A screenshot of Karnataka Ithihasa Bhoopata
Bengaluru: What connects a temple in a small Karnataka village to a dynasty that ruled centuries ago? Where did historical battles take place, and how did Karnataka’s kingdoms connect with the rest of the world? A new digital platform developed in Bengaluru aims to help people explore such questions through an interactive map of the state’s history.
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Founded in 2010, Sanchaya has been working towards making Kannada literary and historical resources accessible through technology and digitisation.
It contains verifiable and citable resources from various sources,” said Omshivaprakash HL, founder of Sanchaya. The idea, Omshivaprakash said, is to help users understand how a place, person, inscription, literary work or historical event relates to a particular period and region, rather than merely memorising dates. We’ve received requests to introduce other languages too,” he said. Describing the atlas as an ongoing experiment, Omshivaprakash said public feedback, corrections and additional historical sources would help improve it. “The atlas is intended as a research and learning companion, not as a replacement for prescribed textbooks,” he added.
Called Karnataka Ithihasa Bhoopata (Karnataka Historical Atlas), the Kannada-first digital public history initiative allows users to navigate Karnataka’s past through maps, timelines and curated historical resources. Developed by Sanchaya, a non-profit initiative working at the intersection of the Kannada language, technology and cultural preservation, the portal brings together information on kingdoms, rulers, inscriptions, monuments, literature, the freedom movement, district histories and cultural life. Users can explore the atlas through several categories, including dynastic maps and timelines, guided historical story routes, Karnataka’s global connections, geography and natural history, prominent personalities such as kings, poets and thinkers, and the freedom movement and its leaders. The map itself uses distinct markers to identify historical sites and resources, making it easier for users to locate temples, inscriptions, royal emblems and artefacts, battle sites, monuments, forts, palaces, museums, archives, libraries and historical gardens. It also maps references to other states, offering a glimpse into Karnataka’s historical connections beyond its present-day geographical boundaries. “The portal is a little more than just a map to tell stories. Schools and colleges can use the atlas for history and social science lessons, district history projects, heritage walks, quizzes and research assignments. Karnataka Historical Atlas is an open-source, open-data and open-knowledge initiative, inviting students, researchers, teachers, educational institutions and members of the public to contribute. “This entire project is an open-source initiative in Kannada. It also has an English interface. Karnataka Historical Atlas can be accessed at https://karnata.sanchaya.net.