Conserving knowledge heritage: opportunities and challenges in conceptualizing cultural heritage information system (CHIS) in the Indian context
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-02-2021-0020 |
| Published date | 06 August 2021 |
| Date | 06 August 2021 |
| Pages | 564-583 |
| Author | Gireesh Kumar T.K.,Raman Nair R. |
Conserving knowledge heritage:
opportunities and challenges in
conceptualizing cultural heritage
information system (CHIS) in the
Indian context
Gireesh Kumar T.K.
Department of Library and Information Science, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi, India, and
Raman Nair R.
Centre for Informatics Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigatethe scope, issues and challenges in conceptualizing a
comprehensivecultural heritage information system (CHIS)in the Indian context and examines the feasibility
of designingsuch a system with the support of advanced conservationstrategies and technological aids.
Design/methodology/approach –As the conservation efforts and its sustenance requires the
support of a knowledge base cum digital archiving tool, comprehensions on the availability and usage
of different software tools are indispensable. Assessing the availability of controlled vocabularies,
ontology frameworks, metadata standards, classification schemes and architectural designs, language
compatibility for implementing cultural heritage system is inevitable for developing CHIS. The present
study examines the availability of such schemes and systems and emphasis the need for developing a
reliable information system.
Findings –A comprehensive system at the country level to efficiently document, manage and update the
knowledge on culturalheritage is required. CHIS created can be engaged in visualizing the culturalheritages
of the country and can act as an interactive multimedia documentation system. The virtual recreation of
culturalheritage in aholisticmanner can also ensure its long-term sustainability.
Originality/value –The digital archive of differentexpressions will be a rich source of data for research,
administration and development. The archive developed should cover the cultural heritage depicted in the
form of published documents, images, audiosand videos, documents and visuals on performing arts,
buildings, sculptures,ecosystem, monuments, utensils,etc. and the history and knowledge pertaining to them
and any other propertybelonging to the heritage.
Keywords India, Digital libraries, Preservation, GLAM, Knowledge management, Digitization,
Cultural heritage, CHIS, Heritage management system
Paper type Research paper
The author(s) are grateful to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), vide No. R/Dev/D/IoE/Seed Grant /
202021/ for supporting the research work on Cultural Heritage Management under its Institution of
Eminence (IoE).
Funding: The research work has been done as part of the ongoing project work of the first author
allocated by the Institution of Eminence (IoE), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India,
under seed grant to new faculties of BHU.
GKMC
71,6/7
564
Received4 February 2021
Revised6 May 2021
Accepted22 June 2021
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.71 No. 6/7, 2022
pp. 564-583
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-02-2021-0020
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9342.htm
1. Introduction
1.1 Cultural heritage
Culture can express itself in many ways, namely, philosophy, religion, customs, language and
art, science, technology, and is a result of creativity or attitude of human being, or groups or
societies comprising cultural contents. Culture is something we do, a performance which fades
into memory and then disappears, but the records of culture consist of artifacts which we make,
which persist but inevitably decay (Lyman and Kahle, 1998). India is incredibly rich in its
culture and most of the time equated to its civilization. It is probably one of the most ancient
cultures in the world.
Heritage in anyof its form is considered to be our world’sl egacy from the past, and what
we live withtoday and what we pass on to futuregenerations. It is a memory,feel, storehouse
of human experience and the richness of a country that is depicted in its heritage items.A
heritage can eitherbe natural or cultural. Natural heritage are heritage objects of cultural
value, which are notcreated by humans. United Nations Educational, ScientificandCultural
Organization (UNESCO) defined natural heritage as “natural features, geological and
physiographical formations and delineated areas that constitute the habitat of threatened
species of animals and plants and natural sites of value from the point of view of science,
conservationor natural beauty. It includesprivate and publicly protectednatural areas, zoos,
aquaria and botanical gardens, natural habitat, marine ecosystems, sanctuaries, reservoirs
etc.”(UNESCO, 2009). The cultural heritage of any place is an integral part of the life of the
people having a uniquevalue and it belongs to them, irrespective oftheir community, caste,
religion or social and economic status they possess. It is the legacy of physical artifacts and
intangibleattributes of a group societythat is inherited from pastgenerations’(Falser,2011).
Cultural heritage connects people to social and cultural values, customs, beliefs and
religions.Cultural heritage can be expressedas the ways of living developed by a community
and passed on from generation to generation (Tuna et al.,2015) and are preserved by the
memory institutions, i.e. museums,sites and monumentsrecords (“SMR”), archives and
libraries (Doerr, 2009). The cultural heritage domain is a very rich area and are often
expressed eitherin tangible or intangible form. Buildings, monuments, monasteries, mosque
and shrines, etc. are categorized as tangible heritages. Intangible cultural heritage refers to
“traditions and living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed onto our
descendants”suchas voices, traditions and oral history(UNESCO, 2012). Intangibleheritage
lacks a physical form but can feel through other sensory organs. It includes capturing and
preservationof performing arts and oraltradition, traditional music,language, folklore, etc.
The aim of this study is to explore the scope of conceptualizing an extensive Cultural
Heritage Information System (CHIS) in the Indian context. The specific objectives of the
study is to examine the present scenario of Indian cultural heritage systems;the challenges
associated in building a comprehensive CHIS in the Indian context; and provide some
suggestive measures to adopt contemporary conservation methods and digital assistive
technologies to manageCHIS effectively with long-term sustainability.
1.2 Initiatives to safeguard cultural heritages
World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April since the International Council on
Monuments and Sites declared so in the year 1983. The main objectiveof this action was to
enhance the awareness about monuments and other cultural heritage sites that are part of
our history and civilization. It also aims to make the people involved inconserving the
heritage. 18 April 2020 was declared World Heritage day with the theme Shared Culture,
Shared Heritage and Shared Responsibility amidst COVID 19 pandemic. International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, International Council of Archives and
Conserving
knowledge
heritage
565
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