape.
AD LE
the lateral ends to support the roof. Khajuraho
The early temples of Orissa resemble the shikharas also have miniature shikharas. The
Gupta temples and include the main temples of this school are Kendriya
EM
Shatrughaneshwara group, Parsuramesvara Mahadev temple at Khajuraho, Panchratha
temple, Markandeshwara temple and
temple at Baroli, Keshvanarayana temple,
Bhuvaneshwara temple. The Mukteshwara
Amarkantaka, Karna temple, Virateshwara
AC IC
temple, belonging to 9th century A.D. represents
a mature expression of the Nagara temples in
temple, and Vishwanath temple at Khajuraho.
Orissa. On the other hand, the Siddheshwara
temple represents the transition from the Nagara Southern School
form to the typical Orissan form. The lingaraja It began during the reign of Pallavas. It
S ON
temple represents the Orissan type in its reached its climax during the Cholas. One of the
maturity. The sun temple, Konark built by great contributions of the south Indian Art is
Narsimha I excels the Lingaraja temple in nobility Shiva Nataraja, symbolizing the processes of
of its conception and the perfection of its finish. creation and dissolution in terms of the dynamic
The court of the temple had erotic sculpture. dance of divinity. The great metaphysical
problem of motion and rest as expressed in the
Bundelkhand School cosmos and its source have been best expressed
IA R
In central India the Nagara Temple reached in the dancing figure of Shiva Nataraja.
one of its most exuberant expressions. It followed
CH
26 Indian Culture
INDIAN SCULPTURE
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Indian sculptors had mastered the bronze or Vrishabhnath, who is identified with long
Y
AD LE
medium and the casting process as much as hairlocks dropping to his shoulders. Otherwise
they had mastered terracotta sculpture and the tirthankaras are noted by their short curly
carving in stone. The cire-perdu or lost-wax hair.
EM
process for casting was learnt as long ago as the Many standing Buddha images with right
Indus Valley Culture. Along with it was hand in abhaya mudra were cast in North
discovered the process of making alloy of metals
AC IC
by mixing copper, zinc and tin which is called
bronze.
India, particularly Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The sanghati or the monk's robe is wrapped to
cover the shoulders which turns over the right
Bronze sculptures and statuettes of Buddhist, arm, while the other end of the drapery is
Hindu and Jain icons have been discovered wrapped over the left arm. Eventually the pleats
from many regions of India dating from the are held by the extended hand of the same arm.
S ON
second century until the sixteenth century. Most The drapery falls and spreads into a wide curve
of these were required for ritual worship and at the level of the ankles. The Buddha's figure
are characterized by exquisite beauty and is modelled in a subtle manner suggesting, at the
aesthetic appeal. At the same time the metal- same times, the thin quality of the cloth. The
casting process continued to be utilized for whole figure is treated with refinement; there is
making articles for various purposes of daily a certain delicacy in the treatment of the torso.
use, such as utensils for cooking, eating, drinking, The figure appears youthful and proportionate
IA R
etc. Present day tribal communities also utilize in comparison with the Kushana style. In the
the 'lost-wax' process for their art expressions. typical bronze from Dhanesar Khera, Uttar
Perhaps the 'Dancing Girl' in tribhanga Pradesh, the folds of the drapery are treated as
CH
posture from Mohenjodaro is the earliest bronze in the Mathura style, i.e., in a series of drooping
sculpture datable to 2500 BCE. The limbs and down curves. Sarnath-style bronzes have foldless
torso of this female figurine are simplified in drapery. The outstanding example is that of the
tubular form. A similar group of bronze statuettes Buddha image at Sultanganj, Bihar, which is
have been discovered on archaeological quite a monumental bronze figure. The typical
excavation at Daimabad (Maharashtra) datable refined style of these bronzes is the hallmark of
to 1500 BCE. Significant is the 'Chariot', the the classical quality.
wheels of which are represented in simple
circular shapes while the driver or human rider Classical Sculpture
has been elongated, and the bulls in the forefront
The highest expression of form in art is
are modelled in sturdy forms.
through sculpture according to Indian canons.
Interesting images of Jain Tirthankaras have Chitra is the term for sculpture in the round,
been discovered from Chausa, Bihar, belonging while carving in relief, high or low, is styled
to the Kushana period during second century Ardhachitra. The earliest examples of sculpture
CE. These bronzes show how the Indian in India go back to the Harappan period in the
sculptors had mastered the modelling of third millennium B.C. The renowned dancing
masculine human physique and simplified girl form Mohenjo-Daro is an image in metal
muscles. Remarkable is the depiction of Adinath which is world famous.
Indian Culture 27
For quite a long time there was a gap of school in their eastern part. The Gandhara
period unrepresented by sculptural examples, School is mainly determined by Greco- Roman
creating a dark age, which came to an end by norms and is an Indian theme expressed in
the fourth century B.C., when there appeared foreign technique and spirit. The Mathura school
again sculptures of exquisite charm. The of Kushana art is more pleasing as a worthy
Mauryan period, with Asoka's craftsmen at companion of Satavahana art in the south.
work, has examples of such highly sophisticated
technique, realistic charm and perfection of
Solar Deity
Y
study of the anatomy of human, animal and
AD LE
The most astounding temple monument of
bird that there should have been a long tradition the Ganga is the one for the solar deity at
behind it, running into centuries. The anatomy Konark which is literally a monumental chariot
and form of the animal had been so well studied on several wheels drawn by seven horses. The
EM
in the magnificent row of elephant on the monumental sculptures of the running elephant
façade of the Lomas Rishi cave in the Barabar and horse here, once seen, are never forgotten.
hills and the sturdy bull and the stately lion
AC IC
composition from Sarnath pillars. The Chauri - Chandella Architecture
Bearer from Didarganj is a monolith with mirror-
like polish. Chandella sculpture itself is most
concentrated in Khajuraho, where the temples
Sunga sculpture of the second century B.C. dating from the 10th to the 12th century have
is represented adequately by the remains of the
S ON
a wealth of sculpture representing gorgeous
carved rail and Torana gateway that once royal processing, rare iconographic forms and
adorned the Stupa at Bharhut in central India. erotic scenes illustrating many of the Ratibandhas
The visit of king Ajatasatru of Magadha and of the Kama sutra.
Prasenajit of Kosala are two famous episodes
represented at Bharhut. Pallava Architecture
Contemporary rulers of the Sungas in the
In the south the great Pallava king
Deccan were the Satavahanas whose earliest
IA R
28 Indian Culture
Vishnuvardhana's greatest contribution is the
charming embellished temples with exquisite
sculptures in Belur and Halebid besides others.
Vijayanagara Period
The Vijayanagara period is indeed a great
phase in Indian culture where the Chalukyan
and Chola tradition combined. Krishna-
Y
AD LE
devaraya, the great emperor flanked by his
queens as depicted in metal at Tirupati, will ever
be remembered as the builder of several temples
EM
including the famous ones for Vithala and
Krishna at Hampi, his capital. One of the great
and imposing Gopuras at Chidambaram has a
AC IC fine portrait of Krishnadevaraya.
The bronzes of the Pallavas are famous and
among them the most
important are per-
haps Tripurantaka
S ON
Y
shown an appreciation of wood grain and the it unsuitable for permanent monuments.
AD LE
use of its lined and smooth surfaces and flowing Baroda, Delhi and Calcutta are centres for
contours. training young sculptors. The artists naturally
EM
Stone, cement, plaster and similar heavy tend to concentrate in these towns.
metals have a ponderability and palpability
AC IC
S ON
IA R
CH
30 Indian Culture
INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
In the seventh and eighth centuries CE Islam forms as part of their religious faith whereas a
Y
AD LE
spread towards Spain and India. Islam came to Muslim thought of only one with Muhammad
India, particularly, with Muslim merchants, as His Prophet. Hence, Hindus adorned all
traders, holy men and conquerors over a passage surfaces with sculptures and paintings. Muslims
EM
of six hundred years. Although by the eighth forbidden to replicate living forms on any
century CE, Muslims had begun to construct in surface, developed their religious art and
Sind, Gujarat, etc., it was only in the early architecture consisting of the arts of arabesque,
AC IC
thirteenth century that large scale building
activity was begun by the Turkish State,
geometrical patterns and calligraphy on plaster
and stone.
established after the Turkish conquest of northern
India. Typologies of Structures
By the twelfth century India was already Keeping in mind religious and secular
S ON
voussoirs (series of interlocking blocks) and descending order, rulers and nobles and their
fitted with keystones. The domes resting on families, merchants, merchant guilds, rural elite
pendentives and squinches enabled spanning of and devotees of a cult. In spite of the obvious
large spaces leaving the interiors free of pillars. Saracenic, Persian and Turkish influences, Indo-
A noteworthy aspect of these migrations Islamic structures were heavily influenced by
and conquests was that Muslims absorbed many prevailing sensibilities of Indian architectural
features of local cultures and traditions and and decorative forms. A lot depended on the
combined them with their own architectural availability of materials, limitations of resources
practices. Thus, in the field of architecture a mix and skills and the sense of aesthetics of the
of many structural techniques, stylised shapes, patrons. Although religion and religiosity were
and surface decorations came about through very important to people of medieval India, as
constant interventions of acceptance, rejection elsewhere, they borrowed architectural elements
or modification of architectural elements. These liberally.
architectural entities or categories showcasing
multiple styles are known as Indo-Saracenid or Categories of Styles
Indo-Islamic architecture.
The study of Indo-Islamic architecture is
According to E. B. Havell Hindus conceived conventionally categorized into the Imperial
manifestations of God everywhere in multiple style (Delhi Sultanate), the Provincial Style
Indian Culture 31
(Mandu, Gujarat, Bengal and Jaunpur), the onwards arches were designed with trefoil or
Mughal Style (Delhi, Agra and Lahore) and the multiple foliations. Spandrels of the arches were
Deccani Style (Bijapur, Golconda). These decorated with medallions or bosses. The root
categories help in understanding better the was a mix of the central dome and other smaller
specificities of architectural styles rather than domes, chatris and tiny minarets. The central
putting them in immutable slots. dome was topped with an inverted lotus flower
motif and a metal or stone pinnacle.
Architectural Influences
Y
AD LE
Materials for Construction
Amongst provincial styles, the architecture
of Bengal and Jaunpur is regarded as distinct. The walls in all buildings were extremely
Gujarat was said to have a markedly regional thick and were largely constructed of rubble
EM
character for patrons borrowed elements from masonary, which was easily available. These
regional temple traditions such as toranas lintels walls were then cased over with chunam or
in mihrabs carvings of bell and chain motifs, limestone plaster or dressed stone. An amazing
AC IC
and carved panels depicting trees, for tombs,
mosques and dargahs. The fifteenth century
range of stones were utilized for construction
such as quartzite, sandstone, buff, marble, etc.
white marble dargah of Shaikh Ahmad Khattu Polychrome tiles were used to great advantage
of Sarkhej is a good example of provincial style to finish the walls. From the beginning of the
and it heavily influenced the form and decoration seventeenth century, bricks were also used for
S ON
motifs included varieties of flowers, both from times, often symbolizing the seat of power of a
the sub-continent and places outside, particularly king. When such a fort was captured by an
Iran. The lotus bud fringe was used to great attacking army the vanquished ruler either lost
CH
advantage in the inner curves of the arches. his complete power or his sovereignty. This was
Walls were also decorated with cypress, chinar because he had to accept the suzerainty of the
and other trees as also with flower vases. Many victorious king. Some examples of strong complex
complex designs of flower motifs decorating the edifices which still exercise the imagination of
ceilings were also to be found on textiles and the visitor are the forts of Chittor, Gwalior,
carpets. In the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth Daulatabad, earlier known as Devgiri and
centuries tiles were also used to surface the Golconda.
walls and the domes. Popular colours were Commanding heights were utilized to great
blue, turquoise, green and yellow. Subsequently advantage to construct forts. These heights gave
the techniques of fessellation (mosaic designs), a good perspective of the region, strategic ad-
and pietra dura were made use of for surface vantage for security, unfettered and unhin-
decoration particularly in the dado panels of the dered space to make residential and official
walls. At times lapis lazuli was used in the complexes while simultaneously creating a sense
interior walls or on canopies. Other decorations of awe in the people. Other complexities woven
included arabesque, calligraphy and high and into such topography were concentric circles of
low relief carving and a profuse use of jalis. The outer walls as in Golconda, so that the enemy
high relief carving has a three dimensional look. had to breach these at all stages before getting
The arches were plain and squat and sometimes in.
high and pointed. From the sixteenth century
Daulatabad had several strategic devices to
32 Indian Culture
confound the enemy such as staggered entrances is a 210 feet high tapering tower divided into
so that gates could not be opened even with the four storeys. Painted peach now, its facade once
help of elephants. It also had twin forts, one boasted of chevron patterning on the encaustic
within the other but at a higher elevation and tile work and bold bands of Quranic verses.
accessed by a complex defense design Although it looked like an Iranian monument it
arrangement. One wrong turn in the labyrinth was the combined handiwork of local architects
or complex pathway could lead to the enemy with those from Delhi and Iran.
soldier going in circles of falling to his death
several hundred feet below.
