Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Nurturing a heritage for posterity

Photo: K. Ananthan

tangible heritage :The clock tower at Town Hall in the city, built in the memory of A.T. Thiruvenkataswamy Mudaliar, has been renovated. —

Coimbatore: Did you know that the sword of Julius Caesar was crafted in the Kongu region; that there is a Perumal temple here that is 800 years old, with a tree in its compound (Vedathala) that dates back a thousand years; that there are inscriptions and manuscripts galore about the Roman trails, ancient practises and glorious times of this land.

Old photographs

And, studying some beautiful line drawings of the Athar Jamath Masjid and the Perur Sree Patteeswaraswamy Temple, and old photographs of the city and its outskirts, it is obvious that the region is teeming with history.

Trying to document it all and preserving it for posterity is the Coimbatore chapter of INTACH that came into being in 1986.

Its convener Kalaivani Chengappa speaks of its aims and achievements.

“INTACH has prepared a list of buildings over 50 years of age in Coimbatore. It has identified, preserved and spread awareness about historical landmarks. These include private bungalows, government buildings, and old structures in rural areas as well. INTACH restored Victoria Town Hall's council hall without making any changes to its original architectural structure. Today, Corporation meetings are held there, with some of the original pieces of furniture still intact.”

Midnight gong

Similarly, the Town Hall Clock Tower (installed in 1877) has been refurbished and its clock set right under INTACH's initiative.

“National Watch House that installed the clock has repaired it. And, very soon, the Town Hall area will resonate to a midnight gong from the clock. The clock will be rededicated to the public most likely on January 25, Tourism Day,” says Kalaivani.

INTACH also aims to preserve Coimbatore's tangible heritage - traditions and rituals, craftsmanship and the environment.

There are regular field trips to villages where craftspeople have practised their craft for generations.

Music

“Some of them are the last of their kind. It is important that awareness be created about what they do. It would otherwise be lost for ever. The music, rituals, cuisine, etc. should be documented. Our children must know,” says Kalaivani. One of INTACH's major thrust is to get students involved. School programmes were launched in 2004.

Schools

“There are 25 schools in Coimbatore that have INTACH Clubs. These include five corporation schools. We want more schools and colleges to become members. INTACH has coordinators in these schools, who have been trained by resource persons from New Delhi.

Quiz

INTACH regularly conducts art and essay competitions, skits, quiz, heritage walks, film shows, museum visits, and so on to fuel the interest of the students in the history and heritage of the region they live in.”

Save Noyyal project

INTACH also strives hard to protect and nurture the environment. It has worked as a catalyst in many environmental programmes in the city, including the Save Noyyal project. It has actively encouraged and participated in clean up drives, rainwater harvesting schemes, rejuvenation of the lakes programmes, tree planting, etc.

Pupul Jayakar Award

A special Pupul Jayakar Award is presented to best maintained roadside parks and traffic islands, and their gardeners honoured.

History

“We want to do more to restore and record the history of this region. And, in INTACH's wish list is the desire to have a dedicated space for a district museum, to display and preserve our cultural heritage,” says Kalaivani.

Details

For those interested in knowing more about the work INTACH is doing in our city and for the schools who wish to join the INTACH, you may contact 9843076705 or email your queries to: trishaa@airtelmail.in

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Dance, music and much more
Conference on Intelligent Systems and Control
The Hindu-K.G. Hospital dental camp
Camp
Corporation begins storm water drain project in Coimbatore
Spurious liquor seized: four men arrested
Youth killed in brawl at New Year celebration
Massive green cover drive to take off in Coimbatore on Jan. 9
Corporation to provide cold storage facility at new flower market
Custom House and Steamer Agents' plea
Robotics seminar held
Spitfire's quarter mile battle this weekend
Nurturing a heritage for posterity
Couple held
Serial blasts case accused referred to Juvenile Justice Board
In Coimbatore Today

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu