scholarly journals Kaavi Kalé: The indigenous architectural ornamentation technique of the Konkan Coast, India

Author(s):  
Janardhan Rao Havanje ◽  
Caroline D’Souza

At the foothills of the formidable Western Ghats of India lies a coastal strip of land, the Konkan Coast, which forms part of the extended coastline along the west coast of the country. The unique culture found in the Konkan coastal landscape has produced a magnificent ornamental style named Kaavi Kalé. Kaavi, or kavé, means in this context “red oxide”, while kalé means “art form”. It is fundamentally an incised work performed on an architectural surface that has been previously finished with lime plaster and then a red oxide layer over it. This forms elaborate murals and motifs inspired by the unique folklore of Dravidian culture. Although predominantly found in Hindu temples, this secular art form can also be seen in churches, a mosque, Jain temples and folk deity temples, as well as in domestic architecture. This paper presents the history of the art form, its techniques, a brief iconographic study of its compositions and possible methods of conservation, through accounts of extensive primary surveys and on-site experiments and a study of secondary sources.

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namera C. Karun ◽  
Kandikere R. Sridhar

Inventory in different locations of the Western Ghats and west coast of India during 2011–2013 yielded six species of geasters (<em>Geastrum fimbriatum</em>, <em>G. lageniforme</em>, <em>G. pseudostriatum</em>, <em>G. saccatum</em>, <em>G. schweinitzii</em> and <em>G. triplex</em>). Based on fresh basidiomata, illustrations of geasters are presented with macroscopic and microscopic observations. Fruit bodies of <em>G. lageniforme</em> were gregarious and abundant followed by <em>G. triplex</em>, while <em>G. pseudostriatum</em> were rare and solitary. Among the geasters, <em>G. triplex</em> was ectomycorrhizal with native tree <em>Terminalia paniculata</em> of the west coast. <em>Geastrum fimbriatum</em>, <em>G. pseudostriatum</em> and <em>G. schweinitzii</em> constitute the first record for the Western Ghats of India. Distribution, substrate preference, ectomycorrhizal features, economic value and conservation of geasters are discussed.


1982 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 61-76
Author(s):  
Finn Fuglestad

At some undefined time in the fairly recent past central and western Madagascar witnessed a conceptual 'revolution' which had far-reaching political consequences. The religious beliefs and symbols which constituted the main ingredients of this 'revolution'--and probably also the people who propagated them--were in some way connected with the Zafindraminia-Antanosy and the Anteimoro of the southeastern and eastern coast. It is quite clear that these and similar groups had been strongly influenced by Islam and that they practiced what could perhaps be described as a corrupt or diluted Islam or a syncretic 'pagan' Muslim religion. (It is significant that as their name indicates the Zafindraminia claim descent from Raminia who they hold to have been the mother of Muhammad.) One of the main ingredients of this religion was the cult of the ody or guardian amulets, objects usually made of wood which are strikingly reminiscent of the so-called “charms” or “gris-gris” sold by Muslim clerics over much of Africa. Another ingredient is represented by the institution of ombiasy. The ombiasy (the main manufacturers of ody) whom the Frenchman Etienne de Flacourt at Fort-Dauphin in the seventeenth century took to be Muslim clerics were originally the “priests” (or the “devins guérisseurs,” according to Hubert Deschamps) of the Anteimoro and the Zafindraminia-Antanosy. Subsequently this institution was disseminated throughout nearly the whole of Madagascar. Yet another ingredient was the system of divination known as sikidy, which also spread to other parts of Madagascar, including Imerina and the Sakalava country.These beliefs, symbols, and institutions deeply influenced the people of the west coast (the present-day Sakalava country) and of central Madagascar (Imerina and Betsileo country).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayesh Phadtare ◽  
Jennifer Fletcher ◽  
Andrew Ross ◽  
Andy Turner ◽  
Thorwald Stein ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Precipitation distribution around an orographic barrier is controlled by the Froude Number (Fr) of the impinging flow. Fr is essentially a ratio of kinetic energy and stratification of winds around the orography. For Fr &gt; 1 (Fr &lt;1), the flow is unblocked (blocked) and precipitation occurs over the mountain peaks and the lee region (upwind region). While idealized modelling studies have robustly established this relationship, its widespread real-world application is hampered by the dearth of relevant observations. Nevertheless, the data collected in the field campaigns give us an opportunity to explore this relationship and provide a testbed for numerical models. A realistic distribution of precipitation over a mountainous region in these models is necessary for flash-flood and landslide forecasting. The Western Ghats region is a classic example where the orographically induced precipitation leads to floods and landslides during the summer monsoon season. In the recent INCOMPASS field campaign, it was shown that the precipitation over the west coast of India occurred in alternate offshore and onshore phases. The Western Ghats received precipitation predominantly during the onshore phase which was characterized by a stronger westerly flow. Here, using the radiosonde data from a station over the Indian west coast and IMERG precipitation product, we show that climatologically, these phases can be mapped over an Fr-based classification of the monsoonal westerly flow. Classifying the flow as 'High Fr' (Fr &gt;1), 'Moderate Fr' ( 0.5 &lt; Fr &amp;#8804; 1) and 'Low Fr' ( Fr &amp;#8804; 0.5 ) gives three topographical modes of precipitation -- 'Orographic', 'Coastal' and 'Offshore', respectively. &amp;#160;Moreover, these modes are not sensitive to the choice of radiosonde station over the west coast.&lt;/p&gt;