Y
AD LE
Tombs
The Gwalior Fort was invincible because its
Monumental structures over graves of rulers
steep height made it impossible to scale. If had
and royalty was a popular feature of medieval
had many habitations and usages. Babur, who
EM
India. Some well known examples of such
did not find much merit in many things he saw
tombs are those of Ghyasuddin Tughlaq.
in Hindustan, was said to have been overawed
Humayun, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Akbar
at the sight of the Gwalior Fort. Chittorgarh
AC IC
bears the distinction of being the largest fort in
and Itmaduddaula. According to Anthony
Welch, the idea behind the tomb was eternal
Asia and was occupied for the longest length of
time as the seat of power. It has many types of paradise as a reward for the true believer on the
buildings including stambhas or towers to signify Day of Judgement. This led to the paradisiacal
victory and bravery. It was replete with imagery for tomb construction. Beginning with
S ON
numerous water bodies. Innumerable acts of the introduction of Quranic verses on the walls,
heroism have been associated with the principal the tomb was subsequently placed within
people in the fort, forming the substance of paradisiacal elements such as a garden or near
many a legend. An interesting aspect associated a body of water or both, as is in the case of the
with forts is that within the palace complexes Taj Mahal. Surely though, such vast expanses
stylistic and decorative influences were absorbed of structured and stylized spaces could not have
most liberally. been intended only to signify peace and
happiness in the next world but to also showcase
IA R
Y
AD LE
After Muhammad Ghori returned, Aiback wide scale. The style of decoration was in
established himself as the ruler of Delhi and accordance with their religious beliefs. No human
almost immediately commenced work on the or animal figures were used since it was
EM
earliest extant mosque on Indian soil the considered to be unislamic. They used scrolls of
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque which is the core of flowers & geometrical forms and verses of
the famous Qutub complex south of New Delhi. Quran Sharif which were intertwined in a very
AC IC
Qutb-ud-din had neither the time nor the
resources to import artisans, masons and
artistic manner (Arabesque). The Turkish rulers
used both the dome and arch method and the
architects form his native Afghanistan. In his slab and beam method in their buildings. They
haste to build, Qutb-ud-din had blocks of stones, also freely borrowed Hindu motifs such as the
columns and lintels removed from existing bell motif, swastika, lotus etc. The Turks added
S ON
Hundu and Jain temples in the area, and had colour to their buildings by using red sandstone.
them reorganized around a rectangular court, They also used yellow sandstone or marble.
haphazardly assembling the essential rudiments In Gujarat and its environs, however, the
of a mosque at the site he had chosen. This has, Muslim rulers seem to have been completely
subsequently, been termed as an "archaeological swamped by the artistic skills of the local Jain
miscellany". However, it sowed the seeds of a and Hindu craftsmen. In sharp contrast in the
tradition of give and take between the austere south, Muslim immigrant well versed in Persian
traditions of Islam and the sculptural skills of
IA R
complex. Though almost nothing of Siri has famous Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, the largest
survived, his Alai Darwaza at the Qutb complex dome of its time.
marks the beginning of a process of refinement Meanwhile, the Sayyids and the Lodi dynasty
of the basic module of Muslim architecture. held nominal sway over the cities of Agra and
Once this basic module had been perfected and Delhi in the north and, during their rule, the
the new technological principles of the true arch dominance of Muslim structural techniques were
and the dome understood by Hindu builders, well established with the construction of massive
this module could be assembled in varying boat kneel shaped domes over the numerous
combinations to build mosques, tombs, places, tombs built at Delhi by the Lodi rulers, whose
markets and entire cities. buildings had virtually turned Delhi into a royal
• Tughlaq Architecture: necropolis.
The Tughlaqs, who ruled Delhi form A.D. • Lodi Architecture:
1320 to 1413, endowed their new cities with a During this period, both the arch and lintel
genuine Muslim flavor. This is clearly evident in and beam were used. Besides balconies, kiosks
the fortress cities of Tughlaqabad and Firoz and caves of the Rajasthani-Gujarati style were
Shah Kotla founded by Ghias-ud-din and Firoz also used. Another device used by the Lodis was
Shah, respectively. They made deliberate attempt placing their buildings, especially tombs, on
to combine the principle of the arch and beam high platforms thus, giving the buildings a
34 Indian Culture
feeling of size as well as a better skyline. Some given unity by the material used for all the
of the tombs were placed in the midst of gardens buildings, red sandstone, quarried from the very
e.g. Lodi Garden. Some of the tombs were of ridge on which the city was erected. Another
octagonal shape. contribution of Akbar to the Indian architecture
is the Red Fort at Agra. Built of red sandstone,
Mughal India it had many magnificent gates. Diwan-i-Am
and Diwan-i-Khas were added to it by Shah
During the reign of Babar, magnificent forts, Jehan. The Jahangiri Mahal in the fort is a fine
palaces, gates, public buildings, mosques, baolis
Y
building attributed to Akbar himself. Panch
AD LE
(water tank or well), etc. were built, There were Mahal, built by Akbar, is five-storied structure
many formal gardens with running water. Use of open pavilions. All types of pillars used in
of running water in palaces and pleasure resorts various temples, were employed to support its
EM
was a special feature of the Mughal architecture. flat roofs.
Dome, arch, perforated jail work, inlay
decoration and artistic calligraphy were the
AC IC The Buland Darwaza is another significant
other special features of the architecture of the contribution of Akbar. It is 170-ft. high structure
period. Nishat Bagh in Kashmir, Shalimar in which commemorates Akbar's triumphal return
Lahore and Pinjore garden in the Punjab foothills from his Deccan campaign. The style, in which
are the gardens laid out by Babar. it was built, was called half-dove portal. A
dome was sliced into half. The sliced portion
The Mughal Empire, however, was founded provided the massive outward facade of the
S ON
as much on Babar's endeavors as on the genius gate while smaller door could be made in the
of the great Afghan ruler, Sher Shah, who rear wall where the dome and the floor met. The
forced Babar's son Humayun to relinquish Delhi style, borrowed from Iran, later became a
and ruled the land for a fruitful fifteen years. He common feature in Mughal buildings.
contributed handsomely to architectural
traditions. While the balanced perfection of the Akbar's son Jahangir was not a prolific
Quila Kuhana Masjid in the Purana Quila at builder, preferring to express his creativity in
the laying out of numerous Mughal gardens,
IA R
Tughlaqs and the Lodis. Its builder Aliwal Khan contribution of Jahangir to Indian architecture
conceived a fine elevation unity of the square, is the Tomb of Akbar at Sikandrabad. Towards
the octagon and the sphere. the end of Jahangir's reign, began the practice
of putting up building entirely of marble and
With the arrival of Akbar on the Indian decorative walls with floral designs made of
scene an era of unparalleled building activity semi-precious stones. This method of decoration
began. Under his benevolent but powerful is called pietra dura; it became more popular
guidance, all that was best in the building under Shahjahan who used it on a large scale
tradition of India came to life. During Akbar's in the Taj Mahal.
rule, Persian ideas were blended with Hindu
and Buddhist traditions to produce a style as Shahjahan was a passionate builder in
unique and eclectic as the personality of Akbar. sandstone and marble and so, he took the
This is seen at its best in Humayun's tomb at traditions of Mughal architecture to their
Delhi, in the numerous structures at Akbar's climactic best in the famous Taj Mahal at Agra.
new capital city of Fatehpur Sikri and at his But before the Taj was built, Shahjahan's
own tomb at Sikandra in Agra. Fatehpur Sikri craftsmen had mastered the use of marble as a
is a palace cum-fort complex. It includes many building material in structures such as Diwan-
buildings in the style of Gujarat and Bengal. The i-khas and Diwan-i-Aam, the halls of private
mixture of styles, both Hindu and Muslim, was and public audience, and the Moti Masjid or
Pearl Mosque at the Agra Fort. The Taj Mahal
Indian Culture 35
99
was placed at the head of the garden rather Moti Masjid in the Agra Fort which is built like
than at centre, creating a rich dimension of the Taj, entirely in marble is another example of
depth and perspective to the first view of this Shahjahan's passion for the use of marble in
perfectly proportioned edifice. The four minarets buildings.
that surround the central structure provide a The Mughal Empire continued under the
spatial frame for the arched facade and the
orthodox rule of Shahjahan's son Aurangzeb
soaring dome. There are minimum decorations,
for another sixty years. However, under his
delicate marble screens, pietra dura inlay work
austere rule no great work of art or architecture
Y
and kiosks, adding to the effect. The double
AD LE
was created and with the disintegration of the
dome is another feature of the building. It was
Mughal Empire, the focus once again shifted to
designed by a Persian Ustad Isa.
regional centres such as Oudh in present day
EM
With the growing wealth of the empire, Uttar Pradesh where a rather florid style based
Shahjahan laid out the splendid city of on the whims of the ruler rather than any
Shahjahanabad, at Delhi. For the devout, there
AC IC architectural principles emerged. Safdarjang's
is the perfectly proportioned Jama Masjid just Tomb was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of
opposite the fort. This mosque, the Taj Mahal Awadh. Gol Gumbaz was built by Sultan
and the palaces of Shahjahan in the Red Fort Mohammad Adil Shah of Bijapur. The
at Delhi are proof of the swan song of Muslim foundation of the Golden Temple was laid by
architecture in India. Jama Masjid is built in red Guru Ram Das and completed by his son Arjun
sandstone. A lofty gate, tall slender minarets
S ON
Dev.
and a series of domes are its important features.
IA R
CH
36 Indian Culture
MODERN AGE ARCHITECTURE
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Europeans built strong fortresses and appeared with a huge dome on the lines of a
Y
AD LE
imposing churches. The forts had no architectural Buddhist stupa. A demerit of the experiment to
significance, but the churches had. The synthesize the different styles of Indian
Portuguese at Goa established impressive architecture within a broader European fabric
EM
churches in the style of Iberian architecture. The was that simplicity, modernity and utility were
English built churches resembling the English considerably compromised for the purpose of so
village churches. called beauty and structural majesty. Most of
AC IC
Victorian style, being imitative rather than the structures appeared massive, heavy and
strong, but also congested, close and even
original, did not have a vitality of its own. The
Victorian architects in India further debased medieval.
themselves by attempting to copy oriental styles After India achieved independence in 1947,
while trying to construct public buildings. Big Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister, called for
S ON
brick work buildings with iron supports and the development of a truly Indian architecture.
domed roofs represented Victorian architecture What resulted at first were awkward imitations
at its worst examples - Churches of Calcutta of the past and this prompted Nehru to both call
and Madras, the cathedrals of Simla and Lahore, for a vital style of contemporary Indian
the High Courts at Lahore and Calcutta etc. architecture and to commission the Frenchman
When Sir Edwin Lutyens and his colleague Corbusier to build the city of Chandigarh, a
Sir Edward Baker were appointed to carry out new capital for the state of Punjab. Corbusier
IA R
the grand design of a new imperial capital, they planned Chandigarh as an integrated scheme of
grudgingly embellished major buildings with sectors, each a functional entity in itself. Corbusier
motifs and artifacts borrowed from Indian set the pattern for what is known as Indian
traditions. The basic forms, however, remained architecture, which took its cues from the west
CH
uncompromisingly Western. Viceroy's palace and laid great stress on rationality, functionalism
and economy.
Indian Culture 37
INDIAN CRAFTS
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
In traditional Indian society there was no and no clay is used. Alwar is noted for its paper
Y
AD LE
sharp distinction between 'art' and 'craft'. The thin, almost sheer body pottery, known as
Sanskrit word shilpa has been used to mean Kagzi pottery. The Nohar centre of Bikaner is
skill, craft, work of art or architecture, design or famous for the pottery tinted with lac colors to
EM
decoration. A simple earthen pot used for which the gold shade is added.
fetching water was as much Shilpa as the stone In U.P., Khurja's pitchers, Rampur's surahis
image of the deity worshipped in a temple. and Nizamabad's earthenware are quite famous.
AC IC
Traditionally the craftsman himself was the Saurashtra has Chandan like clay called
designer of his item and received full emolument gopichandan which provides glows of a buring
for his product. The introduction of the alien buff to articles. Goa earthenware with its red,
concept of the designer as distinct from the velvety surface has a charm and style of its own.
craftsman has, as pointed out by Pupul Jayakar, Karigiri pottery in South Arcot is unique in
S ON
destroyed the craftsmen's natural response to many ways. Pottery from Karukurichi in
form goods. The traditional skills are still alive Tirunelveli district is popular. Kashmir has its
in many pockets of India. Wherever a local earthenware of ordinary clay but with a glaze
clientele has existed fine craft tradition has like surface. Potters from Gujarat form a big
survived. colony at Dharavi, Bombay. Khanapur in
Belgaum district of Karnataka is known mostly
Clay and Terracotta for its large size container and jars.
IA R
Indian scene. Despite the paramount role played used by man to make tools. The metal was light
by domestic earthenware it is its religious and corrosion-resistant. In course of time copper
association that gives it far wider dimension and tin were mixed to produce a new alloy-
and status. Each region has a number of gods bronze. The statue of a dancing girl, discovered
and goddesses to be worshipped at special at Mohenjo-Daro dated around third millennium
periods and on special occasions. One may B.C., with its intricate but elegant carring,
classify those under three heads: the figurines of shows that cire perdue process was already
deities, ceremonial pottery and votive offerings. perfected.
The first is understandable; the second type Like earthenware, Indian metal ware can
includes lamps for Diwali, toys for Dusserah, also be divided into three groups: religious
etc. and the votive offering are a substitute for images, ritualistic items and objects of utility.
sacrifices for they consist of a variety of clay The most common metals used are copper, brass
animals, offered either in fulfillment of a vow, and bell-metal. Brass is an alloy of copper and
for warding off some disease or for obtaining zinc. Bell-metal is a mixture of copper and tin.
some favour. Moosaris are the traditional artisans engaged
Blue pottery is the traditional earthenware in bell metalware and belong to one of the six
of Delhi. The Jaipur blue pottery is equally classes of Kammalars. Kammala means the
famous, but is unique, for the base is prepared maker of an article pleasing to the eye.
out of the material from which the slip is made Nachiarkoli in Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu
38 Indian Culture
is important centre for metalcrafts. Guwahati
and Sarbari are important centres in Assam. Stoneware
Manipur is well known for its bell-metal, Excavations reveal carving of stone figures
particularly the ceremonial artifacts by the cire 3000 year old. India is blessed with a very large
perdue casting. A special type of dish is known variety of stones. Granite, the granular rock,
as Krishna Kanti. seems to have been the earliest in stone to be
Uttar Pradesh is the largest brass and copper useful to man. Stone monuments are, thus,
making region in India. The range of items is too fairly common all over the country.
Y
AD LE
large. Etawah, Varanasi, Sitapur, etc., have Midnapur district in West Bengal is an
their own characteristic domestic wares. In important traditional region for stoneware and
Varanasi icons are also cast. Srinagar, a small the main centre in Simulpal. The practicing
village, makes very beautiful traditional images
EM
craftsmen are karga, bhumif and karmakar. The
with prominent conch shell eyes. Ritualistic stone here though called "potstone", is really
items like tamrapatra, panch patra, sinhasan
AC IC phyllite. Agra in Uttar Pradesh is world famous
and Kanchanthal are also produced in large for its marble work flowering under the aura of
numbers. the Taj Mahal. Vrindavan near Mathura in
Tamilnadu is one of the famous bronze Uttar Pradesh has marble as well as alabaster
producing states. Stylistically the images made products.
conform to periods like Pallava, Chola, Pandyan Sculpture of Mauryan period proves that
S ON
and Nayaka. The artisans are known as stapathis, Bihar has an ancient tradition in stone carving.
literally icon-makers. Swamimalai in Thanjavur The most noted stoneware centre of Bihar is
is best known for image making in stone and Patharkatti in Gaya district. The craftsmen are
bronze, both. Gaur Brahmins. Buddhist icons are a specialty.
