Heritage remains most valuable asset inherited by human beings and communities from nature and society. Known as built and natural , heritage needs to be preserved, conserved, valued and promoted. Promoting heritage needs understanding of its origin, fabric, structure and the context. Considering the same it needs to be protected with appropriate sensitivity and understanding. Heritage hold enormous potential in leveraging, economy, generating employment, reducing poverty and making society culturally rich and vibrant. Unfortune heritage in India is not valued and is grossly misused, abused, manipulated and commercialized. Manpower remains low and the capacity , capability and willingness to identify, manage and promote remains marginalised. India , as a nation, house enormous wealth of heritage with history spanning over 5,000 years need to identify and create capacity to preserve, promote and make value addition to its valuable heritage. It will help in not only creating awareness but will also help in promoting environment and ecology
1. Strategy and Options
for Preserving Indian
Heritage
J.K.Gupta
EX- Director COA-IETBhaddal,
Jit.kumar1944@gmail.com
M- 90410-26414
2. Cities and their Context
⢠Cities have been part of human history.
⢠- Cities- known to command power and authority
⢠Cities-have existed in the past, continue to exist now and
shall continue to dominate in future
⢠Cities -- known to be areas of concentration of population/ ,
infrastructures,
⢠Cities-are physical manifestation of history and culture
⢠Cities -- known to be areas of concentration of art and
architecture
⢠Cities -- known to be repositories of Heritage
⢠Cities- are known to be incubators of innovations, industry,
technology, entrepreneurship and creativity.
3. Cities and their Context
⢠Cities - are materialization of humanityâs noblest ideas,
ambitions and aspirations,
⢠Cities- remain a manmade , mechanical habitat
⢠Cities- are known to be anti-thesis to bio-diversity
⢠Cities- when not planned or governed properly, can be
repository of societyâs ills.
⢠Cities- can destroy natural habitat
⢠Cities â are also known to preserve/destroy Heritage-
natural and manmade
⢠Cities â need to be planned to preserve nature, bio-
diversity, flora & fauna
⢠Cities needs to value art and architecture
⢠Cities need to preserve heritage- both natural and
manmade- for becoming sustainable, safe, resilient and
5. INTRODUCTION
⢠Heritage -reflect personality of a community/area
⢠Heritage- -gives distinct Identity, Character,
-- Recognition, Makes Value addition,
-- a Sense of Pride to
-- Community, Area- City, State & Nation
-- provides information about culture
-- way of life, art & architecture
- creates-- Vital link between past & present
- -- showcases past skill in town planning; art,
architecture, construction, way of living
--promotes development, employment ,economy,
-- remove poverty -- by promoting tourism, leisure, recreation
⢠-Indiaâin 5000 years history, -- inherited enormous wealth
of natural &built environment.
⢠Heritage needs conservation & preservation - carefully
and thoughtfully.
ďˇ SDGs Target 11.4 -- âStrengthen efforts to protect/
safeguard worldâs cultural and natural heritageâ
6. INTRODUCTION
ďˇ Heritage concept -- changed during last few decades.
ďˇ Concept moved Fromâ monument-centric & separating
past from present.
ďˇ To - vernacular structures/ historic urban areas/ cultural
landscapes -- intangible aspects, linking past& present
with local social/ environmental context.
ďˇ Protection not restricted to preservation but
ďˇ -- continuity of past into future.
ďˇ -- pitting heritage conservation not against development,
but making it integral part of sustainable development.
ďˇ Considering challenges posed by rapid urbanization,
disasters caused by natural/ manmade hazards / impacts
of climate change
ďˇ -- focus is on risk preparedness for protecting our past for
7. Legal context of Heritage
⢠Article 49 of the Indian Constitution â lays obligation on the State
to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic
interests, declared by/under law made by Parliament to be of
national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction,
removal, disposal or export, as the case may be
⢠The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act 1958 provides for the;- preservation of ancient and historical
monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national
importance, for the regulation of archaeological excavations and
for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects.
⢠year 2010 amendment provided for constitution of National
Monument Authority for make recommendations for grading/
classifying protected monuments /protected areas/oversee the
working of t competent authorities/ suggest measures for
implementation of the act .
8. Legal context of Heritage
⢠'THE PUNJAB ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL
MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SlTES AND
REMAINS ACT, 1964.
⢠'ancient and historical monument' means
⢠-any structure, erection or ,monument, or
⢠- any tumulus or place of intern-ment, or
⢠any cave, rock- sculpture, inscription or monolith,
⢠which is of historical, âarchaeological or artistic interest and
⢠which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years and includes-
⢠(i) the remains of an ancient and historical monument ;
⢠(ii) â the site of an ancient and historical monument ;
⢠(ii] such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient and historical monument as
may be required for fencing or covering in
⢠or otherwise protecting such monument ; and
⢠... (iu) the means of access to, and convenient inspection of, an ancient and
historical monument ; but does not include any ancient or historical monument
declared by or under law made by parliament to be of national importance ;
10. Issues Facing Heritatge
⢠UNESCO describes factors which pose major
problems to World Heritage .
