India Study Tour Agra and Delhi

MA Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings)

March 2006

The MA in Conservation Studies course 2005-6 and the following students extend their grateful thanks to

The Drake Trustfor its sponsorship of the 2006 Study Tour to IndiaKyratso Kaskampa, Greece Jonathan Moore, UK Clare Moyle, UK Shawn Pan, Taiwan Lindsay Popert, Canada Angela Siu, Hong Kong Rik Storah, UK Sok Yee Yeo, Singapore

Introduction Richard Storah In 2006, the students of the MA Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) at the University of York joined the Alumni Association in a joint study tour to Delhi, India. The tour was organised in india by Navin Piplani and Dr Priyaleen Singh, both former York scholars. It was centred on Delhi, but also included visits to Agra and the deserted city complex of Fatepur Sikri. In addition to visiting the monuments of the Murgal period, the tour also included earlier antiquities; and the later architecture and planning of the colonial and post-war city. The intangible heritage being preserved by projects such as Sanskritti and by the training of craft skills for the repair of monuments, including the work being carried out to the Taj Mahal complex. Monuments and sites were visited which have a variety of protection , ranging from World Heritage Sites, to locally important and unprotected monuments. These included preserved sites, conservation works in progress, sites which raise conservation dilemmas, such as the colonial barracks and additions at the Red Fort, and sites which have identified value, but are not yet protected, managed or preserved. Also visited on the tour were works in progress, including the restoration of the ancillary buildings as the Taj Mahal, limecrete protection at Humayuns Tomb and the use of lime at Mehrau li Archaeology Park, together with the painting restoration works at the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The tour gave a wide ranging access to the sites and the people influencing both their conservation and the development of conservation policy in India. Conservation workshops at INTACH and lectures at both the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and INTACH gave further insights into the progress, policies and philosophies influencing conservation in India and serving to highlight differences in approach from those of the UK. Contributors included. Professor SK Mistra, INTACH Professor Martand Singh, INTACH Professor AGK Menon Navin Piplani, Taj Mahal Conservation Collaborative, and former York scholar Dr Priyaleen Singh, School of Planning & Architecture, and former York scholar Dr RK Dixit, Director of the Taj Mahal Mr R C Agrawal, Joint Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Ajay Kumar, Programme Officer, INTACH Tim Gore, First Secretary (Education), The British Council, Delhi Raksha Kakhar, The British Council, Delhi Mr Sandeep Mehra, Director, The National Rail Museum Together with former York scholars in India: Romel Singh Jamwal, Nilina Deb Lal, Rajat Ray, Gurmeet Rai, Janhwij Sharma, Balvinder Singh, Vijay Singh and Datta Makhija Smitta.

Saturday, March 25 2006 Angela Sui Taj Mahal, Agra Taj Mahal, one of the 26 world heritage sites in India, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658) in the memory of his beloved Queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal was born in 1593 and died in 1631, during the birth of her fourteenth child at Burhanpur. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

View from Main Gate - 25 March 2006

The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards. For construction, a network of wells was laid along the river line to support the huge mausoleum buildings. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighbouring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur, etc. It took 17 years for the monument complex to be completed in 1648. In all, the Taj Mahal covers an area of 60 bighas, as the terrain gradually sloped from south to north, towards the river, in the form of descending terraces. At the southern point is the forecourt with the main gate in front and tombs of Akbarabadi Begum and Fatehpuri Begum, two other queens of Shah Jahan, on its south-east and south-west corners respectively called Saheli Burj 1 and 2.

Figure 2 - Site Plan of Taj Mahal (source: Piplani, 2006, slide 6) On the second terrace is a spacious square garden, with side pavilions. It is divided into four quarters by broad shallow canals of water, with wide walkways and cypress avenues on the sides. The water channels and fountains are fed by overhead water tanks. These four quarters are further divided into the smaller quarters by broad causeways, so that the whole scheme is in a perfect char-bagh (quadripartite garden). The main tomb of the Taj is basically square with chamfered corners. The minarets here are detached, facing the chamfered angles (corners) of the main tomb on the main plinth. Red sandstone mosque on the western, and Mehman-Khana on the eastern side of the tomb provides aesthetically a clear colour contrast. The Taj has some wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around them. (ASI Webpage, 2006)

Conservation of the Taj Mahal Since its inscription on the World Heritage List in 1983, the Archaeological Survey of India, which is responsible for the repairs, conservation and maintenance of the Taj Mahal has taken adequate measures to preserve and protect the monument without disturbing its integrity. Baring essential repairs and conservation to render longevity to the old structures no changes have been made in the integrity of the property since inscription. Even the replacement of the decayed stone pieces and other conservation has been done in such manner as to match with the original with traditional material (World Heritage Committee, 2002, 5).

The Taj complex itself is in a good state of preservation. Minor defects such as cracking of stones due to the corrosion of iron clamps and wearing out of roofing have occurred and are addressed as part of a regular and substantive maintenance programme. It also suffers from wear and tear and some more degradation due to large number of visitors1. Tourism pressure and visitor facilitation has necessitated some alteration in the originally (integrity) of the property. Conservation and Visitor Facilitation Improvement Projects The group firstly visited the work site of Fatehbad Gate Courtyard which was one of the two courtyards adjoining the main gate of the monument to be conserved and reused as heritage centres for enhancing visitor experience. Apart from visitor facilities (like toilets, drinking water points and restrooms), the proposed heritage centres, namely Fatehbad Gate Heritage Centre and Fatehpuri Gate Heritage Centre, will also include information centres with computer rooms for consulting the GIS digital database of Taj Mahal, as well as other publications, brochures and site maps. Series of display panels about the Taj Mahal including a scale model of the complex will be set up in the heritage centres.

Location Plan of the proposed Heritage Centres in the Taj Complex (source: Piplani, 2006, 27)

Repair and alteration works at the Fatehbad Gate Courtyard have been undertaken since 2002 including repair of flooring, re-pastering, restoration of colonnade, upgrading of the courtyard and opening of two new exits at the western part of the building direct to the forecourt and the Main Gate (a change of the original design: exits to the entrance pathway of East Gate as shown below).

