The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mysore museum to work towards preserving heritage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 02, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Mysore museum to work towards preserving heritage

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, MARCH 1. The Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) in Mysore has been identified to portray, popularise and preserve the intangible heritage of the region to bring a greater awareness among people about their inherited culture.

S. Sethuramalingam, Scientist in-charge of the RMNH, told The Hindu that the scope of the concept covers the entire gamut of what goes by the definition of culture, but is not tangible, for example the oral tradition like music, conservation values, etc.

This was decided at the meeting of the Museum Association of India held at Gangtok, on the theme "Intangible Heritage - Portrayal and Preservation."

Mr. Sethuramalingam said that tangible heritage is one that is visible and has a three-dimensional solidity such as monuments, mountain ranges, rivers and oceans and forests and wildlife. The intangible heritage are those which can only be perceived and inherited through oral traditions or is a subjective experience. This includes classical music in all its variants, the tribal folklore and music, the values as espoused in literature and philosophy, among others.

He said professional bodies such as the Museum Association of India have divided heritage into three components — natural, cultural and scientific and the derived knowledge and values, which have shaped social consciousness and enriched our culture are the intangible heritage, which have to be documented, projected and preserved.

First experiment

This is the first such experiment in documenting intangible heritage and the RMNH will seek collaboration from non-governmental organisations and other museums in the region.

He pointed out that if the rich wealth of wildlife in Bandipur and Nagarahole or the floral diversity of the Nilgiris constituted tangible heritage, the traditional conservation practices inherited from the past and the public concern about their violation form the intangible heritage, which has to be nurtured and popularised in society. Similarly, the forests of Bandipur and Nagarahole are tangible heritage but they stand protected and have intangible benefits, said Mr. Sethuramalingam.

The RMNH will prepare a register to document the existing traditions and values that constitute the intangible heritage and needs to be popularised.

Mr. Sethuramalingam submitted a paper on the conservation of pelicans by the villagers of Kokrebellur in Maddur and said the conservation values espoused by the villagers was as an example of intangible heritage.

He said the tangible heritage of Kokrebellur village was that the Pelicans continue to enhance the fertility of the soil with their excreta, the presence of birds helped promote eco-tourism and this helped generate employment in tourism and agricultural sector in the village.

The intangible heritage and its benefits were not appreciated by many and this included the attitude of villagers to save the birds at all costs. The tolerance, love and respect towards the birds was cited as an example of intangible cultural values.

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