WHC in India - Ajanta Caves

Date of Inscription: 1983
Criteria:
(i)to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius

(ii)to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design

(iii)to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared

(vi)to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)

Brief Description
The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

WHC in India - Agra Fort

Date of Inscription: 1983
Criteria: iii. - to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

Brief Description
Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

World Heritage Centres (WHC) in India - by UNESCO

The World Heritage List includes 830 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. These include 644 cultural, 162 natural and 24 mixed properties in 138 States parties.

Here is the listing of the world heritage centres (WHC) in India as declared by UNESCO.

Agra Fort (1983)
Ajanta Caves (1983)
Ellora Caves (1983)
Taj Mahal (1983)
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
Kaziranga National Park (1985)
Keoladeo National Park (1985)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
Elephanta Caves (1987)
Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004) 12
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
Sundarbans National Park (1987)
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005)
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005) 13
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)


In the upcoming updates will post more details of why these centres are declared to be of heritage values....

Basilica's in India - Lady of Immaculate Conception (Mount Mary, Mumbai

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Mount Poinsur, has been a Catholic Parish from 1547 to 1739 and again from 1912 onwards. It is presently operated by the C.M.S.F. brothers founded by Fray Paulus Moritz.

Mount Poinsur is an area of the city of Mumbai, in what is now called the "Western suburbs", and is now usually identified as part of the suburb of "Borivali (W)".

Mount Poinsur was originally a craggy hillock on Dharavi Island, an island that no longer exists independently, as, due to reclamations, it has been united with the island of Salsette.

According to tradition, the intrepid Franciscan missionary, Padre Antonio do Porto was the founder of this church in 1544, ten years after the Bombay-Baçaim coastal tracts were ceded by the Sultan of Cambay, Bahadur Shah, to Portugal by the Treaty of Baçaim (see Fr. Ernest Hull, S.J., Bombay Mission History: With A Special Study of the Padroado Question, Examiner Press, Bombay, 1929. Vol. I, pg. 10).

Fr. Meersman however holds that although Porto was its founder, the foundation could only have taken place shortly after his arrival in these parts in 1547 (Fr. Achilles Meersman, O.F.M., The Franciscans in Bombay, St. Anthony's Friary, Bangalore, 1957).

By October 1548, he and his companion, Joao de Goa, had made a number of converts and had founded a 'devout hermitage' at Mount Poinsur. In October 1549, we have the following description of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety):

"On an island opposite Baçaim, a league and a half from the river... there is a church of Our Lady where there must be four hundred Christians.... It is entirely in a rock cliff.... It is very large and has four chapels." (Fr. Meersman, O.F.M., The Ancient Franciscan Provinces in India 1500 - 1835, Christian Literature Society Press, Bangalore, 1971. pg 193).
During the time of the same Padre Porto, the village of Mount Poinsur was granted to the Franciscans by the Governor of Baçaim Jorge de Cabral in the name of King John III of Portugal, for the maintenance of their work. Soon the Franciscans bought the two neighboring villages of Pare and Erangal around 1556-1559. Adjoining the church, they also built a Royal College in 1549, the ruins of which are still standing close to the present church.

Over the years, the four hundred villagers converted by Padre Antonio do Porto grew in number and soon a settlement for them was built around or opposite the church (records Padre Paulo da Trinidade).

Around 1630, the parish counted some 1500 parishioners in the villages of Mount Poinsur, Dhainsa, Simpor, Canaria and Cassor, with a chapel dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel in Canaria. It was also around this time that the name of the church at Mount Poinsur was changed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

During the Maratha invasion of 1739, Mount Poinsur was captured, the Friars dispersed, and the church, friary and college pillaged and left in ruins. Then for a century and a half, time and nature abetted by the local people who used the ruins as a quarry for stones did their destructive work, so that what had been spared by the Marathas fell into still deeper ruin.

Adjoining and beneath the church are the Mandapeshwar caves, the habitation of Hindu ascetics until the Franciscans took over and converted them into a crypt for the church which they built over them. After 1739, the Marathas reconverted the caves to Hindu usage. When these lands were ceded by the Marathas to England by the Treaty of Salbai in 1774, the caves under the dilapidated church were repossessed by the predominantly Catholic people of Mt. Poinsur to serve as a chapel, and functioned in this manner for a little more than a century. From 1739-1912, it appears that there was no resident Vicar of Poinsur. In 1888, through the efforts of the people of the City of Bandra and under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Goa's Vicar-General of the North, Padre Joao Braz Fernandes, the old parish church was rebuilt on the hillock above the caves and has since functioned as the parish church.

The church has had its own Vicar only from 1912 onwards, thus Humbert (J. Humbert, S.J., Catholic Bombay, Her Priests and Their Training, Catholic Press, Ranchi, Bihar, 1964. Vol. II, pg 219).

The church underwent major repairs and renovations in 1912.

As for the caves, they have been taken over by the Government of India in the 1960s and are designated as protected archaeological monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.), although the Hindus are permitted to worship in them.

Mount Poinsur remained loyal to the Archdiocese of Goa during the Padroado-Propaganda conflict, as part of the Vicariate of the North (O Norte), and was later made part of the Diocese of Damaõ, 1886-1928, which revived the parish and assigned it to Brother Paulus Moritz and his newly founded Franciscan congregation.

In 1928, most of the Diocese of Damaõ, including the parish of Mount Poinsur, was integrated into the Archdiocese of Bombay, under its first Portuguese Archbishop Joachim da Lima, S.J.

The current Parish Priest as of 2006 is Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is Fr. Franklin.

Mt. Mary Church is among the most prominent churches in Mumbai, with devotees flocking here from all faith. Situated in West Bandra past Hill Road the Basilica of our Lady of Mount Mary was built by the Portuguese in 1640. Mary Church is famous for the kind rituals that reinforce the power of prayers. The Marathi speaking communities refer Mother Mary as - Math Mauli.

In the month of September the festival of the Virgin Mother culminates in a week long Bandra fair. Abuzz with a carnival like excitement, the Bandra fair has stalls selling gooey Goan sweets and wax idols of the Virgin along with an assortment of candles shaped like hands, feet and various other parts of the body. It is the time when the sickly and all those in need for blessings converge with a pious hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.

The locale of Mt. Mary Church is just as picturesque as it's sacred. One can watch the sunset and calmness that engulfs Arabian Sea from this place. With devotees flocking Mt. Mary Church all round the year, it has gained a special place of faith among the hearts of people from all sects and religion. People strongly believe that Mount Mary fulfils their genuine wishes if prayers are made earnestly and faithfully.

