Petroglyphs of Dhamapur -Salel

The huge laterite plateau that has been spread across villages of Salel and Dhamapur of Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, came to light recently for the rich archaeological heritage of Petroglyphs.The discovery of the Petroglyphs, earlier on the various plateaus of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra, since the period of last quarter century has indeed opened the new door for understanding the history of the coastal land, connected by the waterways to the Arabian sea.

On Kudal to Malvan main road, a small road with the temple of Giroba of Mogarane, takes you to the plateau having the rock art.

The plateau has the settlement of the pastoral Dhangar,who are living with their houses and goats.The laterite plateau has operational quarrying mine of laterite bricks in Godyachivadi, where the beautiful wild flowers of Dipcadi konkanansis have been swirling over the breeze.
Vaishali Bute, from Godyachivadi told,I had been seeing the petroglyphs, from almost 20 years ago,at Avalichi ghothan.My father in law,was telling us that,these Petroglyphs were carved by the Pandavas.
Situated at the distance of about 1300.mts from the house of Vaishali Bute, these Petroglyphs visit was possible due to Pramod Salaskar.The distance between the first site of Petroglyphs and the second is about 460 mts.

The Petroglyphs that have been noticed on the laterite plateau displays varied unfamiliar geometrical figures of different shapes and sizes . These figures have been carved by using the pointed and sharp tools and it is difficult to tell , with what objectives, these Petroglyphs have been created and by whom? These Petroglyphs depicts intricate squares,circles, rectangular shaped figures .

Dhamapur, since the hoary past have been connected to the region of the western Ghats as well as of the West Coast, witnessed flourishing trading activities.The imagery, artistic techniques,contents and composition of these Petroglyphs,if properly decipher,it will certainly help in understanding the history and heritage of the region. The diversity of symbolism,forms, composition,propertion, techniques used in Dhamapur is different from the Petroglyphs that have been discovered in other places of the vicinity.
Dhamapur with the temple of presiding deity Bhagavati and other deities , have been attracting the people from various parts. Dhamapur lake has been designated as the World Irrigation Heritage Structure in 2020.The reservoir of the lake,have been created on account of the earth fill dam that was constructed by the villagers in 1530 for irrigating their agricultural and horticultural fields.With the discovery of these Petroglyphs, the tourists, researchers will visit Dhamapur to understand the ecological, archeological and cultural history of the area, alongwith enjoying the sight of the unique lake.Unearthing the secrets connected with the abstract Petroglyphs of Dhamapur,is one of the big challenge before the archaeologists and researchers, visiting the area.The Nerur copper plate inscription of the Badami Chalukya ruler,Vijayaditya of 700 A .D. make mention of Dhamapur as Sahmyapur and Walaval as Ballalvalil situated on the either banks of the river.

Martyr Soma Rama Malik from Cudne

On December 5,2022, Goa government , approved the renaming of schools in the memory of the freedom fighters, who attained the martyrdom for the cause of Goa's liberation from the yoke of the Portuguese rule.As per the memorandum No. DE/102/ADM.l/B/ Re- naming GHS-GHSS/ 2022/659, Government High school from Morle colony of Sattari,has been named after the martyr Soma Rama Malik.

Cudne, a village known for the rich and varied assets of archaeological and cultural heritage, is best remembered in the history of Goa's liberation struggle for the final sacrifice made by Soma Rama Malik. Born and brought up at Gaonkarwada in the family of Rama Malik,a farmer.Among the three sons ,elder Guno and second son Bapso preferred to help the father Rama in agricultural work, however the youngest son Soma, who studied just four standards education in the Marathi,was influenced by the nationalist ideas from the youthhood.

Those were the days, when the struggle for the liberation had been taking roots in nook and corner of the land on account of the clarion call given by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, the socialist leader,who awaken the Goans from the long slumber of slavery of the Portuguese oppressive rule on June 18,1946.

