via Asian Age, 10 March 2019: India’s cultural impact across Southeast Asia, seen in art and architecture.
The imprint of Indian culture and religions is visible in the temples, performance arts and folk tales of Southeast Asia.
Source: Footmarks of the ancient India
via The Times of India, 29 August 2018:
India on Wednesday signed an MoU with Cambodia to help the Southeast Asian nation on restoration and preservation of an ancient Lord Shiva temple, a world heritage site.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held wide-ranging talks with her Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn.
The temple in remote Preah Vihear, which is also known as the ‘Temple of Preah Vihear’, dates back to the first half of the 11th century AD.
More details in the website link below. Deadline for applications: 30 September 2018.
The study of Ancient Indian Glass, involves scientific investigations as well as understanding in the right cultural perspective. A combination of such a strategy has not evolved fully in south Asia even though a larger history and ethnography of glass is noticed here. Further, there is a need of standardization of glass artifacts studies in terms of typology and technology among the various researchers.
Keeping in view of above objectives, Archaeological Sciences Centre, IITGN will be conducting a five day (including one day fieldtrip) Conference-cum-Workshop on ‘History, Science and Technology of Ancient Indian Glass’ from 21—25th January, 2019. This Conference-cum-Workshop aims to discuss the development of glass through the ages, literature/epigraphical references, typology, techniques and archaeometry involved in their study to interpret the past technology with the help of experts and scholars who are either archaeologists or scientists working in archaeology and allied disciplines.
Eminent scholars from around the world (Shinu Abraham, Ivana Angelini, Ravindra Singh Bisht, Wijerathne Bohingamuwa, Sharmi Chakraborty, Kurush Dalal, Laure Dussubieux, Thomas Fenn, Maninder Singh Gill, Viswas Gogte, Bernard Gratuze, Sunil Gupta, Asma Ibrahim, Alok Kumar Kanungo, Jonathan M. Kenoyer, Jan Kock, Stephen Koob, Joanna Then-Obłuska, Thilo Rehren, V. Selvakumar, Ravindra Nath Singh, Torben Sode, Massimo Vidale and Bhuvan Vikrama), and craftsmen from Varanasi/Purdalpur and Kapadwanj will be the resource persons who will share their work and deliver lectures and carryout hands-on experiments for the participants on various aspects of ancient glass in the archaeological context. With pre-designed requested paper from the experts a book on Glass of South & South-East Asia: Archaeology, Ethnography and Global Connections will be published.
Source: Conference-cum-Workshop on History, Science and Technology of Ancient Indian Glass
via The Wire, 16 June 2018:
Project Hindu dham in Cambodia is not just misinformed: it is a regressive step in the history of India-Southeast Asia relations that could start a dangerous chain of religious disharmony and unrest.
…
The chief rationale for this project appears to be the grand Vaishnava temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Five hundred acres of land has been acquired and 1,008 Shivalingas established to mark the creation of a fifth dham for Hindus. The project is evidently well-funded. Its chief proponents perceive this enterprise as a ‘cultural investment’, an apt way to promote Hinduism beyond India, to revitalise historical links between South and Southeast Asian nations, and to encourage trans-Asian pilgrim networks.
Source: Why the Sangh Parivar’s Idea of Building a ‘Hindu Dham’ in Cambodia Is Wrong
via The Hindu, 07 June 2018:
Steeped in history and legend, Angkor Wat forges a special bond with Indians
Source: Angkor Wat: A bridge to the past
via Bangkok Post, 1 March 2018: An exhibition celebrating diplomatic relations between India and Thailand at the National Museum in Bangkok.
A visit to a temporary exhibition at the National Museum Bangkok at the former Front Palace near Sanam Luang is a good way for tourists to explore India, Thailand and some other Southeast Asian countries through Buddhist art. The ongoing exhibit entitled “Buddhist Imagery From Bharata To Suvarnabhumi” celebrates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Thailand and India and the 25th anniversary of the Asean-India relationship.
Source: Inspired by India
India commits to helping with the restoration and repair of some of the temples in Bagan.
Implementation of the project will further strengthen India’s enduring ties in culture and religion with Myanmar. It will also generate immense goodwill for India among the people of Myanmar due to the religious significance as well as the
Source: Cabinet approves MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Pagodas at Bagan | Business Standard News
See also:
Tracking the descendants of Myanmar’s last monarch, King Thibaw, in Ratnagiri, India
Descendants of the last king of Burma still live in Maharashtra. Shorn of the royal grandeur, they say they are only namesake royals
The Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore has officially handed the 11th century bronze statue of Uma to India, after it was identified as stolen during the investigation of antiquities dealer Subash Kapoor.
Returned bronze statue of Uma. Source: Straits Times 20151106
Asian Civilisations Museum hands back sculpture identified as stolen to India
Straits Times, 06 November 2015
Asian Civilisations Museum returns 11th century sculpture to India
Today, 07 November 2015
The Asian Civilisations Museum has returned to the Indian authorities an 11th-century bronze sculpture in its possesion, which has been identified as stolen from India.
The museum had last month informed the Archaeological Survey of India and the High Commission of India to Singapore of its plan to return the religious icon depicting the Hindu goddess Uma Parameshwari.
The sculpture is among hundreds of stolen cultural artefacts amounting to over $148 million in an ongoing international art smuggling case. They are believed to have been looted and sold to museums by disgraced New York art dealer Subhash Kapoor, 65, who is awaiting trial in India on charges of theft and smuggling.
After a formal request by the government of India, the Asian Civilisations Museum will return a bronze statue of Uma Parameshvari, which was identified as stolen in the recent high-profile antiquities looting case of Subhash Kapoor.
Statue of Uma Parameshvari to be returned by the Asian Civilisations Museum. Source: Straits Times 20151020
Asian Civilisations Museum to return ‘stolen’ 11th-century artefact to India
The Straits Times, 20 October 2015
Asian Civilisations Museum to return sculpture identified as stolen from India
Channel NewsAsia, 19 October 2015
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) said yesterday it would return a sculpture identified as stolen, upon the request of the Indian government.
‘Stolen’ artefact puts murky issues in spotlight
The Straits Times, 23 October 2015The 11th-century bronze sculpture depicting Hindu goddess Uma Parameshvari is among hundreds of stolen cultural artefacts amounting to over $148 million in an ongoing international art smuggling case. They are believed to have been looted and sold to museums by disgraced New York art dealer Subhash Kapoor, 65, who is awaiting trial in India on charges of theft and smuggling.
In a press statement, the ACM said it had bought the sculpture from Kapoor’s now-defunct gallery Art of the Past for US$650,000 (S$900,000) in 2007.
Full story here and here.