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26 Mar 2023 21:13

Joined:	23/09/2015
Level:	Gold
Points:	62965

Points:	5

From where did the Giraffe come ?

Respected Members!

Have you visited Konarak Sun Temple? Long back, I wrote an article on this magnificent structure in ISC, but unfortunately, I am not been able to find it now.

We must remember that the Konarak Sun Temple and its stone engravings were done from 1238 to 1264 AD. If you find time to carefully examine the engravings, you will definitely find an image which shows that a king, seated on an elephant, receiving homage and gifts from a group of people wearing petticoat-like lower garments.

And, one of the gifts is a full-grown Giraffe!

Now, we know that Giraffe is found at a distance of at least 5000 nautical miles from the east coast of India. Giraffe is found only in Africa.

So, how can we explain the stone engraving of the Giraffe?

The only explanation for a Giraffe carved into a 13th Century Indian Temple is that either a life-size replica or an actual Giraffe, transported from Africa to modern-day Odisha by sea, was gifted to the Odiya king.

But, we have learned something different in our history books. We have read that Vasco-da-Gama visited the Cape of Good Hope only at the fag end of the fifteenth century. The so-called great historians of India completely ignore the Odiya king and the Giraffe. According to them, this is not 'sufficient evidence'.

Now, please tell me whether there is any need to explore and rewrite India's maritime history, or not.

(I am sorry I can't share the image of the stone engraving in this platform.)

#771936

26 Mar 2023 21:44

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109208

Points:	5

Partha, if you remember when it was announced that ISC was going to be a niche educational site then it was also mentioned that some of the general matter would be shifted to the sister site Social Village. So in all probability many of your articles might be now present in Social Village site which has recently become quite active.
If you can spare time to locate and update those articles then we can also go through them and make our comments and observations. I feel that it will be interesting for the Social Village members to go through those articles once those are updated by the author.
Regarding the Giraffe engraving it is definitely a matter to be investigated in details by the historians to decide as how much cogzinance is to be given to it. Historic engravings and other such material will help the historians to find the real story behind those happenings in the past.

Knowledge is power.

#771945

27 Mar 2023 08:39

Joined:	23/09/2015
Level:	Gold
Points:	62965

Points:	1

Umesh Sir, you have stated that in ISC "some of the general matter would be shifted to the sister site Social Village". Is history education a general matter? I beg to differ.

Further, nowadays, due to acute shortage of time, I am not in a position to join new site, more so because I have started writing in Bengali also (accepting challenge from my Bengali friends). Typing in Bengali takes a lot of time.

(a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
(b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

#771948

27 Mar 2023 10:02

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109208

Points:	4

Partha, you are very right that time is limited in our hands and we have to decide the priorities as which area we have to attend more.
I am happy to note that you have started writing in Bengali language also. I also write in Hindi sometimes but as typing is difficult I am using voice to text facility available in our mobiles. Have you ever tried that maybe it would help in typing. Many people nowadays are resorting to voice to text typing in whatever language they want. Initially for 2-3 days some hiccups would be there but once we find that what way of pronunciating the words makes them to appear correctly then it becomes a smooth journey.

Knowledge is power.

#771957

27 Mar 2023 12:29

Joined:	25/11/2014
Level:	Diamond
Points:	43265

Points:	4

Partha Sir,
Happy to note that you are engrossed in writing Bengali Language to entertain the readers of this language. I do agree that it is a time consuming process in writing down your thoughts so swiftly because of the clumsy nature of Bengali Scripts as far as I have observed. Even though that is there, you are engaged for a constructive purpose and at least voice to text facility could ease your jobs to a great extent.
Hope you all the best in the current journey.
What you have indicated relating to engravings where you could find variations between the statement of Vasco da Gama and the former historian needs to be investigated from your end.
There are many contents like that which creates suspicion in our minds.

#771965

27 Mar 2023 16:58

Joined:	02/01/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	51591

Points:	4

Vasco da Gama was, as far as my limited knowledge in History says, the first European to travel to India by sea. I don't think it is said anywhere that he was the first foreigner to land in India. Excavations dating back to the Indus valley period and even before that has brought out evidences that trade existed between India and many regions across the sea. So, the possibility of a Giraffe or it's replica having been presented to the King of Konarak or the King or one of his representatives having visited some parts of Africa for business purposes cannot be ruled out. Students of History must explore and satisfy themselves about the veracity of facts because distortions have been there and will be there. But expecting history to suit one's political inclinations would be asking for too much.

