UNESCO - Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust Project on Local Community Involvement in the Sustainable Development of the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur World Heritage Site, Bangladesh

April 2016 - March 2017

Achievement Report

UNESCO Dhaka Office

Department of Archaeology

Ministry of Cultural Affairs

World Heritage Convention

1

1. Project Background

World Heritage sites all over the world are places of outstanding universal value which

countries (State Parties) have subscribed to protect and preserve. By signing the

Convention, each country pledges to conserve not o0nly the World Heritage sites

situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States Parties are

encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into

regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake

scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this

heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community.

Inspired by the theme of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in

2012 - local communities-, the Republic of Korea and the World Heritage Centre of

UNESCO have initiated a pilot project focusing on the local communities at World

Heritage sites entitled - Sustainable Development and Community Involvement (SDCI)

which is being rolled out at World Heritage sites in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh the project was carried out at the Paharpur World Heritage site - the

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, inscribed as World Heritage in 1985 and

surrounded by approximately thirty villages. The site is known also for its several

hundreds of terracotta plaques featuring fauna and flora as well as figurines.

This background provided an excellent basis for the SDCI project at Parhapur to involve

the local community in the preservation and sustainable development of the site

through revival of the traditional terracotta plaque making skills, along with

contemporary skills, thereby also ensuring participation and income generation to the

local community.

The project was carried out from April 2016—March 2017.

2

2. Paharpur World Heritage Site

The World Heritage site is geographically located to the north-west of Bangladesh in the district of Naogaon, the heart-land of ancient “Varendra”, surrounded by eight villages in the eight kilometer radium of the World Heritage site. The remains of the Buddhist monastic complex are the most spectacular and important pre-Islamic monument in Bangladesh dating back to the late 8th to the 12th century.

The complex can be described as a large square quadrangle measuring approximately 920 feet, with the main entrance, an elaborate structure, on the northern side with outer walls.

Highlights:

Name: The Ruins of the Buddhist

Vihara at Paharpur

Inscribed as World Heritage site in

1985

Criteria: i, ii, iv

The entire site covers 27 acres

(110,000m2)

Nearest City: Bogra

District: Naogaon

3

At the intermediate level there were originally two bands of terracotta plaques running around the full perimeter of the shrine, out of which half are still preserved in situ.

The main central shrine has a cruciform ground plan and a terraced superstructure that

rises in three terraces above ground level to a height of about 70 feet. At the

intermediate level there were originally two bands of terracotta plaques running

around the full perimeter of the shrine, which are important artistic masterpieces

combining Buddhist and Hindu influences, out of which half are still preserved in situ.

3. Project Objectives

The project aimed to assist authorities in the preservation of cultural heritage (Paharpur) by widening the level of community participation.

Specific objectives of the project were:

(i) the revival of traditional skills in production of terracotta plaques with focus on both quality as well as iconography and original form;

(ii) to ensure conservation of terracotta plaques while providing community involvement through income generation opportunities;

(iii) to provide support to the local community in using the replicas of the terracotta plaques as stable income generation and poverty alleviation tool through capacity building and provision to market access (craft fair, participation in the WCC Award of Excellence for Handicrafts);

(iv) the dissemination of information laying within the terracotta plaques to local community, artisans, academia and public at large and instilling pride especially in the local community;

(v) to raise awareness about the importance as well as conservation needs of the World Heritage site.

4

4. Project Activities

The project started with an on-site field visit to sensitize local partners and familiarize project implementing partners about the project site. The activities comprised of documentation of the terra-cotta plaques to understand the iconography and production details of the plaques which was useful and important baseline information for the skills trainings of traditional terracotta production. At the same time, a socio-economic and anthropological survey assessed the situation of the local community and helped identify local artisans. A set of trainings was organized for the local artisans by professionals and academia in the production skills of traditional terra-cotta plaques as well as trainings in contemporary, innovative ways of producing terra-cotta plaques and terra-cotta products inspired by the traditional plaques. The project included a revenue making opportunity for artisans through organization of terracotta craft fairs in Dhaka and at Parharpur.

5

Timeline Activity Description

2016

May - December Documentation

Data collection and analysis of all terracotta plaques in

situ and stored.

2016

April - July Survey

Data collection and socio-economic and

anthropological survey of villages surrounding

Parharpur World Heritage site

2016

June - December

Training and Capacity Building

Traditional training: training to selected local artisans

in terracotta plaque making

Contemporary training: training to selected local

artisans in contemporary and innovative

terracotta products inspired by Paharpur Terracotta

plaques

2017

January - March Marketing

Organization of craft fairs at Paharpur World Heritage

site and in Dhaka

6

5. Project Outputs and Achievements

Activity Description Output

1. Documentation Data collection and analysis of all

terracotta plaques in situ and stored Publication

2. Survey

Data collection and socio-economic and

anthropological survey of villages

surrounding Parharpur World Heritage

site

Report

3.