1

There were a total of 2,226,725 local and foreign visitors to Taj Mahal in 2001 (World Heritage Committee, 2002, 15)

Plan of the proposed Fatehbad Gate Heritage Centre (source: Piplani, 2006, slide 29)

Fatehbad Gate Courtyard before work (source: Piplani, 2006, 27)

Fatehbad Gate Courtyard taken on 25 March 2006

This alteration project, however, might violate the Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The Taj Mahal has been notified as a Centrally Protected Monument of national importance under the Act of 1958 (last modified in 1992) which prohibits any development activity within 100 metres of a Centrally Protected Monument in India.

Garden Restoration Project Apart from the proposed Heritage Centres, the group was also briefed about the proposed garden restoration project at Taj Mahal which would formed part of the Site Management Plan of this world heritage. Under the project, the garden would be restored to its traditional style of Mughal garden.

Old Painting of early 19th Century showing the garden of Taj Mahal (source: Singh, 2006, slide 6)

According to the old written documents and painting, the Taj Mahal garden like other Mughal gardens, which was like a glimpse of heaven and they drew inspiration from the Quran, modifying and adapting established designs to shape their paradise on earth. The salient features of a Mughal garden are: the trees, shrubs, plants, flowering herbs and constant and regular water supply, which provides a soul to it (Nagar, 1993, 66). Shah Jahan himself had put an inscription on the Taj Mahal: Like the Garden of Heaven, a brilliant spot, Full of fragrance like Paradise fraught with ambergris (cited Tadgell, 1990, 242) The Taj Mahal garden which, after the fall of the Mughal empire, was looked after, first by the Marathas and later by the British, was not well preserved. In 1906, the British undertook a large renovation work at the garden (see Figure 9). As influenced by the picturesque idea, the design of the entrance and garden had changed so as to create a dramatic view of the monumental structure, i.e. the Main Mausoleum. Many trees in the garden were removed and replaced with big lawns so as to enable visitors to appreciate the Main Mausoleum from every part of the garden (See Figure 10).

Garden Plan of Taj Mahal by Col. J. A. Hodgson, 1828 (source: Photo British Library [India Office Library and Records], London, cited Koch, 1991, 98)

Garden Plan of Taj Mahal in 1906 (source: cited Singh, 2006, 9)

The gardens and lawns around the Centrally Protected Monuments conducted by the Public Works Department were once considered to be quite prestigious and impressive ones and were decorated with beautiful flowery beds pleasing to the eyes. This type of arrangement is, however, reconsidered and vanishing (Nagar, 1991, 68). In view of serious water shortage in many cities of India, large demand of water supply for maintaining lawns of these gardens has made the people to reconsider the garden design within the monuments. Research and field survey on the Taj Mahal garden and water system had been conducted. Archaeological findings have also provided evidences for understanding how the garden was planted and managed. Conservation plan of the garden has been drawn out for restoring this Mugual garden in a traditional style and sustainable way.

Current View of Taj Mahal and its garden (Source: Singh, 2006, 10) Observations Importance of documentation of monument site has been well-recognized by the conservators in India. Other than measured drawings and archaeological investigations, other scientific studies like building fabric survey and stereo photogrammetry have also been undertaken in the conservation projects of Taj Mahal. All these enable accurate interpretation and conservation. In the conservation of Fatehbad Courtyard, many decayed building fabrics have been replaced with new building materials. It seems that re-strengthening approach has not been considered for retaining old building fabrics as possible. There are different conservation concepts between Asian and Western countries regarding authenticity: Authenticity in historic fabric Or in skills and craftsmanship. Garden restoration plan of Taj Mahal might not meet the preservation concept of retaining historic layers and evidences of different development phases of a heritage site as the 1906 design concept of Taj Mahal Garden will be vanished after the proposed restoration. However, the change of design to a more environmental sustainable way is necessary for the local community. We must take into account the economic, political and environmental context of each site and, working from a site sensitive perspective, begin to plan for conservation for and present and future maintenance.

There are conflicts between the tourism development pressure and conservation legislations. Sustainable heritage tourism development is an important topic of heritage management for both developed and developing countries, including the United Kingdom and India. References Koch, Ebba (1991) Mugual Architecture: An Outline of Its History and Development (1526-1858), Germany: Prestel-Verla Nagar, Shanti Lal (1993) Protection, Conservation and Preservation of Indian Monuments, New Delhi: Aryan Books International. Tadgell, Christorpher (1990) The History of Architecture in India. London: Architecture Design and Technology Press. Tillotson, G.H.R. (1990) Architectural Guides for Travellers: Mughal India. London: Penguin Group. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Taj Mahal information from ASI Webpage: http://asi.nic.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/24.htm, consulted on 1 May 2006. Baig, Anita (2006) World Monuments Fund India: Projects Review, Power-point file presented in the Conservation Tomorrow Workshop organized by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage at New Delhi, India dated 29 March 2006. Piplani, Navin: The Taj Mahal, Power-point file for the Conservation Tomorrow Workshop organized by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage at New Delhi, India dated 29 March 2006. Singh, Priyaleen: Intach Final Conference, Power-point file presented at the Conservation Tomorrow Workshop organized by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage at New Delhi, India dated 29 March 2006. UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2002) Periodic Reporting Section II: State of Conservation of Taj Mahal (World Heritage Committee Periodic Report), downloaded on 1 May 2006 from UNESCO World Heritage Centre Webpage: http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/cycle01/section2/252.pdf. UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2005) Context of Decision Document of Item 7 of the Provisonal Agenda of the 29th Seession of UESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage dated 10-17 July 2005 (WHC05/29.COM/7B.Rev), download on 1 May 2006 from UNESCO World Heritage Centre Webpage: http://whc.unesco.org/archive/2005/whc05-29com-07BReve.pdf

Sunday, March 26 2006 Clare Moyle Agra Fort Our second full day in India began with a trip to the magnificent Agra Fort, a World Heritage Site located on the banks of the Yamuna River. On arrival in Agra we were met by the bussling crowd of vendors we were to come to expect over the next few days. Once inside the fort, we were lucky enough to be shown around the fascinating complex of buildings by a very charismatic guide, who is shown in this photograph, whose willingness to impart his extensive knowledge made a valuable contribution to our understanding of the fort and its history.

