Heritage changes! Never thought thus. But indeed it does. You and me, are all part of building heritage - some very perceptible, some, very subtle, some positively impactful, some, even though unwitting, negative.
On this day, the first agenda is to get to know our heritage - as a family member, as a member of a community (faith, linguistic, regional), as someone belonging to a particular nation, and as a planeter - a global citizen, proud of the whole planet with its unique diversities as our heritage. This is an unending and life-long exploration and celebration. You get to know just one bit of it, every time.
The second agenda on cards would be, if possible to experience any one of them - especially heritage monuments or sites. In my all India ride, I was blessed with many such - of which my visit to the ancient universities of Nalanda and Vikramshila and the ancient Indus valley site of Dholavira in Gujarat. Just being there and sinking into the heritage of the nation was a great experience. Wanted to spend more time there, but could not. I regret that Bamian Buddhas, the great world heritage, are no more - even if I visit Afghanistan, they can't be seen. I also regret Babri Masjid, the vandalistic demolition of which we all witnessed live on TV. These are instances when religions and cultural fundamentalism tend to miss the value of heritage, and tend to promote extremism rather than accommodation and tolerance for furthering peace.
The third agenda for heritage day is to reflect on what heritage we build and leave for the posterity. At Rajagiri, I would love to see the alumni looking back and recalling with pride, thanks to Rajagiri heritage (i) we do things in time, (ii) we keep ourselves fit, (iii) we don't generate waste, or at least, definitely, manage it and (iv) we care for the planet as our common home. If this can be enusred, I think, we are doing a very meaningful work, we are on a very meaningful mission.
Yes, we become heritage builders!
Qatar Heritage
Living in Qatar, I look at this pheonomenon with real wonder. What transition in culture - what was the heritage of Qatar - fishing and pearl harvesting, a very close-to-nature kind of heritage, is now a matter of history and museuems. The modern Qatar, at least from my survey of the past one year, has this only in its memory. I don't know how far the Qataris cherish this heritage. What they are leaving is the heritage of a modern, urban, petro-based, prosperity tinged heritage; to which, of late, a deliberate effort to add sustainability is observed. Will the next generation have sustainability as a hall mark of its heritage? I do not know.
I was happy to read in the newspaper that Qatar's contributions by the file 'The Palm...Knowledge, Skils, Traditions and Practices' has been added to the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. <https://www.gulf-times.com/article/659619/qatar/qatar-awarded-certificate-on-date-palm-file> April 19, 2023.
The term used for the great seers in Jain tradition is 'teerthankaraas'. It literally means 'bridge builders'. Every human is called to be a teerthankara by building bridges between the generations, by conserving the heritage and by transforming it through one's meaningful additions.
Good one Sir
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