MATA SUNDRI COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY4 YEAR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME IN HISTORYAPPLIED COUSE 1UNDERSTANDING

HERITAGE

•Understanding the different facets of heritage and their significance. •Highlighting the legal and institutional frameworks for heritage protection in India as also the challenges facing it. •Examining the implications of the rapidly changing interface between heritage and history. •The course will be strongly project-based and will require visits to sites and monuments. •At least two Projects will be based on visits to Museums/Heritage Sites.

TOPIC 1

Defining Heritage:

Meaning of ‘antiquity’, ‘archaeological site’, ‘tangible heritage’ , 'intangible heritage' and ‘art treasure’

Antiquity means the ancient times specifically the period before the middle ages.

An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record. Sites may range from those with few or no remains visible above ground, to buildings and other structures still in use.

•Tangible heritage includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artefacts, etc., which are considered worthy of preservation for the future.  These include objects significant to the archaeology, architecture, science or technology of a specific culture.

An example at hand is the Purana Qila.

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An example of tangible heritage.Currently being an archaeological site as well.

• Intangible heritage is that which is transmitted from generation to generation, and is constantly recreated by communities and groups, in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their history. It provides people with a sense of identity and continuity, and promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. 

Examples of intangible heritage being oral traditions and expressions, including language, folk lores  Performing  arts like folk songs, dancesSocial practices, rituals and festive eventsKnowledge and practices concerning nature and the universeTraditional craftsmanship.

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An example of performing art heritage of India.

TOPIC 2

Evolution of Heritage Legislation and the Institutional Framework

Conventions and Acts— national and international

Heritage-related government departments, museums, regulatory bodies etc.

Conservation Initiatives

The  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides, it regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 24 Circles. The organization has a large work force of trained archaeologists, conservators, epigraphist, architects and scientists for conducting archaeological research projects through its Circles, Museums, Excavation Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch, Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project, Temple Survey Projects and Underwater Archaeology Wing.

EXCAVATION WORK IN PROGRESS IN THE PURANA QILA ORGANISED BY THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, ASI

Courtesy: The Hindu

RESTORATION WORK IN PROGRESS IN THE HUMAYUN’S TOMB UNDER THE JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE AGHA KHAN TRUST AND THE ASI

TOPIC 3

Challenges facing Tangible and Intangible Heritage:

Development, antiquity smuggling, conflict (to be examined through specific case studies)

TOPIC 4

Heritage and Travel Viewing Heritage Sites The relationship between cultural heritage,

landscape and travel Recent trends

Culture is an important part of the tourism product and is one of the factors that can improve the competitiveness of a tourism destination. Cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing global tourism markets and covers all aspects of travel that provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about other areas‟ history and life style.Cultural heritage tourism is a mode of tourism that specifically targets the art, architecture, history, monuments, museums, theatres, religious heritage, social interaction, food habits, and lifestyle of people in a certain geographical region. This mode of tourism has also become major forces in economic and urban revitalization. As cultural tourism becomes an increasingly important factor for tourist destinations involved in developing their cultural capital in order to attract more international visitors, there is value in assessing how cultural and heritage tourists can be better understood and serviced through marketing, planning and programming with local and regional communities. Cultural heritage tourism is an important feature of India’s tourism industry.

BULAND DARWAZA, FATEHPUR SIKRI, AN EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE TOURIST SITE OF INDIA.

THE CAVES OF AJANTA ELLORA,AN EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE TOURIST SITE OF INDIA.

Some of the academic works to be consulted for this course:-

•David Lowenthal, Possessed By The Past: The Heritage Crusade and The Spoils of History, Cambridge, 2010 •Layton, R. P. Stone and J. Thomas., Destruction and Conservation of Cultural Property.London: Routledge, 2001 •Lahiri N., Marshalling the Past - Ancient India and its Modern Histories.Ranikhet: Permanent Black. 2012

ADVANTAGES OF OPTING THIS PAPER

It will help students to bring history out of the book and locate it in life around us, like Built heritage like Monuments, which we can feel and reflect upon.

Understanding our rich heritage of monuments, paintings, craft traditions, folk music, festivals, the rich cuisine of this country and henceforth creating a niche for oneself in the very thriving tourism industry of today.

An insight into the government organizations like the ASI, INTACH will open the options of interning them in excavations for the students.