The piece was not polished and seemed to show the figure of a bull. This, they suggested, might imply that the same script (like alphabet) was being used to write a different language. All of them are believed to belong to the Indus Valley Civilisation, whose beginnings are dated to 8,000 years ago by some.Wishful historians, or even just those curious about the character of the country that is now Pakistan, cannot help but hope that Pakistan too would spearhead inquiry into the meaning of the seals. light blue wool faux fur fabric There is great irony in this, the hatreds of the present determining the flavour and meaning of a very remote past. Likely starved by the disappearance of the monsoon for almost two centuries, the population moved elsewhere, diseases proliferated, natural catastrophes eliminated. For their part, rioting Tamil nationalists argue that it shows several men and a bull and establishes the sport as Tamil. Locklear’s article quotes Farmer as holding to that position “to view the Indus symbols as part of an ‘undeciphered script’ isn’t a view anyone outside the highly politicised world of India believes”. Adherents of Hindutva are eager to claim the seals as precursors of Vedic/Sanskrit, allowing them to situate themselves, and not the Dravidan/Tamil peoples, as true Indians.

Among them was a curious object, a one inch by one inch piece of smooth inscribed clay, buried in the ruins. With the advent of computers, complex statistical techniques and algorithms are being used to search for patterns in the pictorial depictions on the seals.In recent days, two controversies have brought the Indus Valley seals, forgotten and neglected for some time by all but archaeologists, back into the public discourse. To bolster their claim, they point to the supposed depiction of the sport in rock paintings in the region that date back 3,000 years.In the years to follow, however, a vast number of such seals were found; some were believed to be attached to grain stores, showing what was in them; others were engraved with fabric inscription patterns. They also found that the script varied based on the location where it was found, with seals found in the Mesopotamian region differing from those found in the subcontinent. First, the entrenchment of Hindutva in India, and its sometimes fanciful and politically expeditious reconstruction of Indian history, has redefined the role of the seals. With the story of Pakistan as rife with squabbles and contestation as the battle over Jallikattu and the Indus scripts next door, this wish is unlikely to be granted anytime soon. It is notable that the published volumes depicting the seals are separated into two, not owing to what they say or any characteristic that is peculiar to them, but rather based on whether they were found in Pakistan or India.

The intellectual debate, which expectedly is influenced by the politics surrounding the Indus seals, focuses on whether the script on them constitutes a lost and as yet undeciphered language. As for the Indus Valley Civilisation, it went into decline around 1,900 BC.Rao then moved on to map the position of certain symbols on the seals to create a predictive model.One recent iteration of this squabble took place a few weeks ago, when Tamil nationalists clashed with police over the ban on the sport of Jallikattu. The results revealed that certain symbols recurred in the same places, suggesting the existence of a particular syntax. Cunningham initially thought that the seal was a foreign object.

They never had to pay up. Yadav used a similar technique, which she likens to the suggested searches within search engines like Google. With a good number of around 3,500 seals found in Pakistan, the frayed relationship between the two countries has played a role in the estimation of the seals and of whether they constitute a script.

The politics of Hindutva are not the only brand of politics implicated by the seals.By arrangement with Dawn. Hindutva supporters have argued that one of the seals shows a man and a bull and establishes bullfighting (which was banned by the Indian Supreme Court in 2014) as a Hindu sport.Other researchers, notably non-Indian, have been reticent to accept the claims that the inscriptions on the Indus seals constitute an actual language, implying that it may well be the current Indian political climate rather than data that is pushing Rao and Yadav’s findings. In 2009, Rao published his findings, which revealed that the arrangements of the symbols is not incidental but intentional, suggesting that the symbols may constitute a script, one of the last lost languages. The people gave up, abandoned the cities and their seals — and what they had sought to say was lost forever.Karachi: In the 1870s, Sir Alexander Cunningham, who founded the Archaeological Survey of India, published some findings excavated at Harappa. As early as 2004, before Indian historians were scrambling to establish that the seals made up a language, the trio had even taken the unusual step of offering a reward of 10,000 to anyone who would find a lengthy inscription beyond the two or three grouped symbols.Two researchers, Nisha Yadav at the Tata Institute in India and Rajesh Rao at the University of Washington, have run different models that look for just these patterns.As Melanie Locklear points out in an exhaustive article on the subject, comparative historian Steve Farmer, computational theorist Richard Sproat and philologist Michael Witzel have all argued that the script does not constitute a language at all

A similar visit by two Chinese submarines in 2014 had invited strong protest from India, which said it undermined its security interests. "Diversity calls for celebration and not confrontation. As close neighbours, our relationship spreads across many layers.The prime minister also found a way to add his popular election programme &wholesale Beige printed mink Faux Fur Fabrics39;Chai pe Charcha' in his address, saying it "is a mark of deep respect for dignity and integrity of honest labour.."Our region is blessed to have given to the world the invaluable gift of Buddha and his teachings," he said, pointing out the significance of the "shared heritage" between the two peoples. "Because, whether it is on land or in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the security of our societies is indivisible.He said all the people of the two countries needed to strengthen, not separate, the threads of unity and harmony. A deal in this regard is yet to be announced and some workers' union and opposition parties have protested against any such agreement with India.

