Lok Sabha Question No. 1184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Project Mausam
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: George Baker, Richard Hay

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1184 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.7.2017

## PROJECT MAUSAM

## 1184.  SHRI  GEORGE BAKER: PROF. RICHARD HAY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Project Mausam along with its present status;
- (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this Project since its inception, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the number of States/countries involved under this project at present;
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any time frame for this project; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  achievements  made  so  far  and  its response with the other countries?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Project 'Mausam' is the initiative of Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support  of  the  Indira  Gandhi  National  Centre  for  the  Arts  (IGNCA)  and National  Museum  as  associate  bodies.  This  project  aims  to  explore  the multi-faceted  Indian  Ocean  'world'-collating  archaeological  and  historical research  in  order  to  document  the  diversity  of  cultural,  commercial  and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean. It also aims to promote research on  themes  related  to  the  study  of  Maritime  Routes.  Main  objective  of  the project  is  to  inscribe  places  and  sites  identified  under  Project  Mausam  as trans-national nomination for inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
- (b) A fund for  Rs. 150,244,502/- was approved by Ministry of Culture for two years i.e. 2015-16 & 2016-17 out of which Rs. 3,22,02,881/- was transferred to IGNCA. An amount of Rs.12,26,362/- is utilized.
- (c) The list of countries identified under the project is given as Annexure-I.
- (d) The project  was  launched  in  June,  2014  during  38 th
- &
- session  of  the  World Heritage  Committee. An SFC was approved in April, 2015 for 2 years i.e.
- (e) 2015-16 and 2016-17. Some of the major achievements are: -
- (i)  A national conference organized by ASI and Kerala Tourism in November, 2014 at Kochi, Kerala.
- (ii)  Exhibition on Unearthing Pattanam; Histories, Cultures and Crossings at National Museum in November, 2014.
- (iii)  Seventeen  lectures  were  held  on  various  themes  related  to  Project Mausam by IGNCA
- (iv)  An exhibition on 'Africans in India: A rediscovery' in IGNCA.
- (v) Symposium  on  'Maritime  culture  of  India  and  its  potential'  in  January, 2017.

Indian  mission  in  identified  countries  have  been  requested  to  identify appropriate authorities/resource person/experts to initiate a dialogue but only a few have responded with necessary information.

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (C) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1184 FOR 24.7.2017

## List of 39 Indian Ocean countries identified under Project Mausam:

|   1 | Bahrain                     |
|-----|-----------------------------|
|   2 | Bangladesh                  |
|   3 | Cambodia                    |
|   4 | China                       |
|   5 | Comoros                     |
|   6 | Egypt                       |
|   7 | Eritrea                     |
|   8 | Réunion, French Department  |
|   9 | Indonesia                   |
|  10 | Iraq                        |
|  11 | Iran (Islamic Republic)     |
|  12 | Jordan                      |
|  13 | Kuwait                      |
|  14 | Kenya                       |
|  15 | Lebanon                     |
|  16 | Madagascar                  |
|  17 | Malaysia                    |
|  18 | Maldives                    |
|  19 | Mauritius                   |
|  20 | Mozambique                  |
|  21 | Myanmar                     |
|  22 | Oman                        |
|  23 | Pakistan                    |
|  24 | Philippines                 |
|  25 | Qatar                       |
|  26 | Singapore                   |
|  27 | Sri Lanka                   |
|  28 | Saudi Arabia                |
|  29 | Seychelles                  |
|  30 | Somalia                     |
|  31 | South Africa                |
|  32 | Sudan                       |
|  33 | Syrian Arab Republic        |
|  34 | United Republic of Tanzania |
|  35 | Thailand                    |
|  36 | Turkey                      |
|  37 | United Arab Emirates        |
|  38 | Viet Nam                    |

| 39   | Yemen   |
|------|---------|