⢠Armed conflict
⢠wars
⢠earthquakes &other natural disasters,
⢠pollution,
⢠poaching,
⢠uncontrolled urbanization
⢠unchecked tourist development
11. Issues Facing Heritage
⢠Built heritage under enormous threat due to :
- lack of identification of heritage
- Legal Framework
- - Low priority to heritage
-Constant neglect & misuse of identified heritage
- Rapid urbanization
-- haphazard & uncontrolled urban development.
-Unregulated subdivision of land/ buildings
- - Change of land use
- - Heritage not made integral part of planning process
- Absence of use of technology in mapping heritage
- Vulnerability to disasters manmade/natural- fire/earhquake
- ( Sendai framework-Disaster Risk Reduction)
12. Issues Facing Heritage
--Rapid commercialization.
- Large scale speculation in land
-rapidly rising real estate prices.
- low heritage related capacity at local level
- Limited availability of courses in Heritage
- Low availability of trained manpower
- Lack of understanding of role and importance of
heritage
- Lack of Understanding at the ULB level
-Lack of resources- financial& Technical
⢠-- Inadequate innovative strategies/ policies.
⢠-government Led Program and not community-led
⢠-- Multiplicity of agencies- lack of co-ordination
14. OPTIONS--REDEFINING /MAPPING HERITAGE
⢠--Majority of heritage lost due to lack of identification
⢠-Indian legal framework links Heritage to time scale;100 years.
⢠- major cause of exclusion of large Heritage buildings
created during last 100 years
⢠-Heritage needs re-definition with precise / detailed guidelines
⢠-- well defined process and machinery for identification
⢠--involving trained manpower
⢠-- Need Capacity building at national/state /local levels
⢠---Indian heritage largely building specific
⢠-- Scope needs to be widened to include; natural resources
⢠-- urban spaces, bazaars, complexes, cities.
⢠--Concept enlarged to include heritage zones
⢠-Modern heritage needs Recognition- Capitol of Chandigarh
⢠-- Walled cities pan India- declared as heritage zone
17. Making Heritage Part of Planning process
⢠Heritage suffered from haphazard/ unplanned
development
⢠Lack of focus on conservation - in urban planning
⢠Effective heritage management requires â making
Heritage integral part of settlement planning.
⢠Regional Plans Master plans/ Development Plans to;
⢠-- identify heritage areas/zones/buildings in planning area
⢠- Identify areas of natural bio-diversity, flora/fauna
⢠-- prepare inventory of manmade/natural heritage, tangible,
intangible
⢠-- Carry out detailed study and analysis
⢠-- define strategies - to preserve, conserve/ promote/
manage heritage
⢠--frame dedicated schemes for heritage areas
development
⢠-- Enlarge scope of Town Planning laws to provide for
Heritage conservation as priority area
19. Making Heritage Safe
⢠Disasters- both natural/ manmade
⢠-threaten integrity of Heritage
⢠-- compromise their value
⢠-- leads to loss or deterioration outstanding properties
⢠- negatively impacts -- local / national communities,
cultural importance, socio-economic value.
⢠For promoting Safetyâ
⢠--promoting Understanding disaster risk
⢠-Strengthening disaster risk governance/build culture of
prevention
⢠--Investing in disaster risk preparedness/reduction for
resilience
⢠Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response
⢠-- âBuild Back Betterâ in recovery, rehabilitation and
reconstruction
21. Involving Communities
⢠Ignoring communities/ public participation-root-cause of
damage/ destruction of valuable heritage
⢠- Moving Heritage management from government led to people
centric-- key to success
⢠- People legitimate owners--community sees heritage as a
âgood thing to haveâ- need active involvement
⢠Involving communities through -- Holding public meetings
⢠-- making people part of discussions
⢠--âlistening toâ and giving voice to people
⢠--Holding workshops/ Heritage Exhibitions/using print media
⢠-Organizing Heritage Marches/ competition/ asset mapping
⢠- bringing out leaflets, maps / brochures, highlighting heritage
⢠--Involving local educational institutions/students in heritage
management
⢠-- training local inhabitants as tourist guides
25. Involving academic/ professional institutions
⢠- Heritage has suffered due to inadequate trained manpower
⢠--low priority to heritage-- in institutions imparting education in
Architecture/ Planning /engineering
⢠- Planners/ Architects /engineers role critical in heritage
⢠-- few institutions run specialised courses in heritage
⢠--Need to make heritage integral part of study in school/
colleges/technical institutions
⢠-Starting of undergraduate/Master level courses on heritage
preservation/management in IITâs/SPAâs/NITâs
⢠-- Involving institutionsâ ITPI/ IIA/ Institute of Engineers/
INTACH/ Voluntary agencies/NGOs/ civil society/pressure
groups-- for safeguarding/promoting heritage.
