INDIAN HERITHGE (A Premise for Arguments) (Page 2)

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These values may be tangible or intangible; local, regional or global; subjective or objective or any other possible classifications that any book on heritage conservation will easily espouse. Once these values are discovered, heritage can become an effective tool in engaging the community and its different sections. Historically, Sacred Structures- temples and shrines have been restored as seva (Voluntary service) or dharma (religious duty), while the Shariat law mentions the upkeep and repair of public structures and infrastructure. Family memorabilia and ancestral bequests get preserved without any references to heritage conservation manuals.

It is important to understand that every structure does not need to be the White-marbled tour de force to qualify as conservable heritage. It only needs to be valuable in some measure to somebody.

Expanding the Domain of Conservation
There is a vast range in scale and complexity of conservation projects from restoration of a simple structure to rehabilitating buildings with active uses to making policy guidelines and managing large areas deemed with cultural importance. The continuation of the living and revival of dead crafts, skills and practices are part of the conservation processes. Though, traditional skills are required for appropriate conservation, what is essentially required is conservation of these skills. It is this approach that makes the conservation act itself a heritage. Interpretation,

presentation and dissemination of heritage have also become a consistent part of effective conservation. Lately, "Heritage Management Vis-a-Vis "Architectural conservation' has been drawing in much attention. While some may argue this is to cash. On the popularity of the other management areas which are Considered great career opportunities; the fact is 'Heritage Management' is significant as it rediscovers and reviews traditional management within the international conservation practice. Heritage of the country in the past was preserved through not only physical processes of repair and conservation but through accepted and Collective methods of traditional management which have now disintegrated or disappeared. These assigned roles and responsibilities according to the best of abilities, and uniformity and standards were maintained. "Management as essentially targeted towards efficient use of ideas, things and people (Conceptual, material and human resources) to attain specific objectives has been timeless, only the word as used today did not exist at that time. Today, with the presence of myriads of agencies operating on the ground, management' as both the vertical and lateral intra-agency co-ordination is critical to endorse a joint responsibility in safeguarding our heritage.
(Continues...)

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