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
-Aristotle

#771968

27 Mar 2023 18:28

Joined:	23/09/2015
Level:	Gold
Points:	62965

Points:	1

I wrote: "We have read that Vasco-da-Gama visited the Cape of Good Hope only during the fag end of the fifteenth century."--------------For kind information of our respected Lead Editor.

(a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
(b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

#771969

27 Mar 2023 19:23

Joined:	15/05/2014
Level:	Gold
Points:	8732

Points:	4

Trade existed between the western world and the eastern world even before Vasco da Gama came to India. When the Byzantine empire fell in 1453, the new Turkish Sultan, Mehmed the Conquerer of the Ottoman empire started creating troubles for Europeans. That'swhy, the Europeans wanted to explore new routes to the Eastern world. In this way, the sea route through Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama.

In fact, Vasco da Gama first reached Calicut in India with the help of a Gujarati merchant, whom he met at Malindi in Kenya.
So, finding a giraffe figure in Konark temple is no surprise because Indians were doing business in Africa even before Vasco da Gama came to India.

#771978

28 Mar 2023 08:04

Joined:	02/01/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	51591

Points:	2

#771968. Exactly. If I have got it wrong, could you please elaborate? I mean, what other connection were you trying to imply between the 13th century Temple and the 15th century arrival of Vasco da Gama?

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
-Aristotle

#771984

28 Mar 2023 10:36

Joined:	23/09/2015
Level:	Gold
Points:	62965

Points:	1

Saji Sir, I am sorry that I occasionally try to point out the missing links of history in this platform.

(a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
(b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

#771988

28 Mar 2023 14:07

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145277

Points:	4

In history, we read that Vasco da Gama discovered a new sea route to India. But African merchants might have transported a Giraffe and might have gifted the same to King Narsimhadev of the Ganga Dynasty & his queen who commissioned the Konark temple. A new route might have been discovered by Vasco de Gama. But there might have been some other routes by which these merchants might have transported.
Some 800 years ago people are able to transport such a big animal by ship means they might have had very big ships that can be used for heavy goods transportation also.

drrao
always confident

#772000

28 Mar 2023 20:12

Joined:	02/01/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	51591

Points:	4

#771984, are they actually missing links or is it that you wanted to create some missing links? Partha, you sound so humble, as if your intention was not to create a diversion to history and was just trying to bring about actual facts for the knowledge of the illiterate/ liberals? Don't ever do that. That again amounts to distortion.

To be blunt, do you think history of the Modi regime would be taught to students of history after decades factually? Common, that is what how we learn history. Remember to keep both sides of the book open!

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
-Aristotle

#772001

28 Mar 2023 21:10

Joined:	23/09/2015
Level:	Gold
Points:	62965

Points:	1

Saji Sir: This thread was/is not about Modi regime or history teaching in Modi regime. In this thread, I wanted to point out the needs to have more research on India's maritime history.

But, your convoluted and pre-programmed mind has been trying to change the nature of the thread. So be it.

Now, I declare:

(a) Modi-led BJP is going to win the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
(b) The distorted history taught by marxist (small m) historians like Romila-Irfan-Bipan-Jha belittling India's achievement on every front is going to be changed.
(c) Your next generation will read proper history in the correct perspective and feel proud of the country. You can't resist it.
(d) The Government will bring drastic change in reservation policy and scrap any reservation anywhere on the basis of religion. This has already been started in Karnataka.
(e) The NDA Government will bring Uniform Civil Code. Any objection from the liberals will not be heeded.
(f) And, Rahul Gandhi is no longer the MP of Wayanad. He is going to vacate the Government accommodation.

Are you happy now?

(Saving this response elsewhere for future use.)

(a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
(b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

#772012

29 Mar 2023 08:19

Joined:	02/01/2012
Level:	Gold
Points:	51591

Points:	3

Partha, please read the responses carefully and don't try to escape queries with answers that does not clarify doubts. You may save your responses elsewhere or discard them but I, as a reader, surely expect an author to clarify my doubts and clear confusions. If you can't do that, well and good. Leave it. I will consider it as just another (regular) shot in the air (thanks to the Twitter masters).

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
-Aristotle

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From where did the Giraffe come ?

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