Early last year, a group of around 20 people gathered at the ancient monolithic temples of Mammallapuram just outside Chennai. Armed with drawing pads, pencils and little else, members of the Chennai Weekend Artists were quietly sketching the 6th and 7th century sculptures within the temple complex, when a security guard accosted them. He told them they were breaking the rules, but did not elaborate. A visit to the Archaeological Survey of India office at the site to find out more proved futile as well.

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