Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Culture

• 04 Apr 2020

Important Events

Commemoration of the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

• The President of India, presided over the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150^th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The National Committee was constituted for commemorating the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at the national and international level.

Sanskriti Kumbh

• A 29 days cultural extravaganza was organised at Kumbh Mela Area, Prayagraj in January 2019 to showcase the rich Cultural Heritage of India in all its rich and varied dimensions viz. Performing Arts- Folk, Tribal and Classical art forms, Handicrafts, Cuisines, Exhibitions etc. all in one place.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav

• The 20^th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, was organized by National School of Drama.

Jaipur- India’s 38^th UNESCO World Heritage Site

• India’s nomination of the Jaipur City, Rajasthan got inscribed on 6^th July, 2019 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO during the 43^rd Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Baku, Azerbaijan.
• With Successful inscription of Jaipur City, India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.

UNESCO's World Heritage Sites of India
Tangible Heritage			Intangible Cultural Heritage
Cultural	Natural	Mixed	Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Taj Mahal, Agra 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 at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat Group of Monuments at 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 Capitol Complex, Chandigarh The Historic City of Ahmedabad The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai	Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Uttarakhand Western Ghats Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal	Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim	The tradition of Vedic chanting Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan Chhau dance Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India Yoga Navroz Kumbh Mela

Commemoration event of ‘76^th Year of Formation of Azad Hind Government’

• The 76^th anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Government was celebrated on 21^st October, 2019, at the Red Fort, Delhi.
• On 21^st October 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India) in Singapore, with himself as the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War.
• The Provisional Government not only enabled Bose to negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also facilitated the mobilisation of Indians in East Asia to join and support the Indian National Army (INA).

Mumbai and Hyderabad: UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included Mumbai and Hyderabad in its network of 'Creative Cities' among the 66 cities selected on the occasion of World Cities Day 2019 (31^st October).

Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Passed by Parliament

• It seeks to make apolitical the trust that runs Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial by removing the clause pertaining to the President of INC as a permanent member of the trust.
• The Bill also amends to include the Leader of Opposition recognised as such in the House of the People (LokSabha) or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in that House as a member of the trust.

Records Relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj De-classified

• All records relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj de-classified and were placed in the National Archives of India.
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945) is one of the most celebrated freedom fighters of India.
• In 1942, he earned the title ‘Netaji’, in Germany by the Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj.
• He is also credited to be the first man to call Mahatma Gandhi “Father of the Nation”, in his address from Singapore.

Important Sites

Markandeshwar Temple, Maharashtra

• Archaeological Survey of India initiated the restoration work of Markandeshwar temple in Maharashtra.
  • Known as the “Khajuraho of Vidarbha”, the temple of Markandadeo is situated on the bank of River Wainganga in district Gadchiroli of Maharashtra.

Phupgaon, Maharashtra

• The recent excavation carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Maharashtra’s Phupgaon has revealed evidence of an Iron Age settlement in the Vidarbha region.
• The site is situated in the vast meander of the river Purna, a major tributary of Tapi, which used to be a perennial river, but at present is completely dried-up due to the dam construction in the upper stream.
• Chronologically, the site could be placed between 7^th C BCE and 4th C BCE.

Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh

• Excavations indicate it as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period.
• The site lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.
• The proximity of the site (at southern coastal location) to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade.
• Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life-size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era.