Publications
Constructing national identity through World Heritage: the international and intranational politics of the built environment in Ahmadabad
Ahmadabad's designation as India's first UNESCO World Heritage city in 2017 reveals the dual politics of heritage narrative construction, both internationally and domestically. While globally, Ahmadabad is framed as a multicultural site to attract global audiences, internally it serves as a subtle tool for ethno-nationalist control, curating Islamism while excluding Muslim and migrant populations most closely tied to its heritage. This study, using semi-structured interviews and document analysis, uncovers how socio-political and economic forces manipulate built heritage to shape national identity, highlighting the complex interplay between international recognition and internal exclusion.
Creation of cultural heritage inventories: case of the historic city of Ahmadabad
A comprehensive cultural heritage inventory for the historic city of Ahmadabad, India, serves as a critical tool for conservation and urban management. This inventory, covering 543 hectares with over 6,000 properties, highlights the importance of integrating built heritage assets with their surrounding context to ensure effective preservation. The study demonstrates that traditional field surveys, combined with digital data management systems using CAD, GIS, and other platforms, can efficiently capture and assess heritage resources while maintaining cost and time efficiency. Although currently limited to monitoring listed properties, the potential for broader urban planning applications is significant once fully integrated into city management systems.
Documentation and Cultural Heritage Inventories - Case of the Historic City of Ahmadabad
Ahmadabad, India's historic city, showcases exceptional architectural and urban heritage, including monumental structures, traditional housing, settlement patterns, crafts, and mercantile culture. A comprehensive Heritage Inventory was developed between 2011 and 2014 to illustrate its Outstanding Universal Values, using a combination of archival research, field surveys, mapping, and advanced digital databases with GIS. The process faced challenges such as adapting methodologies to field conditions, managing evolving scope, and correlating diverse data formats. While the inventory met its primary goal, its full potential for protection and management will be realized upon integration into statutory lists and urban development plans.
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