Basilica's in India - Bom Jesus - Goa - World Heritage symbol

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Basilica of Bom Jesu (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) is located in Goa, India. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule, about 10km from the city of Panjim.

'Bom Jesus' means 'Good (or Holy) Jesus'. The cathedral is India’s first Minor Basilica, and is considered as one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

This world heritage monument built in 1695 and has emerged as a landmark in the history of Christianity. It contains the body of St. Francis Xavier; a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola. St. Francis Xavier died while on a sea voyage to China on December 2, 1552.


The following year, while transferring Francis Xavier's remains to Goa, in accordance with his wishes, it is said that the saint's body was as fresh as the day it was buried. The relic attracts a huge number of devotees from all over the world, especially during the public viewing of his body every ten years (last held in 2004). The saint is said to have miraculous powers of healing, and pilgrims come from all over the country.

This church is one of the richest churches in Goa and is carpeted with marble flooring and inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple. The church also holds paintings of St. Francis Xavier. The Tomb of St. Francis Xavier (1696) was the gift of the last of the Medicis, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The tomb was carved by the 17th century Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini. It took ten years to complete. The casket containing his body is made of silver. The holy relics of the saint are displayed every ten years during the anniversary of the Saint's death. His feast is the third of December.

On the upper level, overlooking the tomb, is the Bom Jesus Basilica Art Gallery, containing the works of the Goan surrealist painter, Dom Martin.

Author and fellow Jesuit Anthony De Mello was also from Goa and has mentioned the cathedral in his writing.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus church at Goa India is around 400 years old. It has relics of St. Francis Xavier, the body of St. Francis Xavier kept in well decorated casket which is seen in the photographs below is open to public everyday but one can touch it only during the periodic expositions. Some photos taken inside the church are attached for better understanding of the art work of that time. These art work are called "Murals"

Basilica's in India - Santhome Cathedral, Chennai

The Portuguese between the 14th and the 15 century AD built The Santhome cathedral. Deriving its name after St. Thomas, this continues to be an important place of pilgrimage for the Christian community in the country and is also historically important. This Roman Catholic church is said to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle. It is close to the seaport. A towering neo gothic spire dominates the 55 metres high San Thome Cathedral. This church is located on the southern end of Marina Beach. It has in its possession a small hand bone of Thomas and the head of a lance, which brought him down. Renovated in the early 1970s, this Basilica draws huge crowds. Besides the beauty of its rising spire, this Gothic styled church has a brilliant stained glass depiction of St. Thomas' encounter with the resurrected Christ. In the cathedral is a 3ft. high statue of Virgin Mary, which is believed to have been brought from Portugal in 1543.

Close to the seashore, the impressive Basilica is built over the tomb of St.Thomas which contains in it's crypt a small hand bone of the Apostle and the head of a lance which is said to have been used in the attack on him.

Between the 14th and 15th centuries,the beach church fell to ruins and in 1522 the Portugese moved the Apostle's remains to a new tomb, and built a new church which was given the status of a cathedral in 1606. In 1893 however, this church was also demolished and the present Gothic style cathedral was built and consecrated in 1896. in 1956, this cathedral was elevated to the status of a Basilica as a fitting tribute to the martyred St. Thomas.

Basilica's in India - Our Lady of Lourdes - Poondi

Origin of Shrine

In the beginning of the eighteenth century (1714-1718) a great Italian Jesuit missionary named Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi S.J. popularly known as "Veeramamunivar" built a church and named it as the church of "Mary Queen of

Poondi is just a tiny village located in the Thiruvaiyaru taluk of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. The rivers Cauvery and the Colleroon flank the northern and southern sides of this village. In a district that is predominantly rural, Poondi Madha Shrine is a celebrated place of pilgrimage for over half a century now.

It is a historically recorded fact that Veeramamunivar the Italian Jesuit missionary who was a renowned Tamil scholar, built a church at this very same place and dedicated it to Mother Mary. The present structure of the shrine is constructed in mix of Gothic and French architecture. The highlight of the structure is the row of statues of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, saints like Francis Xavier and also one of Veeramamunivar (Constantine Joseph Beschi) on the facade, above the portico

Immaculate Conception".


There is an interesting story behind how the present structure was erected. Rev. Fr. Lourdes Xavier, Parish Priest of the church in 1955, feared that the main roof, which was in a bad condition, would collapse any moment. When an engineer was consulted, he found that except for the central roof, he rest of the structure was quite strong. He recommended that it was enough to demolish only the roof. A little after this, on a rainy November night, the roof of the church collapsed, leaving everything else intact, thus saving the cost of demolishing. Shortly after this, the number of pilgrims to the Shrine was on the rise and kept increasing as accounts of miracles and cures started to spread.

Apart from the religious significance, Poondi is worth visiting just for the sight of lush greenery and the two rivers which have made Thanjavur the 'granary of Tamil Nadu'. The primary occupation of the villagers residing here being farming, the village is surrounded by coconut groves, paddy and sugar cane fields.

Basilica's in India - Our Lady of Good Health - Vailankanni

VAILANKANNI where the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health gloriously stands, is situated on the East Coast 10 kms to the south of Nagapattinam which is 350 kms to the South of Chennai the Capital of TamilNadu, India.

The history behind the global fame of Our Lady of Good Health, is founded on three events that took place intermittently since the 16th Century at Vailankanni.

The foremost incident is the Apparition of Our Lady, Mother of Jesus, which occurred during the pleasant daybreak on a sunny day in the 16th century, when a shepherd boy, carrying milk was on his way as was his daily practice, from Vailankanni to his master at Nagapattinam. Despite the morning freshness, fatigue overcame the little dutiful boy as he was passing by a water pond at the Anna pillai street at Vailankanni. Placing the milk-pot near the banyan tree by the water pond, the boy fell into an unusual slumber, only to be startled to his feet by the sweet vision of a most graceful Lady of exquisite beauty, holding in her hand a most charming child of divine appearance. Both wore celestial halos around their heads. As the boy was still in a world of surprise, shock and happiness the Lady asked of him some milk for her child. Filled with reverence and awe, the boy offered milk. The heavenly smile of the Child and Mother was the only message.

The impatient master did not believe the narration of the boy. But to the greater astonishment of all present, the milk began to surge over the pot and flow out. On reaching the place of apparition, the gentleman and others began to believe in the heavenly Lady. This place began to be called, "Our Lady's Tank".


