St Xavier’s ancient history dept to curate exhibition on prehistoric artefacts, palaeontological fossils, heritage artisans
Dr Anita Rane-Kotare, HOD of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (AIHCA) at St Xavier’s College; (right) Metal artefacts and idols from the 10th and 11th century AD. Pics/Shadab Khan
St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, is set to guide students through India’s fascinating history with its annual exhibition of archaeological relics on Wednesday, January 31. The Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (AIHCA) will showcase the skills and technology of ancient times.
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The highlight of this year’s Vividha exhibition, themed “Kaushalya” (Skill), includes prehistoric and historic Indian artefacts, jewellery, tools, ancient coins in gold, silver, and copper, as well as paleontological fossils.
“Vividha is a unique festival aimed at presenting ancient arts and technology in a simple yet cost-effective manner as well as celebrating the culture and heritage of India,” said Dr Anita Rane-Kothare, the head of the department.
“For 25 years, AIHCA has curated exhibitions with various themes, ranging from ancient board games to textiles, Ayurveda, dolls, and even footwear from various places in Maharashtra. This year’s focus on “Kaushalya” aims to shed light on skills from ancient times, some of which are fading away as younger generations move towards modern careers,” she added.
Kothare further explained, “The exhibition serves to showcase ancient skills and the knowledge system through artefacts, sculptures, coins, jewellery, and fossils found in India. The diverse exhibits cover topics such as fossils, coin-making, stone sculptures, metal crafts, wooden and terracotta artefacts, and jewellery.”
As part of the preparation, students at AIHCA were seen cleaning old sculptures, setting the stage for the exhibition. Visitors can expect to explore palaeontological fossils, prehistoric stone tools, terracotta artefacts and jewellery from different periods in Indian history. The exhibition also features stalls by heritage artisans, promoting regional cuisine like Zhunka Bhakar, all aimed at fostering cultural awareness and historical learning among students.
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