Today is World Heritage Day. This day reminds us of the numerous wonderful monuments and sites that surround us. India has thousands of protected cultural and environmental sites. Of these, 37 have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites – one mixed, seven natural, and 29 cultural.
But first let us understand what the tag ‘world heritage’ entails. According to the UNESCO, it is a ‘natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognised as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as a deserving special protection’.
From this definition, I feel that each and every monument, park, or religious site that I see in Delhi deserves this status. If not heritage status, then our attention and recognition at the least. Delhi has 111 protected monuments. The city is just 1,484 square kilometres in area. That means a surprise awaits you at every bend, at every corner … The seen and the unseen, waiting to be recognised and explored.
But how many of these 111 do we really know about? Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort – these are some of the choicest names that come to our minds. Trust me, there is much more to the city than just this. Many sites get overshadowed by a famous neighbour. Like the Sher Shah Suri Gate is often ignored by the lakhs of people who flock the National Zoo daily. Or the Kos Minar, which is right in the middle of the zoo. Some get lost in urbanisation and ever increasing encroachment. A crowded marketplace like South Extension having several tomb complexes was something unimaginable for me.
And many monuments and structures do not even have a name. Like the one near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Yet it stands there … a constant reminder of the little that is left of the rich heritage we have inherited from our ancestors.
With inheritance comes the responsibility to protect and conserve heritage. What do we usually do when we visit a monument? Scratch our and our beloved’s names on the walls, litter to our heart’s content, and sometimes take away ‘tokens’ of the structure with us to our homes. These monuments, sanctuaries, parks have been kept in their pristine state for centuries by the people’s hard work. We need to value them more. They are there today, but might not be there tomorrow. Look what happened to Notre Dame. This World Heritage Day, let’s pledge to be a bit more considerate towards our dharohars. And impart the same values to our friends, families, and generations to come.
P.S. A short guide on how to visit a heritage site.
- Do not litter. Humans did make a thing called dustbin.
- Do not write your or anyone’s name on the structures. I am sure your love will be forever even if you don’t do that.
- Refrain from causing any kind of damage. Heritage sites have souvenir shops for you to take back memories.
- Carry your camera. Click loads of pictures. Upload them on social media and promote our heritage. (If you are not a social media buff, then just click for your own pleasure.)
- Encourage your friends to ditch the malls and plan trips to explore these heritage sites.