Around the end of the 16th century, there lived at Vailankanni a poor widow with her son who was lame by birth. Every day the lame boy used to sit under a banyan tree at a place called 'Nadu Thittu' (central mound) and sell butter-milk to the thirsty wayfarers. On a certain day, to his bewilderment, a very bright light appeared in front of him and from amidst the light, a Lady of peerless grace with a divine Child in her arms, asked the boy for a cup of butter-milk. Then She directed him to go and inform a catholic gentleman at Nagapattinam to put up a Chapel in her name on the spot of her apparition. The boy realised that his lame legs have become normal upon the word from the Lady. With great joy, he buoyantly ran to Nagapattinam to carry out the errand. Having been already directed in vision by Our Lady, the Catholic gentleman, with the support of the people, built a Chapel at 'Nadu Thittu' where now stands the present Shrine Basilica. The Lady was called, 'Our Lady of Good Health'.

In the 17th century, a Portuguese merchant vessel, sailing from Macao in China to Colombo in Ceylon was caught in a tempest in the Bay of Bengal.The helpless sailors besought Mary the Star of the Sea to save them.

They vowed to build a Church in her name, wherever they could land on. The stormy sea became calm. Their ship landed near the shore of Vailankanni on the 8th September, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady.

They transformed the thatched Chapel erected by the catholic gentleman of Nagapattinam into a beautiful stone-built Chapel. On their next visit, they decorated the Altar with porcelain plates, illustrating biblical themes. These plates giving testimony to their thanksgiving to Our Lady, are seen even today around the throne of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Good Health, over the main altar of the Shrine Basilica. From that time the Feast of Our Lady of Good Health is celebrated every year preceded by hoisting of the flag on 29th August. During these eleven days of the Feast, about 15 to 20 lakhs of people visit the Shrine Basilica.


Historical Data of Vailankanni Shrine

1.
The history of Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni, dawned in the 16th century

2.
In September 1771, Vailankanni which had been a substation of Nagapattinam Parish, was raised to the status of a Parish.



3.
The majestic Shrine facing the East, was renovated twice in 1920 and 1933.

4.
His Holiness Pope John the XXIII, raised the Shrine to the status of 'Basilica' on the 3rd November 1962. The apparitions of Our Lady, the Miraculous statue of Our Lady, the countless miracles, the magnificent architecture and beauty of the Shrine, were the motives for this Shrine to become a Basilica.

5.
The storeyed extension Basilica was blessed and opened in 1975.

6.
In 1985,the little Chapel at Our Lady's Tank, was built a new and blessed.

Basilica's in India - Our Lady of Dolours - Trishur

Introduction:-
St. Thomas, one of the twelve chosen disciples of Christ and the Apostle of India who sowed the seeds of Christianity in India, set foot at Cranganore (Kodungallur) in 52 AD. At that time Cranganore (Kodungallur) was a busy center of commerce and an important port. He traveled about various parts of Kerala by water and land, preaching the Gospel and forming Christian communities which began to grow and several of them sprang up in the vicinities of Thrissur Town too. The heart of the town, known for its spiritual and cultural heritage, was a dense forest in those days.

Historical Background:-
Sakthan Thampuran, the great Maharaja of Cochin, paved the way for Urban Development and Commercial Progress of Trichur. As he understood keenly that the presence of Christians was quite essential for the development of the town where there were only a few Hindu families inhabiting, he took measures, around the year of 1794, for bringing and rehabilitating 52 Syrian Christian families from the neighboring centers of Aranattukara, Ollur and Kottekkad. He rendered all necessary help to these Christians. The option of the number 52 was as if to perpetuate the great Apostle's arrival in Kerala. Since there was no Christian Church in the town, they had to go their parent churches to fulfill their spiritual needs. The Maharaja who perceived their difficulties, promptly permitted them to build a church.

In 1814, His Ex. Dominicos, Archbishop and Governor of Cranganore (Kodungallur) Arch diocese, gave his approval and blessing to build the first Catholic church in the name of Our Lady of Dolours. From 1814 to 1838, this church was under the jurisdiction of the Cranganore (Kodungallur) Archdiocese. On 24th April, 1838, H.H. Pope Gregory XVI issued a proclamation, "Multa Praeclara", whereby the Cranganore (Kodungallur) diocese ceased to exist. Consequently the Church of Our Lady of dolours came under the authority of the Bishop of Verapoly which continued till 1861. Unfortunately, with the advent of the Persian Catholic Bishops Rocos and Melus, who came here without the necessary permission from the pope, there started differences among the Catholics of Trichur and its suburbs. The differences resulted in the so-called Rocos-and-Melus Schisms. Bishops Rocos and Melus had to go back owing to strong protest from the people in 1862 and 1882 respectively. In the year 1886 Pope Leo XIII suppressed the Archdiocese of Cranganore (Kodungallur) and in 1887 separated the Kerala Syrian Catholics from Verapoly and brought them under the Syro lMalabar Vicariates of Trichur and Kottayam. He appointed His Ex. Adolph Medleykot as the first Bishop of Trichur.

In the fickle vagaries of history that followed, the Catholics lost possession of the Church of Our Lady of dolours which they constructed in 1814. To compensate that loss, the Catholics of Trichur decided to build another church. Petitions seeking permission for this were sent to the Maharaja of Cochin, the Governor of Madras, the Viceroy and the British Emperor. Eventually on 8th October, 1925 , as per the order of H.H. Ramavarma Maharaja of Cochin, the Cochin Sarkar issued royal sanction to build a new church within the premises of the fort city of Trichur

New Church:-
At sharp 10 a.m. on 10th October, 1925, His Ex. Bishop Vazhappilly Mar Francis blessed and offered Holy Mass on the altar built temporarily in the School hall which stood in front of the present church. He named the Church as the church of Lady of Dolours and Proclaimed St. Theresa of Infant Jesus (Little flower) as the Co-patroness. As the small temporary church was not spacious enough for the convenience of the believers, they tried to build a church conforming fully to their needs and grandeur of the town. His Ex Bishop Mar. Francis Vazhapilly visited Rome and European countries keenly observing the architecture of the churches there. The present church, known as the largest in Asia was built on the plan he drew on his return from abroad. On 21st December, 1929, His Ex. Bishop Mar Francis Vazhappilly laid the foundation of the colossal church. It took eleven years under the supervision of the famous Engineer Jnanaprakasam and the superintendent Ambros to almost complete the construction of the new church. On 18th September 1935 Sri. Ramavarma Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin, saw in person, the Progress in the building of the Church, and donated all the teak wood needed for building it. On 24th November, 1940 His Ex. Bishop Mar Francis Vazhappilly consecrated the Church. It was then under the jurisdiction of the Lourdes Cathedral Church.

Considering the need of the time, Mar joseph Kundukulam constituted this famous shrine also as a parish on 17th September, 1978. It was made the headquarters of a forane division on August 1980. The historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Trichur on 7th February 1986 was within the environs of this parish.

In commemoration of the centenary of the diocese of Trichur, His Eminence Simon D. Cardinal Lourdu Swami, head of the Congregation of the Oriental churches in Rome, inaugurated the Perpetual Adoration Center in this Church. On 25th April 1992, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II issued a decree, elevating the church of Our Lady of Dolours to the status of a "Minor Basilica". 20th May 1992, was a monumental day in the history of this Church. His Eminence Cardinal Antony Padiyara consecrated the Church as a Basilica. There after the Church has come to be called" Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours".

Three Towers:-
This basilica is not only a highly visited pilgrim center, but also a tourist attraction. It has two colossal belfries built in gothic style. The church is 370 feet long east-west side and 180 feet wide along north-south side. The total plinth area of the church measures 25,000 square feet. The rear side of the Church has a tower measuring 260 feet in height.

Altars of the Church:-
As one enters the Church through the massive main door (elephant door) one notices the expansive nave that leads to the main altar. As he steps into the church and looks up, he finds, poised perpendicularly above him on the ceiling, the breath taking beautiful mural painting of the Holy Trinity. On both sides of the naves are a number of rock pillars wrapped in mosaic. Thousands can participate in the liturgy, occupying the nave, aisles, transepts and the balcony on both sides. The floor of the Church is paved with mosaic bricks and the whole church is gorgeously illuminated with varied varieties of electric lamps.

The main altar of the church is about 100 feet high. There is a grand array of 10 altars, spread adjacent to the main one, fine altars on wither wing, all of them as grand and solemn as the main altar, but not in height. In the center of the main altar, is the statue of Our Lady of Dolours and sides of this statue, are two beautiful statues of Holy angels Raphael and Michael. Just below them there are the twelve apostles of Christ. The magnificent dome resting on four gigantic pillars is above the main altar. Inside the dome are painted in gorgeous colours of the Mother of dolours and pictures showing her seven Dolours. There are the pictures of the four Gospel writers in the four corners of the dome. In the front right corner of the main altar is installed the Episcopal throne - an elaborately carved sculptural marvel (It is noteworthy that H.H. Pope John Paul II was seated on this throne when he made his historic visit to Trichur on 7th February 1986). The beautifully engraved lectern which was sanctified by His holy touch and which is preserved as a memento of his visit to Trichur, adorns the front left corner of the main altar. On the right side of the main altar, there is a beautiful picture depicting the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 people with two fish and five loaves. The other side shows the picture of Holy Mary's assumption. The ten altars to the right and left wings of the main altar are consecrated with the statues of St. Francis Xavier, Little flower, St Thomas the Apostle of Christ, Christ the King, The Holy Family, St. George, St. Joseph, St. Antony, St. Sebastian and St. Maria Gorethy. The statues of the Mother of Rosary in the altar in the end of the northern aisle are exquisite in their forms. There are two more altars under the belfries on both sides of the entrance of the Church. These altars are dedicated to St. Francis Assisi and St. Vincent De Paul. Thus there are in all fifteen altars in the Church.

Septic-Cell Model Cemetry :-
Beneath the main altar of the Church can be seen tombs interring the mortal remains of bishops. It is in one of these tombs H. Ex. Bishop Vazhappilly, founder of the Church, rests eternally. On the southern wing of the Church there are crypts for burying priests. One of the belfries of the Church has eight bell carillon which chimes melodiously. The 'Septic-cell model cemetery', the largest of its kind in India, stands in the northern side of the rear of the church.

Perpetual Adoration :-
Day by day, people in large numbers come to pray at the Perpetual Adoration Centre. On all Fridays, believers assemble in the church to participate in the Novena of the Mother of Dolours. The main feast of the church is celebrated on the last Sunday of November every year. This feast is considered as the second biggest festival of Thrissur. The landscape of Thrissur includes a mighty monument of architectural skill, sculptural excellence and the sturdy faith of the Catholics of Trichur, attracting the solemn devotion of a large number of visitors including foreigners and art-lovers.

Basilica's in India - Santa Cruz Cathedral, Fort Kochi

Santa Cruz Basilica, a Roman Catholic Cathedral located at K.B Jacob road in Fort Kochi, is one of the finest and impressive churches in Kerala. It is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur and colours of the gothic style. Located close to St. Francis Church it is the 'capital church' of the diocese of Cochin.

The history of Santa Cruz Basilica begins with the arrival of Portuguese missionaries along with the second Portuguese fleet under Pedro Alavarez Cabral on December 24, 1500. The Kochi king Godha Varma I received them very warmly. This caused the Zamorin of Calicut to declare war against Kochi. But the Portuguese army under Commander Francesco de Albuquerque who reached Kochi in 1503 defeated the enemies of the King of Kochi and in return he gave them permission to built a fort in Kochi.

In 1505, Francesco de Almeida the first Portuguese Viceroy got permission from the Kochi Raja to built a church edifice using stones and mortar which was unheard of at that time as the local prejudices were against such a structure for any purpose other than a royal palace or a temple. The foundation stone of the Santa Cruz church was laid on May 3, 1505, the feast day of the ‘Invention of the Holy Cross’, hence the magnificent edifice when completed was named Santa Cruz. This church was located on the eastern side of the present Children’s Park, Fort Cochin.

In 1558, Pope Paul IV, raised the Santa Cruz church to the status of a Cathedral along with the erection of the Cochin diocese as the second diocese in India. Afterwards when the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they destroyed all Catholic buildings. Only the St. Francis Church and the Cathedral escaped this fate. The Dutch made the cathedral their arms storehouse. Later it fell into the hands of the British who demolished it when they took over Kochi in 1795. One of the decorative granite pillars of the destroyed Cathedral is still kept as a monument at the southeastern corner of the present Basilica premises.

About 100 years later, Bishop D. Joao Gomes Ferreira (1887 - 1897) who reached Cochin took initiative to erect the Cathedral and commenced the construction but it was the next bishop, D. Mateus de Oliveira Xavier (1897 – 1908) who completed the edifice. The cathedral was consecrated on November 19, 1905 by Dom Sebastiao Jose Pereira, Bishop of Damao. Considering its antiquity, artistic dignity and historical importance, Pope John Paul II raised the Cathedral as a Basilica through a special decree in 9th December, 1984.

