India is a country which is understood for its sturdy diversity, culture, history, and architecture. The monuments in India unfold throughout the state and function as architectural stories that will be preserved for future generations. They now no longer handiest act as a background that speaks of its glorious past. As we know, over time, degradation happens and decreases the brawny aesthetics, that’s why there are firms like ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) that hold the monuments and repair them if required.
Conservation of Monuments | Monuments in India
As discussed, monuments shall be preserved for future generations to be aware of the great but astonishing beyond of the nation. Talking of history, one ought to embark that the first actual conservationist of India turned into Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who facilitated the reconstruction of homes in a decayed way through the previous rulers. Due to the sheer wide variety of monuments in our nation, it isn’t always sensible to preserve everyone in my view because of a loss of investment and manpower. As a result, ASI has counselled some techniques which could assist hold the monuments and prevent destiny deterioration.
Why do the monuments need to be conserved?
It is crucial to maintain the monuments because of numerous reasons. The cause can be; pollutants, water seepage because of farming or irrigation-associated activities, vandalism with the aid of using the general public or any terrorist attack, or probably because of shear weathering that occurs in a construction steadily from the day it’s miles constructed. For instance, the Taj Mahal which is a global historical past web page commenced showing yellow because of the pollutants from the industries nearby. This brought about the improvement of the Taj trapezium said no drives shall be constructed close to the Taj Mahal.
ASI | Monuments in India
The word restoration means succour in reconstructing something into its original form. According to ASI, the majority of the structure’s original components must be kept because they are far more valuable than those that were added afterwards. The restoration of ancient monuments has not only interested tourists but also opened a path for the generation of employment and conservation of the heritage of India. However, the ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance are being divided into 24 cities. The restoration process requires a man force of skilled people. The consortium, ASI comprises a workforce of trained architects, archaeologists, Craftsmen, epigraphists, scientists and more.
Restoration process
Monument restoration can be accomplished in two primary ways: structurally and chemically. The process of strengthening the foundations so that the buildings can withstand future natural calamities is known as structural restoration. The procedure also includes getting rid of extra vegetation that has accumulated over time. The method of defending monuments from the damaging effects of organic and inorganic gases like carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, and nitric acid is known as chemical restoration. Additionally, it helps to stop the development of lichens, algae, moths, and other potential breeding pests on the monument’s walls.
Steps involved in the restoration process:
How does the government decide which monuments should be saved and maintained and which ones shouldn’t, given that not all of the current monuments have been renovated? It is chosen whether it is worthwhile to restore after using the comprehensive study that is supplied to raise a technique and several issues. The steps entail identifying the monuments that require restoration, recording their location and current state, as well as analysing the significance of each monument and its potential effects on the general populace.
The consortium’s reviews of the monument’s significance and relevance can be integrated into this. Next is the organization’s conservation philosophy approximately the way to maintain the monument safe. This can consist of the consortium’s reviews of the cost and suitability of the monument. The subsequent step is to assemble the authorities’ reviews concerning the proposed plan for protecting a selected monument. With the help of informed individuals, a radical plan detailing the tactics they’ll use to repair the monument’s shape and the substances they’ll use to repair the shape’s aesthetics is being advanced after the plan has been accepted. Experts oversee the recuperation process, which is observed through the booklet of a record for public consumption.
Example – Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu
A temple also known by the name of Thiruvaranga Tirupati, which lies in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most eminent Vaishnav temples in India. The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture and is regarded as the first among the 108 Divya desams that was dedicated to the lord Vishnu. The restoration of the temple began in the year 2014, in which hundred-pillar, thousand pillar and several other mandapams were restored along with the sculpture and sub-shrines. Nearly 60,000 tonnes of debris were removed during the restoration process. In 2017, the project won the UNESCO Asia Pacific of Merit for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
CITATIONS:
ONLINE SOURCES:
(N.d.). Mapsofindia.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/government/restoration-of-monuments-in-india
(N.d.). Mapsofindia.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/government/restoration-of-monuments-in-india
Krishna. (2022, May 30). Essay on Restoration and Preservation of Indian Monuments for Class 10, 12, mains exam (UPSC, PSC, SSC). Net Explanations. https://www.netexplanations.com/restoration-and-preservation-of-indian-monuments-essay/
(N.d.-b). Gov.In. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://cpwd.gov.in/Publication/ConservationHertbuildings.pdf
IMAGES:
BBC News (2013) “In pictures: Restored Humayun’s Tomb,” BBC, 23 September. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-24200904 (Accessed: November 6, 2022).
AFP (2018) “No end to eyesores at India’s Taj Mahal as restoration work drags on,” Arab news, 22 January. Available at: https://www.arabnews.com/node/1230961/travel (Accessed: November 6, 2022).
Yadav, P. (2022) Explained: Restoration work at 800 years-old Konark temple, India Times. Available at: https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/restoration-work-at-800-years-old-konark-temple-574138.html (Accessed: November 6, 2022).
Temple ruins, art and conservation (2018) Heritage Preservation Atelier. Available at: https://heritagepreservationatelier.com/temple-structure-art-and-conservation/ (Accessed: November 6, 2022).
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple: World’s largest functioning temple. (2019). https://travelazzi.com/sri-ranganathaswamy-temple/
