MODULE 5

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PERFORMING ART

Astronomy in India
" Indian Architect, Engineering and Architecture in Ancient India
Sculptures, Seals,Coins
Pottery, Puppetry
" Dance, Music, Theatre, drama, Painting,
" Martial Arts Traditions, Fairs and Festivals
" Current developments in Arts and Cultural
" Indian'sCultural Contribution to the World
" Indian Cinema

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 MODULE5
CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PERFORMING ART
Indian Culture: Education in India: Art, Architecture, Religion and Science
Culture has different aspects such as art, architecture, religion, science but it's most important aspect is
Education. Education is a learning experience and a lifelong proccss. This system changes along with
changes in culture.

In Ancient lndia learning was imparted by teachers called Gurus to the pupils who came to live with them in
their houses called Gurukul (a domestic school).The relationship of learning between the teacher and student
was called as Guru-Shishya Parampara which began with areligious ceremony Upanayana. Education was
imparted orally which included memorization of texts like Vedas and Dharmashastras. Later subjects like
Grammar, Logic and metaphysics were also added. During this time self education was regarded as the
proper method of attaining the highest knowledge.

During Mauryan and the post Mauryan period the growth of urban centers and trade, the Mercantile
community came to an important position and started to play an active part in providing Education. They
fostered the knowledgeof mining, metallurgy, carpentry, weaving and dyeing. There were new formulations
in building and architecture with the emergence of city life. Medical knowledge began to be systemized as
AYURVEDA.

In the Gupta period, the Jain and Buddhist systems of education assumed different dimensions. Buddhist
monasteries admitted students for ten years. Their learning began with oral method and afterwards shifted to
reading of literary texts. Monastries also had libraries. Monasteries were maintained by kings and rich
Mercantile class. The subjects taught included Vedanta, philosophy, study of the puranas, epics, grammar,
logic etc.
Sanskrit was the court language and medium of instruction. Gradually Jainism and Buddhism lost their royal
patronage and their monastries started declining.

InAncient India, the aim of education was for one's inner growth and self fulfilment, techniques, rules and
methods, increase creative capacity.
Sanskrit enjoyed a position of privilege as it was the medium of Brahmanical education and the language for
upper castes and Hindu rulers. Prakrit developed as a language of masses with the rise of Buddhism and Pali
was one of the earliest variants of it. The Dravidian languages Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam wvere
used in the southern India.

During Medieval period with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, Islamic system of education was
introduced. The institutions of school education were known as Makhtabs and that of higher learning were
This system of education
known as Madrasas. The famous Madarasas were Muizzi, Nasiri and the Firuzi.
divided into two categories:
was traditional in spirit and theological in content. The curriculum was
(MANQULAT) while Logic,
Traditions, law and history, literature came under the traditional sciences
(MAQULAT). This period
philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy came under the rational sciences
scho lars such as Abul Fazal, Raja Todar Mal,
saw the rise of URDUas a language. Akbar patronised many
court who helped in spreading culture and
Birbal and Rahim. They were among the nine gems of his
education.

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 In Eighteenth Century, the British were involved in trade and conquest in India. The beginning of oricntal
scholarship was made by Warren Hastings in 1781 when he started the Calcutta MadarSa. Eleven years later,
in T792, Jonathan Duncan, a Resident of Varanasi started a sanskrit college to educate native Hindus to
assist the Europeans. Christian missionaries were making efforts to introduce western cducation by opening
elementary schools and providing education to the more humble sections of the Society including the
Untouchables.

The first half of the nincteenth centurycan bc called as a period of cducat ional expcriments. The East India
Company's Chartcr Act of 1813 enabled the company to set aside one lakh rupees for education. William
Bentick adopted English as the official language of the government and Lord Harding cmployed Indians
who had received English cducat ion. The objectives of educational policy were given in Woods Despatch of
1834 which suggested that Universities should be set up in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. In 1857
Universities of Bombay,Madras and Calcutta were established.

