Draft Ward Heritage Manifesto

"You can't save what you don't love, and you can't love what you don't know."

Places matter.

Heritage comprises built, natural and cultural history and it is the duty of the city and its governance, particularly the most microscopic yet powerful platforms ie the Ward Committee to preserve, promote and protect it. If we follow the civic structure of city governance, with ward committees as its base, not only is it more effective, but we are better served & organised. Funding as needed, can follow as well.

Wards & Corporators have to look at #Heritage along the following lines :

Listing

This is key to any form of ward level heritage preservation. The RMP31 has a listing of all the heritage spaces in the city. Once the listing is set , it is easier to take the next steps. The wards should sort the heritage sites applicable to THEIR ward and ensure the concerned authorities are formally aware of the same.

Special Heritage zones declared by BBMP should be specifically listed.

Awareness

Every attempt should be made to have detailed information, write ups and detailing on these heritage spaces, so that the ward and community are made aware of the rich history around their homes. Public information and historians particularly informal storytellers in the community/ward should be encouraged.

Protection

A historian, civic minded official can be appointed the Ward Heritage Marshal, so there is accountability and proper overview. We are sure that this position will be heavily vied for.

It is also critical for the wards to make all provision with organizations like Intach #HeritageBeku ASI and PWD to ensure that the heritage spaces in the world are protected against disuse, disrepair vandalism, defacement interference, encroachment and spatial incongruity.

Once the comprehensive list is available , ward committees should do everything they possibly can to ensure they proactively and assertively protect the same. Keeping BBMP and other parastatals posted about the location and preservation needed is important.

Any departure or heritage breach should be dealt with strongly and penalties be stringently invoked, so that there is awareness and a strong message on respect for heritage.

Promotion

Each ward must take great pride in the history that is resident by ensuring regular walks, proper signage interface with local schools and colleges, working with RWAs, apartment associations to be guardians or sponsors of each space.

Integration

The very character of the ward lies imbued in the heritage of each space. Creating spaces around that meld and integrate with the heritage character of its history adds value and tremendous increase in the ward ownership and pride. Given that the spaces of history come from different spaces, religions and perspectives it is a natural way to integrate the community in a more holistic and meaningful way.

Restoration & Upkeep

Without scientific upkeep and restoration valuable Heritage can quickly disintegrate irrevocably. Leaning on experts in organisations like ASI, Intach, #HeritageBeku , historians and involving government is important. The need to ensure it is done as per global standards will not only ensure a greater sense of community and ownership but also create more footfalls, conversations, tourism and related benefits to the community. An update on each heritage location should be part of what committees quarterly reviews. They should also be listed on the Wikipedia ward details so that the public is aware.

Funds required for specific heritage spaces, should be budgeted by the ward or via a larger city or BBMP Heritage Corpus

Ward Awards

Homes or institutions which preserve places of heritage should be recognized in an annual ward event every year. We would also encourage Intach, #HeritageBeku and BBMP to encourage applications from wards and ward marshals who have done extraordinary work in preserving, maintaining, promoting the community heritage by annual awards and special mentions.

To conclude, annual appraisals and mapping will showcase wards who have preserved their ward heritage as well as all other ward level parameters on water, power, waste, welfare etc, and this is a much desired governance outcome.

#WardCommittee #HeritageConservation #HeritageMarshall

Military Traditions and Heritage structures

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Monday, 10 February 2020

General Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM,

Chief of Defence Staff

South Block, New Delhi – 110001

Dear Gen Rawat:

Subject : Protection & Support of Military Spaces, Buildings and Heritage

Our congratulations on your recent elevation. As children of military officers, we have nothing but eternal respect for you, our forces and gratitude for the pride, tradition & honour the Armed Forces gives us. Many of us have formed a group called Heritage Beku to save and maintain our dwindling heritage, and we are grateful to make the small differences that we have. We have also fought hard to complete the National Military Memorial (NMM) in Bangalore early – please do see references to this in #InMyFathersName.

