Heta Pandit
1. Since when have you been a conservation architect?
Ans: Hey, am not an architect. Just a writer who has found a niche in writing about heritage and architecture, an ordinary citizen concerned about saving our cultural assets, since the year 1981.I was in Tanzania, East Africa for four years when I realised the importance of the built heritage as evidence of history. I was wandering around there one day when it suddenly struck me that there were no monuments to the African chiefs, only buildings built by the British. Why, I wondered. Termites had eaten away their traditional houses made with sticks and mud. It was as if there had never been any Africans in Africa! Termites had eaten away their history. Now they give me all sorts of labels... conservationist, activist, all kinds of "ists" but I still insist I am an ordinary citizen.
2. Your bio data
Ans: Born in 1954, schooled in Baroda at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, did my post graduation in Statistics at the M S University of Baroda and then went to Tanzania on the off chance where I worked with Dr Jane Goodall on a chimpanzee research project. That changed my life. I came back to India in 1981 and wanted to work with an environmental or wildlife group. Sadly, there was no group in India then that I could relate to except the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG). That led to my working with its heritage "sister group" the Indian Heritage Society (Bombay chapter) and I was hooked to heritage conservation.
3. Your work so far
Ans: My core competence is in pioneering campaigns that set trends, showcase test cases, planning and designing inventories of heritage properties and sites in Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala. I've been working on several campaigns in Mumbai since 1981 and then continued in this field in Goa where I've been for the past 16 years.
4. Why you started your work in Goa and not in Mumbai
Ans: I did begin in Mumbai. My philosophy is to work on heritage protection where I live, to produce documentation and data that will save heritage properties and sites. When I lived in kerala, I did the same work there. In Maharashtra, I did the same work and so also in Goa. Call me a compulsive conservationist!
5. What projects you have done earlier and your plans now
Ans: Funny you should ask because I have never made long term plans. I just go with the flow, follow that little voice in my head and my heart. Try it! Sincereity of purpose is always rewarded. Like-minded people will always converge. It hardly takes any effort.
6. Tell us about your heritage walks, you conduct in Goa.
Ans: I loved walking and I loved the results of taking people on walking tours in Goa. Its a universal concept now. I did not invent it. Walking tours have become popular the world over. Its the best way to learn, understand and relate to cultures and cultural wealth.
7. How difficult it is for you to convince people in protecting heritage structures and garner support
Ans: Not difficult to convert the already converted and very difficult to convince the cynics!
8. sometimes people use Cement instead of lime in resorting heritage sites, your comments
Ans: That is a technical solution that can go wrong but could also work in some cases. It is a technical question that needs to be asked to a technical person. I am an advocate for saving structures and then usually leave it to the architects and technical people on how best a solution can work for the structure, case by case.
9. your comments on the support from the government and finance, in saving architecture in goa
Ans: Government of Goa? No support at all except for the festivals that we've had so far. That helped us generate awareness on heritage but then we received no support for actual conservation so it was like being taught how to shoot but then deprived of ammunition! Now people approach us, saying they want to save their properties but how do we help them do it? We don't have the money and neither can we offer incentives or tax holidays and other benefits. Only the Government can and the Government is not interested.They are too busy trying to promote Goa as a "fun" destination, a place that no one takes seriously.
10. Heritage Regulation Act in Mumbai what about goa
Ans: The Regulations for Bombay (now Mumbai) were framed in 1995 and are a good model for Goa too. We've been crying hoarse about this for ten years. But is anyone listening? Not that we know!
11. Old houses crumbling on account of litigation, people settling in foreign countries, and maintenance is a problem, your suggestions.
Ans: Yes, you've summed it up. Litigation, families divided, emigration, no bonds with their homes, caretakers often having no ownership stakes in these homes, these are some of the reasons why these beautiful homes are crumbling.
12. Heritage structures are limited in Goa but are there any maps, or photos of the buildings with government.
Ans: We have listed over 1000 heritage buildings in Panaji, over 1000 buildings in satellite towns around Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and some coastal villages. Photos, descriptions, grading, classification, attributes and values, the list has every piece of information to justify its protection, in a nutshell.
13. do you suggest formation of a Heritage association or a heritage committee with legal authority for the last one.
Ans: We are a heritage group and may there be more such groups! The government must notify regulations, make the lists public, form a heritage conservation committee, scrutinise proposals for these listed properties and get on with the job of advising owners and offering incentives to conserve.
14. Citizens sans government involvement in restoration work
Ans: No group can meet its agenda in full without the support of the government of the day.
15. Funds, how people can generate funds for the projects
Ans: Very tough to find funding.We did get government support, support from INTACH Delhi and from individuals but its mostly our members who chip in when the hat is passed around.
