The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is stepping up to offer its full support to the Andhra Pradesh government in its quest to earn UNESCO World Heritage status for the magnificent Gandikota Fort and its surrounding historical landscape in Kadapa district. This commitment comes directly from INTACH Chairman Ashok Singh Thakur.
In an exclusive conversation with The Hindu, Mr. Thakur highlighted INTACH’s pivotal role as India’s leading heritage conservation organization. He explained that the Trust is uniquely positioned to assist the Andhra Pradesh government with crucial aspects of the UNESCO nomination process, including expert guidance in preparing comprehensive dossiers, undertaking detailed heritage mapping, and providing technical documentation support.
Mr. Thakur emphasized his personal dedication to ’empowering local communities and strengthening INTACH chapters, both financially and technically.’ He proudly noted that INTACH’s convenors and members nationwide are passionate, unpaid volunteers. ‘With approximately 10,000 members across India, our collective commitment to heritage preservation is unwavering,’ he stated.
According to Mr. Thakur, the true essence of Indian heritage resides not primarily in its bustling cities, but in its serene villages. He firmly believes that ‘to protect this invaluable heritage, it’s essential to first educate people about its significance, especially the younger generation.’ He then proceeded to elaborate on the various impactful outreach initiatives undertaken by INTACH.
These initiatives encompass comprehensive teachers’ training programs, fully supported by INTACH with venues, meals, and educational materials. A cornerstone is the ‘Young INTACH’ initiative, which establishes vibrant heritage clubs in schools. These clubs captivate children by introducing them to historical monuments through engaging cartoons and regional language magazines. Each young member receives a ‘Heritage Passport,’ and monthly heritage walks are organized to foster a tangible connection between children and their local history.
Embracing the digital era, INTACH actively encourages heritage learning through student-produced short films and videos. ‘We motivate children to create concise two-minute documentaries on diverse heritage topics, with the finest productions being celebrated nationally,’ Mr. Thakur elaborated. He highlighted how this ‘Young India’ initiative successfully bridges the divide between historical legacy and contemporary technology.
However, Mr. Thakur also acknowledged significant challenges, particularly ‘rapid modernization and Westernization,’ which threaten heritage conservation. He underscored INTACH’s vital mission: ‘Our goal is to meticulously preserve both tangible and intangible heritage before it vanishes forever.’ He detailed the organization’s efforts in documenting endangered traditions like lullabies, cherished folktales, unique regional foods, traditional crafts, and traditional village games such as ‘gilli-danda’ and ‘lattu’.
INTACH operates through 11 distinct divisions, encompassing areas like traditional crafts, built heritage, natural heritage, and publications. Illustrating their practical work, Mr. Thakur presented his visiting card, notably crafted from 700-year-old handmade paper. ‘We are actively reviving this ancient papermaking tradition in Kagzipura village, near Aurangabad (now Sambhajinagar), where artisans historically produced paper from recycled cloth and forest fibers,’ he shared. He proudly added that India’s very first handmade paper museum is currently under development in Kagzipura, made possible by generous financial support from the Bajaj Foundation.