A news item today (extract below) mentioning the future reforms in Military budgets, while greatly decisive and bold, struck major concern

into the minds of heritage enthusiasts like ourselves.

‘Reforms also loom in the military housing sector with colonial bungalows giving way to future vertical housing with the armed forces generating their own resources to fund these projects. Called the “New Moti Bagh Model”, the CDS wants infrastructure agencies like the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to fund military housing projects (as per military specifications and under its monitoring) in lieu of compensation for acquiring cantonment lands. The military plans to generate some Rs 35,000 crore in the next seven to eight years, and the defence ministry is in support of the effort. “The days of Corps Commander living on a hill with a sprawling bungalow are over. Time has come for military commanders to stay in flats and in one building,” said a senior general who didn’t want to be named.’

The future is the future, and we support that. However, our past must be revered within military tradition as well. There is one stakeholder we can always rely on to preserve our dwindling heritage. There is one force that values tradition in the only way it should be done, one institution for which tradition is non-negotiable - and that is the military. We take this our beloved Armed Forces and its pride in tradition , for granted. While supporting you fully on your decision to be more rupee-responsive and financially savvy and future constructions for the Forces, we earnestly request you to preserve and honour the existing spaces, the structures and those colonial bungalows that gives such magnificence and splendour to our country - in the way that only the military can do. Perhaps this above quote was a comment or idea, mentioned only in passing, but it has great repercussions on the skyline and pride of our country. We sincerely urge you to look at our respectful request and our suggestion in the right manner and assure us that while future buildings may be vertical; the magnificence, splendour and heritage all of the military residences, the officers mess, the grand military structures are preserved for not only the next military generation but for the entire country.

A line in response and confirmation would be much appreciated, sir.

Jai Hind.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely

Prasad Bidapa & Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

For Team Heritage Beku

#ArmedForces #Heritage #Tradition #ArmyMess

Protect Central College Heritage

Friday, 7 February 2020 Dr Ashwath Narayan 

Hon Deputy Chief Minister Bangalore

Dear Sir Subject: Proposed plan to raze part of Central College Campus Time after time Citizens and Bangalore are getting news and updates to their great shock and consternation about public buildings particular heritage spaces, being under threat. A month ago it was Victoria Hospital, and despite are several mails and calls on the subject the extension wing was eventually razed . The fact that there is a plan to make this into a heritage building Is excellent but needs inputs from expert , planners and special interest groups like ours. Today’s news about part of the Central College campus to be razed on basis of safety , and vertical growth and high rises planned has caused a severe anxiety. . Enough studies have been done and audits have also been undertaken which clearly establish that the buildings only need renovation and restoration and require no punitive or drastic action. The desire to build into what is what One of the most venerated and beautiful campus in the heart of our precious city strikes an icy sword into citizens heart, particularly because of the eroding heritage and historic values that are anyway disappearing. The campus history and significance is known to all. There are so many important campus buildings with architectural and environmental impact. Future vision as well as environment, flora & fauna, ongoing restoration, and Heritage Management Plan and future growth needs to be looked at comprehensively. This is a Karma Bhoomi that has raised and sustained some of the best minds in not just the state, the country, but the world. What is inherent in the Central College campus is in someway the soul of knowledge and value of education in our beloved city. This indefinable, Intangible soul is reflected in the beautifully architected red buildings, and our own version of the dreaming spires. This is a memory and a motivation. As per our information the previous audit reports did not show any major recommendations except for renovation and we earnestly request That whatever the information is available should be shared with Citizens and expert groups to see if any value can be added or the buildings saved. Any change that is required for this buildings must go through proper process and audit and at no point can this beleaguered city be under further attack. We request you to please look into this matter and share the necessary information so that we are ableTo give our feedback and help save a centralb part of our beloved city and it’s educational history and Hetitage. We look forward do your input on this at the earliest