Kerala is famous for its statuary, chief centres Singhbhum and Santhal Parganas are also
being Trivandrum, Payyanoor in Cannoure famous for their beautifully grained greenish
district and Angadipuram in Palaght district. black soap stone.
IA R
Kerala makes a different version of Shiva's Rajasthan is the land of marble. Makrana in
tandava dance- gaja Tandava or Gajasanhara Nagaur district is the major source of its marble.
in which Shiva crushing the demon in the Rajasthan is particularly noted for its ornamental
elephant form. stone work. The green spotted copper coloured
CH
Y
AD LE
Kashmir has the soft toned elegant walnut prepares on this lathe: toys, boxes, bed-posts,
and the facile deodar wood that have guided hukkah mouth-pieces, etc. In etched lac work,
the craftsmen's deft fingers into delicate lines the object is coated with first one colour, then
EM
and decorative motifs. Kashmir produces a on the top of second, a third or a fourth,
countless variety of the most alluring objects uniformly all over. Then with a fine chisel or
with lovely grain and natural colour, and
AC IC styles the lac coated surface is scratched, the
tastefully executed, with great attention to hand being made to move lightly or to press
minutest details. Kashmir is particularly noted heavily as may be necessary to bring out the
for its fine lattice work screens as also caskets. colour required from the numerous layers
Gujarat is one of the richest regions in wood beneath the surface. Ferozepur, Jaipur and
carvings. The dominant feature is the entrance, Hoshiarpur are the famous centres of this craft.
S ON
the door or the arch. The doors have delicate Bighar and Orissa too have a distinct type
lattice work and the pillars are decorated by of lacquering with their own designs and colour
half roundels or floral friezes. Blocks for textile schemes. The lac articles in Bihar have ritualistic
printing carved out of teakwood are made in value e.g. during the marriage the vermillion
Pethapur in Mehsana district of Gujarat. container has to be of lac. The community that
Assam being thickly forested has an ancient makes these containers is called laheri.
tradition of woodwork. The state is known for
IA R
Y
AD LE
manufactured from these materials. A hoard of of the dholak. The themes are taken from
baskets, mats, screens, fish-traps, bags, boxes, Rajasthani historical tales or local legends.
hat, trays, umbrellas are made from fine chips
of bamboo.
EM
Revival and Development
The finest and most delicate bamboo fibre
products appear to be creations on canvas. To give a new lease of life to the dwindling
handicrafts situation in the country the
AC IC
Bihar is greatly noted for its bamboo work. Cane
furniture is durable as also decorative and Government of India set up the All India
dignified, and even a few pieces lend fullness to Handicrafts Board in 1952. Regional Design
a room. Low seats called mooras are made of Development Centers were set up by State
bamboo and cane, the top being woven in Handicrafts and Handlooms Development
Corporations. The Crafts Museum, which
S ON
artistic designs. They are major item of export
and made all over the country. Assam is well functions under the office of the Development
known for its canwork. Uttar Pradesh also Commissioner (Handicrafts), has a collection of
produces articles made of canes. 1500 representative samples of the glorious
traditions of Indian crafts.
Puppetry
Glossary of Folk Arts and Crafts
There are many types of puppets in India.
Aftaba: Sprouted wine dispenser with long
IA R
Y
Kagazi: Pottery like paper of Alwar.
AD LE
Kalamkari: cloth printed with use of dyes. Rangoli: Decorative floor of Gujarat and
Maharashtra.
Kanat: wall cloth.
Shahtoosh: Finest shawl woven from the
EM
Kanjari: Backless choli worn in Kutch. under hair of a mountain goat.
Kara: Bangle worn at the wrist.
AC IC Sujani: Quilted and patterned spread made
Karanphool: a heavy earring or jhumka. from threadbare cloth in North Bihar.
Lavang: a small nose-stud like clove. Tarkashi: Metal wire inlay.
Lugdha: Printed sari. Thalli: black bead and Gold necklace worn
Mandana: Floor decoration of Rajasthan. as sign of marriage.
S ON
Mashru: Mixed cloth of silk and cotton. Toran: decoration for the door in Gujarat.
Maurpankhi: nose ring of Orissa and also Zari: Gold thread.
ivory carved boats of Bengal
IA R
CH
42 Indian Culture
DANCES
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
The contemporary Indian classical dance mythological themes as its contents, and portrays
Y
AD LE
forms which are governed by elaborate them through an elaborate dramatic spectacle
technique and stylized system of both pure which is characterized by an other-worldly
movement and "mime" have had their origin in quality, a supernatural grandeur, a stylized
EM
the dances of the common people. large size costume to give the impression of
Five dance styles are known as classical or enlarging human proportions, and a mask like
art dance on account of a sophisticated degree make up on the face which is governed by
AC IC
of stylization. The history of these forms can be complex symbolism of colour, line and design.
traced backward beyond two hundred, Character types, such as heroes, anti-heroes,
sometimes three hundred years. Each has a link villains, demons, sages, kings, all have a
with the literature, sculptural and musical prescribed makeup and costume to give the
traditions of the ancient and medieval period of impression of co-relating basic e.g. green with
S ON
India and the particular region. They all adhere good, red with valor and ferocity, black with
to the principles enunciated by Bharata, namely evil or primitiveness, white with purity, and so
of the division of dance into nritta (pure of on.
abstract dance), nritya (dance with mime), of
Why is it not a drama?
tandava and lasya of stylized presentation
(natyadharmi). However, the technique of Within the framework of drama with
movement is distinctive, with a definite dramatic personage, Kathakali is dance-drama
IA R
stylization. Each follows a different set of rules and not drama, because the actors do not speak
for the articulation of movement. their lines. The dramatic story is carried forward
• Bharatnatyam through a highly evolved vocabulary of body
movements, hand gestures and eye and eye-ball
CH
Bharatnatyam developed in south India movements. The vocalist recites, narrates, and
particularly in Tamilnadu in its present form sings the lines of the dramatic piece; the actor
about two hundred years ago. While its poses on the stage portrays the meaning through this
are reminiscent of sculptures of the 10th century elaborate language where he has freedom to
onwards, the thematic and musical content was improvise and interpret the dramatic line. He
given to it by the musicians of Tanjore courts of makes departures and deviations freely like the
the 18th -19th centuries. It is essentially a solo dancer of any other styles. Also like the dances
dance and had close affinities with the traditional of the other styles, the mime (abhinaya) is
dance-drama form called Bhagvata Mela interspersed with pure dance sequences (nritta).
performed only by women. Nonetheless, its
chiseled sophistication and stylization make it a • Kuchi Pudi
unique form of art-dance. It is a form of classical dance popular in
• Kathakali Andhra Pradesh. It was a dance-drama
performed by the Brahmins in the temple. It was
Kathakali from Kerala is classical dance confined to males. Sidhendra yogi, in the 14th
drama. Unlike the others, it is dramatic rather century revived this form of dance. He composed
than narrative in character. Different roles are the Bhama Kalpam. The efforts of Laxmi
taken by different characters; the dancers are all Narayan Shastri and Vedantam Satya Narayan
men or were so, till recently. It takes epic resulted in bringing in females to participate in
Indian Culture 43
this dance form. Carnatic music forms the known as the Rasa dances evolved only as a
background in this dance. The dance has lasya result of the interaction of the Vaishnava faith.
and tandav elements and is a mixture of folk The origin of the Rasa dances is attributed
and classical from. Of late flute, violin, manjiras to the vision of a king. Be that as it may, five
are being used in this dance. The main modern different types of ballets, with a well-conceived
exponents of this dance are Raja and Radha structuring of Corps de ballet, solo pas de deux
Reddy, Chinta Krishnamurti, Yamini revolving round the theme of Radha-Krishna
Krishnamuriti, Swapna Sundari, Shobha Naidu, and the Gopis (milk maids) comprise the large
Y
Pashumarti vithal etc. a famous aspect of the
AD LE
part of the classical repertoire.
dance is that the dance is performed with the
feet kept on brass plate and also dancers drawing The second group of the classical dances is
pictures on the floor with their toes. known as the Sankritanas, performed generally
EM
by men with typical Manipur drums called
• Mohiniattam pung or cymbals (Kartals) or clapping. At large
Mohiniattam is one of the distinctive classical variety of intricate rhythmic patterns is played
AC IC
dance styles of India. It originated in Kerala and on the drum and the cymbals. The Nata
Sankritana often precedes the Rasa.
the movements of Mohiniattam evoke in one's
mind the ethereal splendor of Kerala with its • Odissi
lush venture, lagoons, the purple hills and a
land kissed by the foams of turquoise sea waters. Odissi is a close parallel of Bharatnatyam. It
S ON
This form had almost become extinct when it developed from the musical play and the dances
was revived by poet Vallathola Narayana Menon of gymnasiums known as the akharas. Sculptural
in early 19th century. Since then, dancers have evidence relating to the dance goes to the
striven to reclaim the lost repertoire of second century B.C. From the 12th century
Mohiniattam. The main features of Mohiniattam onwards there are inscriptions/manuscripts and
are its exquisite feminine charm and its graceful other records which speak of the prevalence of
swaying movements. It is a solo dance performed dance styles of ritual dances of temples and
by women only. entertainments of the village squares. A 12th
IA R
sophisticated style full of virtuosity and intricate women called maharis in the temple of
craftsmanship. Commonly identified with the
court traditions of the later Nawabs of northern
India, it is really an amalgam of several folk
traditions. Its origins are old, its present format
new, attributed to the genius of Nawab Wajid
Ali Shah and the hereditary musical dancer,
Pandit Thakur Prasadji. The contemporary
repertoire was evolved by a few families of
traditional dancers; during the last hundred
years. Birju Maharaj is the greatest living
exponent of this dance form.
• Manipuri
Manipuri is a lyrical dance form from the
eastern region of India. Although many forms of
ritual, magical, community and religious dance
were known to Manipur before the advent of
Vaishnava faith in the 18th century, the dances
Indian Classical Dances
44 Indian Culture
Jagannath. Later, men dressed as women, called a series of festivals, which start in March and
gotipuras, performed these dances in the end in June. All these dances are essentially
courtyard of the temple. The present Odissi is harvest dances meant as a prayer for the
a solo form evolved out of all the above. It has betterment of the crop. These dances are also an
been revived during the last two decades. Sonal abstraction of the everyday agricultural
Mansingh is the greatest living exponent of this operations of the people. The dancers are usually
dance form. graceful and the dances have a very well defined
structure. The musical instruments consist of
Folk Dances of India
Y
AD LE
nagara (bowl-shaped drum), kartal (clappers).
There is not a region, a valley or mountain, The leader hold a staff of peacock feathers and
a sea-coast or a plain, which does not have its the drummers (medal players) join the dance at
EM
characteristic folk dances and songs. Roughly various points.
speaking, depending on the level of social and • Himalayan Dances
cultural development, these dances can be
AC IC
grouped under the three categories of tribal,
village folk and traditional ritual dances.
From the northern Himalayas region come
many dances which belong to the village
communities. Himachal and Uttarakhand are
A tribal belt runs through all parts of India,
the home of many interesting and colourful
be it the Himalayas from the north to the east,
dances. The popular favourites come from
or the plains and marshlands or the sea-coasts.
S ON
Jaunsa Bawar in Uttarakhand. The festival of
All these varied groups comprising many racial
lights called Diwali is celebrated throughout
and ethnic strands ranging from the Austric to
India at the end of autumn. On a dark night
the Mongoloid, from the Aryans to the
light are lit and presents are exchanged. This is
Dravidians, are people who represent the pre-
also the time for the home-coming of married
agricultural state of civilization. While most of
women. The dance begins with semi-circular
them, have taken to agriculture and tool
formations: it breaks into single files of men and
cultivation today, their dances and music women. The song which accompanies is usually
IA R
continue to recall the functions of hunting, set as questions and answers. With gliding
fishing, food gathering and animal husbandry. movements, graceful knee dips, the dance
• Dances of the Plains progresses, until one or two amongst the women
CH
Y
AD LE
was himself unacquainted with the Indian
It is a Folk dance of Assam. Its ancient form tradition. Later he returned to India to create,
is traced to the tradition of the Aranyaka dance. to recreate, revive and to break away from the
The kachari and Kacchari tribes perform this set norms of the tradition. While he borrowed
EM
dance, thrice each year. freely and successfully from all styles, what he
1. Bohag bihu: This dance is performed to created was his own, unrestricted to any
mark the first day of the New Year. traditional mannerism, unbound to the meterical
AC IC
2. Magha Bihu: When the paddy ripes, this dance
cycle and the word- mime relationship.
Contemporary themes, labour and machinery,
is performed to symbolize joy and prosperity. the daily rhythm of life were chosen in addition
3. Baisakh bihu: This dance is performed in to myth and legend. Unlike traditional schools
baisakh. It is purely performed for joy and dance was composed first, music accompanied.
It did not govern. Gradually a whole school
S ON
has no religious connotation.
grew up as the Uday Shankar School of Dance.
• Pandvani
Most modern choreographers belong to this
It is a folk dance of Chhattisgarh in Madhya school: the most talented amongst these was
Pradesh. It is a solo dance where the performer Shanti Bardhan (died 1952), the creator of two
holds an Ektara and sings with body movements. remarkable ballets called Ramayana and
The dance is linked to the story of the pandavas. Panchatantra. In each, while the theme was
The performer sings and acts to tell the story of old, the conception and treatment was totally
IA R
the pandavas. This dance has two forms i.e. new. In one the format is that of a puppet play
presented by humans in the other typical
vedamati and kupalika. Tijan bai, Ritu verma,
movements of birds and animals.
