The Ministry of Culture has recently unveiled the draft National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India. This initiative is a significant step towards acknowledging the richness and diversity of Indian culture, which is deeply rooted in its intangible heritage. The objective of this national list is to augment awareness regarding various elements of intangible cultural heritage from distinct states of India both on national and international platforms, as well as ensuring their safeguarding. This initiative is an integral part of the Vision 2024 outlined by the Ministry of Culture.
The National ICH List and Its Significance
The National ICH List comprises over 100 elements, including 13 elements that have been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the category of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The formulation of this list is in alignment with UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The convention aims to foster identification, protection, and safeguarding of natural cultural heritage and is an extension of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by the UNESCO General Conference.
Five Domains of ICH
The National ICH List organizes the intangible cultural heritage into five broad domains. These include oral traditions and expressions, encompassing language as the vehicle of the ICH; performing arts; social practices, rituals, and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and traditional craftsmanship.
Key Inclusions in the Draft List
Prominent examples from the list include Kalaripayuttu, a martial art form native to Kerala, and ‘kolam’, an intricate design pattern made at entranceways of homes and temples, common to regions like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage
The current inclusions in the list have been gathered from projects sanctioned under the ‘Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India’ scheme. Formulated by the Ministry of Culture in 2013, the scheme’s primary objective is to support and strengthen the efforts of various stakeholders towards wider recognition, acceptance, preservation, and promotion of India’s rich, diverse and extensive intangible cultural heritage, including its recognition by UNESCO.
The scheme empowers institutions, universities, state governments, union territory administrations, non-MoC institutions, societies, and non-government organisations involved in the preservation and propagation of ICH, cultural expressions, and more. Additionally, it aids individuals including researchers, scholars, and professionals engaged in research, training, preservation, and propagation of ICH and cultural expressions.
