Culture is the pillar that strengthens the identity of a community and a region.
Nothing defines a country and makes it unique like its culture. Seeing it’s art, experiencing it’s traditions, tasting it’s variety of cuisines and strolling through its history, are without doubt the best guides to discover region.
In earlier days, when the mode of commutation were scarcely evolved, the movement of the people were comparatively limited but with revolution in the communication, the global connectivity has increased manifold.
The human species, emerged as a physically, mentally, emotionally well equipped personality.
Their skill in the field of magnificent architecture, carving, painting has created mesmerising sites to visit even after number of centuries.
With the objective of preserving these renowned destinations with outstanding universal values, for the future generations, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has assigned them as the World Heritage Sites.
The idea of initiating an international movement for protecting heritage, emerged after the First World War. Later, in 1972, the World Heritage Convention developed from the merging of two separate missions like preserving the cultural sites and the other was dealing with the conservation of Nature.
Italy, with fifty nine, heritage sites, is the leading nation on this list. Followed by China with fifty seven and Germany and France with fifty two. Bharat stands on the Sixth position with Forty two heritage sites.
Among the states of Bharat, Maharashtra has the highest number of heritage sites. The five sites of Maharashtra, the Ajanta caves, the Ellora caves, the Elephanta caves, the Victoria Terminus (now, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus), railway station and the Victorian Gothic monuments are included in the World Heritage site list.
Among the states of Bharat, Maharashtra has the highest number of heritage sites.
The five sites of Maharashtra, the Ajanta caves, the Ellora caves, the Elephanta caves, the Victoria Terminus (now, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus), railway station and the Victorian Gothic monuments are included in the World Heritage site list.
Ajanta caves exemplifies one of the greatest achievement in ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture. The artistic traditions at Ajanta, displays rare form of art, architecture and painting, portraying the socio-cultural, religious and political history of contemporary society in Bharat. There are around thirty rock cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. It consists of ancient monasteries (Viharas) and Worship halls (Chaityas) of Buddhist traditions. The Ajanta caves are mentioned in the memoires of several medieval era Chinese Buddhist travellers. They were hidden amidst the forest, until accidentally located by the Colonial British officer Captain John Smith in 1819 CE. The Ajanta caves are located at 103 km away from Chatrapati Sambhaji nagar (Aurangabad).
The Ellora caves are situated about 62 kms away from Ajanta caves in Chatrapati Sambhaji nagar district. Ellora, also known as Verul or Elura and its ancient name has been Ellorpuram. It is one of the largest rock-cut Hindu cave complexes across the globe and it includes Jain as well as Buddhist caves, too. Dating back to 600 CE to 1000 CE, the complex has some caves which does not have roof. Cave 16, is the largest singular monolithic rock excavation in the world and is a chariot shaped monument. It is Kailash temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. The complex comprises of 100 caves, excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills. Out of 100, 34 caves are open to public viewing. 17 of them, belong to Hindu religious beliefs, 12 Buddhist and 5 are based on Jain beliefs. Each section of caves, represent the deities and mythologies, as per their respective religion, prevalent in the 1st millennium CE. They are built in proximity with each other and this is reflection of the cultural harmony among the various religious sects and beliefs.
Situated around 29 kms north-west to Chatrapati Sambhaji nagar, Ajanta and Ellora caves are major tourist attraction in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. They are also protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. (ASI).
The third on the list is Elephanta caves, situated on the western part of Maharashtra, 10 km East, from Mumbai on the shore of Arabian Sea on Elephanta island. It is also known as the island of Gharapuri.
Elephanta caves are a collection of cave temples, predominantly dedicated to Lord Shiva.
During the Rashtrakut rulers reins, the caves were carved out in 7th century AD.
It’s very interesting to note that there isnt any real Elephant in the Elephanta caves. Rather, there was a large elephant sculpture in the island and thus, the Portuguese, who discovered it, in around 16th century CE, named the Gharapuri island, as Elephanta.
This mysterious island are based on the stylistic grounds, on which the caves and it’s sculpture are executed. The massive cave has been cut out of Granite hills and the walls are carved with huge Shiva idol.
The fourth on the list is Victorian Gothic monuments and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai. Mumbai, the island city, was originally Seven different island, inhabited mostly by the fisherman community. With advent of Portuguese and British rule, it became significant port, as it was geographically well suited for the business communications. With the passage of time, the seven islands were amalgamated and the cluster of islands turned into the financial capital of the country. The British, the Portuguese and the Parsis (originally from Iran) had their very unique architecture style. The Victorian Gothic constructions of various noteworthy infrastructure, set along a peninsula in the Arabian Sea and represents grandeur of the era.
The South Mumbai, as it is known now, has numerous such regal architectural buildings. With the maxim city expanding at a rapid pace, mainly in the Northern direction, the Mumbai, of the gone by era, still maintains this old world charm.
The imposing 19th century High Court of Bombay (now, Mumbai), The Mumbai University, the University library, Convocation hall, Elphinstone College, Wilson College, Rajabai clock Tower, City and Civil Sessions Court (old secretariat), Public Works department building, Esplanade Mansion, David Sassoon Library, Maharashtra Police Headquarters, Eros Theatre along with the Oval Maidan and many privately owned residential buildings alongside have been added in the UNESCO world heritage sites in 2018.
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO world heritage site. It was
designed by Federick William Stevens, a British engineer architect, attached to the Bombay office of the Indian colonial Public Works Department. The terminal was built in the span of ten years and began operations in 1878 CE.
The station was built to replace the Bori Bunder railway station as the Bori Bunder area was a prominent warehousing region known for import and export of commodities. Since Bombay was growing as an important port, a bigger station was essential to meet the expanding demands.
The station was named after the then Empress, Queen Victoria. Alex Haig, a draughtsman created a masterpiece in Water colour sketch and his design had been compared to George Gilbert Scott’s design of St. Pancras Railway station, in London, Portrayed in 1873, in Italian Gothic style. During the construction, a marble statue of Queen Victoria was installed in the main facade of the building, in a canopy under the clock.
Post independence, following the Government of Bharat directive, most of the statues, including that of Queen Victoria, was sent from there to Victoria Garden, the zoo, and also known as Rani Baug (now renamed as Jijamata Udyan. It was left lying on the grass in the open for a very long time but has gone missing now.
The marvellous monument has been renamed several times. Originally, it was constructed to replace the Bori Bundar station, the terminus of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway from 1853 to 1888 and was named Victoria Terminus to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Later, in 1996, it was renamed as Chatrapati Shivaji terminus (CST). In 2016, the Fadanvis Government in Maharashtra, passed a resolution in the assembly to rename it as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus. (CSMT).
On an unfortunate note, the historic monument has witnessed the most tragic incidence when on 26th November 2008, two Pakistani terrorists, armed with AK47, entered the passenger hall of the station and opened fire as well as threw granade at people. One of the terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, was caught alive by the police.
Currently, there are 42 World Heritage sites in Bharat. Thirty four of them are cultural sites, seven of them are natural sites and one is mixed site.
The Maratha Military Landscapes of Bharat, is nominated in 2021 in the Cultural category, in the list of World Heritage sites. The sixth one from Maharashtra, is still in the tentative list. The twelve component parts of their nominations are, Shivneri fort, Raigadh fort, Lohgadh fort, Khanderi fort, Parapgadh fort, Panhala fort, Salher fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg.
The Maratha Military Landscapes of Bharat, represents noteworthy fortification of Military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers, covering Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern ghats in the Bharatiya Peninsula.
Recently, on the 21st of July 2024, Bharat hosted the annual World Heritage Committee meeting magnificent Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The Naya Bharat emphasis on the conviction of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi”. Bharat is committed to promoting global cooperation as well as engagement local communities towards haritage conservation efforts.
Under the colonial rule (and even after independence) several of our valued heritage items were stolen and transported to foreign lands but the Hon. prime Minister has been determinant about bringing back our precious legacy and hence, more than 350 such valued possessions have been brought back .
The heritage is the saga of our history and reflection of our strength and weaknesses. The nation that does not learn from its history, is certainly on the path of being doomed.
भारत की सांस्कृतिक विरासत को पुष्ट करता हुआ अत्यंत सुंदर आलेख है। मेरी दृष्टि में भारत को तो विश्व में प्रथम स्थान पर होना चाहिए क्योंकि संपूर्ण भारत में अनेकानेक सांस्कृतिक धरोहरों के स्थल है, जैसा कि मैंने भारत भ्रमण के दौरान अनुभव किया है आवश्यकता मात्रा उन्हें संजोए रखने की है और चूंकि राष्ट्रवादी सरकार अभी आई है तो यह काम अब ही संभव होगा। विरासत से ही हमारा गौरवमय इतिहास परिलक्षित होता है परंतु वाममार्गियों ने कुत्सित नीति के अंतर्गत हमारे गौरवशाली इतिहास को तोड़ मरोड़ कर प्रस्तुत किया ताकि हमारी भावी पीढियां हीन भावना से ग्रसित हो, स्वयं को तुच्छ समझे।
हमारी विरासत को नष्ट-भ्रष्ट करना भी इसी नीति का हिस्सा था।
संपर्क है आपके इस आलेख से एक नई नीति का निर्माण होगा।
शुभेच्छु
भारतीय भगिनी
साहित्यकार श्रीमती सुधा आचार्य,
बीकानेर, राजस्थान।