As an assertion of his power, the third Mughal emperor Akbar built the fort at Agra between 1565 and 1571. Its building coincided with the building of the tomb to his father, Humayun, in Delhi which we also visited on this trip. Its colossal double walls rise 20 metres in height, measure 2.5 kilometres in circumference and are encircled by a moat. Its magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts and gateways enclose the beautifully decorated palaces within. Built of red sandstone and white marble in a variety of styles, the buildings which remain within the fort were built over two subsequent generations, by Emperors Jahangir and Shahjahan. The most important building of the Akbari period is the Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace). This was the principal zenana palace, intended for the women of the royal household and used mainly by the Rajput wives of Akbar. The interior courtyard is reached through a magnificent gateway. Grand, finely decorated halls surround the courtyard. It combines Transoxanian features, such as the verandah on the east front

and its high slender columns with the courtyard halls styled in the Gujarat-MalwaRajasthan tradition. Akbar's predecessors, Jahangir and Shahjahan, were enamoured by the qualities of white marble and were responsible for the demolition of several red sandstone buildings built by Akbar, however, what remains today is still a beautiful range of palaces, with exquisite detailing and decoration, such as that shown in this photograph.

Fatehpur Sikri After lunch we were taken to Fatehpur Sikri, also a World Heritage Site, approximately 40 kilometres from Agra City. Also built by Mughal Emperor Akbar, it became the imperial city of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584. The decision by Akbar to transfer his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri is a matter of some contention amongst historians, although Agra Fort remained the stronghold for the imperial arsenal, treasure and other reserves. One school of thought suggests that Akbar, having failed to produce an heir to his throne, used to visit the hamlet of Sikri to take the blessings of the great Sufi saint Salim Christi. They believe that the city was built under the instruction of Salim Christi following the birth of Akbar's three sons. The white marble encased mausoleum of Salim Christi still stands within the courtyard of the Jama Masjid mosque inside the walls of Fatehpur Sikri. Other historians believe that it was its location on the main road from North India to South India which gave it a strategic advantage over Agra. Its hilltop position also provided a defensive location from which to anticipate any potential threat. The reasons for its abandonment remain a mystery but it has been ostensibly blamed on the shortage of water necessary to supply the expanding city.

The highly decorative ceremonial capital, predominantly built of locally sourced red sandstone, consists of elaborate palaces, formal courtyards, reflecting pools, harems, tombs and a great mosque. It is regarded as Akbar's finest architectural legacy and it has been cited as a key inspiration in the work of some contemporary Indian architects. The use of indigenous craftsmen from various regions in the construction of the buildings within the city, resulted in a synthesis of various regional architectural styles, including Gujarati and Bengali, as well as the combination of elements from different religious architectural styles, both Muslim and Hindu.

This photograph shows the Panch Mahal, a five-storey palacial structure, the first floor of which is supported on 176 beautifully carved columns. The day concluded with our return to Delhi by coach. We were taken back through some of the rural countryside of Northern India, providing us with the opportunity to gain a brief insight into the landscapes and activities of people living outside the larger cities. Their basic homes and posessions formed a marked contrast to the wealth expressed in the extravagant buildings and lavish decoration witnessed earlier in the day. This gap is still evident, though perhaps to a lesser extent, in contemporary Indian society.

Monday, March 27 2006 Lindsay Popert Red Fort, Delhi The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan built the Red Fort (Lal-Qila) between 1639 and 1648. Having moved the capitol of his empire from Agra to Delhi, Shahjahan required a citadel to base his personal mosque, palaces and private apartments, halls of public and private audience, and everything else associated with the centre of Mughal government. Following an octagonal plan, the fort is fortified with thick red sandstone walls, occasional turrets and bastions, and surrounded by a moat that connects to the river. The fort was occupied by the British Army between 1837 and 1947, during which many British style buildings were constructed and some of the original buildings were destroyed or altered. Our visit was privileged in that the Red Fort is closed to the public on Mondays. Instead of entering the fort through the Lahore Gate, which is the main entrance, we entered through the Delhi Gate. Our morning consisted of a welcome and introduction from the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Prof. R G K Menon and from the Joint Director-General of ASI, Mr. R C Agrawal, followed by a tour of the complex, another presentation and then lunch. We were privileged in that the Red Fort is closed to the public on Mondays. The introductory presentation was a more general overview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as well as a question and answer session. Issues affecting the management of monuments and other heritage in India were raised, including the lack of funding, expertise, a growing population in India who are largely unaware of the countrys heritage, et cetera. Menon fielded many questions from the group about the management of the monuments and other historic buildings or areas, the potential for commercial exploitation of heritage, and new uses for old buildings. The tour included the Diwan-I-Am (Hall of Public Audience), a structure that housed the water supply for the palace complex, the hammams (Royal Baths), the Moti-Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Diwan-I-khas (Hall of Private Audience), and the Rang-Mahal (apartments for the emperors wives and mistresses). Much of the complex that we saw was finished in marble with colourful stone inlays, and the incredible apartment ceilings that were fitted with tiny mirrors to reflect light. Restoring some of the plasterwork in the Royal Baths was considered, however, it was decidedly too difficult to accurately recreate the original plasterwork because they were unable to correctly recognize all the ingredients. The second presentation was a more specific introduction to ASI, including a breakdown of personnel and responsibilities, statistics regarding the number of protected and unprotected monuments, costs, the presentation of various conservation projects that included before and after photographs and a discussion of the methodology, an overview of various excavation projects and major finds, annual publications, their involvement in conservation work in Cambodia, and the problems that their organization encounters. The goal of ASI is to emerge as a leader in heritage is South Asia, to prepare conservation management plans for all their World Heritage Sites and to collaborate with European Council and other heritage organizations.