⢠-Sensitizing in-service /professionals-architects/ planners
/engineers/students -- by making heritage part of study
curricula/holding seminars / workshops/awareness programms
28. LEGAL FRAMEWORK & DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS :
⢠Existing legal framework related to planning, development
/ management of human settlements - done more harm
than good to heritage management.
⢠Town Planning laws to be reviewed and redefined on
priority to make them heritage friendly
⢠Master Plans/Regional Plans to focus on heritage
conservation
⢠Development schemes -- define agenda for heritage
conservation
⢠Considering critical role of development control, zoning/
regulations/ bye-laws -- in heritage conservation
⢠.-- -- Define controls sensitive to heritage
⢠-- based on study/ analysis
⢠Concept of Listed buildings -- included in legal framework
to identify/ preserve heritage
30. CONSTITUTING HERITAGE COMMISSIONS/BOARDS/ COMMITTEES
⢠States --to constitute heritage commission /Heritage
Boards/Heritage committees at the state/local levels
⢠- Identification/Mapping of Heritage- state/local level
⢠Heritage Commission â to aid, advise, assist / guide state
government /local governments
⢠- evolve policy framework for identification, notification,
preserving and managing heritage in state
⢠Heritage Identification- using concept of listed buildings.
⢠Having heritage experts -- Planning development
authorities/agencies-- town planning
/architecture/PWD/Archeology departments
⢠-State archeology department headed by trained
professionals.
⢠- Implementing 74th Constitutional Amendment Act
32. Creating Heritage Fund
⢠Heritage management- a resource intensive activity.
⢠Heritage management Suffered- Non-availability of
dedicated resources Generating resources for heritage by
⢠-- Creating dedicated fund at National/State / Local level.
⢠involving Corporate Sector
⢠--Involving Artists / Professionals for raising funds for
promoting heritage. - - using Part of tourism earning
â Starting Heritage lotterie - levying heritage Cess on
tourists
â earmarking fund in budgets of ULB,s/ Dev. Authority
â -- Promoting public âprivate partnership.
â involving industries -in maintenance / upkeep
â Making Heritage part of External Development Charges
â --making heritage conservation part of CSR activities
34. Capacity Building
⢠Absence of Nodal Agency on heritage in states/local level
⢠Poor capacity of stakeholders- financial/technical
⢠Effective heritage managementâ needs creating
appropriate capacity at local, state /national for ;
⢠- identification/conservation of heritage
⢠-- Promoting Research and Development
⢠-making available appropriate literature
⢠-- learning good practices,
⢠-- imparting hands on training,
⢠-- learning from case studies/ communication tools
⢠- engaging local stakeholders â owners of heritage
houses,
⢠--Involving experts, educational institutions, artists and
craftsmen
37. ⢠Roleof Technology in Heritage
⢠Technology transforming-
⢠-IdentifyingHeritage, Documentation,Conservation
⢠-PromotingHeritage
⢠MappingHeritage-Managing theheritage
⢠-Planninganddeveloping Heritage Ara
⢠Understanding How people interact withhistory & heritage,
⢠providing insight into past.
⢠UnfoldingHeritage
⢠Dissecting Heritage- Mappinginside of built environment/ naturalenvironment
⢠deciphering ancient manuscriptswith imageprocessing
⢠3Dmodelling ofpriceless artefacts,
⢠bringing people closerto past -Connectingpeople with heritage
⢠- widening horizonsof millions.
⢠Digitizationof documents-for preservation; accessibility withmuseums,libraries/ ensuring -
accessibility forgenerations
â˘
⢠.
38. ⢠Technologies --Mobile Technology- Rapid Impact
Assessments of heritage sites in conflict zones âIphone
⢠Space Archaeology --Using satellite-based topographic imagery
from NASA- mapping historical shifting of Nile River/ discovering
site once Ancient Egyptâs capital city, Tanis.
⢠Soil Resistivity-- Electric resistivity - best way to know
composition of whatâs beneath the ground
⢠Remote sensing techniques / ground-penetrating radar - look for
cavities in buildings/ pyramids â mapping interior architecture of
pyramids/buildings -whether they housed tombs kings.
⢠Drones- Used extensively being less expensive,- discovering new
sites, monitoring looting /environmental threat/ combatting
mismanagement.