Modi, however, said, "In infrastructure and connectivity, transport and energy, we are poised to scale up our cooperation. "We believe that free flow of trade, investments, technology, and ideas across our borders will be to our mutual benefit.Later addressing the Tamil workers of the Lankan tea industry, he said India will fully support "active steps" of the country to improve living conditions of Tamils of central Lanka.

"We will continue to invest in driving positive change and economic growth to deepen our development cooperation. It draws its strength as much through our interconnected values of Buddhism as it does from the limitless possibilities of our shared future..25 billion Indians.Colombo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured Sri Lanka of India's support in its nation-building efforts, saying New Delhi will be a friend and a partner, amid China's forays into the important Indian Ocean country. India's rapid growth can bring dividends for the entire region, especially in Sri Lanka," he said. Ours is a friendship that lives in the # hearts of our people and in the fabric of our societies," he said.Modi said he believes that India and Sri Lanka were at a moment of great opportunity in their relationship.".""You will find in India a friend and partner that will support your nation-building endeavours," he said."His remarks about the Indian Ocean and security assume significance as the Chinese strive to make inroads into the island-nation.Yesterday, a top Sri Lankan defence official said that the Chinese had requested to dock its submarine at the Colombo harbour next week but the country refused it permission. Explaining how Sri Lanka contributed to reviving Buddhism in India, he said, "you took us back to our own roots.India and Sri Lanka are in talks to jointly operate oil tanks at the strategic Trincomalee port. Sri Lanka is finalising a plan to lease 80 per cent of its Hambantota port to China for 99 years."

The prime minister stressed that the social and economic well-being of the Sri Lankan people is linked with that of 1.Making Lord Buddha and his ideals the central theme of his charming address at the inauguration of the International Vesak Day - the biggest Buddhist festival, Modi called on India and Sri Lanka to uphold those ideals and promote values of peace, inclusiveness and compassion in policies and conduct. Sinhala and Tamil people and languages existed harmoniously," he said.He reiterated India's commitment to the economic prosperity of "our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters".""The friendship between India and Sri Lanka was etched in time by the 'Great Master'

“So we adopted a super tongue-in-cheek aesthetic and mixed it in with a classic but cool Hamptons beach vibe.“For this Montauk project, the client’s roots are strong in Florida, and she has fond memories of time spent on the beach in the 1970s,” Vinas says. Vinas also introduced tasty citrus hues like lime, orange and lemon to the decor.

Salvaged wood from Thai fishing boats is used to make interesting lamp bases in several sizes at Continental Home.Walmart and Wayfair have several well-priced options if you’re looking for a rope-trimmed table lamp; some have the rope wrapping a base, while on others the rope itself is the lamp base. Blues ranging in intensity from sky to pool to navy were used in textiles and rugs throughout the house.And there’s loads of lively art, from photoprints of giant waves to San Francisco artist Rex Ray’s groovy surfboard wallpaper, as well as a group of whimsical, painted shark heads from California ceramicist Lorien Stern.

Porthole-style mirrors in various iterations anchor bathroom vanities. For example, in the open plan living area, Vinas hung a group of white sphere light fixtures suspended in blue netting; they look like boat buoys. A smart little model sailboat graces a mantel, while a gallery wall of white-framed, watercolour seabird prints adds interest in a family seating area. Each tile is crafted in Northern California of solid brass, and when arranged on a wall they do resemble sunlit water, or mermaid’s scales. Beach-chair-style stripes of colour adorn furniture pieces and shower tile.New York designer Ghislaine Vinas recently did a project out in the sandy seaside enclave of Montauk, New York. “My clients moved to Minnesota from the Pacific Northwest, and have a huge affinity for sailing,” she says. And scattered throughout the home are nautical references given a playful spin.. A dreamy, iridescent finish brings both mermaids and shells to mind.

Albers referenced that coast’s moody palette of sand, mist and ocean in the furniture and accessories. It’s a look that still pays homage to a home’s waterside location, actual or aspirational, but in a stylish way.Designers are playing with the idea of nautical decor in new ways, with furnishings and style notes that say “classic contemporary” instead of alpaca faux fur fabric “kitschy cute. Suzanne Kasler’s bold, graphic nautical flags come framed in natural wood. There are floor and table lamps made of gathered driftwood here, as well.At Ballard Designs, there’s a mirror framed in faux white coral that would make a statement; it’s available in wall-mountable and floor sizes.Cle Tile carries British artist Boris Aldridge’s Ocean, Tide Pool and Water tiles, part of his handmade porcelain and poured-glass collection in an array of deep, liquid blues.