Training and

Capacity

Building

Traditional training: training to selected

local artisans in terracotta plaque

making

Contemporary training: training to

selected local artisans in

contemporary and innovative

terracotta products inspired by

Paharpur Terracotta plaques

Training Workbooks

Training Report

Trained artisans

female: 5

male: 20

Terracotta products

4. Marketing Organization of craft fairs at Paharpur

World Heritage site and in Dhaka

Fair in Dhaka and

Paharpur

Sales value: USD

3,000

Calendar (2017)

5.1. Plaques Documentation

Under the guidance of the Department of Archaeology, ICOMOS Bangladesh carried out a documentation of the terracotta plaques in-situ at Paharpur World Heritage site. This documentation includes photos, drawings and provides relevant details of each plaque.

The activity was conducted in three phases: literature review and preliminary survey, methodological photographic and photogrammetric recording and a detailed iconographic analysis.

7

The documentation identified 501 plaques in situ, which can be considered as original. This documentation will serve various purposes, from conservation, to increased information on the site’s cultural history, to having an archive and status of all terracotta plaques in-situ, as well as a useful resource and teaching tool for the local stakeholders who received capacity-building in terracotta plaque making.

5.2. Socio – Economic and Anthropological Survey

To identify and understand the situation of the local community in the vicinity of the Paharpur World Heritage site and especially those villages with artisan communities, a socio – economic and anthropological survey was conducted. The participatory survey was carefully prepared and carried out by identified experts, academia and students under the guidance of ICOMOS Bangladesh as well as with input by the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh and targeted especially households with potters. The survey provided support also in the selection of the training participants. The survey identified 2 villages of potters and made a careful survey and analysis of 31 households.

8

5.3. Training – traditional and contemporary

Under the guidance of the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh two trainings for the identified community artisans were organized with identified trainers. Through these trainings, participants acquired the knowledge and skill set about the making of traditional terracotta plaques, crockery and dolls all of which are based on authentic examples from the site and the on-site museum. Aim was also to use this knowledge and new skill set to design and produce good quality new terracotta products which serve as suitable products for selling.

At the end of the trainings the artisans are now able to produce traditional as well as new creations of terracotta plaques, crockery and dolls and have acquired a solid basis of artistic value.

All participants were given an individualized handbook for both trainings, basic utensils, key tools and materials for the making of terracotta plaques and a workshop bag.

A project closing report for capacity building and marketing was prepared to provide a comprehensive overview of the training and marketing components.

9

5.4. Marketing

After completion of the trainings and an ongoing production phase, two terracotta fairs and exhibitions were organized in the capital Dhaka and at the Paharpur World Heritage site, to showcase and market the terracotta products created by the participating artisans throughout and after the trainings.

These two terracotta fairs and exhibitions showcased the newly acquired skills of the local artisans, but more importantly served as important marketing event and experience for the local community. As planned, some relevant NGOs have committed themselves to place orders and sell the products at shops in Dhaka.

6. Project Partners

Government

National

Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the People’ Republic of Bangladesh

Department of Archaeology

Site Level

Regional Director of Bogra, Department of Archaeology

Custodian of Paharpur World Heritage site

10

NGO/Organizations

ICOMOS Bangladesh

National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB)

Key Experts

Dr. Sharif Shams Imon

President, ICOMOS Bangladesh

Ms Ruby Guznavi

Craft Expert, Executive Committee

Member, National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB)

Mr Chandrasekhar Saha

Craft Expert, President, National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB)

Project Team -

Documentation

Mr. Mohammad Sazzad Hossain

Dr. Mohammed Hoque

Dr. Serena Hoque

Mr. Tauhid Un Nabl

Mr. Md Wahiduzzaman Ratul

Mr. Shoumma Shams

Project Team - Survey

Mr. Mohammad Sazzad Hossain

Ms. Sayema Chowdhury

Mr. Md Wahiduzzaman Ratul

Mr. Hasan Shahid

Students

Md. Ataur Rahman

Md. Robiul Islam

Ms. Samia Sabrin

Rezowana Naznin

Mr. Mazidul al Galib

Mr. Anindya Pandit

11

Key Experts

Project Team –

Training and

Marketing

Mr. Chandrasekhar Saha

Ms Ruby Guznavi

Mr. Estambul Hoque

Mr. Saifur Rahman

Mr. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury

Mr. Sudhangshu Pal

Mr. Tarun Pal

Mr. Subodh Chandra Pal

Ms. Bijli Rani Pal

Mr Chandrasekhar Saha Craft Expert, President, National Crafts Council of Bangladesh

Ms Ruby Guznavi Craft Expert, Executive Committee Member, National Crafts Council of Bangladesh NCCB)

Dr. Sharif Shams Imon President, ICOMOS Bangladesh

12

7. The Artisans – A Photo Journey From Village Potter to Terracotta Artisan of a World Heritage Site

13

14

15