Scholars rue lack of awareness of heritage sites
The tendency to adopt a non-subaltern approach to archaeology and lack of interest or awareness among public with respect to archaeological sites came in to sharp focus at an international symposium held here recently.
Presenting a paper on the need for subaltern approach to archaeological records (remnants) at the symposium held at Tamil University, K. Paddayya, Professor Emeritus, Deccan College, Pune, observed that while big archaeological sites threw light on regional time-table of cultures, modern archaeology was confronted with the task of investigating total cultural systems and their dynamics and evolutionary trajectories.
Approaching archaeological records as a composite of universes of artefacts, ecological facts and features with a regional approach in its study, both in field and laboratory, assume importance, he said.
Highlighting the role of community in heritage management, Advisor, DHAN Tourism for Development, K.P. Bharathi regretted that changing socio-economic profile and poor heritage literacy among host communities were leading to disappearance of many heritage resources, both tangible and intangible.
Many of the locals were unaware of the historical and archaeological importance of their settlements, which could contribute to their sustainable growth through tourism, and tended to migrate to nearby urban centres looking for livelihood opportunities.
But the scenario was slowly changing due to efforts put in by DHAN Foundation by way of organising heritage walks clubbed with presentation by eminent historians and archaeologists and distribution of brochures on heritage and history. They had now become consious of the fact that they had to preserve their heritage and contribute to the maintenance of temples and environment of their villages, he added.
Mr. Bharathi stressed the need for heritage education for school and college students, which would help them appreciate environment and cultural heritage. In order to achieve it, stakeholders such as local administration and the people needed to be aware of the concepts related to sustainable development and relevance of their own heritage.
Further, promotion of local tourism circuits was vital to improve livelihood opportunities through sustainable development and management of heritage resources.
Pointing out that tourism in India essentially revolved around cultural properties, former ASI Director D. Dayalan observed that tourism and its related activities sometimes posed problems for historical sites and monuments. Issues of wear and tear, disturbances and a sense of displacement among locals and congestion cropped up.
However, historical, natural and religious heritage resources provided a huge potential for development of tourism and, thereby, improved the livelihood opportunities for the people.
Manabu Koiso from Kobe Yamate University and Nishizaki Nobuko from Fukushima University, Japan, and others presented papers on issues revolving around archaeological and heritage management at the International Symposium on Historical and Archaeological Heritage Management and Cultural Tourism in India and Japan: Issues and Prospects for Development, organised by Tamil University, Thanjavur, Indian Council for Historical Research, New Delhi, Japan Society for Promotion of Society and Kobe Yamato University, Japan, which culminated with a Heritage Walk at Gangaikondacholapuram on February 14.
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