A country’s heritage is like a guiding light. It reminds us of a glorious past, of the foundational values, and also warns us from repeating the mistakes. India is a country blessed with a rich cultural heritage and our monuments are the lighthouses of our history.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) was founded in the year 1861. Since then it has done a great job at restoring numerous heritage sites across the country. The government as well as not-for-profit institutions like the Aga Khan Trust and INTACH have been committed to the conservation of these monuments with the help of latest technologies such as geo-tagging.
Props need to be given to social media for awakening the curiosity for our cultural heritage among the masses. Just search ‘heritage’ on Facebook or Instagram and you will find hundreds of people talking about it and posting stuff. You will often find me engaged in one of these conversations, I must confess.
India boasts of being the second-most represented country on Instagram. A ton of pages have come up which are leveraging this massive Indian presence to rediscover Indian heritage.
They conduct photo-walks, webinars, seminars, and heritage-walks. Social media platforms give them easy access to like-minded people and, at the same time, attract not just history buffs but also hobbyist photographers.
An Instagram page that goes by the name ‘Purani Dilli Walo Ki Baatein’ arranges heritage walks in old Delhi. They take you to havelis (mansions) whose locations can defeat even Google Maps, and tell you about the lives of those who lived in it.
This digital wave in the country has also led to innovative efforts such as ‘India Lost and Found’ where people contribute photos or help in mapping these monuments. Facebook groups such as the ‘Heritage photography club’ are getting people involved by sharing their photos of these monuments. A rising interest in knowing and reclaiming heritage has democratized conservation efforts as well. The most remarkable effect of this democratization has been the scale and community engagement.
Are these pages that are ‘hashtagging’ culture, making a difference? In my opinion, they are. In almost every state, these pages are making a difference by engaging masses.
Now, communities are coming forward to raise their concerns about the heritage buildings in their own cities. A recent example of this was showcased when few men damaged the ruins in Hampi. The outrage that poured out on social media prompted immediate action by the local authorities.
I am quite optimistic that this community engagement will increase India’s heritage footprint and enlist more sites in the protected category.
In the current coronavirus situation, it may seem that visiting a heritage site in person is out of the question. However, we can always take a virtual tour of the bygone eras. So as you sit in your homes, scrolling through your social media feeds, don’t forget to search for these awesome heritage pages.
You may find yourself falling in love with the richness of architecture and history those pictures hold deep within them.