He came in contacts with Goa Liberation Army, the organisation believing in launching the arm struggle to free Goa from the Portuguese undemocratic regime .GLA decided to paralyse the Portuguese administration, believing in the reign of terror by launching the violent activities.Augustus Alvares , taught the members of GLA how to make dynamite and use it for paralysing roadways as well as waterways.to hamper economic activities of the Portuguese government.He was involved in various initiatives of GLA.He.along with other members dynamited barges carrying mineral ore at Sarmanas in Bicholim in November 1956.He was involved in blasting the Petrol pump in Sankhali,on December 20,1956. He took part in attacking the iron ore mine that was operational in Bicholim, by destroying the compressor on January 19,1957.During those days, the Chowgule mine of Shirgao was the largest in the Asia and GLA,. wanted to attack it and accordingly,he participated on February 19,1957 and given big blow to the Portuguese economy. The Portuguese administration became more cruel towards the freedom fighters involved in underground armed movements and the military vehicles were undertaking search of these activists.GLA, planned to plant an explosive land mine on Assanora-Dodamarg road to blow up the military vehicles.Amrut Babuso Chodankar , Raghunath P Shirodkar along with Soma were assigned the task, however, while the land mine, before they could place in the hole dug,.had exploded accidentally, there by killing, all of them on the spot on November 13,1957.

Soma from his childhood was hardworking and dedicated to the cause and never enjoyed the peace mind with out fulfilling the assigned task.He breathed his last in the land mine explosion.Instead of getting married and living happy life,he had chosen pains and sufferings to liberate Goa.

He learnt rigorous military training imparted to him by his fellow companions like Shivaji Desai, Madhavrao Rane, Jaisinghrao V. Rane... and took part daringly in various expeditions of GLA .

On August 15,2022, his nephew Kashinath Guno Malik got the honour to hoist the tricolour flag at Sateri-temple sacred tank of Cudne, under Rejuvenation Development of Natural Tanks: Amrit Sarovar mission launched by Water Resources Department of Goa.Kashinath, who completed 75 years, still remember his brave uncle, though he was of nine years of age.He used to visit the house rarely only for few hours in the darkness night . However, when he was badly injured, during an expedition,for the medical treatment,he took refuge at home in the concealed manner. When he died in the land mine explosion,his dead body was not brought to Cudne for performing the last rites.

Today after liberation government could not install his statue as no photo of him was available hence, no memorial is there in Cudne.

I and the Mhadei Tiger Reserve

On July 24, 2023, the Hon. High Court of Bombay at Goa in it's historic judgment delivered on the Monday, directed Goa government to issue notification for declaring the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and it's surrounding forested areas as the Tiger Reserve.This order has endorsed what I have been emphasising, since the period of more than three decades, that the forest of the Mhadei region is the natural habitat for the big cats, and it is the bounden duty of the government to take necessary steps for the protection and conservation of the tigers and it's landscape. After the notification of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999, the politicians heading the state government made no stone unturned for denotifying the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the name of protecting the interests of the sons and daughters of the land, but with the hidden motive of resuming seven mines from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary of Sattari and eleven from the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary of Sanguem. However, the high level committee constituted by the Hon. Supreme Court, passed the order for non removal of even grasses from the sanctuaries in 2003.

The day from which, these sanctuaries were notified by then Retd Lt.Gen. J F R Jacob as the Governor of Goa, I embarked upon the campaign of creating awareness regarding the importance of the notifications, by writing persistently in the local newspapers, as well as conducting the slideshows and taking part in the discussions and debates on the issue, in various parts of Sattari. In 2011, Dr. Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation asked me to present the proposal of the Mhadei Tiger Reserve before the head of the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel, Dr.Madhav Gadgil, wherein the map consisting of ecologically rich forested areas of Goa, having the tiger presence was presented along with recommendation for constituting the Mhadei Tiger Reserve excluding the areas of human settlements, agriculture and horticulture, if any falls within the limits of the reserve areas.