ASI headquarters (former barracks) at the Red Fort

Mix of English Colonial and Mughal

The Pearl Mosque

Tour of the Presidential Estate Our visit to the Presidential Palace and estate consisted of guided tours of the main building and the gardens. For security reasons, we were not allowed to bring our cameras onto the premises and take photographs. The palace was designed by Edwin Lutyens for the Governor-General, and until 1950 it was known as the Viceroys House. The building of the Palace began in 1911 and was completed in 1929. There are 342 rooms, all of which have fresh air and sunlight. The entire complex is approximately 330 acres. The materials used on the exterior of the building included red and cream coloured Agra sandstone. Our tour consisted of visiting the Marble Museum room, the Gift room, the Ceremonies Hall, the Ball Room, Lounge, Banquet Hall, courtyards, and guest quarters. The gardens are quartered in the traditional Mughal fashion; however, they are not of a true Mughal design. The gardens are organized into sections: the terraced gardens, the long garden, circle garden, et cetera. The collection of flora was impressive, as was the system of waterways, channels and fountains throughout the gardens. The entire complex is really quite beautifully designed and well maintained. Our guide spoke about various points of interest, which included the following details. The placement of the Palace is meant to reflect a symbolic connection to all of the cities of Delhi through the ages. The architectural style of the building incorporates both Eastern and Western influences and traditions. Throughout the Palace, the motifs of four major religions are repeated and integrated into the ornamentation of the building i.e. bells, stars. The dome at the centre of the palace, over the Ceremonies Hall, is reminiscent of a Buddhist Stupa when viewed from afar.

Presidential Palace

The Delhi Gate. On the way back to our hotel from the Presidential Palace, we decided to stop at the Delhi Gate. The structure was built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers who died in WWI. The Delhi Gate is situated on the great axial route, thus perfectly in-line with the Presidential Palace. It was interesting to see this green space full of so much activity, including a small lake with small-scale boating, families having picnics and playing games, et cetera. It was obviously a popular spot, and probably one of the central areas of leisure in New Delhi as was likely intended.

The Delhi Gate

View from the Delhi Gate

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Kyratso Kaskampa Workshop: Conservation Today During the 5th and 6th day of our study tour we participated in the two day workshop organized between the students and alumni of the Centre for the Conservation Studies and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The workshop was held at INTACH offices. Opening of seminar: Prof.AGK Menon, Director, TVBSHS Prof. Menon opened the seminar outlying the main aim of that days series of presentations which was to introduce INTACH and present the range of issues its members confront. A short video was shown that outlined the background of INTACH and described its current action. INTACH was founded in 1984 by a group of concerned citizens, to protect unprotected monuments and sites, to preserve and conserve the environment and the living heritage and to foster awareness and appreciation of the importance of the past to the future. The founding members included many of the most eminent figures of the time. The first chair of INTACH was Indira Gandhi. Initially it was funded by the Indian government but now functions independently. INTACH operates through 140 voluntary Chapters across India and through five Divisions, headquartered in the offices in New Delhi. The Divisions are: Architectural Heritage: Professional staff and voluntary members collaborate to implement the Trusts projects which include documentation, archiving, conservation and protection of the architectural and monumental heritage. Natural Heritage: INTACH activities have expanded over the years to embrace water management, eco-tourism and revival of the natural habitat. Material Heritage: Specialized Art Conservation Officers are employed across India, being committed to the conservation of materials, fabrics, photographs, manuscripts. Cultural Affairs: INTACH organizes Heritage Festivals every year which feature the finest classical performing artists, as well as craft and folk performances. Historic sites and monuments form the backdrop for all events. Heritage Education and Communication Services: To spread awareness of the importance of the heritage conservation across a wide social spectrum, INTACH has initiated Heritage Clubs in schools throughout the country, published a newsletter for schoolchildren (Young INTACH), produced a radio programme on heritage for children as well as heritage maps, booklets, signage and trials. INTACH has the support of the government, international organizations and the private sector. Meanwhile, they have been expanding their network of partnership to include the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Culture and other Government bodies at the local, state and national levels. INTACHs website: www. intach.org

Conservation of paintings: Nilabh, Material Heritage Division (INTACH) Mr. Nilabh is a Conservator working in the Arts Conservation Centre of New Delhi, which was established in 1990. Today, thirty specialized Arts Conservation Centres function throughout India and aim at protecting and restoring in-house and outhouse objects. The arts centre employs professionals and amateurs, trains practicing conservators, librarians, curators and gives advice to artisans and craftsmen in rural areas on how they can preserve their objects with their local means. Additionally, carries out intensive research on materials and conservation methods by testing and exchanging information with the UK. The Material Heritage Division has 45 publications relevant to conservation issues. Mr. Nilabh presented their involvement in the conservation of wall and oil paintings, manuscripts, external surfaces of rendered buildings and ornate features, such as decorative panels, doors and marble floors. He outlined the damages they confront, like the influences of the environment, the micro-climate, the light exposure, inherent defects or previous restorations. Following that, he explained the methods they undertake in order to detect the problems (the use of x-rays, cross sections) and the restoration techniques (vacuum-suction to remove toxic fuels, chemical cleaning, etc), along with showing a few of their major completed projects. Architectural Heritage: Divay Gupta, Architectural Heritage Division (INTACH) Mr. Divay is the Director of the Conservation Programmes of the Architectural Division. The Architectural Heritage Division of INTACH is devoted to the promotion and conservation of India's vast cultural heritage. The AH Division remains committed to setting standards for conservation, through advice and by undertaking conservation projects. Documentation of architectural heritage and creation of a framework for conservation and adoption of conservation legislation and regulations in cities and towns is the main thrust of the Division. It undertakes a wide range of projects that include: Conservation of Historical Buildings Protection of Heritage Conservation Zones Listing of Heritage Properties Documentation Revival of traditional arts and building crafts: AHVY and Urban Haat Projects Seminars, training, workshops, exhibitions, publications etc. The speaker stressed that the definition of the Indian Heritage is a complex task due to its diversity, the regional interests that are involved and its interaction with many civilizations. India is a land with an enormous cultural wealth - 5000 years of continued civilisation with living traditions, customs and crafts that are still attached to buildings and sites. In consequence, the management of Indias Heritage is very challenging and becomes even more complicated because of the lack of strong Legislative Frameworks, the lack of awareness for Heritage Value, the limited technical Conservation Expertise and Institutions of conservation, the lack of funding and the fact that Heritage is a non-priority in Planning. However, the AH has made great progress in listing, documenting and regenerating through restoration and new development in a large number of towns and cities.