In T901, Lord Curzon convened the conference of Directors of Public Instructions which began era of
cducational reforms. In 1904. the Indian Universities Act was passed to take measures for qualitative
improvement in higher education.

Literacy and education were more widespread in towns than in villages.

Britishers needed people to work in administrative offices so they encouraged the teaching of English
Language. Christian Missionaries opened schools where English was taught. Use of English unknowingly
helped Indians as it was one language that cut across the entire country and become a common link for
people and also helped to get freedom.
In Post Independent India adequate measures were taken to spread education, economic inequality, regional
imbalance and social justice. In 1966, the Report of the Education Commission known as Kothari
Commission referred to education as the only instrument of peaceful social change. The subject of education
was incorporated in concurrent list by the constitutional amnendment act of 1976.

Elementary education is the crucial stage of education including first eight years of schooling. Article 45 of
the constitution provides for the state to introduce compulsory and free education for children up to the age
of fourteen. In 2001, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyana was introduced by central government for universalization of
elementary education.

Higher Education becomes when students completes their senior secondary education It is important that
courses in higher education offers programmes of study and courses closely related to life, aimed at the
development of personality,reasoning and learning capabilities of students.

The National Education Policy of 1968 aimed at promoting national progress, a sense of common
citizenship and culture, and strengthens national integration. It also laid stress on a radical reconstruction of
the education system, technology, cultivation of moral values and a closer relation between education and
the life of the people.

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Open and Distance Learning system is meant for th0se learners who discontinue their education in formal
boundary
system due to financial, Geographical, academic, or medical reasons. They can learn without any
of place and time as per their convenience.
universalisation of
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme for education
Its goal is to makc secondary
access to and improvement of quality cducation at sccondarystage.
Available, Accessible and Affordable.

Harappan Period
Indian Architecture: Architecture-Origins and Indian Perspective and at least
AT times It becomes very important to be
reminded that we are that civilization which has spanned
society.
4500 years and which has left its impact onnearly everything inour lives and
and Calcutta etc. we find many beautiful
Gong through the cities of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai
buildings. mosques and memorials.
Some are monuments, palaces,temples, churches, the
and most remarkable evidence of Indian architecture is found in the cities of
The earliest
Harappan Civilization which boast of a unique town planning. Jain, the
Harappan period architectural styles have been classifies as Hindu, Buddhist and
In the post
indigenous styles of architecture.
medieval period saw the synthesis of Persian and

Architecture- Origins andIndian Perspective build his

as soon as the early cave man began to
Architecture is not a modern phenomenon. It began
own shelter to live in. of
create and fix his own shelter when he stepped out from the natural habitat
Man first began to
dense jungle covers. spaces, he
artistic faculties of man awakened in the search for larger and better-sheltered
With the
shelters that seem pleasing to the eye.
began to build, with inherent aesthetic sense,
of needs, imagination, capacities of the builders
Thus emerged architecture which is a combination
and capabilities of the workers. cultural traditions and social requirements,
Architecture accommodated the local and regional
different times.
economicprosperity, religious practice of
different parts and regions of the country.
Indian Architecture evolved in various ages in
affected by many great and important historic
Apart from this architecture was generally
developments.
and dynasties in the sub-continent, each in their
Naturally, the emergence and decay of great empires
evolution of Indian architecture.
way influenced the growth andshaped the

Harappan Period Indus Valley

excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro and several other sites of the
The
urban civilisation with expert town planning and
Civilisation revealed the existence of a very modern
engineering skills.
system along with well planned roads and houses show that a
The very advanced drainage
India before the coming of the Aryans.
sophisticated and highly evolves culture existed in of India
Indus Valley Civilization were excavates under the Archaeo logical Survey
The sites of the
established by the British.
mainly three types of buildings
The Harappan people had constructed
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 Dwelling houses
o Pillared halls
o Public baths
Tie toSt mportant features of Harappan architecture are their superior town planning skills and
cities that have been built on a clear
geometric pattern or grid layoul.
Tne decline and final destruction of the Indus Valley Civilization, somctime around the sccond
millennium BCremains a mystery to this day.
Ine rharappans had the knowledge and skill of sculpting and craft. The world's first bronze sculpture
of a dancing girl has been found in Mohenjo-Daro.

Indan Architecturc: Early Historic Period: Cave Architecture. Rock-Cut Temples and Frec-Standing
Temples
An important phase of Indian architecture began with the Mauryan Period. The material prosperity of the
Mauryans and a new religious consciousness led to achievements in all fields.

Early Historic Period

Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador of Selucas Nikator who visited the Mauryan court described
Chandragupta Maurya's palace as an excellent architectural achievement.
In the Mauryan Period especially under Ashoka architecture saw a great advancement.
reign of
Mauryan art and architecture depicted the influence of Persians and Greeks. During the
were inscribed.
Ashokamany monolithic stone pillars were erected on which teachings of Dhamma'
The lion capital of the Sarnath pillar has been accepted as the emblem of the Indian Republic.
The stupas of Sanchi and Sarnath are symbols of the achievement ofMauryan architecture.
The Amaravati schooldeveloped under the patronage of the Satavahanas of the Andhra region.
The Gupta Period marks the beginning of the construction of free-standing Hindu temples.

Cave Architecture
phase in the
The development of cave architecture is another unique feature and marks an important
history of Indian architecture.
More than thousand caves have been excavated between second century BC and tenth century AD.
Famous among these were Ajanta and Ellora caves of Maharashtra, and Udaigiri cave of Orissa.
These caves hold Buddhist viharas, chaityas as wellas mandapas and pillared temples of Hindu gods
and goddesses.

Rock-Cut Temples
excavated in western
Temples were hewn out of huge rocks. The earliest rock-cut temples were
Deccan in the early years of the Christian era.
example of
The chaitya at Karle with fine high halls and polished decorative wall is a remarkable
rock-cut architecture.
Mahabalipuram built
The Kailash temple at Ellora built by the Rashtrakuta and the ratha temples of
by the Pallavas are other examples of rock-cut temples.
patrons of art and builders who
Most probably the stability and permanence of rocks attracted the
decorated these temples with beautiful sculptures.

Free-Standing Temples
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 The temple building activities that
In began during the Gupta rule
southern India the Pallavas, Cholas,
continuedto flourish in later periods.
the rulers of the
kingdom were great builders of temples. Pandyas, Hoyshalas and later Vijayanagar
The Pallava rulers built the
shore temple at Mahabalipuram. Pallavas also built other structural
temples like Kailash Nath temple and Vaikuntha Perumal temples at
Kancihipura
The Cholas built many temples most famous beingthe Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore
Tne Cholas developed a typical style of templc architectureof south India calledthe Dravida style,
Complete with vimana or shikhara, high walls and the gateway topped by gopuraln.
The Sun temple at Konark was buit in thirtccnth century by the castern(anga rules Narsimha Deva

Tne temple complex at Khajuraho was built by Chandella rulers between the tenth and eleventh
Centuries in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Most important among them is the
Kandariya Mahadev temple.
Somnath temple at Gujarat., Vishwanath temple at Banaras, Govinda temple at Mathura, Kamakhya
temple at Kalighat of Kolkata
temple at Guwahati, Shankaracharya temple at Kashmir and the Kali Indian sub
buildiny activity of the
are some other important temples which bear testimony to temple
continent.

Monuments Built by Akbar at

Indian Architecture: Delhi Sultanate, Regional Kingdoms and
Fatehpur Sikri architecture. the
came a new technique of
With the arrival of Turks during the thirteenth century
architectural styles of Persia, Arabia and Central Asia.

