Author: M T Saju/TNN
Publication: Sunday Times of India, Chennai
Dated: July 29, 2012

Alagappasamy has been living in Mamallapuram for the past 45 years. But the carpenter has visited the monuments at the UNESCO world heritage site only rarely. “I don’t find them interesting as I don’t know anything about them,” he says.

Many residents of this historic town are unaware of its significance and consider it to be just another tourist spot. Maruthu, a driver, has dropped many tourists at Mamallapuram but has never seen the majestic five ratha sculptures. “Many tourists visit but I don’t have the time to see the place,” he says.

It is this lack of awareness of the local heritage that prompted residents to protest against the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) proposal to take over the Sri Sthalasayana Perumal temple. About 3,000 residents blocked a stretch on the East Coast Road as they feared that they would lose the right to construct or repair houses if ASI took over the 7th century temple.

Heritage experts feel that such incidents occur due to fear and lack of awareness. According to them, if people in Mamallapuram were involved in conservation and derived an income from it, then they would have supported the initiative.

“We need to chart out a plan by which jobs can be generated for locals through conservation. It will help preserve the monuments,” says K Thyagarajan, a retired guide.

S Swaminathan, founder of the Tamil Heritage Trust (THT), an organisation of heritage lovers, feels that Mamallapuram can be made into a model heritage village. “Residents are not aware of the treasures they have. We can create interest by creating livelihood options,” he says. “Villagers can be trained to become guides and taught to make curios. Morning and evening cruises can be organised,” says Swaminathan, who has conducted various training programmes for locals. Tamil Nadu has nearly 100 sites that can be developed with local participation.

In many countries, public participation is the key to conservation. Indonesia’s Yogyakarta is a halting point for tourists visiting Borobudur and Prambanan temples. It is now the second most popular destination in Indonesia, thanks to the work done by the government in promoting vending activities. Selling curios to tourists was the main occupation of the locals but it was not profitable until the government issued licences to them. Now, they have two organisations for the welfare of the vendors. J Chandrasekharan of REACH Foundation, a Chennai-based NGO, says it’s difficult to implement such ideas here. “Our monuments are owned by either the ASI or the state archaeology department,” he says. This leads to lack of co-ordination and inordinate delays. “A holistic approach to create livelihood options for people will work only if there is an independent agency to call the shots,” he says, adding that there should be an appellate agency to implement the projects.

R Venkatraman, a heritage expert, has been trying to bring about change at Kazhugumalai, a heritage spot 22km from Kovilpatti in Tirunelveli. Known for the Kazhugachalamurthy temple, Jain caves and Our Lady Lourdes Mary RC church, it attracts many tourists.

“I started asking villagers to keep the surroundings clean in 2004. Initially, it was difficult, but later they kept the place clean,” says Venkatraman.

Though Kazhugumalai can be developed with more public participation, it requires extra effort than what can be done in Mamallapuram. “The proximity to Chennai gives Mamallapuram an advantage,” says Venkatraman.

According to Thyagarajan, Pudukottai is another place that can benefit from such efforts. Swaminathan says THT has not received government help. “We have ideas for Mamallapuram but the officer who sanctioned our plan was recently transferred,” he says.

Sources at the tourism department say that it is difficult to implement new plans without government support. “The tourism department can support such efforts in Mamallapuram and Pudukottai. If they work, then the same thing can be tried in other areas,” says an official.

Living heritage: A few livelihood options and activities for different places
Mamallapuram: Sale of curios and cruises and guided tours
Kazhugumalai: Sale of curios and treks, village tours and heritage walks
Pudukottai: Sale of paintings and curios, excavation and guided tours