On the occasion of World Heritage Day 18 April , RJS PBH-RJS POSITIVE MEDIA'S 541st Webinar was successfully organised.

On the occasion of World Heritage Day 18 April ,  RJS PBH-RJS POSITIVE MEDIA'S 541st Webinar was  successfully organised.

INDIA PIVOTS TO LOCALIZED AND DIGITAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION AMID CALLS TO DECOLONIZE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICES.

NEW DELHI -- A paradigm shift in the approach to India's heritage conservation was the focal point of a major national discourse during the 541st webinar organized by Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House, widely recognized as RJS PBH. Held on the occasion of World Heritage Day, the event, themed "Living Heritage and Emergency Response," brought together prominent archaeologists, museum directors, and conservationists. The comprehensive session revealed a growing consensus against colonial-era centralization of artifacts, sparking intense debates over local empowerment, the economic viability of traditional rural crafts, and the integration of artificial intelligence in safeguarding the nations cultural legacy.

The proceedings were initiated by Sunil Kumar Singh, Senior Program Director at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs. He underscored the fundamental role of both tangible and intangible heritage in balancing societal development with historical roots. He noted that heritage sites are not merely physical structures but are crucial drivers for local economies, providing employment to thousands and fostering global tourism. Singh emphasized that appreciating cultural diversity and shared heritage is the foundation of a harmonious society.

The most provocative and controversial arguments of the session were delivered by Dr. Anantashutosh Dwivedi, Director General of the Heritage Society Patna and President of the World Heritage Olympiad. Dr. Dwivedi launched a scathing critique of the current nomenclature and administrative mindset surrounding Indian heritage sites. He strongly condemned the widespread use of the term "Khandhar" or "ruins" to describe ancient sites, specifically targeting the nomenclature of the "Nalanda Khandhar." He argued that referring to a glorious heritage site as a ruin is an insult to national identity, likening it to disrespecting an elderly family member due to their physical aging. He called for a nationwide campaign to rename such sites to reflect their inspiring legacy, suggesting terms like "Nalanda Inspiring Heritage."

Dr. Dwivedi further exposed the lingering colonial and feudal mindsets in modern Indian archaeology. He criticized the practice of uprooting artifacts and ancient statues from local villages only to lock them away in state or national museums. He argued that this deprives local communities of their historical pride and economic opportunities. According to Dwivedi, the extraction of artifacts instills fear among villagers, who hide historical findings rather than reporting them, fearing government confiscation. He proposed a localized approach where artifacts are preserved and displayed at their exact excavation sites, turning remote villages into tourism hubs. As a compromise, he suggested museums should create fiberglass replicas for their displays while leaving the original artifacts in their native environments to drive local economic growth.

The controversy extended to the UNESCO World Heritage selection process. Dr. Dwivedi highlighted a perceived bias in Bihar's representation on the global stage. While acknowledging the importance of the Mahabodhi Temple and Nalanda, he questioned why ancient Hindu sites like the Mundeshwari Temple and the Barabar Caves are repeatedly sidelined. He specifically pointed out that the Barabar Caves, considered the "Father of Indian Subcontinent Caves" and the inspiration for the Ajanta Caves, lack the World Heritage status granted to their successors. He urged media organizations like RJS PBH to amplify these discrepancies and push the government to diversify its heritage portfolio.

Providing a detailed institutional and administrative perspective, Dr. Sunil Kumar Jha, Additional Director of the Patna and Bihar Museum, Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar, addressed the logistical realities of heritage management. Dr. Jha delivered a comprehensive presentation mapping the extensive tangible and intangible heritage of Bihar. He defended the role of modern museums, explaining that while localized preservation is ideal, practical challenges such as security, theft, and lack of local infrastructure necessitate centralized protection for highly valuable artifacts.