The Church has two lofty spires and a remarkably bright, white-washed exterior and a pastel-colored interior. The interiors of the church are mostly Gothic, with the main altar decorated by the famous Italian painter Br. Moschini S. J. and his disciple De Gama of Bangalore. The columns decorated with frescoes and murals, the seven large canvas paintings on the passion and death on the Cross, especially the painting of the Last Supper, modelled on the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci and the beautiful stained glass windows add to the artistic grandeur of the place. The paintings that adorn the ceiling depict scenes from the life of Christ.

Basilicas in India - Our Lady of Snows - Tuticorin

THE PARAVARS OF THE PEARL FISHERY COAST
The history of Shrine Basilica is closely connected with the history of the conversion of the PARAVARS, the indigenous people of the Pearl Fishery Coast. In fact, Our Lady of Snows, is fondly called in Portuguese senhora, Das Nevis which means Our Lady of Snows. She has been given the unique title of Yelu Kadalthurai, Yega Adikala Thai in Tamil which means the Mother of Refuge for the seven major coastal villages, viz Vembar, Vaippar, Thoothukudi, Punnaikayal, Virapandianpatinam, Thiruchendur and Manapad.

THE MASS CONVERSION
Once the paravars of Pearl Fishery Coast had a sharp dispute with the Muslims of this area regarding the right of Pearl Fishing. The Pattankattimar (The leaders of Parava villages) requested the Portuguese to rescue them form the cruelties of the Muslims and the Portuguese and the Muslims were routed. As a token of gratitude to their redeemers, the Portuguese, the Paravars from about 22 villages numbering about 30,000 embraced Christianity in the y ear 1535-37 . In October 1542, St. Francis Xavier arrived on the shores of the Pearl Fishery Coast to catechize them and strengthen them further in their faith.




THE PERSECUTION
Soon there arose a great religious persecution by the Nayak of Madurai who had by this time taken control of the Pearl Fishery Coast. They set fire to churches and houses of Catholics. Hence the Paravars left Thoothukudi and fled to a nearby Island named Raja Theevu (known as Hare-island today). They took along with them the statue of Our Lady of Snows and solemnly installed it in a newly built church there. It was there till the Jesuits returned to Thoothukudi in 1610.

Another tradition says that during the war, the church of Our Lady of Snows at Raja Theevu was destroyed and therefore, the people removed the statue from there and installed it in a small chapel of St. John the Baptist at Sivanthakulam near Thoothukudi. When the Dutch occupied that area, they carried away the statue to a church at Korkai. And it was brought back to Thoothukudi in 1699.

THE MIRACULOUS STATUE
The beautiful statue of Our Lady of Snows has always been looked upon as a miraculous one, as many miracles are said to have occurred in the Shrine from the time of its installation at St. Pauls Church.

SAVED FROM A THUNDERBOLT
The first miracle is narrated by Rev. Fr. Vigilius Mansi himself who built the present Church of Our Lady of Snows. In a letter dated September 24th, 1708 addressed to one Father Maria Ignacy in Rome, he narrates how on April 4th, 1707 at mid-night, a sonorous and fierce thunderbolt fell in his residence where he had kept the miraculous statue for a short time and how he was miraculously saved by Our Lady herself.

OTHER MIRACLES NARRATED
The Jesuit report of 1709 by Fr. Francis Vaiz mentions the following miracles.

A newly converted Dutch Officer was attacked by a serious disease. No doctor nor medicine could cure him. The condition became worse day by day. On his death bed, he had recourse to Our Lady drank the water that washed the feet of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Snows. What a surprise! He began to get well from that moment and he totally embraced the Catholic faith latter.

Two people who were paralyzed and lost all hope of cure, vowed in front of the miraculous statue that they would pray the Rosary daily till the end of their lives and drank with faith the water that washed the feet of the statue. Slowly they were relieved of their paralysis and soon got completely healed.

A supposed to be barren woman with faith drank the oil form the lamp kept near the miraculous statue and was conceived and became a mother of a child.



Once a pious woman had gone to the Shrine to participate in the Novena Service. At that time her hut caught fire by a piece of cloth that fell on the oil lamp. The whole hut should have been burnt to ashes but surprisingly, only that piece of cloth had got burnt!

Even the Hindus who come flocking to Our Lady of Snows acknowledged that they had experienced miracles after praying to Our Lady. Even today we find Hindus and people of other faiths flocking to Our Lady of Snows Church especially during the annual festival days. There are a few sincere devotees who visit the shrine throughout the year.

The holy custom of drinking the water that washes the feet of Our Lady in the statue and using the oil from the lamp are still followed by some devoted people.

HISTORY OF THE BASILICA
As the whole race of Paravars became Christians, they were badly in need of a place of worship. Fr. Pedru Consalves who had baptized these people, built the first church in Thoothukudi in 1538 and dedicated it to his own patron St. Peter; this was the Parish Church for the Parava Christians in Thoothukudi for many years. It is also said St. Francis Xavier, during his stay at Thoothukudi, used to celebrate Hole Mass in this Church. Today, a street named, St. Peter Koil Street exists in the Parish area.


THE CHURCH DEDICATED TO OUR LADY
Then in 1582, through the efforts of the Jesuits, a church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy (Senhora de Piedade) was consecrated by the Bishop of Cochin Msgr. Devoura on 5th August, the fesast of Our Lady of Snows. It was in the Jesuit head-quarters in Keracope Street. It was also called St. Pauls Church. Every year the annual feast was celebrated on 5th August. In 1610 when the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Snows reached Thoothukudi, it was solemnly installed in the church of Mother of Mercy and thereafter gradually it came to be called the Church of Our Lady of Snows.

NEW CHURCH
Wishing to build a beautiful church of Our Lady of Snows, Fr. Vigilius Mansi whole heartedly took great efforts. He had to face lot of difficulties from the side of the Dutch as well as that of his own people. He obtained permission from the Dutch Government (at Ceylon) to construct a new church for Mother Mary of Snows; swimming against the current, he laid the foundation for the new church on 4th April 1712 and within a year he was able to complete the church. On August 5th 1713, the new church was opened and blessed and the first feast in the new church was celebrated in a very grand scale.

