Chennai: Are you keen on heritage and its preservation? If yes, then give the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) a call on (044) 25671127 and enlist yourself as a volunteer.
For, the ASI intends to convert the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement by roping in the public for assistance.
“Those interested in helping the Archaeological Survey of India in cleaning up the monuments across Tamil Nadu could register with us, as ‘friends of monuments’,” says Ms K. Moortheeswari, deputy superintending archaeologist, Fort Museum, ASI, Chennai circle.
This would be purely on a voluntary basis, with the ASI providing the training for the volunteers on conservation.
“Maintaining monuments is a Herculean task and we would like to involve members of the public as protecting our monuments is a collective responsibility,” she said. What was causing concern is the wilful defacement of structures by inscribing names on them, the senior ASI official pointed out.
The ASI proposes to take up cleaning on a massive scale in about seven renowned monuments, including the group of monuments at Mamallapuram and Thanjavur. These would be spruced up.
According to Mr K. Lourdusamy, superintending archaeologist, Chennai circle, the forts at Thirumayam (Pudukottai) and Gingee (Villupuram) would also be included.
In Thanjavur, the Unesco-declared world heritage sites of Brihadeeswara temple and Iravateswara temple have been included in the Clean India campaign, he added. The ASI plans to hold an exhibition on heritage conservation and museum antiquities as part of the Heritage Week celebrations on November 25.
