WHY WE NEED TO SAVE OUR HERITAGE !
“INDIA” as soon as the name of our country is announced our heart fills up with
pride and one of the most significant aspect that comes to our mind is the rich cultural
heritage our country holds. Every country, state, nation has monuments which are
considered to be their proud possession. But why is there a need to protect this rich
heritage ? That is the main question.
‘The most environmentally benign building is the one that does not have to be built
(because it already exists)’.
Our architectural legacy is one of the most tangible aspects of our heritage. By
conserving our historic buildings we help to preserve them for future generations to
enjoy as part of their heritage, just as we do now. As a small child learns the best
facets of life and is nurtured the best by his grandparents in the same way our heritage
sites act like grandparents teaching us moral values of the history but also not
refraining us from moving ahead in modern times. The conservation of built heritage is
generally perceived to be in the long term interest of society.
We often end up caring for things we value the most in our life likewise the
need to conserve should be better understood for us to understand and value the
heritage that we uphold in our culture. Heritage sites offer us with a variety of source of
knowledge. Not only does it provide us with a rich cultural background but also we get
to know a lot about the old construction techniques, the lifestyle of the people who
were supposed to be living in that particular era. As we know such heritage
architectural sites are also grounds for archaeological surveys. Hence by preserving
such sites we are not only maintaining the rich antique skyline but also we get the
opportunity to pass on this legacy to the upcoming generations.
Heritage in itself is treasure. And as the creators of this treasure we are
bestowed upon the responsibility to uphold this wealth and take it with us to the
generations ahead of us. Heritage structures not only give us the treasure of
knowledge but also make us aware of our origins. More and more people should be
sensitized for the preservation of our built heritage.
Creating awareness alone will not help, equal responsibility should be taken for
the proper maintenance and restoration of any deteriorated heritage structure. Due to
various factors sites undergo a lot of ruins . Care must be taken in the usage of
appropriate materials and techniques in the reinstatement of structures. And in order to
know the appropriate technique for the conservation of a structure background study is
very important. Sites should be graded suitably. The level of degradation must be understood for the proper maintenance of the built form. Historic structures are like elderly people they award us immense knowledge but due to their old age they need to be taken care of. These structures need to be attained well in order to preserve them.
When there is enough awareness people will surely understand the value of
these historic sites and more organisations such as the UNESCO, INTACH will be
formed for the well being and restoration of historic sites.
