Indian History and Culture

Rekha Pande
University of Hyderabad
 Structure of the Talk
 Understanding of Culture- Distinct features
 Religion
 Architecture
 Sculpture
 Paintings
 Ramlila
 Music
 Dance
 Food
 Conclusions
 What is culture?
 When we talk of culture, we refer to the knowledge of a
particular group of people, encompassing language, cuisine,
social habits, music, art, architecture, philosophy and religion.
 Culture is the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience,
beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, material objects
and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of
time.
 Culture is is never fixed. It is essentially fluid and constantly in
motion.
 How do we sum up the culture of India through the five
thousand years in a matter of an hour ?
 Diversity of India
 India, a vast country with a lot of diversity in her physical and social
environment.
 People speak different languages, have different religions and practice
different rituals.
 Diversities in their food habits and dress patterns, music and dance forms.
 But within all these diversities there is an underlying unity which acts as a
cementing force.
 The intermingling of people has been steadily taking place in India over
centuries. A number of people of different racial stock, ethnic backgrounds
and religious beliefs have settled down here.
 The composite and dynamic character of Indian culture is a result of the
rich contributions of all these diverse cultural groups over a long period of
time.
 Civilization
 Civilization is sometimes used as just another word for culture.
 As a matter of fact, civilization is that stage in the cultural development of a
people when they begin to live in large habitations called cities, which represent
a higher level of material life or a higher standard of living.
 Indian culture is made up of two different aspects, the individual mind and the
social mind.
 The Indian mind, comprises of the common outlook, the common
temperament.
 The social mind, which is the intellectual influences of various movements and
cultures which have been incorporated over a period of time.
 It is that cultural community which makes the Indians, despite regional limitations
and variety of faiths and languages, regard themselves as a single integrated
whole.
 It is this concept of a single national entity that forms the ingredients of national
integration, which is nothing but the spirit of cohesive co-existence between
diverse cultural and linguistic communities.
 Continuity and Diversity
 There are two important features that stand out as far as our culture is
concerned and these are continuity and diversity.
 Indian culture has survived the ravages of time, and we have
preserved and propagated our cultural heritage in spite of military
invasions and political upheavals.
 Indian literature, art and architecture and the rich historical and
cultural heritage are a proof of this.
 These were transmitted to posterity through a sound system of
education which was an oral tradition to begin with, and was
commuted into writing much later and this was responsible for the
heritage of India to survive.
 A Unity in the diversity
 There is, a diversity in our culture and yet in spite of this diversity, there
is an essential unity which can be seen through the ages.
 Each and every group or society that came to India added to this
rich tapestry. The soul of India is, as evidenced through the ages,
overcoming and assimilating or adorning and adapting to her
peculiar conditions from every foreign influence with which she
came in contact or conflict.
 Despite major changes and upheavals significant threads of
continuity can be traced throughout the course of Indian history right
up to the present day.
 It is amazing that even today the pattern of a housing, agriculture,
marriage rituals and festivals are a continuation of the earlier period
and India has a living culture.
 Intermingling of people

 The reason for the variety in our culture is the intermingling among
various ethnic groups.
 Since time immemorial, people from far and near have been
coming and settling here.
 We find people belonging to different racial stocks like the Proto-
Australoids, the Negroids and the Mongoloids living in India.
 Various ethnic groups like Iranians, Greeks, Kushans, Shakas, Huns,
Arabs, Turks, Mughals and Europeans also came to India, settled
here and intermixed with the local population.
 The people belonging to other cultures brought their cultural habits,
thoughts and ideas, which got amalgamated into the existing
culture.
 Travel among Indians

 In spite of physical barriers, Indians used to travel from one part of the
country to another for trade or pilgrimage.
 Some regions were joined together through conquests or by alliance.
 As a result, people transmitted cultural habits and thoughts from one part
of the country to the other.
 Military campaigns too took people from one place to another. This helped
in exchanging ideas.
 Despite geographical diversity and climatic variations, where we have high
mountains, low lands, forests, deltas, deserts, semi arid tropics, Climate and
the landscape has also been a unifying factor.
 The Monsoon’s
 The system of monsoons is the most
important component of the Indian
climatic pattern.
 This gives unity to the whole country.
 Festivals
Vaisakhi in Punjab,
Nabanna in Bengal,
Magh Bihu in Assam,
Pongal in Tamilnadu,
Onam in Kerala,
Nuakhai in Odhisa
Sankranti in Telangana/Andhra Pradesh

