UNESCO: Taj Campaign is unofficial

We Indians have been voting for the Taj Mahal to include it in the list of seven wonders of the world. But UNESCO, which is the universally authorised body to recognise heritage structures, says the campaign is unofficial and it has nothing to do with it.

Following is the statement UNESCO has posted in its website:

"In order to avoid any damaging confusion, UNESCO wishes to reaffirm that there is no link whatsoever between UNESCO's World Heritage programme, which aims to protect world heritage, and the current campaign concerning "The New 7 Wonders of the World".

"This campaign was launched in 2000 as a private initiative by Bernard Weber, the idea being to encourage citizens around the world to select seven new wonders of the world by popular vote.

"Although UNESCO was invited to support this project on several occasions, the Organizaton decided not to collaborate with Mr. Weber.

"UNESCO's objective and mandate is to assist countries in identifying, protecting and preserving World Heritage. Acknowledging the sentimental or emblematic value of sites and inscribing them on a new list is not enough. Scientific criteria must be defined, the quality of candidates evaluated, and legislative and management frameworks set up.

"The relevant authorities must also demonstrate commitment to these frameworks as well as to permanently monitoring the state of conservation of sites. The task is one of technical conservation and political persuasion. There is also a clear educational role with respect to the sites' inherent value, the threats they face and what must be done to prevent their loss.

"There is no comparison between Mr Weber's mediatised campaign and the scientific and educational work resulting from the inscription of sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The list of the "7 New Wonders of the World" will be the result of a private undertaking, reflecting only the opinions of those with access to the internet and not the entire world. This initiative cannot, in any significant and sustainable manner, contribute to the preservation of sites elected by this public."

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Spotlight: 'Vote for Taj' campaign a gimmick!

Spotlight: 'Vote for Taj' campaign a gimmick!

The credibility of the much-hyped campaign to vote the Taj Mahal as one of the world's new seven wonders is now in question.

"The New 7 Wonders of the World" campaign has been launched by the owner of a Swiss website. "The whole campaign is a media hoax," says Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society here. "How can the whole government machinery be used to hype a campaign launched by a private entrepreneur?"

Sudhir Kumar, the Agra chief of the Indian government's tourism department, admitted that the campaign was a private one and those supporting it were doing so in their private capacity.

"The campaign is not backed by any government agency, though we feel it is good and in the interest of the tourism industry as a whole to promote the Taj Mahal," Kumar told IANS.

K Mishra, a senior official in the Uttar Pradesh tourism department, said his office had nothing to do with the campaign.

KK Sharma of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) here described the campaign as "economic exploitation of the sentiments of the Indian people. No two monuments are alike and they should not be compared.

"It is an injustice to the status and dignity of the Taj Mahal."

But the ASI has circulated banners and pamphlets appealing to people to vote for the Taj though this initiative has reportedly been taken by its Bhopal circle.

The tourism industry has been promoting the campaign in its own interest. Several government agencies and voluntary groups have also got involved.

District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram headed a procession this week to mobilise votes for the Taj.

Mughal historian R Nath says the whole campaign is uncalled for. "The Taj is already a taj (crown). It needs no certification from any authority."

The people on the street here do not know who has promoted the campaign, but think it is the government. One hotelier said: "We thought it must be a government-supported campaign since the district authorities were taking so much interest."

Unesco, which runs the World Heritage Programme, has denied that it has anything to do with this campaign.