There might be art, but instead of the usual beachy tableaux, there are close-up wave prints, or oversize photos of sea creatures.If you like the idea of a siren’s song on the wall but don’t want to go with tile, consider designer Genevieve Gorder’s Pearl Belly repositionable and removable wallpaper at Tempaper.While Vinas went for a playful seaside vibe, Minneapolis-based designer Raena Albers opted for something a little more serene in one of her recent projects. A fresh palette of white and blue was accented with Vinas’ signature punches of bright orange, green and yellow.”There might be life preservers on the wall, but they’re probably vintage, and paired with modern chairs. “We loved this homage to Floridian agriculture, and decoupaged a vintage dresser with fruit cut-outs,” she says. Water sparkling on the bay inspired San Francisco designer Erica Tanov’s Shimmer collection for Cle.”That mash-up led her team to dub the home “Floritauk”, a name the client liked so much that it stuck

Modern-day ensembles with a touch of vintage is all over (In a good way, of course), and is clearly having a major fashion moment.Channel a sharp vibe by pairing casuals with retro and vintage elements, as shown by these city-based bloggers. Styling a midi s******t with a crop top is an overdone trend that could be replaced with a nice cutout top or a cold shoulder pastel top to add a twist to your outfit,” she states.”

The charming yet edgy vibe of the 70s drew inspiration from raging musical preferences back then. If you do not want to go all out with a vintage look, add a chic accouterment - suede belts, tassle earrings, or even a fitted leather jacket over a maxi dress. That aside, linen culottes ( which is again a retro style) look amazing when worn with a laced top or a ruffled crop blouse.Sartorially, we&Bright feather blue alpaca faux fur fabric39;re in a phase where the concept of 'mix and match' is reigning supreme. It's always a nice idea to begin with a basic and breezy look as it's important for the understated elegant charm to be reflected. You need to play with caution as the material is literally 'out there'. Need assistance to get it right # without going over the top? Popular names from the city's fashion fraternity lay down the rules.“It’s a health mix that's making all the noise right now in the fashion scene. Take note!Actress Neha Dhupia exudes a modern-vintage charm. “The black and white combination never fails. But, the obsession around some of the era's fashion hits are seeing a massive resurgence of late — in 2017. But, ensure you take the basics and comfort factor into consideration.

While I’m all for playing around with modern and streaks of vintage; going minimal is the key to getting it right,” begins Aswathi Balakrishnan, a fashion influencer. The easiest way to pull off the look is by sporting a vintage midi s******t with an off shoulder top. So, chin up and take things up a notch by infusing retro and Bohemia with a hint of casual chic. Sonam Kapoor makes a statement in this lace-y number!Clearly, the modern minimalist with an edgy vibe ticks all the boxes this season. But, matching it with casual outfits is the flavour of the season. “A blingy jumpsuit in the right size, worn with a beige fitted blazer is a safe buy.

That’s the appeal you should be channeling, if sporting vintage with a touch of casual chic is on your mind,” signs off Shruti Sarin, a lifestyle influencer.“A lively mash of midi dresses with a gypsy flair has always been a fashion favourite. Not ready to throw caution to the winds? Then stick to trusty monochrome says fashion blogger Anjalli Sukumaran.Enthusing the need to keep fabrics and colour combinations in mind while putting together outfits, she adds, “Velvet is a very challenging fabric. If you’re wearing a velvet bottom wear, stick to solid colours. Works well for a balmy brunch date or a casual day at work,” suggests designer Nagashree Gururaj.The hippie and Boho fashion, which seeped into the scene back in the '60s but continued throughout the '70s is gaining momentum yet again. If you're a tad experimental, make peace with a flowy velvety gown! And, it's always a good idea to team velvet outfits with neutral colours. Oversized blazers are back, and throwing them over a well-fitted velvet outfit or pairing a crisp white dress shirt with a flared s******t are certainly winning combinations

However, finally that was also cancelled. This poses a grave threat to the social fabric and democratic set up of the country and could prove to be detrimental to communal harmony,” he said. “Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre and in Maharashtra, the general trend is that the investigating agencies charge someone with wrongdoing and the media pronounces the accused as guilty even before the court delivers its judgement. His (Naik’s) travel schedule had been made long back.

