Passing on our heritage to GenNext

S Balakrishnan *

The World Heritage Week is observed every year from 19th to 25th November to create awareness about the need to preserve our heritage – both cultural and natural of the world – at least those that are still remaining, fortunately!

The initial step in this direction was taken by UNESCO in 1972. The General Conference of UNESCO adopted on 16 November 1972 the recommendation concerning the Protection at National Level, of the Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Accordingly, throughout the world, UNESCO has so far declared a total of 1,052 sites as World Heritage Sites in 165 Sates/Nations. Of these, 814 are classified under 'Cultural' category, 203 as 'Natural', and the rest 35 as 'Mixed' (both Cultural & Natural).

In India, which has a very rich legacy dating much back to the pre-Christ (B. C.) era, a total of 35 sites have so far been chosen by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Indian heritage sites have been inscribed in the World Heritage list since 1983; the latest is the Khangchendzonga National Park, in 2016.

Under the 'Cultural Sites' category come the following 27 sites: Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Sun Temple, Konârak, Churches and Convents of Goa, Fatehpur Sikri, Group of Monuments at Hampi, Khajuraho Group of Monuments , Elephanta Caves , Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu, Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi, Mountain Railways of India (This site includes three railways,including the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway the first, and is still the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway.

Opened in 1881, its design applies bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty), Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Red Fort Complex, The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat, Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar, and the Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement.

Under the 'Natural Sites' classification, the following 7 sites have been chosen: Kaziranga National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, Sundarbans National Park, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Western Ghats

Under the 'Mixed Category' grouping (Cultural & Natural) the Khangchendzonga National Park is the only chosen one in India. Located at the heart of the Himalayan range in northern India (State of Sikkim), the Khangchendzonga National Park includes a unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and spectacular, snow-capped mountains covered with ancient forests, including the world's third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.

Mythological stories are associated with this mountain and with a great number of natural elements (caves, rivers, lakes, etc.) that are the object of worship by the indigenous people of Sikkim. The sacred meanings of these stories and practices have been integrated with Buddhist beliefs and constitute the basis for Sikkimese identity.

India has also submitted a list of further 44 sites for consideration for nomination. This is known as Properties submitted on the Tentative List. This list includes Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area. The Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area represents an extraordinary story of natural antiquity, diversity, beauty and human attachment. Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area (KLCA) comprises of a core area of Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) (40 sq km) and a buffer of Loktak Lake (140 sq km) and Pumlen Pat (43 sq. km).

The property area along with buffer area is located in the southern part of Bishnupur district and eastern part of Thoubal district of Manipur, India. The Loktak Lake has a unique ecosystem called 'Phumdi' (a Manipuri word meaning floating mats of soil and vegetation). The largest area of the Phumdi in the Loktak lake is in the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is home to Manipur brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldi eldi) also popularly known as the Sangai.

The habitat exclusively consists of floating meadows and an elevated strip of hard ground that dissects the park into northern and southern zones. For effective in-situconservation of Sangai, Forest Department of Manipur in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India has developed a plan to reintroduce Sangai in the adjoining area having similar habitat.

Loktak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the north-eastern region of India and plays an important role in the ecological and economic security of the region (Tuboi et al, 2012). Loktak Lake has been broadly divided into three zones, viz., northern, central and southern zone, on the basis of vegetation type, Phumdi thickness, drainage network, open water area location and human activity.

It has been reported that about 0.8 –2m phumdi area proliferate within 6 months in the main lake and 0.1m per 6 months in the KLNP area. The lake is oval in shape with maximum length and width of 26 km and 13 km respectively. The depth of the lake varies between 0.5 to 4.58 m with average depth recorded at 2.7 m. There are 14 hills varying in size and elevation, appearing as islands, in the southern part of the lake. The most prominent of them are Sendra, Ithing and Thanga islands.

The lake is rich in biodiversity and has been designated as a wetland of International Importance under RAMSAR Convention in 1990. The catchment of the lake includes drainage sub-basins of the Manipur River Basin and its associated tributaries up to Ithai Barrage. The catchment covers an area of 4947 sq km and constitutes 22% of the total geographic area of the state.

People of Manipur are socially, economically, culturally and ecologically connected with the Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park. The lake has been the source of water for domestic generation of hydro-electric power, irrigation, habitat for several plants used as food, fishing ground for local people, fodder, fuel, medicines, biodiversity, recreation, etc. Hence, Loktak Lake has been referred to as the 'lifeline of Manipur'.

Three type of communities live in the villages located around the Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area are the Phum dwellers (people living either temporarily or permanently on the Phumdi), island communities (those living on islands) and the lakeshore communities. Furthermore, in Moirang (located in south-western part of KLCA) there is a war memorial from World War II (INA Memorial), where the Indian National Army first hoisted flag on April 14, 1944. Moirang also holds an ancient temple of the pre-Hindu deity, Lord Thangjing. It was from the village of Moirang that the graceful Khamba-Thoibi dance originated.

The World Heritage emblem represents the interdependence of the world's natural and cultural diversity. Designed by Belgian artist Michel Olyff, it was adopted as the official emblem of the World Heritage Convention in 1978.

While the central square symbolizes the results of human skill and inspiration, the circle celebrates the gifts of nature. The emblem is round, like the world, a symbol of global protection for the heritage of all humankind.

In India, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plays a monumental task in identifying and preserving our cultural sites. There are hundreds and hundreds of ASI-protected cultural monuments spread all over the country.

The least we could to protect these monuments is not to litter and not to inscribe our name on their walls when we visit them. During the World Heritage Week, let this be our pledge.

Because it is our bounden duty to preserve and handover our priceless heritage sites – Natural as well as Cultural – to the Gen Next, and it is their right to receive them as such.