World Heritage day 2025: Safeguarding identity amid disasters and conflicts

Our heritage extends past physical remains of stones and historical ruins and scripted documents. Our heritage exists in every temple wall whisper and all carved structures on ancient forts along with all historic folk music throughout the generations. Our heritage reveals the identity of our people alongside their major values and methods of survival. The heartwarming purpose of World Heritage Day exists to remind everyone that these magnificent eternal possessions require both admiration and protection. World heritage requires immediate protection according to the 2025 signature theme “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts” because preserving the past ensures a safe future.

Introduction

• The annual observance of World Heritage Day holds 18th April as its celebration date to safeguard cultural and natural heritage.

• The primary focus of 2025 revolves around “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”

Background of World Heritage Day

• World Heritage Day which the International Day for Monuments and Sites formally occurs on 18th April every year. 

• The celebration of human heritage through the individuals who dedicate themselves to conservation began in 1982 when ICOMOS established the calendar which UNESCO accepted in 1983. 

• Each year brings a specific heritage-centered theme that directs worldwide events for heritage awareness together with protection activities.

Understanding the World Heritage Convention

• Under the guidance of UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) the World Heritage Convention enables global heritage preservation since its adoption in 1972. 

• Among the provisions of this agreement member states find methods to detect and secure places having either natural or cultural importance. 

• India became a member of the Convention by November 1977. 

• The World Heritage Site network includes 1,223 unique locations throughout 196 territorial nations that house 952 cultural, 231 natural and 40 combined properties as of October 2024.

World Heritage Sites: Protecting the Future

• International organizations check places for their exemplary value before giving them World Heritage Site designation. 

• The World Heritage Sites consist of cultural features together with natural wonders or consist of these elements combined. 

• The “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” in Assam received its designation as a cultural property from India in July 2024. 

• UNESCO recognized 62 more Indian sites while increasing the national total to 43 sites.

• Since 1983 India has maintained its heritage journey through site listings of Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal and Ajanta and Ellora Caves which protect historical and cultural heritage and serve educational purposes.

Government Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage

The nation continues to take many initiatives which protect and strengthen both cultural heritage and natural resources:

• Since 1976 and up to 2024 the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has retrieved 655 foreign antiquities yet 642 of these objects were retrieved after 2014.

• This scheme called Adopt a Heritage allows public-private partnerships to build heritage site amenities through CSR funds which received a makeover in 2023. 21 Memoranda of Understanding have already been executed.

• The World Heritage Committee session took place during July 2024 in Delhi and welcomed over two thousand nine hundred delegates from multiple countries across 140 nations for cultural and natural heritage preservation initiatives.

• The country protects its National Importance monuments through 3,697 building monuments. ASI provides visitor amenities together with maintenance programs for conservation purposes through services that include accessible pathways, signage and sound and light presentations and souvenir shops.

• Numerous heritage site projects focus on Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakaal Lok, Maa Kamakhya Corridor, Chardham Road Project, Somnath revamp and Kartarpur Corridor.

• The ASI online portal presents viewers with nearly 100 significant sites along with World Heritage properties which they can see. The website provides panoramic view visuals together with visitor information services that support cultural tourism programs.

• NMMA established the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities which digitized 11,406 heritage sites together with 12.3 lakh antiquities. During 2024-25 the mission received a budget allocation of ₹20 lakh.

• Three additional languages received classical language status on October 3rd 2024 at which point there were 11 documented classical languages in India.

• On 16th January 2025 Vadnagar welcomed its first Archaeological Experiential Museum that displays 5,000+ artifacts across 12,500 sq. m of interactive galleries.

• The Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum began its operations at New Delhi on 29th July 2024 with a purpose to deliver diverse information about site architectural aspects and conservation matters.

• India took a major step toward preserving its literary heritage by registering Ramcharitmanas Panchatantra and Sahrdayāloka-Locana on MOWCAP Regional Register on May 8th 2024.

Conclusion

The purpose of World Heritage Day teaches us we need to dedicate ourselves to operational preservation work in addition to passive admiration. Nationwide initiatives along with international support allow India to protect both cultural and natural properties of its heritage. The consistent preservation activities will secure India's cultural heritage for all people to explore and celebrate in the future.