The listing process in India is a lot different from that of UKs. It includes three stages; 1st stage) A listing identification is carried out to inform and propose what is considered to be worthy of protection. 2nd stage) The AH presents the listing to the government for further protection. 3rd stage) The monuments whose listing is approved by the government are included in the National Inventory which implies statutory protection. Mr. Divay presented several of their projects, along with the problems they come across and the methods they adopt. Finally, it was mentioned that AH has put up a list of some of the most Endangered Heritage Buildings in India. Natural Heritage: Manu Bhatnagar, Natural Heritage Division (INTACH Mr. Bhatnagar introduced the Natural Heritage Division and presented the chronological background of the division. Following that, he talked about their expertise and main areas of focus which are: Urban Water Resource Management Plans Bio-remediation of Water Bodies & Lake Management Campus Rainwater Harvesting Watershed Management Decentralized Wastewater Management Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development Rural & Urban Environmental Planning Ecological Regeneration and Digital Environmental Mapping Finally, a series of the Divisions past and ongoing projects were presented along with their major initiatives and technical innovations. Conservation Architect, private sector The next speaker was a Conservation Architect coming from the private sector who had worked with INTACH in the past. She had been engaged in many projects that reflected the cultural complexity of India. She talked about her experience when she was involved in the preparation of the nomination of the Golden Temple as a World Heritage Site, which started in 2002. Along with that, she pointed out the danger of diluting the significance of such a heritage site being under the responsibility of UNESCO. For this reason, the need to demystify conservation, namely to translate the mysterious definitions of it into more culturally acceptable meanings, was stressed out. In addition to keeping everything simple she underlined the need for conservation to become an inter-disciplinary process that calls for the collaboration of a wide range of experts in order to achieve its aims.

National Missions on Monuments & Antiquities: Dr. SB Ota, (Architectural Survey of India) Dr. Ota presented the initiative of ASI to undertake a Documentation Programme of Indias Heritage which is to start in April 2006 and has a scheduled duration of 5 years: (2006-2011). The problematic current situation regarding the protection, the listing and documentation of Indias Heritage was pointed out. In specific, there are 3667 centrally protected monuments and sites and approximately 3500 monuments and sites are protected by State Governments that form less than 1 % of the total archaeological heritage of the Country. Moreover, some cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata and Ahmedabad have listed heritage buildings by Municipality Corporation, which is meagre when compared to the total built heritage of the Country. The documentation that is available concerning the built heritage and antiquities is in different formats and also in different levels of completion, which makes heritage impact studies impossible in the absence of proper data base. Finally, there is no public concern about heritage, thus no participation in heritage preservation. For this reason, the ASI is intending to operate in three levels, through documentation, training and awareness programmes in order to achieve the following objectives: Documentation of antiquities and built heritage and preparation of a National Register Setting up of National and State Level Data Base on Built Heritage, Sites and Antiquities Public awareness of heritage and sensitizing people to its preservation and management. Encourage public participation in heritage preservation Create synergy between institutions like ASI, Universities/Institutions, NGOs, professional individuals etc. working towards similar goals. Research and popular publications for both professionals and general masses. Conservation of selected unprotected monuments. Help in formulating cultural policy both at the state and local level. Identify heritage activists, professionals and NGOs at villages, panchayat and district levels and formations of heritage groups. Conservation Plans: Jackie Gilles, New Zealand Jackie Gilles is an alumnus of the Centre for Conservation Studies of the University of York who attended the course in 2002-2003. Her presentation involved the subject of her dissertation which was Conservation Plans: A Tool in Conservation Process. Conservation Plans were developed along with the formulation of the Australian Burra Charter. The main steps of a Conservation Plan include: a) understanding b) documenting, c) identifying significance, d) developing policies for protecting this significance. The preparation of a Conservation Plan begins with excitement, but it often becomes vague and doesn't reach all the people involved in the conservation process. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of conservation, the simplification of terminology is vital in order that all people involved can actually realize the significance of the historic site/building and keep the excitement throughout the implementation of the project. Instructions to workers should be clear and phrases like repair than replace ought to be clarified and adjusted to each case, so that the initial research is put into place.

The proposed policy towards this direction consists of the following steps: Historical Background Building Description Identification of Significance Implementation and Instructions If the Conservation Plan is properly linked to the site/building it can become a sustainable, life document that is upgraded throughout its existence. Conservation Led Regeneration in Blackpool: Carl Carrington, UK The last speaker of the first day of the workshop, Carl Carrington, is an alumnus of the Centre for Conservation Studies of the University of York who attended the course in 2002-2003. Currently, he is working with Blackpools Council and is involved in the programme for the Regeneration of Blackpool, a Victorian sea-side resort. Within the framework for the Regeneration of the city, a Townscape Heritage Initiative has been put forward. The objectives of this scheme are: To contribute to the sustainability of the local economy. To facilitate the repair of historic buildings and ensure continued and future use. To enhance the character of the historic areas of Blackpool and make them more attractive to local residents and visitors. The funding of the scheme is provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Local Strategic Partnership, the Local Authority and Private Investment. The speaker presented as well the second subject he is going to be involved with, which is the Re-survey of Blackpools Built Heritage. In specific, a reassessment of the entire town and an identification of the buildings that are significant according to the citizens are going to be carried out, with the scope for creating a map, increasing the number of listed buildings and preparing a programme of research and management initiatives for the Historic Environment. The presentation finished with a brief reference to the proposal that has been made regarding the nomination of Blackpool as a World Heritage Site. Visit to the National Museum of India During a brief igap in the programme we were given the opportunity to visit the National Museum of India Visit to Humayuns Tomb In the afternoon we were shown around the World Heritage Site of Humayuns Tomb by Mrs. Priyaleen Signh, an alumnus of the Centre for the Conservation Studies and current Head of the Conservation Department (SPA), around the World Heritage Site of Humayuns Tomb. The development of the area around the monument as a necropolis had begun since the14th century. Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, was moved in the mausoleum erected in 1565 by his widow Haji Begum and his son Akbar, the third Mughal emperor. The main features of the complex are a radically symmetrical plan, a garden setting and a bulbous double dome on an elongated drum are the main features of Humayuns Tomb. Each of these had strong associations with Persian features, as it was one of the first important buildings the Mughals erected in India, but it also draws several elements

