A STUDY conducted by French scholars on the changing scenario of Varanasi has revealed that this ancient city has been facing an identity crisis for the past few years and there is an urgent need for a master plan to preserve the actual identity of the ancient Varanasi.
A team of French scholars, which is here to study the changing pattern of social, cultural, ancient and religious importance of Varanasi, was of the view that the area of the ancient city of Varanasi should be specified and subsequently preserved.
‘The ancient monuments and old buildings had their importance 20 years back but now these monuments and old buildings have lost their relevance due to the construction over the ancient buildings of architectural importance and places near these buildings’, said Prof. Philippe Revault (Professor of Architecture) from School of Architect La Vilette, Paris.
Talking to Hindustan Times here on Wednesday, Prof. Philippe said that the administration should specify the area of the ancient city and chalk out a master plan to preserve the identity of the ancient city of Kashi.
He added that the culture of Varanasi was the confluence of materialism and spiritualism but it had lost its importance.
{{/usCountry}}He added that the culture of Varanasi was the confluence of materialism and spiritualism but it had lost its importance.
{{/usCountry}}Citing the example of the construction in the Darbhanga Palace at a ghat and new construction of buildings and houses near the observatory, he said that this practice should be checked, otherwise the architectural importance of such buildings would lose its relevance completely.
“The peripheral area of the bank of the holy Ganga, including the ghats, in Varanasi should be considered as the area of the ancient city”, he said and added that a buffer zone should be prepared to separate the ancient city and the newly developed areas of Varanasi.
To a query about the possibility of this city to be listed under the world heritage cities, he said that there was a lot of potential in the ancient city to be listed in the world heritage but first of all efforts should be made to specify the area of ancient Kashi and preserve the identity of the ancient city.
The other members of the French team are Prof. Barbara Bonnefoy (Professor of Social Psychology), University of Paris, Nantere, Prof. Pirre Bouche (Professor of Architecture) School of Architecture de Strasbourg, Nathalie Woberg (architect), School of Architecture de Belleville.