Latest news with #UnionMinistryofCulture
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
PM Modi to attend Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary program in Bhopal tomorrow
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government is commemorating the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, a visionary reformer and cultural patron in Bhopal on May 31. The event will be held at Jamboree Maidan in Madhya Pradesh's capital city and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will grace the occasion as a Chief Guest. The commemorative programme will be held in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and state Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. This event forms a part of the Ministry of Culture's ongoing efforts to commemorate and celebrate India's heritage and remember and honour the great visionaries who have shaped the cultural and social foundations of Bharat. During the program, a 'Commemorative Coin and Stamp' will be released in honour of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. An exhibition will be displayed showcasing her remarkable life, works, and contributions to Indian society and culture. Additionally, the program will also include cultural presentations reflecting the ethos and values upheld by Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar throughout her life Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar is remembered for her people centric policies, deep commitment to economic and socio-cultural issues, specially those that affected the life of women. She encouraged the education of women and their participation in the social and religious life of the local community. She supported and encouraged women weavers to make Maheshwari sarees. Her contributions were wide ranging from infrastructure development (water bodies, roads, dharamshalas) to reconstruction and revival of temples across the length and breadth of the land. The edifices created by her have not only left an indelible mark on India's cultural and spiritual landscape but also stood the test of time. (ANI)
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Keezhadi report delay is a figment of imagination: Ministry of Culture
CHENNAI: Days after the controversy over Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seeking clarifications on the Keezhadi excavation report from the excavator K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in its response on Thursday, denied allegations that there is a move to delay the publication of the report. A release from the Union Ministry of Culture said, 'That the ASI is uninterested in publication of Keezhadi report is a figment of imagination which aims purposefully to paint the department in bad colours.' The release said the director general and the ASI officials understand the importance of an excavated site, but all reports needed proper vetting, editing, proofreading and designing before it is sent for publication. The release said the excavator of the Keezhadi has been communicated the suggestions of the experts for making necessary corrections in the draft report submitted by him, but he has not carried out the corrections to date. However, the release was silent on the delay of 2.5 years for the vetting and publication. When asked whether ASI was intentionally delaying it, Nandini Bhattacharya Sahu, joint director, ASI, who is also the spokesperson for the ASI, told TNIE: 'Not at all. Why should it be delayed? The ASI has invested in it and permission was given for two seasons (of excavations).' 'Before the publication, the report should pass through many stages. The excavator should make changes as pointed out by the ASI. In this case, it has not been done,' she said. Asked about the reply given by Amarnath in April 2023 while filing his revised final report on Keezhadi excavation, the ASI spokesperson said, 'The reply does not hold ground.' On the next step of the ASI regarding publication of the report, she said, 'As soon as we get the corrected report, if it is publication-worthy, then it will be taken up for publication'. However, sources said Amarnath is expecting a reply from the ASI to his letter dated May 23, which was sent in response to the ASI's May 21 letter seeking corrections and additional information. In his reply, he had said adequate evidence had already been furnished in the report regarding the time period of the Keezhadi habitation site, a key concern raised in the letter.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Navy inducts ‘stitched sail ship' as INSV Kaundinya
The Indian Navy on Wednesday formally inducted and named an 'ancient stitched sail ship' as the INSV Kaundinya at a ceremonial event held at the Naval Base in Karwar. INSV Kaundinya has been built based on a 5th century ship depicted in paintings seen in the Ajanta Caves. The project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Union Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Ministry of Culture, and is meant to showcase India's rich shipbuilding heritage. 'Following the keel laying in September 2023, the vessel's construction was undertaken using a traditional method of stitching by a team of skilled artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran. Over several months, the team painstakingly stitched wooden planks on the ship's hull using coir rope, coconut fibre and natural resin,' the Navy said in a statement. The ship was launched in February 2025 at Goa. The ship will now embark on her next historic phase, involving preparations for a transoceanic voyage along the ancient trade route from Gujarat to Oman, scheduled for later this year, the Navy said. The Indian Navy played a central role in the project, overseeing the design, technical validation, and construction process. With no surviving blueprints or physical remnants, the design had to be extrapolated from a two-dimensional artistic iconography and the project demanded a unique interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeological interpretation, Naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing, and traditional craftsmanship, according to the Navy. The stitched ship is equipped with square sails and steering oars, which are entirely alien to modern day ships. The hull geometry, rigging and sails had to be reimagined and tested from first principles. Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, for model testing to validate the vessel's hydrodynamic behaviour at sea. In-house structural analysis to assess the wooden mast system, designed and constructed without the use of contemporary materials, was also undertaken, the Navy stated. The newly inducted vessel incorporates several culturally significant features, the statement said. Her sails display motifs of the 'Gandabherunda' and the Sun, her bow bears a sculpted 'Simha Yali', and a symbolic Harappan-style stone anchor adorns her deck, each element evoking the rich maritime traditions of ancient India. 'Named after Kaundinya, the legendary Indian mariner who sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, the ship serves as a tangible symbol of India's long-standing traditions of maritime exploration, trade, and cultural exchange,' the Navy said.