All are celebrated as harvest

festivals.
 Unity of Political Form-Ancient
This Unity is reflected in our political forms as well.
Humans used to move from place to place in search of pastures. But as these
people started practicing agriculture, they settled down. This settled life led to
community development and growth of towns which needed rules and
regulations
Thus emerged a political organisation. Several tribal or the clans based
assemblies such as the Sabha, Samiti, Vidatha, Gana are mentioned in the
Vedas. They exercised deliberative, military and religious functions
In course of time, the concept of rashtra emerged and possession of territory
became the new measure of power.
The period from sixth to fourth century BC is known as the age of Mahajan padas
in India. Subsequently large empires were also established with emperors, such as
Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya , Samudra Gupta exercising absolute powers.
 Medieval Period
 On the political front the thirteenth to sixteenth century
saw the decline of an all powerful state and the rise of a
number of provincial and regional states.
 This period saw an economic organization which was
considerably superior to the earlier one.
 In 14th century there was a growth in towns and expansion
in craft production and commerce.
 The increase in commerce can be seen in the increase of
coinage as a result of the transfer of stored silver and gold
into minted money.
 The Mughals also established a vast empire in India and
brought in a lot of influence of Persia in our art and culture.
 The British
 The East India Company played its part in expanding the territories.
When the British established themselves in India from 1858, India
became a part of the British Empire.
 The British period saw a release of forces to fight the foreign power and
an upsurge of nationalism reflected in political mobilization, literary
revival and the pride in our religion and culture.
 In 1947, we were able to gain our freedom after a long struggle,
though the pains pf partition and the division of the country into two
left a scar.
 Today India is a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic
and a uniform system of government prevails over the length and
breadth of the country and democracy has taken strong roots.
 Religion in India
 India's artistic traditions are ancient and deeply rooted in religion Hinduism is
the oldest religion in the world.
 Hinduism is world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Also
known as "Sanatan Dharma" or the everlasting religion.
 Hindu religion is based on the concept that human and animal spirits come
back to earth to live many times in different forms. The Hindus believe that a
soul moves up and down hierarchy on the basis of behavior.
 There is a huge diaspora of Indians in US, U.K. Canada, Africa, Australia and
many other countries.
 The evolution of Hinduism is not a linear progression from a founder through
an organizational system, with sects branching off. It is rather the mosaic of
distinct cults, deities, sects, ideas and the adjusting, juxtaposing or distancing
of these to the existing ones.
 Beginnings of religion
 The beginning of Indian religion can be seen in the Indus River Valley Civilization
nearly 5000 years ago where we have found evidence of public worship, some
figurines of Gods and Goddesses.
 This was further developed as Sanatan Dharma, when the Aryans enter 4000 -
3500 years ago. The Vedic Tradition 3500 – 2500 years ago. It has many rituals and
many gods (polytheism) sacred texts (Vedas) social stratification (caste system)
 Upanishads (metaphysical philosophy) 2800 – 2400 years ago. Vedic Tradition
develops into Hindu thought and philosophy.
 A very important aspect of Indian religion and the performance of ones duty in
this life was considered as fourfold,
 Dharma, the discharge of one's duty as rationally conceived as an aspect of
social ethics
 Artha, the ordering of one's worldly concerns so as to conduce to happiness;
 Kama, the enjoyment of pleasures, sensual as well as sensuous ; and
 Moksha, the disentangling of oneself from ephemeral pleasures and joys unto
infinity.
 Hinduism
 Hinduism can never be viewed as one monolith tradition.
 It is polytheistic( belief in more than one God), monotheistic ( belief in
one God)and monistic ( one single concept related to existence).
 Many Gods and Goddesses are worshipped, some of them in forms that
are at a considerable distance from Sanskritic textual depictions. Visnu,
Shiva and Devi are the principal deities but they have many forms and
there are many more deities.
 Through out history there have been various independent reform
movements which questioned the authority of the Vedas and created an
alternative religious space through various mean.
 The bhakti and Sufi movements were such movement in medieval India .
 Movement by newly emerging social groups.
Bhakti Saints
 Sufi Movement
 Sufi Saints also preached the essential oneness of God and
that all men and women are equal in the eyes of God.
 They practiced the exercises ascetics, contemplation,
renunciation and self-denial.
 Although Bhakti and Sufi movements could not eliminate the
gap between Hindus and Muslims, they have certainly
achieved the necessary harmony between different religious
groups.
 These movements have fostered an agreement between
Hinduism and Islam, and respect for others.
Sufis in India
 Efflorescence of Indian Culture through
Art /Religion

India occupies an exalted position in the realm

of art of the ancient world.
If the Greeks excelled in the portrayal of the
physical charm of the human body,
 the Egyptians in the grandeur of their pyramids
and
the Chinese in the beauty of their landscapes,
the Indians were unsurpassed in transmitting the
spiritual contents into their art.
 Art/Architecture
 The architecture of the various temples and the exquisite sculptures and
paintings is a testimony to the beauty of Indian art.
 The Indian artists visualized the qualities of various gods and goddesses as
mentioned in their scriptures and infused these qualities into their images.
 A sense of narrative a taste for decoration, keenness of observations are
clearly brought out in each sculpture. Indian art is a blend of symbolism and
reality, spirituality and sensuality.
 Indian art is the greatest lesson of continuity from pre-historic times to the
present age. The epics Ramayana /Mahabhara have inspired most of our
Indian art.
 This was further developed as secular form in the Fresco and miniature
paintings.
 This art then spread to the neighboring regions and outside the boundary of
India.
Ajanta Caves
 Ajanta paintings
 A glance at many paintings in Ajanta
caves and sculptures of the early period
will confirm that earlier Indians wore
clothes which were unstitched.
 The coming of Kushans, Sakas and
Parthenian brought in stitched cloth to
India.
 India through the ages has shown a
remarkable capacity for assimilation of
ideas.
 This has contributed to the variety and
richness of our culture.
 Ajanta Paintings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caves
Indian Sculptures in Temples
Didarganj Yakshi, Patna
Museum
This life-size standing image is tall,
well-proportioned, free-standing
sculpture is made of sandstone
with well polished surface.

The silent-guardians, to bring in

peace, prosperity, fertility.

Shalbhanjika Yakshi,
Khajuraho
Temple architecture, Badami

 Badami known as Vatapi in the

earlier times, situated in North
Karnataka, founded in 540 AD by
Pulikeshin I.
 The groups of monuments
located in the town of Badami
and villages of Aihole, Nagaral
and Pattadakal, of Bagalkot
district, along Malprabha river is
the contribution of the eastern
Chalukya Dynasty (6th-8th century
CE)
Kailash Temple

 The Dravidian or Pallava style was

adopted by the Rashtrakuta
Rulers also as can be seen in the
famous Kailash Temple at Ellora
nearAurangabad(Maharashtra).
 There are three groups of rock cut
temples in Ellora – Buddhist, Jain
and Brahmanical. The Kailash
Temple is a marvelous piece of
rock architecture and sculpture .
 It was built by the Rashtrakuta
King Krishna 1 in the 8th Century
A.D.
KHAJURAHO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho
_Group_of_Monuments
 Mahishasuramardini
• Durga killing the buffalo-
demon Mahishasura .
• Represented in iconography
in all the major sculptural
traditions of India.
 Constant flow of people and ideas

 Caravans of people and streams of thought constantly moved and

flowed between India and Central Asia, resulting in intimate cultural
relations between these two regions.
 Indian medical ideas, herbs and methods of treatment were also
transmitted from Baghdad to distant parts of the Caliphate.
 Manaka who had cured Caliph Harun Al-Rashid, was appointed as
an in charge of a bureau of translation for rendering Sanskrit works
on medicine into Arabic.
 The earliest works on medicine by Charaka and Su'sruta are
frequently referred to by Razi and Ibn Sina in their works.
 Religious/
Secular Architecture
 Islamic architecture in India also has
two aspects, religious and secular.