from the land it was built in. The red sandstone and white marble, for instance, of which it is built, was a common feature of 14th century architecture of the Delhi Sultanate. In the centre of the garden, the mausoleum itself rises from a wide and lofty platform about 6.5m high, which in turn stands upon a podium just over a metre high. Each side of the high terrace is pierced by 17 arches, while the corners of the structure are chamfered, giving the monument a pleasing depth. At each corner, an oblique arch cuts the angle. The central arch on each side opens on to an ascending staircase. To the east of the southern staircase a horizontal passage leads to the actual tomb below the monument. The remaining arches open into cells, most of which contain subsequent and subsidiary tombs. Humayuns Tomb: A family mausoleum Inside, the octagonal tomb chamber rises through two storeys and is surrounded by smaller octagonal chambers at the diagonal points. These chambers also house a number of other tombstones, making Humayuns mausoleum almost a family one. Humayuns Tomb was among the first structures in India to use a double dome. The device, a favourite of Persian builders, gave the building an imposing exterior height but kept the ceiling of the central hall in proportion to the interior heights. Mughal Gardens Humayuns Tomb is also the first perceived Mughal garden. The gardens of the Mughals represent the concept of paradise as a garden - the image of a place of perfect eternal peace and plenty. The paradise promised in the Quran consists of several terraces of gardens, each more splendid than the last. Symbolically, all the great tomb gardens where the design of the tomb and garden were treated in unison are the perfect embodiment of the Islamic ideal, the ultimate paradise garden, with the emperor forever in paradise. Humayuns Tomb, is the centerpiece of the square garden which occupies 30 acres. The tomb rises above four rivers represented by four water channels. Four paved walkways lead to the centre of each side of the mausoleum and divide the garden into four parts and terminate in gatehouses and subsidiary structures. The garden is enclosed within a 6-metre high arcaded wall on three sides and is divided into quarters by causeways 14-metres wide. Each of the quadrants is further divided into eight plots with minor causeways. The intersections of these causeways are marked by rectangular or octagonal pools that are occasionally foliated. Adjacent monuments Apart from the main mausoleum we also had the chance to visit Afsarwala Mosque and Afsarwala Tomb which are located about 90m at the south-west gate of Humayuns Tomb and pre-date the main mausoleum. Visit to Dilli Haat Orissa Festival The rest of the evening was spent at the open market of Dilli Haat.

Wednesday, 29 March 2006 Jonathan Moore Workshop II - Conservation Tomorrow The day began with Part II of the conservation workshop programme, again at the offices of INTACH, carrying the theme Conservation Tomorrow, and included a range of speakers, including short presentations from the students on the Conservation Studies course. The session began with a presentation from Mr RCC Aggarwal, Joint Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The speaker gave consideration to the issues for conservation thrown up by tourism and other linked economic drivers, particularly with respect to issues of sustainability. He highlighted the challenges for heritage protection in the 21st century in the light of economic growth. A difficult balance has to be achieved between enabling growth (preferably sustainable) and our moral responsibility to hand on the heritage to our successors. He considered that the heritage conservation movement can learn lessons from the environmental movement and stronger links should be developed between the two to aim for a more holistic approach. In India education and awareness about many of these issues is still low. The second speaker, Ms Minga Yang works for UNESCO in India. She began by raising questions about the current World Heritage List and considered how it could be made more representative: at present sites are defined and chosen on the basis of outstanding universal value, but it is difficult to come up with objective and scientific parameters for this criterion. She highlighted that many sites have considerable value for the community, but the values are often intangible and thus difficulties exist in defining their uniqueness. India currently has 26 World Heritage Sites (WHS), each of which requires periodic monitoring and a management plan. The specifics of each site mean bespoke management plans are needed, which is not always straightforward. The Darjeeling Railway, for instance, is a linear WHS with corridors of views into the Himalayas, which are important to protect, but it is extremely difficult to achieve this in practice along its entire length.

Darjeeling Railway

Taj Mahal, Agra The sites can also generate other difficulties. For example, they tend to be visited by the elite of the indigenous population and tourists: Humayans Tomb in Delhi for instance was once surrounded by a public open space, but is now fenced off and open to paying visitors only. Interestingly, UNESCOs mandate is not to promote tourism, but to manage it. Something of a conundrum thus exists at many sites. Demographic pressures in India are a major cause of concern, particularly for those sites situated within dense urban environments. A major focus of UNESCO is identifying how to educate local populations about their historic environments. However, with over 265 million illiterate people in the country this is no easy task. Urban identity is important, but it also influences investment decisions thus, the moves to modernity will place greater pressures on the historic environment. She considered that a stick and carrot approach is absolutely necessary: education has to be backed up by effective laws and a regulatory framework. A further problem, which may be specific to India, is the elitist nature of society, which often results in an inability of people to work together these barriers need to be broken down if progress is to be achieved. The speaker concluded by outlining the idea of Heritage Passports, which would be run in partnership with State authorities to establish itineraries for travel to WHSs and the adjoining areas that are not usually known about or visited. This is a controversial proposal because of its potential influence on tourism levels, but the speaker was of the opinion that it fell under the umbrella of managing tourism, rather than promoting it. Several delegates raised their concerns about the potential conflict this could create at WHSs. The next speaker was Dr Priyaleen Singh, a York Alumnus and now Head of the Department of Conservation at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. She began by defining that the natural and cultural heritages are interlinked and, considering that 80% of the urban population live in historic areas, conservation should be viewed as an alternative model of development. Nature used to be a lifeline of societal development and was respected, but this understanding has largely been lost in modern society. For example, most cities originally developed around the great environmental asset of water, but rivers are now often lost within urban areas and merely seen as a line on a map cities have turned their backs on their rivers. This non-understanding of ecological factors may mean their absence from development plans for heritage sites. The speaker used the gardens of the Taj Mahal as an example where the contemporary gardens are non-traditional and therefore much of the original symbolism and ecological balance of the site is lost. The loss of open spaces in

