[Assam] World Heritage Site status for Majuli a distant dream

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

World Heritage Site status for Majuli a distant dream
 From Ron Duarah
  DIBRUGARH, Nov 7 – The seat of Vaishnavism, the Majuli island will have to wait for a few more years before UNESCO accords the place World Heritage Site (WHS) status. This is because the documentation that UNESCO requires before making the announcement has not been taken seriously by the Asom government, or so the allegation goes.

 As per information made available to this reporter, declaration of a WHS site is a long drawn out process, and needs a thorough documentation of the facts and figures. To do this, several government departments would have to put their heads together, the sources said and added that this would take time to compile and compose. Given the lethargic functioning of government offices, one can be justified in concluding that Majuli would have to remain deprived of its WHS status till well into 2010. 

The sources said that unless the State government takes the matter seriously, the matter even runs the risk of dying a natural death. Until now, the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO, the body that recommends WHS listings, has been provided with a brief presentation by the Archaeological Survey of India. The submission was taken up for discussions at the Committee’s meeting in July this year. It was then decided that a detailed report would be necessary before according WHS status on Majuli.

 However, as on today, time has run out for providing the required information for including it in the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting, to be held in July 2007 in New Zealand. This is because the very nature of information that is required is so procedural and detailed that it would be humanly impossible to gather and prepare the same before January 31, 2007, which is the last date of submitting proposals for the Committee’s New Zealand session next year. 

 Lately, it is gathered that Asom cultural affairs secretary Mrinal Baruah has taken a personal initiative to expedite matters. But the “Majuli Files” are unlikely to be ready by January next year, though Baruah may want to go as fast as he can. 

The multi-specialty documentation that is required comprise geographical maps, satellite maps, details about vegetation, soil characteristics, multi-disciplinary study reports on the Sattras, conservation strategies, reports on the influence of the Sattras on the cultural landscape, risk preparedness of the island, reports on crafts, traditional systems, a detailed inventory of flora and fauna, the local population, etc. These multi-disciplinary reports need to be professionally carried out, which require painstaking research and lucid presentation, for an international jury to understand and appraise. 

Since July and October this year, the Asom government did precious little to get the research teams in place. One now hopes that a dedicated move would be made, so that Majuli gets is due recognition in the global socio-cultural map. Time is still ripe for finishing the required presentations for the World Heritage Committee’s 32nd session, scheduled for 2008.
 
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