 Mosques and Tombs represent the

religious architecture, while palaces
and forts provide examples of
secular Islamic architecture.

 Forts took an essentially functional

design, complete with a little
township within and various
fortifications to engage and repel
the enemy.
Meaning of miniature

 From the Latin word, Minium, meaning red lead, for principal pigment.
 Artist known as Miniatori.
 Slowly any thing small in size.
 Any painting on Vellum(fine skin), copper, ivory, paper, manuscripts.
Sultan Husain Nizam shah on throne

 Imitation of the technique of

fresco painting of Vijaynagar.
 On top the blue background,
and yellow top becomes an
alcove.
 Sensuous lines in depicting
women.
 Woman seated one level below.
Two other paintings
Yogini painting from Bijapur

 Dt. 1605, by a Dublin painter.

 Extravagantly dressed, secretly

communicating with a mynah bird. Has
European features.
 Fantastic plants around her, a white
palace behind like Renaissance
painting. Treatment of rocks from
Persian Kalams.
 Plants more like those on Chinese
vases, which came to Deccan via sea
ports, through Dutch merchants.
From Golconda

 Shows a coutesan wearing diaphonous

robes of pink, while her veil and border
of painting are green.
 Holds a bird in her left hand and wears
necklace of pearls.
 Dress decorated with roses and has a
sensuous form and overall impression is
of sensuality.
 Covering is not to hide the flesh but to
accentuate it.
Bijapur

Maid carrying a fruit basket.

Richly decorated and
sensuous.
European Themes

Madonna and child.

No sexuality enhanced. The
breasts are now a source of
nutrition. Fully covered.
Madonna and child

Again fully covered.

Wears jewellery.
Framed in a Border, with
light yellow and orange
colour.
 Ramlila/ Continuities

 Rama is the seventh avatar of the Hindu god  Performance arts are an ancient Indian
Vishnu and the central figure of tradition, with the Sanskrit Hindu text Natya
the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic that integrates
performance arts with stories driven by ethical
Shastra explaining the importance
values. of performance as follows:[
 The epic text is dated to 1st millennium BCE,  Let Nātya (drama and dance) be the
and Ramlila is an adaptation of those stories fifth Vedic Scripture.
 Most Ramlilas in North India are based on the Combined with an epic story,
16th century secondary work on tending to virtue, wealth, joy and spiritual
Ramayana, Ramcharitramanas a verse form freedom,
composition in the regional vernacular it must contain the significance of every
language scripture,
 The Ramlila festivities were declared by and forward every art.
UNESCO as one of the "Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity" in 2008.
The Ramayana relief artwork in 8th
century Cave 16 of Ellora.
Baluchari saree from West Bengal
 Chitrakoot Ramlila

 In Varanasi, around 477 years ago, was born the earliest Ramleela known to
the world as Chitrakoot ground Ramlila.

 Celebrated for five days every year in the last week of February at
Chitrakoot, beginning from the Maha Shivratri day.
Varanasi Ramlila

The Ramlila festival

(October-November) is
celebrated with great
fevour at Varanasi.
Jhankis and pageants
depicting scenes from
the life of lord Rama
are taken out.
235 year Old Ramnagar Ramlila
Ramlila at Ayodhya

 Ayodhya is popular for

mandali Ramlilas.
 The performance is
dialogue, based and
presented on a platform
stage.
 High standard of
performance is
complemented by songs
and kathak dances and
eyecatching décor.
Kumaoni Ramlila

 The festival of Dussehra is

celebrated with great pomp and
show all over Kumaon.
 Various Ramilas are enacted
depicting the story of lord Rama's
victory over the demon king,
Ravana.
 The Almora Dussehra procession
is unique with huge effigies of
gods, heroes and demons
paraded through the streets.
Garhwal Ramlila
 Significance of Ramlila
 Ramlila not only about staging of the ancient Hindu
epic – Ramayana, but is a social platform involving
lakhs of people cutting across all political, caste,
religious and economic barriers.
 Over the centuries, Ramlila has evolved into a
highly venerated art form, and has travelled to far
corners of the globe, through Indian Diaspora, not
as acts of "cultural recovery", rather as fresh
expressions of a persistent faith.
 Ramlila depicts the victory of good over evil, apart
from providing a strong feeling of brotherhood and
common bonding.
 Muslims participate in a large numbers.
 Music

 Vedic Age (2000-1000BC) mentions a number of

musical instruments
 Sama Veda gives three types of notes – Udatta,
anudatta and swaritha
 Mention in Rig Veda of – Veena, Vanshi (Flute) and
Damaru
 It appears that a form of music – Jati music came
into vogue and Buddhist and Jain scriptures refer to
it
 Kalidasa’s Abhignana Sakuntalam clearly shows an
attempt in blending poetry with Classical music
 Jati Music and Dhrupad

 Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda ---has songs in the

form of sonnet. These songs were in tunes based
on jati music and were known as Prabhandas.
Gradually Sanskrit poems rendered into Bhraj
bhasa. Musical style- Dhrupad
 Reign of Aladdin Khilji – great development in
Music
 His minister Amir Khusrau – credit of composing
many melodies and great deal to the rhythmic
patterns
 Amir Khusru
 His greatest inventions were Sitar and
Tabla musical instruments
 Known as father of Qawwali.
 Besides this attributed with , qaul,
qalbana, tarana, khayal, sohela and
baseet, and ragas such as aiman,
sazgeeri, ushshaq, bakharaz and even
talas such as soolfakhta.
 However, though having great interest
in music he did not mention having
invented anything in music, even though
he boasts so much about his innovations
in poetry and language.
 Music under Mughals

 Great impetus to Bhakthi concept was given from

the end of 15th century and this helped to the
spread of Classical music to the masses….path to
reach the Supreme
 Sufism led to the introduction of musical instruments
which were used in Qwwalis in praise of God –
amalgamation of both the cultures
 Under Akba, music reached its zenith.In his court
there were thirty six experts in the art of music.
 Chief among them were Tansen Baiju Bawra and
Ramdas.
 Carnatik Music in South India

 References to Music could be seen in Sangam literature

 Carnatic music – played a significant role in the courtly
life of the kings – gave lot of impetus to dance and
music
 Bhakti movement –Post 10th century saw the growth of
Hymn singing in temples as temples became a
important cultural centers
 Carnatic Music – gave scientific basis to classical Music
 Hindustani Music – gave prominence to aesthetic
aspect
 Vijayanagar Period

 Vijayanagar period saw the

music at its zenith – Pillars of
Hampi known as
saptaswaras- give seven
notes of music – Sa ri ga ma
pa da ni
 Post Vijayanagar period
saw the rise of Tanjore,
Madurai and Mysore
Nayakas
 Tanjore – famous as musical
center
 Classical and Folk dances

 As with other aspects of Indian Culture different

forms of dances originated in different parts of Folk dances and plays in India retain
India, developed according to the local
traditions and also imbibed elements from other significance in rural areas as the
parts of the country expression of the daily work and
 Sangeet Natya Academy, recognizes eight rituals of village communities
traditional dances ribal Dances in India are inspired by
 Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu. the tribal folklore. Each ethnic group
 Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh and western India. has its own distinct combination of
 Kathakali, from Kerala. myths, legends, tales, proverbs,
 Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh. riddles, ballads, folk songs, folk
 Odissi, from Odisha.
dance, and folk music
 Sattriya, from Assam.
 Manipuri, from Manipur.
 Mohiniyattam, from Kerala.
Dances
India’s Food Map
 Fusion and Food

 Today every very well-known Indian dish is the

product of a long history of invasion and the fusion of
different food traditions.
 The food that we Indians have been eating has
been, over the millennia, steadily evolving both in
variety and taste( Zayka)
 The food habits and preferences of Indians have
changed in stages over the last 4000 years, from the
Indus Valley days through the Vedic times and after
the influence of Buddhist and Jain thought, and their
impact on the Dharma Sutras and Arthasastra of
around 300 BC, to Mughals, Europeans and British.
Philosophy of food

 According to the traditional Indian

medical system Ayurveda, food is of
three kinds.
 sattvic
 rajasic
 tamasic
 Depending on its character and effect
upon the body and the mind.
 DELHI SULTANATE

Delhi Sultanate rule comprised of many dynastic rule. ( Slave Dynasty, Khilji’s, Tughlaq, Sayyid and
Lodhis).
Sultans of Delhi generally sought to emulate the tradition of the Shah’s of Persia.
Generally food of aristocrat’s include sweet sherbet, Nan i tandoori (bread filled with a sweet paste and dried
fruit), roasted meat (shiwawoon), Sambusa or samosa, mutton, halvas, Sweet beverage, wine(fuqqa), and
followed by the betel quid or Tambul.
They have appointed Chasnigir,(taster of the food) Whose works was to ensure
food cooked properly and free from poison. Most of the nobles also had their own
private kitchens(Matbakhs).
Medieval Rulers
 Dastarkhan culture also becoming more popular in the Delhi Sultanate. (A
Persian word means elaborate table cloth and a lavish meals of many dishes).
Khichari( Indian dish which later becomes favorite of Mughals), Nahari( a meat
stew with aromatic gravy).
 Meals. Pulao, Murg muslam, biryani, thin and round breads, meat cooked with
onions, ghee, and green ginger.
 Kulfi the Mughal way
 Kulfi is a contribution of
Mughals.
 The delicious cold kulfi
was made at court by
freezing a mixture of khoa,
pista nuts and zafran
essence in a metal cone
after sealing the open top
with dough. (The only
modification today is to
use aluminium or plastic
cones with their own
caps).
 Falooda
 Jahangir, unlike his father, enjoyed
meat, but will be remembered for
popularizing falooda (a jelly made
from boiled wheat strainings mixed
with fruit juices and cream).
 Commoners food
• The common people eat sufficient quantity of food for the
survival and to keep up their strength to fight against the
changes in the weather.
• They consumed so little as it seems that they survive by the air.
• Free eating houses on the basis of different communities.
a. Khairapurah (hindus)
b. Dharmpurah (muslims)
c. Jogipura (jogis)
• Even Bulghur Khana and Langar khana opened for all the
people.
 Portuguese



 British attitude to Indian
food



 Shiqar festivals


 When the British left


 British contribution to Indian food

 British made little

contribution to Indian
food.
 Fish and chips or
Yorkshire pudding pale in
comparison to what we
got from the Arabs,
Portuguese and
Moghuls, but the British
did sensitise us to at least
one fruit, namely the
apple.
 Apples


 After independence



 Food Revolution



 Spices


Indian Policies and Philosophy

 The concept of coexistence is a central feature of our culture.

 It has not been confined to the geographical and political boundaries of
the country.
 India has a universal outlook and it has been promoting the message of
peace and harmony to the entire world.
 India has been raising a strong voice against racialism and colonialism.
 It has protested against the formation of power blocks in the world. In fact
India became one of the founder members of the non-aligned movement.
 India is committed to the development of other underdeveloped nations.
 India has been discharging her responsibilities as a part of the world
fraternity and has been contributing to the progress of the world.
 Conclusions
 Indian culture, has been molded for thousands of years and it is not a
monolith culture. It is liberal and has a lot of space for every one.
 From time to time we had various movements that questioned the
existing hierarchies and achieved a space for themselves.
 There have been two guiding principles of our culture,
 Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit phrase found in Maha Upanishad,
which means "the world is one family".
 Vaishnava Jana to tene kahiye , Pir parayi jane re., a bhajan, written in the
15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta. Call those people Vaisnava , who
feel the pain of others.
 Help those who are in misery, but never let conceit enter their mind.
 Summing up
 Contemporary India reverberates with the echoes of the past
and gives them new shape and form each day.
 Indian culture is a composite culture, because it has been
impacted by Hinduism on the one hand and Islam and other
cultures on the other.
 From the past societies, to the present, it had accepted many
ideas and influences from the different civilizations of the
world, with which it came in touch and adopted many
features of these as its own.
 India is a secular country with different religions, faiths, ideas,
belief systems etc.
 We need to protect this in the interest and vibrancy of our
culture.
Thank You