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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi soaks in spiritual experience on his visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The spirit of bakthi hung in the air and Prime Minister Narendra Modi soaked in the spiritual experience during his more than two-hour visit to the Brihadisvara temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram on Sunday. Sporting a traditional Tamil attire of white dhoti (veshti) and half-sleeve shirt with an angavastram (upper cloth), Mr. Modi offered prayers at the Shiva temple built by Rajendra Chola I, which is famous for its imposing architecture and exquisite sculptures. He was received with poorna kumbam honours. He performed aarathi to the presiding deity. Devotional renderings by maestro Ilaiyaraaja and a group of Odhuvars were held. The Odhuvars rendered the Thevaram hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, Thodudaiya Seviyan, Pithaa Piraisoodi Perumaney, and Muthaitharu Pathith Thirunagai from the Thirupugazh in praise of Lord Murugan. This was followed by the performance of the troupe led by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja. Singer Madhu Balakrishnan rendered the Om Sivahom. The maestro with his mesmerising voice rendered the Namah Shivaya Vaazhga Naadhanthaal Vaazhga and Poovar Senni Mannan of Saint Manickavasagar. The performances drew standing ovations from the Prime Minister. Moved by the spiritual atmosphere, Mr. Modi acknowledged it while speaking at the valedictory of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the temple complex. Greeting the audience with 'Vanakkam Cholamandalam' (salutations to the Chola region), Mr. Modi appreciated the performances of Mr. Ilaiyaraaja and the Odhuvars. He handed over a pot of Ganga water from Kasi to the Sivachariars at the temple. The celebration of Ganga in the land of the Cauvery is also a legacy of the Chola Empire, he observed, and expressed happiness that he had once again brought Ganga water to Tamil Nadu. He viewed a thematic photo exhibition on 'Saiva Siddhanta and Chola Temple Arts', put up by the Union Ministry of Culture. Impressed by the achievements of the Cholas, he urged the people to visit the exhibition without fail. Mr. Modi released a Tamil musical album on Bhagavad Gita brought out by Chinmaya Mission and a publication on Thevaram brought out by Sahitya Akademi. He also held a roadshow on the way to the temple.
United News of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
PM Modi participates in Adi Thiruvaadhirai fest to mark King Rajendra Chola-1 birth anniv
Chennai, July 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Aadi Thiruvaathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Aiyalur district of Tamil Nadu today constructed by King Rajendra Chola-1 which was being celebrated as 'Mupperum Vizha'. The festival was being cleberated as 'Mupperum Vizha', commemorating 1000 years of maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola-I to South East Asia, the birth anniversary of the Emperor and the commencement of construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram temple. The five-day festival marking the birth anniversary of Tamil King Rajendra Chola-1. 1000 years of construction of the temple, began on July 23 and it culminated today with the visit of Mr Modi, who was clad in a traditional white dhoti, white shirt and a silk angaswatram around his neck. The entire town of Gangaikonda Cholapuram was decked up for Mr Modi's visit to the ancient capital of the imperial Cholas and on the Trichy-Chidambaram National Highway, and wore a festive look. After offering special prayers and witnessing the Abhishekham to Lord Sozheeswarar (Lord Shiva) by the Sivachariyars with the holy waters from river Ganga which he had brought with him from Varanasi reaffirming the Chola capital's link to the river, Mr Modi had a special darshan to the Lord and Goddess Durga at the temple and performed a special aarthi amid recital of vedic hymns by the priests and went around the temple premises during his nearly an hour's visit. Later, he was accorded traditional temple honours with Poorna Kumbh and was presented a silk angawastaram, sacred ash and prasadams. Later, at an official function, Mr Modi released a special commemorative coin on the Legendary king to mark the occasion. The Union Ministry of Culture is celebrating the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola-1 and commemorated the 1000th year of his Maritime Expedition in South East Asia and commencement of construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple with the Aadi Thiruvaathirai Festival. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) hosted thematic exhibitions on Chola Saivism and temple architecture Heritage Walk and Guided Tours, was another rare experience, which Mr Modi witnessed. A booklet on Devaram songs published by Sahitya Akademi was also released on the occasion. Kalakshetra presented a Bharatanatyam group recital and a team of traditional Odhuvars chanted Devaram Thirumurai in the presence of Heads of 30 Saivaite Mutts and Sadhus. . The culmination of the event witnessed a musical presentation by Padma Vibhushan and music maestro Ilayaraaja and troupe. MORE UNI GV 1340
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In game of thrones, why DMK and BJP are both vying for Chola emperor Rajendra I
