Ismaili Mail

Video is in Arabic

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture hopes that upgrading the area with new homes, a park, and the restoration of monuments would attract new investment to the community.

Established by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in 1992, the program undertakes restoration of historic structures, improvement of public area and rehabilitation of urban spaces in Egypt, Syria, India, Afghanistan and Mali. The exhibition, which will be in the Legislature Pedway from June 24 to July 1, outlines the massive projects conducted in these countries.

http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ - PDF

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Government of Alberta Press Release

excerpt:
If you are looking for a little culture or a whole lot of history: an open house at the majestic Legislature Building is sure to please. Take a tour through the Legislature Building and see where your elected Member of the Legislative Assembly sits in the Chamber or walk through the pedway to view the Historic Cities Program exhibition.

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Canada Day Preview - Government of Alberta - PDF

A blogger’s experience when visiting The Historic Cities Programme Exhibition in Vancouver…..

Both Seattle and Vancouver have some great public art. We wandered around the city and visited a banking building that had a great public display about the Aga Khan Development Network and the work they are doing around the world. It was excellent. The young woman who showed me around had done her degree in architecture and religion, which I thought was really a great combo. She was very passionate about the restoration work that the Network were doing. One of the interesting things things they were doing was collecting plastic bags and melting them down, mixing them with sand and turning them into paving blocks.

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VANCOUVER - While culture is often thought of as a “luxury”, particularly in the developing world, an Exhibition featuring the work of the Historic Cities Programme offers a perspective that looks at culture as an asset that can transform communities.

The Historic Cities Programme Exhibition, which concluded its Vancouver showing on Wednesday, is an international initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture commemorating the Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan. It features five of the Trust’s projects in Egypt, Syria, Mali, India, and Afghanistan, and provides a unique lens on the role of culture in development. During the Jubilee year, the Exhibition will tour cities in various countries around the world.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada partnered with UBC, SFU and Centre A to present the Historic Cities Programme Seminar Series. The final installment of this series was held in conjunction with SFU’s Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures this Wednesday.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. The work of AKDN is inspired by the ethics of Islam and seeks to uphold the dignity of humankind. His Highness the Aga Khan is Founder and Chairman of the Network. For more information on the AKDN, visit www.akdn.org

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Theron Kramer

Ismaili? What is that, I asked, just after starting to work at the K-W Multicultural Centre in the early 1970s.

I soon learned as I got to know a number of Ismaili refugees who arrived in Waterloo Region from Uganda where, after being the entrepreneurs that had driven much of the economic development there for years, they had been ordered out of the country by Idi Amin.

Since that time, the K-W Ismaili community, part of the 15 million Ismaili Shia Muslims scattered throughout the world, has prospered here.

I had the privilege of participating in two important Waterloo Region events hosted by this very dedicated cultural and religious group over the past month.

The first was their celebration of Muhammad’s birthday. At Kitchener’s Delta Hotel, Ismaili families and their guests participated in a night of poetry, dance and music, as well as a very stimulating presentation by Prof. Amir Hussain on the opportunities and challenges for Canadian Muslims in the 21st century.

The following weekend at the School of Architecture in Cambridge, there was a travelling exhibit of the historic cities program, produced by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and co-sponsored by the University of Waterloo.

What an incredible learning experience the huge display gave us about the role that heritage conservation and restoration can play in the social and economic development of entire communities.

Throughout the Muslim world, from Mali to Egypt to Afghanistan, His Highness, the Aga Khan, spiritual head - or Imam - of the Ismaili community, has used the Aga Khan Trust for Culture not just to restore and rebuild major historic Islamic sites and buildings, but to create hundreds of local jobs, to train youth in ancient building skills and, in conjunction with other agencies in the Aga Khan Development Network, to develop ongoing economic and social structures.

The most interesting site for me was the one in Kabul, Afghanistan. As Canadians, we hear almost daily about the failures in Canada’s and other countries’ attempts to rebuild that shattered society. But here, the trust has successfully restored a historic mosque, along with other buildings and infrastructure in the surrounding neighbourhood, creating 50,000 workdays of employment for local residents.

