Transcript Mata Sundri College For Women Department of History 4 Year

MATA SUNDRI COLLEGE FOR
WOMEN
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
4 YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMME IN HISTORY
APPLIED COUSE 1
UNDERSTANDING
HERITAGE
•Understanding the different facets of
heritage and their significance.
•Highlighting the legal and institutional
frameworks for heritage protection in India
as also the challenges facing it.
•Examining the implications of the rapidly
changing interface between heritage and
history.
•The course will be strongly project-based
and will require visits to sites and
monuments.
•At least two Projects will be based on visits
to Museums/Heritage Sites.
TOPIC 1
Defining
Heritage:
Meaning of ‘antiquity’,
‘archaeological site’,
‘tangible heritage’ ,
'intangible heritage' and
‘art treasure’
Antiquity means the ancient times specifically the
period before the middle ages.
 An archaeological site is a place (or group of
physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is
preserved (either prehistoric or historic or
contemporary), and which has been, or may be,
investigated using the discipline of archaeology and
represents a part of the archaeological record. Sites
may range from those with few or no remains visible
above ground, to buildings and other structures still
in use.

•Tangible heritage includes buildings and
historic
places,
monuments,
artefacts,
etc., which are considered worthy of
preservation for the future. These include
objects significant
to the archaeology,
architecture, science or technology of a specific
culture.
An example at hand is the Purana Qila.
PURANA QILA
An example
of tangible
heritage.
Currently
being an
archaeologic
al site as
well.
• Intangible heritage is that which is transmitted from
generation to generation, and is constantly recreated by
communities and groups, in response to their
environment, their interaction with nature, and their
history. It provides people with a sense of identity and
continuity, and promotes respect for cultural diversity
and human creativity.
Examples of intangible heritage being oral traditions
and expressions, including language, folk lores
Performing arts like folk songs, dances
Social practices, rituals and festive events
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the
universe
Traditional craftsmanship.
BAUL SINGERS AT VASANTOTSAV IN SHANTINIKETAN,
WEST BENGAL
An
example of
performing
art
heritage of
India.
TOPIC 2
Evolution of Heritage Legislation and the
Institutional Framework
 Conventions
and Acts— national and
international
 Heritage-related government departments,
museums, regulatory bodies etc.
 Conservation Initiatives
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of
Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological
researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and
remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.
Besides, it regulates all archaeological activities in the country as
per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art
Treasure Act, 1972.For the maintenance of ancient monuments
and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the
entire country is divided into 24 Circles. The organization has a
large work force of trained archaeologists, conservators,
epigraphist, architects and scientists for conducting archaeological
research projects through its Circles, Museums, Excavation
Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science
Branch, Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project, Temple
Survey Projects and Underwater Archaeology Wing.
EXCAVATION WORK IN PROGRESS IN THE
PURANA QILA ORGANISED BY THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, ASI
Courtesy: The Hindu
RESTORATION
WORK IN
PROGRESS IN
THE HUMAYUN’S
TOMB UNDER
THE JOINT
INITIATIVE OF
THE AGHA KHAN
TRUST AND THE
ASI
TOPIC 3
Challenges facing Tangible
and Intangible Heritage:

Development, antiquity smuggling, conflict (to be
examined through specific case studies)
TOPIC 4
Heritage and Travel
Viewing Heritage Sites
 The relationship between cultural heritage, landscape
and travel
 Recent trends

Culture is an important part of the tourism product and is one of
the factors that can improve the competitiveness of a tourism
destination. Cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest
growing global tourism markets and covers all aspects of travel
that provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about other
areas‟ history and life style.
Cultural heritage tourism is a mode of tourism that specifically
targets the art, architecture, history, monuments, museums,
theatres, religious heritage, social interaction, food habits, and
lifestyle of people in a certain geographical region. This mode of
tourism has also become major forces in economic and urban
revitalization. As cultural tourism becomes an increasingly
important factor for tourist destinations involved in developing
their cultural capital in order to attract more international
visitors, there is value in assessing how cultural and heritage
tourists can be better understood and serviced through
marketing, planning and programming with local and regional
communities. Cultural heritage tourism is an important feature
of India’s tourism industry.
BULAND DARWAZA, FATEHPUR SIKRI,
AN EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE TOURIST SITE OF
INDIA.
THE CAVES OF AJANTA ELLORA,
AN EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE TOURIST SITE
OF INDIA.
Some of the academic works to be
consulted for this course:•David Lowenthal, Possessed By The Past: The
Heritage Crusade and The Spoils of History,
Cambridge, 2010
•Layton, R. P. Stone and J. Thomas.,
Destruction and Conservation of Cultural
Property.London: Routledge, 2001
•Lahiri N., Marshalling the Past - Ancient
India and its Modern Histories.Ranikhet:
Permanent Black. 2012
ADVANTAGES OF OPTING THIS PAPER
It will help students to bring history out of the
book and locate it in life around us, like Built
heritage like Monuments, which we can feel and
reflect upon.
 Understanding our rich heritage of monuments,
paintings, craft traditions, folk music, festivals,
the rich cuisine of this country and henceforth
creating a niche for oneself in the very thriving
tourism industry of today.
 An insight into the government organizations
like the ASI, INTACH will open the options of
interning them in excavations for the students.
