The Times of India | Will World Heritage tag elude Hyderabad monuments? More on the Challenges of Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex

From Ismailimail Archives: Hyderabad, 10/01/13.
The signing of the MoU has been preceded by a year-long documentation programme, where each of the 70 structures within the tomb complex – Deccan Park area have been documented and their conservation needs established. Topographical surveys of the entire 106 acre site have also been undertaken and a landscape master plan prepared – Photo: AKTC/India
From Ismailimail Archives: Hyderabad, 10/01/13.
The Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park includes 70 structures, encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells/water structures, a hamam (mortuary bath), pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years in the 16th and 17th centuries. – Photo: AKTC/India
From Ismailimail Archives: Hyderabad, 10/01/13.
The Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park, which includes the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex and Deccan Park, is one of the most significant historic medieval necropolises in India. – Photo: AKTC/India

Syed Mohammed,TNN | Dec 23, 2014, 01.16 AM IST

HYDERABAD: The Unesco’s World Heritage Committee is scheduled to convene in Bonn, Germany in June next year to discuss which monuments would bag the World Heritage Site title. Among the dossiers sent to Unesco from the country for the committee’s consideration are those of the Golconda Fort, Charminar and the Qutub Shahi Tombs.

It comes as no surprise that every Hyderabadi, techie and thelawala alike, swears by the exceptional cultural and architectural significance, which is one of Unesco’s four cultural criteria, of these historic structures. The Charminar constructed in 1591 once served as a gateway to the city; the Golconda Fort remained impregnable, its water channels and acoustics – unique; and the Qutub Shahi Tombs complex, the royal necropolis of the medieval dynasty, with 40 tombs, 23 mosques, five step-wells and a hammam, is the largest group of funerary structures located all at one place.

But an uncomfortable question stares at him in the face: will the World Heritage Site tag continue to remain elusive?

It was in 2012 that the International Council on Monuments and Sites inspected these monuments. Efforts of the government to keep the media at an arm’s length notwithstanding, word quickly spread that the team expressed grave concerns with regard to rampant encroachments.

Now, groups of people from both sides of the saffron and green religious spectrum have begun erecting flags and buntings at the Qutub Shahi Tombs complex, threatening the meticulous conservation work being carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

The callousness of government agencies and the misplaced sense of entitlement of the populace have deprived the architectural ensemble of its rightful place in the 32 listed World Heritage Sites (including parks) across the country. While the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have two sites each on the World Heritage List, it is a pity that united Andhra Pradesh had failed to get a single monument recognised.

But there is a glimmer of hope. The only reportedly “complete” dossier available with the committee is that of Hyderabad. It would augur well for the Telangana government to make the most of this opportunity, an ideal environment to assert the ‘T’ identity, by lobbying hard for the Qutub Shahi monuments, and removing encroachments swiftly.

Further, a discussion on the conservation of monuments with a focus on attaining a World Heritage Site tag must be had in the assembly.

Via

About the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) & Qutub Shahi Tombs Complex Initiative

Hyderabad, 10/01/13 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a ten-year, integrated conservation and landscape restoration project at the Quli Qutb Shah Tomb complex in Hyderabad was signed by AKTC.

The Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park, which includes the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex and Deccan Park, is one of the most significant historic medieval necropolises in India

The complex encompasses 70 structures within its complex, encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells/water structures, a hamam (mortuary bath), pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years in the 16th – 17th centuries.

The signing of the MoU has been preceded by a year-long documentation programme, where each of the 70 structures within the tomb complex – Deccan Park area have been documented and their conservation needs established. Topographical surveys of the entire 106 acre site have also been undertaken and a landscape master plan prepared

The Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex, presently nominated to the World Heritage List, is proposed to be developed as an urban Archaeological Park, to showcase and ensure long-term preservation, and to enhance understanding of the 70 monuments that stand within its boundaries.

The conservation works will be undertaken by master craftsmen using traditional tools, building techniques and traditional materials respecting the intention of the original builders. As with the ten year Delhi project which commenced in 2007, the Aga Khan Development Network agencies will be undertaking the proposed conservation and landscaping works with their own financial resources or those raised from partner agencies such as the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and other corporate donors

Discover, Explore and Learn more at  AKDN | Revitalisation to Begin on Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park in Hyderabad, India

About  UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites List & Qutub Shahi Monuments Initiative

Hyderabad, 07/30/12 –  Officials of the tourism department, ASI and GHMC have begun to take necessary steps to ensure that the city bags the coveted Unesco World Heritage tag for its Qutub Shahi monuments.

The Aga Khan Trust, similar to Delhi’s Humayun Tomb Initiative, is bringing their expertise to carry out works at the Qutub Shahi Tombs in collaboration with the state archeology department while the officials of GHMC and ASI are implementing suggestions laid down by an ASI sub-committee which visited the heritage structures in May this year.

The Qutub Shahi monuments of Hyderabad – the Golconda fort, Qutub Shahi Tombs and the Charminar are on the tentative world heritage sites list of Unesco’s committee.

The operational guidelines of the World Heritage Convention lays down ten selection criteria, in addition to emphasising on protection, management, authenticity and integrity of the sites.

The convention mandates that the sites should be of outstanding universal value and fulfil at least one of the ten criteria. The website of the committee lists Hyderabad’s Qutub Shahi monuments on the tentative lists and provides justification for fulfilment of four of the listed criteria.

Discover, Explore and Learn more at  The Times of India | Shrines in heritage structures could spike Unesco tag hopes

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Earlier & Related – Qutb Shahi Restoration by AKTC at Ismailimail Archives:

The Deccan’s largest necropolis: The Qutb Shahi Tombs
Government of India to Improve Facilities at Qutb Shahi Tombs, works with Aga Khan historic Cities Programme Government of India to Improve Facilities at Qutb Shahi Tombs, works with Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme
A Surprising Discovery at Qutub Shahi Tombs A Surprising Discovery at Qutub Shahi Tombs
Jamshed Quli’s tomb set to regain lost lustre - Aga Khan Trust for Culture to spearheaded the Project Jamshed Quli’s tomb set to regain lost lustre – Aga Khan Trust for Culture to spearhead the Project
Ratish Nanda Aga Khan Trust for Culture Rescuing India’s Monuments: From Delhi’s Humayun Tomb to Hyderabad’s Qutub Shahi Tomb – A conversation with Ratish Nandha
Documentary Humayuns Tomb - Nizamuddin Basti “If there is PARADISE on earth … “
Blatant encroachment at Qutub Shahi tombs | The Hans India
Now, the chance to adopt a heritage site in Hyderabad Now, the chance to adopt a heritage site in Hyderabad

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