Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Encyclopedia
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is an autonomous non-governmental Indian NGO
that seeks to preserve Indian Art
and Cultural heritage
. In 2007, United Nations
awarded INTACH with a special consultative status
with United Nations Economic and Social Council
.
, as its first chairman and its headquarters are in New Delhi
, and today it has chapters in 117 Indian cities, plus in Belgium, UK and USA. INTACH is the only non-governmental Indian non-profit society working for the awareness, and conservation of Indian culture, and heritage.
In 2007, INTACH signed a memorandum of understanding with 'AusHeritage', Australia's noted heritage network, to collaborate on South Asia
n and South East Asia regional initiatives.
Over the years, INTACH has taken up restoration and protection of hundreds of monuments, which falls outside the coverage of Archeological Survey of India and other government agencies, and at times local authorities handover the upkeep and restoration of heritage structures to INTACH directly.
Over the years, it has established chapters not only within the nation but also outside it, now it uses funds mobilized by its international chapters in Belgium, United Kingdom and US, to take up restoration, conservation and protection project of historical structures and heritage buildings across India. After developing Raghurajpur
, Orissa
, a place famous for its master ‘Pattachitra
’ artists and ‘Gotipua’ dance troupes as a heritage village, which has now become a major rural tourist destination , it later used the same pattern to develop Padmanabhpur village, Ganjam district
, Orissa
, famous for its weavers and folk dancers, into another heritage destination.
In 2007, Goa
Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with INTACH, restoration, conservation and maintenance of 51 officially listed heritage and cultural monuments in the state, this include the restoration and conservation of the 16th century Reis Magos Fort in Goa
, then in 2008, INTACH signed anouth a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Delhi
for the conservation of 92 monuments in Delhi, in the preparation of the Commonwealth Games 2010.
Indian NGOs
Indian Non-governmental organizations can be set up under various Indian laws, and the different legal entities under which civil society organizations can register themselves are: -Registered Societies:...
that seeks to preserve Indian Art
Indian art
Indian Art is the visual art produced on the Indian subcontinent from about the 3rd millennium BC to modern times. To viewers schooled in the Western tradition, Indian art may seem overly ornate and sensuous; appreciation of its refinement comes only gradually, as a rule. Voluptuous feeling is...
and Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
. In 2007, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
awarded INTACH with a special consultative status
Consultative Status
Consultative Status is a phrase whose use can be traced to the founding of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to "Non-governmental organizations in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council." Also some international organizations could...
with United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
.
History
It was founded in 1984 by Rajiv GandhiRajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
, as its first chairman and its headquarters are in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, and today it has chapters in 117 Indian cities, plus in Belgium, UK and USA. INTACH is the only non-governmental Indian non-profit society working for the awareness, and conservation of Indian culture, and heritage.
In 2007, INTACH signed a memorandum of understanding with 'AusHeritage', Australia's noted heritage network, to collaborate on South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n and South East Asia regional initiatives.
Overview
Among the task undertaken by INTACH including restoration of the monuments and their management, advocacy for heritage property conservation, public awareness through heritage walks and buses, and setting up heritage clubs in schools, and holding awareness workshop for teachers of schools and colleges, and even for the guides at various heritage sites.Over the years, INTACH has taken up restoration and protection of hundreds of monuments, which falls outside the coverage of Archeological Survey of India and other government agencies, and at times local authorities handover the upkeep and restoration of heritage structures to INTACH directly.
Over the years, it has established chapters not only within the nation but also outside it, now it uses funds mobilized by its international chapters in Belgium, United Kingdom and US, to take up restoration, conservation and protection project of historical structures and heritage buildings across India. After developing Raghurajpur
Raghurajpur
Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village in Puri district, Orissa, known for its master Pattachitra painters, an art form which dates back to 5 BC. in the region and Gotipua dance troupes, the precursor to the Indian classical dance form of Odissi; it also known as the birthplace of one of finest...
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, a place famous for its master ‘Pattachitra
Pattachitra
Pattachitra is a traditional painting of Orissa, India.These Paintings are based on Hindu Mythology and specially inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava cult. All colours used in the Paintings are natural and paintings are made fully old traditional way by Chitrakaras that is Oriya Painter....
’ artists and ‘Gotipua’ dance troupes as a heritage village, which has now become a major rural tourist destination , it later used the same pattern to develop Padmanabhpur village, Ganjam district
Ganjam District
Ganjam district is a district in the Indian state of Orissa located on the border of Andhra Pradesh. Ganjam's total area is 8,070 km² . Its population is approximately 2,704,056.Ganjam is known for its beaches bordering the Bay of Bengal, the most famous ones being Gopalpur and Dhavaleshwar...
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, famous for its weavers and folk dancers, into another heritage destination.
In 2007, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with INTACH, restoration, conservation and maintenance of 51 officially listed heritage and cultural monuments in the state, this include the restoration and conservation of the 16th century Reis Magos Fort in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, then in 2008, INTACH signed anouth a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Delhi
Government of Delhi
The Government of Delhi is the supreme governing authority of the Indian national capital territory of Delhi and its 9 districts. It consists of an executive, led by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, a judiciary and a legislative...
for the conservation of 92 monuments in Delhi, in the preparation of the Commonwealth Games 2010.