Elephanta Caves' 'Adoption' Triggers Familiar Row With Stakeholders

India | Asia | Heritage Management

In an unprecedented step that heralds a new chapter for India’s approach to heritage conservation, Maharashtra’s iconic Elephanta Caves have been adopted by a private firm, marking it as the first monument in the state to fall under the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) ambitious 'Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. 

This adoption comes as a turning point in India’s conservation ethos, where private corporations are invited—through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives—to take on the responsibilities of not merely safeguarding but actively enhancing the country’s cultural legacy. 

The Food Report January 2023 (Maharashtra)

India | Public Health | Food and Health

We are living in tricky times. Older generations, which valued the merits of naturally-produced foods like the small Gauthi Methi (indigenous fenugreek) or the thin-skinned locally-produced Tamatar (tomato) consumed on a daily basis once, have now either been elbowed out of an existence that counts towards consumers or simply relegated to a minority whose opinion doesn't matter, writes Gajanan Khergamker

Food choices, patterns and benefits were brought down generations by families that cherished values and processes innate to the land. But, with the burgeoning of consumers and, concurrently, their market-manufactured desires, the compulsion to copy tastes and ratify non-native foods and choices, is now overwhelming. Also, gluttony is the new normal.