As part of this experience, on Sunday afternoon, Rick Haldenby, Bruce Kuwabara and Janna Levitt, three architects well known locally, showed slides and talked about some of their innovative reuse of buildings in North America. It was very appropriate that both the panel discussion and the Aga Khan exhibit were held in the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture, which itself is a great example of an innovative heritage building converted from factory to university.

We have much to learn from dialogue with one another about all aspects of the rich history, arts, cultural heritage and social and economic development approaches that our neighbours are involved in throughout the world. But too few of us are part of that dialogue.

We need more partnerships between multicultural groups and mainstream institutions and much more attention paid by our media to the variety of cultural activities happening throughout our communities.

There was scant coverage of the Aga Khan historic cities program here, despite the fact that the tour of this very stimulating exhibit is appearing in only four of Canada’s largest cities — and in Cambridge.

You can learn more about the Aga Khan Development Network and the work it does with partners like our own Canadian International Development Agency at www.akdn.org.

You can also support its work through the Aga Khan Foundation Canada by participating in the World Partnership Walk in Kitchener on Sunday, May 25 starting at the Victoria Park Gazebo at 11 a.m. Register or donate at: www.worldpartnershipwalk.com.

Theron Kramer of Kitchener has wide experience as a community volunteer.

Source

Aga Khan Trust for Culture and His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada present: The Historic Cities Programme Seminar Series in Vancouver British Columbia.

Download complete details (PDF)

Category: Historic Cities Programme

RECORD STAFF CAMBRIDGE

The Aga Khan Historic Cities Program is on view at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture this weekend.

The travelling exhibition shows the major restoration projects in Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan and India paid for by the Aga Khan. The exhibit can be seen at the school on Melville Street today from noon to 8 p.m., tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A panel discussion will be held tomorrow from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Rick Haldenby, director of the school, and Toronto-based architects Bruce Kuwabara and Janna Levitt.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/342164

Ismailimail Category: Historic Cities Programme

You may accept the invite at the source if you’re attending

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - Saturday, April 19, 2008

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/471141/

Aleem at Creative Class Blog writes about HCP launch in Toronto. Pictures at the source.

HCP showcases the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Mali, India and Afghanistan. The HCP exhibition offers a perspective that looks at culture as an asset that can transform communities.

Click here to visit the source for complete post and pictures.

CONSERVATION: Conserving culture

Historic Ciies exhibit McCord - Geoffrey Antsey

This attitude is what Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims (or Ismailis), wants to change with his Historic Cities Program. Part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the program aims to show that culture is not just a luxury and that investing in it has real economic and social benefits for impoverished communities in the Muslim world.

In North America, when a building passes the hundred-year mark, there’s a good chance that a plaque will be put on it. We don’t have much antiquity here, and if there’s a building that our grandparents remember from their youth we’ll probably fight tooth and nail so that our children will be able to see it. Sure, part of the zeal comes from a desire to keep up the scenery, but there is more to it than that. Such buildings connect us to our past and in doing so enrich our culture-making the price tag to save them well worth our tax dollars.

But some other parts of the world don’t have the wealth we do to spend on urban conservation and as a result, even older and more significant architecture is left to rot. Such investment in culture is a luxury that these communities can’t afford, and losses in heritage are often the inescapable result of an economic position.

The McGill Tribune
(more…)

The Historic Cities Programme launched its Canadian Tour in Montreal on April 1, 2008 and will tour Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. An initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and brought to Canada in partnership with His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada, the exhibition provides a unique lens on the role of culture in development. For the past 25 years, the Programme has promoted the conservation and reuse of buildings and public spaces in historic cities in the Muslim World. The work is undertaken in ways that spur social, economic and cultural development and builds community participation, trains local professionals and institutions.

“The Exhibition shows five projects, each undertaken within a different context in Egypt, Syria, Mali, India, and Afghanistan, while the underlying approach and philosophy cuts across all of the locations,” said Karim Rahemtulla of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. “Each shows how conservation and revitalization of cultural heritage – often the only asset available to the community – can provide a trampoline for social development. Our experience suggests that such projects have a positive impact on conservation, strengthening of local civil society and governance, increase in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights and better stewardship of the environment.”

Canadian Architect
Related Posts

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Radio Canada features Historic Cities Exhibition in Canada. An initiative of Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The audio clip contains message from His Highness the Aga Khan.

