I felt mixed thoughts as I read the news that the Delhi government was looking to submit a ‘tentative document'”whatever ‘tentative’ implies in this case”to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to be sent to the UNESCO so that Delhi city could be included in the ‘tentative listing’ for World Heritage City. Officially, ‘tentative document’ is a term used for a lengthy set of formal papers that are sent to the ASI, which in turn forwards it to UNESCO for considering the site/city for its provisional list.
With three world heritage sites (Red Fort, Qutb Minar, Humayun’s Tomb), it is being argued that Delhi has a stronger claim than any other city to be a world heritage city, a title that helps increased flow of foreign tourists.
To present Delhi as a world heritage city, the Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Corporation (DTTDC) has been identified as a nodal agency. The government has signed an MoU with conservation NGO Indian National Trust For Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for carrying out detailing work and preparing the lengthy document.
INTACH Delhi chapter head AGK Menon had stated that the work for the tentative document was almost over and that it would most probably be submitted in April itself. In the next stage, the ASI will scan the document and if found complete in all respects, will forward it to the UNESCO.
The official stages seem neat and well demarcated. However, is that all there is to the heritage claim? Isn’t there something cold, clinical and cynical about official stages? Does the ‘heritage’ exist in the minds of the people who bear the heritage?
Are we an engaged citizenry? Do we feel pride”real pride”in our city, its monuments, ramparts, parks, lakes and walkways? Do we treat the old city with respect? Do we care about its artists and their artistry?
According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 ( No. 24 of 1958), if someone destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses a protected monument, s/he shall be punishable with imprisonment that may extend to three months, or with a fine that may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Has that been a deterrent, though? The larger-than-life answer to that can be seen inscribed in the shape of random initials, names and messages on the facades of our architectural wonders. Not many places have been spared by the zealous brigade.
Sure, there is a World Heritage Day (April 18). Yet, with all the enthusiasm I have towards news and developments, I missed the hype around the day. Did you, too?
Among a number of suggestions on ways to celebrate World Heritage Day, the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) had listed ‘hanging banners in town squares or principal traffic arteries calling attention to the day and the preservation of cultural heritage.’ Another was ‘organizing discussions in cultural centres, city halls and other public spaces.’
The essence of these suggestions is greater and meaningful people engagement. Unless there is a buzz around the subject and unless we”the people”are allowed the space to feel an organic linkage with the objects and reference points of heritage, how will change begin to happen? At the official level, there will be a scramble to get into prestigious lists and sanctions to restore precious relics from yore. That there will have to be a parallel line of action towards inspiring people’s instinct for participating in the preservation and reaching out to their sense of ownership, must be appreciated as well.
One school of thought believes that the World Heritage City status for Delhi will act as a catalyst in bringing about attitudinal transformation among us”the people. Is that how it will be? Once we know that Delhi is a ‘heritage’ city, will we suddenly feel love and pride? Is it that, like in many other superficial aspects of our lives, once we have the outsiders’ admiration and acknowledgement, we will think the heritage claim to be legitimate? After all, the sari, the bindi, and yoga did have to take the long route West to reach our minds.
In its 600th year of existence, Ahmedabad, too, is vying for the World Heritage City status. I am sure some of us can see the irony there.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has declared around 12,000 properties as ‘heritage’ and classified them under four categories – A, B, C and D “as per their heritage value. In the old city, a heritage property is valued at 10 per cent to 22 per cent higher than an ordinary property. Heritage property with carved facade is valued even higher. The AMC’s heritage department has been conducting awareness campaigns among people about restoration and preservation of such properties.
The word ‘campaign’ has a clinical, distant air about it, like the official act of applying for ‘heritage’ status. Who’s to tell that these campaigns have not already distanced us from them? And yet, that is not the answer and not the way life can move ahead without disturbing its balance with the universe. When we espouse the claim of our collective heritage, it really has to be in sync with our larger consciousness, and for that to happen, the campaign has to graduate from being lip service to heartfelt compassion and avowal of faith.
Picture: Old Delhi in 1950s. Source: Oldindiaphotos.in
