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This booklet publishes for the first time the most intact as well as the probably most attractive North-Indian terracottas from the 3rd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. The survey covers figurines, moulded plaques and so called 'toy-carts' from outstanding Indian, American and European collections.
This book offers global perspectives from Mediterranean, Asian, Australian, and American cultures on sacred sites and their related stories in regional history. Contemporary society witnesses many travelers visiting sacred sites (temples, mountains, castles, churches, houses) throughout the world. These visits often involve discovery of new historical facts through the origin stories of the associated tribe, region, or nation. The transmission of oral tradition and myth carries on the significant meaning of those religious sites. This volume unveils multi-angle perspectives of symbolic and mystical places. The contributors describe the religio-political experiences of each regional case, and analyze the religiosity of local people as a lens through which readers can re-examine the concept of iconography, syncretism, and materialism. In addition, contributors interpret the growth of new religions as the alternative perspectives of anti-traditional religions. This new approach offers significant insight into comprehending the practical agony and sorrow of regional people in the context of contemporary history.
India's history and culture is ancient and dynamic, spanning back to the beginning of human civilization. Beginning with a mysterious culture along the Indus River and in farming communities in the southern lands of India, the history of India is punctuated by constant integration with migrating peoples and with the diverse cultures that surround the country. Placed in the center of Asia, history in India is a crossroads of cultures from China to Europe, as well as the most significant Asian connection with the cultures of Africa. The Historical Dictionary of Ancient India provides information ranging from the earliest Paleolithic cultures in the Indian subcontinent to 1000 CE. The ancient history of this country is related in this book through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on rulers, bureaucrats, ancient societies, religion, gods, and philosophical ideas.
The Bengali (Bangla) speaking people are located in the northeastern part of South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and two states of India – West Bengal and Tripura. There are almost 246 million Bengalis at present, which makes them the fifth largest speech community in the world. Despite political and social divisions, they share a common literary and musical culture and several habits of daily existence which impart to them a distinct identity. The Bengalis are known for their political consciousness and cultural accomplishments The Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis provides an overview of the Bengalis across the world from the earliest Chalcolithic cultures to the present. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 750 cross-referenced dictionary entries on politicians, educators and entrepreneurs, leaders of religious and secular institutions, writers, painters, actors and other cultural figures, and more generally, on the economy, education, political parties, religions, women and minorities, literature, art and architecture, music, cinema and other major sectors. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Bengalis.
Research work on coastal Bengal has mostly focused on maritime trading networks. In a clear departure from the existing scholarship, this volume questions the linearity of considering trade as the sole determinant of creation of settlement in the coastal regions. Focusing on settlement strategies, Chattopadhyay unravels how human societies, through successive generations, have adapted to the coastal environment and bioregime. First-hand data, procured through extensive fieldwork, forms the sound basis of this work. From structural remains, ceramic and bone implements, and stone tools, to terracotta figurines and inscriptions, a vast array of sources, including epigraphic and literary sources, is analysed. Significantly, the volume also highlights the interconnection between coastal geography and the hinterland. Chattopadhyay’s meticulously researched work offers a geographical and temporal frame which allows the research on coastal Bengal to be viewed as an integral part of the archaeological developments in not only the subcontinent but also the adjoining region of the Southeast Asian countries.
The Indian state of West Bengal is bestowed with a rich cultural heritage and great diversity of art forms. Arguably the most remarkable and unique of these art forms is housed on the surface of the so-called terracotta temples constructed mostly during 16th to 19th century CE. Intricate terracotta panels on the walls of these temples weave sacred tales from mythology, folklore as well as profane narratives of everyday life of both affluent and humble people. Probably nowhere in the world has this art form been more artistically displayed. But unfortunately, this magnificent art form of Bengal has been eclipsed by other contemporary mediaeval monuments better placed in the limelight of history and probably of destiny too. Considering the quality of terracotta treasure of West Bengal, one can affirm without any fear of contradiction that only in a few places in India, art lovers would find their souls better rewarded. In the beginning, the book contains brief discussion on the earliest Hindu goddesses, origin of figurative icons of goddesses, art of terracotta, theory of rasa, history of adornment of temple exterior using terracotta artwork in West Bengal, unique external forms of terracotta temples, and diversity of themes in terracotta depictions. Then the origin and course of history of around forty goddesses, depicted on terracotta temples, have been presented along with literary and archaeological evidence. It is undeniable that such a strong presence of the feminine voice as we find in Hindu tradition is wanting in the entire panorama of world religion, from ancient to modern times. But the real highlight of this book is the photographs of pertinent terracotta panels clicked by the author from a plethora of temples in different districts of West Bengal. Moreover, these photographs are supplemented with relevant specimens in medium other than terracotta. It includes stone, metal, wood, painting (both mural and miniature) etc. Overall, this book is embellished with around 260 illustrations many of which are being published for the first time.