Central Idea

• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister announced that veteran actor Waheeda Rehman would be given the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021, honouring her stellar contribution to Indian cinema.

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Who was Dadasaheb Phalke?

• Early Life: Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, born in 1870 in Trimbak, Maharashtra, had a diverse career. He initially studied engineering and sculpture and later developed a fascination for motion pictures after watching the 1906 silent film ‘The Life of Christ.’
• Varied Pursuits: Before entering the world of cinema, Phalke worked as a photographer, owned a printing press, and even collaborated with the renowned painter Raja Ravi Varma.
• Filmmaking Pioneer: In 1913, Phalke scripted, produced, and directed India’s inaugural feature film, the silent masterpiece ‘Raja Harishchandra.’ This groundbreaking film’s commercial success marked the beginning of Phalke’s prolific career in which he created 95 more films and 26 short films over the next 19 years.
• Father of Indian Cinema: Dhundiraj Govind Phalke is hailed as the “Father of Indian Cinema” for his pioneering contributions to the country’s film industry.

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Central Idea

• A groundbreaking 21-meter-long ship, constructed using an age-old technique of stitching wooden planks with ropes, cords, coconut fibers, natural resins, and oils, is scheduled to embark ‘Baliyatra’ from Odisha to Bali, Indonesia.
• The initiative, led by the Govt. of India, aims to rekindle the nation’s rich maritime tradition and heritage.
• This remarkable journey will be manned by a crew from the Indian Navy.

Early Evidence of Maritime Trade

• Ancient Maritime Trade: The presence of maritime trade networks dating back to circa 3300-1300 BCE is supported by evidence from the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and coastal sites along the Arabian Sea. The engineering marvel of the dock at Lothal in Gujarat stands as a testament to the Indus civilization’s profound understanding of tides and winds.
• Historical Accounts: Ancient texts, including the Vedas (circa 1500-500 BCE), contain vivid accounts of seafaring adventures and the associated risks. Furthermore, the Jataka Tales (circa 300 BCE-400 CE) and Tamil Sangam literature (circa 300 BCE-300 CE) provide explicit references to maritime activities.

Challenges in Recognizing Maritime Heritage

• Historiographical Biases: Historians have often marginalized India’s maritime heritage in favor of narratives centered on land-based polities. This bias has led to the neglect of India’s maritime contributions.
• Emergence of Deep-Sea Voyages: The 1st century BCE witnessed intensified mid-ocean voyages driven by the Roman Empire’s demand for Eastern commodities, which harnessed monsoon winds and marked a significant turning point in maritime activity.

Ancient Indian Boats and Shipbuilding

• Limited Knowledge: The field of marine archaeology in India remains at an early stage of development, with primary insights derived from boat-building traditions, artistic depictions, and literary sources.
• Traditional Boat-Building Techniques: Indian boat construction traditions favor stitching planks of wood together instead of using nails. These traditions encompass coir-stitched, jong (Southeast Asian), and Austronesian methods, each employing various stitching techniques.
• Wood Selection: Selection of wood types for shipbuilding depended on their suitability for specific ship components. Mangrove wood excelled in creating sturdy dowels, while teak was preferred for planks, keels, stem, and stern posts.

India’s Role in Maritime Trade

• Trade Lake of the Indian Ocean: By the Common Era, the Indian Ocean had evolved into a thriving trade network, with India positioned at its heart. This network facilitated trade connections between India and Europe via the Middle East and Africa in the west, as well as Southeast Asia, China, and Malaysia in the east.
• Evidence of Scale: Estimates indicate the colossal scale of trade, with customs taxes collected from the Red Sea trade route alone contributing significantly to the Roman exchequer.

