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What is Geographical Indication?

Geographical Indication (GI), according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, is a sign which identifies good as origination from a particular geographical region and possessing qualities associated with that origin. It is similar to the protection a Trademarks or Copyright offers, however it does not restrict the creation of the good to only the geographical location that has the tag for the good. For example: Banglar Rasogolla is a food item that originates in West Bengal and has a GI tag that identifies it as originating in the state. The Rasogolla can be made by anyone, anywhere in the world, but the one that comes from Bengal will have a GI tag attached to it and cannot be replicated.

In India, GI sign is granted by the Geographical  Indications Registry in Chennai for Agricultural products, foodstuffs, handicrafts and industrial products among others. It can be applied for by any association of persons, producers and organisations. Only after a though study and clarification, will the GI tag be awarded to a product.

The Darjeeling Tea was the first product in India to be awarded the GI tag in 2004. Today, nearly 360 products from around the country have the GI tag.

 

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Which is one of India’s World Heritage Site part of the New Seven Wonders of the World?

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. Described by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as “the tear-drop on the cheek of time”, it is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India’s rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year.

It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (US$827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

 

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There is only one mixed heritage site in India. What is it?

Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), Sikkim has been inscribed as India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site” on UNESCO World Heritage List. It fulfilled the nomination criteria under both natural and cultural heritage.

The KNP exhibits one of the widest altitudinal ranges of any protected area worldwide. The Park has an extraordinary vertical sweep of over 7 kilometres (1,220m to 8,586m) within an area of only 178,400 hactares and comprises a unique diversity of lowlands, steep-sided valleys and spectacular snow-clad mountains including the world’s third highest peak, Mt. Khangchendzonga, numerous lakes and glaciers, including the 26 km long Zemu Glacier.

The KNP lies within the Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot and displays an unsurpassed range of sub-tropical to alpine ecosystems. The Himalayas are narrowest here, resulting in extremely steep terrain, which magnifies the distinction between the various eco-zones. The KNP is located within a mountain range of global biodiversity conservation significance and covers 25% of the State of Sikkim, acknowledged as one of India’s most significant biodiversity concentrations.
The KNP is home to a significant number of endemic, rare and threatened plant and mammal species recorded in the Central/High Asian Mountains, except compared to the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, in China; and also has a high number of bird species.

 

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Which is the most recent property from India to be included in the heritage list?

The walled city of Jaipur, in India’s north-western state of Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Unlike other cities in the region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on the plain and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture. The streets feature continuous colonnaded businesses that intersect in the centre, creating large public squares called chaupars. Markets, shops, residences and temples built along the main streets have uniform facades. The city’s urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu and early modern Mughal as well as Western cultures. The grid plan is a model that prevails in the West, while the organization of the different city sectors (chowkris) refers to traditional Hindu concepts. Designed to be a commercial capital, the city has maintained its local commercial, artisanal and cooperative traditions to this day.

The decision was taken at the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) taking place in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan, from 30th June – 10th July, 2019.

The city was nominated for its value of being an exemplary development in town planning and architecture that demonstrates an amalgamation and important exchange of ideas in the late medieval period.

 

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In 1983, India’s which first few properties were included in the heritage list?

First in the country to be inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983, the Ajanta caves dates back to 2nd century BCE to 650 CE and features the finest masterpieces of 31 rock cut Buddhist cave monuments, paintings and sculpture. The caves were built in two different phases. First was built in (230BCE-220CE) of Satavahana Period under the patronage of Satvahana Dynasty and second, the caves of Vakataka Period were built during the reign of Emperor Harishena of Vakataka Dynasty. 

Also added in 1983 to the UN world heritage sites list, the Ellora Caves are well known for their Indian-rock cut architecture with 34 rock cut temples and caves dating back to about 600 to 1000 CE. The excavated site includes Charanandri Hills, Buddhist Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples, Viharas and Maths of the 5th and 10th century.

Added along with the Ajanta Caves on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983 was the Agra Fort situated quite close to the Taj Mahal. Built during the reign of emperor Akbar, the Agra Fort includes a number of notable monuments like the Khas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Muhamman Burie(an octagonal Tower), Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Am, Moti Masjid and the Nagina Masjid.

