Monthly Archives: September 2015

Piecing together State’s rich past

The Telangana State Archaeology Department has taken up digitisation of negatives of old photographs in Hyderabad. Senior photographer of the department Narsing Rao engaged in the process.— Photo: Nagara Gopal
The Telangana State Archaeology Department has taken up digitisation of negatives of old photographs in Hyderabad. Senior photographer of the department Narsing Rao engaged in the process.— Photo: Nagara Gopal


The department has already categorised 2,795 stampages from Telangana districts and their documentation is to be taken up soon.

The infant State of Telangana would soon have its exclusive centuries-old past documented. In a major initiative, the State Archaeology Department has decided to piece together bits and pieces dating back to centuries culled from different archaeological finds to reconstruct the history of Telangana.

Ancient writings from different locations across the ten districts of the State collected during epigraphy surveys were being categorised and coinages, stone and copper plate inscriptions and other sources would be put together for the purpose. Independent district-wise surveys too form part of the exercise to build local narratives of the past to arrive at the larger picture.

The department has already categorised 2,795 stampages (imprints of stone inscriptions) from the districts and their documentation is to be taken up soon. These orders inscribed in stone shed light on the ruler who installed them, the period and occasion.

“The inscriptions have the names of the rulers, their genealogy and occasion such as donation of land to temples and so on. By deciphering them, we intend to piece the history,” said P. Brahma Chari, Assistant Director of the State Archaeology Department.

Inscriptions from across the districts provide a peep into the past with details such as rulers of that period, historical and cultural aspects, disputes resolved, taxation, revenue collections and lakes developed.

The earliest collection of history in the form of inscriptions and coinage available with the department date back to the Satavahana dynasty (First and second century) found in Kotilingala in Karimnagar district.

“From Satavahana onwards, among other dynasties we have Andhra Ikshvakus, Vishnukundinas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakuta, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiya, Bahmani, Velama, Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi rulers,” Mr. Brahma Chari said.

Epigraphical survey of all the 10 districts was already in progress and inscriptions from five districts of Warangal, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Medak have been completed and details published.

Director of the Archaeology department Sunita M. Bhagwat said the project was aimed at building up an exclusive history of Telangana with information from historical and archaeological finds and epigraphical surveys.

“We want to piece together the rich cultural and historical past of the State through extensive study of the available stampages and other material,” she adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by T. Lalith Singh / Hyderabad – September 28th, 2015

Distinction for TU faculty

Praveen Mamidala, head, Department of Biotechnology in the Telangana University got international recognition for his research on the evolution and characteristics of soyabean seed.

On his research done along with scientists Bansal, Priyanka and Brian J. Kassone of Agriculture and Research Development Centre of Ohio State articles were published in the internationally famous science magazine-Public Library Open Source. The magazine has four impact factors being given acknowledging the research in science.

Dr. Praveen said that the research was the first of its kind on the particular subject. He thanked the university Vice-Chancellor C. Parthasarathi and the Registrar Prof. R. Limbadri for their encouragement for his research.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – September 29th, 2015

TSTDC Launches Mobile Application, Touch-screen Kiosks

IT minister KT Rama Rao flanked by state government advisor KV Ramanachary, TSTDC chairman P Ramulu and MD Christina Z Chongthu releasing a book on ‘Ancient Temples of Telangana’ on the occasion of World Tourism Day in Hyderabad on Sunday. | EXPRESS Photo
IT minister KT Rama Rao flanked by state government advisor KV Ramanachary, TSTDC chairman P Ramulu and MD Christina Z Chongthu releasing a book on ‘Ancient Temples of Telangana’ on the occasion of World Tourism Day in Hyderabad on Sunday. | EXPRESS Photo

Hyderabad :

Coinciding with the World Tourism Day, the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) entered the online market and launched Android-based mobile phone application and touch-screen kiosks to promote tourism destinations in the state.

The App acts as a virtual guide to users and provides detailed information on the transport, accommodation and history of any chosen place. Any mobile phone user can download this Android-based App free of cost.

The touch-screen kiosks, which will also serve a similar purpose, will be installed at railway stations, bus stations and airports for the benefit of travellers to guide them to the nearest tourist spots.

Information technology minister K T Rama Rao inaugurated the two facilities during World Tourism Day celebrations at Taramati Baradari in the city on Sunday.

Rama Rao advised the TSTDC to explore new trends in tourism promotion such as palace tourism and theme park tourism. “The weekend culture is a developing trend in cities like Hyderabad. It is a good opportunity for the tourism sector to cash in on the growing demand for children’s parks and theme-based restaurants in the city.” He also suggested to TSTDC to develop adventure sports destinations near Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the TSTDC has announced new initiatives to develop unexplored tourist destinations in the state. Corporation chairman Pervaram Ramulu said that the government was planning to develop theme- based tourism circuits to connect multiple tourist spots under a single package.

