Communicating Heritagescapes: Paving the Path for Heritage Informatics

Authors

  • Rana P. B. Singh Visiting Professor, Centre of South Asian Studies, Gifu Women's University, 80 Taromaru, Gifu-shi, Japan (former) Professor of Geography [spel. Cultural Landscapes & Heritage Studies], & Head-Geography- Inst. of Sc., Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Keywords:

Cultural Heritage Informatics, Dharohara, Heritagescapes, Conservation, ASI, Heritage Properties.

Abstract

The care, concern, and understanding of heritage in culture of the orient have deep roots in the past, initiated in the Vedic period of India, which continues through the present. The metaphysical and metaphorical narration of heritage was linked to salvific sites, which over time represented in different forms of icons, symbols, and performances. The Nature-Culture interface is symbolised in the form of ‘dharohara’ (heritage) and is used in different ways, in different contexts, in different regions, but always possessed the essence of spirituality. In the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 40 properties from India are enlisted. To understand, the care and optimal planning of historic-holy-heritage cities, Heritage Ecology has been widely accepted as the philosophic platform. The recently emerging multidisciplinary field of knowledge and practice, called Cultural Heritage Informatics (CHI), has taken a leading turn on a sustainable path in this era of cybernetics and support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while visioning to preserve and maintain the integrity, stability, and beauty of heritagescapes.

Author Biography

  • Rana P. B. Singh, Visiting Professor, Centre of South Asian Studies, Gifu Women's University, 80 Taromaru, Gifu-shi, Japan (former) Professor of Geography [spel. Cultural Landscapes & Heritage Studies], & Head-Geography- Inst. of Sc., Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

    Rana P. B. Singh was Professor of Cultural Geography & Heritage Studies at Banaras Hindu University, India. Presently he is Visiting Professor at the Centre of South Asian Studies, Gifu Women’s University, Japan; President ACLA- Asian Cultural Landscape Association (Korea-Japan-India-Italy); President (Asia) RWYC -’Reconnecting With Your Culture’ (--a charter Euro-Comm. & member UNESCO); and founding President, the Society of Pilgrimage Studies, and Society of Heritage Planning & Environmental Health. He has lectured on  heritage conservation and related areas in 25 countries, and has numerous research papers, and books to his credit which includes The Spirit and Power of Place, Where the Buddha Walked, Cultural Landscapes and the Lifeworld,  and Banaras: Making of India’s Heritage City.

References

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Singh, Rana P.B. (1977). Clan Settlements in the Saran Plain: A Study in Cultural Geography. National Geographical Society of India, B.H.U., Varanasi, Res. Pub. 18.

Singh Rana P.B. (1995). Heritage Ecology & Caring for the Earth: A Search for Preserving Harmony and Ethical values. National Geographical Journal of India (ISSN: 00279374/ 0966; BHU Varanasi), vol. 41 (2), June: 191218.

Singh, Rana P.B. (2009). Heritagescapes of India: Appraising heritage ecology; in, Singh, Rana P.B. Geographical Thoughts in India: Snapshots and Visions for the 21st Century (pp. 351-393). (Planet Earth & Cultural Understanding Series, Pub. 2). Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Singh, Rana P.B. and Niglio, Olimpia (2022). Introduction. Historic Cities & Cultural-Religious Heritage: Preservation & Regeneration. Esempi di Architettura, International Journal of Architecture and Engineering [Rome], vol. 9 (nos.1~2): pp. 5-14.

Singh, Rana P.B. and Rana, Pravin S. (2011). Heritagescapes of India: Appraising Heritage Ecology; in, Singh, Rana P.B. (ed.) Heritagescapes and Cultural Landscapes (pp. 87-128). (Planet Earth & Cultural Understanding Series, Pub. 6. Shubhi Publs., New Delhi.

Singh, Rana P.B. and Rana, Pravin S. (2019). Visioning Cultural Heritage and Planning: Banaras, the Cultural Capital of India. In: Vinayak, Bharne and Sandmeier, Trudi (eds.) Routledge Companion of Global Heritage Conservation (pp. 152-176). Routledge, London.

Swan, James A. (1992). Nature as Healer and Teacher. VillardRandom House, New York.: p. 233

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Published

2022-05-25

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022): Heritage Informatics

Section

Articles

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