Dr.C.M.Seth
Jammu and Kashmir State is rich in its ancient monuments, unique culture and customs of all the three regions of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh with its rich biodiversity and scenic beauty of western Himalaya. In Jammu and Kashmir State much efforts have not been made to survey, list, document and notify such cultural and natural heritage sites in the past. Cultural Heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. Future generations respect those nations and civilizations who protect their culture and environment for posterity. Throughout the world, Heritage week is celebrated from 19th to 25th November every year to generate awareness among governments of states and the society for preservation and protection of their ancient cultures and environment.
It was in this direction that UNSECO in its 17th meeting in 1972 came up with a legal framework to protect and preserve the cultural and Natural Heritage of every country. Since 1972, 191 states parties have ratified the Convention, making it one of the most adhered to international instruments. As of July 2015, UNSECO has listed 1031 sites as World heritage sites which includes 802 cultural, 197 natural, and 32 mixed properties. Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 51 sites followed by China 48, Spain 44, France 41, Germany 40, Mexico 33, and India 32. Out of 32 India has 25 cultural sites and 7 natural sites which includes Great Himalayan National Park in HP, Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers in Uttarkhand, Niligiri forests, Western Ghats, Kaziranga National Park and Sunderban.Archaeological Survey of India has notified 28 protected sites in J&K state which includes 13 in Kashmir Valley and 15 in Jammu. 69 monuments have been included in the list of National importance.
It was in the year 2010 that the State of Jammu and Kashmir framed its own Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act. Subsequently, J&K Heritage Conservation and Preservation Authority and Executive Committee was also constituted. Till today only two meetings have been held so far and even the decisions taken in the EC have not been implemented to appoint an independent Director Culture and Natural Heritage, Chief Conservationist and the supporting staff. Government of J&K has placed a corpus fund of Rs.50 crores at the disposal of Authority but its utilization for preservation of heritage sites has not been approved by EC so far. At present J&K state has one Director of Archives, Archaeology and Museum and One Director for MubarakhMandi Heritage Complex. But the main objective of legislating the Act and constituting the Authority was to frame the rules, survey the heritage sites and approve the same for listing in the state Heritage inventory and also spend funds for their upkeep and maintenance. Since 2010 not much has been achieved. In 2015, for the first time the state government separated Culture from the tourism department to give it a focussed direction for identification, preservation and maintenance. Till 2014, Culture& Heritage was part of the Tourism department. Being part of tourism department it did not receive its due attention as it was subordinate to the main department. This year government also appointed separate Secretary Culture and brought department of Archives, Archaeology, Museums, Cultural Academy and Libraries under its administrative control. Government also for the first time made arrangements to celebrate World Heritage Week jointly with INTACH by organizing Cultural awareness shows at MubharakhMandi, RanbirLaibrary, Folk dances and songs, NukkadNatak, visit of schools to heritage buildings, exhibit of old manuscripts, rallies. Although the participation of civil society was not very encouraging but such efforts will go a long way to generate awareness among the school children and civil society.It is expected that in future this becomes a regular feature of the government and proper budgetary provision is kept for the purpose to financially support the department and other partner stakeholders. In this effort, Information department, Tourism Department, Forest Department, Archaeological Department, Radio and Doordarshan, Municipal Corporations and NGOs should be involved to give it wide coverage and more impact to the programme. All educational institutions should be directed to celebrate Heritage Week by organizing painting competitions, quiz, debates, heritage walks and cultural shows. Such awareness events require wide participation of civil society.
Cultural department needs to be reorganized as per the provisions of J&K Heritage preservation and protection Act 2010 with an independent Director, Chief Conservationist, Conservationist, Assistant Conservationist and other technical staff, laboratories and workshops. Kala Kendra Jammu situated near BikramChowk should be renamed as Cultural Heritage Complex housing the office of Director Culture and Heritage. Different Heritage committees needs to be set up for cultural and natural heritage documentation. There is an urgent need to train the heritage conservation technical manpower for which government should set up one State level Culture and Heritage Preservation Institute inside the complex of Kala Kendra. Government should convene more frequent meetings of the authority to take up more projects for preservation of heritage sites.
Government of India has started several schemes like HRIDAY (Heritage City development and Augmentation Yojana) under Urban Development Ministry, Tourism and Cultural Ministries. In addition Ministry of Corporate Affairs have notified that all private companies should set up CSR committees to utilize 2% of their net profits for social causes like conservation of Heritage sites. J&K Government should submit proposals to these Ministries for getting central funds to take up Heritage preservation projects in state. In J&K state, not a single project has been submitted to GOI or UNSECO to notify as World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites. In adjoining state of HP and Uttarkhand three sites have been included in the World Natural Heritage sites. Experts needs to be engaged to prepare these proposals scientifically as per the guidelines and submit to world body for notifying the same. Celebrating World Heritage Week is a good idea but much is needed to be done on ground. Like Rajasthan and other states in India Heritage of these states attracts thousands of tourists which helps to showcase the Cultural Heritage of the state and also boost the economy and employment. In J&K also government, civil society and other voluntary organizations like INTACH should make efforts to preserve and protect the cultural and Natural Heritage of state to attract more number of tourists in the state.
(Author is an environmentalist and life member of INTACH).
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