An integrated eco-tourism circuit in Mahbubnagar district has been announced recently. A tribal tourism circuit in Warangal district with eight destinations was being developed with an investment of Rs 96.01 crore, he said. On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, the TSTDC presented awards to best performing restaurants, tour operators and guides. ‘One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities’ has been chosen as the theme for Tourism Day celebrations this year. According to a recent report by the United Nations, the global tourism market will have 1.80 billion (100.80 crore) tourists.

To enhance its share in the country’s tourism revenue, the TSTDC is planning to spend Rs 600 crore with a target to develop the tourism spots to global standards.

Tourism secretary B Venkatesham, advisor to the state government KV Ramanachary, TSTDC managing director Christina Z Chongthu and director of archaeology Sunita Bhagawat were also present at the event.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / September 28th, 2015

Concorde: Spotlight on visual narratives

ConcordeMagTELAN27sept2015

A bi-monthly photo magazine presents stories from the city.

There is no dearth of magazines on photography, particularly those that teach amateurs the nuances of photography. But where would you look if you want stories from the city presented visually? Online photo forums perhaps? Photographer Kishor Krishnamoorthi sensed a vacuum in print and the result is Concorde, a bi-monthly city-based magazine that presents photo stories.

The first issue focussed on Chai and the second, with the subtitle Metrostruction, focuses on people who are part of the metro rail project, buildings razed to the ground and people displaced by the metro rail. The first issue, Chai, has photographs shot by Aditya Mopur, Akhil Tandulwadikar, Kishor Krishnamoorthi and Vishnu Oi. The pages narrate the unifying nature of chai across social strata — from GHMC workers in Secunderabad enjoying a chai break to green tea in a mug in a corporate boardroom. A doctor sips chai during a break from an operation in Apollo Hospital; a youngster stays glued to his laptop screen as he awaits his cuppa at Starbucks; and Irani chai and samosa do the rounds in Café Azad-e-Hind at RTC Cross Roads.

The magazine keeps text to a minimum. “The idea is to let the photographs speak for themselves and not have captions that say more than what’s necessary,” says Aditya Mopur.

Metrostruction presents snapshots of buildings in different stages of demolition photographed by Kishor while Suri Vasireddy vividly brings to focus stories of displacement — a few people from the vast workforce employed for the metro rail work who’ve moved to Hyderabad from other cities, and people whose shops have been razed or earmarked for demolition.

Concorde is available through concordezine.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / Hyderabad – September 27th, 2015

Buddhist Stupa lies in neglect

The Buddhist Stupa in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal in Karimnagar district.—Photo: Thakur Ajay Pal Singh
The Buddhist Stupa in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal in Karimnagar district.—Photo: Thakur Ajay Pal Singh

The Buddhist Stupa dating back to 2nd century BC and one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes located in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal in Karimnagar district lies neglected for several decades due to lethargy on the part of the government.

The Archaeology Department had discovered the heritage structure in 1975 along the shores of a picturesque rivulet on the outskirts of Dhulikatta village. Barring the discovery of this early Buddhist stupa, the authorities have failed to take up any measures for the development and protection of the heritage site for the promotion of tourism.

In spite of several pleas by the historians and others, the authorities failed to provide road facilities to the ancient protected monumental structure. It is barely 33 km distance from the district headquarters, but still reaching the Stupa is a herculean task due to non-availability of road.

Due to non-availability of security at this structure, the miscreants had damaged the ancient monument and stolen away the antique veneer slabs and other panels and bricks. There were also incidents of miscreants digging the structure in search of treasure hunt. Literally, there is not even a sign board educating the people about the importance of ancient structure to attract tourists.

This Buddhist Stupa was constructed on a mound with light weight bricks. It is embellished with sculpted veneer slabs and beautifully carved limestone slabs. It is stated that site had attained importance as it was constructed with 47 slabs to enhance the dome with the Stupa.

Historians say that the Archaeology authorities had discovered other relics such as gateways built with light weight bricks, mahastupa, chatra, residential houses, wells, bangle pieces, ivory combs, gold objects, punch-marked coins, beads, coins of Romans and Satavahanas and seals. Majority of relics were shifted to the present Andhra Pradesh State Museum and only a few antiques lie in the Karimnagar museum.

AD (Archaeology) Premsagar told The Hindu on Tuesday that the Telangana State government was planning to develop Buddhist circuit covering Dhulikatta and other ancient Buddhist structures located in Nalgonda district which will also promote tourism.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Karimnagar – September 23rd, 2015