Equity in Heritage Conservation, the case of Ahmedabad

Author: Jigna Desai, based on PhD at CEPT University (2019)

Recognised by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a measure to make cities inclusive, safe, and resilient, conservation of natural and cultural heritage has become an increasingly important issue across the globe.  The equity principle of sustainable development necessitates that citizens hold the right to participate in the cultural economy of a place, requiring that inhabitants and other stakeholders are consulted on processes of continuity or transformation.  However, aspirations of cultural exchange do not translate in practice.

Equity in Heritage Conservation takes the UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad, India, as the foundational investigation into the realities of cultural heritage conservation and management.  It contextualises the question of heritage by citing places, projects and initiatives from other cities around the world to identify issues, processes, and improvements.  Through illustrated chapters, it discusses the understanding of heritage in relation to the sustainable development of living historic cities, the viability of specific measures, ethics of engagement, and recommendations for governance.

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