[Reader-list] NMML Public Lecture on ‘Saving our Cultural Heritage: The challenge, the promise and the potential’ by Dr. Shobhita Punja, 09-04-2012

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
cordially invites you to a Public Lecture
 
at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, 9 April 2012
in the Seminar Room, First Floor, Library Building
 
on
 
‘Saving our Cultural Heritage:
 The challenge, the promise and the potential’
 
by
 
Dr. Shobhita Punja, National Culture Fund, New Delhi
 
Abstract:
 
India’s diverse cultural heritage has survived, grown and evolved over the centuries. Every aspect of Indian culture – tangible or intangible - has an integral relationship with nature and the environment. Factors such as the rapid pace of socio-economic and environmental changes, the advent of new technologies, disappearance of traditional patrons and support systems are posing unprecedented threats to the continuity of India’s creative cultural traditions.  Since independence increasing awareness of these threats has brought about demands to preserve and support the revitalization of India’s heritage and its continuity. Several substantive efforts have been made by the Government, individuals, institutions, public, private and not-for-profit undertakings. However, there is much to be done as many questions still remain – Whose culture is it anyway? Who is responsible for its continuity? What should be saved and why?
 
Speaker:
 
Dr. Shobhita Punja was awarded her doctoral degree from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Education, Baroda, for her contribution to the field of Art Education in 1982. She has given orientation lectures at the American Embassy, New Delhi (annually since 1990) and for several years through USEFI to visiting scholars under the Fullbright program. She has been invited to lecture on Indian Art at various institutions in India and abroad:  The National Museum New Delhi, the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Nehru Centre, London, the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology in Colombo, Sri Lanka and several Universities in the USA. She is the author of several books: Museums of India (1990, reprinted in 1999), Divine Ecstasy, 1992, Great Monuments of India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka,1994, Daughters the Ocean - Discovering the Goddess Within,1996, This is India, 1996.
 
Dr. Punja has spent part of her professional life (1979 – 1990) working at the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Culture, training and teaching teachers about Indian art and culture, understanding Indian heritage and role of museums in education. At INTACH (1998-2000) she has been the Chief Consultant, on the multi–disciplinary project “Conservation and Development Strategy for the World Heritage Region of Khajuraho”. She is also working on major conservation projects in Madhya Pradesh at Orchha, Khajuraho, Dhubela, Goa, the restoration of Chowmahalla Palace and Museum, Hyderabad and others historical sites. From 2000-2010 she served as Chief Programme Officer and set up the Heritage Education and Communication Service at INTACH and organized national level special heritage training programmes throughout the country. She developed heritage resource material for teachers, students and the public to spread awareness about the need to preserve India’s natural and cultural heritage. At present she is CEO of the National Culture Fund, Ministry of Culture, and Government of India. NCF was set up to forge partnerships between public and private agencies to raise funds to sponsor conservation of historic monuments, improvement of museums, intangible heritage programmes and training in the field of heritage and culture. 
 
Dr. Shobita Punja has been associated with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, India (1999-2006), INTACH UK Trust (2009-10), Greenpeace, India (2000-2010), She is a member of the Governing Council of the Centre for Environment Education, Nehru Foundation for Development, Ahmedabad, Trustee, Helen Hamlyn Trust, UK since (2003), Sanskriti Foundation, New Delhi, and Trustee of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur (2010).
 
 
 
All are welcome.