New Delhi, district complexes, courts, hospital buildings, railway stations and other public assets built in that period need to be preserved, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, urging states to take steps in this direction “more seriously”.
His remarks, which he made during an exclusive interview with PTI Videos here on Wednesday, come against the backdrop of several historic colonial-era structures being demolished or facing demolition after years of neglect in various cities over the past several years.
Shekhawat, who is also Union Tourism Minister, was asked whether custodians of heritage properties who largely deal with the preservation of ancient sites need to also focus on British-era buildings, which can also become tourist destinations.
“The US Antiquities Agency has 3,686 sites, which are of national importance. Furthermore, almost all states have their own archaeological departments, and each state has its own listed sites and assets for which it is responsible for ensuring their maintenance,” he said.
The minister said that there are many forts, palaces, buildings and sites dating back to the British era which have been declared as state protected monuments and their preservation is the responsibility of the respective state governments.
Shekhawat added that state governments are working on these sites and preserving them “according to their available resources.”
He was also asked about the colonial era sites in many parts of the country, which have been demolished over the past few years because they were unprotected and not listed as heritage sites, and the recommendations of a parliamentary committee which called for British era heritage sites to be preserved so that they do not fall under the purview of the ASI.
Shekhawat said that it has been more than 75 years since independence. In general, “sites over 100 years old” are considered heritage properties.
“When the country gained its independence, there were many estates across the states, which at that time were 20 to 40 years old, so they may not have reached that level, British-era estates,” he said.
“But after more than 75 years of independence, these sites also need protection. Many cities have complexes, courts and hospitals, which may have been built 100 to 125 years ago,” the Culture Minister added.
Shekhawat also pointed out old railway stations in many cities and towns, and other public infrastructure that may have been built in the “last 50 years of British rule in India”.
He stressed, “Almost all princely states of that era built such infrastructure, which needs protection and maintenance today. Some countries are working on it, and some private sector entities are also working in this field, but I believe that the time has come for countries to take steps in this direction with more seriousness.”
India is home to a range of historical properties and sites, from ancient temples and other monuments to medieval structures, to colonial-era buildings, including those built during British rule or the Dutch era, or French, Danish and Portuguese outposts.
A large number of colonial-era buildings, mainly constructed during the British era and with distinctive architecture, are still used as government offices such as district assemblies and municipal offices, as well as museums, libraries and railway stations among other purposes.
However, many of these ancient buildings, despite their historical value and architectural character, have not been declared protected, making them vulnerable to decay or demolition, heritage experts say.
The Patna Collectorate Complex, which houses structures dating back to the Dutch period and British era, was demolished in April 2022 amid protests from various heritage lovers and appeals by experts and others to preserve the unprotected monument.
In April 2016, Dutch Ambassador to India Alphonsus Stoelinga wrote to the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, pleading with him not to demolish the Patna complex. He described it as a “shared built heritage between India and the Netherlands”.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka are among the few states that have taken advantage of these historical sites and repurposed old British-era palaces, bungalows, mansions and forts as heritage hotels or accommodation to attract local and foreign tourists.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
