On the final day of the symposium on Networks in the Deccan at the Centre for Deccan Studies, researchers and historians turned the focus inwards about the nature of life in the region.
Trying to dismiss long held notions about forts, Varad Sabnis of Directorate of Archives and Archaeology in Goa said: “Defence was not the only purpose of forts in Goa.
Forts were built for many other uses including religious and warehousing and that is the reason why there are so many forts in the region.”Using information about architecture and socio-economic reasons, Mr. Sabnis showed the strategic locations and characteristic features of the various forts. The impact on languages which is the most obvious facet of conquest was brought home by Mohammed Bari of Central University of Karnataka.
“While the waves of immigration of people from Central Asia and Iran enriched the kingdom culturally, the impact on the language was much more pervasive and it continues to this day as can be seen from the day to day speech in Karnataka as well as the impact on the cuisine and food habits,” he said.
Over the last two days, the international symposium at H.K Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies saw the likes of Peter Manning, Klaus Rotzer, Navina Haider, Sajjad Shahid and a host of other scholars throw new light on the culture, civilisation and its interface with the wider world. The speakers explored social, commercial, economic and political linkages between the region in India and how it created a mark on the global map over the last few hundred years.
