This paper explores the evolving narratives of art history and architecture in India by tracing major historiographical trends from ancient to contemporary periods. It examines how interpretations of India’s artistic and architectural heritage have been shaped by shifting intellectual, political, and cultural contexts over time. The study critically analyses the interplay between colonial frameworks, indigenous knowledge systems, and global discourses, revealing how these forces have influenced the construction and representation of India’s cultural past. By situating art and architecture within broader historical processes, the paper highlights the dynamic relationship between tradition and transformation. It demonstrates how artistic forms and architectural practices have continually negotiated issues of identity, power, and modernity, reflecting both continuity and change. The research also interrogates the role of historiography in redefining meanings attached to monuments, styles, and artistic expressions, showing how narratives of heritage are not static but constantly reinterpreted. Ultimately, the paper argues that Indian art and architecture cannot be understood through a single linear narrative. Instead, they must be viewed as complex, layered phenomena shaped by multiple voices and perspectives, offering deeper insights into the evolving cultural identity of India.

Keywords: Historiography, Art, Architecture, India, Cultural Heritage.

By using aerial photography using a drone, a regional topographic elevation map, a Google Earth imagery map, and a site elevation map showing digital photographs, this study presents the spatial distribution of Iron Age settlement and burials in Tirumalegowdana Doddi on the right bank of the Kanva valley. The aim is to identify how the Iron Age society used the land for burial practices and settlement, and to distribute the burials based on the ranking of the deceased. The position of the burials in a large area indicates the use of the landscape structures as a social and ritual space. Settlement indicates that the Iron Age society was mainly settled on the foothill, and a large number of slag remains indicate that iron was the main economic source, followed by agriculture, depending on natural springs and the non-perennial river Kanva. A mound burial in the centre of the burial complex and a few burials on the mid-range hill sediment indicate the ranking of the deceased or ritual places. The settlement is located on the foothill with an adjacent burial site, which is constructed on the top of the hill, indicating the status or ritual ground. These diverse features of burial constructions and settlements show the formation of complex social hierarchies.

Keywords: Iron Age, Megaliths, spatial, Mound, status, ranking, undulating, Iron Production, Hierarchies.

The Nchui-Ngi, also known as Herui-me-Ngi, meaning the ‘festival of the dead soul’, takes place just before the Hega-Ngi, the year ending and the most important festival. This ritual marks the symbolic separation between the living and the dead, signifying the final departure of the souls of deceased family members of the year. According to Zeme beliefs, the spirits of the dead of the year are thought to linger in their former homes until they are properly sent off. The Nchui-Ngi ensures that these spirits do not cause harm to the living, fulfilling an important cultural duty. Worship and reverence to the spirit of ancestors and other dead members of the family is one of the ancient Zeme Naga traditions, which also shares commonalities with practices across various cultures worldwide, including those in Africa, China, South East Asia and India, where ancestors are believed to influence the lives of their descendants.

Keywords: Nchui-Ngi, Zeme Naga, Rituals, Ancestor Worship, Dead soul.

The Surya (Sun) cult under the Katyuri Dynasty (7th –13th Century CE) in early medieval Uttarakhand represents a significant convergence of religious symbolism, dynastic identity, and political authority. Set against the backdrop of a broader subcontinental resurgence of Sun cults, it is exemplified by monumental Surya temples at Martand, Modhera, and later Konark. This study investigates the emergence and significance of Surya worship in early medieval Uttarakhand under the Katyuri rulers. It examines how the Katyuri, claiming descent from the Suryavanshi (solar) lineage, established their religious and political identity through the patronage of solar shrines, most notably the Katarmal Sun Temple. Combining archaeological analysis, textual sources (including Puranic literature and regional inscriptions), and first-hand fieldwork with visual documentation, the research explores whether the Katyuris' adoption of Surya worship was merely a reflection of dynastic lineage or also a response to broader religious developments in the 7th –8th centuries CE, such as the consolidation of Brahmanical orthodoxy, the rise of Smarta Shaivism, and the philosophical influence of Adi Shankaracharya. By situating the Katyuri Surya cult within this pan-Indian religious and political landscape, this study offers a holistic interpretation of how sacred architecture, ritual symbolism, and solar ideology were utilised to assert sovereignty, cosmological order, and regional authority in the middle Himalayas. It contributes to interdisciplinary study on early medieval Indian temple culture and the political-theological function of Surya worship in frontier regions.

Keywords: Architecture, Iconography, Katyuri, Temple, Surya.