Jhaderam Devangan, Gulabdas Manikpuri are
Chandralekha is India's most talented
CH
Y
AD LE
Raga It is usual to attribute a particular season
and time to ragas. Some of the important
Raga may not be the earliest form of melody. seasonal ragas are Vasant and Malhar. The first
The earliest melodies can be traced in the tribal
EM
is of the spring and the second is of rains.
and folk music. The simple tunes of these people A Hindustani raga has been ascribed to the
in the course of times, after much polishing and
AC IC watch of the day. The day is divided into eight
formalization, became ragas. praharas, each of three hours. Lalit is sung in
Matanga (6th-8th centuries) deals with ragas the early moring. Poorvi is sung during dusk.
in his work Brihaddesi. He opined that no A few ragas (usually six) have become the
classical melody could be composed with less major ones, each with a few wives (raginis). The
than five notes. At that time less than five notes raga becomes a nayaka (hero) and the ragini a
S ON
were used in tribal music. Thus a process of nayika (heroine).
dramatization of folk and tribal music started in
5th century A.D.
Jatis
The earliest forms of music with a grammar
were: Jatis were the precursers of ragas. A jati was
defined by ten rules or gramma. The scale to
1. Margi Sangeeta
which a Jati could be ascribed was called the
2. Gandharva Sangeeta moorchana. This system seems to have been in
IA R
3. Desi Sangeeta practice from about 600 B.C. Amsa was the
most important note in Jati.
Samaveda, the sung version of Vedas, was
chanted in a descending progression. This
CH
Indian Culture 47
Hindustani 10. Trital
1. Keharuva 11. Tilvada
2. Dadra The breakdown of the ‘up and down’
3. Deepchandi movement yields the ‘notes’ (swaras) and a
4. Chautal (used in dhrupad and dhamar) series of swaras arranged in a certain order
within certain limits is a scale (saptaka, grama,
5. Dhamar
mela). The interval between the ‘repetitive’
6. Roopak pitches is called an octave or in Indian
Y
AD LE
7. Jhaptal terminology ‘saptak’. The word octave is used
8. Ektal because the eighth note is a ‘repetition’ of the
first. The saptak signifies that there are seven
9. Jhumra
EM
steps within the span of an octave. The range
AC IC of an octave is known as sthayi.
Swara Expansion Meaning Animal Chakra God
Y
AD LE
It doesn’t exist in the north. of Bhakti movements.
Sargam: The Sargam is a word formed of Dhrupad: It is one of the early types that are
syllables Sa-Re-Ga-Ma in Hindustani Music. In still surviving. The older ones were known as
EM
Carnatic music it is Kalpana Swara. It is also dhruva prabandhas. Raja Mansingh Tomar of
free rendering and practiced more often in Gwalior and Akbar were great patrons. The
Carnatic music. 15th and 16th centuries witnessed the finest
AC IC
Jode and Jhala: These are confined to singers of dhrupad.
instrumental music. The Jode is a rendition, The style is characterized by masculinity in
without tala, or the raga in a medium tempo. nature as these are rendered in ragas only and
It always follows the alapa. Jhala is faster. not raginis. The rendition is less grave in melodic
Tanam: It is found in Karnatak music and progression. Great stress is laid on rhythmic
S ON
is similar to jode. It is not as wider in its melodic variations. It is one of the most serene and sober
range and movement as jode. forms of music.
Alapa, Jode and Tanam always precede the Dhamar is always associated with dhrupad.
closed form or composition. Tan, neraval and Approach and technique are same; the two
bode tan etc. form the parts of melodic differ on the use of gamaka. There is greater
freedom in gamaka in Dhamar.
improvisation of a composition. These are not
independent like the former group, as they are Exponents: The most famous are Svami
IA R
associated with the variations of the raga theme Haridas and Tansen. Svami Haridas lived at the
in a song. One may then argue they are closed end of the fifteenth century. He was basically a
forms. But being not pre-composed nor set to bhakti singer and sang of Kunj Bihari, the Lord
CH
tala we place them in the category of ‘free’ or of Brindavan and his love, Radha. He has
‘open’ class. They are essential part of musical hundred compositions to his credit. Baiju and
jugalbandi. Tansen are believed to be his shishyas. Pt. Jasraj
is the greatest living exponent of this style.
Nibaddha Forms
Tansen lived in Gwalior in 16th century. His
Prabandha: It is one of the earliest formal original name was Tanna Misra. He is credited
structures. This form of ‘composition’ was with new ragas such as Darbari Kanada, Miyan
popular till about the middle age. But today, the ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi. He wrote three books:
word prabandha means any song and not a Sri Ganesh-stotra, Sangeet Sar and Raga mala.
particular type. Jayadeva, a mystic poet and the Khayal: The word Khayal is Persian. Its
court-poet of Raja Lakshamana Sena, is famous meaning is ‘imagination’. Amir Khusrau (13th
for his prabandhas. He wrote Geet Govinda, a century) is said to be the inventor of khayal. It
musical rendering of the love play of Lord is the most popular form of vocal music in north
Krishna. India. Two types of Khayal are in vogue the
Geeta Govinda: It is an ‘opera’ organized bada (large) and the chhota) small.
into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further A Khayal can be divided into two sections:
sub-divided into twenty four divisions called the asthayi (sthayi) and antara. Khayal is
Prabandhas. The prabandhas contain couplets romantic and delicate. In technique and structure
grouped into eights, called Ashtapadis. The it has certain freedom not found in the dhrupad.
Indian Culture 49
It is due to the efforts of Sultan Mohammad
Sharqui (18th century) that the Khayal came in
Light Classical Music
prominence and became accepted as ‘classical’ Gazal: The origin is Persian. The themes
from the time of Sadarang Nyamat Khan (18th revolve around ‘love’. These are generally
century). The most prominent gharanas of composed of 5-13 couplete (shere) which are
Kheyal are four: Gwalior, Agra, Jaipur and independent. Same melodic theme is applied to
Kirana. The first is the oldest and is also all the couplets for a particular Gazal
considered the ‘mother’ of all other gharanas. composition. Some of the famous exponents are
Y
AD LE
Thumri: It is a closed form and a way of Master Nadan, Begum Akhtar. Mehdi Hassan
singing, very popular in the north. It is a very Gulam Ali, Jagjit Singh, Anup Jalota, Pankaj
light form, extremely lyrical. The sentiment is Udhas and Talat Aziz.
EM
usually erotic; dealing with emotion of love and Qawwali: This is a devotional song sung in
romance. The word of the song and how it is a group, but with a solo voice against a chorus.
expressed through musical modulations are
AC IC It was developed by Amir Khusro for his teacher
more important than the grammar of the raga. Hazrat Nizzamuddin. Due to international fame
Ragas like Kagi, Khamaj, Peelu and Bhairavi its greatest exponent Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali
and the common favourites of thumri singers. Khan this musical style has achieved world
Poorab style of singing is popular in Varanasi fame. Today his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,
and Lucknow. Punjab style of singing is more Sabri Brothers and Wadali brothers are
mercurial and can be heard in and around
S ON
Chaiti and Kajri. Keertan: It literally means ‘to sing the praises
of’ is a typically Vashnavaite congregational
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, who is also singing of Bengal. Starting from Chaitanya
considered as greatest classical singer recorded, Mahaprabhu (1485-1533) it blossomed out into
was great exponent of this style. Presently Pt. many varieties. Today the legacy still survives in
Channu Lal Mishra and Shobha Gutru are form of Baul music in Bengal region of India and
considered greatest living exponent of this style Bangladesh.
of gayaki.
Rabindra Sangeet: Rabindranath Tagore
Tappa: It is a type of singing supposed to have used Indian ragas and talas from Indian classical
grown from the songs of the camel drivers of music. He was also influenced by western music.
North-West India. It is romantic in content with He created various mixed ragas (mixed) like
very quick cascades and cadences. The ragas are Bhairava-Bhairavi; Darbari Todi-Bhairavi and
of lighter type-Kafi, Bhairavi and such others. created new talas such as Navami and Roopaka.
Tarana: It is a form which has no meaningful Bhajan: Bhajans are sung throughout the
word. Sthayi and antara are there. Its libretto north in the praise of the Lord. Narsi Mehta of
is made of syllables like nadir, tome, tarana, Gujarat, Meera, the Princess of Mewad, Kabir,
yalai without any semantic reference. It is Tulsidas were the chief exponents. It is most
generally accepted that these syllables are popular form of devotional music among
mnemonies of tabla and sitar strokes. Hindus.
50 Indian Culture
Ustand Alladiya Khan is the brightest jewel of
Gharanas this Gharana. Kishori Amonkar is the only
daughter of the famous singer Mogubai Kurdikar
The word Gharana has its root in the Hindi
of Bombay. She is one of the most gifted singers
word Ghar (from the Sanskrit Word grah). It is
among women today in the north.
an abstract noun of ghar meaning ‘of the
house’. Right from the earliest times, there have Gwalior Gharana: This gharana originated
always been different schools of music in our from Abdullah Khan and Kadir Baksh Khan,
country. After Akbar, music did not occupy the who were brothers. They were reputed singers
Y
AD LE
place of importance, and gifted musicians all of Khyals. After that came the two sons of Kadir
over north Indian were absorbed into different Baksh-nathan Khan and Pir Bux. The two
native states. The rulers of these states were brothers settled down permanently in Gwalior
EM
generally averse to their musicians travelling to and trained their sons Haddu Khan. Other
other states. This isolation produced a kind of exponents are Pandit Vishnu Digambar
musical conferment. The enforced isolation gave
AC IC Paluskar, Anant Manohar Joshi, Ingle Bua,
the musicians no alternative method but to Anna Bua, Mehdi Hussain Khan, Onkar Nath
vigorously practice whatever they knew and to Thakur, Vanayanrao Vyas, B.R. Deodhar and
develop even greater refinement and subtlety. others. Gravity and sobriety are important
In the present age of easy movement from place features of this Gharana.
of place, the abolition of princely states, the Agra Gharana: Agra Gharana, it is believed,
S ON
general tendency towards abandoning all had two branches the first sprang from Syamrang
barriers or limitations, and the facilities of radio and Sarasarang and the other from Imdad
and television, the modern generation of Khan. The school of Imdad Khan gravitated
musicians cannot remain tied to any particular towards light music. The other branch of the
gharana. Today, we have an integrated, eclectic Agra Gharana, which began from Imdad Khan,
style of music. faded away in the early part of the century.
Qawwal Bache Gharana: This gharana is Moreover, many of the musicians of this branch,
said to be the first of its kind in the stylization despite good training in Khayal, took a greater
IA R
and dissemination of Khyal and Khyal gayaki. liking for Thumri, Dadra and other lighter
The famous exponents were Savant and Bula varieties. For instance, after Imdad Khan and
(brothers), Shakkar Khan, Bada Mohammad Hamid Khan, Pyar Khan, Latif Khan, Mahmud
CH
Khan and his three brothers and sons -all were Khan and Raja Hussain were all known primarily
exponents of Khayal. The thirds son, Mubarka as Thumari singers.
Ali Khan, had the greatest success and learnt Saharanpur Gharana: This Gharana is
the most from his father. Another musician was believed to have begun from Khalifa Mohammad
Sadiq Ali Khan who lived in the time of Nawab Zama, who was a well-known Sufi. After him,
Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow there were several great musicians in this
Atrauli Gharana: Atrauli is a village about gharana. Bande Ali Khan, the famous veena
fifty miles from Aligarh in western Uttar player, Bahram Khan, Zakruddin Khan and
Pradesh. This Gharana was founded by two Allabande Khan, Nasiruddin and Nasir
brothers Kali Khan and Chand Khan. The Aminuddin Dagar, and Nasir Zahiruddin and
Gharana is famous for its Dhrupada School, but Nasir Faizuddin Dagar (Younger brothers) were
Khayal singing is the latest fad. some of the reputed musicians who kept this
style in prominence. This gharana specialized in
Dullu Khan and Chhajju Khan were two
alapa Hori, and Dhrupada.
Dhrupada singers who sang Gauhar Bani. Other
exponents are Husain Khan, Shahab Khan, Sahasvan Gharana: This Gharana is an
Ghulam Ghaus Khan, Zahoor Khan, Imam Bux, offshoot of the Gwalior Gharana. It began with
Ajmat Hussain Khan, Ustad Alladiya Khan, Inayat Hussian Khan, the son-in-law of Daddu
Haidar Khan, Bashir Khan, Burji Khan, etc. Khan of Gwalior. Of the several musicians of
Indian Culture 51
this gharana, four have been outstanding: Inayat Kirana Gharana: This gharana claims its
Hussain Khan, Haidar Khan, Mushtaq Hussain origin from the famous binkar Ustad Bande Ali
Khan and Nisar Hussain Khan. Its gayaki is Khan. It was recognized after Ustad Abdul
akin to Gwalior gayaki. Wahid Khan and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan
Delhi Gharana: This gharana traces its claimed to belong to it. Other exponents are
origin to Tansen but, according to some, this Suresh Babu Mane, Swami Gandharva,
was founded by Miyan Achpal in the 19th Gangubai Hangal, Giranbai Barodekar, Sarasvati
century. Some other great musicians of the Rane, Bhimsen Joshi, Feroz Dastur, Shakur
Y
Khan and Pran Nath. This gharana specializes
AD LE
Gharana were Sadiq Khan, Murad Khan,
Bahadur Khan, Dilwar Khan, Mir Nasir Ahmed, in singing the swara as accurately as possible.
Panna Lal Gosayin, Noor Khan, Vazir Khan, Rampur Gharana: This gharana is also an
EM
Ali Bakesh Khan, Mohammed Siddiqis Khan offshoot of the Gwalior Gharana. It was founded
and Nisar Ahmad Khan. by Ustad Wazir Khan. Other exponents were
Fatehpur Sikri Gharana: It did not become
AC IC Inayat Hussain Khan, Bahadur Hussain and
a well known gharana. It claims its origin from Mohammad Ali. The contemporary exponents
the time of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This are/were Ishitiaq Hussain Khan, Nisar Hussain
gharana is said to have started with two brothers, Khan and Ghulam Mustafa. The main features
Zainu Khan and Zorawar Khan, who were of the gharana are similar to those of Gwalior
great Dhrupada and Khayal singers. After these with the difference that there is specialization
in taranas.
