Restoration of Humayun tomb a model to emulate

The completion of the project to conserve the centuries-old Humayun tomb in New Delhi was a proud moment for conservationists and archaeologists. Anybody who has witnessed the meticulous work over the last six years will agree that considerable planning, attention to details and sophistication have gone into the work. The tomb was in a state of disrepair and would have crumbled, if it was not restored. Restoration of the UNESCO world heritage site was not easy, given the technology, artistry and materials required for the work. Also, care had to be taken against getting a shoddy work done.

Fortunately, Agha Khan Trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) joined hands to take up the challenge. About 1,000 artisans, including some from Uzbekistan, took part in the restoration work which did not disrupt the flow of tourists to the tomb, built in 1570. At the completion ceremony, prime minister Manmohan Singh praised the private-public participation in the restoration plan. The ASI has done pioneering work in restoring such monuments as the temples at Khajuraho and Konark but it has its own limits.

Few other countries can rival India in terms of its cultural heritage. In Delhi itself there are hundreds of structures, big and small, dating to the Mughal and earlier periods that will be lost forever if urgent restoration work is not done. Alas, the ASI does not have adequate funds and enough personnel to undertake such a gargantuan task. The ASI had a programme to instill a sense of participation in the minds of the youth in its conservation programmes. The people can also be trained to help in this regard. Also, private companies and philanthropic outfits can be encouraged to support restoration work at specific sites, identified by the ASI, by granting them tax concessions. In any case, archaeological preservation is too big a task to be left to the government alone.