In the Eastern Himalayas, the monastic complexes of Pemayangtse in Sikkim and Tawang in Western Arunachal Pradesh stand as testaments to the profound influence of Tibetan architecture and the politico-religious sway of Tibetan governance over the Monyul region. Shaped by the tenets of various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, these monasteries epitomize the harmonious adaptation of Buddhist spiritual principles to the unique geophysical conditions of the Eastern Himalayas. This paper embarks upon a meticulous examination of the physical built form of these revered monasteries, discerning the intricate interplay between the rugged terrain of the Himalayas and the construction techniques employed in their creation. Utilizing primary and secondary sources, archival materials, and fieldwork conducted at both Tawang and Pemayangtse monasteries, this research elucidates the impact of distinct Tibetan Buddhist schools on the foundational designs and architectural sketches of Pemayangtse and Tawang, thereby unveiling the nuanced relationships between spirituality, cultural expression, and the tangible structures of these monastic wonders. Futuristically, this research paper aspires to contribute to the preservation and appreciation of the Eastern Himalayas' unique monastic heritage, fostering cross-cultural understanding and informing sustainable conservation strategies for these architectural treasures in the face of evolving socio-environmental landscapes.

Keywords: Dukhang, Pemayangtse, Ganden, Tawang, Nyingma, Gelug.

In 2014, the destiny of a small village, Jayapur, changed forever. A village that was not known by many people came into the limelight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted it. As part of the SAGY scheme, the village was adopted by PM Modi who urged all his MPs to adopt villages of India and transform them into Adharsh Gaon. While earlier the village lacked basic amenities like electricity, safe drinking water, toilets, hygiene management, banking services and employment opportunities for women, after 2014 many things changed. Women have also been given skill development and weavers training programs in order to help them become self- mployed and to develop the possibilities for them to find work in rural India.The paper focuses on the equal participation of corporate, public-sector banks, government, and the local community in the growth story of an ordinary village that was completely transformed in 6 months and gained its own identity, proving to be a model village for other villages in India. The paper looks at the changes happened in the Jayapur village post 2014 from the perspective of women empowerment.

Keywords: Governance, Jayapur, Varanasi, Adarsh Gaon, SAGY, Women Empowerment, Government Schemes, Government of India.

Archaeological World Heritage Sites are repositories of human history, spirituality, and cultural innovation. They both witness the history of past civilisations and platforms for current religious activities, social life, and cultural identity. However, they are threatened by processes that make them visible: tourism, urban development, and environmental transformation. Although heritage tourism leads to economic growth and the expansion of cultural awareness, unmanaged tourist activities can result in the rapid deterioration of the material, the distortion of ecological norms, and the redefinition of cultural practices.

This paper reviews such tensions through a comparative study of Indian sites, including the Sanchi Stupa, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Hampi, and Khajuraho, as well as iconic sites from around the world, such as Petra (Jordan) and Machu Picchu (Peru). Based on the recommendations of UNESCO, ICOMOS charters, and contemporary literature on heritage studies, this paper discusses how the required physical stabilization, visitor management, technological reporting, and community engagement are transforming the approach to preservation.

This paper addresses ethical issues, including the concepts of authenticity, accessibility, conservation, cultural rights, commercialization, and integrity. It states that there is a need for adaptive place-based interventions with international conservation standards blended with local systems of indigenous knowledge. The sustainable management of archaeological heritage has been discussed as an issue surrounding not only structural and environmental aspects but also the participatory government and the act of deliberation, which is ethical. This will assist in demonstrating that integrated models can mitigate issues related to tourism and preservation. Thus, this paper will present that Indian case studies may be placed under a broader theoretical understanding, and heritage sites must be maintained as sustainable, relevant, and valuable to future generations.

Keywords: World Heritage Sites, tourism pressures, sustainable preservation, visitor management, conservation ethics, heritage governance.

Sūrya worship has been an integral paradigm of Indian religious and cultural aspects, with its roots extending back to prehistoric times. This worship evolved through various stages, from symbolic representations in the Vedic age to anthropomorphic forms during the sixth century BCE to the first century CE, and eventually to the installation of Sun images in temples during the early medieval period, receiving significant royal patronage. However, despite the prominence of Sun worship across India, eastern Uttar Pradesh has not presented much evidence of this ancient practice. This paper aims to undertake iconographic study of the Sūrya images recovered from the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

Keywords: Iconography, Kushinagar, North India, Saura cult, Sūrya.