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Home / IAS Preparation / Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage - Overview | Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage in India!

Last Updated on Dec 21, 2023
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Cultural Heritage of India, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is inherited from tangible and intangible heritage assets. It is an all-embracing confluence of religions, traditions and customs. The richness of Indian art, architecture, classical dance, music, flora, and wildlife, as well as the ingrained secular mindset of its people, are the highlights of Indian heritage. A trip to a historic site is like taking a stroll through history, with each dynasty that governed Indian lands marking a new turn in the road. Everything from Indian handiwork’s elegance to the depth of its silk and cotton fabrics to its ethnic jewelry has been passed down through the generations as a heritage. Every Indian state has its own distinct cuisine, which is a legacy and a component of Indian culture.

Cultural Heritage is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Ancient History subject in the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus 2023 and current events of international importance in UPSC prelims. 

This article will provide you with all the necessary information on the Cultural Heritage, such as Historical Evolution, Cultural Factors, and Economic Factors. You can also study other significant topics of Ancient History for UPSC Exams with Testbook!

Learn more about culture and civilization!

What is Cultural Heritage?

Cultural heritage encompasses the tangible and intangible expressions of human culture. They reflect the unique identity and history of a society. It includes a wide range of elements, from physical artifacts and monuments to intangible traditions and beliefs. Cultural heritage is a valuable resource that connects us to our past, informs our present, and shapes our future.

Evolution of Cultural Heritage of India

  • India has one of the largest collections of songs, music, dance, theater, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, languages, dialects, paintings, and writings that are known as the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” (ICH) of humanity, demonstrating the diversity and multiplicity of Indian culture to the entire world. The idea of creating academies of national importance was therefore developed on the basis of this notion.
  • India declared itself to be an independent republic in 1950, which marked the beginning of an era-defining decade in Indian history. On March 15, 1950, the Planning Commission of India was established.
  • This Commission anticipated that culture would be essential to the entire planning process in its very first plan. It is fundamental to the idea of coordinated national development.
  • With each succeeding Plan period, the Indian government established a variety of organizations that shaped its cultural policy as well as the dominant paradigms for the arts & culture field as a whole.
  • The National Museum, the Sahitya Akademi, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Lalit Kala Akademi are a few of the more notable ones.
  • Others include the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (1950), the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1953), the National Museum, the Sahitya Akademi, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Lalit Kala Akademi etc.

Also, study about List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

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Types of Cultural Heritage

Tangible Cultural Heritage

  • Tangible Cultural Heritage refers to actual items created, maintained, and passed down through generations in a civilization.
  • Artistic productions, constructed heritage like buildings and monuments, and other physical or tangible works of human ingenuity that are endowed with cultural importance in society are all considered to be part of the Unesco category of “tangible cultural heritage.”

List of Tangible World Heritage Sites in India

Sl. No.

Name of Sites

Year

Location

1

Ajanta Caves

1983

Maharashtra

2

Ellora Caves

1983

Maharashtra

3

Agra Fort

1983

Agra

4

Taj Mahal

1983

Agra

5

Sun Temple

1984

Orissa

6

Mahabalipuram Monuments

1984

Tamil Nadu

7

Kaziranga National Park

1985

Assam

8

Keoladeo National Park

1985

Rajasthan

9

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

1985

Assam

10

Churches and Convents of Goa

1986

Goa

11

Monuments of Khajuraho

1986

Madhya Pradesh

12

Monuments of Hampi

1986

Karnataka

13

Fatehpur Sikri

1986

Agra

14

Elephanta Caves

1987

Maharashtra

15

Great Living Chola Temples

1987

Tamil Nadu

16

Pattadakal Monuments

1987

Karnataka

17

Sundarbans National Park

1987

West Bengal

18

Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park

1988

Uttarakhand

19

Monuments of Buddha

1989

Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

20

Humayun’s Tomb

1993

Delhi

21

Qutub Minar and its Monuments

1993

Delhi

22

Mountain Railways of Darjeeling,

Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri

1999

Darjeeling

23

Mahabodhi Temple

2002

Bihar

24

Bhimbetka Rock Shelters

2003

Madhya Pradesh

25

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

2004

Maharashtra

26

Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park

2004

Gujarat

27

Red Fort

2007

Delhi

28

Jantar Mantar

2010

Delhi

29

Western Ghats

2012

Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra

30

Hill Forts

2013

Rajasthan

31

Rani Ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell)

2014

Gujarat

32

Great Himalayan National Park

2014

Himachal Pradesh

33

Nalanda

2016

Bihar

34

Khangchendzonga National Park

2016

Sikkim

35

Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex)

2016

Chandigarh

36

The Historic City

2017

Ahmedabad

37

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles

2018

Mumbai

38

The Pink City

2019

Jaipur

39

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple

2021

Telangana

40

Dholavira

2021

Gujarat

Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • The term “intangible cultural heritage” refers to practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills in addition to tools, objects, artifacts, and cultural settings.
  • In an effort to highlight the variety of Indian culture that is embodied in its intangible heritage, India has created the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
  • It strives to increase national and worldwide awareness of the numerous intangible cultural heritage components from various Indian states and assure their protection.
  • The initiative, which will go into effect in 2013, intends to strengthen the many cultural manifestations that are essential for the ongoing evolution and interpretation of India’s intangible cultural heritage as well as its transfer to subsequent generations.
  • Intangible Cultural Heritage India also includes the 13 elements of India that are already on the UNESCO Representative List of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Importance of Cultural Heritage of India
  • India’s cultural heritage encourages moral principles and attitudes of charity, simplicity, and inexpensive living.
  • Traditions, beliefs, and ways of life make up cultural heritage. It provides us with purpose and a way of living.
  • It refers to cultural landmarks, monuments, folklore, customs, languages, practices, creative expressions, ideals, etc., that are seen to be extremely important to maintain for the next generations.
  • Cultural heritage enables individuals to better comprehend earlier generations and the history of their origins, as well as to have a feeling of togetherness and belonging within a community. It suggests a connection and sense of community.
  • Cultural heritage connects people to specific societal values, beliefs, religions, and customs, allowing them to recognise their backgrounds.
  • It enables us to maintain our sense of cultural diversity and fosters increased intercultural understanding and tolerance.
  • Due to India’s diverse heritage, which promotes India as a prominent tourism product on the international circuit, India is largely a cultural destination in international tourism.

