Seeing India through its heritage

India went through different ages - Vedic to Mauryan - to the colonial;era. All these years, India enriched its history and culture by way of tradition and culture as reflected in its forts, temples, palaces and gardens. They are living testimonials of the country's rich heritage and tradition handed down from generation to generation.

Today, all the nations observe World Heritage Day. This is an opportune time to be aware and spread awareness on the diversity of our cultural heritage and on what we can do to protect and conserve them. It is also a time to stop and realise their vulnerability and the need to preserve them for the next generation.

World Heritage Day was first observed in 1984, following its approval by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference in November, 1983. Through its International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), UNESCO has identified and declared several valuable assets of humankind around the world. Aside from various well-known monuments and sites, UNESCO has declared since 1999, 193 regions, each representative of the main natural regions of the world, as World Heritage Sites.

India is a melting pot of various faiths and creeds. Given its historical and cultural richness, the whole country appears to be a Heritage site. UNESCO has declared as World Heritage Sites several cultural monuments like the Agra Fort (1983), Ajanta Caves (1983), Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989), Churches and Convents of Goa (1986), Elephanta Caves (1987), Ellora Caves (1983), Monuments of Hampi (1986), Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984), Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987), Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993), Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986), Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002), Mountain Railways of India (1999) and of course the Taj Mahal (1983). Other famous World Heritage Sites in the country, which are also favorite tourist destinations, are the natural parks of Kaziranga (1985), Keoladeo (1985), Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (1988), and the Sundarbans (1987).

A number of these heritage sites face grave danger due to human activities - vandalism, pollution and carelessness due to lack of knowledge of its importance to all Indians. Ancient historical monuments are pieces of the country's heritage. Historical centers like the ones mentioned make the country a more interesting place to visit and explore, not only for foreign tourists but local ones too. Knowing how Indian came about its present state, through these living structures, is a wonderful way of travelling the length and breath of the country.
World Heritage sites are timeless legacies of humanity. They serve as valuable living links with our forefathers and with posterity.

As we observe World Heritage Day, let us keep in mind the lofty aspirations that filled our forefathers' minds and how they endeavoured to carry out their ideas. Let us be worthy heirs to these valuable and timeless legacies that are regarded as both cultural and natural, by doing our share in the global efforts to preserve and perpetuate these monuments of humanity.

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Published in the International Heritage Day issue of Newstoday, 18 April 2007, page 7.