UNESCO And World Heritage Sites

UNESCO - United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization under the auspices of the United Nations, that is, such places located in different countries of the world by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which are of great importance from cultural, historical and natural point of view. Provides protection to them, takes care of them and also provides necessary financial help. Along with this, this organization provides encouragement to the member countries for development especially in the field of education, culture and science. This organization tries to bring the member countries closer culturally and educationally.

World heritage sites exist in tangible or physical form, which we can see. In addition to the World Heritage Site, a list of intangible heritage is also issued by UNESCO at the national level and at the international level. Whose mention is given at the end of this article.

Layers of the Atmosphere

UNESCO : A Brief Intro

UNESCO was established in 1946 under the aegis of the United Nations. Its headquarters are located in Paris (France). Currently there are 195 members in this organization.

In 1972, under the auspices of UNESCO, a conference for the protection of cultural, historical and natural sites of the world lasted from October 17 to November 21, 1972. This time was called 'World Heritage Convention'. In this conference, agreement was made on the treaty for protection on the above mentioned subjects. During this conference, 187 countries signed it. India signed on 14 November 1977. Currently there are a total of 38 World Heritage Sites in India.

There are a total of 28 articles in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Convention. Its Article 1 defines cultural heritage sites while Article 2 defines natural heritage sites.

Vedic Culture

Heritage Sites : In The Context of the Indian Constitution

• Under the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution, Article 48A and Article 49 explain the protection of these natural and cultural sites.
• Article 48A - Protection and improvement of environment and protection of forests and wild life
• Article 49 - Protection of monuments, places and objects of national importance.
• Article 51 F and Article 51 G have also been interpreted under the fundamental duties of the Indian Constitution.
• Article 51 F – Understanding and preserving the importance of the tradition of our glorious social culture.
• Article 51G – Protecting and promoting the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife.

Categories of World Heritage Site

There are three categories of UNESCO World Heritage Site –

1. Natural Heritage Site
2. Cultural heritage Site
3. Mixed Heritage Site

Shifting Cultivation

1. Natural Heritage Site

Such places, which are the size of physical or geographical – natural construction and which are geographically extremely aesthetic or of geographical scientific importance. It is classified as a natural heritage site.

Like – protected forest, protected lake or river or mangrove, protected wildlife sanctuary, protected bird sanctuary etc.

2 . Cultural Heritage Site

Places that have been created by humans or by humans and nature jointly. It is classified as a cultural heritage site.

Like – architecture, sculpture, inscription, cave dwelling, painting etc.

3. Mixed Heritage Site

Such places, which are important from both natural and cultural point of view, are kept in the category of mixed heritage sites.

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Procedure For Inclusion of World Heritage Sites in UNESCO's List

Mainly five steps are used to include the World Heritage sites in the World Heritage Site.

1. First Phase – In the first phase, a temporary list of sites for that country is made. No country can nominate any property or site whose name has not been included in the World Heritage List.
2. Second Phase – In Phase II, the World Heritage Center advises and provides assistance in preparing the Heritage List.
3. Third Phase – The heritage list or nomination file prepared in the third phase is assessed by two independent organizations, the International Council of Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union, and after assessment is sent to the World Heritage Committee for recommendation.
4. Fourth Phase – In the fourth phase, the World Heritage Committee decides whether to include the heritage in the list of World Heritage Sites or not. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year.
5. Fifth Phase – Under the fifth phase, the sites are checked on the criteria of ten criteria of UNESCO. After that the site is declared as a World Heritage Site.
• Before 2006, it was necessary to fulfill only 6 cultural and 4 natural criteria, but now it is necessary to fulfill 10 criteria.

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Criteria for World Heritage Site

To give a place the status of World Heritage Site, ten standards have been set in different categories, the details of which are as follows –

• Significance in human history
• According to cultural tradition
• Human creative genius
• Exceptional human settlement
• Events or beauty
• Association with events of universal importance
• Significance in human history
• Facts about the stage of earth's history
• Relatedness to important ecological and biological processes
• Important habitat linkages of biodiversity

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Benefits and Importance of Getting the Status of World Heritage Site

• A person has a very close relationship with his heritage. Our heritage is our pride. Along with understanding history, it is also the foundation stone of our art and culture.
• Immediately arranges for the protection of the site from any possible danger or damage caused by war or any other reason to the site of the World Heritage List.
• This site is protected against destruction or misuse in time of war under the Geneva Convention.
• International attention to the need for conservation and protection of World Heritage.
• For the maintenance and re-establishment of the site included in the World Heritage List, necessary techniques and money management and training are also arranged from UNESCO, due to which the importance of that site remains.
• The sites included in the World Heritage List can be developed as tourism. Due to which, along with its importance, business and income will also be generated for the local residents of that place and the development of the area and the person will increase.

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World Monuments Funds

The World Monuments Fund was established in 1965. Its headquarters are located in New York, USA.

It is an independent international organization, which works closely with UNESCO in the monitoring and protection of historical heritage. This organization publishes a list of historical heritage named 'World Monuments Watch' every two years. Those places are kept in this list, which have historical importance and whose existence is in danger.

Being included in this list shows the importance of that place, due to which the possibility of getting financial and technical cooperation at the world level also increases.

National Parks of India

Intangible Cultural Heritage

The objective of the Intangible Cultural Heritage List is to increase awareness regarding intangible cultural heritage elements and to ensure their protection. Our traditions, culture, dance style, fair, festivals, singing style, workmanship etc. are included under this list.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of India

Following UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture in India, elements representing the intangible cultural heritage have been classified into five domains –

1. Oral traditions and expressions including language as a carrier of intangible cultural heritage
2. Performance art
3. Social practices, rituals and festivals
4. Knowledge and practice about nature and the universe
5. Traditional craftsmanship

The Union Ministry of Culture of India released the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, in which 13 intangible cultural heritage have been recognized. All the 13 intangible cultural heritage given in this list are included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

In this way, a total of 38 sites of India (including 30 cultural sites, 7 natural sites and 1 mixed site) are included in UNESCO's Tangible Heritage List, while 13 cultures and traditions are included in the intangible cultural heritage list.

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Indian Culture and Arts Included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

It includes a total of 13 traditions and arts of India –

1. Tradition of vedic chanting
2. Ramlila – Traditional performance of Ramayana
3. Kutiyattam – Sanskrit Theater
4. Ramman – Religious Festivals and Rituals of the Garhwal Himalayas
5. Mudiyettu – ritual theater and dance, drama of Kerala
6. Kalbelia Folk Songs and Dances of Rajasthan
7. Chhau Dance – West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh – recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India
9. Sankirtan, traditional singing, drums and dance of Manipur
10. Brass and copper utensils made by Thathers of Punjab
11. Yoga – Various Yoga Activities
12. Navroz – a festival celebrated by the Parsi community (on the day of the spring season, when day and night are of equal length)
13. Kumbh Mela – Organized at the confluence of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), U.P.

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