From 1998, along with the members of Bombay Natural History Society, I with the volunteers associated with Swami Vivekanand Smruti Sangh, Keri - Sattari, began documenting the presence of the tigers in Goa. Though, I was born in Bicholim, after the completion of the five years, my parents brought me to the ancestral village of Keri, lying at the foothills of the Vagheri, known since the ages as the abode of tigers. Staying in the newly built house in Ghoteli nestled amidst the Kalati and Valvont rivers, encircled by the lush greenery during childhood, I had developed intimate bonding with the surrounding nature and environment. When I was preparing for the SSC exam, I used to go to sleep after hearing the roar of the tiger in the forests of Morlegad.

As a child, in the village, felling of trees, clearing of the forests and poaching of the wild animals was indeed very painful for me. When a pregnant sambar brought down from the forest by the domesticated dog, it was treacherously killed by our neighbours with the axes and choppers for the delicacy of the meat. The tears rolling down from the eyes of the sambar, made me restless and from that day onwards, I took pledge to work for creating awareness against the poaching of the wild animals and gradually involving myself in the initiatives of environment education and protection, under the banner of Swami Vivekanand Smruti Sangh from 1986. Street plays, slide shows, nature orientation camps, workshops, writing articles helped in creating environmental awareness. In 2000, Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade was established for focussing mainly on environment education and protection of Wildlife. Our volunteers, who were trained, began the task of rescuing the wild animals as well as monitoring the tiger movements. In 2009, during the summer, information about the killing of the tiger inside the cashew plantation of Wadyer in Keri, made me unhappy. I and our volunteers, meticulously gathered evidences of killed tiger and accordingly on the phone, I had informed Dr. Shashikumar, then Conservator of Forests. Subsequently, I wrote the news report pertaining the tiger that was trapped in wired snare and later on killed unilaterally, destroying all the evidence, eventually resulting in carrying a probe into the incident of tiger killing. Five persons involved in tiger killing were arrested and a gun was seized. Due to the investigation of the tiger killing incident and arrest of culprits created upheaval, that amounted to me suffering the grudge of the locals. I and my family had to suffer a lot on account of bringing to light an incident of tiger killing in Keri. A well known writer, Dr. Rupesh Patkar, published a novel on the incident of tiger killing and aftermath.

As the member of Goa State Wildlife Advisory Board in 2013, we requested then chief minister to install camera traps for confirming the presence of tigers in Goa's forest. On April 13, 2013, Paresh Porob successfully got the images of the tigress relishing on the meat of the wild boar at the foothills of the Vagheri, in the area of Mavalangichepani. Later, on the wildlifers, under the internationally acclaimed zoologist Ullas Karanth confirmed through the camera traps, uniqueness of tigress from forest of Goa. Prerna Singh Bindra, Dr. Sambakumar, A J T Johnsingh visits to my house had enriched my understanding of the big cats. Bittu Sahgal,the former editor of the Sanctuary Asia magazine, always provided a boost up for the mission of the proposal of the Mhadei Tiger Reserve.

Our movement achieved success in convincing the chief minister and the forest minister of Goa, both of whom initiated passing of the resolution in the meeting of Goa State Wildlife Advisory Board in 2016. However, subsequently it could not get the mandatory approval from the Goa government. The Forest department had failed to implement mitigation measures for conservation and protection of tigers . In Spite of this, a tigress gave birth to two cubs, report of it was published in the print and electronic media. When a tigress, a sub-adult tiger along with two cubs unknowingly relished the meat of domesticated animal that was poisoned by the owner, which resulted eventually in the death of four of them in the forests of Golaulim in Sattari. However, no one could get any information about the death of four tigers. During the annual ritual of Bhugat, that is performed inside the natural cave dedicated to the tiger deity, I sent one of the volunteers to get some information about the four tigers that were roaming in the forests. When the inquiry was made casually, the villagers told about killed tigers. Immediately, I informed the deputy Conservator of Forests, who began the investigation of the matter and finally the tragic death of four tigers came to light. It was totally shocking news, unbearable for me.

 
From 2006 to 2019, five tigers were killed in Goa, treacherously. This was indeed irreparable and grave loss to the wildlife, not only of Goa, but of the country too. The National Tiger Conservation Authority had taken a serious note and immediately asked the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve and rapped the state, saying its efforts to protect big cats were severely lacking. However, no serious thought was given to implement whatever recommendations made by NTCA. Goa Foundation, filed its petition based on the recommendations made by NTCA for issuing directives for the constitution of the Tiger Reserve.

The Bombay High court at Goa, with the bench consisting of judges Mahesh Sonak and Bharat Deshpande delivered the judgment, directing government to issue notification for declaring the Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary with the surrounding forested areas as the Tiger Reserve, within the next three months, referring the quotes from the epic Mahabharata, "If there is no forest, then the tiger gets killed., if there is no tiger, then the forest gets destroyed. Hence, the tiger protects the forest and the forest guards the tiger!"

However, the Forest minister of Goa,reacting with the judgment said that the government would immediately approach the Supreme court to have the SC order vacated. For, the person like me, this judgment given by the HC is the historic one as it firmly established what I was continuously telling about Goa being the land of tigers by the judiciary. When, Goa government makes the decision of constituting the Mhadei Tiger Reserve with the tiger conservation plan, it will be the happiest moment for me and the mission launched from the period of the last three decades.

Visit to Udupi and Malpe, Karnataka

Malpe, a coastal Village of Udupi

Today, on May 26, 2023, we visited the coastal Village of Malpe, situated a few kms away from the pilgrimage center of Udupi in Karnataka.
The village dominated by the fishing communities, has in it's periphery four islands, one among it has been known as the St. Mary island after the famous Voyager, Vasco Da Gama, during his visit to Calicut in the Malabar region landed in the island and had installed the holy cross in the memory of the virgin Mary, in 1498.

However, the island of St. Mary was known to the villagers as the coconut island. This island has the unique rock formations of the basaltic lava columnar. The Geological Society of India, in 2006, declared it as the geological heritage site, as it has the rock formations having linkages with more than 80 million years, when the greater India was connected with Madagascar.
Malpe, is one of the major fishing harbors in Karnataka, however during the bygone days it was known since the second century C. E. mentioned by the famous Greek geographer, Ptolemy.
Udupi, from the hoary past was known as the shaivite pilgrimage centre for the temple of Chandramouleshwar. During the 14 th century one of the greatest spiritual leader of Dwaita philosophy Madhvacharya established Udupi as the pilgrimage centre for Vaishnavism with the temple of Lord Shrikrishna.

By doing the sea walk, we from the harbour of Malpe reached the view point from where we could enjoy the glimpses of geological heritage of all the four islands nestled in the Arabian sea.

Malpe beach is one the coastal tourism attraction, established by Karnataka, where local as well the Indian tourists are coming to enjoy the weekend. Though, from the September to May, the ferryboat service is available, this year, however it has been closed before the onset of the monsoon and due to this, the tourists could not get the opportunity to visit the site of the geological heritage of Malpe. However, one can get the excellent view of the glimpses of it during the sea walk, in broad daylight.

Staying in the home stay of Malpe, one can get the experience of the local hospitality as well as the cuisine of coastal Karnataka. Malpe, alongwith Udupi, was once the part of the Tuluva Kingdom, where one can see the remnants of the rich history and heritage of the great empire of the Vijaynagar. Shrikrishna temple along with the temples of Ananteshwar and Chandramoulishwar, showcases the varied facets of the cultural and religious heritage of the coastal lands of Karnataka.

Goa, has been indebted to Udupi, as the spiritual leader Madhvacharya visited Goa, and preached the Dwaita philosophy and popularized the Vaishwanism in the land that was once dominated by the Shaivism. When, he came to Mapusa, it is said that he was offered thousands of sweet and nutritious Mayandoli bananas brought from Moira village known during the past for the cultivation of this unique species of the indigenous bananas of the land. The wrestler, ate and satisfied by relishing on the tasty Mayandoli bananas of Moira or Mayade.
The chain of the vegetarian restaurants spread in various parts of Goa and country and abroad is hailed from Udupi and the taste of it, we could enjoy in Udupi, district headquarter.

