A conservation manual, drafted by the ordinary citizen - The Hindu

Nachiket Chanchani, an art history professor, examines India's monument conservation challenges and proposes a revolutionary approach beyond traditional Archaeological Survey of India methods.

The article critiques the current ASI conservation model, rooted in colonial-era practices that isolate and repair monuments in isolation. Despite protecting 3,600 sites, many monuments continue deteriorating due to outdated frameworks. Chanchani advocates for a holistic approach inspired by diverse disciplines including translation studies, wildlife biology, and economics, emphasizing community involvement and ecosystem thinking.

• Drawing from Gandhi's Sarvodaya principles to improve lives of communities surrounding monuments while preserving structural integrity
• Learning from wildlife biologists who focus on ecosystem interactions rather than protecting individual elements in isolation
• Incorporating insights from translators, mycologists, and economists to develop more nuanced conservation strategies
• Encouraging citizen participation through heritage literacy to help preserve India's cultural monuments as living spaces