Int'l support helps 12 Maratha forts scoop Unesco World Heritage label
The 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' became the country's 44th World Heritage Site following intense debate at the World Heritage Committee session in Paris, where more than a dozen member states rallied behind India's bid, rejecting advice from ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites).
The inscription recognises a strategic defence network developed between the 17th and 19th centuries across present-day Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The inscribed forts—Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu—showcase the Marathas' sophisticated military planning across diverse terrains from coastal islands to hilltops.
ICOMOS had strongly recommended deferring the nomination, arguing that twelve 'anchor forts' were insufficient to represent the vast Maratha defence system. The advisory body also questioned whether the nomination met criteria for the 'cultural landscape' category and raised concerns about protection levels for smaller forts in buffer zones.
As HT reported on Wednesday, ICOMOS advocated for a substantial reconfiguration, potentially in two phases, to better represent the full defensive network.
The Indian delegation, led by ambassador Vishal V Sharma, mounted a successful diplomatic response. Mexico initiated support, arguing: 'We think that the state party's response by way of providing extra information has provided the relevance of this property fully.'
Greece then proposed the critical amendment for inscription, declaring: 'Based on a thorough assessment, including the identification of factual inaccuracies... Greece has proposed an amendment for the inscription.'
Greece emphasised that the forts met criterion (iv) for exceptional military architecture and criterion (vi) for their association with the Maratha philosophy of 'Swarajya' (self-rule), which later influenced India's independence movement.
Support quickly expanded, with Ukraine, Lebanon, Kenya, Kazakhstan, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Vietnam, Italy, Zambia, Republic of Korea, Qatar, and Jamaica backing the bid. Lebanon questioned ICOMOS's consistency, stating: 'Given the fact that the property OUV is not debatable, one cannot understand ICOMOS recommendation to defer the nomination.' OUV was a reference to Outstanding Universal Value — a key indicator and requirement for the World Heritage tag.
Kazakhstan commended the 'mature and flexible heritage strategy' embodied by the phased approach.
When Belgium sought clarification on criterion (vi), Greece responded: 'The 12 fort components are tangible expressions of enduring ideas of self-rule... These forts are central to intergenerational identity transmission... the ideology of Swarajya profoundly shaped the evolution of Indian political consciousness.'
Ambassador Sharma called it 'a historic day, not only for India, but especially for the Marathi people all over the world.' He said: 'The Maratha Military Landscapes represent a unique fusion of military innovation, ecological adaptation and architectural excellence shaped by the rugged landscapes of the Sayadris and the indomitable spirit of the Maratha polity.'
Sharma dedicated the inscription to the legacy of the empire's founder, saying: 'We dedicate this inscription to the wisdom of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose legacy lives on through these Military Landscapes and the work of the Marathas for the well-being of the people.'
