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The Hindu
02-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
13th century stone inscription on endowment for Buddhist monastery discovered in Krishnagiri
A 13th century stone inscription of an endowment for a Buddhist monastery was discovered in Jagadap in Krishnagiri. The inscription, found in a mango farm in Jagadap village near Kaveripattinam, would be the first such stone inscription referring to a Buddhist monastery discovered yet, according to C. Govindaraj, former curator, Krishnagiri government museum, who did the epigraphic study of the Jagadap inscriptions. While there have been many findings of stone inscriptions referring to Jain monasteries in Tamil Nadu, no stone inscription referring to a Buddhist monastery has been found until now, which makes the Jagadap stone inscription a significant discovery, according to Mr. Govindaraj, who also leads the Krishnagiri Historic Research and Documentation team. That stone inscription refers to a Buddhist monastery has been inferred after meticulous epigraphic reading at the site and the interpretive evidence, explains the former curator. The inscription with nine lines — part missed due to the dismembered portion of the rock — refers to a Mangalamudayan, possibly a trader from Thillai, who had endowed the revenue from the land to a Buddhist monastery. The inscription mentions 'Buddha Devan' and significantly begins with two symbols – one of a 'chakra' and of 'stupa'. 'Chakra' is common to endowments under Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Jainism. But the second symbol that has been interpreted to denote the 'Stupa' is key to inferring the endowment as to that of a Buddhist monastery, says Mr. Govindaraj. 'Since a stone inscription of Buddhist stupa has never been found in Tamil Nadu so far, the symbol identified as 'stupa' has been inferred from two other places. The symbol that follows the 'chakra' fulfils all three parts that make up a Buddhist stupa and resembles similar symbols in two other places. 'A similar, but more ornate symbol along with a 'chakra' is seen in a pillar in Kanikiluppai in Tiruvanamalai district, the site, where a Buddha statue was found. The second such symbol was on the back of the Buddha statue in the Asiatic Society building compound in Sholinganallur.' The similarity of the inscription has helped conclude it to be a 'stupa', therefore referring to a Buddhist monastery, says 'For Jainism, there is the triple umbrella or the Mukkodai; for Vaishanvism, the inscriptions bear the conch and the 'chakra'; and for Saivism, the inscription bears the Tirusoolam. For Buddhism, a stone inscription had not found to make the inference,' he added. About 50 feet away from the site, on a small hillock, the dual symbols of 'chakra' and the 'stupa' are inscribed. Another 30 feet away, a cavern with faint traces of what once were letters in white ochre stands, indicating the possibility of the resting place for Buddhist monks, says Earliest reference to a Buddhist monastery was from the copper plates from the Raja Raja Chola period. The Anaimangalam copper plates, now part of the library collection in University of Leiden in Netherlands, was the royal charter issued by Raja Raja Chola. It referred to the Chudamani Vihara, the Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam that was established by the Sri Vijaya king highlighting the links between Raja Raja Chola and the Sri Vijaya Empire. The Anaimangalam copper plates refers to the revenue grants to the Chudamani Vihara, that was to be maintained from the revenue grants from Anaimangalam village in Nagapattianam. 'The Nagapattinam Buddhist monastery – Chudamani Vihara is mentioned in the Large Leiden Copper Plates, the Royal Charter issued during Raja Raja's reign , and it finds mention once again in the Small Leiden Copper Plates issued during Kulothunga Cholan, referring to certain administrative issues faced by the Buddhist Monastery,' adds who did the epigraphic study of the Jagadap stone inscription. As for the Buddhist monastery itself to which, the endowment was made, the inscription refers to Kadaikoottur, that is inferred to indicate Kadagathur in Dharmapuri. According to Mr. Govindaraj, two Buddha statues – a standing Buddha and a seated Buddha— were found years ago in Kadagathur, during an excavation for a primary school. An old Siva temple there bears inscriptions mentioning its boundaries to include lands of 'Buddhar Dhamam'.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
241-yr-old Asiatic Society unveils list of 78 oil paintings since 15th century
1 2 Kolkata: Marking a milestone in its nearly two-and-a-half-century-long legacy, the Asiatic Society on Tuesday unveiled its first-ever illustrated catalogue of oil paintings from its collection. The catalogue, compiled by Isha Mahammad and Somnath Mukherjee, was released by Bengal's governor CV Ananda Bose at Raj Bhawan's throne room. "This is the first attempt to publish a comprehensive catalogue of paintings. We cannot always exhibit them, but this publication offers the public a glimpse into their splendour. It also serves as a tribute to former Society president and noted painter Isha Mahammad," said Lt Colonel Anant Sinha, administrator of the Asiatic Society. The catalogue features 78 oil paintings that chronicle the evolution of Indian art from the colonial period onwards. With the decline of indigenous artistic traditions in the early 19th century, many Indian artists began adopting Western techniques under British patronage — especially through commissions by the East India Company. These early hybrid efforts laid the foundation for a new artistic idiom, evident in the collection's varied styles. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 & 4 BHKs near ITPL from ₹2.7 Cr* Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The Society's archives also include at least 50 paintings by Abanindranath Tagore, Suhashini Devi, Ramkinkar Baij, Nandalal Bose, and Jamini Roy. The collection is further enriched by European works, including those by artists like William Hodges, Thomas and William Daniell, John Zoffany, and Tilly Kettle, who worked in Calcutta during the late 18th century. Robert Home, who once headed the Asiatic Library, also contributed to the visual documentation of the period. According to art historians, this catalogue also offers a lens into broader cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Solidarity, not sympathy': Kolkata campaign centres dignity of the elderly
