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Nurturing Lndia's Rich Gultural Heritage

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Nurturing Lndia's Rich Gultural Heritage ffi Nurturing lndia's Rich Gultural Heritage Avinash Mishra and Sharmistha Sinha Heritoge is iusl nol the britk ond morlur, bul the tuhure ond people who live oround il every doy. Ihere is history reloted to the ploce, cuhure, woy of life, urtisonship ond economy developed bosed on the slruclure. Ihey ore not iust refledors of the post, but opporlunilies lo generole employment ond income in the presenl ond fulure through heriloge tourism. All heritoge sites should develop speciol progrommes for engoging school sludents' visils wilh o round the yeor colendor for rhildren s workshops, otlivilies ond events. Spetiol Heriloge wolks lo enhonre visitor experience wilh proper inlerprelotion ond storytelling on sile or speciolised inlerpretolion cenlre needs lo be implemenled. ndia with its glorious past has expressions, craftsmanship etc. Many of these bequeathed a remarkable variety of cultural heritages are protected, located in urban monuments and sites spread all across or semi urban areas and visited by many. However, the length and breadth of the country. there are many which are in rural lndia, maybe It is estimated that there are more than 5 lakh in a remote corner in a tribal pocket and lying historic buildings and sites that constitute the built unidentified, unprotected and untapped. heritage. These protected include monuments Heritage is just not the brick and mortar, under Archaeological Survey of lndia and various but the culture and people who live around it state departments of archaeology and various other every day. There is history related to the place, types of built herita ge, viz., historic Iandscapes, culture, way of life, artisanship and economy industrial heritage, cultural landscapes, routes, developed based on the structure. They are not underwater archaeology, step wells, mixed sites, just reflectors of the past, but opportunities to etc. There are 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in generate employment and income in the present lndia (as of 202L), of which 30 are cultural sites, and future through heritage tourism. Proper seven are natural sites and one mixed site. Along management of these structures and sites can with these are rich and varied intangible cultural bring in a huge change in the lives of the people heritage of the country like oral traditions and living in and around the place. At one point, it Kurukshetra I April 202 1 iiiii:i.:iji::iii ffi generating business for local communities. The pandemic has shown us the importance of local resources. There are traditional step wells which have heritage significance and also can be explored if the water sources can be revived. These will attract tourists on the one hand, with a multiplier effect on the village economy with development of infrastructure, shops, service facilities etc. and also solve the water issue faced by the people in the area. Preservation, management and promotion of these structures will contribute to the technical know how of the younger generation too. Government of lndia, in its budget 2O2O-21-, has proposed five archaeological is necessary to identify the heritage assets and sites, namely, Rakhigarhi (Haryana), prevailing traditions, which is intrinsically related Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh) Shivsagar (Assam), to the identity of the residents of those areas; Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil and on the other, preservation, conservation and Nadu) to be developed as iconic sites with on- promotion of the places can play a substantial site Museums. Rakhigarhi, the site of a pre-lndus role in enhancing the quality of life. The rural Valley Civilisation settlement, dating back to per capita income in lndia in terms of Net Value about 6500 BCE village is located in Hisar District Added (NVA) is Rs. 40,9251 in 2019. Even though in Haryana. Dholavira, a site of ruins of ancient 70 percent of the population still lives in villages, lndus Valley Civilisation/Harappan city is located more than half of them are depended only near the Dholavira village in Gujarat. The site on agriculture or allied activities. Villages are of Adichanallur, one of the oldest early lron- experiencing out-migration and marginalisation, Age cemeteries to exist in South Asia, is a small and loss of cultural and biological diversity. village in Tamil Nadu. These sites are of immense Growth of rural tourism and heritage tourism historical, religious and heritage significance and will enhance the employment and business development of these will augment knowledge, opportunities in the villages in a big way. recognition and tourism, which will boost the rural economy, enriching the socio-economic How Can Heritage Structures Change the Rural status of