CURRENT STATUS OF CONSERVATION IN INDIA . y - •.. .-. •":;«• % % ■ By <M\ Dr. V. Jeyaraj CURRENT STATUS OF CONSERVATION IN INDIA Paper Prepared for the Presentation in the HC Congress, Melbourne, Australia from Kftolf October 2000 By Dr. V. Jeyaraj, Curator, Chemical Conscrvatioti and Research Laboratory, Government Museum, Chennai-600 008. September, 2000 Introduction Culture and cultural heritage have a special significance today. India has a rich cultural heritage. As we are marching forward in the 21" century, it is going to judge us by not what we have preserved but what we have destroyed cither negligendy or deliberately. On the global scenario, the } UNESCO has set the mood over a decade ago by identifying World Heritage Monuments. Countries with lesser heritage than our own are involved with preserving and propagating their antiquity. And we, with the * longest living tradition are still not firm on our legs. Every culture represents a unique and irreplaceable body of values as each people's traditions and forms of expression are its most effective means of demonstrating its presence into the world. The identity of a community is reflected in the legacy it leaves back in the entire evolutionary process and this evidence is in three distina forms such as the tangible form, intangible form and the expressive form. All such tangible and intangible relics, which we call heritage, serve as tools and sources for an emphatic understanding of the past. Preservation of this heritage in all its connotations is, today, a significant aspect of a well thought out "Culture Management Policy". The cultural and artistic relics are well-preserved in temples and related institutions in the traditional way. After the coming of the British, the British tried to import the museum techniques from Great Britain and the techniques got indianised. Many conservation laboratories came into existence during the British rule. A survey of conservation laboratories, the conservation work done, their publication, the recent trends in conservation etc. are detailed here. Evolution of Scientific Approach to Archaeology In recent times, the museological and archaeological studies have become multi-disciplinary in their approach. They count on a number of natural, physical and chemical sciences to solve their intricate problems through systematic examination of the mute materials of the dim, distant past. Ancient materials and antiquities recovered from excavations intrigued Chemists long before Archaeologists took an organized and systematic approach that it enjoys to day. The primary motive of the early pioneers in 1 Archaeological Chemistry seems, in fact, to be mainly personal curiosity. Of the various disciplines, that has made an indelible dent in the identification and analysis of these antiquities is Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry in particular. The archaeological study in which chemical procedures play a dominant role is termed "Archaeological Chemistry". M.H. Klaproth, a pioneer in the dual fields of archaeological investigations, published the first significant results of chemical analysis of ancient antiquities in 1796 and chemical analyses of ancient materials and his original findings are of immense service to archaeology. It was in 1653, that Wocel first demonstrated the possibility of a co-operative collaboration between Archaeologists and Chemists. This has given birth to a novel class of hybrid * chemistry - the Archaeological Chemist - a truly multidisciplinary scientist. They are called in various names, Conservation Chemists, Conservation Scientists, Conservators, Restorers, Curators etc. But all these specialists are helping to preserve the ancient cultural heritage for posterity. Traditional Conservation Traditional Preventive Measures Colours have effect on insects. In the ancient times, in order to avoid the insects, the documents were kept covered in red cloth. Turmeric powder {Curcuma longa) was also used to keep them from insects and fungi. Dry neem leaves, neem seed powder, tobacco, cus-cus, camphor, citronella oil etc., were used to preserve the archival materials. Neem (Melia azadirachta) consists mainly nimbin and nimbiol. These two chemicals present in the neem leaves are good repellants of various kinds of insects. Adathoda (Adathoda zclyamicd)> tobacco (Nicotina tobaccum) and thulasi {Ocimum basillus) were also used to preserve paper materials from the insects and fungi. Even today Tanjore Maharaja Saraswati Mahal Library continues to adopt an ancient preventive method, using herbal materials. The recipe is as follows: Sweet fig (Acorus calamus) 1 part Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) 1 pan Bark of Cinnamom (Cinnamom zeyancium) 1 pan Pepper (Piper nigrum) lA pan Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus) VA pan Camphor (cinnamom camphor) A little 2 The powdered materials from the above dry materials are kept in doth sachets and kept along with bundles of archival materials such as palm-leaf manuscripts and books. The archival materials are saved in this condition at least for a period of three to six months. If the records are kept over neent leaf {Azdirachta indicia) beds, which are dried under shade, they are safe for few months. The bookworms are controlled by sombu powder. The powder made out of chincona bark {Cinchona officinalis) is used to protect cloth from insects. It was a common practice to smoke rooms to eradicate insects and fungi. Even today in India in most of the places, the Muslim moulis used to fumigate with fumes such as camphor in houses, shops etc Keeping them in the loft just above the kitchen preserved palm-leaf manuscripts, in the remote villages in Tamil Nadu. Stored palm-leaf manuscript bundles were taken from the lofts, and they were kept under sunlight in order to eradicate fungi and insects. Turmeric powder {Curcuma longa) was smeared to prevent insects and bundled