Presentation 1 - Discussion with Mr. Sadan Jha

Categorization of Information:

All the data was grouped based on major three categories:

1.     Toponymy – Name of the pol based on:

a.      Incidents/ episodes in history

b.     Caste/ Community that lived in the pol

c.      Prominent Individual or family that resided in the pol

d.     Shrine or Deity in the pol

2.      Stories/ Narrative of Shrines/deities – based on:

a.      Stories involving individual/ Personal/ Smaller scale

b.     Stories involving larger scale events/ incidents

3.     Beliefs and Superstitions –

a.      Objects to ward off evil eye/ bring good luck

b.     Peepal tree worship

*The categories may not be mutually exclusive in all cases.

Categorisation of Information

Mapping of pols based on origin of it's names

Outcome of discussions with Sadan:

1.       Precaution 1:

While narrating the story, do not pitch it against history

2.       Precaution 2:

While listening to the narration, neither judge it, nor believe it – always have a third person’s view.

Do not romanticize either.

Stories are not innocent truths.

3.       Precaution 3:

Narratives may have multiple truths.

Explore the social and political realities of stories.

The current version of it will be of how the past is thought of TODAY.

Temple stories depending on worshipper base and political base.

4.       Concentrate on the smaller stories:

Might be more truthful, with less audacious elements – more personal.

Larger stories are more politicised and detached.

How is it translated into structure and space?

5.       What to do with these stories?

How is it different from the other topics, or is it?

How can it be visualised/ analysed – or do they act as a backdrop for the visual?

6.       An interesting angle- to look at the deities closely – detailed? Vague?

Find pattern of imagery produced.

7.       Omit superstitions/ beliefs categories