We got opportunity to cross the Seetha river while coming from Udupi to Kundapur. Seetha river, also spelled Sita and Sitha river, is a west flowing river located in Karnataka state, India, which flows mainly in Udupi district.
The river originates near Narasimha Parvatha and passes through Agumbe forests and flows near Hebri, Barkur and joins Suvarna river, before joining Arabian sea. Water flows in the river rises to high levels during monsoon rains. The river and its smaller tributaries have made several water falls like Kudlu falls, Barkana falls, Jomlu Thirtha falls. River rafting is undertaken by adventure lovers during June to October, with the coordination of Government agencies.

While going to Kollure for seeing the heritage site of the Petroglyphs, we visited Ashok and Mounesh Acharya in Nempu village, followers of Vishwakarma who have acquired immense skills in the art of stone carvings. Sculptures made by them, pleased us by their art and craft. Stone used for the carving is krishnashila, that is being brought from Karkal.
In Kollur, we entered the sacred grove, where the wooden sculptures of the deity Mookambika are worshipped. The devotees throng in a big number for tying the cradles to the twigs of the trees after, their wishes are fulfilled of the child blessing. The flowers of the areca nut are used in worshipping the deities.
We reached in the village of Marankatte, where demon who was killed by the goddess Mookambika, is being worshipped as Brahmalingeshwar alongwith Yakshini. Near to the temple, at the left side a shrine of Sri Haiguli and Huli devaru are there, where two wooden effigies and one more big effigy of tigers are worshipped as the folkdeities.

 

The fires burnt the pristine forests of the Mhadei basin of Goa

The neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra are trying their level best to dam and divert the Mhadei river and its tributaries, posing serious threat to life, livelihood as well as ecology, wildlife and forest of the smallest state of Goa. With the onset of the summer when Goans became one with the celebration of the Shigmo festival, on or before the state experienced repeated incidents of the forest fires, from March 4,2023, that amounted to causing irreparable losses to wildlife, forest and ecology. The Holi in Goa is celebrated as the Shigmo, by making the well decorated trunk of the felled tree with the leaves of mango to stand erect, in front of the temple of the village-deity, around it grasses are set to fire to mark the celebration. During the hoary past, the communities were living inside the forested villages. But, with the liberation of Goa, many of them began to settle in the areas that are lying in close proximity to the roads and where civic amenities are available. However, during the Holi festival, some of them continue to visit the old settlement, to install the tree trunk in front of the temple, and fire is ignited on the occasion. This year on the Holi, the fire that was ignited around the trunk of the tree that is worshiped as Holi, assumed such a huge proportion, that resulted in destruction of the large tracts of the pristine forests. For almost ten days repeated incidents of forest fires occurred inside the Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary and also in the Mahavir, Cotigao, Netravali sanctuaries and the Mollem national park.

Alongwith the Forest department, the Fire and Emergency Services, taking the help of local communities made attempts to douse the forest fires.The Indian Air Force and Navy choppers taking a lot of risk and hardwork, struggled to douse the forest fires. Presently, incidents of the forest fires are brought under control. According to the Forest Survey of India report of 2019, just 0.05 percent of Goa’s forests are classified as moderately fire prone. In 2021, the report of FSI, had mentioned that it was 100 percent less fire prone.

However, in spite of this, the forest fires destroyed valuable resources of forest, besides, depletion of carbon sinks, degradation of water catchment areas affecting resources of water. It has badly affected the natural habitat of wildlife and also resulted in changing the micro-climate of the area, making it unhealthy for living beings as well as leading to soil erosion, thereby intensifying the gravity of landslides and flooding in the region.

