What are the core challenges in aligning India’s monument preservation with its civilisational identity? Examine how institutional reforms can address these challenges.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Q1. What are the core challenges in aligning India’s monument preservation with its civilisational identity? Examine how institutional reforms can address these challenges. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question: There is growing national debate on decolonising heritage, with recent efforts to recognise overlooked sites like Mangarh, Kalady, and tribal uprisings demanding structural reform in monument preservation policy. Key Demand of the question: The question requires identifying major obstacles in reflecting India’s civilisational legacy through monuments and evaluating how institutional reforms can address these gaps in historical representation and governance. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly highlight India’s civilisational continuity and the mismatch with its current monument preservation framework. Body: Challenges in alignment – Colonial-era priorities, underrepresentation of regional/tribal/Dalit heritage, lack of interpretive narratives, and centralised control. Institutional reforms – New heritage bodies, decentralisation, ASI reform, inclusive criteria, and curated public memory initiatives. Conclusion: India’s civilisational spirit must guide heritage preservation, enabling communities to reclaim and reinterpret their history through meaningful institutional transformation.
Why the question: There is growing national debate on decolonising heritage, with recent efforts to recognise overlooked sites like Mangarh, Kalady, and tribal uprisings demanding structural reform in monument preservation policy.
Key Demand of the question: The question requires identifying major obstacles in reflecting India’s civilisational legacy through monuments and evaluating how institutional reforms can address these gaps in historical representation and governance.
Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly highlight India’s civilisational continuity and the mismatch with its current monument preservation framework.
• Challenges in alignment – Colonial-era priorities, underrepresentation of regional/tribal/Dalit heritage, lack of interpretive narratives, and centralised control.
• Institutional reforms – New heritage bodies, decentralisation, ASI reform, inclusive criteria, and curated public memory initiatives.
Conclusion: India’s civilisational spirit must guide heritage preservation, enabling communities to reclaim and reinterpret their history through meaningful institutional transformation.