 

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How many World Heritage sites are there in India?

A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance. The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international ‘World Heritage Programme’, administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.

Cultural World Heritage Sites in India 

  • Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
  • Hampi, Karnataka
  • Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
  • Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
  • Bodh Gaya, Bihar
  • Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
  • Red Fort Complex, Delhi
  • Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
  • Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
  • Group of Monuments in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
  • Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
  • Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan
  • Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
  • Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
  • Taj Mahal, Agra
  • Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat
  • Group of Monuments in Pattadakal, Karnataka
  • Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
  • Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Bihar
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra
  • Mountain Railways of India
  • Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi
  • Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
  • Hill Forts of Rajasthan
  • Churches and Convents of Goa
  • Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
  • The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai
  • The Pink City – Jaipur
  • The Historic City of Ahmedabad
  • Capitol Complex, Chandigarh

Natural World Heritage Sites in India

  • Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
  • Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
  • Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
  • Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
  • Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
  • Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand
  • Western Ghats
  • Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim

 

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How does UNESCO decide which properties are suitable to be heritage sites?

There are over a thousand properties around the worlds designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). But how does UNESCO decide which properties are suitable to be heritage sites?

Countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention and pledged to protest their cultural and natural heritage can submit nominations for consideration. Thus far, 193 countries have signed the Conversation.

UNESCO has a list of criteria explained in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Conversation. To be considered for inclusion in the World Heritage List a property must satisfy at least one of the ten criteria. These are regularly revised by the Committee to keep up with the evolving concept of World Heritage.

Once the nominations are in, the World Heritage Committee consisting of representatives from 21 of the member states takes the final call. This committee meets once a year to finalise the list and consults to advisory bodies which evaluate a nominated site, as mandated by the World Heritage Convention. These two bodies are the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

A tried advisory body, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, provides the Committee with expect advice on conservation of cultural sites.

 

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What is the history of Rani-ki-Vav?

What is a stepwell?

As the name suggests, a stepwell is a pond or well with water that can be reached by descending a series of steps. It is mostly mutli-storeyed and can be found across western India.

Stepwells are prime examples of irrigation and storage tanks built to quench the thirst of the people during parched summers. They are mostly dug deep down to collect the seepage of an upstream lake or reservoir. This is why most stepwells are underground. The reason these are built with steps is to make it easier for people to access groundwater and to maintain and manage the well.

Most stepwells are intricately carved with several sculptures. Apart from serving as a well, they serve as a cool retreat during summers.

Rani-ki-Vav

Rani ki-Vav or the Queen’s Stepwell is located in the town of Patan in Gujarat India. Situated on the banks of the river Saraswati, this stepwell was built in the 11th century AD. During the rule of the Chalukya dynasty it was constructed in menton of King Bhimdev I by his widowed wife. Queen Udayamati Prabandha Chintamani, composed by the Jain monk Menunga Suri in 1304 AD makes a reference to the construction of this stepwell by Queen Udayamati.

Built near the Saraswati, this stepwell was once completely floosted by the river and silted over till the 1940s. This is when the site was rediscovered by people. In the 1980s, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated the site and restored it from 1981 to 1987. An image of Queen Udayamati was also recovered during the excavation

Rani-ki-Vav was declared a Monument of National Importance and protected by the ASI. It was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2014,

Architecture

The stepwell is built in the Maru Gurjara architectural style in the form of an inverted temple with seven levels of stairs and over 500 main sculptures, It is approximately 64m long, 20m wide and 27m deep

Most of the sculptures found here are devoted to Lord Vishnu in his ten forms. There are also sculptures dedicated to the Buddha

As mentioned before this stepwell is designed like an inverted temple to highlight the sanctity of water. The steps begin at the ground level and you have to go down seven pillared pavilions to reach the well below. At water level there is a caning of Seshashayi Vishnu – the avatar where he rests on his thousand hooted serpent Sesha. The well is present in the western most part of the complex.

 

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What is the history of INS Viraat?

The Royal Navy

Before serving the Indian Navy, Viraat served Britain’s Royal Navy as HMS (Her Majesty’s ship) Hermes. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in November 1959. During her service with the British, Viraat operated three fixed-wing planes and a chopper.

