The Production and Reproduction of a Monument: The Many Lives of the SanchiStupa

The Sanchi Stupa complex, once a disused ruin and target of ravage, has transformed into one of the best-preserved ancient structures, reflecting its dynamic historical journey. This study uncovers how colonial-era practices—such as imaging, replication, documentation, and archaeological conservation—shaped its preservation, culminating in the 'Marshall era.' It also explores the shifting politics of control and resacralization, highlighting tensions between secular and sacred, archaeological and devotional consecrations during Sanchi's transition from a colonial to a national monument. The research traces these processes through historical narratives, institutional documentation, and photographic records, offering insights into the complex afterlives of this UNESCO World Heritage Site in postcolonial and contemporary contexts.

Guha-Thakurta, T. (2013). The Production and Reproduction of a Monument: The Many Lives of the SanchiStupa. South Asian Studies, 29(1), 77–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/02666030.2013.772801