Heritage Essay: The term “heritage” has many contexts – from history and society to culture and even heredity. We shall explore the meaning of this term from different contexts and understand its implications. In History, the term heritage refers to any processes or events that have a unique or special meaning in group memory. This could be something as simple as a yearly event (or a festival) that has been practiced over generations. Alternatively, cultural heritage refers to tangible or intangible heritage assets that are inherited over generations. However, it is important to understand that not all legacies of previous generations are considered “heritage”, instead, it is the result of selection by the society.
Moreover, most of us associate heritage with historical buildings, landscapes, works of art and ancient artifacts. However, the term also applies to indigenous intellectual property, biodiversity and even folklore. Interestingly, some of these heritages are at risk of destruction or being lost to time. Hence, the preservation of heritage is sometimes called “preservation” or “conservation”. This is carried out through cultural centuries, national museums and other exhibitions. Countries may also strive to preserve heritage as it is often considered the crux of tourism – a major economic activity. In other words, heritage assets form a significant source of employment opportunities and revenue generation.
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As discussed above, the term heritage has multiple contexts, and we can classify these into three broad types. These include cultural property, intangible culture and natural heritage. As the name implies, “natural heritage” includes a region’s specific flora and/or fauna, natural environment and geological, paleontological, geomorphological and mineralogical aspects. In other words, natural heritage can be defined as the total sum of elements present in biodiversity. Moreover, if a site is considered to have outstanding importance, it can be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Currently, 183 natural sites are considered to be World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. As of 2020, there are currently 7 Natural World Heritage Sites in India. These include the Western Ghats, Great Himalayan National Park, Nanda Devi Valley of Flowers National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Sundarbans National Park, Keoladeo National Park and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
Cultural property includes tangible or physical properties such as buildings, paintings or artworks. Moreover, this class of property can be further classified into two types – moveable and immovable property. As the term implies, moveable property includes artworks, documents, machines, books, clothing and other artifacts which can be transported and are deemed worthy for preservation. Some of these objects might be significant in various disciplines or fields such as science, archeology or technology. Immovable heritage structures cannot be moved as it is unfeasible to do so. These can include extremely large machinery, art installations, buildings, monuments, industrial projects, residential projects and other historical locations. A total of 30 Cultural World Heritage sites have been identified in India as of 2020. Some of the most well-known heritage sites include Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Red Fort Complex, Humayun’s Tomb, Mountain Railways of India, Elephanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Sun Temple, Ellora Caves and the Taj Mahal.
The third classification of heritage is “Intangible Culture.” Intangible culture refers to a particular culture’s non-physical aspects (such as customs) during a specific time period in history. It can be further understood as the formal rules which are observed in a specific cultural climate. Examples of these include customs, traditions, social values, language, spiritual and cultural beliefs, artistic expression and many other aspects of society. Unlike the other two forms of heritage, intangible culture is significantly harder to preserve than tangible objects. This is one of the reasons why there are quite a few extinct languages. That language has no living descendants, but it may continue to be in use as a liturgical or literary language.
Over the course of the earth’s 4 billion year history, no other species has transformed the earth like humans. Culturally, humans have a vast heritage that stretches several thousand years. From a purely psychological perspective, heritage provides us a sense of “oneness” and togetherness. Granted, countless wars have been fought throughout the years to represent the differences between cultures, but collectively, we represent one single species. Hence, it is imperative that the human heritage must be preserved, irrespective of the differences in culture. Moreover, some aspects of heredity such as “Intangible culture” are bound to become extinct as humans change and adapt to new political and cultural climates. Languages, traditions, practices are a few aspects of heritage that might disappear within a few hundred years. Granted, some forms of heritage, like national parks and robust structure might survive for countless generations, but other heritage sites are the remnants of a bygone era (such as the Renaissance or the Industrial Revolution). Hence, we should ensure that these kinds of heritage sites must be protected at all costs.
Another important aspect of heritage sites is its impact on the tourism industry. This industry also generates significant employment and investment opportunities. Today, most heritage sites around the world have seen commercialisation, where it has created opportunities for investment, employment and income production. Moreover, the economic impact associated with such activities are usually positive – which results in job creation as well as awareness of the heritage sites. In conclusion, heritage is an important aspect for the human race. It collectively culminates thousands of years of development and societal growth. It also reminds us of our roots and the progress that we have achieved. Moreover, preservation of our heritage can be considered a moral duty that everyone must follow sincerely.
FAQs on Heritage Essay
Question 1.
What is heritage?
Answer:
The term heritage refers to any processes or events or places that have a unique or special meaning in group memory. Examples of heritage include language, artistic expressions, paintings, buildings, natural environment, biodiversity and more.
Question 2.
How can heritage be classified?
Answer:
Heritage can be classified into three types – cultural property, intangible culture and natural heritage.
Question 3.
What is cultural property in heritage?
Answer:
Among the three classifications of heritage, cultural property refers to tangible or physical properties such as buildings, paintings or artworks.
Question 4.
What are the types of cultural property with respect to heritage?
Answer:
Cultural property can be classified into two types, namely, moveable and immovable property.
Question 5.
What is natural heritage?
Answer:
Natural heritage refers to a region’s specific flora, fauna, natural environment, geological, paleontological, geomorphological and mineralogical aspects.