India's Composite Heritage: A Workbook for Children and Parents

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Today children and adults alike find themselves in a world saturated with images. Educators are increasingly recognizing that visual literacy is a core twenty-first-century skill along with basic literacy scientific and numerical literacy, and cross-disciplinary skills.

What makes the Great Stupa at Sanchi significant? How were the caves at Ellora carved? Why is the Rudreshwara Temple in Palampet considered innovative? How old are the Khajuraho temples? Why are the Great Living Chola Temples named thus? Who built the many churches and convents of Goa! What makes the Taj Mahal one of the wonders of the world?

Follow along as art historian Nachiket Chanchani takes a trip across the country to answer many questions like these about India's innumerable works of art and architecture Discover thirty-two monumental architectural complexes scattered in distant corners of the country, which serve as milestones in the history of India, from prehistory to the present, and learn how to interpret, recognize, appreciate, and understand history as real historians do through fun and easy activities. Start your journey by analysing cave art in the Bhimbetka rock shelters from 8000 ace, then use a sundial in the thirteenth-century Konark Sun Temple to tell the time. before finally building the Open Hand Monument in Le Corbusier's post-Independence Capitol Complex.

This innovative and richly illustrated book strives to inculcate visual literacy among readers of all ages by teaching them how to interpret, recognize. appreciate, and understand information presented through ensembles of buildings, objects, and symbols crafted in India over the ages.

India is home to many visual languages. A visual language is a means of communicating using elements and principles of art. The elements of art include line, shape, form, value, space, colour, and texture; and the principles of art include rhythm, balance, contrast, proportion, gradation, harmony, variety, and moment. Artists and architects communicate with the viewer by organizing the elements and principles of art in a thoughtful and attractive manner.

Innumerable works of art and architecture have been made in India over the ages. Of these, thirty-two monumental architectural complexes scattered in far corners of our country are particularly important because many meanings and diverse messages are compressed into their forms.

In addition, the thirty-two monumental architectural complexes in this book serve as milestones in the history of India, from prehistory to the present. Besides acquiring visual literacy, you will come to appreciate India's composite heritage that is made up of many parts. Finally, you will learn how to study history. History is a process of investigation and a way of knowing the past rather than a collection of facts. Historians identify and use diverse types of evidence to construct a narrative. Historians also strive to situate a particular event or process within a wider context. Our hope is that you will be able to begin this endeavour by the time you finish reading this book and complete all its activities.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages