India Lost & Found

E29 - Echoes of Enlightenment: Decoding Ajanta - Part 2

Welcome back to another episode of ILF Radio, where today we journey into the timeless world of the Ajanta Caves. More than artistic marvels, these rock-cut monuments are a window into the spiritual and cultural life of ancient India. Built between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, Ajanta reflects the evolving traditions of Buddhism, beginning with the simple, austere Hinayana phase and later embracing the more elaborate Mahayana imagery. The caves are celebrated for their breathtaking murals and sculptures, which vividly depict stories from the Jataka tales, daily life, and the path to enlightenment. These paintings, with their refined colors and flowing lines, capture the essence of compassion, devotion, and artistic brilliance. Yet, over time, Ajanta faced decline with the waning of Buddhism in India. In this episode, we’ll explore these layers- faith, art, and eventual obscurity. Glossary: 1. Chaitya – A Buddhist prayer hall or shrine, often housing a stupa. 2. Vihara – A Buddhist monastery or dwelling place for monks. 3. Avadanas – Legendary or moral stories illustrating Buddhist teachings. 4. Jatakas – Tales of the previous lives of the Buddha, teaching moral lessons. 5. Vinaya – The regulatory framework or code of conduct for Buddhist monks and nuns. 6. Nirgranthikas – Ascetic sects in ancient India, often associated with Jainism. 7. Ajivikas – An ancient Indian religious sect emphasizing fatalism and strict asceticism. 8. Mahasanghikas – One of the early Buddhist schools, emphasizing the transcendental nature of the Buddha. 9. Theravadins – Followers of the Theravada school, emphasizing the earliest Buddhist teachings. 10. Sravastavadins – A Buddhist sect known for its detailed Abhidharma scholasticism. 11. Māra – The demon or personification of temptation and death in Buddhism. 12. Avalokiteshvara – The Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. 13. Manjushri – The Bodhisattva representing wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism. 14. Bodhisattva – An enlightened being who delays final nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment. Explore visuals from today's episode- https://www.p4panorama.com/360-virtual-tour/ajanta-caves/ Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys. Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

E28 - Between Silence and Power: the Enigma of Ajanta - Part 1

Welcome back to ILF Radio! Today, we’re journeying into the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the rugged Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra. Carved into a horseshoe-shaped gorge along the Waghora River, these rock-cut caves, dating back over two millennia, are a sanctuary of art, devotion, and storytelling. Within their stone-carved facades lie timeless murals, intricate sculptures, and monastic cells that once echoed with chants of Buddhist monks. Beyond their artistic grandeur, the caves embody a living archive of faith and imagination, where every wall still whispers the rhythm of meditation, ritual, and ancient creativity. We are delighted to have Professor Seema Bawa, a renowned Art Historian who teaches at the University of Delhi. She has authored numerous books on Ancient Indian Art and religious art. Prof. Bawa brings to the table a wide array of experience in reading the ancient cave art and uncovering the beauty of these heritage sites. In this episode, she will guide us through the scenic landcsape of the Sahyadri hills and introduce us to the importance of this landscape for the Buddhist monks. Reading through the Pali cannon and understanding the majectic structures inside the cave, this episode will delve into the arrangement of the Buddhist monastic order which reflects in Ajanta. Glossary: 1. Chaitya – A Buddhist prayer hall or shrine, often housing a stupa. 2. Vihara – A Buddhist monastery or dwelling place for monks. 3. Avadanas – Legendary or moral stories illustrating Buddhist teachings. 4. Jatakas – Tales of the previous lives of the Buddha, teaching moral lessons. 5. Vinaya – The regulatory framework or code of conduct for Buddhist monks and nuns. 6. Nirgranthikas – Ascetic sects in ancient India, often associated with Jainism. 7. Ajivikas – An ancient Indian religious sect emphasizing fatalism and strict asceticism. 8. Mahasanghikas – One of the early Buddhist schools, emphasizing the transcendental nature of the Buddha. 9. Theravadins – Followers of the Theravada school, emphasizing the earliest Buddhist teachings. 10. Sravastavadins – A Buddhist sect known for its detailed Abhidharma scholasticism. 11. Māra – The demon or personification of temptation and death in Buddhism. 12. Avalokiteshvara – The Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. 13. Manjushri – The Bodhisattva representing wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism. 14. Bodhisattva – An enlightened being who delays final nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment. Explore visuals from today's episode- https://www.p4panorama.com/360-virtual-tour/ajanta-caves/ Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys. Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