Kolkata In a social ecosystem where the elderly often find themselves isolated, battling loneliness and depression with few avenues for expression or support, a citywide campaign currently underway in Kolkata seeks to reconnect them with the world beyond their often-empty homes. Launched in mid-April at the Asiatic Society by the Department of Psychiatric Social Work at SSKM Hospital, in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence — a Central government body — the initiative will conclude with a West Bengal-level conference at the Indian Museum on June 22. A significant milestone in the campaign came on June 15, observed globally as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, during an event at the Kolkata Police Training School. In a departure from conventional observances, caregivers and family members were not invited. The event gave the stage exclusively to older adults, who spoke candidly about experiences of neglect and psychosocial distress — concerns often overlooked in discussions around India's ageing population. 'Mental healthcare for older adults is not optional — it's essential. Wrongly labelling depression or dementia as 'normal ageing' delays care and deepens suffering,' Dr. Amit Bhattacharya, Professor of Psychiatry at SSKM Hospital, said underscoring the urgency of the campaign's goals. One of the campaign's most poignant moments, according to organisers, was a theatre performance titled Banchbo Mora Eksathe (We Will Survive Together) by the group Janhabi Sanskritik Chakra. The performance conveyed the message that dignity is not a favour but a fundamental right. 'This campaign is not about sympathy — it is about solidarity. When someone says, 'No one has asked me in years how I feel,' it shakes you. Right to dignity cannot expire with age,' Mayank Kumar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatric Social Work and project head, said. Reflecting on the emotional resonance of the sessions, Manisha Manna, an scholar and facilitator, said, 'Several participants broke down. For some, it was the first time anyone asked how they were doing emotionally. One woman held my hand and cried — not because of anything I said but because someone finally cared to ask. It reminded me that we don't always need grand solutions. We just need to listen.' The Kolkata Police, which partnered for the June 15 event, runs a separate programme for senior citizens called PRONAM. 'Our programme has around 26,000 members enrolled. Any resident of Kolkata above 60 and living alone or with a spouse can enrol with us. We have a dedicated helpline and a call centre for them. Police persons keep visiting members regularly to provide them a sense of security,' said Santosh Pandey, Additional Commissioner of Police. The final event on June 21–22 will bring together experts from institutions such as NIMHANS, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and Delhi University. 'India currently has over 104 million citizens aged 60 and above, according to Census 2011, and this number is expected to nearly double by 2050. Globally, it is estimated that 7% of older adults live with depression, 5% with dementia, and 2% with anxiety disorders. In India, however, such conditions often remain undiagnosed and untreated, usually dismissed as part of 'normal ageing',' said Mr. Kumar.
Arab News
12-04-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Asiatic Society employs AI to decipher ancient Indian manuscripts
NEW DELHI: The Asiatic Society in Kolkata is using AI transcription and machine learning to decipher ancient manuscripts in its archives and make them accessible to scholars worldwide. Founded in 1784, during British colonial rule, the Asiatic Society is one of India's oldest research institutions and is dedicated to the study and preservation of history, culture, and languages. Many of the society's more than 52,000 rare manuscripts and historical documents have not previously been deciphered. The society launched its Vidhvanika ('decoding knowledge') project in December to digitize them and to develop language models for ancient scripts. 'Work needs to be done on the majority of the manuscripts,' Anant Sinha, administrator of the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, told Arab News. 'We are working with three scientists. Besides that, I have my reprography team involved in the scanning, and then there's the expert team, which includes specialists in different languages, scripts, and subjects.' The project is also being supported by the Center for Development of Advanced Computing, India's premier IT research and development organization. The society's manuscript collection spans a wide range of subjects — including Indian history, literature, philosophy, religion, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and art — and of languages, including Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Tamil, Bengali, and other regional languages of India. Decoding the manuscripts requires an understanding of the scripts, their language, the styles used in historical documents, the historical context, and the subject matter. There are few active, specialized paleographers and manuscript scholars conducting such work and research, not only in India but across the world. 'The motive behind this project is very simple and clear: the language, the script and the subject — generally you require knowledge of these three to understand a manuscript, (and) the people who have (that) knowledge are very few. We are developing machine language (models), so that you can use software or an app to read the manuscripts,' Sinha said. He estimated the current accuracy of the models at about 40 percent, as the machine learning process continues. 'Our plan is to take it to 90 percent to 95 percent. It will never have 100 percent accuracy,' Sinha said. 'It is a machine, it's not a human. It's learning what you are teaching it, so you have to give that leeway ... It will be an ongoing process because the machine language (model) keeps improving itself.' The Vidhvanika project was launched on the 225th anniversary of the birth of James Prinsep, an English scholar and a former secretary of the society who is credited with deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India. That feat played a crucial role in uncovering the history of the ancient Mauryan Empire that ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent during the 4th century BCE. Vidhvanika, Sinha believes, may help save other languages that played a role in the region's history from being forgotten. 'We must make an effort to understand what is in those manuscripts and what our ancestors have left for us,' he said. 'Brahmi and Kharosthi are languages of this continent, and we ourselves have forgotten that. If we (are again at risk of losing) some script or some language, then we will require another James Prinsep to decipher it.'