The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary was notified by then governor of Goa, Retd. Lt. J. F. R Jacob, when the state was under the President rule, including only the government reserve forests that were earlier notified by the successive governments in power. However, the villagers who brought these areas under the agriculture and horticulture crops, have been mentioned in government records as the encroachers. After declaration of the areas as the sanctuary, it was the bounden duty of the state government authorities to take needful steps for settlement of the forest right claims by invoking the section 18 of Wildlife Protection Act,1972. This exercise was not carried out. The forest minister of Goa has initiated the process of the forest right claims form 2022 and the villagers who had done encroachments, after 1999 and even in 2015 or so, have been allowed to do formalities of Forest Right Claims.

These villagers who have been recorded as the encroachers, are involved in clearing of forests and bringing it under the agriculture and horticulture crops. The incidents of forest fires were taking place earlier too, but lack of stringent action, gave them free hands. The majority forest staff involved in the Mhadei Sanctuary, is from Sattari, who are patrolling the areas. Presently, watch towers that are already established and staff are deployed but they are given totally different assignments.

Poaching, trekking, hiking activities are on rise in the protected areas of Sattari. The forest minister of Goa said that “These fires are man-made”

The Forest Right Claim can be put by any member or community, who has for at least three generations (75 years) prior to the 13 th day of December, 2005, primarily resided in forest land for bonafide livelihood needs. In many areas of the Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary, claims for the forest lands have been made also after 2006. Though, the claims have not been settled in some cases, the Forest Department of Goa, has allowed the claimants to venture into these areas, who are clearing forest through the fires to bring it under the agriculture and horticulture crops. Such types of violations are rampant and are continuously on the rise, since 2019.

The Forest Minister mentioned that recent forest fires are man-made, however no thorough investigation of the culprits involved have been done. That is why, destruction of forests has been going on unnoticed and unhindered. From 2009 to 2021, five tigers were killed in Sattari and no efforts sincerely have been made to exercise the rule of law and order and to repeat such crimes. Whatever recommendations made by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, half- hearted attempts have been made to implement.

Forest fire incidents continued to take toll on March 22, 2023, in the forests of Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary in Surla of Sattari. Along with the trees and vegetation, nesting sites of birds were found burnt, destroying the eggs on the large scale. This year, the forest fires resulted in seriously affecting the breeding cycles of the birds, and many species of other wild animals too.

The claims made by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate change that, the incidents of forest fires took place during the month of March,due to conducive environment caused by dry spell, unprecedented high temperature and low humidity is not totally true, since the intentionally done anthropogenic activities, too responsible for enhancing the gravity of forest fires in Goa. As per the MOEFCC, due to recent forest fire incidents, 4.18 sq. kms. is reported to be affected, including 2.27 sq. kms areas from the wildlife sanctuaries.

There is an urgent need of conducting a judicial probe into violations that are presently going on in Sattari, where in some areas boards are standing, mentioning, no entry for the Forest department officials.

Since 2019, incidents of forest fire have repeatedly taken place in Goa, but the forest department has not provided till this date direction for operational planning at the field level and also have not made resource allocation, training monitoring and control programs with the ultimate goal to reduce the risk and occurrences of forest fires in Goa. The anthropologic factor is by far the main culprit of the catastrophic losses, which demands various wildfire prevention strategies. High temperatures, low humidity raise the flammability of dry grass, leaves and bushes with strong wind speed. Forest department should consider current and upcoming weather conditions and their danger to the forest. When it is too hot or windy, sparkles from the working equipment or vehicle may ignite the dry grass or leaves and leap to large territories due to wind causing forest fires. Being aware of the current and upcoming forest fire hazards or detecting smoke on time is alway necessary in preventing forest fire.

A digital forest monitoring tool blending powerful remote sensing technology is needed for preventing forest fires. In Sattari horticultural land expansion by cutting forest and burning dried vegetation is going on uncontrolled. No awareness drive inside the sanctuaries and the forested areas have been taken to stop burning debris under dangerous weather conditions. 78% of North Goa rich forest was adoring Sattari but various anthropogenic activities have been responsible for destruction and degradation of the life sustaining forest. It is high time for all of us to plan a strategy for initiating joint forest management, consolidating the community conserved areas and providing various incentives to the local communities for the protection and conservation of the wildlife, ecology and forest.