The Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was
founded in January 1984 with a view to create
general awareness about the rich cultural and
natural heritage of India. It was hoped that the
Trust, once formed, would help a revival of interest
amongst the people, to look at their culture with
the respect and dignity it rightly deserves. As
a membership based national non-government organisation
the charter of INTACH enjoins it to involve people
in the conservation of this heritage. Towards
this end it seeks to carry out activities, which
are oriented to education and communication.
To carry its philosophy beyond its members
and to spread awareness of the wealth of India’s
heritage and the need to conserve it, INTACH
publishes newsletters, books and monographs;
commissions films and audio-visuals; conducts
seminars, workshops and awareness programmes.
These include the Environmental Series, Studies
in Ecology and Sustainable Development, Science
in Public Policy Series, the Cultural Heritage
Series, and a series of technical and popular
books on Structural and Material Conservation.
INTACH’s first major communication initiative
was a television series that has become a landmark
in Indian broadcasting. The Virasat series of
13 thirty-minute films was aired on Doordarshan
1987. Focusing mostly on ecological issues,
each film took up a particular area and examined
the cultural traditions that had helped preserve
the ecological balance.
INTACH has organised many seminars and workshops
at the local, national and international level.
In many ways the most rewarding workshops have
been the ones held for children, whether they
be the nature walks held by Chapter Convenors
and members over weekends, or interaction between
traditional artists or performers and school
children.
Chapters
INTACH has, from its inception, emphasized
the leading and pace setting role that its Chapters
play in promoting the major objectives of the
organisation which are creation of Awareness
and Advocacy. INTACH’s chapters are formed
by members who are concerned about the preservation
of their environment and their cultural and
architectural heritage. Through their voluntary
efforts they focus on local issues, sustain
public opinion and influence public policy.
They also assist government and local authorities
in the implementation of projects, and fund
small projects by raising contributions through
their own initiative.
The Chapters keep INTACH headquarters in Delhi
in touch with conservation needs in the field
– dyeing skills, arts and crafts; folk
knowledge that is disappearing; environmental
problems that need immediate remedy, such as
shortage of potable water, atmospheric pollution,
coastal degradation, deforestation; buildings
and works of art that need restoration. In turn,
INTACH headquarters organizes expert advice
and solutions for the issues raised. The work
may range from offering suggestions for the
revival and re-use of degraded buildings which
are of historic value, to mobilizing local communities
to demand changes in by-laws and covenants,
to lobbying to prevent drastic and irreversible
changes in a habitat threatened by insensitive
development projects. Chapters are the life-blood
of INTACH and the link between headquarters
and the popular constituency, for conservation.
INTACH’s long-term growth depends crucially
on the growth and vitality of its chapters throughout
the country. Today, there is a network of over
a hundred active Chapters all over India playing
a sustained catalytic role. INTACH seeks to
function as a watchdog and catalyst in matters
relating to the preservation of culture and
heritage. While generally working in tandem
with governments, it becomes necessary on occasion
to take a public stance against actions that
are likely to be detrimental to heritage. Disputing
the demolition of the Bangalore High Court Building,
the Chaumachi Tomb and the Indian Gate Canopy
in Delhi, the Quila Mubarak in Patiala and the
Ram Gopal Mandi in Indore; fighting against
changes in the FSI regulations in Delhi and
Hyderabad; preventing the construction of a
planetarium inside the Botanical Gardens in
Patna; and the litigation against the Tehri
and Narmada dams are important cases in point.
Hyderabad and AP Chapter
These programmes and activities of INTACH have
proved useful. In Andhra Pradesh, some of the
significant achievements of INTACH are the following:
1. It has been taking up with the A.P. Government
certain issues of public importance. Due to
the efforts of various voluntary organisation
and positive response from the Government the
open grounds in the Chiran Palace - Hyderabad
has been declared a National Park.
The AP State Government had decided to demolish
the building occupied by the Commissioner of
Industries and auction the site. Thanks to the
intervention of INTACH and Heritage Conservation
Committee, the State Government reversed their
earlier decision and the building stands intact.
2. INTACH Heritage Awards instituted in 1996
have good response in creating public awareness
for conservation and re-use of historical buildings.
3. As a result of INTACH initiative the Government
of Andhra Pradesh issued in December, 1995 Regulation
for Conservation of Historical buildings and
areas in Hyderabad city, under Section -59 of
Andhra Pradesh Urban Areas (Development) Act
1975. In August ,1996 the Government constituted
a Heritage Committee to help supervise protection
of heritage buildings. Based on the recommendation
of this Committee the Government of Andhra Pradesh
has in March, 1998 listed 137 Heritage buildings
and heritage precincts including rocks of Hyderabad.
This should go a long way in the conservation
of our heritage.
4. The restoration of Sir Ronald Ross Building
has been completed .As a part of Sir Ronald
Ross Centenary Celebration, a function was organised
on 20th August 1997 jointly by INTACH-Hyderabad
chapter , the Osmania University, The Ross Memorial
Society, The British Council and the Indian
Society for Parasitology . The Chief Minister
of Andhra Pradesh declared open the restored
building. The State Health Minister unveiled
the Bust of Sir Ronald Ross donated by the State
Government. The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad
renamed the Minister's Road
(Ranigunj to Secunderabad main road) as Sir
Ronald Ross Road. The Postal Department brought
out a commemorative stamp on the occasion. Another
Function was organised on 26.11.97 to
hand over the building to the Vice Chancellor,
Osmania University.
This red tiled historical building close to
Hyderabad Airport was in a decrepit condition.
It is a simple one-storey utility building constructed
for serving the limited purpose of housing a
hospital for treating the native civilian workers
of the British Cantonment at Secunderabad. Most
of the surrounding land has been encroached
upon.
With a view to restore the lost glory of this
building INTACH Hyderabad Chapter took up with
INTACH-Delhi and the British Council the task
of restoration. Thanks to the generous grant
of Rs.30.00 lakhs from the British Council,
the conservation and restoration work has been
done meticulously, by the Associated Cement
Company, Bombay taking care to restore as far
as possible to the original.
It proposed to locate in these buildings a
museum in memory of Sir Ronald Ross. Efforts
will be made to acquire furniture etc., of that
period to recreate the work place of the great
discovery. The Osmania University proposes to
set up a Research Lab of excellence here. That
way we will be paying befitting tribute to one
of the greatest benefactors of mankind.
INTACH -Hyderabad Chapter which had no home
of its own, has established its office here.
Let us not forget that the cultural problems
facing India today are no less important than
the political and economic problems.
