Wednesday, December 12, 2007

lost and found and losing it again..




There is no recorded history of the early Andhra Kings. We have very less information about the early history of Andhra Kings whose territory extended up to Central India before the well-documented Satavahana period. The Satavahanas were a dynasty which ruled from Junnar, Prathisthapana (Maharashtra and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh over Southern and Central India from around 230 BCE onward.


The archaeological department did find a key to open the door to the past and unravel the secrets of the ancient kingdom, but sadly no one seems to be interested. And now we are on the verge of losing that key too.

In the preliminary excavations carried out by the archaeological department in 1978-83, 450 coins, gold beads,pottery, decorative art of the pre-satavahana period were found in Kotalingala village in Karimnagar district. These were found at an 120-acre site ay kotalingala with remnants of a fort, stupa, ancient Siva temple and open wells. But shockingly, a re-survey and systematic excavation have not taken place till date.

The discovery of pre-satavahana period coins showed that they belonged to king Gobada who was the first Andhra King and ruled from kotilingala , followed by Satavahana kings. Gobada is acknowledged as the first king who issued inscribed coins in the Andhra region.. Hence the discovery of the coins is considered significant in the numismatics(the study or collecting of coins) history of South India. Also, the coins could be instrumental in proving the antiquity of the Telugu language in comparison with the other Dravidian languages.

LOSING IT

However, there is a chance that this archaeological treasure trove could get submerged by the Yellampally project which is being undertaken to utilize the Godavari waters for irrigation. If this project, which is under progress, is completed, the whole site could be submerged under water. And with that, the sole hope of bringing the lost kingdoms into light. If the site is not protected and preserved, as it deserves to be, the past will be buried forever!!!!!!!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Green Economics

Debates, arguments, disturbing predictions, alarming facts…all this and more is happening at Bali where 190 countries of the world are meeting to discuss the urgent need to address the problem of climate change. We have finally realized, (or so it appears), the magnitude of the problem. Unless we act immediately, one-third of our plant and animal species is going to perish.

We have known about the greenhouse gases and their effects since ages, ( I remember learning abt it in school)… but now that the apocalypse is looming nearer, everybody has started talking about it..

OK. We need to counter this problem and reduce the emission of harmful gasses. The big question is…
How do we share this responsibility??
The rich nations have been a major source of these emissions so far and have done much damage in order to industrialize and develop their nations. Now the developing nations are being told to cut down on theirs.

Unfair??? Maybe, but the situation now is so dangerous that no country can remain passive and ignore its responsibility. we have to switch to other forms of energy.

And the good news is that it is pretty much possible to check global warming, WITHOUT compromising on growth and development.

The solution- GREEN ECONOMICS.
Look at brazil- it has become one of the biggest players in green economics, drawing 44% of its energy from renewable fuels.

According to some estimates, growth in global energy could be cut in half over the next 15 years by making the existing technology more efficient. The research done by the University of California at Berkeley indicated that US could generate 3 lakh jobs if 20% of electric needs were met by renewable resources. The UN estimates that global investments in zero greenhouse energy will reach 1.9 trillion dollars by 2020.

The scientists have shown the way- its up to the govts all over the world to walk the path towards a greener and safer world!!