The Role of Digitalisation in Heritage Conservation

This edition of the ORF Fellows Seminar Series will discuss Yookta Ahuja and Dhaval Desai’s paper, The Role of Digitalisation in Heritage Conservation. Digital realities have become analogous to lived experiences, easing governance and systematising processes. They have also helped reimagine the approaches to heritage conservation, making diverse cultures more accessible and easier to engage with. Heritage, once regarded as a "national" public good, has evolved into a commodity with immense tourism and economic potential. In its quest to exploit this potential, India has implemented policies and schemes prioritising heritage conservation to boost tourist footfalls, often overlooking foundational challenges like inadequate documentation and record-keeping. This paper examines the concept of heritage, highlights the challenges in heritage management and conservation in India, evaluates global initiatives leveraging digital technologies for the task, and recommends collaborative and technology-led initiatives to preserve India's past.

Programme