the inhabitants of the place. Economy? There are six Buddhist Circuits under Swadesh with There are various heritage structures Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism. However, historical significance overwhelming cultural and there is no specific circuit for Ashokan edicts and untapped and in the rural hinterlands lying heritage. Further, there is no Buddhist Site under These are also tools for socio-economic unattended. PRASHAD and only one site Mahabodhi temple local level and sustainability for upliftment at the is identified under lconic Site Scheme. To attract generations. future the Buddhist tourists, particularly from South With the vaccine rollout for COVID-19 in the Asian and South East Asian countries, composite country, travel and tourism is now opening up. Due development of Heritage and Tourism of lconic to the pandemic, people are now more interested Buddhist Sites of significance in lndia can be in visiting less-crowded rural lndia. They are likely to undertaken. Ten Buddhist sites particularly major visit destinations that are seen to be clean, healthy Ashokan edicts (Rock and Pillar), eg., 5 rock edicts and pollution free. Travellers will play a major role Girnar, Sopara, Dhauli, Jaugada, Sannati, Yerragudi villages, by and five pillar edicts, namely Kalsi, Delhi, Vaishali, t,, in contributing to the economy of the r|q {6 j ,,:l:ili.:riiiiilLlE Kurukshetra I Apri| 202 1 i,! l1 {l ffi Rampurva and Lauriyacan be developed in a circuit manner. These are invaluable assets in the form of the rock engraving or pillar of Emperor Ashoka on Buddhism. Many of these edicts are in villages far away from the main city. Similarly, reviving the lost traditiona I gardens, for exa m ple, the roya I gardens of Bundelkhand can be a boost to the local rural economy. Rural heritage with tribal settlements is now also being recognised under the category of 'Cultural Landscape' with the World Heritage inscription of Kanchendzonga National Park on 2016 on World Heritage list and Apatani cultural landscape, Cold desert cultural landscape of Spiti-Ladakh on the UNESCO's tentative list. The inhabitants in these places have unique ways of focusing on tourism and development (within preserving ecology, using traditional methods to and around a monument), capacity building, attain what the modern machines and systems partnerships with multi-disciplinary organisations have been unable to. and institutions and the role of local communities. Policy Recommendations Some states have adopted it well, eg., in 201,4, it was adopted by the State Archaeology of Rajasthan An overarching management plan is required for its World Heritage Sites, which also practices to revive the heritage structures with creating a few of other national policy clauses such ds, National Archaeological Database at the outset. engaging local crafts people and drafting region Advanced technology needs to be used for wise conservation schedule of rates. Such practices docu mentation, surveys, excavation, conservation, should be implemented across the country. and promotion and marketing of the sites. Along with it, Heritage Tourism needs to be promoted The Archaeological Survey of lndia (ASl) or with a focused and professional marketing strategy. State Archaeology Departments need to identify Furthel skilled staff is required for managing the projects that could be carried out in rural areas monuments at the ground level. Post pandemic, with MNERGA funds. ln some cases, such works rural tourism is likely to increase. This is the time, can lead to other significant government objectives when tourist attractions can be drawn towards such as reviving historic water bodies and collecting heritage sites/structures particularly in the rural rainwater too. ln d ia. The Adopt a Heritage' project under the Following the guidelines of the National Government of lndia aims to develop the heritage Conservation policy, conservations works result sites/monuments, making them tourist-friendly in utilisation of over 70 percent of project costs and enhancing the tourism potential. This involves for crafts people wages. ln projects such as active participation of individuals, agencies to archaeological excavations and desilting historic partner in the noble social responsibility initiative step-wells/tanks/wells almost 100 percent of the by becoming "Monument Mitra" through the costs are for unskilled crafts people. Therefore, innovative concept of Vision Bidding. Progress the National Policy on Conservation needs to under Adopt a Heritage Scheme has been very be implemented vigorously by ASI and all State slow, not much work can be seen in terms of Archaeology Departments. The Policy also acclaims on-site execution. Most Monument Mitras are available traditional craftsmanship in the country running behind their committed schedule as per and the use of traditional
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