ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2023
Sydney, Australia (31st August–9th September)
Heritage as Placemaking’s post-doctoral researcher Dr. Monalisa Maharjan travelled to Sydney, Australia to represent the HaP project through two presentations of her recent work:
Intangible Cultural Heritage Colloquium
Theme: Expressing Diversity: Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urban Public Spaces (September 2nd, Foreshore House, Sydney)
Title: “When cities become modern: ICH in Urban Space Vs Modernization in context of Kathmandu Valley”
Monalisa presenting on September 2 at the ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2023. Photo courtesy of Monalisa Maharjan.
Abstract: Most intangible cultural heritage in the Kathmandu Valley, such as rituals, mask dances, chariot processions, palanquin processions, music and much more takes place in public spaces. Public spaces such as squares, courtyards and streets have been used by the indigenous communities for generations. With rapid urbanization and modernization, these spaces have been in process of encroachment or have been demolished to make way for modern amenities. Contestation takes place from time to time during the performance period. Several times the local activists and communities have to intervene, mediate or even protest. On one hand, these ICHs are taken as identity of cities while making plans for the historic cities they are never considered. Taking the case of Kathmandu Valley, this paper will try to understand how its ICHs and public spaces are interlinked. ICH is a window with many opportunities, and they even have potential to contribute to SDGs, rather than be labilities to the cities and city dwellers. This paper will explore the opportunities ICH can bring to make a city interesting to live in and attain SDGs.
Scientific Symposium
Theme: Indigenous Heritage (September 6th, ICC Sydney)
Title: Heritage Activism for the Commons: Agents, Possibilities and End Goals
Abstract: Post 2015 earthquake in Kathmandu Valley, the devastation has brought the sense of heritage awareness among general people. People in the valley (mostly indigenous Newa communities) seem to be much more aware of the heritage in their surroundings. This is especially true of heritage of local and everyday importance, such as ponds (pukhu), rest houses (phalcha) and stone water fountains (hiti) as people could directly associate with it. This sense of belonging gave birth to new heritage activism. Heritage activism includes a wide range of activities, such as protest against destruction, organizing awareness campaigns, mobilizing youth, and even arguing with the officials of the Department of Archeology (the responsible authority for tangible heritage).
Monalisa presenting on September 6 at the ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2023. Photo courtesy of Monalisa Maharjan.
This paper will focus on the activism around a stone waterspout named “Swora hiti,” which was destroyed, buried, encroached and lost from the everyday scene. A group of heritage activists helped to restore the physical structure of waterspout, but the struggle for water flow and outlet of hiti along with other amenities of space remains a work in progress. Amidst multilayered uses, abandonment, decay and destruction, the emergence of indigenous people led heritage activism is changing the discourse. This paper articulates how the ancient philosophy of public service provision meets a new generation of heritage activists driven by nostalgia of the past who aim to restore the commons. It will uncover questions such as, “What is the end goal of hiti activism?” “Who are the actors and networks in this hiti activism?” and “Does this activism concern the aesthetic value of such places or their actual everyday use?”