Heritage Paradox - The Conflict of Progress and Preservation in the Modern Metropolis

The dissertation here aims to identify, examine and restore the neglected structures or the fabric that cries for help to be able to sustain in this modern world, ones which are under threat of losing their identity and occupy a large part of the landscape, that become static in time and form, yet have a potential to add value. There are many reasons for negligence, one being the material-based conservation policies that freeze the precinct and the monument. India is the fastest-growing economy and a developing country that demands basic survival facilities and modern infrastructure to remain in pace with the changing world; therefore, how the standards of heritage conservation become a barrier to developmental needs also sets a basis for the study. Taking the case of Pune, a soon-to-be megacity, the cultural capital of Maharashtra witnesses a growing population subjected to the IT, educational, industrial and tourism sectors. The study focuses on the precinct of Shaniwar Wada. This historical monument has become the image identity of the city, yet the existing conditions and management don’t do justice to it. The ASI tag on the monument brings a very controlled or restricted development in the precinct through the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act). Further, it also fails to provide basic amenities for the visitors. The monument that was once the reason for Pune’s growth and revival is now the reason for the dilapidated structures and a static fabric. Architectural heritage becomes a part of collective memory and public inclusivity, which evolves with time, people, culture and the city. An individual or a community strongly associates with a heritage because of their memories, the culture attached to it, and the value it adds. In the case of the Wada, the associations have faded as the monument stands as a barrier to the local community. The study, therefore, addresses the “prohibited” and “regulated” zones regulation as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act), its relevance, where the same is applied to every historic site, be it Taj Mahal along the banks of Yamuna or the Shaniwar Wada right in the centre of the city. The research aims to put up strategies for the urban renewal of the fabric around the monument, to create a precinct that helps to curate and glorify the monument, provide basic amenities and address issues of current heritage management. ( Keywords - neglected, lost identities, heritage standards, barrier, image identity, AMASR Act, dilapidated, static, urban renewal, heritage management )