The Committee emphasised that conservation must remain paramount and required India to submit a maintenance report by December next year.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the decision on X as a 'historic, pride-filled, glorious moment' and a 'heartfelt tribute' to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
According to official Unesco documents, India has also decided on its nomination for next year — Sarnath in Varanasi, a proposal that has been gathering dust since 1998
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Parliament logjam continues as Opposition parties push for SIR debate
The INDIA bloc has intensified its protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, with eight Opposition parties writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday to push a special discussion on the issue even as their protests threatened to derail the remaining part of the monsoon session. Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh conducts the proceedings of the House on Friday. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab) 'We… express deep concern over the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar, especially a few months before the state assembly elections. This is unprecedented. The EC has indicated that similar exercises will soon be undertaken across the country. Given the widespread apprehension about the transparency, timing and intent of this process, the matter requires the urgent attention of the House,' said the letter signed by representatives of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the DMK, the Trinamool Congress, the NCP (SP), the Shiv Sena (UBT), the RJD and the RSP. The letter highlighted the Opposition's consistent efforts to raise the issue during the ongoing session and in several interactions with the central government. 'While the government has stated its willingness to discuss all issues, including this one, no date has yet been fixed for such a discussion,' it said. Opposition leaders have been holding demonstrations in the Parliament complex seeking a discussion on the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, and demanded its rollback. On Friday, too, the Rajya Sabha failed to function, with Opposition leaders like TMC's Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghosh, Derek O'Brien, Tiruchi Siva (DMK), and Sanjay Singh (AAP) staging protests in the Well of the House. In the morning session, deputy chairman said he received 30 adjournment notices under Rule 267 for discussion on SIR, alleged discrimination against Bengali migrant workers in other states, impact of the US decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, and mass layoffs in the Indian IT sector, among others. Harviansh said that since the notices do not conform to the detailed directions given by the Chair, they were declined. The move triggered protests by Opposition members who raised slogans and stood in the aisle. The Chair then allowed Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) to speak, who also sought a discussion on SIR, but was denied permission since the matter is sub judice. The Chair's repeated efforts to ensure smooth functioning went in vain, and the proceedings were adjourned within 11 minutes. Similar protests hit the afternoon session too. The government, for its part, has blamed the Opposition for trying to 'politicise the issue of electoral reforms'. 'They know that the issue of SIR is subjudice, they know that the ECI being a constitutional body cannot be discussed in the House. Yet, they are trying to politicise an issue which is essentially a reform that all political parties have sought,' a senior government functionary aware of the matter said. Multiple BJP leaders said various political parties have petitioned the ECI for cleaning up the electoral rolls and ensuring that there is no duplication of names, inadvertent deletions or inclusion of bogus names. A party leader from Bihar said even in the past SIR of the electoral roles have been conducted, but it was for the first time that the issue is being politicised 'with a view to discredit the poll panel'. 'Every party has a polling agent present at every booth. These people are responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the voters list and are familiar with the process that is followed for ensuring that only eligible votes are included. If they find irregularities in the voters list, they should flag it to the election commission instead of creating a false narrative about the exercise,' the leader said. Responding to a question on whether the ruling side will reach any compromise with the Opposition for a discussion on SIR in Parliament, the first functionary quoted above said the government will stick to parliamentary procedures and norms. TMC MP Derek O'Brien said, 'Modi-Shah government have not allowed a debate in the last nine years in Parliament on an issue raised by the Opposition. Last one was Nov 2016 on demonetization. Parliament is supreme. Nothing is out of bounds to discus. Skittish coalition looking for excuses to flee from Parliament.'
Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sent to Pakistan in Pahalgam aftermath, 63-year-old set to return to family in Jammu as Centre makes an exception
