Karnataka’s ancient idols lost in a mere flash

[prasad1]

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[h=2]Earlier this year, an ancient Ganapati idol was stolen from the 800-year-old Sri Sangameshwara temple, which dates back to the Hoysala period.[/h]
Earlier this year, an ancient Ganapati idol was stolen from the 800-year-old Sri Sangameshwara temple, which dates back to the Hoysala period, at Sindhaghatta, K.R. Pet taluk.
The rare black two feet tall stone idol weighed about 100 kg. Although the temple is under the protection of the Muzrai Department, the recovery of the idol remains uncertain now.
An estimated 70,000 artefacts have gone missing from India, studies say. According to the India Pride Project (IPP), a volunteer group working to bring back stolen artefacts, there could be nearly 7,000 from Karnataka alone, given the many dynasties that ruled and the heritage of stone sculpture.
Most States lack a monitoring committee to deal with the problem, says IPP, urging government agencies to put heritage recovery high on their agenda.
IPP is on a nationwide awareness campaign to highlight the reality of so many lost pieces of culture.
It has been urging the Karnataka government to put in place remedial policies and draw up an inventory of the State’s artefacts. During two road shows it organised in Bengaluru, IPP spoke about the gravity of the State’s losses. “Karnataka has no Artefacts Registry or an Idol Wing, unlike Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, who deal with it by enforcing heritage policing,” said Seshadri Shankar, a Bengaluru-based IPP volunteer.
“Among the five [artefacts] brought back to India through IPP last year is the celebrated Nataraja Idol of Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu. The idol, stolen more than three decades ago, had reached museums in the U.S., and then Australia where it was sold for $1.5 billion,” said Mr. Seshadri Shankar.
Interestingly, IPP studies say India lost more artefacts after independence.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...a-mere-flash/article8516747.ece?homepage=true

 

[prasad1]

We (Indians) tend to blame the "foreigner's" for pillaging the Sub-continent of India of its artifacts. In a sense it is true. But worst are the Indian who steal from to country to make money.

Instead of lamenting on loosing hard assets from India some of us are worried about some unknown culture or life style. We as a group should join hands with organization like IPP and serve the country.

 

[zebra16]

We (Indians) tend to blame the "foreigner's" for pillaging the Sub-continent of India of its artifacts. In a sense it is true. But worst are the Indian who steal from to country to make money.

Instead of lamenting on loosing hard assets from India some of us are worried about some unknown culture or life style. We as a group should join hands with organization like IPP and serve the country.

Yes one should join hand with organisations like IPP and try to preserve the heritage.

But the comment about "lamenting on some unknown culture or life style" is unwarranted. It needs just a little reflection to realise that the temple and artefacts would not have come into existence but for the **culture**

 

[prasad1]

Yes one should join hand with organisations like IPP and try to preserve the heritage.

But the comment about "lamenting on some unknown culture or life style" is unwarranted. It needs just a little reflection to realise that the temple and artefacts would not have come into existence but for the **culture**

Sir,
You have stripped the adjective "unknown" from the word Culture and changed the meaning of the message. No one is opposed to all culture. But we as human being living in a civil societies have to change some part of culture as the times goes on.

Define what aspect of and who's culture you want to preserve and we may or may not agree.
If defecating in public is the culture, I am against it.
If practicing Child marriage is the culture, I am against it.
If eating vegetarian food is the culture I am for it.
I speaking the truth is the culture I am for it.
I am not for preserving the "entire 14th century culture" in 21st century. Please do not parse the sentence.