Past activities of 2009

January 2009 : Gunpowder millstones shifted to theASIMuseum gardens

Members Prajal Sakhardande and Rohit Phalgaonkar with their persuasive skills were able to save and translocate 13 millstones from the old Gunpowder factory at Ribandar to the ASI Museum gardens
The Government of Goa and the ASI were the main supporters of this project.
The millstones were on a private property and were in danger of being destroyed by builders

February 2009 : Karaswaddo caves saved in collaboration with Government

Through quiet persuasion, Members Prajal Sakhardande and Rohit Phalgaonkar were able to stop the complete annihilation of ancient Buddhist caves at Kharasvaddo, Mapusa

February 2009 : Minerva bridge, Panaji saved in collaboration with the City

Members Prajal Sakhardande and Rohit Phalgaonkar were able to stop the destruction of the charming Minerva bridge at Panaji
The Corporation of the City of Panaji has supported the group in this matter

February 2009 : Jain basti saved in collaboration with the Government

Members Prajal Sakhardande and Rohit Phalgaonkar were able to stop the destruction of the one and only vestige of a Jain settlement inGoa
The Jain basti is now being restored by the State Department of Archives and Archaeology

February 2009 : Shri Keshav temple, Loyle saved in collaboration with the temple trustees

Member Rohit Phalgaonkar was able to stop the destruction of the charming Shri Keshav Temple in the village of Loyle
Member Rohit is also able to spread awareness on conservation issues through his weekly column in the local newspapers

February 2009 : Four Pillars saved in collaboration with local support

Member Prajal Sakhardande was able to restore the historic Four Pillars at St. Cruz-Panaji
Member Prajal is also able to spread awareness on conservation issues through his weekly column in the local newspapers
The four columns were destroyed in a vehicle accident
There was a lot of local support on this campaign

February 2009 : Old Kadamba Road saved with help from the North Goa Collector

Member Prajal Sakhardande was able to stop the destruction of the ancient stone road between Old Goa and Goa Velha village
Member Prajal had also agitated against the destruction of the old guard house located on the ancient road but was unsuccessful
Builders have a construction site close to the old guard house and have destroyed the house as well as parts of the ancient road despite the Collector’s interventions

March 2009 : Tour of two kaavi temples with the support of Fundação Oriénte and Travel Corporation ofIndia

Members Rahul Goswami, Jack Sukhija, Sanjeev Trivedi and Heta Pandit organized a tour of two kaavi art temples of Shri Khetrapal, Agarvaddo and Shri Maruti Temple, Advalpale
Craftspeople from Karnataka and Maharashtra came for the tour bringing with them skills of restoration of kaavi
A discussion was held at the end of the tour and several important conclusions drawn
This was the first time that experts, activists and craftsmen were meeting to discuss the art’s revival

“Parmal- the fragrance of Goan heritage” Vol 7 is published and released in April 2009