Heritage Conservation in India@75

On the occasion of the 75-year anniversary of India’s Independence, an exhibition is designed and curated to display the story/history of heritage conservation in the country. The aim of the exhibition is to showcase India’s glorious journey into the realm of heritage conservation.

Slated to be organized at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, the exhibition will be narrated through the following sequence:

• New Republic but Ancient Country (Nation Building Momentum)
• Conservation Uninterrupted: Before Colonisation (Journey from Regional Scriptures to International Charters)
• Colonized Conservation (Emergence of ASI, Marshall Manual among others)
• Post Colonization (Conservation & Independent India)
• Conservation Pedagogy School of Thought (Emergence of SPA, CEPT, returning students from York, ICCROM, new emerging professionals)
• Conservation & World Heritage Sites (Future of our WHS, gap analysis, intervention process)
• Heritage Tourism & Govt. of India Schemes (SWADESH DARSHAN, PRASHAD, ICONIC SITES, etc.)
• Heritage in the Aughts & Heritage Now (Us, our ideas and vision)
• Heritage in the Future@100 (SDG 2030, Climate Change, more regional approaches, Space exploration, opportunity for conservation professionals)

Estimated Budget: 40 lacs

Project Timeline: Dec 2022/Feb 2023

Project Team: Shalini Dasgupta
Secretary, ICOMOS India

Saranya Dharshini
EPWG Member

75 Heritage Walks across India

Heritage is a human signature on the earth. It is a source of identity and cohesion for groups and communities. However, in the age of globalization and technological advancement, there has been an emergence of a synthetic homogeneous macro-culture resulting in the erosion of heritage. As such the need of the hour is preservation and protection of heritage. This has prompted connoisseurs of heritage to find ways to educate communities in this regard. Heritage walks is one such tool that has been evolved for engaging the youth. It is a strong motivator for creating emotional ties with the place, crucial for understanding the meaning and values associated with heritage.

Working within this framework, ICOMOS India offers an opportunity to the people, especially the youth of the country to join us in exploring such places/sites which are not only important from heritage point but are associated with India’s independence movement. This Masterplan project team led by Dr. Mrinalini Atrey and Kritika Mohan aims to curate a series of heritage walks, numbered 75 (to symbolize 75 years of Independence) through the length and breadth of the country, with the culmination walk taking place in August 2023 with simultaneous walks at the core centers of 1857 Revolt.

Collaborations for successful execution of this initiative are sought with NSC/WG/Zones from within ICOMOS-India as well as from the local Academic Institutes, heritage organizations and local municipalities on the following themes:

• Sites associated with Independence Movement, especially with women heroes
• Lesser-known heritage sites such as Chauri-Chaura (UP), Belgaum (Karnataka), etc.
• Few Pilgrimage/trade-route circuits, old Vaishno Devi Route/Cotton Route (Deccan)
• World Heritage Sites

Estimated Budget: 20 lacs

Project Timeline: August 2022 - August 2023

Project Team: Dr. Mrinalini Atrey
NSC ICH Coordinator
Team Lead

Krittika Mohan
EPWG North-East Rep

Varsha S
Content Strategist, EPWG

Sohini Pyne
Design Head, EPWG

Khushi Shah
Content Strategist, EPWG

Rahul Bhola
North Zone Coordinator, HW@75

Gaurav Thapak
Central Zone Coordinator, HW@75

For Further Information: