Communicating Heritage Effectively A Study of Dehra Dun

Abstract

The research analyses communication of tangible and intangible heritage in Dehra Dun region of Uttarakhand. It studies communication of information to visitors about protected archaeological sites, communicating heritage in the absence of grand monuments, communication of intangible heritage of Dehra Dun among local residents, efficacy of bottom-up approach in heritage conservation and efficacy of community initiatives working for heritage awareness in Dehra Dun. The interdisciplinary qualitative research is based on both secondary data (British period gazetteers, travel accounts and works of author Ruskin Bond that talk about Dehra Dun) and primary data (semi-structured interviews of 100 respondents, all consciously engaged in or exposed to activities related to communication and awareness of heritage in Dehra Dun). newlineThe research concludes that communication about government protected tangible heritage in Dehra Dun was not very effective while that pertaining to unprotected and intangible heritage was very robust within the channels of the communities. The protected sites have several communication barriers and gaps. newlineWhile the existing records use memory and nostalgia to talk about intangible heritage, the local residents are communicating this heritage amongst themselves through fairs, oral networks of family and neighbourhood, cultural festivals and various storytelling and narrative traditions. The mediums to communicate intangible heritage are maintaining ritual and cultural rebellion contributing to the city s unique identity. Also, many community initiatives are communicating Dehra Dun s heritage effectively. They have been successful in creating awareness consciously framing messages on aspects of heritage using a multi-medium approach. The initiatives also fulfilled the information and knowledge needs of people regarding protected heritage sites by filling the communication gaps left by the government sources. newlineThe research suggests that the identified communication gaps at protected site