E27 - A Seat by the Sea: Mumbai’s Raj Bhavan

Welcome to a brand new episode of ILF Radio! Today, we’re stepping into Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, the official residence of the Governor of Maharashtra. Situated at the southern tip of Malabar Hill, surrounded by the Arabian Sea and enveloped in dense greenery, this 160-year-old estate is as much a place of reflection as it is of governance. Beyond its ornate banquet halls and ceremonial rooms lies a space alive with memories, layered histories, and quiet corners that still hold the rhythm of ritual and routine. Joining us is Mr. Umesh Kashikar, Public Relations Officer at Raj Bhavan for over 26 years. A passionate historian and former Research Officer in the Governor's Secretariat, Mr. Kashikar has guided countless visitors through this estate, offering insights not only into its architecture and legacy but also the lived-in nuances that never make it to official records. In this episode, we talk about everything from the transformation of the British-era bunker into a museum of revolutionaries, to the understated presence of the Sri Gundi Devi temple and the challenges of balancing modern infrastructure with heritage preservation. With Mr. Kashikar as our guide, we experience Raj Bhavan not just as a political address, but as a living archive – one that blends protocol with pause, and history with heartbeat. Explore visuals from today’s episode: Raj Bhavan aerial view: https://us.images.westend61.de/0001985783pw/aerial-view-of-rajbhavan-back-bay-malabar-point-mumbai-india-AAEF30827.jpg Official site: https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys. Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

E26 - Best of the West: Vohrawads of Sidhpur

Welcome back to ILF Radio! Every once in a while, at ILF, we would like to turn our attention from the famed monumental, religious and political legacies to the common citizen’s vernacular heritage. Today we visit the singular, stunning streets of Sidhpur in Gujarat lined with the Vohrawads of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The architecture of these mansions is a truly masterful blend of various European styles adapted to the traditional Bohra lifestyle through the hands of Gujarati craftsmen. A style which in every way is the best of everything West of the subcontinent, which makes Sidhpur a place beyond belief!ILF is delighted to have architect Zoyab Alihussain Kadi, here to deliver us the story from the horse’s mouth. Born a Dawoodi Bohra, trained as an architect who also turned academician, he has been instrumental in documenting the neighbourhoods of Sidhpur and has written three books dedicated to the cause of the conservation of these vohrawads. His prolific writing and talks continue to stir interest in the region’s fading heritage. He has also received a UNESCO Sahapedia fellowship to document the cultural and architectural heritage of Sidhpur. Along with three other concerned architects, he has set up the “SIDHPUR HERITAGE COLLECTIVE”; an initiative with an ambitious and diverse agenda to stir interest in the region’s fading heritage.Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode: - Sidhpur from the lens of ILF founder Amit Pasricha: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwZkPq7v9Ae/?igsh=bmxrcHBxcmRocXdyhttps://www.instagram.com/p/CwabLUjvUqI/?igsh=bTF0ZXh5NG1oNWVrhttps://www.instagram.com/p/CwaE2QjPeAi/?igsh=cWJ4MjVwNWNpZWNi- From the Sidhpur Heritage Collective: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6PKSKqSfFz/https://www.instagram.com/p/C6PKsN8SLpR/https://www.instagram.com/p/C6gQIs2Sptt/https://www.instagram.com/p/C6gQTZ4yy8o/https://www.instagram.com/p/C-2q2pryw50/?img_index=1- Information of the Sidhpur Heritage collective’s upcoming heritage walkhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DAnzVOhSzTe/?img_index=1 https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys. Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

E25 - Gateway to Madras: Fort St. George

Welcome back to ILF Radio! In today’s episode,we set sail to “the gateway of South India”, to the shores of Madras, presently known as Chennai, where in 1639, a small strip of land on the Coromandel coast was given to the British East India company to set up a warehouse fortraded goods. On this unremarkable strip of land was eventually established Fort St. George – the seat of British colonial power in South India! The establishment of Fort St. George was the cornerstone that laid the foundation for the city of Madras which grew into one of India’s very first metropolitan cities. The story of its development from an obscure fishing hamlet into the first British Presidency in India is quite puzzlingyet most remarkable. We’re most delighted to have with us Ashmitha Athreya, operations head and lead story teller at Madras Inherited to walk us through this opening chapter of the history of Madras!  Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode: - Plan of Fort St. George: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/FortStGeorgePophamColonyJohnHuntMap.gif [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/FortStGeorgePophamColonyJohnHuntMap.gif]   - Artistic representations of the early fort on the Coromandel Coast: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/South_East_View_of_Fort_St_George%2C_Madras_-_British_Library_P942.jpg [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/South_East_View_of_Fort_St_George%2C_Madras_-_British_Library_P942.jpg]   -Tamil Nadu Legislative assembly building https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Fort_St._George%2C_Chennai_2.jpg [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Fort_St._George%2C_Chennai_2.jpg]   - Clive House https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Clive_House.jpg [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Clive_House.jpg]   - St Mary’s Church https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/St._Mary%27s_Church%2C_Chennai_%281%29.jpg [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/St._Mary%27s_Church%2C_Chennai_%281%29.jpg]    - View of the fort from the beach showing St. Mary’s steeple (date unknown) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_St._George.jpg [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_St._George.jpg]Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram@indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook@IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures. Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod