IGNCA TAKES INITIATIVE IN CONSERVATION OF HAMPI

BY  SANJAY GOEL

REPORTS –

Hampi, one of the World Heritage sites, has been the subject of much attention and discussion.  However, a holistic approach to the preservation of the site has been lacking.  With a view to addressing this problem, IGNCA organized a tow-day workshop in Hampi.  Eminent persons from various related fields archaeology, museum, architecture, art history, Geographic Information System, performing artist, subject scholars and multimedia experts attended the workshop, which was organized in association with the Kannada University, Hampi.

The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. N.R. Shetty, our Member Secretary, who has taken the initiative in this matter.  The participants felt that although a number of national and international scholars have done research on different aspect of Hampi, most of the work has been individualistic and there appeared to be not much of an effort to implement an integrated and holistic approach in carrying out research.

The participants suggested that before an actual plan of research activity is to be implemented in the above context an annotated bibliography of all published and unpublished work in different languages and areas by scholars in India and outside should be prepared.  This suggestion was unanimously accepted and the work was entrusted to a team of experts to be coordinated by the Kannada University, Hampi.  The work is to be completed in a period of three months.

It was also decided at the workshop that a site plan, using the Geographic Information System (GIS) technique would be prepared.  The plan will use the latest satellite imagery.  This work would be done by a firm, with GIS expertise.  A representative of the firm also participated in the workshop.  This task too is expected to be accomplished in three months.

With these two reports available in three months time, it would be possible to draw up a coherent, comprehensive and practical plan of action with an  integrated approach which may help in restoring Hampi as a World Heritage Site, which is on the verge of losing this privilege because of lack of adequate conservation efforts.

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