In a significant move, Bharat has put forward the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle, as announced by the Culture Ministry on January 29. This nomination comprises twelve remarkable components, including renowned forts such as Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, and Rajgad in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
The diverse geographical distribution of these components highlights the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rulers during the 17th to 19th centuries. The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ represent an extraordinary fortification and military system that evolved under Maratha rule. The forts are situated across different terrains, including the Sahyadri mountain ranges, Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern Ghats.
The network of forts, numbering over 390 in Maharashtra alone, is a testament to the integration of landscape, terrain, and physiographic characteristics unique to various regions of the Bharat Peninsula. Among the selected twelve forts, eight are under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), including Shivneri Fort, Raigad, and Gingee Fort.
The Maratha Military Landscapes, encompassing hill forts, coastal forts, and island forts, showcase a variety of hierarchies, scales, and typological features. The nomination, classified under the cultural property category, was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021.
The military ideology of the Marathas traces its roots back to the 17th century, initiated during the reign of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and continuing through subsequent rules until the Peshwa rule in 1818.
Bharat presently boasts 42 World Heritage Sites, with Maharashtra already hosting six, including the Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, and the Western Ghats. The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ is nominated under specific criteria, such as bearing a unique testimony to a cultural tradition, being an outstanding example of architectural ensembles, and being directly associated with significant events or living traditions.
This nomination signifies a crucial step towards preserving and recognizing the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Maratha military system, contributing to the global acknowledgment of India’s diverse and significant past.
Comments