Heritage is not just history… What did PM Modi say at the inauguration of the World Heritage Committee

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday encouraged people to use the potential of heritage for the good of the world and to connect hearts, saying heritage is not just history but the “shared consciousness” of humanity. In his/her address at the opening ceremony of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) at Bharat Mandapam here, Modi also underlined the universality of heritage and said whenever one sees historical sites, “our mind rises above the current geopolitical factors”. India is hosting the flagship event of UNESCO for the first time from July 21 to July 31. Modi was accompanied on the dais by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, among others.

Before the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition at Bharat Mandapam which showcases some of the artefacts that have been brought back to the country. More than 350 artefacts have been brought back to the country so far, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement on Saturday. Modi was accompanied by the UNESCO Director-General, who was wearing a sari, while visiting the exhibition. The Prime Minister spoke about the exhibition in his/her address at the inaugural ceremony and said that the return of ancient artefacts reflects the spirit of global liberalism and respect for history.

‘One of the world’s oldest surviving civilisations’

he/she said the 46th WHC session is taking place in “one of the world’s oldest living civilisations”. Modi also praised the engineering achievements that are visible in ancient heritage sites. he/she cited the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand and the Brihadeeswarar temple built by the Chola rulers in Tamil Nadu. “India’s heritage is not just history, it is also science. India’s heritage also sees a glorious journey of top-level engineering,” he/she said. Over 2,000 delegates from over 150 countries are attending the meeting. The WHC meets once a year and is responsible for managing all matters related to World Heritage sites and deciding on sites to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

‘…it is the shared consciousness of humanity’

Underlining the importance of heritage, the Prime Minister said, “Heritage is not just history, it is the shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we see historical sites, our mind rises above current geopolitical factors.” Modi encouraged people to “harness this potential of heritage for world welfare and use heritage to connect hearts”. he/she said, “This is India’s call to the countries of the world to come together to promote each other’s heritage and enhance the sense of human well-being, encourage tourism and create more employment opportunities through the 46th meeting of the World Heritage Committee.”