traditional settlements when sites are redeveloped under pressure of urban development also means the vocabulary of the area is altered the example of Humayans Tomb was again used. Sites should be inclusive, not exclusive and open spaces should be integral to urban planning. The next session was devoted to a series of eight short presentations from the current Conservation Studies students. Each student was asked to give an outline of their background, education and work experience and what they hope to achieve from undertaking the course. Although there are only eight students on the course the group is truly international with students from Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the UK, and displaying a wide range of backgrounds and work experiences including that of conservator, journalist, heritage manager, architects, archaeologist and planner. This diversity is one of the positive features of the York course and can only lead to greater understanding of international issues in heritage conservation. Amita Baig, a consultant working for the World Monuments Fund (WMF), then gave an overview of the work of this private non-profit organisation based in New York. The WMF is now over 40 years old and is claimed to have saved the loss of over 450 monuments/sites in 80 countries. It has operated in India for just 10 years, but the list of sites it has been involved with is quite extensive and the speaker provided an overview of several case studies: the Taj Mahal in Agra, Dalhousie Square in Calcutta, and the Guru Lhakdang and Sumda Chung Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh amongst others. The organisation produces a World Monument Watch list every 2 years of the 100 most endangered sites then enters into dialogue with governments who can apply for funding from the WMF (for more information see: www.wmf.org). This was followed by a presentation from Nilina Deb Lal, who is an architect and former York student now practising in Calcutta. She introduced a project she has been undertaking on behalf of INTACH concerning the listing of historic buildings in Calcutta. Unlike the listing process in the UK this list will have no statutory function, but will identify those buildings of historic interest and provide a valuable inventory showing basic information about the buildings. Most of the buildings are inhabited and the speaker outlined the particular problems this situation raised in terms of access to information and obtaining details about occupancy. Most of the buildings post-date 1690 and there are very few ancient monuments in the city. Although non-statutory a grading system has been devised based on criteria such as date of construction, any historical or social linkages, and architectural merit which will assist in identifying future levels of acceptable intervention when work on those buildings is required. A book detailing this work is due to be published by INTACH later in the year. The final seminar presentation was given by Mr Jamwal who is an architectural engineer working for the Archaeological Survey of India. He firstly gave an overview of the work of the ASI and the way it is organised. He then went on to provide a detailed compendium of the types of conservation projects his department have been involved with throughout India and some of the techniques used. Dr Jane Grenville, Head of the Archaeology Department at York University, then provided the end note address before closing the two-day seminar. She highlighted the

important points raised during the seminar, including areas of heritage conservation where the pressures and constraints are similar between India and the UK. She also highlighted that engagement with the public is paramount to understanding our heritage and what it represents. Stemming from this, the issue of public value is becoming a major consideration, which could undermine attempts at conservation if the heritage is not valued by the public. If other values, such as commercial desires, are allowed to predominate then major problems lie ahead for those trying to preserve the heritage. Visit to the Delhi Crafts Museum Following lunch we paid a visit to the Delhi Crafts Museum. The institution of the museum, aimed at housing objects of antiquity and curiosity, is of western origin and is not traditionally Indian. The core collection of the Crafts Museum was actually put together to serve as reference material for the craftsmen who were increasingly losing touch with their own traditions in terms of materials, techniques, designs and aesthetics of their arts and crafts due to the sudden changes caused by modern industrialisation.

Wooden temple-car.

The large permanent collection of 20,000 items of folk and tribal arts, crafts and textiles is housed in a concrete, but almost invisible building. The architect, Charles Correa, had a challenge before him on the one hand to provide a building for safe preservation and display of the rare art objects, but on the other, not to let the building be so imposing that it would belittle the humbler objects collected from village homes. The

scale and appearance of the building had to be such that it would not attempt to upstage its ancient neighbour, the Purana Qila (Old Fort) on the one side and the village complex of the museum on the other. Consequently, the low-lying building has old carved wooden doors and windows from Gujarat and Rajasthan, central courtyards having champa trees, tulsi shrines and a monumental temple-car coexisting in this modern building. The museums collection, built over a period of thirty years, comprises bronze images, lamps and incense burners, ritual accessories, utensils and other items of everyday use, wood and stone carvings, papier-mach work, ivories, dolls, toys, puppets and masks, jewellery, decorative metal ware including bidri work, paintings, terracotta, cane and bamboo work and a large number of textiles. The many different regions of India are represented. There is also a Visual Store for reference, comprising about 15,000 objects which can be used by scholars, designers, craftsmen and other interested parties for study and research. Reception at the British Council Offices, New Delhi The office in New Delhi is the headquarters of the British Council operations in India. The current premises were designed by the renowned Indian architect Charles Correa and opened in 1993 and are situated close to Connaught Circus. The Delhi office acts as a hub for the development of the British Councils programmes and events in the arts, English language, education, science & technology and human rights. These events take place in major cities all over India. The Delhi office has recently opened a new-look library with online services providing access to UK electronic databases, journals and directories, an English Zone to help people improve their language skills, an online learning zone to enable people to obtain a UK degree through flexible study and a children's library. There are also smaller libraries in North India in Chandigarh and Bhopal, run in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, which provide a lending service as well as events programmes. Other services in Delhi include a busy and popular English language teaching centre which provides a range of courses in English language for learners of all ages and all levels, as well as running an examinations service and Education UK information service.

Thursday, March 30 2006 Chia-Ling Pan (Shawn Pan)

Qutb Complex Qutb Complex is located in the south of Delhi, which represented the arriving of Islam in India. The name of Qutb Complex was given to the group of heritage site and monuments which encompassing Quwwat-ul-Tslam Mosque of Qutbuddin Aibak, Qutb Minar, Iron Minar and three royal tombs. The tombs of three kings are Imam Zamin, Iltutmish and Alauddin.

The entrance of Qutb Complex.

Unlike the heritage of the Mughal period, such as the Taj Mahal and Humayuns Tomb, the Qutb Complex is a heritage site combining Muslim and Hindu architectural influences. In AD 1192, India was conquered by Muhammad, the Sultan of the mountain kingdom of Ghur, where is the Afghanistan now. After his success, Muhammad Ghuri returned to his homeland the left the newly conquered land to Qutbuddin Aibak who was his favorite slave from Turkestan. Qutbudin then became Muhammads army commander. As a Muslim, Qutbuddin was very keen to left his religious mark in the newly-overcame territory. He decided to erect a mosque to worship the one God-Ala. A Hindu temple, Hindus called it elbut-khana, had been chosen as the site of mosque. The Qutbuddin mosque (Figure 2) was not only raised over the Hindu temple, materials from twienty seven demolished Hindu temples were used in the construction of Qutbuddin mosque. A courtyard in the centre of mosque is 65.2 metres by 45.4 metres and surrounded by pillared cloisters. The completion date of the mosque was AD 1198 which is recorded on the north gateway alongside the name of Muhammad Ghuri.

