It's time we focussed on natural heritage...
INTACH's Natural Heritage Division (NHD) organised a National Workshop on Natural Heritage recently at the INTACH Head Office to define the contours of natural heritage and future course of action. The inaugural address by Chairman SK Misra highlighted the importance of natural heritage in the context of INTACH's mandate. Principal Director NHD Samar Singh described natural heritage as a "semantic term" interlinking Nature and mankind, and establishing a relationship where pride in our patrimony implies a sense of duty and responsibility for its preservation.
Samar Singh elaborated: "Human existence is based on certain moorings in life. Perhaps, the most enduring mooring is the land to which one belongs, its physical features, its native plants and animals and all those natural aspects by which the region or country is identified over time. In this sense, the natural environment and its conservation has a deep meaning; it is both fundamental and ultimate in securing the identity of a country and the people of that country. The sages and poets of India had known this profound truth and, hence, sang or wrote about the country as the land with a rich natural heritage of rivers and streams, mountains and valleys, forests and meadows, and its varied birds and animals."
The importance of natural heritage is enshrined in the Constitution of India which calls upon the State "to protect the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country (Article 48A) and to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures (Article 51A (g). India is the first developing country to have taken the lead in what is now the buzzword in all countries.
The main theme addressed in the National Workshop on Natural Heritage related to Understanding Natural Heritage, Identification, Listing and Documentation of Natural Heritage, World Heritage Sites in India and Policy and Legislation for Natural Heritage.
It is remarkable that, to date, there are no regulations for the protection of Indian rivers and water bodies. (Courtesy: INTACH Virasat)
... & on setting up more Heritage Clubs
INTACH's national Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) conducted teacher training workshops recently in Kodaikanal and Gwalior and Datia in Madhya Pradesh. At Kodaikanal, nature trails were organised to inspire students to care for nature and make teachers aware about local plants. At Gwalior, a site visit was organised to Gujari Mahal and the State Archaeological Museum. At Datia, teachers visited Vijay Mahal with a local expert. The workshops were extremely successful as teachers actively participated in the sessions. It is reported that 15 schools have already started Heritage Clubs in these towns. (Courtesy: INTACH Varasat)
Editor's Note: When will the 25 Heritage Clubs launched in Chennai by INTACH-Tamil Nadu, spread their knowledge and experience to other schools in the city?
Food for thought for Tamil Nadu Government
The Uttar Pradesh Government recently invited INTACH headquarters to make a presentation on how it could help the Government protect the State's heritage. The highlights of the presentation, given below, should give the Government of Tamil Nadu much food for thought.
– The Editor
Funds to be provided for the listing work of at least five cities in UP – Kanpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Allahabad, Varanasi – along with the publications of the listing.
A law on conservation of heritage buildings along the lines of the Gujarat Act for enactment and finalisaiton of heritage regulations in the areas of each Municipal Board/Development Authority.
All cities covered under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to have a heritage planning component.
The Toursim Department to identify districts/places where heritage tourism could be developed.
Funding for listing intangible heritage in various districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Secretary, School Education, to examine how heritage education could be introduced into the curriculum.
Institutional membership of INTACH to be taken up by public sector organisations under the Departments of Tourism and Culture.
A Task Force to be set up under the Chief Secretary with officials from key Departments like Culture, Tourism, Housing and Education, and two representatives from INTACH, who would meet every quarter to identify projects and ensure coordination between the State Government and INTACH. (Courtesy: INTACH Virasat)
Yet another lost opportunity
This year, India drew a blank in nominations for UNESCO's World Heritage Sites for which the deadline was January 31, 2008. In the past, India had scored well, surpassing the global average of one UNESCO nomination in ten years. Will the ASI be ready with its nominations for January 2009? Perhaps an organisation like INTACH with its country-wide network and specialists might be better equipped to do the necessary documentation for ASI, a suggestion that merits taking up with the authorities? (Courtesy: INTACH Virasat)
Editor's Note: When is Tamil Nadu going to push for World Heritage Site status for Fort St. George from where modern India began?
Intangible Heritage
Endless topics... that make up the fabric of life
.?Food . Drink . Costume . Jewellery . Hairstyles . Utensils . Forms of Greeting . Birth rituals . Hospitablity . Games . Sport . Pottery . Lifestyle rituals . Disposal of the dead . Magic . Witchcraft . Occult practices . Shamanism . Marriage . Sexual practices . Cosmology . Philosophy . Festivals . Fairs . Worship . Iconography, etc, etc, etc.
— (Courtesy: INTACH Virasat)
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