Heritage makes a comeback
If walls could speak, a Rajasthani haveli or a Chettinad house would read like a palimpsest, layer upon layer of memories accumulated over many generations. Today, even as modern high-rises and cookie-cutter villas reshape our social and urban fabric, heritage homes, whether period structures or new builds inspired by traditional typologies, continue to captivate architects and homeowners drawn by the allure of a slower, simpler, and more meaningful way of life. From the Kath-Khuni style of building in the western Himalayas to the evocative Indo-Portuguese influences that inform the design of Goan houses, we shine a spotlight on the enduring legacy of heritage residential architecture across the country.
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India Today
20 hours ago
- India Today
How Caste, a word of Spanish origin, redefined Indian social order during British rule
One word that still thrives in India and continues to challenge society is caste. The word originated in Spain and was later used by Portuguese, and it was the British who institutionalised it within the Indian derived from casta, is now deeply linked with India's ancient social structure, the varna system, in which esoteric individuals based on the work performed and, by extension, their place in per the Rig Veda, the varna system divided society into four main groups: Brahmins, the learned class; Kshatriyas, the rulers and warriors; Vaishyas, the merchants and landowners; and Shudras, those who did manual labour. Outside this structure were those considered 'untouchables.' The first official Indian census was conducted in 1871, well before independence. It recorded over 2,500 castes. These caste listings included all professions -- for example, Sonar, a term for goldsmiths, was listed as a backward the 1931 census, the number of recorded castes had risen to over 3,000. This was the last time a caste-based census was held -- pre- or though caste -- a word not native to Indian soil -- became the most defining social construct of the land, shaping society for over two centuries, how did this happen? What changed and divided Indian society so deeply that it is now difficult to separate from it?advertisementWas Indian society fragile from the beginning, or did it evolve over time, with the differentiation of work and social categories outlined in the varna system becoming more rigid? These are the questions scholars and academics have long sought to answer. Specimen of various described castes(Image: Wikimedia Commons) VARNA, JATI, AND CASTEThe varna system, as mentioned in the Rig Veda, is thousands of years old and outlines how society and work were structured. Though there were four main varnas, epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana offer examples of how these identities could born a Kshatriya, was later revered as a Rishi due to his conduct. The story of Eklavya is often cited -- denied training by Dronacharya due to his varna, Eklavya's father, Hiranyadhanu, nonetheless served in King Jarasandha's army, showing that lower-caste individuals were not excluded from warfare or Indian texts, jati -- meaning birth -- is often mentioned less often than varna, but the concept is more complex. While varna divided society into four broad categories, jatis represented thousands of lineage- or occupation-based groups, though endogamous (a practice of marrying or mating within a specific group, such as a caste, ethnic group, religious group), varied across Dumont, a French anthropologist, linked jatis to religious purity and pollution, but others argue their origins are more secular, rooted in economics, politics, and jatis are often associated with jobs, they have not strictly limited occupational roles. Genetic studies suggest jatis practiced endogamy since the Gupta period, possibly are not exclusive to Hindus -- they are found among Muslims, Christians, and tribal populations, without one single hierarchical English word caste, now so commonly used in the Indian context, did not originate here. It came by way of Portugal. When the Portuguese first made landfall in India in the year 1498, they applied word 'casta' -- a term used for lineage or stock -- to describe the many birth-bound communities they English language took this word in by 1613, and it Sumit Guha, in his account Beyond Caste, writes of how Portuguese became a seafaring tongue, spoken in distant corners of Asia. Through this language, the West began to make sense of Indian life or tried time, the British would carry out that task further. Guha notes that 'casta' spoke first of blood -- of purity in animals, then people which derived from the concept of purity of blood, limpieza de imagined that a community's worth could be preserved by guarding the bloodline, especially through the modesty of its women. Dr Ambedkar with the leaders of 'Scheduled Caste Federation'. Scheduled Caste Federation Conference, Nagpur (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Anthropologist Morton Klass reminds us that there is no true match for the word caste in any Indian tongue. The Iberians, shaped by their own worldviews and prejudices, used casta to rank peoples they met -- first in Asia, then in the the Brisitsh engaged more with Indian society, they began to see it through their own them, India's jatis seemed like ordered groups, made to preserve ancestry. This view suited the world they came from -- a world where bloodlines and hierarchies mattered Portugal and Spain were deep in the trade of enslaved people only made such ideas more historian Charles Boxer once observed that the beliefs the Iberians carried -- whether by sea, cross, or sword -- did not fade quickly. For many years, race and rank walked hand in hand. The echoes, perhaps, still CASTE CENSUS AND ORIGIN OF NEW JATISWhen the British arrived in India, they stepped into a land full of rich traditions, local customs, and complex social networks. After centuries of invasions and changes in power, Indian society had become layered and diverse -- very different from what the ancient texts once community had its own way of life, and it was