In this article, we will explore the traditional craft of Panchaloha, the increasing adventures of Gujarat salt for de-icing, uncovering the remains of the mysterious ancient-hominin group known as the Denisovans, and the new draft rules for poultry farming in India.
Panchaloha: Ancient Art Form of South India
Panchaloha, an alloy of gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), is a significant part of South India’s age-old craftsmanship. Sometimes, tin (Sn) or lead (Pb) replaces zinc. A glowing example of these resplendent sculptures is Nataraja, meticulously hand-crafted using the lost wax process, which traces its roots back to the Chola period.
This golden-looking alloy frequently finds itself under the spotlight due to smuggling incidents. The Shilpa shastras prescribe its composition, which are ancient texts detailing arts, crafts, and their design rules, standards, and principles. Swamimalai of Thanjavur district, TN, is a hotspot for bronze and Panchaloha products. The government of India has granted a patent to this unique art form originating from Swamimalai.
A family that contributed significantly to this art form is that of Late S. Devasenapathy, a national awardee in 1984. His lineage dates back to Raja Raja Chola’s period, who utilized their services while constructing the Sri Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur.
| Gold | Silver | Copper | Zinc | Iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au | Ag | Cu | Zn | Fe |
Gujarat’s Salt: De-icing Snowed-in Lands
Over the past three years, salt exports from Gujarat have seen a significant surge, predominantly for de-icing roads in regions experiencing intense snowfall. The process of de-icing, removing snow or ice from road surfaces to prevent accidents caused by slippery conditions, typically commences in September and sees salt export volumes hit 7-8 lakh tonnes per month, up from an average of four lakh tonnes.
Gujarat’s contribution to India’s salt export stands at a whopping 90%. This salt is routed through China to European and American countries and Russia due to lower logistics costs. China also exports its low-quality salt for de-icing in Polar countries.
Denisovans: The Ancient Hominin Group
Scientists recently discovered the most complete Denisovan remains thus far, a jawbone unearthed high on the Tibetan Plateau dating back over 160,000 years. This is the first Denisovan specimen found outside the Siberian cave where the hominin group was first discovered a decade ago. It confirms suspicions that Denisovans had a greater geographic spread than the current fossil record indicates. Hominins are a subset of the larger primate group called hominids, which encompass orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans.
New Draft Rules for Poultry Farming
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Egg-laying Hens) Rules, 2019 has laid out new draft rules following a High Court directive regarding cruelty in poultry Farms. As per the new draft, poultry farms must provide a minimum space of no less than 550 sq cm for each chicken. The farms cannot put more than 6-8 birds in one cage.
Additionally, antibiotics are to be employed only for therapeutic purposes under a vet’s supervision. The regulation also forbids the feeding of hens with remains of dead chicks, paving the way for healthier commercial egg production and disease prevention.
