Recording and Preserving Cultural Heritage

Cross-sectoral engagement for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The students of Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability and Gaia, the environmental society attended the inauguration of Royal Enfield x UNESCO – The Great Himalayan Exploration at the UNESCO Building, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The collaboration documented 21 unique cultural practices in the Himalayas. It explored climate change’s impact on heritage and advocated responsible travel and ethical heritage documentation. The day was filled with capacity-building workshops, discussions on responsible travel, and even a session on ethical heritage documentation by actor Adil Hussain and filmmaker Rita Banerji. The day unfolded with a rich array of panels and engaging discussions on the theme of responsible travel and the ethical documentation of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition to the insightful session led by actor Adil Hussain and filmmaker Rita Banerji, a distinguished lineup of panellists and experts from various fields graced the occasion. Notable contributors included eminent lifestyle journalist Bandana Tewari, renowned designers Sonam Dubal, Peter D’Ascoli, Rina Singh, and Sushant Abrol, among others, who lent their expertise to explore sustainable textile practices of the Himalayas, providing valuable insights into the preservation of this unique cultural heritage. These panels and discussions were instrumental in fostering a deep understanding of the critical issues surrounding the preservation and promotion of the Himalayan region’s rich and diverse cultural traditions. The students interacted with the panellists on an assortment of subjects ranging between, the ever-relevant climate crisis to conservation methodologies and the impact of over tourism. 

JSAA’s thematic workshop on “Crafting Transitions: Skill, Labour and Community”

Artisanal communities played a key role in creating and maintaining social solidarity by providing employment and promoting entrepreneurship, with a work ethic shaped by social, religious, commercial and spiritual values. Many traditional craft skills were inherently sustainable, utilising locally sourced materials and low-energy, primarily manual-production methods. Skills were usually passed down through the “Ustad-Shagird” or “Guru-Chela” traditions. The history and relevance of some of these time-honoured professions are also preserved in folk tales and oral traditions, passed down as genealogical heritage alongside the occupational skills. The skilled-occupation practitioners, as a sub-caste practiced endogamy religiously with some of the other rigidities of the caste system. With industrialisation, these traditional crafts struggled to survive in the modern economies. As the homogeneity of ideas, architecture, standard occupations and lifestyles took over, the diversity of skilled labour and artisanal communities faced marginalisation, the loss of both financial and social relevance and identity. This workshop on Skill, Craft and Labour addressed the intersectionality of skilled crafts, heritage, social identity and labour with Prof. Deepak Mehta, Dr. Amanda Lanzillo and Dr. Uzma Azhar, whose scholarly work critically examines the artisans as local communities preserving the socio-cultural realm in the economy of the city and the continuous marginalisation of their labouring voices in the public sphere.

International Conference on ‘Enabling Conservation Through Digital Engagement

The Jindal School of Art & Architecture (JSAA) organised an International Conference on ‘Enabling Conservation Through Digital Engagement.’ This conference served as a pioneering platform uniting global experts, conservationists, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore the intersection of digital technologies and conservation efforts. Through insightful discussions and presentations, the conference aimed to inspire, educate, and catalyse action, advocating for the integration of digital strategies in the global mission to safeguard and promote the world’s cultural heritage for future generations.

Expert commentary by Dr. Neha Khetrapal, Deputy Director at the Jindal India Institute

Dive into the first of our expert commentaries by Dr. Neha Khetrapal, Deputy Director at the Jindal India Institute on “Using a Decolonized Museum Space for Diplomacy: Views from India” which sheds light on India’s pioneering use of museum spaces to foster global connections and address geopolitical challenges. Discover how museums are evolving into dynamic platforms for cultural exchange and international dialogue here https://jii.jgu.edu.in/strategy-foreign-policy/using-a-decolonized-museum-space-for-diplomacy-views-from-india/