unlike anything the British had dealt with make sense of this diversity and to rule more efficiently, the British started recording details about the people. This led to the first complete census of India in 1871. It wasn't just about counting people -- it was about sorting them into groups based on caste, religion, occupation, and other like Sumit Guha believe that this was the first major step in giving caste a rigid and official place in Indian census didn't just reflect what society looked like; it shaped how people came to see themselves and each also recorded each individual's caste, religion, occupation, and age. These accounts went on until 1941 and had one major impact -- Britishers began defining how people came to be viewed in was fluid and dynamic began to become fixed on paper. Specimen of caste in India (Image: Wikimedia Commons) One sociologist, Michael Mann, has stated that these censuses were more of what the British required to govern rather than what the Indians British rarely knew how things actually operated here, so they relied on older religious writings and counsel from higher-caste leaders -- particularly Brahmins -- to determine how to document Indian British realised that if everyone could be put into tidy compartments, it would be possible to manage such a large nation. But not always.A Brahmin in Bengal, for instance, was more like other Bengal castes than like Brahmins elsewhere -- so the concept of one definite 'Brahmin' identity didn't quite Brahmin identity was there before the British, but it wasn't always rigid or were allowed to shift between roles, and there was openness for change. But once the British began inserting caste into official documents, it started to become more fixed and less accessible to why some authors think that the British didn't only document caste -- they assisted in forming what it was. Others think caste existed naturally but concur that the British made it more rigid in human let's pose the big question: did the British have a hand in establishing India's caste system, or did they reformulate it to suit their means of domination? That's something historians still debate Watch
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
24-hr waterhole wildlife census begins today across state
Jaipur: Rajasthan's forest department will conduct its annual 24-hour waterhole wildlife census across all forest areas, except in the state's tiger reserves, starting 8am Wednesday. Chief wildlife warden Shikha Mehra has issued directives for assessment of leopard populations and other wild animals. Preparations, including the setting up of machans (observation towers), have been completed in protected areas such as Jhalana and Amagarh. The annual exercise involves forest staff, nature enthusiasts, and conservation organisations, who will observe and document wildlife visiting waterholes. Originally scheduled a month ago, the census was postponed due to the Indo-Pak conflict. A forest official said, "The census will begin at 8am and run for 24 hours. Volunteers will record the number and species of animals visiting each waterhole. Since all animals require water at least once in 24 hours, this method ensures comprehensive coverage and helps determine wildlife density in specific areas." TNN
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Urbanisation going through the roof? PWD road imperils Teen Mohre Gate
Bhopal: The historic Teen Mohre Gate in Bhopal, constructed in the 19th century, is encountering new problems despite undergoing restoration in 2018. The public works department's newly constructed concrete road presents additional concerns. The elevation of the new road has increased risks to the structure, as vehicles passing through might damage the gate's sensitive ceiling. "The height of the gate is approximately 13 feet. However, due to the construction of cemented road, the new road the head room has decreased about 3.6 feet. Once regular traffic resumes, large trucks will be unable to traverse the road and any additional load on a bus or similar vehicle will strike the heritage gate. Over the years, road reconstruction already resulted in reduction of vertical distance by around 1.5 feet," said heritage conservationist, SM Husain. There is still an opportunity for corrections to be made, he added. The sandstone structure, previously a part of the historic Taj Mahal Palace complex, underwent restoration utilising traditional methods to maintain its authenticity. Conservation experts have cautioned against using cement-based materials, stressing the importance of appropriate restoration techniques. Husain has advocated for these gates' preservation for years. At the beginning of the 2000s, driven by his commitment to heritage preservation, he personally initiated a minor restoration of the substantial walled bricks that endangered the structure's stability. His notable achievement included restoring the ceiling by collaborating with Rajasthani craftsmen who specialised in traditional restoration techniques. However, with urbanization pushing forward, the unintended consequences of infrastructure expansion are now threatening to undo past preservation efforts. Nadra Bus Stand, a major transit hub in the city, sees constant movement of buses and heavy vehicles passing through the archway. While the new road was built to facilitate smoother traffic flow, the heightened surface has caused vehicles to bump against the monument's ceiling, intensifying structural strain. Conservationists are urging authorities to reassess the project and find solutions that balance development with heritage preservation. They emphasize the need for engineering modifications that can reduce impact without compromising connectivity. As modern construction reshapes urban landscapes, the fate of Teen Mohre Gate serves as a reminder that historical landmarks must not be sidelined in the race for progress, conservations said. Whether corrective action will be taken to safeguard this architectural legacy remains to be seen, but time is running out, said a urban development consultant seeking anonymity. PWD, when contacted, did not respond.