Learn more about the Nature of Culture!

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in India

Year

Intangible Cultural Heritage

2021

Durga Puja in Kolkata

2017

Kumbh Mela

2016

Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz

2016

Yoga

2014

Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India

2013

Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur

2012

Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India

2010

Chhau dance

2010

Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan

2010

Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala

2009

Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India

2008

Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theater

2008

Tradition of Vedic chanting

2008

Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana

Also, Learn more about the List of Important Folk dances of India!

Safeguarding the Cultural Heritage of India
  • The Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diversified Cultural Traditions of India seeks to bolster the efforts of several stakeholders in the distribution, protection, and promotion of India’s rich, diverse, and enormous ICH.
  • The Ministry of Culture already oversees a number of programmes, including the Cultural Functions Grant Program, the Salary/Production Grant Program, and the Scholarship/Fellowship Programs.
  • Accordingly, the programme employs a thorough strategy and fully encompasses all ICH categories that have been acknowledged, as well as India’s rich cultural heritage.
  • All recognised ICH domains, including performing arts, social activities, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices relating to nature and the cosmos, traditional handicrafts, and oral traditions and expressions, will be covered under the scheme.
  • The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 delegated jurisdiction to the government over privately owned heritage structures. The Antiquities Export Control Act of 1947 and its accompanying Rules govern the export of antiquities.
  • The Indian Constitution, in Article 49, safeguards the country’s built heritage.
  • ICOMOS strives to conserve and safeguard cultural heritage sites, as well as to apply scientific methodologies to the preservation of architectural and archaeological heritage.
  • The Ministry of Culture has designed a programme dubbed “Scheme for Safeguarding India’s Intangible Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions” with the purpose of reinvigorating and revitalising diverse institutions.

Learn more about cultural Relativism!

Cultural Heritage of India - Important Facts for UPSC
  • In Indian culture, the universe is seen as a work of divine creation, and humans fit within this framework.
  • Indian culture may be said to be an old culture because it is still active today. It is obvious that India has been the place of human culture’s development and expansion thanks to the remnants of the stone age that can be discovered at Pallavaram, Vellore, and Tinnivalli near Madras.
  • In India, all religions, castes, groups, etc., are tolerated and liberalized. Indian society provided every culture with the possibility to thrive as a result of the invasion of several alien cultures.
  • Our Indian cultural heritage, such as Indian literature and scriptures, has made significant contributions to the development of civilization by providing the right knowledge, right action, behavior, and practices.
  • The traditional Indian culture’s classical social structure was largely associated with princes, priests, monks, munis, sadhus, scholars, guild masters, and other affluent groups.
  • Architectural works, monuments, material artefacts, intellectual achievements, philosophy, knowledge treasures, scientific inventions and discoveries are all examples of heritage.
  • Baudhayana, Aryabhatta, and Bhaskaracharya’s contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and astrology; Varahmihir’s contributions to physics; Nagarjuna’s contributions to chemistry; Susruta and Charak’s contributions to medicine; and Patanjali’s contributions to yoga are profound treasures of Indian cultural heritage.
  • Fairs and festivals, such as the Hemiz festival in Leh, the Carnival in Goa, and the Boat Races in Kerala, combine ancient rituals, traditions, and customs with a modern setting.

Learn more about Cultural materialism!

About World Heritage Movement
  • The Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972, holds significant importance.
  • As of 2011, there are 936 World Heritage Sites, spanning cultural, natural, and mixed properties in 153 countries, each considered vital globally.
  • The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage safeguards underwater cultural heritage, aiding states in enhancing protection measures.
  • UNESCO extends its protection to masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
  • The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, within the United Nations Economic and Social Council, emphasizes cultural heritage as a fundamental human right under Article 15 of its Covenant.

Conclusion

Cultural heritage is essential in our daily lives. It comprises customs and traditions that are either passed down from parents to children or from the family, neighborhood, and setting in which individuals were nurtured. It takes time for culture to emerge in a society. Understanding our cultural background might help us feel more confident about who we are as individuals and foster stronger community cohesion. It is essential to increase awareness of cultural heritage in our community to identify the many tools that may be created for their preservation. By connecting the past, the present, and the next generation, cultural heritage can play a crucial role in our society and serve as a foundation for the development of a strong nation and national identity.

UPSC PYQs on Cultural Heritage of India
  • The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.[2020]
  • The Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.[2020]
  • Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. [2020]
  • Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. [2020]
  • Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.[2019]

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Cultural Heritage FAQs

40 World Heritage Sites are listed in India under UNESCO as of 2022.

The term "tangible cultural heritage" refers to actual artifacts created, preserved, and passed down through generations in a community. While intangible cultural legacy refers to behaviors that individuals in communities recognise as part of their cultural history.

Cultural heritage can help to rebuild a society after a conflict, and in some cases it can be critical to economic revival, security, and stability.

Tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, literature, works of art, and artifacts), intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), and natural heritage(including culturally significant landscapes, and biodiversity) are all examples of cultural heritage.

Cultural heritage is the tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or community that have been passed down through generations.
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