MONTREAL, March 31 /CNW Telbec/ - The Historic Cities Programme launches its Canadian Tour starting in Montreal on April 1, 2008 and thereafter, touring Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. An initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and brought to Canada in partnership with His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada, the Exhibition provides a unique lens on the role of culture in development. For the past 25 years, the Programme has promoted the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities in the Muslim World. The work is undertaken in ways that spur social, economic and cultural development and builds community participation, trains local professionals and institutions.

“The Exhibition shows five projects, each undertaken within a different context in Egypt, Syria, Mali, India, and Afghanistan, while the underlying approach and philosophy cuts across all of the locations,” said Karim Rahemtulla of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. “Each shows how conservation and revitalization of cultural heritage - often the only asset available to the community - can provide a trampoline for social development. Our experience suggests that such projects have a positive impact on conservation, strengthening of local civil society and governance, increase in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights and better stewardship of the environment.”

Schedule:

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One of the lesser noticed side-effects of the war and violence in Afghanistan is the immeasurable loss caused to the country’s rich cultural heritage. Architectural masterpieces and museums have been bombed and looted over the years, music and television were banned by the Taliban for several years, and some of the country’s greatest talents are now living in exile.

This has not prevented some people from even risking their lives to preserve what is left and to breathe new life into the rich traditions that have been created by generations of Afghans and the traders and travellers that came here from across the Asian continent and the Mediterranean.

Complete at the source

Dawn Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March 7: The World Bank (WB) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on the �Urban Regeneration of the Walled City of Lahore�.

According to a press release issued here, the MoU completes a partnership of the World Bank, AKDN and the government of Punjab.

It is an important step towards achieving the goals envisaged under the public-private partnership framework agreement between AKTC and the government of Punjab signed in July last year for safeguarding and conserving the unique cultural heritage of the Lahore Walled City. �This is a wonderful example of partnership and the respective programmes will have a significant impact on employment generation and poverty reduction,� the press release said.

The ongoing World Bank funded Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) encompasses a cultural heritage component that is helping the government of Punjab undertake preparatory socio-economic and physical documentation surveys; analyses for improved heritage asset management and regulation; and the implementation of a pilot project within the Lahore Walled City which envisages the creation of a heritage trail along the Shahi Guzargah. The pilot is envisaged to test methods and processes by creating a prototype, with the objective of scaling up across the entire Lahore Walled City, as well as other historical centres in the country.

The AKDN brings invaluable experience and expertise in working with historic urban cores, particularly in the Islamic world, through the Aga Khan Historic Cities Support Programme (AKHCP).

Over the last decade, the World Bank has implemented 68 projects worldwide, specifically designed for cultural heritage conservation or with cultural heritage components, totalling more than $782 million in investments.

Dawn Pakistan

Punjab Heritage

Burqa clad Afghan woman buy groceries outside the old castle in the old part of Herat city north east of Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 February 2008. The conservation of historical places is part of a wider rehabilitation project implemented by the Historical Cities Support Programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, with support from the German federal foreign Office. The Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme (HCP) promotes the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities in the Muslim World.

Burqa clad Afghan women walk in the old part of Herat city north east of Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 February 2008.

Afghan men walk in the old part of Herat city north east of Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 February 2008.

Afghan girls walk in the old part of Herat city north east of Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 February 2008.

From Paul Levy, President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston

For those in Boston, I want to recommend a marvelous exhibition I saw last night at the Boston Architectural College on Newbury Street.

But hurry, because it is only open until January 29. (I think it then travels to other cities.) As someone trained in urban planning, I found it particularly engaging, but I think it has general appeal, too.

The show is put on by the Aga Khan Historic Cities program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Complete at the source.

http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2008/01/quick-trip-to-cairo-and-beyond.html

The principles behind the restoration of the gardens and area around Humayun’s tomb in Delhi

The restoration of the gardens of Humayun’s tomb — through the joint efforts of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the ASI, under the aegis of the National Culture Fund — initiated a major shift in the working principles of conservation. Completed in 2003, it was the first private-public partnership project of a World Heritage Site in India.

