Understanding Heritage in Totality

Sympathetic re-use is the main theme of every conservation plan that is implemented on ground zero to restore the heritage in its space and time. Custodians of heritage need to be conveyed meaning and use of significance of heritage.Sustainability of heritage can be realized if the regulated fruits of tourism are tasted by the local community .In fact, heritage tourism is the tool that governs the link between the community and the heritage consultants who devise the ways and means to address the issues that may arise from time to time. The involvement of the local community will ensure the dynamic economic growth and arrange for the financial back up to address the monetary aspect of maintenance of the asset.In the absence of tourism activity, the restored monument or the art forms is rendered insignificant and cannot bear the expenses of the restoration. In Jammu we have witnessed the restoration of the monuments like Hira Nagar fort in Kathua but it has not borne results that should have allowed continuing the restoration work by the ASI as the tourism infrastructure to cater to this heritage destination has not been well placed. Same thing happens to various other destinations. Mubarak Mandi is the case of abandonment as its restoration work generated euphoria and the bubble settled down with the same momentum with which it had started. The clarity of issues and formation of committees was marred by bureaucratic hassles and legal impediments as the state has different set of legislations that confront the jurisdiction of the Central agencies like ASI from the complete takeover of the monument. It is a paradoxical situation that state is not equipped to take the full responsibility of the heritage asset as it lacks technical and financial muscle but at the same time legislations empower it to stop the centre to take the charge though the centre has the wherewithal to address both; conservation and financial aspects of the issue. The ultimate victim being the heritage asset. It employs to all heritage monuments in the state.In such a charged scenario it becomes difficult to see the viability of the state to address the heritage issues that emerge due to lack of expertise and vision. It acts as the main impediment to encourage heritage tourism activity.Otherwise, the heritage tourism is the cause for dynamic interaction between the stakeholders and the tourist who are basically the heritage enthusiasts.For the case of Jammu the way out is that the state government understands that it cannot promote heritage tourism unless the heritage assets have not been restored and if they have been restored they have to be regulated by proper legislation. Though Jammu and Kashmir state has enacted the J&K Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act in 2010.Its implementation is a serious issue that has not seen the dawn yet.Conservation and preservation of the heritage assets in Jammu region are facing the challenges at the base level and not to talk about the later dynamics. ICOMOS has given a comprehensive charter to implement the guidelines that may be derived at the destination area after going through the needs of the stakeholders but upholding the intrinsic core of the culture that is the seed and personality of the heritage. It has stressed the need to use the technological base to support the enhancement of the preservation of heritage so that it is put to sympathetic reuse.