S ON
Jodhoo Khan. Imam Khan was the son of distinct from the Hindustani music.
Jodhoo Khan. He was followed by his son This form of music has been influenced
Ghulam Hussain. Zahur Khan and Ghulam greatly by the old Dravidian (Tamil) music. A
Haidar Khan, son of Ghulam Hussain continued
CH
52 Indian Culture
pradesh is believed to have conceived Kirity very different in regard to Tala. The latter
from of composition, which consists of pallavi, follows the old tradition in its nomenclature,
anupalavi and charanam. Purandardasa, who division and structure. The main elements of
hailed from Maharashtra, is said to have Carnatic Tala are laghu, druta, anudruta, guru,
composed 475,000 songs (according to his own pluta and Kakapada. The Hindustani Tala
reference in the dasarpada). He developed the system uses a different terminology, but it is also
Kriti, which has just been introduced by founded on a seven tala base. The internal
Jallapakkam. He also composed the earliest divisions of the Talas are also different from
Y
lakana gitas and other vocal exercise.
AD LE
those of Carnatic music.
The immortal Trinity of Carnatic music, The Khayal made tremendous strides on
Thyagaraja, Syama Sastrya and Muthuswami
improving the melodic structure of Hindustani
EM
Dikshita, were born in the later half of the
music, opening vast avenues of improvisation
nineteenth century. The greatest of them was
and enhancing the aesthetic element. But what
undoubtedly Thyagaraja. He would make
it gained in the sphere of melody and aesthetics,
AC IC
several compositions in Raga so as to explore
thoroughly its various musical potentialities. He it lost in the sphere of Tala.
also introduced what are known as sangatis. Just as South Indian music does, Hindustani
These are beautiful variations of phrases music also employs the three Kalas, which are
occurring in Kritis. The post-Trinity period wrongly termed laya in the north. Laya is used
witnessed many stalwarts setting traditions and
S ON
in Indian music, in the sense of both tempo and
different styles. Some of the important names rhythm; the term Kala, which is still in vogue
are Patnam Subramani Lyer, Poochi Srinivas in South Indian music, is more appropriate.
Lyengar, Veena Dhanam, Triukodikaval Krishna
lyer (violin), Subrama Diksatar (musicologist As far the evolution is concerned, it is almost
and Vainikar), Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha same for both. From Naradiya Siksa onwards,
lyer, Kumbakonam Azhagunambi Pillai both trace their evolution through Sama Veda
(Mridangam), Sarabha Sastri (flute) and music and prabandha. The divergence becomes
IA R
Pudukkottai Daksinamurti Pillai (Mridangam marked from A.D. 1960 with the emergence of
and Kemjira). the great work Chaturdandi Prakasika of
Venkatamakhin, son of Govinda Dikshatar.
Veena Dhanam is the quintessence of
CH
Carnatic music. Her style was handed down to To conclude, it may be inferred that the
her daughters who, in turn, passed it on to their manner of interpretation and the shift of
daughters. Her grandchildren are Brinda and emphasis from structural bondage to free
Mukta (Vocal), Balasarswati (Bharatnatyam) improvisations in Hindustani music is one of the
and Vishwanath (flute). The family is the best main differences between the two.
exponent of the Padams. Other great names are
Kriti: Kriti is the finest compositional type.
T.R. Mahlinam (Mali), T. Viswanatham (Viwam),
The word Kriti means “that which is made or
and the violinists M.S. Gopalkrishan, T.N.
created”. The musical structure is of greater
Krishanan and Lalgudi Jayaraman.
significance. The text is always religious. If
compared with the Khayals, it stands out in the
Hindustani and Carnatic Music: A term of literary value. Also the structural beauty
comparison is better planned than that of the modern
Firstly, there are several ragas in both styles Khayal.
which have identical swaras but which sound The heydays of Kriti were in the 18th century
very different. This happens because the with the rise of the Trinity: Shyama Shastri,
oscillations of notes are much faster in Carnatic Thyagaraja, Muttuswami Dikshitra. Swati
music than in Hindustani music. Trunal, the Maharaja of Travancore, was also
The Hindustani and Carnatic systems are a composer of some eminence.
Indian Culture 53
the north-east another but portable version
Musical Instruments: of the slit drum is the tak dutrang made of
The importance of instruments and their Bamboo. Another type is the katola used
history in the overall panorama of music cannot by the Abhuj Maria tribes of M.P. it is
be ignored. Without them not much musicology wooden, hollow and shaped like a
is left. In fact if there were no musical instruments trapezoid.
there might not have been any music theory or v) Kashta tarang: It is a set of a number of
Grammar because there is no way of measuring wooden slabs of varying lengths and
Y
AD LE
vocal sounds directly in the throat itself. Musical thickness and fixed loosely on a frame. The
instrument, help us to develop sound-musicology bars are arranged in a row of increasing
and study musical scales. Besides, the nature of pitch and struck with a pair of sticks.
musical instruments has profound influence on
EM
vi) Nal tarang: It is metallic version of Kashta
the development of our music. tarang.
vii) Tokka: It is used in Assam. It is a bamboo
AC IC piece of about a metre in length, is split
lengthwise keeping one end intact. At this
end the sides are carved to make a handle.
When rattled, the slit portions clash and
create sound. It is used when hunting
S ON
elephants in Mysore.
viii) Moorsing or Moorchang: It is a small rod
idiophone of fine musical value used in
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assaam and
South India. A bamboo moorchang in
Assam is called gagana. More commonly it
is a trident shaped iron. The main frame
IA R
1. Solids or Ghana Vadya : The most which is held between the teeth by the
famous Ghana vadyas are: performer and plucked.
i) Dandiya or Kolu: These are rhythmic ix) Kirikittaka: It is one of the most primitive
sticks, coloured or plain, with jingles or instruments we have. It bears likeness to the
without them. In Gujarat they are known fire making implement. It consists of a main
as Dandiya, in south they are known as kolu body on which there are dents against
and used in a dance called kolattam. which is rubbed a rod, generating a weird
ii) Dahara or Laddi shah: It is used in Kashmir sound. Its variations include the ruga braiya,
valley. It is an iron rod of about three doddu rajan, Kokkara etc. Of these only
quarters of a meter length, bent like a kokkara is made of iron tube. The rest are
walking stick, having a cross handle and a made of a hollow piece of bamboo with a
number of rings. series of crosswise serrations on the surface.
iii) Chudiyan: It is a metallic bangle, which is x) Plates: They are usually made of bell metal.
struck by a wooden stick. Examples of plates are thaliv (N. India),
jagte (Karnataka), Chenkala (Kathakali),
iv) Slit drum: it is not a hollow drum but made Semmankalam (Tamil nadu). Seemu (North
of wood. It is called songkong by tribal east), Sree mandal (Rajasthan).
Assamese and Longten by the Nagas. It is
used either as an alarm or for dancing. In xi) Chimta: It is an iron fork, a metre long, on
54 Indian Culture
the arms of which are fixed loosely, sets of v) Dundubhi: It is a drum of high pitch. It was
small discs of brass. not only used in war but also in peace and
xii) Cymbal: A convex bend given to a plate religious rites. The drum was generally
makes it a cymbal. Examples of cymbals are covered with deer skin.
the Manjira or jalra, bortal (Assam), Kartal, vi) Damru: In Hindu mythology it is associated
tali, talam, elattalam, Jhanj, etc. with the dance of Shiva and tantric sects.
xiii) Bells: They are single concave bodies vii) Frame drum: It is one in which the skin is
shaken or struck on the rim with a stick. stretched over a frame of wood or metal.
Y
AD LE
The gilaband used by the chenchus of The diameter is much longer than the
Andhra Pradesh is a dried fruit. The basigas depth. The hide may cover one or both
of Madhya Pradesh tie a set of dried ends. Examples of such drums are soorya
EM
pumpkins to their waist while dancing. or Chandra pirai (Andhra and Tamil nadu),
Similarly the kanjari fruit is used by the daff, ghera (Rajasthan), Chengu (Orissa),
oraons. The Ghungroo of North and Gejje
AC IC dafli, tep (Tamil nadu), tappate
of South are a set of metallic bells. (Karnataka), dayara, change, Karchakra,
xiv) The Jal tarang: It consists of a number of khanjari, Khanjeera, Khanjari, Gna
China bowls, the number depending on the (Ladakh).
notes to be played. This is affected by viii) Cylinderical drums: The Bheri so common
pouring certain fixed quantity of water in in our history was used in battles,
S ON
Y
etc. which are modified to be used as bakura, gomukha etc. fall under this
AD LE
musical instruments. The Pabuji ki mate category.
(Rajasthan) is an earthen pot, the mouth of vii) Bansuri: It is a pastrol instrument of
which is covered with leather, Dardura is northern India. It is a flute with press ends
EM
a pot-drum consisting of three pots. The called beak.
Kooja, Surahi, Ghumat (Goa), Tumbakanari
viii) Algoza: It is a pair of beak flutes played
(Kashmir), gummate (Karnataka), Burra
simultaneously. It is played in Rajathan,
AC IC
(Andhra), Jamukku (Tamilnadu) are
shaped like a wine jar.
Punjab and Maharashtra.
ix) Reed flutes: Reeds are vibrators that are
xiii) Conical drums: The nagara is an example
fixed to a tube or an air reservoir. The snake
of such a drum. It consists of two conical
charmers use the pungi, been, mahudi or
drums. The smaller one has a higher pitch
nagasvaram. Mashak or titti is a leather bag
S ON
a pakhavaj and the latter like a miniature Tata Vadya. There are three major classes of
nagara. stringed instruments. The first group is employed
not for creating a raga or melody but as drones
xvi) Friction drums: One of the few friction
CH
Y
and balled singers.
AD LE
d. Buang: The santhals of Orissa use a Reggae: Jamaican popular music that
rhythmic cordophone called buang. It developed in the 1960s among Kingston’s poor
consists of a bamboo tube, a resonator and blacks, drawing on American ‘soul’ music. Many
EM
a rope. The round box is like an egg shaped of highly political songs of this class proclaim
basket paste over by paper. the tenets of the Rastafarian religious movements.
Springy offbeat rhythm characterizes its sound.
e. Tamboora: The major classes of this
AC IC
instrument are the ekatara and the tamboori.
Bob Marley and his group, the Waiters, and
Toots and the Maytals are among the best-
The ektara is a single stringed instrument. The known performers.
resonator is a flat dried pumpking and the
danda or hollow rod holding the string is Rock: A hybrid of black and white American
attached to it. The rum sagar of Gujarat has musical forms; Blues, rhythm and blues, gospel
S ON
two strings but is still called ektara. The music, country and western music. In 1955 Bill
tamboori is the cruder prototype of tamboora. Haley’s song ‘Rock, Around the Clock’ set off a rock
The tamboora is also called tanpoora. The ‘n’ roll craze because of its exciting, heavy beat and
sound box is a large pumpking. A wooden the urgent calls to dance and action of its lyrics.
neck is fixed and a hollow fingerboard is Most successful rock artists are Elvis Presley, Beatles,
attached to it. There are four metallic strings the Rolling Stones, etc. In the 1970s country rock,
which are plucked with fingers. a fusion of country and western and rock ‘n’ roll
grew popular as did Disco.
IA R
Tamilnadu are its example. Yazh of the notice in the 1920s when whites adapted or
Tamil country also resembles the veena. imitated it. Jazz began in the south and spread
(ii) Santoor: It is used mostly in Kashmir. The northward and westward.
instrument is made of a box of wood, Blues: The blues generally employs a 12-bar
trapezoid in shape. Over this there are construction and a ‘blue’ scale, thought to be
thirty bridges arranged in 15 rows, two in African in origin. Vocal blues have earthy,
each row. A set of four strings of metal direct lyrics, the tempo may vary and moods
suned to the same note is stretched over range from despair to cynicism to satire. Major
each pair of bridges. Thus the total number early blues artists were Blend Lemon Jefferson,
of wires is 60. Ma Rainy and Bessie Smith.
(iii) Svaramandal: It is like a santoor but smaller
Country Music: It has directly descended
in size.
from the folk music of the English, Scottish and
(iv) Monochords: The tuila of Orissa, the Irish settlers of the south-east US. It tends
kacchapi, rabab, sarod, sitar, kinnari etc are towards simpler forms and depicts the life
its examples. The rudra veena and vichitra experience of poor rural and urban whites.
veena also fall in this class. Noted performers are Hank Williams, John
a) Violins: The Pena of Manipur, Kenra and Denver, Kenny Rogers Merle Haggard, Johnny
banam of Orissa, Kingri of Andhra and Cash and Loretta Lynn.
Indian Culture 57
LANGUAGES AND THEIR CHRONICLE
DISTRIBUTION IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Y
AD LE
India’s unity lies in her diversity and this is The 1971 census gave a more realistic figure of
further substantiated by the high degree of 700, having taken into account the dialects
diversity, they have, in their languages and spoken by 100 people and above. The Indian
EM
dialects. They speak various languages and constitution has officially recognized 22
dialects. The 1961 census has listed 1652 languages after taking into consideration their
languages and dialects as mother tongues spoken numerical, commercial, political and cultural
AC IC
in India. This figure was arrived at, taking into importance. The languages contained in the 8th
account even dialect spoken only by five persons. Schedule of the Constitution, are as follows:
1. Assamese Assam
S ON
58 Indian Culture
20. Tamil Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu.
Listed as a Classical
Language of India.
21. Telugu Andhra Pradesh
22. Urdu Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar
Pradesh
principal among them being Marwari, Mewari
Y
AD LE
Classification of Indian languages and Malawi. The speeches that fall in the
Northern group consist of one or other variety
The language spoken by the people of India
of pahari speeches. They include Nepali, Central
belong to the following four language families:
EM
Pahari and Western Pahari. Besides these
A. Indo-European Family languages, Sanskrit, the classical language of
India, represents the highest achievement of the
A substantive population of India speaks
AC IC
one or the other forms of the Aryan languages.
Indo-Aryan languages. Although hardly spoken
now-a-days, it has been listed as a nationally
It is the biggest of the languages groups in India,
accepted language in the 8th Schedule of the
accounting for about 73 per cent of the entire
constitution.