Three months after revoking all short-duration visas issued to Pakistani nationals and deporting nearly 60 individuals to the neighbouring country, the Government of India has decided to issue a visitor's visa to 63-year-old Rakshanda Rashid, the wife of a retired government official, so that she can return from across the border and rejoin her family in Jammu and Kashmir. The woman, a resident of Jammu's Talab Khatikan area, was deported to Pakistan on April 29 via the Atari-Wagah border in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Her husband, Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed, and four grown-up children continue to stay in J&K since they are Indian nationals. The matter came up in the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on July 30, with the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, saying that 'after much deliberations and considering the peculiarity of facts and unusual factual position obtaining in the mater, an in-principle decision is taken by the authority to grant a visitor's visa to the respondent'. 'Thereafter, she may even, if so advised, pursue the two applications that are purportedly moved by her and pending with the respective authority as regards acquiring Indian citizenship as also the long-term visa,'' he said. Mehta had hinted on July 22 that there could be a reconsideration at the Centre's level, as he had requested the court to defer the proceedings to enable him to explore if the respondent could be helped in any manner. In response to Mehta's statement before the Bench, advocates Ankur Sharma and Himani Khajuria, the counsel for the respondent, submitted that she is agreeable to the course suggested by the Solicitor General of India. 'In principle decision taken by the authorities centred upon the peculiar facts and circumstances of the present case shall not constitute a precedent in any manner,' the Bench said. As per court records, Rakshanda, who lived in Islamabad, entered India on February 10, 1990, via Attari on a visitor's visa for 14 days to visit Jammu, but continued to stay owing to a long-term visa (LTV) granted by the authorities on a year-to-year basis. During her stay, she married an Indian national. Her LTV was valid up to January 13, 2025, and she applied for an extension on January 4, which was not granted. Following the Pahalgam attack, the competent authority issued an order on April 25, revoking all existing valid visas with immediate effect. On April 28, Rakshanda was served with a Leave India Notice by the Criminal Investigation Department (Special Branch Jammu). She approached the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court vide a writ petition and prayed for a stay of the order. However, she was issued an exit permit and was escorted to the Attari-Wagah Border, Amritsar, by the authorities. She crossed over to Pakistan on April 29 at 4:30 pm. On June 6, Justice Rahul Bharti ordered the Central government to 'retrieve' Rakshanda. While passing the order, Justice Bharti observed, 'This court is bearing in mind the background reference that the petitioner was having LTV status at relevant point of time which per-se may not have warranted her deportation, but without examining her case in better perspective and coming up with a proper order with respect to her deportation from the authorities concerned, still she came to be forced out.' 'Human rights are the most sacrosanct component of a human life,' observed Justice Bharti, who also referred to the statement of Rakshanda's husband Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed that 'his wife has no one in Pakistan for her care and custody, particularly when she is suffering from multiple ailments and that her health and life is at risk with each passing day and (she is) left to fend for herself as abandoned'. There are occasions when 'a constitutional court is supposed to come up with SOS like indulgence notwithstanding the merits and demerits of a case which can be adjudicated only upon in due course of time', the judge observed. 'Therefore, this court is coming up with a direction to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to bring back the petitioner from her deportation.' Speaking to The Indian Express earlier, her husband had said that the children were worried sick about Rakshanda. According to him, though she had taken Rs 50,000 in Indian currency, she was running short of money to sustain, as a tray of eggs apparently cost Rs 600 and 1 kg atta cost Rs 250 in Pakistan.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trade war: Tariffs notified, government hardens its position on no-go areas
NEW DELHI: On a day when US notified additional levies for countries, with 25% imposed on Indian exports, govt hardened its position asserting that farm and dairy products, genetically modified food, beef and animal feed with meat are no-go areas. Without being confrontational, govt sources made it clear that cultural sensitivities and farmers' interest will be paramount in talks with the US and indicated India's willingness to move ahead with talks, with the next round scheduled to begin on Aug 25. "We are engaged with American officials and securing our national interest is our primary objective. Govt is not going to come under pressure on areas that concern farmers and small businesses," said an official. While there is bound to be some impact on India's exports, sources said that it may shave off around 0.2 percentage points from GDP this year and there may not be a significant impact over the economy. The assessment is based on calculations that a significant part of India's exports to US - $20-25 billion out of overall exports of $86.5 billion last fiscal - was outside the ambit of tariffs notified through US President Donald Trump's executive order, issued early Friday (India time). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Miraflores: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo In 2024-25, pharma exports were a little under $10 billion, while oil products added up to $4.2 billion and electronics were estimated at over $13 billion, made up largely of smartphones, according to official from medicines, the exemptions include Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, electronics and ICT products such as semiconductors, smartphones and computers and energy products. The US tariffs will now be effective Aug 7 and the penalty for Russian arms and defence purchases was not part of the executive order issued by Trump, indicating he is seeking to use it as a threat to extract a deal to his liking from India. It also said that Indian shipments that are in transit before Aug 7 - and arrive at US ports before Oct 5 - will not face the additional tariff, providing some relief to are seeking sops from govt to tide over possible loss of orders, especially in sectors such as textiles, footwear and chemicals. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal is slated to hold consultations with exporters over the next few days. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
