Yesterday, PM Modi inaugurated the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It is a matter of privilege as Bharat is hosting World Heritage Committee for the first time till 31st of July. More than 2000 delegates from over 150 countries attended this meeting.
Speaking on this occasion PM Modi highlighted Bharat’s commitment towards world heritage conservation. He was joined on the dais by the UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Vishal V Sharma, chairperson of the WHC and ambassador, permanent representative of India to UNESCO etc.
‘Heritage Not Just History’
PM Modi began by pointing out the significance of this event taking place in Bharat, which is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. He then stated that our heritage is not just history but it is also science. PM Modi, beautifully elaborated how Indian heritage, reflects not just our rich history but also science.
“In India’s heritage, one can witness a glorious journey of top-notch engineering. Just a few hundred kilometers from Delhi, at an altitude of 3500 meters, is the Kedarnath Temple. Even today, that place is so geographically challenging that people have to walk a lot or go by helicopter. It is astonishing that the construction of the Kedarnath Temple was done in the 8th century. Its engineering took into account the harsh environment and glaciers,” he said.
PM Modi further added, “There are various centers of heritage in the world, but India is so ancient that every point of the present narrates a story of a glorious past. The world knows Delhi as the capital of India, but this city is also a center of thousand-year-old heritage. Here, at every step, you will witness historical heritage. About 15 kilometers from here, there is an iron pillar weighing several tons. A pillar that has been standing in the open for 2000 years, yet it is rust-resistant to date. This shows how advanced India’s metallurgy was even at that time. It is clear that India’s heritage is not only history, but it is also science.”
Continuing further PM Modi highlighted how Bharat has successfully brought back 350 artifacts into the country till date. Not to forget the recent ‘Wagh-Nakh’ of Shivaji Maharaj. He said that the return of these artifacts reflects global generosity and respect for history.
‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’
On this occasion, PM Modi announced that Bharat will contribute 1 million dollars to the World Heritage Center. This grant will be used for capacity building and conservation of the world heritage sites, especially for the countries in the Global South.
Furthermore, PM Modi highlighted how Bharat is taking unprecedented steps towards development as well as on its heritage and asserted Bharat’s vision of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’.
Addressing the World Heritage Committee. India is committed to promoting global cooperation and engaging local communities towards heritage conservation efforts.https://t.co/hXFQ5pEqK4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2024
He said, “In the past 10 years, India has touched new dimensions of modern development and has also pledged to take pride in its heritage. Be it the Vishwanath Corridor in Kashi, the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, or the modern campus of the ancient Nalanda University. Numerous such works are happening across the country. Today, the benefits of Ayurveda are reaching the entire world, but it is India’s scientific heritage.” PM Modi also announced North East’s historic ‘Moidams‘ has been nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
He announced, “The World Heritage Committee’s program is a proud achievement for India. I have been informed that the historic “Moidams” of North East India is proposed to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This will be India’s 43rd World Heritage site and the first heritage site in North East India to receive the status of a cultural world heritage.”