It is undeniable that the template for a modern India was established by the colonial regime. The British built up the infrastructure for modernization by ushering in industrial and scientific revolutions. Based on these developments, knowledge systems became increasingly sophisticated in independent India. But beyond sustained technological advancement, to what extent have the legacies of colonial modernity lived on? Can it be claimed that a consciousness of modernity also develops alongside the progress in science and technology?

Technical expertise in historical conservation has been updated over the years, but how much of conservation has actually entered everyday behaviour and attitudes? The preservation of culture cannot take place independent of the public sphere. “There is a fundamental disconnect between the people and the monuments,” as Shobita Punja, art historian and conservationist, puts it.

Complete at the Telegraph Calcutta India

A metal copy of the hand of Fatima (Mohammad’s daughter) is seen on the door of Asheqan wa Arefans shrine, after rehabilitation of the shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2007. On a smaller scale in the old city - but with far more direct impact on the community - the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has restored mosques, shrines, a public bathhouse and 11 homes that were at risk of collapsing after numerous blows from earthquakes, fires and war, or of being torn down by owners to make room for new construction. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

In this 2005 photo released by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, a bath is seen covered by mud before the reconstruction by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture projects in the old city of Kabul, Afghanistan. On a smaller scale in the old city - but with far more direct impact on the community - the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has restored smaller mosques, shrines, a public bathhouse and 11 homes that were at risk of collapsing after numerous blows from earthquakes, fires and war, or of being torn down by owners to make room for new construction. (AP Photo/Aga Khan Trust for Culture)

Related Post: Kabul’s Old City Gets Major Renovation

Press Release….
http://www.akdn.org/news/2008january18.html

Prince Amyn’s speech…
http://www.akdn.org/speeches/2008january18.html

Photos….
http://www.akdn.org/news/2008january18_photos.html

Project brief…
http://www.akdn.org/news/forodhani_project_brief.pdf

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http://www.akdn.org/index.html

Washington Post has a slide show of pictures.

The Geneva-based organization (AKTC), which does charitable work mainly in Muslim countries, has focused on the densely populated Asheqan wa Arefan neighborhood. With about 100 residents per acre, it is at least 10 times more cramped than New York…

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Last year the streets in parts of the old city dropped by nine feet.

The reason? A massive garbage haul. Just about every unemployed man in Murad Khane was recruited to clean up years of litter and mud piled on top of the streets. By the time they were done, the streets and alleys were lower.

The garbage project is part of an effort to clean up and restore old Kabul, after six years of relative peace and with millions of dollars from foreign donors.

The Turquoise Mountain Foundation, which is dedicated to traditional Afghan arts and architecture, has spent $1 million on conservation and clean-up in the Murad Khane neighborhood since last year. The Kabul organization is financed by both Western and Middle East donors.

(more…)

From IPP Media

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture will spend 2.6b/- for the rehabilitation of Forodhani park in Zanzibar�s historical Stone Town.

The revitalisation project will upgrade social and recreational amenities, including walkways, improvement to the park`s landscaping, lighting, sewerage, drainage and civic amenities.

Speaking yesterday at the project`s launching ceremony held here, Zanzibar First Lady Shadya Karume said rehabilitation of the park would help strike a balance between competing uses as a park and area of beauty, as well as economic opportunities.

–snip–

Prince Amyn Aga Khan said at the occasion that restoration of Forodhani park was part of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)`s long-term objective to revitalise the historical seafront of Stone Town.

–snip–

The decision to rehabilitate the park followed a meeting between President Amani Abeid Karume and His Highness the Aga Khan at which an agreement for restoration of the park was signed in 2002.

More at the source - also at The Citizen.tz

From ikhunzai, at You tube

Excellent article from Sarah Long, Director of the North Suburban Library System. Highly recommend a complete read at the source.

While on a recent trip to Atlanta, Georgia, I visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden. On exhibit was the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme Exhibition.

I was fascinated by large before and after photographs of historic sites around the Muslim world such as the Gardens of Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, the Citadels of Aleppo and Masyaf in Syria. For more information go to www.akdn.org and click on “historic cities” in the column on the far left of the page.