them with red silk cloth. Red silk is a repellent for most of the insects. Temple cars made out of wood were applied with mahua oil and preserved. Due to the application of the mahua oily the wooden carvings in the temple car were preserved. Due to the accumulation of dust and other accretions, the oil caked up and the details got masked. During the festive occasions, people used to apply curd and flesh the temple cars with water and once the wooden portions were dried they applied again mahua oil and preserved the sculptures in the temple cars. In India, temples themselves were considered as galleries of art objects. They are made up of stone sculptures, metal objects such as bronze icons, brass utensils, palm-leaf manuscripts* textiles, paintings such as mural paintings, panel paintings etc In order to preserve the sculptures from the daily pooja materials occasionally they are preserved by traditionally known preservation methods such as sandal preservation, flour preservation, oil preservation. They arc nothing but poulticing adapted today in conservation. 3 Conservation Chemistry It is well established that scientific preservation of cultural and an objects dates only from the later half of the 19th century. There arc always methods of preserving valuable objects or restoring them using traditional methods and techniques, which have come down the ages. These traditional methods and techniques used are not always based on a sound scientific evaluation of the condition of the objects or on the principle that the originality of the objects should be preserved to the maximum extent possible. However, the modern scientific discipline, which encompasses the processes of preservation and restoration is termed 'Conservation Science' - since chemical principles and chemicals are invariably involved in these processes. It is apdy called 4Conservation Chemistry'. Conservation Chemistry deals not only with the treatment of objecrs for the removal of deleterious extraneous materials covering them, but also includes the post study of the real composition of the material of the object, the nature of deterioration it has undergone with the aeons of time, of the environment of the findings and the composition of the product(s) of deterioration. Against these background data, the scientist can choose the safest and mild method(s) by which this deterioration(s) can be contained. Incidentally, it also extends its investigations into the technique and the probable real composition of the objects themselves, which can give an Insight Into the technological developments down the ages. An an object is one that has been produced with the materials and techniques available at all the ages, by the craftsmen of yore. Moreover, when the object is to be restOBed, the materials or techniques that are to be adopted to restore the objects back to their pristine shape and appearance, are also to be carefully weighed and meticulously studied by the Conservation Scientists. At the close of 19 century it was felt that conservation of antiquities was necessary to preserve them for the posterity. Common Conservation Forums In India, there are many common organisations to cany out the activities related to the museums. Among them the most important activity is conservation of movable objects. The apex authority is the Department of Culture and many departments or agencies are under this department. Similarly, there are Culture Departments in the State level also and the State 4 departments control the museums and related institutions in the respective States. Department of Culture The Department of Culture is functioning under the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India. The department was set up in 1985 and is mainly responsible for undertaking programmes and projects of preservation, encouragement and dissemination of various manifestations of creative activity-both the past and the present. The department is, thus, engaged in conservation of ancient monuments throughout the country, administration of libraries, archives, museums and institutions in the field of Anthropology, Buddhist / Tibetan Studies; observing centenaries and anniversaries of eminent personalities; entering into cultural agreements with foreign countries etc. This department has two attached offices viz. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi and the National Archives of India, New Delhi; six subordinate offices and is also administering 26 autonomous institutions. National Archives of India The National Archives of India, set up in 1891 as the Imperial Record Department, is the central repository of non-current records of enduring value of the Government of India. It is an attached office of the Department of Culture. Apart from providing information to various Ministers / Departments, it also provides facilities for historical research and promotes training in archival science in the country. The National Archives of India also has in its custody private papers of eminent Indians microfilm records of Indian interests, acquired from abroad to supplement its archival holdings. Museums There are few national museums all over the country. The National Museum, New Delhi; National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi; National Gallery of Modern An, New Delhi; Indian Museum, Calcutta; Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta; National Gallery of Modern An, New Delhi; Allahabad Museum, Allahabad; Museum of Mankind, Bhopal; Salar 5 Jung Museum, Hyderabad are some of the nadonal museums in India, which are under the control of the Department of Culture. National Co-ordination Committee for Museums The Department of Culture, Government of India conducted a meeting for the State Culture Secretaries, Directors of Museums and museum experts from 26* to 28* August 1998, at the Nadonal Museum Institute, New Delhi and as a result of this, a National Co-ordinarion Committee for Museums was formed. The main aim of this committee is to advice the government in the administration of the museums in the country. In order to assist the National Co-ordination Committee for Museums four Core-groups were formed. They are 1. Documentation 2. Training 3. Educational Activities and 4. Conservation. Each group discusses on the various subjects pertaining to them and advises the National Co-ordination Committee on Museums. In August 2000, again these committees sat and discussed various problems and sorted out various solutions for the problems. The Commissioner of Museums, Government of Tamil Nadu is one of the members in two committees. The results are awaited. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi The Archaeological Survey of India, an attached office of the Department of Culture, came into being in 1861. It is engaged in preservation, conservation and environmental development of centrally protected monuments and sites, exploration and excavation of ancient sites, conducting specialised studies on inscriptions and various phases of Indian Architecture and also maintenance of archaeological museums. It also decides the objects, which can be exported as non-antiquities. The Archaeological Survey of India is under the overall charge of a Director General of Archaeology with head quarters at New Delhi. It discharges its responsibilities through seventeen circles at Aurangabad, Bangalore, Baroda, Bhopal, Bubaneshwar, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Chennai, 6 Guwahati, Hyderabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Srinagar, Trichur, Trivandrum, two mini circles, five excavation branches, a prehistory branch, a service branch, a horticulture branch, an epigraphy branch, a chemical branch, an antiquities branch and a museum branch. National Council for Science Museums, Calcutta The National council of Science Museums, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Culture, was set up in 1978 and is primarily engaged in the task of popularising science and technology among the students in panicular and the masses in general through wide range of interactive programmes and activities. It administers over 21 science museums / centres / parks through out the country. National Research Laboratory for the Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow The National Research Laboratory for the Conservation of Cultural Property, Lucknow, is a subordinate office under the Department of Culture carrying out fundamental research in conservation techniques through short term and long term research projects. It was established in New Delhi in National Museum in 1976 and was shifted from New Delhi to Lucknow in 1978 and finally to its present address, Sector E, Aliganj Scheme, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow in 1987. It also provides technical assistance to museums, archaeological departments and takes up conservation jobs on turnkey basis. National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property has acquired a wide variety of advanced sophisticated instruments required for various areas of research in conservation of cultural property. It has undertaken a number of long-term and short-term research and conservation projects. National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property conducts various training courses, workshops and conferences in this field in collaboration with many national and international organisations regularly. From rime to time, technical notes, special monographs, articles, books and booklets related to various problems of conservation are also brought out for the benefit of other related institutions in the country. 7 Regional Conservation Laboratory, Mysore The Regional Conservation Laboratory, Mysore was established in 1987 to cater to the conservation needs of the southern region. This laboratory has facilities for the examination and conservation of organic as well as inorganic materials and has a good liaison with different institutions in this area. There is a proposal to set up a regional laboratory at Calcutta to help those organisations in the States like West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim. Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi The Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi is an autonomous body established by the Government of India with a view to providing funds for historical research and to foster objective and scientific writing of history. The broad aims of the Council are to bring historians together and provide a forum for exchange of views among them; to sponsor research programmes / projects and assist institutions and organisations engaged in historical research by students, teachers and other research workers; to organise and support seminars, workshops and conferences for the promotion and utilisation of historical research; and to develop and support centres for documentation and library services oriented towards historical research. The Council has taken a broad view of history so as to include in its fold archaeology, socio-economic formations and allied subjects. Museum Association of India (MAI) The Museum Association of India was founded in 1944. Now it has completed over 56 years in the services of Indian museums and museum personnel. It has got honorary members, life members, supporting members, active members, institutional members, etc There are many regional organisations. The Museum Association of India serves as the link between such associations and helps them in co-ordination activities. The aim of the Museum Association of India is to further the cause of museums in India by making them popular with the public by providing new ideas through seminars and publications and by promoting mutual appreciation of problems of each others by holding museum conferences. The Association has also taken up the responsibility of representing cause of 8