Conserving the Cultural Heritage of Banaras: Application of Information and Communication Technology

Raman Nair, R. . Conserving the Cultural Heritage of Banaras: Application of Information and Communication Technology., 2013 In: Knowledge Management: Library and Information Services in Changing IT Scenario. New Delhi, Shree Publishers , pp. 353-378. [Book chapter]

[img] Text
2012 Banaras.pdf - Accepted version
Download (610kB)

English abstract

The universe is an artifact, the work of the cosmic architect and culture an artifact, the product of human nature and thought. Items of cultural heritage include the ecosystem, the conditioned natural resources, its inhabitants, their creations like text, image, sound, performing arts, sculptures, buildings, built in spaces like mohallas, ornaments, utensils and the like as well as the knowledge related to them. Banaras embeds the sacred geography of India into a microcosm, superimposing the features on physical spaces. This is built up or created from the sweat and blood of the common people. But a minority who draw benefits in the name of industrialization, tourism and development are destroying the heritage. The paper argues that heritage conservation is common man’s requirement. Banaras is the most important heritage city of the world that needs immediate attention for conservation. The paper views that principles and techniques from library science and ICT can support conservation activities at Banaras especially to document, watch, manage, and create awareness on, the city and its natural resources, knowledge, text, images and a wide variety of artifacts of great value, as well as the built in spaces that could sustain quality life in the city.

Item type: Book chapter
Keywords: Banaras, Varanasi, Ganga, Hinduism, India, Culture, Hertitage, conservation, Archive, ICT Application
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BC. Information in society.
J. Technical services in libraries, archives, museum.
J. Technical services in libraries, archives, museum. > JF. Paper preservation.
J. Technical services in libraries, archives, museum. > JH. Digital preservation.
L. Information technology and library technology > LB. Computer networking.
L. Information technology and library technology > LN. Data base management systems.
Depositing user: R. Raman Nair
Date deposited: 10 Feb 2016 09:57
Last modified: 10 Feb 2016 09:57
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/28712

References

Eck, Diana L. Banaras: City of Light. Columbia. Columbia University Press, 1982.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi

http://varanasi.nic.in/

Kapila Vatsyayan. Development, Cultural Expression and the arts: Meeting of the World Commission on Culture and Development established by UNESCO. Manila, UNESCO, November 1994.

Kothari, A. Communities and conservation: Natural resource management in South and Central Asia. New Delhi, UNESCO-Sage, 1998.

Madhuri Desai. Mosques, Temples and Orientalists: Hegemonic Imaginations in Banaras. In TDSR 15 (1). 2005. P. 23- 37.

Medhasananda . Varanasi at the crossroads: A panoramic view of early modern Varanasi and the story of its transition. Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture.2002.

Rajasekharan K, Raman Nair, R and Nafala, K.M. Digital Library Basics: A Practical Manual. New Delhi, Ess Ess, 2010.

Raman Nair, R. Charithrathinte Uravakalkku Samrakshanam (Conservation of Sources of History). Veekshanam, 19 July 1987.

Raman Nair, R. Digital archiving of manuscripts and other heritage items for conservation and information retrieval. Proceedings of the All India Oriental Conference (42nd Session), 4th to 6th November 2004, Varanasi, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, 2004.

Ramesh C Gaur. Digitization and preservation of archival material: Experiences at IGNCA. In proceedings of the national workshop on Preserving Our Scientific heritage. 21-22 January 2008. Bangalore, IIAS, 2008.

Sankar, T. The City’s Heritage at Risk: The urgency for heritage legislation in Varanasi. In International Conference on Communication for Development in the Information Age: Extending Benefits of Technology for All. Varanasi, IAS- BGU. 2003.

Singh, Rana P.B. Varanasi as Heritage City (India) on the scale the UNESCO World Heritage List: From Contestation to Conservation. In EASAS papers. Swedish South Asian Studies Network. 2006.

Sulochana Devi, L. Information System for Research in Sanskrit and Indology. In the Proceedings of the National Conference on Vedic Sciences. Madras, JGRCVS, 1997.

Urvasi Srivasthava. Remapping Banaras: A city in continuum. In Architecture plus Design: A Journal of Indian Architecture. 19(1) 2002.


Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
Contact us
Send email Sponsors
Sponsor: AIMS Sponsor: D&P Sponsor: UniNa CAB Get connected
Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Linkedin LinkedIn RSS RSS