Journalism of Courage
Living heritage has a quality of surviving on its own,however,role of people and governing bodies cannot be ruled out as far as revival is concerned
Unlike the monuments — unchanging heritage of the city that stands tall to narrate the story of the past — there are living heritages of the city,which grows,changes and even perishes only to reappear with time. While monuments and likes are subject to pollution and environmental changes only,the living heritages like culture,customs and rituals,lifestyle and much more are more vulnerable as something as constant as development can also pose a threat to their existence.
Addressing this important yet not-taken-so-seriously-issue,Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and INTACH are organising a five-day photo exhibition titles Celebrating our living culture from December 19 to 23 at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha,Kothrud.
Rashmi Ranade,architect and product designer,who also heads the Material Culture at INTACH and is in close association with the copper craft community,says,Heritage need not necessarily be a building. Living heritage also has its own importance,especially when equal effort is being made to revive it,as we try to save our monuments. For example,Tambat (copper craft) community was invited by Shivaji to make canons,weapons and temple kalshis and during the reign of Peshwas they also started manufacturing coins,so they catered to the whole society. But now,with advent of steel and plastic,their role has diminished significantly and they now manufacture copper vessels,ornamental boxes and selected items like copper basin for spa.
Ranade explained that periodical changes in any society is inevitable and leads to many other social changes that pushes many occupation or customs in past thereby making space for new ones. However,past ones dont perish altogether. Since last two decades there has been a shift towards liberalization. And people are more aware about their environment. In Pune itself,there has been many citizens initiative to save tekris and rivers,who are also a part of our heritage.
Ranade pointed put that one year of global meltdown has changed the perception of people and now Indians are looking and taking lessons from their past. The copper craftsmen not only brought their art but also their culture with them to Pune and settled in Kasba Peth. A unique feature of their settlement was that
they used the same or nearby building both as living place and working place. The same culture is now being revived,as people prefer to work near their home,though the reason is to save money while traveling and also venture less in pollution.
When asked about conservation of living heritage,Ranade says,Unlike buildings and statues,living heritage is strong enough to thrive on its own,however,attention and care from both governing body and citizen is required to make it strong enough to make a come back. Like cycling or copper craft was always there earlier as an important part of society and later as a dormant one. But it never perished totally. With efforts from many organizations and government,living heritage of copper craft did get popular among foreign tourists and elite Indians,who defined it as a part of ethnicity.