After performing Umrah, he is scheduled to travel to Jeddah from where he will visit Africa for his public talks scheduled there.Dr Naik, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, would proceed to the United Arab Emirates for a series of engagements and later visit Africa before leaving for Mumbai after a few weeks, one of his aids informed.Earlier it was assumed that Dr Naik will be returning to Mumbai on Tuesday as he had invited journalists for a press conference.Maharashtra chief of Samajwadi Party, Abu Azmi said that Dr Naik is being defamed because he is bringing people from various faiths to Islam. On mere hearsay, the media cannot pronounce anybody as supporter of terrorism.All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Samajwadi Party have come out in support of Dr Za****** Naik, who has come under the scanner after reports emerged that two among a group of terrorists, who killed 22 people in the terror attack in a cafe in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on July 1, were allegedly inspired by his speeches. AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, in a statement said that Mr Naik’s “media trial” should end immediately and nobody could be pronounced guilty unless the court gives its judgement. He is therefore not expected in the country for another 2-3 weeks at least,” Dr Naik’s supporter said adding that Dr Naik is not Beige Indian Leopard Print Faux Fur Fabrics running away from any inquiry and that he is only sticking to his travel schedule worked out in advance.

The AIMIM legislator also alleged that the BJP is behind Dr Naik’s media trial.“By hounding Za****** Naik, the media, particularly some national television channels, have already pronounced their judgement even when a formal case is yet to be registered against him. However, his aid clarified that the press conference was planned through skype. If there is concrete proof of violation of any law by anyone, strict action shall be initiated,” Mr Jaleel said. If he has been inspiring terrorists, why was no action taken against him for so long There should be an inquiry, conducted by a retired Supreme Court judge to prove that he can never do anything of this sort. This media trial of Naik should end. But, this media trial against him should stop,” Mr Azmi said. “Naik has been a preacher for around 25 years now. If any individual, whosoever it may be, breaks the rule of the land, the law should take its own course.. He had decided that he will address the media through Skype and answer all queries that media persons may have had.“Dr Za****** Naik was never supposed to be physically present for the media briefing that was to take place on Tuesday

That would not augur well for the state’s interests in the tea industry. Sources add that the government has two options — either roll back the promotion to the IPS officers or promote the six IAS officers to the rank of principal secretary. Ideally, the promotions should have been based on the date of joining, but this was overlooked. But so long as Mr Thomas has the CM’s back, the vigilance probes are likely to continue.Vigilance woes in KeralaThough the mass leave threat by Kerala’s IAS officers has been dropped for the moment, the babus’ face-off with the Left Democratic Front government continues.Sources say that the oversight happened because the IPS officers Sanjay Agrawal and Hemant Priyadarshy are from the 1992 batch, but joined wholesale Beige printed mink Faux Fur Fabrics service a year later.Now the Centre has indicated that if Mr Roy is not made available for the post of deputy chairman, it may decide not to consider West Bengal cadre IAS officer for the post.

Specifically, it revolves around the post of deputy chairman of the board. Resentment against Mr Thomas stirred when he sought action against three bureaucrats late last year. The slip-up has led to two Indian Police Service officers of inspector general rank given promotion while six Indian Administrative Service officers have been overlooked, despite sharing the same date of joining.But sources say that Mr Thomas, a 1985-batch IPS officer known as an anti-corruption crusader, was chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s choice for the vigilance director’s post after his government assumed power last May.The IAS officers claim that they are being “victimised” by Mr Thomas, who they accuse of “abusing his powers”. Earlier, the chairman used to be the executive head of the Tea Board, but the Centre amended rules in October last year, making the deputy chairman the executive head.The issue arose due to the reluctance of the chief minister to release state cadre officer Arnab Roy, a 1991-batch IAS officer, for the post.

In recent months, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been one of the very few Opposition chief ministers to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Narendra Modi government at the Centre.. Sources say she was miffed at the Centre’s decision that made the chairman’s post non-executive in order to appoint a political person. But the recent threat of mass protest was triggered by the vigilance department’s decision to make Paul Antony, additional chief secretary (industries), a co-accused in a corruption case against former industries minister E. Indications are that the government is likely to go for the second option. This bitter feud has spilled into many areas, and most recently, in the functioning of the Tea Board.P.An embarrassing slip-upA bureaucratic faux pas has left the Rajasthan government embarrassed.

So opinions on the issue are clearly divided along political lines. Clearly, she does not want a state cadre officer to work with a BJP appointee at the board.Now the department of personnel is working to rectify the error that led to two IPS officers superseding six IAS officers in rank.The post of deputy chairman is considered important in terms of promoting the tea industry as he is the executive head of the body. This coincided with the date when the six IAS officers — Tanmay Kumar, Akhil Arora, Alok, Aparna Arora, Shikhar Agrawal and Sandeep Verma — also joined. The babus have been protesting a series of corruption cases lodged against some senior officers by the IPS head of state vigilance department Jacob Thomas