W O R L D

Special to the tribune
Now, a foundation in London to preserve Deccan treasures
A new foundation to help study and preserve the architectural treasures of the Deccan is being launched in London this Sunday. The Deccan Heritage Foundation has the backing of key academicians and preservationists who want to help preserve the cultural heritage of the region, to make it more accessible to the wider public and create greater awareness within local communities.

Resplendent ruins: One of the temples at the heritage site at Hampi in Andhra Pradesh.

Pak cannot be asked to do more: Gilani
Islamabad, September 29
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today countered US accusations linking the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to terror groups in Afghanistan, calling them "surprising", while stating that his country cannot be pressured to "do more" in the war against terror. 

Special to the tribune
Now, a foundation in London to preserve Deccan treasures
Shyam Bhatia in London

A new foundation to help study and preserve the architectural treasures of the Deccan is being launched in London this Sunday.

The Deccan Heritage Foundation has the backing of key academicians and preservationists who want to help preserve the cultural heritage of the region, to make it more accessible to the wider public and create greater awareness within local communities.

One of the temples at Hampi.

They define the Deccan, home of the fabulous Koh-i-Noor diamond, as incorporating Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. It has a prestigious history and culture which has produced some of the finest architecture of the subcontinent, an inventive regional cuisine and a creative literature.

The stated goals of the foundation are to study and help preserve all historic monuments in the Deccan, to record, photograph and digitise these historic monuments to make them accessible to a wider public, create awareness through educational programmes on how the sustainable preservation of historic monuments is socially and economically beneficial, organise events, publish books and commission films to showcase the monuments and cultural heritage of the Deccan and, finally, nurture community interest to safeguard the monuments, cultural heritage and natural environment of the region.

A spokesman for London auctioneers Bonhams, which is sponsoring the event on Sunday, said, “It was from this region that diamonds were mined for centuries and sent in great quantities to become part of the inventories of such royal households, as that of the Duc de Berry, the King of France, Charles V and the crown of Giovanna di Borgogna.”

“By the 16th century, the Deccani twin cities of Golkonda and Hyderabad became the most important diamond trading centre in India, which is why the earliest known diamonds in the world are known as Golkonda and are prized for their incredible transparency and whiteness. One of the most famous Golkonda diamonds is the Koh-i-Noor which after a long and turbulent history reached England in the 19th century and is now set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the English Royal Crown,” he said.

Bonhams highlights the significance of the local Dakhni language, described as an amalgam of Urdu, Marathi, Konkani, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Persian and Turkish, and says it reflects a multi-ethnic world where different ethnicities and religious denominations co-existed in a tolerant symbiosis from the 13th century onwards.

The Bonhams spokesman added that the region is home to “an array of historically important and artistically diverse and beautiful Buddhist, Hindu Jain, Islamic and Christian monuments. Among these is the well-known temple site of Hampi-Vijayanagar, the capital of the most important Hindu Empire which reflects the dialogue between local and Indo-Islamic traditions”.

One of the trustees of the foundation is Cathy Ann Giangrande, who has worked as a preservationist at New York’s Metropolitan Museum and is now trying to help raise funds for the foundation’s work. She says the trustees are concerned by the rapid decay of many Deccan monuments, some of which are not even recorded. She describes them as “off the beaten track” and “quite spectacular”.

Another founding trustee is Dr George Michell, whose PhD thesis was on early Chalukya temple architecture. He is the author/editor of books on the medieval architecture of southern India.

Next year, the trustees are inviting supporters to participate in a Deccan Heritage Foundation tour of the region that starts in Hyderabad and takes in Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Hampi and Hubli - West of Hampi - before ending in Mumbai. The cost per participant is estimated at £4,500. 

Pak cannot be asked to do more: Gilani

Islamabad, September 29
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today countered US accusations linking the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to terror groups in Afghanistan, calling them "surprising", while stating that his country cannot be pressured to "do more" in the war against terror. "Pressure cannot be put on Pakistan to do more (in the war on terrorism). Our national interests must be respected under all circumstances," Gilani said while opening a meeting of the country's political leadership that he convened to forge a consensus response to tensions with the US. The premier rejected allegations by senior US officials, including military chief Adm Mike Mullen, linking the ISI agency to the Haqqani network and recent terror attacks in Afghanistan, saying these accusations were a cause of concern for Pakistan. Referring to steps taken by Pakistan to back the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and a sudden spurt in terror attacks in the neighbouring country, Gilani said: “In the light of these events in Afghanistan, the US leadership's statements were surprising for us as they were contrary to Pakistan's sacrifices and successes against terrorism and extremism.” He added, “While rejecting all these accusations, we have focussed on positive and responsible ways to resolve these problems.” Enhancing positive and deeper contacts at all levels alone can pave the way for solving these problems, he said. Gilani said "all doors for dialogue are open" to resolve differences with the US.

At the same time, Pakistan expects the cooperation of the world community, Gilani said. In an apparent response to US threats of unilateral action against terrorist groups like the Haqqani network based in Pakistan's tribal belt, Gilani said, “The nation is proud of its armed forces and they have never disappointed us in matters of defending the country.” "We will be united to take on these challenges. While setting aside political differences, my request is that all attention should be focussed on challenges facing the country so that people in Pakistan and the outside world see we are fully united on matters of national security," he said. Pakistan's political leadership and the people are fully committed to defend the geographical boundaries of their motherland and its independence and sovereignty, he contended. Gilani convened the meeting of the top leadership of political and religious parties to fashion a united response to the US accusations linking the ISI to the Haqqani network as well as growing pressure from the Obama administration to crack down on the Taliban and Al-Qaida elements in the tribal belt. The premier's speech was followed by in-camera briefings by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who returned yesterday from a visit to the US, and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha. The meeting was also attended by Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne. — PTI 

US sanctions on Haqqani commanders

‘Bollywood’ drummer plotted to blow up Pentagon

Washington, September 29
The FBI has arrested a 26-year-old man, a suspected Al- Qaida follower, for plotting to attack the Pentagon and US Capitol with large remote-controlled aircraft filled with deadly C-4 plastic explosives.

Rezwan Ferdaus, a US citizen and a physics graduate, went by the name "Bollywood" when he played drums in a Massachusetts band.

He was also charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organisation, specifically to the Al-Qaida, in order to carry out attacks on US soldiers stationed overseas. He was arrested in Framingham, Massachusetts.

The public was never in danger from the explosive devices, which were controlled by undercover FBI employees, an official statement said.

According to an affidavit, in recorded conversations, Ferdaus stated that he planned to attack the Pentagon using aircraft similar to "small drone airplanes" filled with explosives and guided by the GPS equipment.

In April 2011, Ferdaus expanded his plan to include an attack on the US Capitol.During a June 2011 meeting, he appeared gratified when he was told that his first phone detonation device had killed three US soldiers and injured four others in Iraq. — PTI