She belonged to the Centaur class of light fleet carriers of the Royal Navy which were in use since the Second World War. She played a major role in the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982. Three years after that war, she was decommissioned by the Royal Navy.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy was looking for a second aircraft carrier for its fleet along with the INS Vikrant, which was commissioned in 1961. After much research and deliberation, the Indian Navy zeroed in on the HMS Hermes and announced its purchase in 1986. Hermes underwent a major refit and modernisation at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, England before finally being commissioned into the Indian Navy in May 1987.

Service with the Indian Navy

Viraat played a major role in India’s naval defence. She operated one British-made Sea Harrier, a fixed- wing aircraft, and three helicopters. She played a pivotal role in the Sri Lankan Peacekeeping operation in 1989 dubbed Operation Jupiter, and was affiliated with the Indian Army in 1990. Viraat was also deployed during Operation Parakram in 2001 02. Following the terror attack on the Indian parliament. She played a major role in calibrating the flying activities from the carrier, which proved helpful during the induction of INS Vikramaditya, currently the sole aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.

Decommissioning by the Indian Navy

As years passed, the cost of operating and maintaining INS Viraat became too high for the Indian Navy, which announced its decision to decommission the Grand Old Lady in 2015.

After all the prerequisite processes for decommissioning at the Kochi shipyard were completed, the Grand Old Lady was decommissioned finally on March 6, 2017, at a ceremony in Mumbai,

At the time of her decommissioning, Viraat had spent nearly 2252 days at sea sailing nearly 11 lakh km. The aircraft she carried clocked more than 22,600 flying hours. Since 1987, Viraat has been the Flagship of the Indian Navy. And in her 30 years of service. 22 captains have commanded the ship.

What the future holds

Due to her rich history, many Indian states and conservationists wished to preserve Viraat as a museum. Many crowdfunding initiatives were undertaken in a bid to preserve Viraat. However, none of the efforts proved successful An expert panel was called to study Viraat condition and determine the feasibility of converting the ship into a museum. The panel stated that the cost of converting the ship into a museum would be too high to manage, and that the ship would last only ten years, given the age of its ferrous metal. Post this, even the Centre abandoned plans to convert the ship into a museum and decided to auction it to be dismantled and recycled at Alang, the world’s largest ship-breaking yard. The ship was bought by the Shree Ram Group for a sum of Rs. 38.54 crore at an auction in July 2020. On September 19, Viraat made her final journey from Mumbai to Alang. She reached Alang on September 22. As a last-ditch effort to preserve the iconic warship, Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt Ltd, A Mumbai based shipping company, decided to buy the ship from the Shree Ram Group to convert it into a museum. To do so, the company would first need a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence. The company has stated that the Goa government is ready to help in its endeavour and allow the ship to be beaches in its waters.

As of October 9, 2020, Envitech is yet to obtain a NOC from the defence ministry.

 

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Why was Hagia Sophia converted into a mosque?

Built in the sixth century in Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey) by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia was once the largest cathedral in the world. The cathedral was converted into a mosque in 1453, when the Orroman took over Constantinople. It remained a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum and opened its doors to the public, regardless of faiths.

However, in July 2020, Turkey’s top court annulled Hagia Sophia’s museum status leading the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Eradogan to turn it into a mosque once again.

An epitome of Byzantine architecture being converted into a mosque sparked criticism among people across the world. However, unfazed, the President ordered for prayers on July 24 and Quranic verses were being chanted inside the mosque. The paintings of Jesus and Mary that adorned the walls were covered up with sheets.

Turkey however did not stop with the Hagia Sophia. Recently, it announced the conversion of the Chora Museum, a former Byzantine church, into a mosque. The Chora museum shares a similar history with the Hagia Sophia – being built as a church by the Byzantines, converted into a mosque by the Ottoman, and a museum in 1945.

Byzantine Art

When the Roman empire split, the Eastern part of the empire came to be known as the Byzantine empire with Constantinople as its capital. The Byzantine empire was famous for its art, and architecture, particularly the use of mosaic art, where intricate pictures are made using pieces of stones. One can find many mosaic art pieces inside Hagia Sophia as well as the Chora museum and other Byzantine structures around Istanbul.

 

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