An emperor who ruled a thousand years ago has drawn two political heavyweights into the same arena, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi making separate efforts to honour the legacy of Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE), the maritime monarch of the Chola dynasty. While Stalin has declared the emperor's birth anniversary as an official state celebration and announced several initiatives to commemorate his rule, Modi is set to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district, which was once the Chola capital, on July 27 to unveil a commemorative coin and inaugurate an exhibition on Rajendra Chola's northern conquest. The Union Ministry of Culture is hosting a four-day festival in the town commemorating 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola's maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. However, at stake is more than ritual commemoration. This moment signals an attempt to reframe Indian historical memory, with Rajendra Chola's legacy leveraged through distinct ideological lenses: Stalin's Dravidian federalism and Modi's pan-India nationalism. Rajendra Chola inherited a powerful kingdom from his father Rajaraja I, but it was his bold campaigns from the Ganga to Suvarnadwipa (an ancient term for islands in Southeast Asia, including Java and Sumatra) that turned the Cholas into a pan-Asian maritime empire. In 1025 CE, he launched a naval expedition against the Srivijaya empire, targeting present-day Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand to assert trade dominance over the Malacca Strait. As historian Hermann Kulke has observed in Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa, the campaign was not a sporadic act of aggression but a deliberate assertion of maritime dominance and prestige. An engineering marvel To commemorate his successful northern expedition, Rajendra Chola established Gangaikonda Cholapuram and ceremonially poured Ganges water brought back by his army into a vast man-made reservoir known as the Cholagangam tank, locally referred to as Ponneri. This act was immortalised in copper plate inscriptions, including those cited by K A Nilakanta Sastri in The Cholas, describing how Rajendra created a 'liquid pillar of victory (ganga-jalamayam jayastambham) using sacred water from the Ganga. According to the Trichinopoly Gazetteer (1855 edition) by British civil service officer F R Hemingway, the Cholagangam tank once irrigated approximately 1,564 acres of land. Later reports note that the embankment extended some 25 km, with multiple sluices engineered to manage water flow. The tank, once the hydrological heart of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and an engineering marvel, now lies in disrepair. As recorded in the Trichinopoly Gazetteer by Hemingway, the tank embankments were fortified by laterite stone and sluices designed to control sediment flow. The system included vortex-driven silt ejectors and square-shaped sediment traps, features that highlight the Chola dynasty's advanced understanding of hydraulic engineering. In Lords of the Earth and Sea, author Anirudh Kanisetti writes that the Cholas were master builders of systems that not only sustained urban capitals but expanded imperial legitimacy through ecological control. Rejuvenating the tank, experts say, will restore biodiversity, recharge groundwater, and revive the intricate agricultural web once nourished by its waters, echoing Rajendra's original vision of power drawn as much from land and water as from conquest. The British dismantled much of the town's granite fortifications in 1832 to construct the Lower Kollidam Anaicut, breaking promises to rebuild its outer wall. The destruction was resisted by locals who were reportedly punished for their defiance. 'A promise was made that a brick wall would be built in place of the stone wall that was pulled down,' the 1855 Gazetteer mentions. 'But it has never been redeemed.' Competing narratives In the quiet resurgence of Rajendra Chola, there are two competing political narratives. While Stalin's is one of regional pride, water security, and cultural preservation, linking it to Dravidian legacy, Modi's is a civilisational assertion that connects ancient Indian glory to present-day power. In the lead-up to Aadi Thiruvathirai, the Tamil Nadu CM announced a Rs 19.2 crore redevelopment plan for the tank: Rs 12 crore for bund strengthening, desilting of 38 km of canals, renovation of sluices, and irrigation support for seven villages. Another Rs 7.2 crore will be used for converting the area into a tourist destination, with walkways, parks, children's play areas, fencing, and CCTV surveillance. Additionally, a museum will be built near the temple complex for Rs 22.1 crore to highlight the Chola empire's overseas trade networks, temple architecture, and cultural achievements, a continuation of the state's push to embed the Cholas into Tamil Nadu's cultural-political imagination. 'In 2021, we declared Aadi Thiruvathirai a government holiday,' Stalin wrote on X on July 23. 'Now we are taking steps to showcase Rajendra Chola's greatness to the world.' The PM visit also carries its symbolic weight. On Sunday, he will unveil a commemorative coin to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola's Gangetic campaign, while musician Ilaiyaraaja is set to perform a 20-minute concert. An exhibition will showcase trophies and miniature sculptures from the Chola period. The town, which British officers compared to ancient Babylon, is being repainted and refenced. By elevating figures such as Rajendra Chola, who expanded Hindu temple networks and maritime trade routes, the BJP aims to politically articulate a version of Indian history that is expansive, powerful, and deeply rooted in pre-Islamic grandeur. But as Kanisetti writes, Chola imperialism was not strictly religious: it was pragmatic, often secular, and grounded in trade diplomacy. Tamil merchant guilds such as the Manigramam and Ayyavole prospered under royal patronage, and epigraphs across Southeast Asia confirm commercial ties rather than religious zeal. A millennium after Rajendra's ships left Tamil shores for faraway islands, his legacy is back at the centre of a different expedition. As historian Tansen Sen writes in The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola, Rajendra's campaigns were not about empire-building or expansionism in the modern sense but 'strategic signalling' to regional powers, asserting Tamil commercial presence across Asia.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Hidden Delhi museum swelling with over 1,000 artefacts awaits expansion