PROBLEM OF DOUBLE JURISDICTION
From 1857 onwards, the so called Double Jurisdiction caused a great problem among the Parava-Christians of Pearl Fishery Coast. In the same diocese and sometimes within the same parish at one and the sametime the Portuguese government (Padroado Goa Mission) and the Propaganda Fide (French Mission) had their jurisdiction. Accordingly, the following five coastal parishes came under the Padroado Diocese of Mylapore : Our Lady of Snows Thoothukudi, Holy Ghost Manapad, St. Micheals Punnaikayal, Our Lady of Assumption Vaippar and St.Marys Kooduthaai. This condition continued till the new diocese of Thoothudi was erected in 1923. Pope Pius XI through the Apostolic Brief Quae Catholico Nomini dated June 12, 1923 amalgamated the above parishes into the newly created Diocese of Thoothukudi. Accordingly the Church of Our Lady of Snows came under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Thoothukudi on April 11, 1930.

RAISED TO THE STATUS OF BASILICA

In 1982, when the Church of Our Lady of Snows celebrated the 400th anniversary, Pope John Paul II raised it to the status of Basillica through his apostolic letter Pervenute illa Dei Beatissimae Genitricis Effigies dated 30th July 1982.

It is the greatest honor for a church to be raised to the status of a Basilica. The Greek word Basilica signifies a Royal Hall. In course of time, this word has come to mean a large and beautiful hall. In ancient times, the whole world in general and Rome in particular, erected large halls for administrative purposes. The first hall bearing the name of Basilica existed in Athens. But after the fall of Greeks, the Romans popularized it. It was Julius Caesar who artistically constructed the hall of Basilica Julia for administrative purposes. They are somewhat similar to the Durbar Halls in ancient Indian places.

Christ being the king and His Church being His Audience the larger Christian Churches in Rome, came to be called Basilicas. Naturally these Basilicas were large, roomy, bright and ornamental. Today, for a church to be raised to the status of Basilica certain conditions are to be fulfilled:

The Church, usually is built with front facing the east.

Generally it is constructed in one of the classical styles of architecture.

It should contain some works of art or house the body of a Saint or a celebrated statue venerated in the land or it should be a place of pilgrimage


History of Our Lady of Snows
OUR SHRINE A TRUE BASILICA
The Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snows is fascine East; constructed in the Portuguese architecture; it houses the celebrated and miraculous statue of Our Lady of Snows, most beautifully carved out of wood and hence it is a great piece of art. Thus the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snows deserves to be called a Basilica in the true sense of the word!

In Rome itself there are 13 Basilicas and of which 5 are major and 8 are minor ones.

Basilicas are usually under the supervision of Cardinals and accorded special privileges. In India there are several minor basilicas, like Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Bandra in Mumbai, the Basilica of Born Jesus in Goa, the Basilica of San Thome in Chennai, the Basilica of Our Lady of Health at Velankanni, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, Poondi.

CONCLUSION
The mother instinct is the deeper-most instinct in any living being because the very origin and continuity of life is very much connected with a mother. A mother stands for love and security, the most basic needs of any living being. Hence, it is natural that human beings adore Motherhood and Tamils, have deeper sentiments towards mother than any other race. Almost all religions have somehow developed this concept of Mother God and sometimes a host of Goddesses!

The concept of Mary as Our Mother in the Catholic faith fully satisfies this basic human need of the people. Yet, the church is aware of the exaggerations and deviations in this regard. The shrines of Our Lady, often, seem to be occasions for people to deviate from true catholic faith on Mary. Hence, while promoting the devotion to Mary, Our Mother through Shrine Basilica, it is of paramount importance to point out to the people, the true and correct doctrines of the Church on Marian devotion.

TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY
True Marian devotion arises from the fact that Mary's is the Mother of Jesus, the incarnate God and therefore, she is honored as the mother of God. The Gospel also confirms this fact: when Mary visited Elizabeth, the later was inspired by the Spirit and cried out

Why this Granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Lord in Bible refers to God. Hence Elizabeth herself calls Mary The Mother of God. It is only natural that when we honor God we should also honor His mother.

Marys motherhood rests more on her total surrender to Gods will than on her blood relationship to Jesus. When Jesus said Who is my mother.? whoever does the will of God is my mother. He confirms that Mary is His mother more because she surrendered herself totally to God than she brought Him forth just like any Ordinary mother.

In the Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 2, he narrates the incident of a wedding at Cana in Galilee. When there was a shortage of wine, Mary without being asked by anyone of the wedding party, herself realizing the situation approached her son Jesus. She knew for certain Jesus would do what she asked for and we know from the Gospel that Jesus did listen to his mother and wrought his first miracle. This incident proves that Marys intercession with her son, Jesus is very powerful. Our people, the devotees of Our Blessed Mother Mary, know it too well and believe firmly that if they go to Jesus through the intercession of Mary, their prayers will surely be granted because it is something very common in our day-today life at home the child approaches his mother in order to get things done by his father.

The ordinary people who feel that their prayers in times of their needs have been heard because they come to the Shrine of Our Lady, naturally attribute everything totally to Our Lady Herself, making her almost a God! This is a wrong belief, resulting from pure sentiments. This has to be corrected! we must remember what Mary said to the servants at the wedding at Cana; Do whatever He tells you (Jn 2:5). She always points out to her Son only. She wants us to know and believe that all prayers are granted only by God and she is only a pointer towards God. At the end of the narration of the wedding at Cana; This, first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in galilee and manifested His glory (Jn 2: 11) Mary, therefore, was the cause of Jesus manifesting his glory. We must, therefore, know that Mary would not like to usurp the power of God; She would be happy only when we give her the rightful place in our faith. Hence we must be careful about any exaggeration or deviation in our devotion to Mary Our Blessed Mother.

Let me conclude with the words of William Carrigan, a Marian lecture: Shrines are Our Ladys workshops where she repairs the broken bodies, mends torn hearts and restores sin-scarred souls.

Rev. Fr. V. P. Oswald M.A., M.Ed.,
Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snows,
Thoothukudi.

Dogmatic Explanation of the Miraculous Statue
Filled with grace and the love of God, the Virgin Mother of God cannot be described easily, nor her miraculous statue. To indicate the fact that the mother of God is clothed with the glory of the brightness of the Great Sun, her diving Son, she is decked with a bright golden habit. She has the waning moon under her feet to signify the trained nature of the world. In the hand, she holds the Child Jesus, the Fruit of her virginal womb, while in the other, she holds a pomegranate fruit to signify both the cursed fruit offered by Satan to make Adam and Eve fall in sin; as well as the immaculate Fruit given by God to Our Blessed Mother.

