Delhi Is Old But Still Not A 'Heritage' City

Delhi Is Old But Still Not A 'Heritage' City

Does it take eight years to find a mention in Unesco's coveted World Heritage Site (WHS) list? Yes, at least in the case of Delhi and that too is not confirmed.

The quest to find a place on the prestigious list began in 2008 when the Delhi government along with INTACH started to draft the proposal to get the Capital nominated as a heritage city.

Last heard, Delhi made it to the UN agency's 'tentative list' last month, although not announced officially.

The Capital is the only historical Indian city which boasts three World Heritage Sites: the Qutub Minar (above), the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb.

'Delhi's proposal was discussed at the World Heritage Committee meeting on January 28 and we have been informed that it has been put on the tentative list,' an INTACH member said, requesting anonymity.

But that is just the beginning of the drill and it still needs to submit the final proposal document and the Capital's dossier for nomination as a 'historic city'.

Many in INTACH and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) feel that Delhi, which boasts of three World Heritage Sites, namely the Qutub Minar, the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb - the most in any historic city in the country - should have pitched to get the tag before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

If those behind making Delhi get that possible tag are to be believed, it will have to wait till 2015 at the earliest, that too if red-tapism and logistical roadblocks do not mess things up before the final submission.

Living history: The Jama Masjid, dating back to the 17th century, is still in use.

The Delhi project coordinators have not been able to 'arrange a meeting of key stakeholders - the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) - and Delhi Tourism, the nodal agency appointed by the state government' so far.

WHY THE CAPITAL

A political centre and seat of power that continues till today 

Syncretism of many architectural styles and amalgamation of various cultures - Indo-Islamic and hybrid Colonial architecture.

Sufism developed here incorporating Hindu traditions. The unique morphology of the Capital city's traditional settlements, an amalgamation of Islamic and Hindu planning principles

There are still some unresolved issues. For instance, four precincts (areas) have been identified - New Delhi (Lutyens' Zone), Shahjehanabad (Walled City), Nizamuddin and Mehrauli - for the proposal.

But it is not clear in the case of Mehrauli if Lado Sarai, which is part of the original history of the area, will be accommodated.

Similarly, in the case of Nizamuddin, the status of Sundar Nagar, which falls between Humayun's Tomb and Purana Qila, is not clear.

'Failing to address the issue of final area demarcation renders the dossier incomplete.

Even if we submit it now for the next deadline which is February 2013, it will take Unesco another 18 months to review it and give its final word. 

If Unesco okays it, Delhi will only make it to the list for 2015,' the INTACH member said. 

Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi is one of the most spectacular Mughal buildings

And if something like what happened last year is repeated, the wait may get longer.

'We withdrew from submitting a proposal as there was a lot of political pressure to send the files of Majuli Island and Qutb Shahi monuments for nomination,' a senior Delhi government official said.

Delhi is pitted against the likes of densely populated Cairo and Damascus and the culturally rich Lahore.

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