Since l992, the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme (AKHCP) has been undertaking restoration of historic structures and public spaces. Our tour guide explained the thinking behind this initiative by noting that rehabilitation of urban areas sparks social, economic, and cultural development within communities where Muslims have a significant presence. The projects go beyond mere refurbishment of the site addressing questions of the social and environmental context of the site to the local population. Each project includes adaptive re-use, an effort toward institutional sustainability and training of local people.
These projects impressed me as an enlightened way to preserve culture, engage in urban renewal, and give an economic boost to the local population.

Public libraries often serve a similar function.

–snip–

What do forward-thinking library planners have in common with His Highness, the Aga Khan? Both believe in and have seen the positive effects of investing in cultural institutions that have deep roots in the community. A new or refurbished building is nice, but it takes a building plus an ongoing program to really have an impact.

Source

NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL evidence unearthed near Humayun’s Tomb has revealed that the Nila Gumbad was also a part of the tomb complex.

The Nila Gumbad, located east of Humayun’s Tomb next to the railway line, is an early Mughal period monument. The two monuments are at present cut off from each other by a road. The road forms a loop around the tomb and connects East Nizamuddin with Gurdwara Dumduma Sahib.

The historic link - an arcaded platform - was discovered during a routine inspection of the Nila Gumbad site. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had commissioned India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to develop a park around Nila Gumbad. But Parvez Dewan, CMD of ITDC, suspended the work after the discovery of the archaeological remains.

ASI Director Dr B.R. Mani, who is in charge of World Heritage sites, said the clearance work carried out at the site shows historic connection between the Nila Gumbad and Humayun’s Tomb. The arcaded platform stretches from the Nila Gumbad site to the tomb’s eastern wall.

ITDC’s Parvez Dewan said, “It is a major discovery and integrating the two sites through a green landscape will be a major contribution to tourism.” But if the two sites are to be integrated, the road in between will have to be shifted further east towards the railway line. It is learnt that the ASI will take up the issue with the Railway Ministry soon.

The Nila Gumbad is an early Mughal period monument dating back to mid 16th century and showcases Persian influence on Mughal architecture. With blue and green tiles, the gumbad was originally a river island tomb accessible from Humayun’s Tomb and the arcaded platform protected it from the river Yamuna that once flowed near Humayun’s Tomb before shifting course eastward.

A few years ago, slum dwellers had encroached upon the Nila Gumbad but the then tourism and culture minister Jagmohan got the area cleared. ASI officials said allowing access to Nila Gumbad from Humayun’s Tomb would create an additional attraction for the visitors to the World Heritage Site. The river island tomb will also once again overlook a natural green landscape instead of a road.

As per the memorandum of understanding signed by the government in July last year, the vicinity of the Humayun’s Tomb complex, including Sundar Nursery, is being enhanced through a public-private partnership under the urban renewal project between ASI, CPWD, MCD and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The project also envisages health, sanitation and educational facilities for the residents of Nizamuddin Basti. This will improve the living conditions around Nizamuddin Dargah.

Source

Baltit Fort Hunza Pakistan (world heritage)

Balti Fort is an ancient fort in the Hunza valley in the Northern Areas of pakistan. In former times survival of the feudal regimes of Hunza was ensured by the impressive Baltit fort, that sit on top of Karimabad. The foundations of the fort are said to date back around about 800 years, but there have been rebuilds and alterations over the centuries. The architectural style is a clear indication of Tibetan influence in Baltistan at the time.

The Mirs of Hunza abandoned the fort in 1945, and moved to a new palace down the hill. The fort started to decay and there was concern that it might possibly fall into ruin. Following a survey by the Royal Geographic Society of London, a restoration programme was initiated and supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme. The programme was completed in 1996 and the fort is now a museum run by the Baltit Heritage Trust.

Baltit Fort won following internationally recognised awards.
2005 Time Magazine Asia, Best of Asia Award
2004 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Conservation - Award of Excellence
2000 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards: Global Winner

Baltit Fort Restoration - ArchNet

Magazine Article, Richard Hughes

Click here for a slideshow

Hunza Vision

LAHORE: Caretaker chief minister (CM) Justice (r) Ejaz Nisar on Monday ordered authorities concerned to speed up the work on the Walled City rehabilitation project. He said the project would promote tourism and improve the area residents’ economic condition.

Chairing a meeting to review the pace of the work on the project, the CM said the buildings like the Lahore Fort, Badshahi and Sunehri mosques were the custodians of Lahore’s historical traditions.

He said the rehabilitation of the royal passageway, historical buildings and gardens in the Walled City would be done under the project. Sewerage and sanitation system would also be improved, besides widening of roads and streets, he added.

Planning and Works Department chairman Suleman Ghani said better civic amenities like health and education would be provided to the Walled City dwellers. Water supply, electricity, telephone facility and traffic system would also be improved, he added.

Project director general Humayun Firshori said the project had been initiated with the World Bank and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s financial and technical assistance. He said a separate administrative institution had been established to ensure that the project achieved its targets.

Source

By Cathy Fox | Thursday, November 29, 2007, 05:05 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The good work done by the Aga Khan Development Network is one of the good-news stories to come out of the Middle East.

Its efforts to restore and revitalize cities in the Islamic world, including projects in Cairo, Delhi and Zanzibar, is the subject of a program beginning at 9:15 a.m. at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Saturday and an exhibit on view there through Sunday.

Access Atlanta

Earlier Post

Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Historic Cities Program Exhibition

Time: 9:30 a.m.
Date: Saturday, December 1st, 2007
Place: Mershon Hall
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is hosting a panel-discussion on the theme “Restoration and Preservation of Historic Sites – More Than Mere Beautification”. We are indeed very privileged to be able to host Mr. Cameron Rashti, Director of the Historic Cities Program at AKTC, who will be flying in from Geneva to chair the discussion. Joining him on the panel will be architectural preservationist Jack H. Pyburn. The following quote by His Highness the Aga Khan best conveys the link between conservation and revitalization of historic sites, and is the underpinning philosophy of the AKTC’s Historic Cities Program - “From Afghanistan to Zanzibar, from India to Mali, the [Aga Khan Trust for Culture's] support to historic communities demonstrates how conservation and revitalisation of the cultural heritage – in many cases the only asset at the disposal of the community – can provide a springboard for social development. We have also seen how such projects can have a positive impact well beyond conservation, promoting good governance, the growth of civil society, a rise in incomes and economic opportunities, greater respect for human rights and better stewardship of the environment.” We expect a lively and thought-provoking discussion on the merits and relevance of preservation, and look forward to seeing you there. The panel-discussion will be followed by a reception and a guided tour of the exhibition.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture Website

A case for public-private partnership in restoring India’s heritage structures. An editorial by Times of India:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is meant to look after India’s heritage structures and monuments. But instead it is going about disfiguring heritage sites. The latest instance of ASI’s ham-handedness was the proposed construction of a cement portico in front of one of the caves at Ajanta. Luckily, the monstrosity was halted after protests by conservationists. This could happen because there are strict guidelines that have to be followed in any conservation work at Ajanta, which has been declared a Unesco world heritage site.

However, there are several other heritage sites that haven’t been so fortunate. There are any number of instances where ASI has engaged in conservation work without paying attention to the original design and materials used. Worse, the conservation work has sometimes ended up weakening structures that have survived for centuries. It is obvious that ASI, which operates like any other government organisation, is not the best outfit to preserve our heritage monuments.

We need private sector participation if India’s heritage structures are to be maintained and, more importantly, promoted. There has been some movement in this direction. The ASI has signed a deal with the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to restore the monuments inside the Lodhi Garden in New Delhi. The agreement was a result of changes made in the structure of the National Culture Fund, which was set up to encourage corporate funding of restoration projects.

Whereas earlier companies could only contribute to the fund, now they can directly hire qualified people to do restoration work. The restoration work at Humayun’s Tomb - a world heritage site - in Delhi is another example of private and public sector partnership. The $650,000 restoration project undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, in collaboration with the ASI, has brought about a remarkable change in the environs of the tomb. For the
first time in 400 years, water has begun flowing through the sandstone channels in the garden surrounding the tomb.

The roping in of private companies and philanthropic bodies to assist in conserving India’s heritage was long overdue. The next step could be an ‘adopt your monument’ scheme where private players can take care of heritage structures and also have a stake in the profits made from visitors’ fees. The private stakeholders should also be allowed to stage shows and run restaurants so long as they do not disturb the integrity of the monument. There are some 6,000 or so monuments under ASI’s care. A few hundred could easily be shortlisted for private adoption.

Times of India