Dr Mrinalini Atrey
atreymrinalini@gmail.com
I wish to commend the recent article “Silent destruction of heritage in Jammu and Kashmir” by Anil Paba on World Heritage Day drawing attention to the fragile state of heritage safeguarding in Jammu and Kashmir. The concerns raised resonate deeply with those of us who have witnessed the gradual erosion of our monuments and cultural sites.
From Sudh Mahadev Temple to Bahu Fort, and from rural baolis to Himalayan shrines, these structures embody centuries of dialogue, resilience, and artistry. Yet, as the article rightly points out, they now face threats not from external forces but from neglect, unscientific renovation, and everyday vandalism. Each careless scratch or coat of cement diminishes authenticity and severs our connection to history.
It is important to emphasise that safeguarding heritage is not merely a cultural aspiration-it is a legal obligation. India is a State Party to the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which enshrines the principle of collective responsibility for protecting cultural property. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act also provide penalties against defacement and unauthorised alteration. However, enforcement remains weak, and without stronger monitoring, awareness, and accountability, these legal frameworks risk becoming symbolic rather than effective.
In this regard, the government must go beyond symbolic gestures and actively engage heritage professionals who possess the expertise to guide communities in safeguarding practices consistent with international conservation standards. The 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention makes clear that conservation is not optional-it is a binding responsibility shared by governments and communities alike. Professionals trained in documentation, material science, and conservation ethics can ensure that interventions respect authenticity and do not compromise historical integrity.
Equally critical is the systematic training of engineering wings tasked with restoration. Too often, restoration is treated as routine renovation, with cement and modern materials replacing traditional techniques. This approach erodes the very identity of the monument. Conservation requires specialised knowledge of lime mortars, stone behaviour, and traditional craftsmanship. Engineering teams must be sensitised to the fact that they are not repairing an ordinary structure, but preserving a cultural entity that embodies community identity and continuity.
The erasure of even a single motif from its original state may represent the loss of an irreplaceable cultural element. Such losses undermine not only the historical record but also the spirit of the UNESCO Convention, which emphasises authenticity and integrity as the cornerstones of heritage safeguarding. Every motif, inscription, and fragment carries meaning-once destroyed, it cannot be reconstructed.
Thus, heritage conservation must be recognised as a specialised discipline, demanding professional oversight, enforceable legal measures, and genuine community partnership. Only through such an integrated approach can Jammu and Kashmir’s monuments be preserved as living testaments to resilience and artistry, rather than reduced to casualties of neglect or misinformed intervention.
Conservation must also be embedded as a cornerstone of responsible development, woven into planning and policy rather than treated as an afterthought. The responsibility extends beyond governments and institutions to communities and citizens, who must choose reverence over recklessness and continuity over convenience. In doing so, we honour not only our cultural identity but also our obligations under the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and national heritage law.
The article is a timely reminder that development and conservation are not adversaries but partners in progress. I thank you for publishing such an important piece and urge continued coverage so that heritage safeguarding remains at the forefront of public discourse-as a cultural imperative, a legal duty, and a moral responsibility owed to future generations.
I hope that by the time of the IDMS 2027 celebrations, we will have made significant progress in this direction, demonstrating that Jammu and Kashmir can lead by example in heritage stewardship.
(The author is Secretary- General, ICICH-ICOMOS Co-Counselor, ICOMOS- India)
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