Global Awareness for Preservation of Cultural Property

by G.T. Shendey

The Control over the illegal activities of art treasures in cultural properties should be tighten with International Conventions and national legislations on the International platform by UNESCO and inside the country by the concern nation for preserving the human art treasures and could pass on it to the future generals intact. 

The United Nations had proclaimed the period 1988-1997 as would decade of cultural development.  Out of this, the global awareness concept for preserving the cultural properties has had come into existence in the mind of people of the world. Because the western world has constitutes a global industry for illicit trafficking in cultural objects. Just to know the problem and solve it while dealing the antiquity and art treasure cases, the concept of this book has born in my mind, which has writely taken shape in form of book, which comprising an information about UNESCO's various Conventions and the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972 and their short coming under the caption of National Legislations Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and its provisions has been dealt in this book.  as a model study of some of the retrieved sculptures, as significant achievement by Archaeological Survey of India (India) has been considered in this book.

About the Author:

Dr. G.T. Shendey did his B.A. from Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar College, Deeksha Bhoomi, Nagpur and M.A. in Archeology in 1976 from Nagpur University. He was also been U.G.C. Fellow for Ph.D, Research. He has obtained his Ph.D. Degree in 1999 from Nagpur University. He is the recipient of Gold Medal on Ph.D. Degree. He has more than 0 Articles published at his credit. He has to publish two book o topics (i) Vidarbha Sites and Sight (ii) Ancient Indian Ornaments (from 6th C.B.C. to 3rd C.A.D.) He has joined Central Government Service in Archeological Survey of India as Curator, Archeological Museum, Lal Qila, Delhi and Archeological Museum Purana Qila, Delhi and Archaeological Museeum Purana Qila, New Delhi. After appointment as deputy Superintending Archeologist, by UPSC. He has established the Guwahati Circle. While he was Superintending Arhchaeologist I/C of the then Central Circle (Now Bhopal Circle) he has conserved the most of the Monuments, like Group of Monuments of sanchi, Khajuraho, Mitawati, Gwalior, Burhanpur, Gyarspur, Vidisha, Mandu, Surwaya Garhri, Kadwaha etc. Moreover, four centrally protected monuments, which were going to disturb due to N.V.D.A. Projects, these monuments were well treated under Salvage operation and hence, could saved. This time he was Superintending Archeologist, vadodara Circle, he has taken part in Dholavira Excavation and has surveyed the area was affected due to Sardar sarovar in Gujarat (Distt. Vadodara). He was also remains as Superintending Archeologist, Lucknow Circle. During hid tenure to this Circle he was conserved a number of Monuments at Lucknow (Bara and Chhota Imamwara) Jhansi, Lalitpur, deograh, Sravasti, Allahabad, Kalinger, banda etc: While he was Superintending Archeologist excavation Branch, Patna, he has excavated a major site ay Sravasti in collaboration with the Kansai University Japan. While Superintending Archeologist (Antiquity) at Headquarter office, New Delhi has settled down the issue of amendment to Antiquity and Art Treasures Act, 1972, which was approved by the Cabinet.

Presently he is Director (Archeology) dealing with the antiquities and art treasures, manuscripts and UNESCO Conventions matter for restitution of stolen properties with other countries. He is also dealing with appeal, police, Central Bureau of Investigation and Customs cases. In spite of the above, he is Member Secretary of National Screening and Evaluation Committee for examination of objects to be sent to foreign country for exhibition. He has also made foreign tour to Mynmar (Burma) and Paris (France) for studying the monuments and museums.