Heritage Conservation in Postcolonial India: Approaches and Challenges

Heritage Conservation in Postcolonial India explores the evolution of the conservation profession in the postcolonial decades, covering institutional and programmatic developments, critical challenges, emerging trends, and sustainable solutions. It showcases unique strands of conservation practice and emphasizes the role of key players at the central, state, and local levels.

Format: Hardback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Heritage Conservation in Postcolonial India is a comprehensive exploration of the evolution and development of the conservation profession in the postcolonial era. The book aims to establish a strong foundation for the field by positioning it within historical, theoretical, and methodological frameworks. It seeks to demonstrate how the conservation profession has evolved over the past decades and trace its diverse trajectories in research, education, advocacy, and practice.

The book is organized into four sections, each addressing key themes related to the field of conservation. The first section explores institutional and programmatic developments in conservation, highlighting the growth of conservation organizations, the establishment of conservation programs, and the development of conservation policies and regulations. The second section examines critical and contemporary challenges facing the conservation profession, including issues such as climate change, cultural heritage destruction, and the commodification of heritage. The third section explores emerging trends in practice that aim to address these challenges, such as community-based conservation, digital preservation, and sustainable tourism. The fourth section presents sustainable solutions to conservation issues, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Throughout the book, numerous case studies are presented to illustrate the evolution of the heritage conservation profession. These cases highlight the roles of key players at the central, state, and local levels, as well as the consideration of intangible, minority, colonial, modern, and vernacular heritages. The cases also showcase unique strands of conservation practice in the postcolonial decades, demonstrating the range, scope, and multiple avenues of development in the last seven decades.

Heritage Conservation in Postcolonial India is an invaluable resource for individuals interested in architecture, planning, historic preservation, urban studies, and South Asian studies. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the historical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of the conservation profession, as well as its practical applications in the postcolonial context. The book offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the field, and provides valuable recommendations for future research, education, and practice.

Weight: 688g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367619947