Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ahom era Moidams in Assam’s Charaideo district, resting places of royal families, have been recommended for UNESCO World Heritage List inclusion by ICOMOS. These mound-burial sites, dating from the 13th to 19th century Ahom dynasty, are likened to ancient Chinese royal tombs and Egyptian pyramids. Charaideo was the dynasty’s first capital, founded in 1253. Despite adopting Hindu cremation later, Ahom rulers entombed remains in Moidams. These sites, spread across Southeast Asia, symbolize Tai-Ahom cultural influence.

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Bone remains from the Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, 3,280 meters above sea level, reveal that Denisovans, an extinct human species, survived there for millennia. The study, published in Nature, found a rib bone dated between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago. This discovery highlights Denisovans’ resilience to climatic fluctuations and suggests their interbreeding with Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The remains also indicate their diverse diet, including blue sheep and woolly rhinos.

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President Droupadi Murmu visited Odisha for four days, exploring the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves in Bhubaneswar. These caves, built around the 2nd century BC by King Kharavela of the Meghavahana dynasty, are early examples of rock-cut cave tradition in Odisha. Udayagiri is notable for the Hathigumpha inscription in Brahmi script, detailing Kharavela’s military campaigns. Murmu also engaged with students from Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art & Crafts and Utkal University of Culture.

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The anti-encroachment drive at Vishalgad Fort turned violent as miscreants attacked local shopkeepers and pelted stones at police. Vishalgad Fort, located in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, is an ancient fort built in 1058 by Shilahara king Marsinh. It was later captured by various dynasties, including the Yadavas, Khiljis, Vijayanagar, and Adil Shahi. In 1659, Shivaji seized it and renamed it Vishalgad, meaning “grand fort.”

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The Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh, built in 1034 AD by Raja Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty, is constructed from remains of an earlier temple. Historically significant, it served as a university for subjects like music, astronomy, and philosophy. The site faced attacks in 1305 and 1514 AD, with attempts to convert it into a dargah. Engravings include Prakrit hymns and Sanskrit inscriptions. It was declared a national monument in 1951 and is protected by the ASI.

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The Sangameshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has recently been submerged in the backwaters of the Srisailam project in Nandyal district due to heavy inflow from the Krishna River. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the temple was originally built in 740 AD by Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II on the Krishna River bank. It was originally situated where the Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers merge, 10 km from its current location. To prevent submersion from the Srisailam Dam’s construction, the temple was dismantled and rebuilt at its current site in 1979, maintaining its historical and religious significance.

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On July 29, 2024, Delhi unveiled India’s first sunken museum at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. This innovative museum will offer a unique view of Mughal history and architecture by integrating advanced technology with historical displays. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has spearheaded the project in collaboration with various stakeholders, aiming to enhance the preservation and presentation of India’s rich historical legacy.

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Project PARI was launched during the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting. The Ministry of Culture initiated the project, managed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. It features various art forms including Phad, Thangka, Warli, Gond, Alpona, Cheriyal, Tanjore, Kalamkari, Pithora, and Kerala Murals. The project aims to celebrate and enhance the public art scene by combining India’s cultural heritage with modern themes.

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Archaeologists at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey discovered a pillar that may be the world’s oldest calendar, dating back nearly 13,000 years. The pillar is located at the ancient site of Göbekli Tepe in the Şanlıurfa province, which is one of the oldest known farming communities in the world. The markings on the pillar appear to show solar and lunar cycles, and may have been used to record dates by ancient humans using precession, the wobble in Earth’s axis that affects the movement of constellations. The markings also depict the summer solstice as a special day, represented by a “V” around the neck of a bird-like beast.

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The Maharashtra government has declared the geoglyphs and petroglyphs in Ratnagiri as protected monuments under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. This move addresses concerns about preserving these important cultural artifacts. Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are ancient art from the Mesolithic era, featuring animal figures and footprints that offer insights into prehistoric life and creativity. Over 1,500 artworks are found at around 70 sites in Ratnagiri, covering 210 square meters, with seven sites on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list.