Heritage is that which is inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. The term also denotes manifold meanings, such as, inheritance, birthright, legacy, tradition, culture, history and past. It has become necessary to document, study, preserve and popularize the heritage of the countries facing threats from various sources. Ancient monuments, objects of art and craft, oral tradition, written literature as also the natural environment-all form part of a nation's heritage. Heritage, therefore, as a precious item should be kept alive in memory of the person or a nation who originally owned it through generations. Keeping the heritage in tact and safe for the present and future involves multi-dimensional considerations. Promoting heritage education should be the motto of a nation rich in archaeological wealth and indigenous traditions. A concerted effort is therefore needed to keep our heritage alive. The monograph discusses topics like definition of heritage, its conservation, variations of tangible, intangible and mixed heritage, the world heritage sites in India including the elaborate account of the heritage sites in the state, the documentary heritage upkeep, management of heritage, laws protecting cultural heritage, heritage in the sky and under water as also the heritage at risk and its recovery.
Illustrated with a good number of photographs the book is equally indispensable for the students, scholars and inquisitive readers.
An Indologist of wide acclaim and a scholar specializing in art, iconography, epigraphic studies and museology. Dr. Chakravarti had his debut in the museum world in 1966 and finally shot up to the exalted position of the Director-Secretary, Indian Museum (1997-2004), He had his UNESCO training in museum method in Japan (1983) and Museum Management training organized by Govt. of India at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad (1994).
Dr Chakravarti held additional charge of the Director, National Library of India (2001-2003) and had assumed the office of the Honorary Executive Secretary of the Gurusaday Museum of Folk Art (1995-2004). He was also awarded the Senior Visiting Fellowship at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC by the Smithsonian Institute, USA (2004); the Fellowship in Museology of the Rabindra Bharati University (2005-06) and the Fellowship in Museology of the University of Calcutta (2010-2011),
He has been elected Chairman, Indian National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) for two terms during 2000-2006. Presently he is the Chairman, Bhaskar Bhavan Administration & Maintenance Trust, Expert Advisor, Museum Committee Rabindra Bharati University; Trustee, Kolkata International Foundation for Arts, Literature & Culture; Member, Managing Committee, Gandhi Museum, Barrackpore.
He has authored many valuable titles which include Patralekha: romance of letter-writing in Indian art and literature; Descriptive catalogue of Prakrit and Sanskrit inscriptions in the Indian Museum; Wood and metal effigies of Nagaland; Wood carvings in the Gurusaday Museum; Kalighat paintings in the Gurusaday Museum; Bengal terracottas in the Indian Museum; The Bamiyan Buddhas; The Festival of Durga. Destination Museum, and the ghats of Varanasi He has the credit of editing the updated and anno-tated volume of the history of the Indian Museum (1814-2004); Vinayatoshini-a compilation of essays on Indology, art and alternative medicine; Select work of Benoytosh Bhattacharya, Raja Rajendralala Mitra-a centenary obit and Mahatma Gandhi in mural.
His Bengali books include Jaccho kothay jadughare, Patravilas, Navanarikunjara, Mummy rahasya, Rigveder kavyanatak, Boier Bari Belvedere. Ajana Bamiyan, Buddha deshe deshe, Jadugharer gahare ghare. Saat rajyer mummy, Abanindrananth Thakur, Chitre barnamala o adiparver sketch book.
The monograph contains the modified version of the lectures delivered by the author as Visiting Fellow in Museology at the Calcutta University for the session 2010-2011.
The study of cultural and natural heritage has been undertaken as an academic subject in the educational institutions of various countries in the world. Even the participation in the sustainable management of immovable cultural heritage sites is aimed at for the university students in the European nations. It has also become necessary to document, study, preserve and popularize the heritage of the countries facing threats from various sources. The safeguarding and development of natural and cultural assets, as well as their presentation and dissemination to the public remain important tasks for present and future generations.
It is with this view in mind the contents of the monograph were selected to elaborate the topics like the definition of heritage, its conservation, the world heritage sites in India, the documentary heritage upkeep, managing cultural heritage, laws protecting cultural heritage, heritage in the sky and under water as also the heritage at risk and its recovery. It is hoped that the monograph may be of some help to provide recommendations for policies dealing with matters of cultural and natural heritage in the country.
The author is beholden to the authorities of the University of Calcutta, specially the Vice Chancellor, Professor Suranjan Das for kindly agreeing to publish the series of the Fellowship lectures.
I express my gratitude to Associate Professor Supreo Chanda, Former Head of the Department of Museology for inviting me to deliver the Fellowship lectures. My thanks are also due to Professors Dr. Sachindranath Bhattacharya, Dr.Chhanda Das, and Dr. Indrani Bhattacharya for facilitating me with ungrudging cooperation.
The author and the publisher are grateful to various national and international institutions and publishing concerns as also to the contributors to the Internet for making available the relevant information and visuals for the monograph.
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Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
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