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 517-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Gallagher ◽  
E J McGee ◽  
P I Mitchell

Data on radiocarbon (14C), 137Cs, 210Pb, and 241Am levels in an ombrotrophic peat sequence from a montane site on the east coast of Ireland are compared with data from a similar sequence at an Atlantic peatland site on the west coast. The 14C profiles from the west and east coasts show a broadly similar pattern. Levels increase from 100 pMC or less in the deepest horizons examined, to peak values at the west and east coast sites of 117 ± 0.6 pMC and 132 ± 0.7 pMC, respectively (corresponding to maximal fallout from nuclear weapons testing around 1964), thereafter diminishing to levels of 110–113 pMC near the surface. Significantly, peak levels at the east coast site are considerably higher than corresponding levels at the west coast site, though both are lower than reported peak values for continental regions. The possibility of significant 14C enrichment at the east coast site due to past discharges from nuclear installations in the UK seems unlikely. The 210Pbex inventory at the east coast site (6500 Bq m−2) is significantly higher than at the west coast (5300 Bq m−2) and is consistent with the difference in rainfall at the two sites. Finally, 137Cs and 241Am inventories at the east coast site also exceed those at the west coast site by similar proportions (east:west ratio of approximately 1:1.2).


1941 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Johnston

The Periplus Marts Erythræ describes the seaports below Barygaza in the following way according to Schoff's translation: “The market-towns of this region are, in order, after Barygaza: Suppara, and the city of Calliena, which in the time of the elder Saraganus became a lawful market-town; but since it came into the possession of Sandares [an unjustified conjecture for the text's Sandanes] the port is much obstructed, and Greek ships landing there may chance to be taken to Barygaza under guard. Beyond Calliena there are other market-towns of this region; Semylla.…” Suppara is now Sopara on the coast above Bassein, Semylla is Cemūla of two inscriptions, now Chaul, and Calliena is Kalyāṇa. This last, situated at the foot of the two regular ascents of the Western Ghats leading towards Nasik and Poona respectively and with good access to the sea, was the natural outlet for the commerce of the Andhra dominions on the west coast, and the notice, just quoted, shows how its trade was stifled, as the Kṣaharātas extended their rule southwards from Broach. It is unnecessary here to consider who are the kings alluded to in this passage or in the earlier one mentioning Nambanus (a conjecture for the text's Mambarus), but clearly we are dealing with the rivalry of the Western Satraps and the Andhra kings. That the former were successful in their policy towards Kalyāṇa is shown by Ptolemy's omission of the town. The order he gives (taking Renou's text) is Souppara mouth of the River Goaris, Dounga, mouth of the River Bêndas, Semyla.


The Abbasid Empire emerged as the main power ruling the Muslim world in the year 132H/750CE with its centre in Baghdad, after defeating the Umayyad Dynasty in the battlefield. The Abbasid Empire began to achieve its golden age during the era of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (171-193H/787-809CE). However, the Abbasids gradually experienced decline after the rise of the Turkic military which was brought en masse during the rule of Caliph al-Mu‘tasim (218-226H/833-841CE). The Turkic military began to seize power and some of them set up their own small kingdoms. The most influential leader among the Turkic was Amir Ahmad ibn Tulun (254-270H/868-884CE), who succeeded in founding the Tulunid Kingdom in Egypt. Thus the objective of this research is to examine in detail the biography of Amir Ibn Tulun and attempt to understand and appraise from history, his attitude, interests and authority as the leading Tulunid ruler. This is in view of the close relationship partially between an individual’s current interests and behaviour with the environment in which he grew up. This is a qualitative research using historical and biographical study. This research uses documentation as a method of collecting data by focusing on primary and secondary sources. Analysis of data is descriptive using content analysis and interpretation of sources based on historical interpretation. Research results find that Ibn Tulun succeeded in laying down the ultimate benchmark in the history of Egypt by establishing his domain extending from Syria to the borders of Iraq in the East and to Libya in the West, and declaring full independence from the Abbasid Dynasty centred in Baghdad at that time


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