Screen of Qutbuddin mosque.

The outstanding Qutb Minar Qutbuddin laid the fundation of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and Qutb Minar, to declared the victory of Islam. There are 5 storeies and 379 steps on the Qutb Minar. With a height 72.5 metres, Qutb Minar is still the highest stone tower in India. Iltutmish added another three storeys ontop and finished the construction work of Qutb Minar. Alauddin seems no hand on Qutb Minar.

Qutb Minar is the highest stone tower in Delhi. Religious Combination The arcades and screens in the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque are extremely impressive and have great architectural interest. These material were taken from 27 Hindu temples but was built as an Islam Mosque. Therefore, the mosque is a great combination in terms of religion and architecture. The arcades (Figure 4 & 5) in the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque are taken from various Hindu temples and reassembled them to build the mosque. The pillars are sculpted of many Hindu iconographies, such as lotus flowers, bells and chains and so on. The corbelled domes were taken bodily from a wrecked Hindu shrine. Qutbuddin Aibak established the foundation of the mosque and the first storey of Qutb Minar. His successor, Shamsuddin Iltutmish, came to the throne between 1211-1236 and he expanded the size of mosque twice big as it was and add the second and third storey of Qutb Minar. A later King, Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) , constructed two gateways on the eastern side and one on both the north and south side. While only the south gateway, Alai Darwaza, now exists.

Decorative column in mosque. The screen in the Qutb Complex is worthy to mention. The three rulers, Qutbuddin, Iltutmish and Alauddin contributed in turns but only Qutbuddin and Iltutmishs work still exit now. Qutbuddin laid the foundation of the screen (Figure 6) which is comprised a central arch, 6.7 metres wide and 16 metres high. Two similar and smaller arches were laid on each side. By the time when Qutbuddin built the screen, many Hindu craftsmen were called to constructed it. However, the Hindu craftsmen were set to work upon alien arabesque designs. This is because Qutbuddin wanted the Muslim characters and Naskh are curved on the screen. Although the essentially Hindu elements can still be seen in the ornamental relief on the original screen. Iltutmish screen were considered more Saracenic, betrays a considerable advance in the adoption of Islamic forms of surface decoration.

A detail from the Qutbuddin screen.

Issues in the Qutb complex Walking around in the Qutb Complex, I was concerned that the site was not wellpresented. The feeling came across vividly when I walked around the Qutb Complex as with other Indian heritage sites.

Introduction of Qutb Minar. There are many introductions in the Qutb Complex and other sites. However, apart from these introductions, it is fairly difficult to understand the historic, architectural and conservation aspects of heritage sites. My feeling is that INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and Archaeological Survey of India could present more guidance or historic background inside the heritage sites. If I havent read the background about Qutb Complex, I wouldnt known what to look at. It would be more attractive for the public to visit the heritage sites and improve the understanding of the heritage sites as well.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park Sok Yee Yeo (Yen)

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park covers 100 acres of green land adjoining the World Heritage Site of the Qutb Minar and the Mehrauli village settlement. It is the only area in the historic city of Delhi that is extensively covered with remains from every era of Delhis history from Hindu settlements to the more recent British times. Hence it is a wonderful resource for Delhis citizens from the historical and environmental points of view. Within this area are over 70 heritage buildings listed by INTACH, and a fascinating variety of plants and animals. In 1997, having recognized its importance not only from a historical background but also on its ecological value, INTACH Delhi Chapter collaborated with various government agencies such as the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Tourism, the State Department of Archaeology, the Archaeological Survey of India, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board and Delhi Sewerage Undertaking to actively involved in the conservation of unprotected monuments in the area. With the combined efforts of various parties, over 35 buildings benefited from the conservation project, explanatory signages have been installed and heritage trails has been laid out to make the recently conserved monuments more accessible to visitors.

Overview of the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. (Extracted from the Mehrauli Archaeological Park brochure)

Ruin of Sultan Balbans Tomb and its adjoining buildings.

Tomb of Maulana Majduddin Built in the mid 13th century, this is the site where Sufi teacher Maulana Majduddin lies.

Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb built in 1528.

Front faade of Jamali Kamalis Tomb and its interior. Built around 1529, this is the burial site of the famous court poet of the Lodi and Mughal period, Jamali also known as Jalal Khan.

Sanskriti Sanskriti Pratishthan, a registered Public Charitable Trust, was founded in 1979 with the intention of helping to nurture some of the most essential elements of Indias heritage. Sanskriti literally means the process of cultivating, and the Pratishthan (or Foundation) has been working towards cultivating an environment for the preservation and development of the artistic and cultural resources not only of India but of the world as a whole. Sanskriti sees its role as that of a catalyst in revitalizing the artistic and aesthetic sensitivities of the Indian people and as an intrinsic part of everyday life.

Perspective view of Sanskriti Kendra (Extracted from Sanskrit 2005)

During the guided tour, we had the opportunity to visit the Sanskriti two museums, the Museum of the Everyday Art of India and the Museum of Indian Terracotta. Museum of the Everyday Art Established in 1984, the museum is part of Sanskritis commitment to preserve and nurture the creative vitality of Indian culture. The primarily aim of this museum is to collect objects that show excellence in craftsmanship and conceptual innovation, be it in design or functionality. Currently, the museum possesses about 2000 objects where most of the objects date back to the last two centuries. The display categorizes the exhibits as in the cycle of life, from childhood to old age where the collection ranges from folk and tribal sacred images, accessories for rituals, locks and latches, kitchen wares to women and children accessories.

Exhibits in the Museum of the Everyday Art. (The above four pictures are extracted from Sanskrit 2005)

Museum of Indian Terracotta In an attempt to comprehend the rich living traditions of terracotta art in India, the museum displays a proud collection of over 1500 exuberant forms and sophisticated shapes created on location by master craftsmen from India. A special gallery has been set up in the museum to provide a historical perspective to the ancient tradition of terracotta art. As a form of regular practice, Sanskriti has constantly been inviting some of the finest terracotta artists, both traditional and modern, from all over India to live, work and display their work in the museum gallery.

Exhibits in the Museum of the IndianTerracotta. (The top two pictures are extracted from Sanskrit 2005)