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Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage: Still a long way to go?
PHOTO: SHAHREAR KABIR HEEMEL
“It’s a long way to go, yes. But with adequate assistance from the government and communities, we will be able to safeguard our cultural heritage,” Lubna concludes with a hopeful smile.
DOWEL BISWAS
Cultural heritage encompasses both tangible and intangible elements that form the bedrock of ethnic or regional practices, connecting the past with the present and future. Bangladesh, with a population of approximately 170 million across 148,460 square kilometres, boasts a rich cultural tapestry comprising unique traditions and practices.
While many countries grapple with challenges to preserve their cultural identities, Bangladeshis are intricately woven into diverse tangible and intangible cultural facets. Grandmothers impart regional fantasy stories, lullabies, and traditional recipes; evenings resonate with the melodic tones of puthi and kirtan . The concept of ‘ Baro Mashee Tero Parbon ’ remains an integral part of daily life.
However, possessing such a culturally endowed heritage raises a crucial question: is it enough?
Lubna Marium, a renowned dancer, cultural activist, and artistic director of Shadhona, asserts, “Unfortunately, culture has become a primary site for struggle.” Recognising the cultural construct of the state, Marium emphasises that any threat to culture hampers societal progress, national unity, and diversity. To address this, she has spearheaded the establishment of a comprehensive Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory (ICH) through Shadhona.
Lubna’s non-profit organisation, Shadhona, a centre for the advancement of South Asian culture, has an impressive decade-long history of safeguarding ICH practices.
Over the past 14 years, Lubna Marium, in collaboration with Unesco and the Bangladesh National Museum, has successfully created a national inventory and a web application. This platform allows individuals to document their intangible cultural heritage and practices exclusive to their communities.
While this achievement is commendable, Saymon Zakaria, a prominent Bangladeshi folk researcher and deputy director of the Department of Culture at the Bangla Academy, raises a pertinent question: “Is it enough?” Zakaria emphasises the need to engage communities on a grassroots level, creating awareness and providing training to list their intangible cultural heritage in the inventory.
Lubna Marium underscores the intricate connection between cultural elements and their respective communities, stressing the importance of safeguarding practices that have held significance for thousands of years. She proposes a four-goal approach: documentation, celebration, transmission, and ensuring sustainability through eco-tourism.
Highlighting the importance of cultural heritage as a right, Lubna notes that Bangladesh is a signatory to the Unesco Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) 2003 , signed in 2009. The convention encourages member states to empower communities by safeguarding ICH practices and aligning them with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030.
Despite Shadhona’s Unesco accreditation and successful inventory creation, community-level engagement remains a challenge due to limited government efforts. Saymon Zakaria acknowledges the government’s lack of experience in collaborating with civil society on such projects but emphasises the need for enthusiasm and participation.
“It is what has been happening for the last 14 years. We have the Unesco accreditation; we have the funds; the only thing we need more of is a little enthusiasm and participation from the government’s end to go to the next step of safeguarding,” said the cultural activist Lubna Marium.
“We are planning to divide the project into eight divisions this time. We will divide into teams, reach a community or two in each division, and train them in safeguarding ICH practices. Recently, we concluded our first community-based fair in the National Museum in the capital, and I am really optimistic that we will be able to achieve what we envisioned,” said Lubna.
As Shadhona and The National Museum mark the 20th anniversary of signing the Unesco Convention, a fair titled Oitijjho was held from November 18 to 19 at The National Museum premises in the capital. Lubna Marium remains optimistic about the future, stating, “It’s a long way to go, but with adequate assistance from the government and communities, we will be able to safeguard our cultural heritage.”