Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: Aparna Tandon, an internationally acclaimed conservator who works for United Nation’s ICCROM based in Rome, Italy, delivered a special extension lecture on “Cultural heritage, social disruptions and development” at Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu (JU).
The special extension lecture was organized jointly by the Departments of Lifelong Learning (DLL), Sociology and Psychology in collaboration with the Department of Students Welfare, JU.
Tandon who has studied at Harvard University, is a Fulbright and Inlaks scholar who is leading ICCROM’s international capacity development programme on disaster risk management and its flagship training on First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis.
Dr Anupama Vohra, Associate Dean, DSW, Dr Kavita Suri, Director and Head, DLL, Dr Hema Gandotra, Officiating head, Sociology were also present at the occasion, besides the students of Rural Development, Sociology and Psychology.
In her interactive lecture, Tandon explained the complex interaction between cultural heritage, social disruptions that occur due to conflicts and disasters, and sustainable development.
Based on her extensive experience in recovering damaged cultural heritage amidst large scale disasters and intense conflicts, she explained how safeguarding cultural heritage which is connected with people’s lives can help societies to recover, build social cohesion as well as resilience.
Emphasizing that universities have a crucial role to play by undertaking interdisciplinary research on developing an inclusive discourse on identification and management of a nation’s cultural heritage, she said this can reduce social inequalities and identity based conflicts which can in turn help build resilience for cyclic conflicts and disasters.
The lecture concluded with a short discussion with the students of the three departments, who came up with several issues during the short interaction. They highlighted the lack of available research material in various languages of the State.
The programme was conducted by Sonakshi Ganotra while Diksha Andotra presented vote of thanks.
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