Sir,
The World Heritage Week was celebrated across the world including the UT of Jammu & Kashmir from Nov 19 to Nov 25 this year.Though in view of Covid19 pandemic,various events which otherwise mark this important day couldnot be held,those associated with the preservation and conservation of our rich cultural heritage did, among other activities,organise webinars and published articles in the newspapers to aware the people of the urgent need of protecting our rich heritage from being degraded and passed into oblivion.There is no doubt that India used to be a hub of knowledge in the times gone by.We are lucky enough to inherit a rich repository of manuscripts on the palm leaf or birch bark and books having unique calligraphy but unfortunately, many of them have suffered decay with the passage of time.These manuscripts could have given us a deep insight into the times and life of people of the era in which they were written.Similarly, our UT is rich in terms of forts, palaces and temples built by our great and wise kings of the yore.These pricelesss monuments speak volumes about the cultural,social and religious conditions prevailing at the time during which they were constructed. The exquisite masonary, design and fine craftsmanship of the artists can be appreciated only if we pay a visit to these monuments. These monuments have a beauty and grandeur of their own ,which can’t be explained in words.But many of such monuments are lying in a neglected state and are crying for attention.So there is need to create awareness among the people about the need to appreciate, conserve and preserve such priceless monuments bequeathed to us in the form of rich heritage by our wise ancestors.There can be no better way to do this than by involving the students, youth and the community at large to play their vital role and supplementing the Government’s efforts for protecting these monuments from being crumbled or succumbing to the vagaries of weather and strong hammer of time.It can be done by inviting renowned historians, archaelogists,writers, academicians, heritage lovers and students of university , college and school level to the sites having historical and archaelogical importance to enable them to have an ‘on the spot’ view of these monuments and appreciate the masonary, architecture ,structure, construction, workmanship and times of construction of these valuable monuments. The experts, writers, academicians and ardent heritage lovers can share their knowledge and experience with the students and foster in them curiosity and love for these monuments and curiosity to conduct research on these sites and come up with new information and facts.The students who would be the real beneficiaries from such visits and they can act as the best ambassadors for spreading the message regarding the need to conserve these valuable heritage sites which no amount of money can buy.In other words, such ‘small’ programmes and events can achieve ‘big’ results if organised properly from time to time at these sites.
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony, Udhampur.
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