Indian population. Aryan Languages are
generally divided into two main branches: The Himalayan and the sub-Himalayan areas
S ON
The Eastern group includes Oriya, Bihari, major languages such as Tamil, Kannada,
Bengali and Assamese. Among the dialects Malayalam as well as the minor languages or
of Bihari may be included Maithili, Bhojpuri dialects such as Tulu, Kurgi, Badaga, Tada,
and Magadhi. Kota, Kodagu and Yerukala.
The East-Central group consists of three The Central-Dravidian group is composed
main sub-groups: of Telugu and a number of dialects spoken in
(a) Avadhi (b) Baghaili and (c) Chhattisgarhi central India- Kui, Khond, Holani, Konda,
Gondi, Naiki, Parji, Koya and others.
The central group includes Hindi, Punjabi,
Rajasthani and Gujarati. Hindi or Hindustani The North-Dravidian branch comprises
has produced two great literatures, Urdu and Brahmi spoken in Baluchistan and Kurukh
(High) Hindi. Both have the same grammar and (Oraon) and Malto spoken in Bengal and Orissa.
the same basic vocabulary though they differ in Languages of the Dravidian family are
script and higher vocabulary. Hindi uses the concentrated in the Plateau region and the
nagari script while Urdu uses the Perso-Arabic adjoining coastal plains. Telugu is spoken in
script. Moreover, Hindi has a preference for Andhra Pradesh; Tamil in Tamil Nadu; Kannada
purely Indian words while Urdu has numerous in Karnataka and Malayalam in Kerala. The
Arabic and Persian borrowings. The Rajasthani speeches of the Dravidian family are also spoken
itself consists of several varieties of speeches, the by a large number of tribal groups living in the
Indian Culture 59
eastern and the north-eastern parts of the the Himalayan group, the speakers of Kanauri
peninsular plateau. These groups include the have the highest numerical strength.
Gonds of Madhya Pradesh and central Indian The North-Assam or Arunachal branch
and the Oraons of Chota Nagpur Plateau. includes Aka, Dafla, Abor, Miri, Mishmi and
C. Austric Family Mishing. In this group, the Miri has the largest
number of speakers.
The Austric languages of India belong to the
Austro-Asiatic subfamily of languages. Nearly The Assam-Burmese branch of the Sino-
Tibetan family is divided into the following
Y
1.38% of the entire Indian population speaks it.
AD LE
This sub-family is further divided into two main groups: Bodo or Boro, Naga, Kachin, Kukichin
branches: (a) Munda and (b) Mon Khmer. and Burma group. Each of these groups consists
of several speeches. Among them the Naga
EM
The Mon Khmer branch consists of the two group displays the highest variations. The
groups: Khasi and Nicobari. The Munda branch, speeches falling in this category include
the largest of the Austric, consists of fourteen
AC IC Manipuri, Garo, Boro, Tripuri, Mikir and Lushai
tribal language groups. These are Asuri, Birhor, (Mizo). Among them, Manipuri has the highest
Ho, Korwa, Mundari, Mahali, Santhali, Turi, number of speakers.
Gata, Bondo, Bodo Gadaba, Parenga, Sora,
Juray and Lodhi. The languages and the dialects belonging to
the Sino-Tibetan family are spoken by the tribal
The largest group of speakers of the Austro- groups of north-east and of the Himalayan and
S ON
Asiatic sub-family of languages is that of Santhali sub-Himalayan regions of the North and the
speakers, who alone account for more than the North-West. The speeches of the Tibeto-
half of the total speakers. The speeches of the Himalayan branch are in Ladakh and parts of
Austric family are spoken by the tribal groups Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Assam-
in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya and Burmese branch is concentrated in the states
the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, the and Union Territories of North-East India along
predominantly tribal districts of Santhal the Indo-Burmese border. Among these, Naga
parganas, Mayurbhanj, Ranchi, East Nimar,
IA R
60 Indian Culture
INDIAN LITERATURE
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Y
AD LE
Like the Indian languages, the history of developed independently in the various
Indian literature may conveniently be divided Dravidian languages, particularly Tamil, the
into two main stages or phases, the old and the Sanskrit influences became predominant.
modern. The old is also capable of being sub-
EM
divided into ancient and medieval, and the
Modern Literature
lower limit of this old period has been put down
roughly at 1000 A.D. This is the period when An overall picture of the present literary
AC IC
the Indian people experienced some of the situation in some of the major languages in
greatest transformations in its political and discussed here. Assamese has the same script as
cultural set up. It was about this time that the Bengali. There are several young, experimental,
North Indian Aryan language took definite avant garde poets like Navakant Barua, Hem
forms, evolving out of the earlier Apabharamsa Barua, Mahendra Bora and other, as well as
S ON
we find in both Sanskrit and the Prakrits. The Saratchandra Chatterji and so many others, is
religious literature consisted of Philosophical considered to be the best of the East and the
disquisitions and narrative poems describing West and translation from all world languages
are available in Bengali.
CH
Indian Culture 61
After 1904, Oriya came to its own and There are poets of great stature like Nirala,
novelists like Fakir Moun Senapati and K.C. Agyeya, Muktibodh; there are many other
Panigrahi discovered in their rural life excellent popular and pleasant lyricists like Mahdevi,
gems of extraordinary characters. Poets like Pant, Bachchan. Nationalist poetry has a special
Suchi Raut Ray, Mayadhar, Mansingh and impact on Hindi and Maithilisharan Gupta,
others were trying their best to light the torch. Makhanlal Chturvedi, Naveen, Dinkar and many
Modernism in poetry has come to stay. Gopinath others wrote poems which, though didactic,
Mohanti and Raj Kishore Ray tried to break were so widely appreciated. In fiction from
Premchand to Renu, there has been an emphasis
Y
new grounds in fiction.
AD LE
on rural documentation, but metropolitian
Tamil literature has a rich past. Modernity
pressures are also very much in view, particularly
dawned during 19th century with V. Swaminath
in the short stories of Mohan Rakesh, Rajendra
EM
lyer and Subramanya Bharati. Many powerful
Yadav, Kamleshwar and Rajkamal Chaudhari.
modernists like Janaki Ramanad D. Jayakantan
are replacing the popular novelists like Kalki Punjabi has great zest for life. Poets like Vir
Singh, Mohan Singh, Amrita Pritam have made
AC IC
and Akilan. Kambadassnand and Bharatdasan
blazed new poetry. Aruna and Karunanidhi a remarkable contribution; so also the novels of
wrote authentic stories about the depressed Nanak Singh, Kanwal and the short stories of
classes. Duggal, Satindra Singh and Ajit Kaur. This
language is the nearest solution to the meeting
Malayalam is the most interesting language, of tradition and modernity. Poets like Mehjur,
S ON
as it has Muslim, Christian and Hindu writers Dinanath Nadim and Rahi and prose writers
in equal proportion. Poets like Vallanthol and G. like Akhatar Mohiuddin and Lone are the more
Sankara Kurup were replaced by a younger well-known modern writers.
generation of significant non-conformist writers.
Fiction writers like Joseph Mundasseri, Indian writing in English has been
Muhammad Basheer, P Keshavadev and T.S. acknowledged abroad with the novels of R.K.
Pillai have made their mark. Most of the novels Narayan, Raja Rao, Desani, Dr Mulk Raj Anand,
and short stories are still lingering around social Khushwant Singh, Bhabani Bhattacharya and
IA R
being the uppermost. The greatest follower of Amitabh Chaudhary and Anita Desai, and
Gandhi, Vinodba Bhave, is from Maharashtra, others left their mark on international audience.
so also are leaders like Tilak and Savarkar who
In recent times many Indian authors have
advocated Hindu revival, and leftists and
left their mark on international arena. Kiran
socialists like Dange, Gorey and Joshi. In
desai, Aravind Adiga, Arundhati roy have
literature too there is a constant debate on
received coveted Man Booker prize. Apart from
modernism.
them writers of Indian origin like Salman
Gujarati is the language of business people Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri and Amitav Ghosh are
and its literature has been influenced to a great well respected names in English literature.
extent by Gandhi’s non-violence. Much work In 1930s emerged the first major figures in
has been done in research in folklore and folk- the field of English literature in the shape of the
drama. It can boast of poets like Umashankar “Big Three” of Indian fiction: Mulk Raj Anand,
Joshi, “Sundaram” and Rajendra Shah, and Raja Rao and R.K. Narayan. Mulk Raj Anand
novelists like Pannalal Patel, “Darshak”, is the most Westernized of the trio; Rao, while
Chunnilal Madia who have artistically writing in English and using the genre of the
articulated the conditions of rural Gujarat. novels has its roots in Sanskrit culture; Narayan’s
In Hindi there has been the largest number work occupies a middle ground between the
of translation from other Indian languages. approaches of his two illustrious contemporaries.
62 Indian Culture
Anand’s reputation was first established by Anita Desai has written ‘Fire in the
his first two novels, Untouchable (1935), which Mountains’ (1977), ‘Clear Light of Day’ (1980)
gives an account of “a day in life” of a sweeper, and ‘The Village by the Sea’ (1982), ‘Cry the
and Coolie (1936), which follows the fortunes of a Peack’ (1963), ‘Bye-Bye Black Bird’ (1971) and
peasant boy uprooted from the land. His trilogy- ‘In Custody’ (1984). Her subtle prose and
The Village (1939), Across The Black Waters (1940) sensitive evocation of the inner lives of her
and The Sword and the Sickle (1942)- is an epic characters makes her one of the finest talents at
account of the gradual growth of the protagonist’s work in the Indian novel.
Y
revolutionary consciousness which may be seen as
AD LE
Salman Rushdie won the 1981 Booker
a microcosm of India’s movement toward an Prize for Midnight’s Children (1981). He has
awareness of the need for independence. also published Grimus (1975), a science fiction,
EM
Raja Rao’s first novel Kanthapura (1938) is Shame (1983) and The Jaguar Smile (1987), a
most straightforward. It gives an account of journal about war-torn Nicaragua and of course,
how her village’s revolt against a domineering
AC IC the banned book-Satanic Verses. He was also
plantation owner comes to be informed by the awarded the Booker of Booker for Midnight
Gandhian ideal of nonviolence. Rao’s major Children.
work ‘The Serpent and the Rope’ (1960) is Vikram Seth’s first novel, ‘A Suitable Boy’
regarded by some Indian critics as the most has made him the most hyped-up first–time
important Indian novel in English to have novelist in the history of Indian literature. ‘The
appeared to date. Rao has also published the
S ON
Golden Gate’, a novel in verse had hit the
short novels ‘The Cat and Shakespeare’ (1965) bestseller’s lists in 1986-87. ‘The Golden Gate’
and ‘Comrade Kirillov’ (1976). was followed by three collection of verse: The
Narayan’s early novels include the trilogy Humble Administrator’s Garden, ‘All you Who
‘Swami and Friends’ (1935), ‘The Bachelor of Sleep Tonight’ and ‘Beastly Tales from Here’
Arts’ (1937) and ‘The English Teacher’ (1945). and There.
The novels of his middle period represent his
best work. These include ‘Mr. Sampath’ (1949), Other Novelists
IA R
between traditional Hindu values and Western with the subject matter of their best novels:
incursions into the society. Narayan’s more Singh’s ‘A Train to Pakistan’ (1956) and
recent novels include The Painter of Signs (1976), Malgaonkar’s ‘A Bend in the Ganges’ (1964)
A Tiger for Malgudi (1983) and Talkative Man deal with partition; Singh’s ‘I Shall Not Hear the
(1986). He has also published several volumes Nightingale’ (1959) is about the movements of
of short stories, including An Astrologer’s Day a Sikh family in the Punjab in the uncertain
(1947) and Lawley Read (1956). period before partition and Malgonkar’s ‘The
Princes’ (1963) a sympathetic account of the
Nirad Chaudhari is the most Controversial tragedy of a family in the Punjab in the uncertain
of Indian writers in English. He emerged on the period before partition and Malgonkar’s The
scene with his book The Autobiography of an Princes (1963) a sympathetic account of the
Unknown Indian (1951). When he visited tragedy of a family who represents the local elite
England, he recorded his experiences in ‘A that ruled many ‘native’ states during the Raj.
Passage to England’ (1959). In ‘The Continent Kamla Markandya’s novels, which include
of Circe’ (1965), he puts forward the thesis that ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ (1954), ‘A Handful of Rice’
the Aryan settlers of India became enfeebled by (1966) and the ‘Coffer Dams’ (1969), are mainly
the climate of North India. He has also published about rural and urban poverty and dispossession.
To Live or not to Live (1970) and a second
volume of autobiography ‘Thy Hand, Great Nayantara Sehgal, a niece of Nehru, writes
Anarch’ (1987). about the Indian elite of today and yesterday.
Indian Culture 63
Her novels include This Time of Morning (1965), come of age. Kamala Das Writes about women’s
The Day in Shadow (1971), A Situation in New emotions with a candor unprecedented in Indian
Delhi (1971), Rich like Us (1985) and Plans for verse and Arum Kootchar, winner of the 1977
Departure (1986), she was the winner of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for his collection
Eurasian section of the 1987 Commonwealth Japura, in which the eponymous village provides
Writer Prize. a reference point for meditations on Indian life,
ancient and modern. Other notable poets after
Indian Poetry in English independence writing in English include Adil
Y
Jussawalla, P. Lala, Jayanta Mahapatra, Dom
AD LE
While Indian poetry in English dates back Moraes, Rajagopal Parthasarathy, Gieve Patel
to the early nineteenth century, it is really only and A.K. Ramanujan.
in the period since independence that it has
EM
AC IC
S ON
IA R
CH
64 Indian Culture
INDIAN PAINTING
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Y
AD LE
The origin of Indian painting goes back to received with their retinues at royal courts. The
8000 years and an account of its development Ajanta style has been described as poetic
is inextricably meshed with the development of dynamism set in motion, and these paintings
EM
Indian civilization. Hunters and gatherers who are indeed cynically lovely and universally
made primitive tools and lived in the rock charming.
shelters of central India, made exaggerated
AC IC When the Gupta Empire declined and
linear figures of wild animals, such as the bison, shrank, its style of art underwent several distinct
the elephant and the stag in red and yellow changes which art historians have classified
ochre on the rock surfaces of cave walls. The into three phases. In the 7th to 8th century,
tradition of painting on the walls of caves went which constitutes the first phase, the styles did
through at least ten distinct phases. But the not change very visibly. Painting activity seems
culmination of Indian frescoes can be seen at
S ON
to have shifted at this time from Ajanta caves
Ajanta, where from the time of the Sungas in to the neighboring caves at Ellora. In the Hindu
the second century B.C., wall painting continued rock–cut Kailash caves, artists painted scenes
to be made until the fifth century. from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana.
There is no definite evidence from the Indus Further south, in the southern state of Tamil
valley Civilization of any painting activity, except Nadu, the 7th century Kailashnath temple has
the decorations which occur on earthen pots. paintings in a bold style with stylized facial
Geometric, floral and faunal designs in black on features. During the second phase, from the 9th
IA R
red terracotta pots seem to indicate that the art to the 12th century, we find new sensibilities.
of painting was not entirely unknown. The paintings of murals in south depict both
The Indus Valley civilization came to an stories from the epics and secular representations
CH
end around 1500 BC when the cities in which of king Rajaraja the Great, with his queens.
it had flowered declined and were replaced by The third phase, which dates to the 13th to
small anonymous chalcolithic villages. There is 16th centuries, is considered a period of slow
very little information about the next 1000 years decadence, since creativity in art was replaced
and there is no evidence of any painting dating by excellence of craftsmanship. It was during
to the Mauryan period. If there were paintings, this period that the earliest book illustrations
it is possible that they were made on fragile developed. Buddhist scriptures such as the
materials and did not survive the passing of Pranjaparamita preserved on palm-leaf
over 2000 years. manuscripts were now illustrated for the first
Indian painting reached a high level of time with miniatures in flat, bright houses of red
achievement around Gupta period of Ajanta and blue, outlined in black. The pala rulers of
and at Bagh in central India, where entire eastern India, who came to power in the 9th
settlements of rock-cut caves were decorated century, encouraged this form of art, and so did
with figures of men and women. Some for them, royal patrons in other parts of India.
like the famous painting of the Bodhisattva, are Another school of miniature painting is
graceful and yet pensive, as of pondering the known as Apbrahmsa School which flourished
cycle of birth and death. Others portray in western India, particularly in Gujarat. In the
sumptuous court scenes in which foreign earlier phase palm-leaf manuscripts were used
diplomats in unfamiliar garments are being but in the later phase paper was introduced.
Indian Culture 65
Jain manuscripts were illustrated in a slightly It was not until the second half of the 16th
larger format. When paper was subsequently century that a truly creative style of miniature
introduced, the manuscripts continued to be painting developed in India, and this was the
horizontal in shape retaining the format of the result of fusion between India and Persian
original palm leaf manuscripts. The themes styles. The new style developed in the court of
were derived from Jain sacred texts, but also Akbar, who successfully blended Hindu and
touched Vaishnava subjects depicting love such Islamic elements to create the style that we now
as Git Govinda. call Mughal, in architecture, art and
Y
administration. Akbar established workshops
AD LE
Chola Series or Karkhanas for painters at his court at
Fatehpuri Sikri, near Agra. Under the guidance
The magnificent Chola series of paintings in of a Persian artist named Mir Sayyid Ali, and
EM
the Brihadesvara temple illustrate the fight of a talented calligrapher named Abdus Salam,
Shiva with the Tipuras, the almost invincible about a hundred promising young artists of all
demons, the story of Sundaramurti, the celestial castes and creeds were trained in the art of
AC IC
dancers, Shiva watching the dance, Rajaraja and miniature paining and in the equally important
his spiritual guru, all masterpieces of 1000 AD. art calligraphy. Some of them became renowned
artists and their names reflected their varied
Hoysala Paintings origins, and the fact that they included both
Hindus and Muslims. Mansur, for example was
S ON
magnificent series at Hampi of the 15th century classification. They are not always on paper.
AD wherein the spiritual preceptor Vidyaranaya Not all of them are of a standard size. In fact
is shown moving in a palanquin in a procession. some of them are far from miniature in size,
being as large as English watercolours. And, not
CH
66 Indian Culture
latter imported from Afghanistan. Every bit of Punjab, such as Kangra, Kulu, Nurpur, Chamba,
the paintings is finely worked and entire scenes Basohli and Guler. The rulers of Rajasthani states
of battle and court life come alive in fascinating had always encouraged painting, even in the
details. Artists used delicate brushes made of heyday of Mughal art and now they became the
squirrel’s hair to achieve these effects. major patrons of this form of art. The painting
The paintings done in Akbar’s time produced in these states drew upon the local
established new patterns of art. The Persian artistic and religious traditions as well as those
influence was marked, and yet the court artists established by the Mughal School. Literary works
Y
such as Gita Govinda, which tells of passionate
AD LE
were able to convey something of the
environment in which the paintings were made. love between the god Krishna and Radha, and
other works such as the Bhagawata Purana and
If Akbar established a new idiom in the field Rasikpriya all provided themes that were rich in
EM
of painting, his son, Jahangir brought it to its imagery and symbolism.
paramount, for the miniatures produced under
his patronage are the best of those in the
AC IC The artists of the Rajasthani schools did not
Mughal style. Although he was not as great a attempt to follow the rules of perspective.
ruler as his father, Jahangir had an interest in Instead, they relied on hands of colour to create
fauna and flora that led to a large number of a feeling of depth. They did not employ the
lovely paintings of animals, birds and plants Mughal techniques of highlighting certain
being done. sections of the painting. Light is distributed
uniformly over the entire scheme.
S ON
Indian Culture 67
Indian style. Till the 17th century, they remained etc. Equestrian Portraits of royal household and
unaffected by the mughal style. The subject nobility, folk dances, family sense were also
matter was essentially Hindu. The main theme made. The males in the paintings had broad
was Raagmla or garland of songs. They depict eyes, beard, moustache, head gear, sword and
ragas and raginis in their emotive setting. Besides, shield. The females had rounded hair, lotus
Radha-Krishna myth, Purana, Ramayan, eyes, long arms and supported bindi, Mehendi,
Mahabharata, Barahmasa, Nayika bheda etc. bangles etc. The animals depicted were camel,
also form major themes. The main regional horse and dogs. The prominent painters of this
Y
schools or styles were: school were Shivdas Bhatti, Kishandas Bhatti,
AD LE
1. Kishangarh School: Kishangarh, near Devadas Bhatti etc.
Jaipur is an important centre of the vallabh sect. 4. Bundi School: This school was famous
EM
The school achieved its peak during the reign of for painting of animals and the use of black and
Raja Sawant Singh (1748-68), who was also blue colour. The important paintings of animals
called Kavi Nagari Das. The main theme of
AC IC and birds include- elephants under black clouds,
painting of this school and his painting ‘Bani line of cranes, chetak, mayor etc. Besides animals
Thani’ has been called ‘Indian Monalisa’. He and birds, the other themes were Raag Ragini,
developed the mannerist style. The paintings of inking water. Season also formed an important
this school are lyrical and sensuous. The females theme. The males in the paintings sported
in the painting have slender curves, almond bundled head gear, dupatta, pyjama and had
eyes and lyrical fingers. They reflect the amorous a healthy face and round forehead. The noted
S ON
sentiment or Sringara Rasa. Nature is depicted painters of this school were Surjan, Ahmad Ali,
in green colour. Other noted painters of this Shri Krishna and Ram Lal.
school were Surdhwaj, Amir Chand, Dhanna, 5. Bikaner School: This school of painting
etc. developed fully by 1680. It was influenced by
2. Jaipur School: It developed in the 16th the Mughal and Kangra Schools. The themes of
century. During Aurangzeb’s period, there was painting included Raagmala, Barahmasa, Geeta,
a flight of painters from his court as the latter Krishna Lila etc. Its distinctive feature was usta
IA R
discouraged painting. Hence the painters flocked kala perfected by Hamiduddin usta. It was
to Jaipur. This is why this school has mughal painting done on camel hide, ivory, stones etc.
influence. The school achieved its peak during Ruknuddin was the foremost painter of this
CH
68 Indian Culture
MEDIA
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Y
AD LE
The Post-Independence India has witnessed Puri read out the programmes, the first telecast
an explosion in the field of mass media like in India. In the beginning, the TV programmes
newspapers, magazines, books, radio, TV and were telecast only twice a week for only one
EM
films. After the British left India the Indian hour. From 1959 till 1966 the TV programmes
media could be used to serve the interests of the were telecast live but in 1966 for the first time
people and the nation, according to the new
AC IC a programme was recorded on astronaut Yuri
visions, policies, and national goals set by the Gagarin. A film processing plant was also
new architects of the nation, the media owners, installed. Meanwhile the telecast of the feature
and the experts. Communication network was film started but each film was shown in two
strengthened to preserve the Unity and integrity parts on two consecutive Sundays. Gradually
of Indian and secure the active cooperation of transmission was extended to four days.
people in the era of planned development and
S ON
millions. Of these 1,423 are dailies, 6,123 weeklies Television”, a programme on news and current
and 13,105 periodicals besides bi-weeklies and affairs was started, like News Perspective Weekly
tri-weeklies. India is the largest book producer in English and Desh Videsh and Aamne Saamne
in the Third World and ranks among the first in Hindi. A programme for the common man
CH
ten in the whole world. It is also the third largest was also introduced in which the then Prime
producer of books in English. However titles on Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi was invited.
Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences and Many people of different sections of society
Technology trail behind. attended the live programme as this was the
India has four news agencies– Press Trust first time that the Prime Minister was having a
of India (PTI), United News of India (UNI), word with the people on T.V. In the year 1972,
Samachar Bharati and Hindustan Samachar. apart from Delhi, centres were opened in
PTI was set up on August 27, 1947. It took over Amritsar, Srinagar and Bombay and the
from the Associated Press of India (API) and transmission time increased to three and half
Reuters. It has around 124 news bureau in the hours.
country. UNI was registered as a company in In 1975, eminent scientist Vikram Sarabhai
1854 and started news operation in 1961. In mooted the idea of educating and entertaining
1982 it launched its Hindi news services people with the help of ‘satellite’. Soon
‘Univarta’. It operates a news service to the transmissions to this effect began through
media in four Gulf countries. A.T.S.F. 6 at NASA. In 1973, a production
centre was set up at Vigyan Bhawan. After that
Television similar centres were opened at Calcutta, Madras
and Lucknow.
At 6 P.M. on September 15, 1959, Pratima
Indian Culture 69
The development of television was gradual Today, there are heaps of proposals for
until the microwave technique came. With it the sponsored programmes and serials with a
INSAT-1A was availed and in July 1982, the number of committees and sub-committees to
national programme on TV started. In the take decisions. Serials on Ramayana,
beginning the duration of the national Mahabharata, Vishwamitra, Bahadurshah
programme was one and a half hour every day. Zafar, Tipu Sultan and Chankya have been
On August 15, 1982 New Delhi, Jalandhar, telecast.
Srinagar, Lucknow, Calcutta, Madras and
Today there are more than 550 transmitters
Bombay were linked to the microwave. At first
Y
operating in the country. TV course 82 per cent
AD LE
the national network programmes were telecast
of population and 67.6 per cent of the area. The
from 8.30 to 10.30 which were changed from 9
to 10.45. But from August 11, 1985 the national first indigenous Black and White TV receiver
was produced in India in 1969. The number has
EM
programmes were held from 8.40 P.M. All
Kendras telecast the Hindi news bulletin but on gone up to 45.6 million by 1992.
a request from the Government of Tamil Nadu,
AC IC
the Madras centre stopped this bulletin. Radio
The idea of national telecast was mooted at Though T.V. has made inroads into radio’s
the time of Asian Games in November 1982. Shiv audience, this audio media is still very popular
Shankar Sharma, then a Kendra Director, was with the people, particularly among lower and
brought to Delhi from Calcutta and was given middle class income group. Radio is less costly
the responsibility for the telecast of the Asian
S ON
and easy to handle and care. Channels are more
Games. The Government was a little apprehensive
in Radio than in T.V. And one can do one’s usual
about the success of the venture and the plans
work with radio playing in the background. In
were afoot to give the responsibility to BBC. But
villages, people still rely more on B.B.C than on
Doordarshan decided to shoulder the
T.V. news. Besides, most of the villages in India
responsibility alone. All the people in Doordarshan
worked as a team covering 22 sports disciplines have no electricity. Thus, TV can be watched
taking place at 18 different stadia in the three only with the help of battery and that is a costly
metros. The telecast received kudos from all affairs. So, Radio is still the most convenient
IA R
centres of the world. This telecast ushered in a entertainment as well as news medium.
new chapter in the history of Doordarshan. The In 1927, Bombay and Calcutta witnessed
coverage of CHOGM and NAM were the other the installation of two privately owned
CH
Y
The responses to STARS TV in India has been
AD LE
requests from the Radio Shrota Sangha. staggering; from 4.12 lakh urban households in
For News, people, even in the remotest January, the number has zoomed to 12.82 lakh,
villages, listened to BBC Hindi Service. They an increase of 211 per cent. At present STAR is
EM
relied heavily on its news about India. On May relaying on five channels viz, Star Plus, MTV,
18, 1988, a National Radio Channel was born. Prime Sports, BBC and Zee TV.
The transmission originated in Delhi and then But, STAR’s audience in Indian is only a
AC IC
beamed all over the country through a 1000 kW fraction of Doordarshan’s total reach a staggering
transmitter at Nagpur. National Channel started 125 million people in urban settlements, plus a
at 11 P.M. and continued till early morning. possible 75 million more in the countryside.
The programmes included Hindi songs, English Doordarshan’s national network and seven
songs, classical music and even regional songs. regional networks are serviced by scores of ground
S ON
The Vividh Bhrati Service, an exclusive based transmitters linked to two INSAT satellites.
entertainment channel was the only respite for More regional networks are planned in the next
the common people. But it lacked the range of few years. But Doordarshn’s greatest indictment
Radio Sri lanka Broadcasting and songs played comes from STAR’S success. Viewers have to pay
were always oldies. Technically speaking, two cable operators for the satellite channels and
high power short wave transmitters in Madras most of the programmes are unrelated to their
and Bombay carried the transmissions. There lives yet STAR is spreading into city slums and
were 32 Commercial Broadcasting centers. into the countryside.
