Celebrating Heritage

Human development and innovation are manifested in varied ways in the societies of the world. Every nation has its civilizational values that are best represented in the cultures they uphold as their legacies. Human values are the ethical ways to live life in such a way that harmony and development manifest in tandem. Heritage is the expression of human vision and cultural refinement that develops over time and takes centuries to leave its mark. Cultural refinement crystallises as heritage. It is both tangible in terms of monuments and intangible in terms of musical forms that are carried from one generation to another. To commemorate the heritage at the international level 18th April is celebrated as the World Heritage Day every year. It is also called International Day for monuments and Sites. This day is celebrated to sensitise the world at large about the heritage values. So that the people and communities honour and protect their heritage. The imperative is to develop capacity building for preservation and conservation of heritage at all levels. This also includes the restoration of the heritage monuments that are facing neglect and acts of vandalisation. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is a global organisation that leads the celebration of the World Heritage Day every year to sensitise the people about the importance of heritage. Its establishment was approved by the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983.The theme for the World Heritage Day 2025 is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions”. When analysed minutely this theme addresses almost all the challenges being faced by the heritage of all types all over the globe. It takes into account the destruction caused by the natural disasters and man made disasters that lead to annihilation of heritage. It underlines the dangers of conflicts that can devastate the heritage character of the societies and the populations in the conflict zones. It is pertinent to mention that conflict like terrorism and wars create a vicious cycle that destroys the place’s consciousness and aesthetics. This can be well understood by correlating it with the threat that the heritage has been facing in Jammu and Kashmir due to ethno –religious conflict. The conflicting interpretation of heritage has destroyed the sense of internalising the value of shared heritage. The destruction that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed in terms of heritage vandalisation speaks volumes about the apathy at various levels. This includes policy making and the lack of awareness in civil society. In the previous editorial on the Mubarak Mandi, the Rising Kashmir had given the graphic picture of the vandalisation being caused in the name of restoration. The Mubarak Mandi that comprises ten palaces that have come up over the period of time qualify it as the urban historic city area that holds in its bosom the development of Jammu’s cultural sense. A simplistic narrative is paddled that the complex is to be made functional for tourism. But the question arises. Has the care been taken for its restoration at least to a certain time frame? The answer is indeed no. The reason being the utilisation of incompatible material for its so-called restoration besides the violation of its aesthetics and place consciousness. This has happened because the policy makers have not been able to pay heed to the internationally acclaimed frameworks, models and charters being designed by the ICOMOS and the highly scientific bodies like International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).Moreover, there is a need to involve and seek advice from the best available experts in the domain at least available locally who are professionally qualified in heritage conservation and preservation besides restoration. It includes heritage tourism experts so that sustainability avenues are explored. Heritage restoration is not the domain of public works contractors who are involved in roads and buildings. It is a specialised domain. That is the nuanced message to be internalised on this World Heritage Day.