Blocks away from Delhi University's arts faculty, a relatively lesser-known museum, housed within the department of anthropology in North Campus, is preparing for a transformation. The museum, adjacent to the department of environmental studies and overlooking the vice chancellor's office, is home to 1,222 artefacts that span diverse cultural and material heritage from across the world; the 78-year-old museum currently displays less than half its collection due to a space crunch. According to officials, a proposal for expansion has already been approved by the university administration and is now under review by the Union Ministry of Culture for funding. 'A high-level committee, comprising experts from all over India, had been formed to deliberate on the expansion of the museum. The plan has been approved by the competent committee constituted by the university administration, and a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Culture, requesting funds for the same,' said Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, head of the department of anthropology and director of the Centre for Tribal Studies. Patnaik added, 'The committee constituted included senior members from DU as well as former directors and sitting directors of premier national bodies such as the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, National Museum and the Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav Sangrahalaya.' The museum, established in 1947 by Prafulla Chandra Biswas (who also founded the department), is housed in a heritage building dating back to the British era, marked by sprawling lawns and an arched, semi-open entrance leading to a glass-doored display area. At present, it is spread across just two rooms, flanked by two departmental libraries and a workspace used by PhD scholars. 'Once the application for the building grant gets cleared, other units will be shifted to the new building, and the central building will be used only to house the museum,' Patnaik added. The department has also been actively adding new artefacts to its collection — sourced through fieldwork and diplomatic collaborations. While the museum doesn't have a dedicated curatorial staff — it is currently maintained by faculty members on an ad hoc basis — Patnaik clarified that accessibility is not an issue, thanks to its central location on campus. On November 29, 2024, the museum received one of its most significant recent additions: a set of 28 textile-based artefacts from the Hmar Students' Association (HSA), joint headquarters, Delhi. These include traditional Hmar attire and ceremonial garments such as the Thangsuo Puon — a cloth of honour representing bravery and selfless community service — as well as the Zakuolaisen blouse and Puonlaisen wrap, worn by Hmar women during weddings and festivals, officials said. 'Each of these garments holds a cultural and ceremonial purpose. For instance, the Thlanlam Puon is used during funerary rituals,' said Abigail Lalnuneng, assistant professor at the department, while curating the brightly coloured fabrics. Other garments include the Hmar Puon (originally intended as a representation of the Hmar identity for women during dances and festivals), Tawnlo Puon (shawl of distinction, used by Hmar families to indicate their status and wealth), Tawllo Puon (the shawl of dauntlessness, used to drape the corpse of the Hmar hunters killed by animals), and Hmar-am (short skirt), among others, each linked to specific social or ceremonial roles in the Hmar community, which is an ethnic group based in northeastern states of India, including Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Assam. The collection also includes bead necklaces, earrings, headgear, and other cultural accessories, Lalnuneng added. Another recent donation came from the Centre for Indigenous and Colonial Studies (CEIC) at the National University of Jujuy, Argentina. The CEIC gifted seven artefacts, including Tulma (vibrant woollen balls), a Bombo (drum), a Guena (flute), a handcrafted bag, wooden figurines of a llama and bird, and a bundle of llama and sheep wool, Lalnuneng said. Open on all days except Sunday, the museum showcases artefacts representing livelihood, housing, jewellery, and weaving traditions from diverse tribal and indigenous communities. There is no entry fee, and while outsiders need permission from the department, access is generally granted without hassle. The collection spans from fishing tools used along Indian coastlines and a shawl presented by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Neanderthal skeletons from France and the US. Among the more eclectic items are wooden masks of Rama from Odisha and early 20th-century agricultural implements. Despite this richness, the museum has struggled to capture the attention of the university's student body. 'Once the main work is done, we will also paint the walls, reorganise the artefacts, and display the new items. We want to make the museum more cohesive,' Patnaik said, adding that the New Education Policy 2020's focus on the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) will guide the department's revamp. Patnaik highlighted the need for museums to move beyond colonial curatorial frameworks. 'We want to streamline our efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of India, and museums concretise that heritage in a sense. Museums need to be decolonised and revisited outside the colonial framework. Apart from the few pieces from outside, we will continue our efforts in procuring and studying the different tribal heritage in our country,' he added. 'Another aspect that is in the cards is digitisation. Due to the space crunch, we have been talking about it for a while and will be taking it up as well in the near future,' Patnaik said. With the expansion in the works, faculty and staff hope the museum will finally receive the visibility its collection deserves.
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- 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)