Uncovering a Hidden Past

• Ongoing Exploration: Recent excavations have provided substantial insights into India’s maritime history. Nevertheless, experts acknowledge that numerous discoveries await on this journey of exploration.
• Need for Investment: Marine archaeology in India requires increased funding and recognition to unlock its full potential and contribute meaningfully to humanity’s understanding of the past.
• Value of Knowledge: Scientific archaeology’s pursuit of India’s deep maritime past offers the potential for immense benefits to humanity. Engaging with this history challenges conventional narratives and represents a subversive yet essential endeavor.

Conclusion

• The forthcoming voyage of the stitched ship symbolizes India’s dedicated efforts to rejuvenate its maritime heritage, shedding light on the forgotten history of Indian seafarers and their remarkable vessels.
• Through exploration and study, India seeks to restore the rightful place of its maritime legacy in the annals of history.

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Central Idea

• A team from Buddhavanam Theme Park in Hyderabad embarked on a significant visit to Sri Lanka.
• Their destination: the third-century BC Buddhist rock-cut caves at Mathale, situated on the Colombo-Kandy route.

Why such move?

• The team noted that the teachings of Lord Buddha, known as Tripitaka (Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma pitakas), were originally transmitted orally.
• However, it was under the auspices of Sri Lankan king Devanampiya Tissa, a contemporary of King Asoka, that these teachings were written on palm leaves in Sri Lanka.
• This event marked the advent of Buddhist literature in India.

About Tripitaka

• The Tripitaka, also known as the Pali Canon, is a collection of sacred Buddhist scriptures that form the foundational texts of the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
• It is divided into three sections, known as the Tripitaka, which literally means “Three Baskets.”

History and significance

• The Tripitaka was orally transmitted from the time of Gautama Buddha in the 5th century BCE until it was eventually written down in the 1st century BCE.
• It holds immense historical and religious significance as it contains the teachings, discourses, rules, and guidelines given by the Buddha and his prominent disciples.

Composition of the Tripitaka:

(1) Vinaya Pitaka (Basket of Discipline):

• Comprises the rules and guidelines for monastic discipline in the Buddhist community.
• Provides detailed instructions on the conduct and behavior expected from monks and nuns.
• Covers various aspects, including ethical guidelines, disciplinary codes, and procedures for resolving disputes.
• Offers insights into the monastic life, the organization of the Sangha (monastic community), and the role of the monastic code in maintaining harmony and ethical conduct.

(2) Sutta Pitaka (Basket of Discourses):

• Contains the discourses and teachings delivered by Buddha and his close disciples.
• Includes a vast collection of discourses covering a wide range of topics, such as ethics, meditation, philosophy, and social issues.
• Consists of individual Suttas (discourses) grouped into different collections or Nikayas, such as the Digha Nikaya (Long Discourses), Majjhima Nikaya (Middle-Length Discourses), Samyutta Nikaya (Connected Discourses), and Anguttara Nikaya (Numerical Discourses).
• Presents the Buddha’s profound teachings on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, dependent origination, and other core concepts of Buddhism.

(3) Abhidhamma Pitaka (Basket of Higher Teachings):

• Provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of Buddhist philosophy and psychology.
• Explores the nature of mind, consciousness, and reality in intricate detail.
• Presents the teachings in a more technical and analytical manner, offering an advanced understanding of Buddhist concepts.
• Divided into seven books, known as the Abhidhamma books, which delve into topics such as consciousness, mental factors, elements, and the path to liberation.
• Offers a deep exploration of the ultimate nature of existence and the workings of the mind.

Features and Characteristics

• Authenticity and Authority: The Tripitaka is regarded as the most authoritative and authentic collection of Buddhist scriptures in the Theravada tradition.
• Canonical Language: The texts are primarily written in Pali, an ancient Indian language close to the language spoken during the Buddha’s time.
• Extensive Coverage: The Tripitaka covers a wide range of topics, offering comprehensive guidance for practitioners in various aspects of life.
• Preservation of Early Buddhist Teachings: The Tripitaka is believed to preserve the original teachings of the Buddha, providing insights into his wisdom and teachings.

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