⢠Robots- understanding pastâ how Stone Age-era humans used the
made
⢠GIS- used for Heritage documentation, conservation,
communication, understanding spatial context of events,
buildings/cities , planning, mapping development, connecting
40. Heritage City Development and Augmentation
Yojna- HRIDAY
â˘
â˘
HRIDAY strategized efforts like;
-- planning, development, implementation ,management of heritage cities
-- in partnership with State Governments
-- to Preserve / revitalise-- soul of heritage city
-- to reflect cityâs unique character-- by encouraging
-- aesthetic based, accessible, informative & secured environment.
-- undertaking strategic / planned development of heritage cities
--improving overall quality of life with specific focus
-- on sanitation, security, tourism, heritage revitalization / livelihood
-- retaining cityâs cultural identity.
Duration of HRIDAY scheme --- 4 years starting January 21, 2015
Scheme focused on development of twelve heritage cities namely;
1. Ajmer 2. Amravati 3. Amritsar
4. Badami 5. Dwarka 6. Gaya
7. Kanchipuram 8. Mathura 9. Puri
10. Varanasi 11. Velankanni 12. Warangal
HRIDAY need to be continued-- extended to all cities
- making part of smart city /urban development /AMRUT
43. Evolving Conservation Heritage Strategy
⢠Comprehensive Conservation Heritage Strategy should
stand on four distinct pillars of
⢠-- promoting Understanding -- Ensuring Positive Action,
⢠-- Developing Partnerships -- Promoting Best Practice.
Conservation / Heritage Strategy must revolve around;
⢠-- Creating Effective/efficient/ heritage friendly legal framework for
identification/conservation of heritage
⢠--Making heritage people centric - involving communities
⢠--Promoting partnerships between different stakeholders
⢠-- Creating awareness / appreciation of value of heritage assets
⢠-- Making heritage management part of planning /development process
⢠-- Incentivising conservation /promoting / monitoring/reviewing
heritage sites on regular basis..
⢠-- Organising exhibitions/conferences /workshops at Heritage sites
⢠-- Synthesising historic resources with economic development
strategies.
⢠- Avoiding commercialization of heritage over conservation values.
44. Evolving Conservation Heritage Strategy
⢠Leveraging heritage for generating employment , reducing poverty.
⢠--Building institutional capacity -in heritage planning/ management
⢠-- Promoting active re-use of heritage buildings-Palaces/ hotels/
museums --for larger public use / making value addition to heritage
⢠-- generating resources for maintenance & upkeep.
⢠Promoting best practice for- preservation , conservation and
management of heritage sites
⢠-- Promoting partnership -- between public, private and voluntary
sectors
⢠- Promoting actions / initiatives -- to ensure preservation /
enhancement of heritage assets
⢠--Fostering continued use/ enjoyment /access to diverse historic
assets
⢠- ensuring contribution to quality of life present / future
generations.
⢠--Developing short, medium / long term targets-- within available
resources
45. Evolving Conservation Heritage Strategy
⢠Creating a dedicated fund for heritage management at local/ state and
national level.
⢠Creating large reservoir/pool of trained manpower for heritage
conservation.
⢠Improving communication
⢠--Making heritage integral part of teaching- learning process
⢠-Making people believe that development and heritage are positively
co-related -- for promoting
⢠-- economy
⢠-- quality of life,
⢠-- removing poverty
⢠Promoting participative governance -- by empowered local
communities in the planning / implementation /promoting vigilance of
the heritage sites
⢠Creating local ownership among communities-- by holding festivals
etc
⢠Making rational choices of combining-- restoration, rehabilitation/
preservation for promoting valuable heritage.
46. Evolving Conservation Heritage Strategy
â Making - heritage protection not an impediment â
â but a pre-condition for economic/sustainable development
⢠--Developing a culture of participative, Collaborative decision
making
⢠â moving towards good-governance
ďˇ - Adopting Globally good practices with appropriate modifications
ďˇ Help building urban identity / pride in residents.
ďˇ -Going beyond just resorting / preserving historical assets,
ďˇ --lead to well-being / security, through broad community
participation and involvement.
ďˇ -Using/leveraging Technologies in identification/mapping/
evaluating/ preserving/managing heritage
ďˇ - help achieving SDGs Target 11.4 â
ďˇ --âStrengthening efforts to protect / safeguard worldâs cultural
and natural heritageâ
47. Evolving Conservation Heritage Strategy
⢠- creating dedicated framework of experts in;
⢠-- all planning/development agencies
⢠-- for identification of heritage.â
⢠-- aiding, advising, assisting& guiding development
agencies on heritage /conservation.
⢠integrating efforts made by all stake-holders -
⢠--- parastatal agencies, individuals, institutions ,
NGOs/CBOs engaged in heritage
⢠-- for preparing comprehensive vocabulary of heritage
⢠--Making India -globally recognized resource/ repository of
⢠-- Heritage Management and preferred tourist destination
⢠-- with high degree of sensitivity / commitment to Indian
heritage
.