UPSC Art and Culture

SANCHI STUPA: HISTORY, FEATURES, ARCHITECTURE

The Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of India's oldest stone structures. Commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, this hemispherical brick and stone dome enshrines sacred relics of Lord Buddha.

RUPA TARAKASI OF CUTTACK: HISTORY, PROCESS, SIGNIFICANCE

Rupa Tarakasi is a 500-year-old intricate silver filigree craft from Cuttack, Odisha. Awarded a GI tag, it holds deep cultural significance for Odissi dance and festivals, though artisans face severe challenges from rising silver prices and modernization.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AT PATTINAMARUDHUR SITE

Excavations at Pattinamarudhur in Thoothukudi by the Tamil Nadu government have revealed an ancient trading settlement linked to the Pandyan port of Korkai. Findings, including a terracotta figurine, highlight Sangam-era maritime trade and refined craftsmanship.

NETHERLANDS RETURNED THE 11TH-CENTURY CHOLA-ERA COPPER PLATES

The repatriation of the 11th-century Chola copper plates from the Netherlands highlights India's rich maritime and cultural heritage. Ancient epigraphic records like the Uttaramerur inscriptions, these artifacts offer profound insights into early Indian administration and scripts.

BHOJSHALA DISPUTE: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND HIGH COURT VERDICT

The Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh, originally an 11th-century Sanskrit learning centre built by Raja Bhoja, was recently declared a Hindu temple by the High Court based on ASI surveys, quashing the 2003 order permitting Muslim prayers.

KAKATIYA ARCHITECTURE AND THOUSAND PILLAR TEMPLE RESTORATION

The Archaeological Survey of India successfully restored the 12th-century Kalyana Mandapa at Hanamkonda's Thousand Pillar Temple using traditional Kakatiya sandbox technology. This highlights the architectural brilliance of the Kakatiyas, alongside the Ramappa Temple, renowned for its floating bricks.

WHO WAS SAMRAT SAMPRATI? THE "JAIN ASHOKA"

Samrat Samprati (c. 224–215 BCE) was the grandson of Emperor Ashoka and a Mauryan ruler from Ujjain. Known as the "Jain Ashoka," he is credited with spreading Jainism across Western and Southern India.

Dhundiraj Govind ‘Dadasaheb’ Phalke: Father of Indian Cinema

Dadasaheb Phalke, regarded as the Father of Indian Cinema, is remembered on his death anniversary on February 16 for pioneering India’s film industry with the country’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913). Over his lifetime, he produced around 125 films and laid the technical and creative foundations of Indian filmmaking. In his honour, the Government of India instituted the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, the highest recognition for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema, symbolizing his enduring legacy in India’s cultural and creative landscape.

LAKKUNDI AS ACENTRE OF REIGIOUS PLURALISM & TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE IN MEDIEVA DECCAN

Lakkundi in Karnataka is an important medieval heritage town known for its rich cultural, religious, and architectural legacy. Flourishing under the Western Chalukyas and Hoysalas, it became famous as the “village of a hundred temples and wells.” The site reflects religious pluralism, with strong associations with Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism, and the Virashaiva Bhakti movement.

Its beautifully carved temples and stepwells, built in the distinctive Kalyana Chalukya style, highlight both artistic excellence and sacred utility. Recent archaeological excavations, including evidence of much earlier habitation, have strengthened efforts to include Lakkundi in UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list, underscoring its enduring historical significance.

PAITHANI SAREES

Paithani Sarees, often known as the 'Mahavastra of Maharashtra,' are traditional silk sarees famous for their intricate zari work, peacock designs, and brilliant hues.