Delhi Sultanate
and
the domes, arches and minarets. The palaces, mosques
The engineering features of these buildings were indigenous
which were blended with the features of the
tombs built by the rulers had these features
achieved.
architecture and a new synthesis in architecture was Indian craftsmen who
happened because the Turkish rulers of Delhi utilized the service of the local
This
constructed beautiful buildings.
were veryskilful and had already Minar.
earliest building of this period is Quwwatul Islam Mosque at Delhi and the Qutub
The were adopted and utilized by the builders.
indigenous styles
The architecture of this period also shows how

Regional Kingdoms buildings having

the establishment of regional kingdoms in Bengal, Gujarat and the Deccan, beautiful
With
their own style wereconstructed.
Mahal and Jahaz Mahal were built.
In Manduthe JamaMasjid, Hindola

began earlier
Mughals
brought a new era in architecture. The synthesis of style which
The advent of the Mughals
reached its zenith during this time. Akbar's rule. The first building of this rule was Humayun's
started during
The architecture of Mughal Style
building red stone was used.
Tomb at Delhi. In this magnificent and above all the Taj Mahal are
somne of the buildings built by
Masjid of Delhi
The Red Fort and Jama
features that
Shahjahan. built in marble and reflects all the architectural
is
The Taj Mahal, the tomb of Shahjahan wife,
Mughal Period.
were developed during the
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Monuments Built by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri
ne Mughal architecture began inthe region of Akbar. He erected many important buildings the crowing
denievements of his reign was the building of his new canital cityof Fatehpur Sikri, 40knm trom Agra.
ratenpur Sikriis a romance of stones. The Arch of the Buland Darwaja is the most imposing gateway in
the world.

Ine tomb of Saint Salim Chisti is exauisite in its beauty. Jodha Bai Palace is a fine example OT ancient
Indian architecture.
Ine Panch Mahalis apyramidal structure in five storeys. It was build the pattern of aBuddhist Vinara.
Ihe Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir and Lahore were developed cultural and architectural growth of india.

Indian Architecture: Monuments and Buildings, Towns and Cities in India

The colonialinfluence can be seen in office buildings. Europeans who started coming from sixteentn century
ADconstructed many churches and other buildings.
Portuguese built many churches at Goa, the most famous of these are Basilica Bom Jesus and the
church of Saint Frances.
The British also built administrative and residential buildings which reflect their imperial glory.
Some Greek and Roman influence can be observed in the colopnades or pillared buildings.
Parliament House and Connaught Place in Delhi are good examples. The architect Lutyens, designed
Rashtrapati Bhavan, formerly the Viceroy's residence.
The Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, the former capital of British India, is a huge edifice in marble. It
now houses a museum full of colonial artefacts.
The British also left behind impressive railway terminals like the Victoria Terminus in Mumbai.
In the past few decades, there have been many talented Indian architects. some trained in premier
schools of architecture like the School of planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi.
In domestic architecture in the last decade, housing Cooperative Societies have mushroomed in all
metropolitan cities combining utility with a high level of planning and aesthetic sense.

Towns and Cities in India

It is evident that when we think or talk of architecture, we have to think of the related idea of town
planning or urban development.
Starting from the Harappan civilization, (also known as Indus- Saraswathi Civilization by some
historians), India has had a very history of town planning, which can be traced back to 2350 B.C.
The most well known two cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro had an elaborate drainage system,
roads which cut each other at right angles, a citadelwhich was bult on a high ground and in the lower
parts lived the rest of the population.
Kalibangam in Rajasthan and Surkotda in kutch had similar city structure. From 600 B.C. onwards,
we as Dravidian civilization.
These were Rajgir, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Hastinapur, Ujain., Sravasthi, Kapilvastu and Kausambhi
besides many otherS.
New residential areas like Civil Lines and Cantonments came up in towns. The area where civilian
administrative Officers lived was called Civil Lines, while cantonments were areas meant for the
British Army Officers.