|
Garma
Garam More |
Heritage |
|
Cultural
Heritage & Promotion of Understanding in Punjab
Cultural
Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI)
Village elder at Thakip village, Arunachal Pradesh. The sentiment expressed by this man from the far eastern corner of India highlights one of the fundamental fears that has haunted humanity in one form or the other, from time immemorial… fear of losing our identity. The unrestful mind that harbours this fear often becomes the breeding ground for all subsequent conflict. Punjab- one of the frontier states of northern India, is one area that has had to contend with the issue of identity to the very limits of tolerance due to the realities of a past fractured by innumerable invasions and acts of violence. Each invasion forced upon this land a physical distortion of its boundaries and left behind a new set of bruises to its identity. Each act of violence brutalised the soul of its people. The contemporary history of India saw one of the most tragic and violent manifestations of a conflict borne out of a perceived threat to identity in the form of the partition of India in 1947. The early 1980s saw Punjab in India being destabilized once more through acts of violence that were geared towards separatism, that bore a faint stench of the negative energies generated by the violence of 1947. This phase created new breeding grounds for possible conflict, while acting as a vent for the hatred and anger of 1947. Today, Punjab is passing through a phase of relative and welcome calm. Lest history repeats itself, it needs to use this period to reaffirm its often-abused identity, on one hand, while re- channelising into constructive avenues the potent negative energies simmering in the hearts of those who were brutalised. Objectives
The identity of a place or a people is determined as much by its cultural and social vitality as by the awareness and appreciation of its past traditions. Today, more than ever before, it is of utmost importance that the people of Punjab revive and sustain the shaken links with their history and traditions. For a people denied stability time and again by force of circumstances, the symbols of their past traditions can be the much needed anchorage for a restful and secure future. Punjab holds within the numerous folds of its chequered history, innumerable traditions in craft skills, myths and legends embodied and preserved in festivals, architectural monuments and settlements, religious and archaeological sites. Innumerable saints left their footprints across the fertile lands of Punjab spreading messages of tolerance and universal spirituality to help people survive the hardships inflicted upon them. At one level this project shall be an exercise geared towards:
Project
Implementation Strategy This project shall be an endeavour to work closely with the families directly affected by the excesses of partition and terrorism and to encourage them to realise that constructive community work is a possible route to self-healing. To that end, the project would harness their energies and channelise them into constructive areas by encouraging them to assume the role of ‘Cultural Heritage Volunteers’ and work with their own people in order to realise the goals of this project. Potential
Partners Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI), Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Government of Punjab, Government of India, UNESCO, UNV, Donors, e.g. UNDP, World Bank, Corporate Sector as well as the Non Resident Indians. Project
Output 1:
Identification and documentation of cultural sites in 5 district of
Punjab (work in 7 districts has already been undertaken By CRCI) In 1995-96, UNESCO (New Delhi); Department of Culture, Government of India; Department of Culture, Government of Punjab and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) sponsored a project titled ‘Inventory of Cultural Resource along the Grand Trunk Road, Punjab’. In the course of this project, among other aspects, historical buildings in five districts of Punjab were documented. These include Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar. In 1997-98 two other districts were documented which are Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. Local government funded the projects. CRCI now has a database of approximately 1100 historical buildings in the region. The documented historic buildings belong to various periods of history of the Northwest India especially the last 500 years. Five districts are yet to be documented to develop a comprehensive database covering the whole state. This database would be of immense significance as it would represent the cultural diversity of the region and would also be the basis for conservation or cultural awareness programmes. 2:
Publications for dissemination of information in local language and
English. It is very important to disseminate to the people of the region belonging to different social group information on cultural resources. This needs to be done in the local language as well as in English. 3:
Conservation of selective cultural sites (around 10 sites) One of the findings, in the course of the project until now, is that there is a complex relationship between the community and its cultural resources. In simplistic terms, it can be summed up as follows:
It would be a significant step to undertake conservation projects in the region through public participation. Punjab is a region where the concept of ‘Kar seva’ or community self help is known and practised. This project would give a fillip to the sentiment of participation of the community in the upkeep of their own environment. 4: Theatre
workshop with children on ‘Dramatization of History’. The play
to be enacted on multiple venues. ‘Dramatisation of History’ is a concept initiated by Sir Patrick Geddes, known as the father of modern town planning in the world. Sir Patrick Geddes directed a pageant in Edinburgh early this century principally to sensitise the local population about their cultural inheritance. Such an initiative in this case would be undertaken with children. They would be introduced to the greatness of their cultural heritage so that they see themselves as part of a larger whole. As the part of the process they would be taken to various historic sites. Thus, they would be introduced to history outside their classrooms, work with the theatre experts on developing a script, develop sets and costumes (perhaps with local craft persons). The production on historic settings could then be staged in various towns. 5: Media
campaign Media campaigns are important to inform people in the region, as well as outside, about the aims of the project, and also to evoke participation by way of ideas, time and funds for such activities in the future. 6: Multi
sites cultural festival of traditional music on the spirit of the
‘Bhakti movement’ Over hundreds of years, the land of Punjab has been home and witness to the presence and preaching of numerous saints, especially during the ‘Bhakti Movement’ (around the 15th century). Sufism and Sikhism are two "isms" which profess love for mankind and proactive attitude to life, qualities that continue to remain guiding influences for the people of Punjab. The voices of these saintly people live an resonate in the songs that are still sung as part of the living traditions of the region. Cultural festivals could be a platform on which artists and traditions of Punjab (albeit now separated) are experienced and celebrated. 7:
Consultants for project implementation & evaluation
A committee comprising UN representatives as well as national specialists to evaluate the project at various stages is proposed. The baseline situation needs to be evaluated in the beginning of the project followed by mid level and final evaluation at the end of the project. For this purpose with sensitivity to the aims of the project and practical good sense need to be identified.
|