Dr. Jha highlighted the massive economic and social implications of intangible heritage, particularly regional crafts. He detailed how the Bihar Museum has dedicated entire galleries to local art forms like Mithila painting, Manjusha art from Bhagalpur, Sikki grass crafts, paper mache, and Sujani embroidery. This initiative has a profound economic impact, empowering rural women, many of whom have won Padma Shri awards. By purchasing directly from these artisans and eliminating middlemen, the museum ensures that the financial benefits of heritage preservation reach the grassroots level. He also noted the cultural significance of local cuisines like Dahi Chura and Litti Chokha, tracing their historical usage back to ancient armies.

Addressing the economic controversies surrounding museum access, Dr. Jha firmly defended the implementation of ticket pricing for museum entry. He argued that maintaining world-class facilities, funding ongoing conservation, and supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of artists require sustainable revenue models. He pointed out that free access often leads to vandalism and degradation of facilities, and a nominal fee ensures that visitors respect the space while contributing to the local economy.

Dr. Jha also made a significant infrastructure announcement, revealing that a highly anticipated, ambitious tunnel project connecting the century-old Patna Museum with the newly built Bihar Museum is currently underway. The civil work for this subterranean connection is expected to be completed by next year, effectively merging the two institutions into one of the world's most formidable museum complexes. Furthermore, he announced ongoing projects under the National Mission for Manuscripts to digitize and translate ancient texts into multiple languages, including regional dialects like Bhojpuri, utilizing AI to make them accessible globally.

The integration of advanced technology in heritage conservation was fiercely advocated by Hemu Bharadwaj, Founder of the Inheritage Foundation in Noida. Despite facing severe network disruptions due to weather conditions in the National Capital Region, an issue smoothly navigated by moderator Uday Kumar Manna, Bharadwaj eventually returned to deliver a critical message on digital autonomy. Bharadwaj detailed how his foundation utilized LiDAR technology to map and digitally preserve ancient, decaying wooden temples in Uttarakhand with sub-millimeter accuracy.

Bharadwaj struck a deeply independent chord, urging Indians to stop seeking validation from foreign entities like UNESCO. He emphasized that heritage preservation is fundamentally about self-discovery and understanding one's own value systems. In a stark warning about the AI revolution, he noted that global AI platforms like ChatGPT are actively mining Indian heritage data to train their models. He stressed that India must take control of digitizing its own heritage in machine-to-machine languages to prevent the loss or misrepresentation of its history in the impending digital age. He challenged local communities to take ownership, document their local monuments scientifically, and make them available on open-source platforms before they succumb to rapid urbanization.

The sprawling webinar was meticulously anchored by Uday Kumar Manna, the driving force behind Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House. Manna seamlessly wove the various technical, social, and economic narratives together, reiterating that RJS PBH is committed to bridging the gap between historical consciousness and modern societal challenges. Throughout the interactive segments, Manna engaged with the audience and speakers, ensuring technical glitches did not derail the discourse.

Manna utilized the platform to make several key announcements regarding the future roadmap of RJS PBH. He announced the immediate scheduling of the 542nd webinar to coincide with Earth Day and World Liver Day, highlighting the organization's holistic approach to physical and cultural well-being. More significantly, Manna revealed that Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House is preparing for a massive, high-profile event in August in the Delhi NCR region. This event will mark the release of their seventh published volume, commemorating the continuous efforts of their network and honoring the legacy of national freedom fighters alongside the personal ancestors of RJS family members.

The comprehensive session concluded with a unified understanding that the future of Indian heritage lies not in the passive observation of decaying structures, but in active, community-led preservation. Whether through the rejection of colonial archaeological practices, the economic empowerment of rural artisans, the construction of world-class museum infrastructure, or the deployment of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, the speakers established that living heritage requires a living, dynamic response. The event served as a clarion call for citizens, government bodies, and positive media platforms to work symbiotically to ensure that the roots of Indian civilization remain firmly planted while adapting to the rapid currents of the twenty-first century.

Akanksha Manna

Head Creative Team- 

RJS PBH -RJS POSITIVE MEDIA 

9811705015.