Coffee protects against radiation, type 2 diabetes, cancers

HUMANS HAVE been consuming coffee for over 2,000 years. Its ingredient caffeine raised questions about its health effects. Early studies involving bacteria and cultured mammalian cells suggested that caffeine could be harmful. Further, the cells exposed to ultraviolet light and then treated with caffeine, showed an increase in damage. By 1960s, coffee came to be regarded as slightly harmful.

Accidental discovery


The case of coffee as a harmful dietary agent would have been closed, but for an accidental discovery in 1971 in my laboratory at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

The experiments then designed were to find out how caffeine enhances radiation-induced biological damage. The choice of barley seeds due to lack of facilities then to work with mammalian cells turned out to be a blessing. It is known that biological damage induced by X-ray and gamma rays is increased by oxygen.

In fact, the reduced levels of oxygen in rapidly growing tumours is responsible for the resistance of cancer cells in radiotherapy.

In barley seeds methods were developed to separate the radiation-induced, oxygen-dependent (oxic) pathway from the oxygen- independent (anoxic) pathway of damage.

Caffeine was expected to enhance both the oxic and anoxic components of radiation damage.

However, caffeine remarkably reduced (protected) the seeds against the oxic pathway of radiation damage, although it potentiated the anoxic component of damage.

The focus became the radiation protective mechanisms of caffeine when oxygen is present in the cells. It had already been known that development of radiobiological damage involves sequential events ranging in time span from 10-14 seconds to hours, days and years.

Also well established was that ionizing radiations eject electrons from the atoms and molecules and produce electrically neutral, highly-reactive, short-lived entities known as `free radicals'.

For example, water molecules exposed to gamma-rays break down into hydrated electrons, hydrogen radicals and hydroxyl radicals. The hydrogen radicals and hydroxyl radicals are electrically neutral unlike the hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions, which have positive and negative charges respectively. The hydroxyl radicals can abstract electrons from DNA and other cellular macromolecules, and cause damage.

The hydrogen radicals and hydrated electrons also react with oxygen to form highly damaging entities called hydroperoxide, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. The products of reaction of free radicals with oxygen are referred to as `reactive oxygen species' (ROS).

Besides ionizing radiation, certain chemical agents, dietary substances, several physiological and metabolic processes in the biological systems also lead to the generation of ROS. So, ionizing radiations are not unique in producing ROS. Considerable protection from the damaging action of ROS is exerted by dietary substances which scavenge the free radicals and the ROS.

Our studies have revealed that caffeine effectively scavenges off hydroxyl radicals and it outcompetes oxygen in reacting with electrons and prevents the formation of ROS.

So, the fundamental mechanism of radioprotection by caffeine involves neutralizing/elimination of the ROS. Hence, it is expected that caffeine would reduce the risk to the free-radical and ROS-mediated diseases whether cardio-vascular, diabetes type 2, arthritis or cancer etc. The scientific literature covering hundreds of carefully conducted experimental as well as epidemiological studies have confirmed these expectations beyond doubt. Some of the noteworthy results are:

During 1995-1997 large-scale radiation exposure studies with mice at BARC, demonstrated that whole body lethal dose of gamma rays (dose 7.5 Gray or 750 rads) caused death of all mice within 20 days of irradiation. However, when mice are administered caffeine before whole body irradiation, over 70 per cent of them lived beyond 90 days.

Mice protected


Caffeine exerts substantial protection against tobacco-tar induced tumours in mice. A long-lived free radical, semiquinone in tobacco tar reacts with oxygen to generate ROS. In smokers who also drink coffee, the ROS is removed and therefore, tumour formation is reduced.

Data substantiating the finding that coffee reduces the risk of diabetes type 2 has been published by eminent scientists from USA, Finland, The Netherlands and Sweden. Besides caffeine, chlorogenic acid, another antioxidant (i.e. one which eliminates free radicals and ROS) in coffee plays a major role in reducing the risk to diabetes type 2.

Particularly noteworthy are the results of Harvard Medical School (USA) researchers who analyzed data involving 126,000 people for as long as 18 years concluding that coffee consumption effectively reduces risk to diabetes type 2.

Two Japanese studies suggest that coffee prevents pancreatic cancer. Caffeine also effectively reduces risk of liver and colorectal cancers.

The Robusta coffee beans have twice the amount of caffeine than Arabica which has better aroma. Coffee as health drink is far more effective than tea (green tea as well) and red wine. Further, the good old tradition of filter coffee with freshly ground coffee has much higher concentrations of many of the antioxidants than others.

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan suggests that we should develop organic coffee and coffee beans with elevated levels of caffeine, chlorogenic acid etc., for radiation workers, and others in stressful occupations.

The immortal Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, remains alive in films, TV and in the minds of fans.


THE NEXT SHERLOCK HOLMES: Russel Crowe


He is the greatest detective of all times, albeit a fictional one. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his numerous cases and adventures have been the subject of films (for nine decades), TV serials and on radios in many languages.

Over a 100 films have been made on Sherlock Holmes, the famed resident of Bakers Street, London. Now, a new version is being planned with the Hollywood star Russell Crowe in the title role.

Many great actors and stars of England and Hollywood have played Sherlock Holmes on the screen and the roster includes the legendary John Barrymore, William Gillette, Ellie Norwood, Clive Brook, Raymond Massey, Reginald Owen, Arthur Wontner, and Basil Rathbone (the most famous Holmes of them all).

John Barrymore was a stage star before he joined films during the silent period. Noted for his lead role in Shakespeare's `Hamlet,' Barrymore played the detective in the silent film, `Sherlock Holmes' (1922), produced by Samuel Goldwyn under the banner of Goldwyn Pictures.

The film was adapted from the well known play by William Gillette who had the blessings of Sir Arthur in dramatising his tales. Gillette also played the great detective on stage successfully. Later he played the role on screen too.

The film was a success and Barrymore gave Holmes' character a touch of class. But his involvement in theatre was too absorbing for him to continue acting in films.


Ellie Norwood's contribution to Holmes movies is impressive but sadly he is forgotten today. He was a British stage actor and within a span of a mere two years, 1921- 1923, he played Holmes in as many as 47 movies, a record to this day. However, most of them were not of the standard feature film length. Norwood was 60 when he played the role first and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was most pleased with his portrayal. He said, "Norwood has that rare quality which can only be described as glamour which compels you to watch an actor even when he is doing nothing His wonderful impersonation of Holmes has amazed me."


