This must be taken as national mission, speakers say
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The second day of the International Conference on the Preservation of Rural Buddhist Heritage- organised by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD)- concluded at Dr Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi with discussions on heritage preservation, community engagement and the establishment of the proposed National Academy for Rural Heritage Conservation and Development Training. Supported by the Union Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Gautam Buddha University, School of Planning and Architecture and its Institute of Archaeology along with international partners, the conference continues to draw wide participation from global scholars, practitioners and policymakers.
The day underscored the need to deepen knowledge of Buddhist architectural culture, living traditions, and the interdependence of tangible and intangible heritage, the organisers said. A number of scholars from India, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the United States shared perspectives on conservation practices, participatory approaches, historical reconstruction, skill development, sustainable pilgrimage and heritage knowledge systems.
A key addition to the day’s proceedings was the address by the former chairman of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, who underscored the contemporary relevance of Buddhist teachings amid global conflict and uncertainty. He said that India, as the historic centre of Buddhist civilisation, carries a moral responsibility to conserve both the physical and spiritual dimensions of its Buddhist sites. He stressed that conservation must be treated as a national mission and advocated for meaningful Buddhist tourism that deepens reflection, learning, and community benefit rather than encouraging material consumption.
Chairing the session on Developing Knowledge of Buddhist Architectural Culture and its Conservation, Prof Amareswar Galla highlighted the urgent need for India to strengthen documentation, academic training, and people-centred conservation.
Prajapati Trivedi of Harvard University called for India to learn from nations with strong Buddhist populations that have successfully preserved their heritage.
