In the heart of the ancient world, where civilizations rose and fell, a battle rages to safeguard the remnants of our shared past. From the Nabatean engineering marvels of Petra to the Bengali-European architectural treasures of Calcutta, the race is on to protect our endangered cultural heritage in the face of climate change and urban development.
Weathering the Storms of Time: Petra’s Struggle for Survival
The ancient city of Petra, nestled in the rugged terrain of southern Jordan, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Nabatean people. Once a thriving hub of trade and culture, this desert oasis has weathered the storms of time, both literal and figurative.
The Nabateans, masters of desert living, constructed an intricate system of terraces and dams to manage the region’s unpredictable water supply. These innovative water management techniques allowed them to thrive in the arid landscape, cultivating lush orchards and wheat fields that sustained their community. However, as the Nabatean kingdom collapsed in the 4th century AD, this ingenious system fell into disrepair, leaving Petra vulnerable to the whims of nature.
Today, the impact of climate change is all too apparent. Longer droughts and more frequent flash floods have ravaged the region, threatening both the ancient ruins and the local communities that have come to rely on the site’s tourism. Mohamad Alfarajat, a geologist at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, laments the stark changes he’s witnessed: “Since climate change started 40 years ago, the fertile areas started to contract. The community used to grow its own food on its own land and now they import nearly everything from outside.”
Reclaiming the Wisdom of the Past
In the face of these daunting challenges, the guardians of Petra are turning to the past for solutions. Victoria Herrmann, a geographer and National Geographic Explorer leading the Preserving Legacies project, explains that the ancient Nabatean water management system holds the key to adapting Petra to the realities of a changing climate. “There is ancient wisdom physically built into the site,” she says. “Combined with modern solutions, that Nabatean water management system has the greatest potential for adapting Petra to flash floods.”
Under the guidance of Taher Falahat, a cultural heritage expert at the Petra Development Tourism Regional Authority, the local community has embarked on a mission to repair and revive the ancient dams and terraces. This labor-intensive process, which must be repeated annually to clear mud and rocks, not only safeguards the site but also provides employment for the people of Wadi Musa, the town that surrounds Petra.
As Falahat explores the Nabatean engineering marvels, he has developed a newfound appreciation for their ingenuity. “Now my passion is Nabatean terraces,” he says. “They were geniuses at collecting water. Walking in the steps of the Nabateans, we can solve this problem.”
Calcutta’s Architectural Inheritance: A Battle for Identity
While Petra grapples with the threats of climate change, another ancient cultural treasure faces a different challenge: the rapid urbanization and property development sweeping through Calcutta (now known as Kolkata).
The Bengali-European architecture that once defined the cityscape is vanishing at an alarming rate, replaced by soulless high-rises and generic commercial structures. This architectural legacy, a unique blend of European and Bengali influences, is the product of a vibrant cultural exchange that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries, and it holds the key to understanding Calcutta’s complex identity.
As author and critic Amit Chaudhuri explains, these houses with their slatted windows, cornices, open rooftops, and red floors are not merely relics of the past but living testaments to the city’s cosmopolitan and innovative spirit. “In a way, many of these buildings which came up from the early 20th-century onwards testify to why Calcutta continued to be a political and especially a cultural hub in India long after the British took away its status as capital city to contain its revolutionary nationalism in 1911 – and even a century after the Renaissance, the efflorescence in Bengali culture in the middle of the 19th century.”
Preserving the Echoes of the Past
Yet, these architectural gems are under threat. The property boom of the 1990s, fueled by the Left Front government’s resolve to bring industry to Bengal, has led to the systematic destruction of these unique structures. Developers, often aided by non-resident Indians, have been buying up and demolishing these houses, eager to cash in on the speculative real estate market.
Chaudhuri, spearheading a campaign to preserve Calcutta’s architectural inheritance, argues that these buildings are not mere historical relics but living expressions of the city’s cultural identity. “Without such resistance, no vestiges of the great urban churning of the last two centuries would remain in the world today – in Europe, Australia, the United States and even Latin America. Calcutta too was powerfully and uniquely a part of this urban churning.”
In a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Amartya Sen echoed Chaudhuri’s call to action, highlighting the potential for these neighborhoods to become tourist destinations, providing much-needed revenue for the city. The campaign has also proposed the concept of transfer of development rights, which would allow homeowners to sell their development rights, ensuring the preservation of these architectural treasures.
As Calcutta grapples with the challenges of modernization, the battle to protect its endangered heritage has become a fight for the soul of the city. The outcome of this struggle will shape not only Calcutta’s future but its very sense of identity, as it wrestles with the delicate balance between progress and preservation.
Guardians of a Vanished Legacy
From the arid canyons of Petra to the bustling streets of Calcutta, the stories of these ancient sites serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of our cultural heritage. Faced with the dual threats of climate change and unbridled development, the guardians of these vanished legacies are engaged in a race against time, drawing upon the wisdom of the past to safeguard the future.
As the world grapples with the realities of a rapidly changing environment, the preservation of these sites takes on an even greater significance. They are not merely relics of a bygone era but living repositories of human ingenuity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of our shared past. By honoring and protecting these endangered treasures, we not only preserve the stories they hold but forge a deeper connection to the lost kingdoms that have shaped our world.
The lessons we learn from the struggles of Petra and Calcutta serve as a clarion call to all who cherish our collective heritage. In the face of overwhelming challenges, the guardians of these vanished legacies remind us that the wisdom of the past holds the key to securing our future. As we heed their call, we too become the custodians of a shared legacy, ensuring that the echoes of ancient civilizations continue to resonate through the ages.