The actor who played Holmes for the first time in a talkie was British star Clive Brook. Produced by Paramount, `The Return of Sherlock Holmes' was directed by Basil Dean in 1929..

The next famed Holmes was the Canada-born actor Raymond Massey. The film was `The Speckled Band' (1931), considered as one of the most intriguing and exotic of all Holmes tales.

Reginald Owen was the next Holmes on screen. The film was `A Study In Scarlet' (1933 ). Besides acting, he also wrote the dialogue and scenario. As it often happens in Hollywood, only the title of the book was used and the story was something else! It was built around a lonely mansion where people are murdered one by one.

Hailed by critics


The actor who was hailed by critics and audiences as the best impersonator of Sherlock Holmes was British actor Arthur Wontner. He played the hero in five films. His piercing eyes and prominent nose contributed a lot to his success, apart from his soft portrayal of the detective. He was already 50 when he did the role.

Wontner played on stage another famed detective, Sexton Blake, and many felt that he bore a striking resemblance to the famed drawings of Holmes by the famous illustrator, Paget, in the The Strand magazine in which the Holmes stories first appeared in print. All the five films were made in England at the Twickenham Studios. The most famous of the five was `The Sign of Four' ( 1932).


Then came Basil Rathbone, who is best remembered as Sherlock Holmes. Born in 1892 in Johannesburg, Africa, Rathbone made a mark on stage and then went into films. His first brush with crime films was when he played the famed American detective, Philo Vance, in `The Bishop Murder Case' (1930 ). According to Hollywood grapevine the Twentieth Century Fox boss and legendary movie mogul, Darryl F. Zanuck, met an actor at a party standing next to him and exclaimed that he would make the perfect Holmes. The actor was Basil Rathbone.

Box office hit


Rathbone was introduced as Holmes in `The Hound of Baskervilles' (1939). Produced for Fox by Darryl Zanuck and directed by Sydney Lanfield it had the portly Nigel Bruce as Dr.Watson, considered as the best in that role till today. He made the role comical and proved a prefect foil for Rathbone.

The film was a tremendous success at the box office and with critics. The film was re-released in 1975 and proved to be a success once more. It is today hailed as a classic of crime cinema genre.

Inspired by such success Rathbone was cast as Holmes in a series of films. The list includes `The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' (1939), `Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' (1942), `Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon' (1943), `Sherlock Holmes in Washington' (1943, the detective's first adventure in America! Based on a story never thought of by Sir Arthur!), `Sherlock Holmes Faces Death' (1943), `Spider Woman' (1944) and finally in 1946, `Dressed to Kill.'

Rathbone played Holmes in 14 films. To Holmes buffs, Rathbone was Sherlock Holmes and autograph-hunters addressed him as such. With the last film in which Holmes died, he bade goodbye to that role.

But Sherlock Holmes did not die in the hearts of his fans.

In 1959 the Holmes movies were revived with Peter Cushing playing the detective in `The Hound of Baskervilles.' The novel underwent changes but the film was a success.

Holmes films were made in Germany and Holland with equal success. The celebrated Hollywood filmmaker Billy Wilder made `The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' (1970). Wilder known for his humour, made the film in his inimitable style but the film was not a success.

`The Hound of Baskervilles' inspired the hit Hindi film `Bees Saal Baad.' Sir Arthur passed away many decades ago, but his creation, Sherlock Holmes, remains immortal. He stays alive in films, TV and in the minds of his fans.

ISRO set for a Maiden Commercial Launch

Countdown for India's first fully commercial launch is progressing as per schedule at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian space agency will launch a 352 kg Italian scientific satellite atop India's work horse rocket, the polar satellite launch vehicle.

It's the first time that a foreign agency has hired a complete ISRO rocket - a contract won by India. It shows just how ISRO has embraced the free market spirit.

Without going into actual figures, ISRO indicated that they were charging around 30 per cent less than the regular international price of $15,000 to $20,000 per kg of the payload to make the launch commercially attractive to the Italian customer.

''The cost of launch was negotiated on a commercial basis. We have to keep confidentiality to win a market. We are not losing anything. We are making what we are spending and more,'' said G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO.

This will be the 11th launch for India's smaller, tried and tested rocket.
At take off the PSLV weighs 230 tons, stands 44 meters tall carrying two payloads
At takeoff the first stage ignites and three minutes into the flight the massive heat shield separates
One after another the third and fourth stages ignite taking the rocket higher
Almost 22 minutes into the flight at an altitude of 549 kilometres, the AGILE satellite is put into orbit.
This rocket has the capacity to carry far more than the Italian satellite. So ISRO is using it to test its 185 kilogram Advanced Avionics Module.

The electronics package is essentially a nerve centre for any rocket controlling its flight. If it works well on this mission, it could be the brain of a future, Indian rocket.

But the bigger focus remains on ISRO giant step into space market. Other nations already part of this exclusive club that conduct commercial launches include America, Russia, the European consortium and China.

With this launch, India enters the multi-billion dollar world launcher market.

Made in India towels at Buckingham Palace

Those Christy towels at Buckingham Palace will soon wear small tags proudly announcing these were "made in India." So will the official Christy towels at Wimbledon.

Welspun India, which had acquired Christy -- a hallowed British towel making company -- a few months ago by picking up 85 per cent stake in the company, is now moving its manufacturing facility from Manchester to Anjar in Gujarat. The company hopes this will cut production costs by a quarter.

Interestingly, Welspun has been goaded to do so by top retailers like the House of Fraser or Debenhams, who, in turn, are under severe pressure from their shareholders to outsource more products from markets like India to stay competitive.

"We will shift the plant and machinery as well as bring the technology to India. This reduces our manufacturing costs and leverages our towel making capacity in the country, which is seven times more than Christy's," said Welspun president Akhil Jindal.

Welspun has a capacity to make 30,000 tonnes of towels annually. The company is known to sell its towels to all well known global brands at a premium of over 10 per cent than most of its Asian competitors. It's now looking at selling towels through its own brands, which could lead to a mark-up of over three to four times of what it sells now; the Christy buy-out is a part of that strategy.

The 150-year-old brand was created by Henry Christy, who presented the first towels in 1851 to Queen Victoria, who immediately ordered more.

In the past, the company has outsourced towels from countries like Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan as well. Christy towels are sold at all upmarket stores in the UK and US like Marks & Spencer's, John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Bloomingdales.

Today, a simple Christy hand towel retails anywhere between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000. No wonder tennis star Roger Federer gifts Christy towels during Wimbledon to his friends as mementoes.