Giving credit where it is due
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation recognises the efforts of private individuals and organisations that have successfully restored or conserved structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region
On 1 September 2016 the good news was announced in Bangkok that The Conservation of the 17th Century Shahi Hammam in the Walled City of Lahore received the Award of Merit in this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan, with financial support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy and facilitation from the Walled City of Lahore Authority, carried out the conservation of the Mughal-era public bathhouse. The two-year project which was completed in 2015 is part of a successful public-private partnership between the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the government of Punjab. The primary objectives of the conservation effort were to re-establish the monument as a bathhouse through the exposure, conservation and display of the remains of the original waterworks, drainage and hypocaust system through archaeological excavation, structural consolidation and restoration of the historic floor levels. A total of 13 winning projects from six countries – Australia, China, India, Iran, Japan and Pakistan – have been recognised in this year’s Heritage Awards. A panel of international conservation experts met in Bangkok to review the 40 Heritage Awards entries, including 34 in the conservation category. Award of Merit in 2016 have been given for the conservation of the 17th-century Shahi Hammam, Lahore, Pakistan, Repairs and Restoration to the Cama Building, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, India and Restoration of Fortification of Walls and Bastions of Mahidpur Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India.
In 2014 Gali Surjan Singh, inside Lahore’s Delhi Gate, was recognised by UNESCO as part of that year’s Asia-Pacific awards for cultural heritage conservation. The site was one of 14 projects from 10 countries recognised for “efforts of private individuals and organisations that have successfully restored and conserved structures and buildings of heritage value”. While no project was given the Award of Excellence that year, Gali Surjan Singh received an ‘honorable mention’ in UNESCO’s list of heritage works. Gali Surjan Singh was also restored by the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan, Walled City of Lahore Authority with the funding of German embassy.
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation recognises the efforts of private individuals and organisations that have successfully restored or conserved structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region. The Awards emphasise the importance of the conservation process, including the technical achievements and quality of the restoration, as well as the social impact, including community involvement in the project. Projects involving heritage properties more than fifty years old which were completed within the last ten years are eligible for consideration in the conservation category. Houses, commercial and institutional buildings, historic towns and villages, archaeological heritage sites and cultural landscapes, for example, are all suitable for entry. The awards aim to encourage others to undertake conservation projects within their communities, either independently or by seeking public-private partnerships.
Now this is the pride that the heritage of Lahore has brought to Pakistan. It means if the authorities work hard in maintaining and conserving the monuments these will be surely recognised by the international organisations. The Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens are already on the World Heritage List by UNESCO and now more and more monuments are winning different awards. The government of Pakistan should be proud on these achievements but we hardly see any response in celebrating these prides by the government. In my opinion, the prime minister and the president of Pakistan along with the provincial chief minister should release notes and views on these achievements in media. Why don’t we see any press conference on such achievements? I wonder!
Also, why cannot these sites be included in the syllabi of schools and universities? The response I get from the readers regarding my features and whatever I post on social media shows that these sites or even the other heritage sites are not marketed. It is something to be done on part of the government and education departments of government that the achievements of Pakistan should be included in the syllabus at all levels. Not only this, it should be made compulsory that all students visit the heritage sites of Pakistan or at least their own city.
Now this is the pride that the heritage of Lahore has brought to Pakistan. It means if the authorities work hard in maintaining and conserving the monuments these will be surely recognised by the international organisations
Moreover, the government should realise that these awards and related activities are a source of positive and a soft image building for Pakistan. Celebrating such events is a way to tell the world that we cherish our heritage and culture and that we are a peace loving country. These celebrations and acknowledgments are need of the hour for all of us. This is how we will pass on the importance of our heritage to the next generation. Trust me our new generation is far away from our true heritage and culture. They prefer studying, working and visiting abroad than Pakistan. Whose fault is it? I would say that the governments as well as all of us who are somehow associated with media are responsible for creating such a mindset of our youth. We need to highlight these achievements, include them in syllabus and project these in media so that the masses at large get to know what jewel we have. If we do not protect and project our culture and heritage now, it will vanish and culture lost is identity lost. I hope we won’t let our new generation have this identity crisis.
