Every morning, I look forward for the sun to appear, the cool breeze to blow, and the sweet chirpy call of the birds, that makes my mind linger on thoughts of India’s marvelous cultural heritage and its beauty. The thought on the essence of our cultural heritage has a constant presence in my life. Never could I be able to stop wondering about the importance of our culture, heritage and surroundings. I pondered over these sites quite often, my mind wondering about the actual role of UNESCO in preservation of heritage sites throughout world. After an extensive research, I found out that one of the main roles of UNESCO is to encourage countries to protect and preserve their natural, historical and cultural heritage. UNESCO also works to safeguard our planet’s future for the coming generations. Heritage conservation is important for identifying, recording and protecting heritage and cultural resources. It not only provides a sense of identity, but also provides continuity in a fast changing world for the future generations.

The diversity of the Indian culture is evident to the whole world as India has one of the largest collections of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, languages, dialects, paintings and writing, that are known, as the, ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’.

‘Words of wisdom’ from 91-year-old living legend of Kathak, Kumudiniben Lakhia, who is a pioneer in contemporary Kathak dance and choreography. Awardee of Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi, in her field of performing art, Kumudiniben is one of the most gifted Indian choreographers who have brought a huge change to Kathak’s repertoire. As a dancer, she pushed her boundaries...