মূর্ত সাংস্কৃতিক ঐতিহ্য কি কি ভাবে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়? | How is tangible cultural heritage being damaged?
মূর্ত সাংস্কৃতিক ঐতিহ্য কি কি ভাবে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়?
How is tangible cultural heritage being damaged?
Cultural heritage scattered across different parts of the world is increasingly under threat for various reasons. Both natural causes and human activities are equally responsible for the damage to cultural heritage. To understand the different types of threats faced by heritage sites, we must explain the causes with the help of examples and evidence.
Tangible cultural heritage—such as architecture and sculptures—is being continuously damaged due to natural factors over time. For instance, the Sun Temple of Konark serves as an example. When the temple was excavated, it was found that the spire of the sanctum was missing, though the Jagamohana still remained. Being located near the sea, the temple walls are continuously damaged by the salty sea breeze. To prevent the sea sand from entering the temple and salt from settling on the walls, the forest department has planted casuarina and pine trees across a wide area. In 1903, the Jagamohana was filled with sand for preservation, but over time this has created hollow spaces, posing a risk of collapse. As a result, efforts are now underway to refill it with sand. Similarly, Ajanta cave paintings have suffered significant damage due to climatic conditions. Architectural sites like the temples of Mahabalipuram, the Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, and the Taj Mahal are also at risk, although the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is continually working to protect them.
Not just architecture and sculptures, but movable cultural artifacts discovered through archaeological excavations are also being damaged over time. Except for gold, all metals are prone to oxidation, which causes iron artifacts to deteriorate the most. Organic materials like manuscripts or textiles are vulnerable to moisture, fungi, salt, and insects.
Among natural causes, earthquakes are the most destructive. Many heritage structures have been completely destroyed by them. For example, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed by two earthquakes in the 10th and 14th centuries. The devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake damaged around 250 archaeological sites and nearly 15,000 artifacts of the Harappan civilization in the Kutch region. In 2011, the Sikkim earthquake damaged several Buddhist monasteries.
Floods and fires have also destroyed many cultural heritages. In 1966, a sudden flood in Florence damaged many historical buildings and valuable heritage items. In 1882, the Garden Palace in Sydney, Australia, was destroyed by fire.
It is deeply unfortunate when human activities cause damage to heritage, yet such incidents are common. War and terrorism are the primary reasons. Since ancient times, invaders have shown little regard for heritage. In 1258 AD, Mongol leader Hulagu's invasion caused massive destruction to Baghdad, including the House of Wisdom and the Round City. In the early 7th century, Bengal ruler Shashanka allegedly cut down the Bodhi Tree in Gaya, as noted by the Chinese traveler Xuanzang. Historians believe that the Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed the Nalanda Mahavihara. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni broke the Jyotirlinga while looting the Somnath temple. Nadir Shah looted the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond during his invasion of India. These are all pre-modern events, but even in the 20th century, military attacks have destroyed much heritage. For example, during the Romanian conflict from 1992 to 1995, 277 mosques and numerous heritage structures were destroyed.
Cultural heritage in the Middle East has suffered heavily from terrorist attacks. The extremist group ISIS destroyed about 28 historically significant structures in 2014–15, including the Mosque of Prophet Jonah in Mosul. In Afghanistan, the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddha statues.
Beyond terrorist attacks, ethnic riots and communal hatred also damage heritage. In the Indian subcontinent, history has often been tainted by communal violence. After independence, many Islamic heritage sites in and around Delhi were damaged by refugees from West Pakistan. More recently, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by rioters.
Human civilization’s industrial activities have polluted the environment, especially air and water, putting heritage sites at severe risk. A prime example is the Taj Mahal. Due to air pollution, its beauty is threatened. During a public interest litigation hearing on July 11, 2018, the Supreme Court of India expressed strong dissatisfaction with both central and state governments, stating that if the Taj Mahal’s restoration was not handled properly, the court might order its closure or demolition. The court had to take this strict stance due to the government's negligence in controlling pollution from illegal factories.
Heritage smuggling is another major issue. Many illegal traders, middlemen, and terrorist groups are involved in smuggling cultural artifacts. ISIS, for instance, earned large sums of money by smuggling heritage sculptures from Syria and Iraq. According to a 2010 estimate, the global volume of cultural heritage smuggling was $60 million. UNESCO reports that about 50,000 heritage items were smuggled out between 1970 and 1980. Even Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize medal was stolen from Santiniketan. Africa has suffered the most from smuggling—UNESCO estimates that Africa has lost 95% of its cultural heritage due to illicit trafficking.
Cultural heritage is a source of pride and identity for a nation and its people. Hence, preservation and management of heritage are extremely important. Governments, including India’s, and organizations like UNESCO have taken multiple steps in this regard. Strict regulations have been introduced to curb smuggling. For example, it has been decided that no antiquity can be sold to another country without an export certificate from the country of origin.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন