INTRODUCTION

+921Heritage Talks is a project of Pakistan Chowk Community Center (PCCC), where we are going to host discussions and webinars every six months dedicated to discussing the politics of Heritage and Preservation in Pakistan.

The dialogue on Heritage is a global conversation which must take into account the local contexts. In a rapidly changing world, narratives around heritage preservation are shaped by a plethora of relatively new factors. The parameters of what constitutes heritage are expanding and take into account not just the past and tangible heritage sites but our present and as well as our current relationship with the spaces we inhabit as communities.

Conversations regarding Heritage protection in the cities of Global South become much more complex given their colonial histories. In urban cities heritage sites often happen to be in active use. Traditional methods of regulations to preserve heritage may face challenges when applied to metropolitan cities which function as economic hubs, where economic interests trump other concerns.

In the face of these challenges how must we shape our conversations regarding heritage preservation? What solutions can we offer that resonate with local communities that inhabit these heritage sites? Our cultural legacies, our histories and present ways of being are a product of our cumulative heritage, therefore it is essential to protect and preserve our heritage sites. But the important questions are about who shares the responsibility for protecting this legacy, and why it needs to be protected.

At PCCC we aim to engage in a comprehensive dialogue on the above questions by bringing together architects, researchers, urban planners, policymakers, designers, artists, journalists, film makers, bloggers and activists to brainstorm ideas for the protection, dialogue, conservation, rehabilitation & accessibility of heritage sites & public spaces. +921HeritageTalks hopes to bring all the stakeholders together under one multidisciplinary setting so that together they may present solutions feasible for concerned authorities.

THEME 1: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Real Estate and Heritage’

Pakistan’s heritage is centuries old and remnants of the past can be seen everywhere - from coastal towns to the mountains up north. Historical sites and architectural buildings are a testament to our diverse history. However, many of these sites are threatened by erasure in the form of neglect but also by development projects.

As our cities continue to expand and modernize, it is important for us to inquire what obstructions come in the way of heritage preservation. In rapidly changing urban and rural landscapes, what options do we have to safeguard historic buildings? Can we find a common ground between development and preservation of heritage sites? What solutions can there be for the preservation of communal identities that are threatened by urbanization and real estate developers.

Link to view on YouTube: +921HeritageTalks: Real Estate and Heritage

Panelist: Researcher Shaheera Pesnani (Masters-United Kingdom)

THEME 2: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Policies & Bylaws Gaps in Heritage Management’

What plays the key role in preservation, prevention, protection and restoration of heritage sites and antiquities? Are government policies responsible for restoration of heritage sites? The current policies and procedures of conserving heritage in Pakistan are largely a continuation of the British Raj: mostly based upon the guidelines of the ‘Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904’. Since independence in 1947, these legislations have been altered from time to time. With a major development in 2011 of transferring of power from national to provincial level. The issues and gaps in the current legislation is due to which some heritage is under threat.

As current challenges unfold, we need an active and engaged governance of the city which accounts for the present-day urban challenges and the urgent need to protect our shared heritage. As the country continues to expand in multiple directions, combined with a steady increase in population, the urban space becomes contested. Under these circumstances how are the state & citizenship relationship redefined, and in times of this constant flux what is the role of heritage preservation and who steps up to shoulder the responsibility.

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500017274127

Panelist: Arch. Mariyam Nizam (Heritage Assessments-Melbourne, Australia)

THEME 3: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Heritage Preservation and Local Communities’

In an effort to preserve history some laws are passed and actions are taken that harm that heritage's future. It is easier to place objects into a museum as they more easily fall out of use, but it is not possible to do that with architecture and areas. An alternative form of preservation is required to secure their history. That form requires taking into consideration the communities already using that infrastructure. Preserving infrastructure in a way that forces it out of use, stops its history in its tracks and produces a codependent relationship with authorities that do not have a vested interest in sustaining that structure is an ineffective form of preservation. The preservation of heritage should be viewed through the lens of “placemaking”, where the past helps build new meanings for the future. (Richards, 2020, Heritage and tourism)

Viable alternatives can include the involvement of the local communities in their own cultural tourism so that witnessing culture can help add onto cultural production. The involvement of the local community in the preservation of their history helps provide factual information and creates sustainable formations of preservation as they have a vested interest and have historical knowledge of maintenance. It is important to highlight proper forms of preservation so that we don't end up losing more in our effort of saving. In this day and age. With it being easier than ever to find indigenous voices, there needs to be a discussion on the importance of centering those voices in their own cultural exportation. It is also important to bring in expert voices to raise awareness and provide the knowledge needed to best maintain those cultural heritages. The biggest issue, faced nowadays, is to divide the responsibilities in such a way that the local communities create a system of informed and sovereign form of maintenance.

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/921heritagetalks-heritage-preservation-and-local-communities-tickets-500028868807

Panelist: Nashik Heritage Trails (Amrita Gangatirkar, India) and Studio Urban Dialogue (Shilpa Dahake, Nashik India)

THEME 4: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Future of Preservation’

The concepts regarding preservation and the future of heritage have evolved considerably over time. Heritage initially referred exclusively to monumental remains only, however with time the parameters of what is considered as heritage have expanded to embrace living and contemporary cultures.

In the age of urbanization, a very important question that arises in the context of rapidly urbanizing cities is: How important is it to preserve heritage sites for future generations? If yes, then how can we develop resources and sustainable conservation plans needed to protect shared heritage, when both do not exist on a governmental level.

In Karachi’s context, the preservation largely comes under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Act 1994, which still hasn’t been utilized to its full potential due to the lack of interest shown by the authorities. Arif Hassan, referring to Karachi, expressed, “While affection for buildings and history exists in the city, there is no respect for their conservation.” Furthermore he has reiterated in his books that due to the negligence of government and stakeholders the heritage sites of pakistan are rapidly deteriorating. What accounts for such neglect on a state level? Moreover, what role can citizens and communities play in preserving their heritage sites?

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500018648237

Panelist: Arch.Tania Soomro (PhD-Milan, Italy)

THEME 5: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Politics of Walking and Witnessing’

Walking is inherently a political act that places an individual in an active conversation and engagement with their spatial surroundings. The idea of walking in a heritage zone, the lived experience of witnessing the deterioration and decay of buildings while walking in and around them opens up a venue of experience that you cannot find in theoretical works or museums. It stimulates all our senses with sounds, smells, textures, and other physical qualities of the heritage site.

The artifacts of heritage are no longer housed in white rooms or behind glass boxes but they are experienced in highly activated living and breathing spaces - in narrow streets and cramped up bazaars. Heritage walks help us connect with elements of heritage in a holistic way by expanding our understanding of what heritage means. One must then ask how heritage walks challenge the binary categories of what constitutes heritage, and help us in looking for more local and grounded methods of heritage preservation?

What new meanings do we give to these long-forgotten heritage sites and their surrounding areas when we engage with them? As De Certeau says in his essay “Walking In the City” that urban walking gives a new meaning to spaces and streets which originally weren’t assigned to them. He goes further and terms walking as an act of resistance. In this sense, then one must ask how do heritage walks contest dominant and hegemonic historical or cultural narratives?

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500031516727

Panelists: Pindi Heritage Tours (Hassan Tauseef), Heritage Walk Karachi, Yunus Lasania, Save Historic Patna Collective

THEME 6: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘High-Rise Invasions into Historic Quarters’

Heritage is a selection from the past chosen for contemporary purposes, be they economic, political, social or cultural. Historic urban quarters are particularly valued as they are coherent entities with traditional character and architectural value. These quarters exist in all continents and reflect the accomplishments of many cultures. They are increasingly threatened by destruction due to decay, changing social and economic conditions and inappropriate reconstruction work. Initially, heritage protection focused on monumental buildings but with a more holistic understanding has since expanded to include historic areas and neighborhoods. It then becomes a concern, where the lines of protection should be drawn.

Modern real estate development in particular raises important questions about the ethics of the scale of development and the threats it poses to historic neighborhoods. The verticality of new high-rise buildings stand in contrast to the rhythm and height of the quarters. Heritage monuments end up looking like quaint structures enveloped in the shadow of modern architecture. It ends up removing the visitors from the historical significance of those buildings as they end up seeming out of place. Other than the destruction of the heritage’s aesthetic, there are material consequences of high rise developments that include invasion of privacy for the residents of those quarters. The environment of a quarter also shifts as the built in ventilation systems are not able to account for the change in airflows.The arguments for development should be taken into account and carried with the conservatory project in such a way that protects the heritage while at the same time allowing change. The main purpose of conservation is to protect heritage in a continuous manner. Preservation that stops development and forces people to leave urban centers ends up making that history a stumbling block. It is important to integrate our history with the present while protecting its larger character from being destroyed due to financial interests. This is a line that has yet to be properly demarcated.

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500033532757

Panelists: DG Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, Architect Arif Belgaumi, Dr. Masooma Shakir

THEME 7: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Situating Historical Bungalows in the South Asian Urban Bustle’

What is the history we wish to protect? In contemporary preservatory practice, “Adaptive Reuse” is seen as a beneficial compromise in protecting our heritage. In this practice, buildings that have lived past their original use are renewed such that they carry their character while adapting to uses in different situations. The advantage of this process includes breathing life into buildings that were left behind. However, in practice, these processes might be employed for the sake of preserving heritage but to increase profitability of a piece of land. In the worst case scenarios, sometimes Adaptive Reuse ends up damaging the building to the extent that it is completely destroyed.

There are prevalent examples in our local context that have seen the destruction of heritage sites due to loopholes in The Sindh Cultural Heritage Act of 1994. Due to the inability to properly define which parts of a building require preservation, the Homi Katrak Mansion (refer to the Sindh Cultural Heritage Act of 1994) in Karachi was sold to developers who took to hollowing it out, while stating that they were preserving the structure.

This raises the question, what is the “soul” of a structure? Ornamental and structural details of heritage buildings carry with it a unique cultural legacy of the past. They are living embodiments of past lifestyles. Private residences, like historical bungalows, preserve the socio-economic understanding, culture and sensibilities of its owners (old and new), as well as the architectural norms and aesthetics of the time periods in which they were built and then further renovated. As such, the documentation and preservation of these structures that embody a unique space in the public imagination reflects the heritage values of the community. These residencies represent the values of an era that did not have to worry about the constraints placed due to urbanization. The current architecture, however, has a focus on extracting the greatest use from the smallest piece of land which ends up overlooking the importance of grandeur that is a part of South Asian aesthetic heritage. In urban cities, in an attempt to increase efficiency of the space used, historical residences are adapted in a way that completely alters its insides.

Even if Adaptive Reuse allowed the outside of a building to stay intact while its inside functioned like any other corporate office, would we say that the heritage has been successfully preserved? The hollowing out of the internal ornamentations, leads to a discardment of the soul of our heritage, an exorcism of the past. Are the cosmetics of our heritage, just the skin of our history, enough for us to pass onto future generations? What is the place of historical residences, like bungalows, in South Asian urban centers?

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500035518697

Panelists: Art Deco Mumbai, Maaz Jaan, Manish Golder (Calcutta Houses)

THEME 8: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Learning from Archives, Walking and Documenting’

The idea of history as neatly categorized events, which occur in a linear, chronological order is being greatly challenged in this day and age. The history passed through official sources, stored in books, is only a fraction of what has occurred. History is best explored through a multifaceted approach that challenges the hegemonic historical narratives and by doing so democratizes the process of documenting history. As learners and observers of history and heritage, it becomes imperative for us to not limit our observations and our methodologies. Perhaps, this is where the independent practice of archiving comes in.

Independent methods of archiving are inherently a political practice of documenting our history and our present. As a method it is more participatory, opening up the venue of history to those cultures and communities who otherwise are obscured from national historical accounts. In that sense, one can perhaps ask how independent archives have helped uncover syncretic histories of our cities?

There are alternative forms of understanding what has previously happened. Our environment carries with it the marks of history, it is produced in response to and damaged because of previous events. And as our cities experience increased urbanization and urban development, a collaborative approach to experience and record history becomes more important than ever. It is important for us to get a holistic sense of our own hertiage. What is pertinent to this era is to recognise the ways that we can carry our history with ourselves into our day to day life, as the objects that carry our history are slowly decaying and being replaced.

Migratory patterns can be witnessed in cities along the Indian ocean, which have always been home to a multitude of cultures, languages, faiths and as well as cuisine. To fully experience the heritage of these cities would require us to connect with the “Mohallas'' or local neighborhoods, which often are a living example of our histories and heritage. Any archival practice will require us to go beyond the traditional objects and include in its parameters the diverse markers of cultural history, such as food and culinary. It is important that students of history and city practitioners interact with the less tangible aspects of our cultural heritage to experience history in a much more holistic sense.

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500037584877

Panelists: Alex Shams, The Kochi’s Heritage Project, Ahmer Naqvi

THEME 9: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘The Feminist Lens of Mapping (Illustrating) the City’

As Nishat Awan talks about in “Mapping Otherwise: Imagining Other Possibilities and Other Futures”, maps have often been used to assert power and control over territory. However, they can also be used to challenge dominant narratives. All maps present a selective view of reality, emphasizing certain information over others, and as such, they should be understood as political documents. It is important to recognize that all maps are partial and subjective, even if they present themselves as objective and authoritative. Similarly the mapping process is not a process merely limited to cataloging street names, house numbers and famous locations. It is a process that defines what is to be seen and noticed and what is overlooked. The data gathered in mapping can be analyzed in a multiplicity of ways. Thus, it is very pertinent that we bring in voices that have been historically overlooked. The voices of women and how they interact with the city is such a voice that needs to be pushed to the forth. This talk is another step in the movement that has started in Pakistan to center women’s relationship with the city.

Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/503147787577

Panelists: Priyanka Kay, Bibi Hajra and Adan Shaikh

THEME 10: +921 Heritage Talks brings ‘Understanding Heritage Through Ethical Tourism’

Preservation of heritage sites demands foremost an acknowledgement of its existence, and a sense of belonging and ownership among those who claim to inherit it, as the basis for any substantial conservation work. Areas where official institutions have lacked in properly educating the public, individuals have arisen to provide alternatives, like education oriented tourism.

Educational tours, and a collaborative approach that involves local indigenous communities, which live in and around the heritage sites, can be considered as an alternative to commercial models of tourism. Instead of commercial consumption, can ethical tourism become a dissemination point for cultural knowledge, mobilize communities in this regard and thus by doing so push regulatory bodies to take better care of our heritage sites?

Given the political leadership of Pakistan is busy in rebranding Pakistan, specifically Northern Pakistan, as a tourist attraction on the world scale. However, the fast tourism that is promoted here has shown its ugly consequences in the form of heavy littering in Northern Pakistan and the imbalance of power between the natives and the tourists that leads to it. Questions arise, like how can one weave together systems of sustainable tourism that aren’t extractive, protect local systems of knowledge, are inclusive and help us build a sustainable relationship with our heritage?