Some Wonders of Indian Civilisation

It's a pity that some vested interests only show Taj Mahal as the ultimate in Indian architecture which is a great disservice to those aspiring to appreciate art and architecture without prejudices. I hope you enjoy by clicking the links below;

This blog is a work in progress so please bear with me.

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The purpose of this blog is just to provoke thinking-challenge our own thinking with an open mind. I came to the UK in 1996 with the history I was taught about India in tact. Once I began research for my second book I paid a closer attention to some of the stereotypical facts about India in light of several programmes on Indian history.

Just to compare the standard of Indian History taught in Indian schools I bought a travel guide on India. It was shocking to see that the Indian History books written by the so called eminent historians do not even have the academic standing of a travel guide publisher on India.

The travel guide I am talking about is "Eyewitness Travel Guides" by Dorling Kindersley or DK which is part of Penguin and a major supplier of school texts in Britain.

I think every Indian who wants to learn more about India should buy a copy of the DK's Eye Witness Travel Guide on both India and Europe. It has pictorial details on many of the ancient Indian cities, the plan, photos, details of construction and scale legends and myths associated with it.

The drydocks of Lothal - carbon dated to 2500 BC- historical significance. The world's oldest known dry dock proves that Indians had knowledge of navigation and shipbuilding techniques at least 2000 years earlier than the Greeks. Please see the link below;

http://www.google.com/images?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=LOTHAL&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=_gmGTKqvJpS7jAfw-rmuBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDwQsAQwAw&biw=1280&bih=873

The Submerged City in Bay of Kambhat- The objects recovered from the site such as a stone slab with mysterious markings probably the earliest form of writing, the submerged city has streets, houses, staircases and temples and is carbon dated to circa 8000 BC. However many vested interests unlike DK and the link below do not want to recognise it as it will make them re-write the World History written for us by the victors. Please see the link below.

http://www.spiritofmaat.com/announce/oldcity.htm

The Ajantha & Ellora Temples- They still call it Cave Temples but the fact of the matter is unlike the pyramids it was carved from top to bottom where the sculptors chiselled through 85,000 cubic meters (about 3 million cubic feet and is believed to be built in 8 century AD. This temple complex is 81 meter by47 meter and does not deserve to be called a cave temple.

http://www.google.com/images?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=ajantha%20and%20ellora%20temples&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=873

The Adilaj Vav- In Gujarat could be called a Step Well or could be called one of the finest pieces of architecture and sculptoring depending upon one's political correctness. Please see the link below. It was built around 1499 AD.

http://www.google.com/images?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=ADILAJ%20VAV&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=873

Another Intricately Carved Step Well in Gujarat- Remember working on granite is much harder than working on marble- Please compare this to the best swimming pools or roman baths anywhere in the world.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adityatva/2397366923/

The Brihadhishwara Temple-Built around 1000 AD this temple has an octoganal single piece granite weighing 80 tonnes atop the Vimanah at a height of 66 meters or about 217 ft. The Discovery Channel had a programme on this temple a few years ago- wondering how they managed to lift an 80 tonne object to a height of 217 ft without electricity or crane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Temple-Temple.jpg

It is many things contained in the DK's Travel Guides on India which might have influenced the world's best brains to extol the relative merits of Indian civilisation and philosophy as illustrated in one of my earlier blogs. Please see the link below.

http://bharatjohnson.sulekha.com/blog/post/2010/09/what-the-world-s-best-brains-said-about-ancient-india.htm

I tried to add the link for Belur-Halebeedu which is a UNESCO protected heritage but it is not working out. Anyone interested can search Belur-Halebeedu Google images to see the craftsmanship of the amazing architects, artisans and sculptors of this gem of a heritage.

There is more to add to this blog in due course.

Would love to receive your comments, criticisms etc.