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Heritage gets a facelift under Ananth Kumar

Neena Haridas in New Delhi

If the Union Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Ananth Kumar has his way, 'Indian history' will soon get a refurbished look. Kumar, who has been given independent charge of the bifurcated human resource development ministry, has charted a plan to renovate about 168 protected monuments in the country. These historical ruins are fast turning to bigger disasters thanks to pollution, insensitive tourist inflow and sheer neglect.

According to sources, the refurbishing will be taken up mainly by the Archaeological Survey of India which is responsible for the upkeep of heritage monuments and historical sites in the country. The ASI will be assisted by non-governmental organisations and a few private sector companies at some of the sites.

However, there is another school of thought which believes that the real purpose of the revamp plan is to infuse a sense of purpose at the ASI, which has of late has had to face a lot of flak for its jurassic existence. There is a quiet consensus within the ministry corridors that the ASI needs professional management, research and development and training of personnel. The ASI has in turn attributed its slow pace of work to lack of funds. Hence, the ministry plans to make the revamp plan self-sustaining in funds by increasing tourist fees and taxes at the monuments. However, the total fund that would be required to revamp 168 monuments has not been estimated as yet.

To begin with, the ministry plans to hike entry fees for tourists and charge in dollars from foreign tourists. This, according to sources, will generate a considerable amount of money. Says an official, "Many Indian monuments, some even a thousand years old like the Khajuraho, attract over 10,000 visitors every day. This is a good source of income for the revamp fund. This will be supported by nation-wide campaigns that is aimed at encouraging contributions to the National Culture Fund.''

At a later stage, the government also plans to include tax and civic reforms, a formal proposal for which will be submitted to the minister. One such monument that needs urgent restoration is the 17th century Red Fort in Delhi -- the landmark without which Delhi and the history of India is incomplete. Unfortunately, many parts of this fort, including the ramparts from which the prime minister of the day addresses the country on August 15, is falling apart mainly because of the tourist inflow which goes up to over 10,000 a day.

Hence, some of the areas such as the Rang Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas and Diwan-e-Aam in the fort has been closed for tourists. "It is difficult to maintain the monuments with people swarming all over it... For things to change, some bitter, drastic steps have to be taken," said ASI Director R C Aggarwal. Administrative problems too have prevented anything substantial from being done to the Red Fort. Most of the area where the Red Fort stands is under the defence ministry and negotiations are reportedly on for the whole area to be given to the ASI.

It may be recalled that the ASI was snubbed by the World Heritage Bureau, set up by the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation, when it rejected all 13 sites suggested by the ASI for inclusion in the world heritage list. The Bureau cited unprofessional documentation as the reason for the rejection. A world heritage site is deemed to belong to all humanity and other countries too can seek funds and help preserve the site. There are 582 sites in 114 countries in the list till now.

Among the sites recommended by the ASI were Sher Shah Suri's tomb in Sarsaram, temples in Bhubaneswar, the Warangal fort in Andhra Pradesh and the Bhimbetka rock shelters of Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, the World Heritage Bureau, which is meeting in Morocco this week, might grant world heritage status to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways constructed in 1880. The Indian Railways had sent a detailed plan for the conservation and future development of the mountain railway.

No sites in India have been granted world heritage status since 1993 when two major historical sites in New Delhi, Mughal emperor Humayan's tomb and the Qutub Minar built by Iltutmish were recognised. The Aga Khan Trust and the Oberoi Group of Hotels will now help look after Humayan's Tomb under a plan announced last week. The Rs 20 million plan to be carried out with the help of ASI, will involve the environmental development of the area around the tomb, revival of water channels apart from structural repairs.

Meanwhile, UNESCO is holding a workshop in New Delhi to train teachers from South Asian countries on heritage studies and also to release a teaching kit on heritage sites called "World heritage in young hands: To know, cherish and act." The kit is being released in 100 countries.

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