IA R
Of late, the programmes on Vividh Bharati To counter STAR’s success, Mandi House
have gained in both, range and quality. Radio started Metro Channel loaded with programmes
Srilanka has lost its place to indigenous, more related to films. Though this channel’s popularity
CH
clear, Vividh Bharati. From forgotten melodies has increased tremendously, some say D.D. has
to the latest pop can be heard on this channel. become a poor man’s version of the Hindi
Sponsored programmes have been bringing in cinema. Films, variations of Chitrahaar and
revenue too. Film previews can also be heard. interviews with film stars have become the
Hawa Mahal is popular for the humorous order of the day.
dramas. Chhaya Geet, heard at 10 P.M. every DD, till recently, was also placed at
night, is a package of Hindi songs based on a disadvantage because it was transmitting only
particular them. At 10.45 P.M. this channel terrestrially, and viewers had to disconnect the
closes its transmission. cable- TV Line to switch on Doordarshan. As
Yuvavani is for the youth. Mehfil (Hindi such DD’s latest move of transmitting its Metro
songs) and Play it Cool (English songs) are very Channel via INSAT seems to be the first serious
popular among students. A student is invited to step on the part of the government to fight the
play the records of his/her choice for the competition from STAR et al. For transmission
audience in case of above programmes. Youth of Metro Channel, DD is using INSAT 1D and
based topics are also discussed on Yuvavani. INSAT -2A transponders. The TV signals from
these transponders can be received only through
Satellite Invasion dish antennae, which are so highly priced as to
be unaffordable to the common viewer.
Towards the end of 1991 STAR TV, then a
little known Hong Kong company acquired a
Indian Culture 71
INDIAN CINEMA
CHRONICLE
IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
Y
AD LE
Before Independence, film making was tried box office formula. From a medium of
essentially a middle class pursuit geared towards artistic expression, cinema turned into a cut-
providing alternative entertainment of theatre. throat competitive business by the end of sixties.
The emotional aspirations of wide majority of
EM
For those who believed in the
masses were well-reflected in many mythological democratization of cinema, this evoked peculiar
costumes dramas, social comedies, musicals and responses. Ritwik Ghatak trusted more on his
crime thrillers churned out by the “dream
AC IC
factories” of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
wide angle lenses, avoided close-ups and
demolished the archetypal screen hero. The
Patriotic films like Bhuli Nai (Bengali), Veer mid-fifties also saw Satyajit Ray and others
Pandya Kattabomman (Tamil), Pehla Admi experimenting with a brand of “neo-realism”
(Hindi) etc. were manifestations of a cultural that sought to raise the collective intelligence of
upsurge inspired by the struggle against a foreign audiences. Together with Ritwik Ghatak and
S ON
to a fast expanding working class who became Satyajit Ray: He is regarded as one of the
the basic audience for this mode of entertainment. greatest auteur of 20th century cinema. Ray’s
The tradition was complete by the early first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven
CH
1950s. Mehboob, Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt rose international prizes, including Best Human
up as invincible Titans of the celluloid world, Document at the Cannes film festival. Numerous
guiding the passion of millions. While all their awards were bestowed on Ray throughout his
films –beginning with Andaaz, Do Bighaa Zamin lifetime, including 32 National Film Awards by
and Udayer Pathey, onwards to Pyaasa and the Government of India, in addition to awards
Mother India –reflect varying degrees of social at international film festivals. At the Berlin Film
concern, each one also served as star vehicles for Festival, he was one of only three filmmakers to
lesser mortals like Balraj Sahni, K.L Saigal, Dilip win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than
Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Meena Kumari and Nargis. once and holds the record for the most number
Raj Kapoor left his mark on Indian cinema with of Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the
a blend of art and showmanship as not only Venice Film Festival, where he had previously
were his films relevant but commercially won a Golden Lion for Aparajito (1956), he was
successful also. His films became international awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in
success also especially in the USSR, Central Asia 1982. That same year, he received an honorary
and Eastern Europe. “Hommage à Satyajit Ray” award at the 1982
Popular cinema also generated certain myths Cannes Film Festival.
in terms of plot structures, creation of archetypes, Ray is the second film personality after
introduction of music and dance, sensuality and Chaplin to have been awarded honorary
violence… all measured to conform to a well- doctorates by Oxford University. He was
72 Indian Culture
awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1985 immediately followed by the wild improvisations
and the Legion of Honor by the President of of Parashuram (1978), he finally straightened
France in 1987. The Government of India out in Ek Din Prati Din (1983) and then Genesis
awarded him the highest civilian honour, Bharat (1986).
Ratna shortly before his death. The Academy of In retrospect, Sen’s Bhuvan Shome (1969)
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Ray can well be regarded as the turning point of
an honorary Oscar in 1992 for Lifetime Indian cinema, when the “new wave” first hit
Achievement. the shores. The film made on an unsecured loan
Y
AD LE
Neo realism: World cinema was particularly granted by the then film finance corporation,
influenced by neo realistic cinema of Italy which became a trend setter, inspiring the likes of
was a response to Second World War and Shyam Benegal (Ankur), P. Reddy (Samskara),
resultant frustration among artists due to Girish Karnad (Kaddu), B.V. Karanth (Godhuli),
EM
violence and large destruction of not only Adoor Gopalakrishnan (Swayamvaram), M.S.
physical damage and casualties but also of Sathyu (Garma Hawa), Awtar Kaul (27 Down),
human values. It was particularly influenced by G.V. lyer (Hamsa Geethe), G. Aravindan
AC IC
existential philosophy and it later resulted in to (Uttarayanam) and many others.
development of what is popularly known as Of them Shyam Benegal has proved to be
“parallel cinema” today. Few great auteurs of the most prolific with an impressive track record
world cinema then were Vittorio De Sica, of 15 full-length features and 38 documentaries
Federico Fellini, Rossellini, Akira Kurosawa, made in less than twelve years. Like his
S ON
Y
Aravindan’s ‘Poetic’ Cinema
AD LE
trade unionist, the presentation is the same. As
Benegal’s cameraman, his style tends to be With G. Aravindan, cinema acquired a
warped, if not repetitive. Even in casting, poetic quality- near magical product of nature.
EM
Nihalani continues to bank on the same old His films seem to be made without a camera or
trusted faces, without any inclination to change. crew, but created directly by the laws of
cinematography. In Thampu, the palpability of
Among Ghatak’s successors, only Kumar
AC IC
Shahani (Tarang) and Nirad Mohapatra (Maya
his itinerant circus performers in overwhelming;
in Pokkuveyil, he weaves a shimmering web out
Miriga) could display the courage to develop a
of the insane interaction of sensitive mind with
style to the level of an epic. The other Mohapatra-
the lights and colors of the earth, merging with
Manmohan (Klanta Aparanha) – continues to
the softy shining bodies of characters. In
languish in faithful emulation of his master.
Chidambaram, nature is revealed like the word
S ON
E
spective states is NOT matched correctly?
the dexterous movements of hands and other
skillful steps. Veeranatyam belongs to which of (a) Dhimsa dance------------- Andhra Pradesh
Y
the following states? (b) Bagurumba -------------Assam
(a) Kerala (b) Puducherry
AD L
(c) Puli Kali -------------Kerala
(c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Tamil Nadu
(d) Baryi song -------------Odisha
EM
8. Consider the following statements: 12. Consider the following statements:
C
I. Kathakali is the only Indian dance form in 1. The Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneswar and the
which the entire body, both skeleton and Jagannath temple at Puri are examples of the
muscles, down to even the smallest facial muscle Nagara style of temple architecture.
AC Iare used to portray emotion.
2. The Kendariya Mahadev temple of Khajuraho
II. The Hastha Lakshandeepika is a classical text and the Dilwara temples of Mount Abu are
and forms the basis of hands and arms examples of the Vesara style of temple
S ON
movement in Kathakali. architecture.
Select the correct answer code from the below: Which of the above statements are true?
(a) Only 1
(a) Only I is correct
(b) Only 2
(b) Only II is correct
(c) Both 1 and 2
(c) Both I and II are correct
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(d) Neither I nor II are correct
13. Mughal painting reached its Zenith under
9. Out of the many beautiful forms of handicrafts,
IA R
(a) Humayun
Kalamkari has always been the favourite with
the art and craft lovers. The Kalamkari craft (b) Akbar
involves the art of printing and painting of (c) Jahangir
fabrics. This is a rare kind of art, which uses a
(d) Sahjahan
CH
Indian Culture 3
INDIAN CULTURE
CULTURE CHRONICLE
(ANSWERS) IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
E
1 (d) 14 (a)
Y
AD L
2 (a) 15 (d)
EM
3 (a) 16 (b)
C
4 (a) 17 (d)
AC I
5 (b) 18 (c)
S ON
6 (d) 19 (b)
7 (c) 20 (b)
8 (a) 21 (c)
IA R
9 (b) 22 (c)
10 (c) 23 (a)
CH
11 (d) 24 (c)
12 (a) 25 (c)
13 (c)
Indian Culture
INDIAN CULTURE
CULTURE CHRONICLE
UPSC QUESTIONS IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
E
which type of dance? (a) Literature
(a) Manipuri
Y
(b) Performing Arts
(b) Bharat Natyam
(c) Science
AD L
(c) Kuchipudi
(d) Social service
(d) Odissi
EM
7. The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundech
C
2. Near which one of the following cities are are:
Palitana Temples located?
(a) Dhrupad vocalists
(a) Bhavnagar (b) Mount Abu
(b) Kathat Dancers
(c) Nasik (d) Ujjain
AC I
(c) Sarod maestros
3. What is the number of spokes in the Dharma (d) Tabla players
chakra in the National Flag of India?
S ON
(a) 16 (b) 18 8. Match list I with list II and select the correct
(c) 22 (d) 24 answer using the code given below the lists:
List I List II
4. The manuscripts of which one of the following (Famous Person) (Well- Known for)
have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory
of World Register? (A) Mandakini Amte (1) Theatre direction
(a) Abhidhamma Pitaka (B) Neelam Mansingh (2) Social service and
(b) Mahabharta Chowdhry community leadership
E
11. Match List I with List II and select the correct (D) Suryakant Tripathi (4) Singer
answer using the code given below the lists : Nirala
Y
List I List II Codes :
AD L
(Famous Temple) (State) A B C D
(A) Vidyashankara (1) Andhra Pradesh (a) 2 1 4 3
EM
(B) Rajarani Temple (2) Karnataka (b) 2 4 1 3
C
(C) Kandariya (3) Madhya Pradesh (c) 3 1 4 2
(D) Bhimesvara (4) Orissa 15. Which one of the following was included in the
AC I
Temple UNESCO’s World Heritage list?
(a) Dilwara Temple
Codes : (b) Kalka-Shimla Railway
S ON
A B C D (c) Bhiterkanika Mangrove Area
(a) 2 4 3 1 (d) Visakhapatnam to Araku valley Railway
(b) 2 3 4 1 line
(d) Nataraja
(b) Annie Bosant
13. Consider the following pairs: (c) Sarojini Naidu
Tradition State (d) Vijayalakshmi
(1) Gatka, a traditional martial art : Kerala
18. Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy
(2) Madhubani, a traditional : Bihar
of which one of the following?
Painting (a) Buddhism (b) Jainism
(3) Singhey Khababs, Sindhu : J & K (c) Sikhism (d) Vaishnavism
Darshan Festival
19. India maintained its early cultural contacts and
trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly
of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early mari-
matched?
time history of Bay of Bengal, which of the
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only following could be the most convincing .expla-
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 nation/explanations?
2 Indian Culture
(a) As compared to other countries, India had 22. How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi
a better ship-building technology in ancient and Bharatanatyam dances?
and medieval times 1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is
(b) The rulers of southern India always patron- found in Kuchipudi dance but not in
ized traders, brahmin priests and buddhist Bharatanatyam.
monks in this context 2. Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the
(c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal feet on its edges is a feature of
facilitated sea voyages Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does
not have such a form of movements.
E
(d) Both (a) and (b) are convincing explana-
tions in this context Which of the statements given above is/
are correct?
Y
20. The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
AD L
the:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) Three main racial groups of the Indian
subcontinent
EM
23. In the context of cultural hinstory of india, a
C
(b) Three main linguistic divisions into which pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhaga’
the language of India can be classified has been a favorite of indian artists from an-
cient time till today. Which one of the foloowing
(c) Three main styles of Indian temple archi-
statement best describes the pose?
tecture
(a) One leg is bent and body is slightly but
AC I
(d) Three main musical Gharanas prevalent in oppositely curved at waist and neck.
India
(b) Facial expressions, hand gestures and make-
up are combined to symbolize certain epics
S ON
21. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the Major
traditions of India that has been kept alive for or historic characters
centuries, which of the following statements are (c) Movement of body, face and hands are
correct? used to express oneself or to tell a story
1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the (d) A little smile, slightly curved waist and
Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal pe- certain hand gestures are emphasised to
riod. express the feeling of love and or eroticism
2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and
spiritual music. 24. In which state is the Buddhist site Tabo
monastry located?
3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from
IA R
Select the correct answer using the codes (b) Himachal Pradesh
given below: (c) Silkkim
CH
Indian Culture 3
INDIAN CULTURE
CULTURE CHRONICLE
(UPSC ANSWERS) IAS ACADEMY
A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
E
1. (a) 18. (b)
Y
2. (a) 19. (b)
AD L
3. (d) 20. (c)
EM
4. (d) 21. (b)
C
5. (c) Exp: Origin from Sama Veda. The lyrics, some of
which were written in Sanskrit centuries
6. (c) ago, Dhrupad music is primarily devotional
AC I in theme and content.
7. (a)
22. (a)
8. (a)
S ON
Exp: The dance form spread further during the
9. (d) Bhakti movement between 11th and the 13th
century, when dance dramas set to devo-
10. (b) tional themes were performed by a cast of
all men in open-air theaters, with the men
11. (a) playing both the male and female roles. The
dramas were usually opened by the narra-
tor, or soothradhar accompanied by (music
12. (a)
and) the rhythms of the drums and cym-
bals. As the audience watched with rapt
IA R
13. (c)
attention, the characters would introduce
themselves, with the lead roles entering the
14. (b) stage behind a curtain. Dramatic elements
were used heavily throughout the perfor-
15. (b) mance, with the characters speaking out dia-
CH
Indian Culture