16. Awards you have won so far
Ans: In the year 2000 from the Kerala government and again in 2000 from the Menezes Braganza Institute, Goa the title of "Lekhika 2000".
17. Books you have written so far
Ans:Houses of Goa (with Annabel Mascarenhas), Dust & Other Short Stories from Goa, Walking in Goa, In & Around Old Goa, Hidden Hands-The Master builders of Goa and Walking with Angels, an architectural treatise on the churches of Goa. I am currently working on a book titled Goa Style that showcases restored heritage houses and home owners that have infused their own ethnic cultures into those Goan houses.
18. Worst and best part of your campaign
Ans: The biggest shock over the years has been the loss of the Shri Shantinath Jain temple in Pydhonie, Mumbai. We fought so hard to save it and failed. That failure scarred me for life I think. I just could not get over the fact that something as beautiful as 300 year old frescos could be wilfully destroyed by the very guardians entrusted with their protection. Will never get over that one!
19. do you favour Children being taught to protect the heritage structures and how you suggest it should be done
Ans: Knowledge percolates to children through the action of their peers including adults. We are only holding the planet in trust for the future. So the first step to educating children is to educate ourselves and sensitize ourselves. Their sensitivity will then become second nature. It will not have to be "taught".
20. Goa’s Selling point besides beaches ought to be its architecture, do you think It has been adequately portrayed to catch the attention.
Ans: Why should Goa be "sold" at all? Is it some commodity to be "sold"? Its a place, a beautiful place, home for some and holiday for others and all we can think of is how to "sell"it? Wow, that is an all time low in my book.
21. Goa architecture has been Influenced by Portuguese, Hindus, Muslims, Arabs and other invaders, your take on it.
Ans: Goan architecture as we know it today has evolved from the Kadamba period and then influenced by Portuguese, Portuguese Africa, the English in India and all the other merchants and traders who passed through this gorgeous land over the centuries. Take Panaji for instance that has European (Italian), British-India, Indian Art Deco, Colonial, Indigenous styles of architecture all forming its many layers. Its lovely to see this truly Indian city (although a product of colonial history) evolve and reinvent itself with each passing century.
Ans: Hey, am not an architect. Just a writer who has found a niche in writing about heritage and architecture, an ordinary citizen concerned about saving our cultural assets, since the year 1981.I was in Tanzania, East Africa for four years when I realised the importance of the built heritage as evidence of history. I was wandering around there one day when it suddenly struck me that there were no monuments to the African chiefs, only buildings built by the British. Why, I wondered. Termites had eaten away their traditional houses made with sticks and mud. It was as if there had never been any Africans in Africa! Termites had eaten away their history. Now they give me all sorts of labels... conservationist, activist, all kinds of "ists" but I still insist I am an ordinary citizen.
2. Your bio data
Ans: Born in 1954, schooled in Baroda at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, did my post graduation in Statistics at the M S University of Baroda and then went to Tanzania on the off chance where I worked with Dr Jane Goodall on a chimpanzee research project. That changed my life. I came back to India in 1981 and wanted to work with an environmental or wildlife group. Sadly, there was no group in India then that I could relate to except the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG). That led to my working with its heritage "sister group" the Indian Heritage Society (Bombay chapter) and I was hooked to heritage conservation.
3. Your work so far
Ans: My core competence is in pioneering campaigns that set trends, showcase test cases, planning and designing inventories of heritage properties and sites in Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala. I've been working on several campaigns in Mumbai since 1981 and then continued in this field in Goa where I've been for the past 16 years.
4. Why you started your work in Goa and not in Mumbai
Ans: I did begin in Mumbai. My philosophy is to work on heritage protection where I live, to produce documentation and data that will save heritage properties and sites. When I lived in kerala, I did the same work there. In Maharashtra, I did the same work and so also in Goa. Call me a compulsive conservationist!
5. What projects you have done earlier and your plans now
Ans: Funny you should ask because I have never made long term plans. I just go with the flow, follow that little voice in my head and my heart. Try it! Sincereity of purpose is always rewarded. Like-minded people will always converge. It hardly takes any effort.
6. Tell us about your heritage walks, you conduct in Goa.
Ans: I loved walking and I loved the results of taking people on walking tours in Goa. Its a universal concept now. I did not invent it. Walking tours have become popular the world over. Its the best way to learn, understand and relate to cultures and cultural wealth.
7. How difficult it is for you to convince people in protecting heritage structures and garner support
Ans: Not difficult to convert the already converted and very difficult to convince the cynics!
8. sometimes people use Cement instead of lime in resorting heritage sites, your comments
Ans: That is a technical solution that can go wrong but could also work in some cases. It is a technical question that needs to be asked to a technical person. I am an advocate for saving structures and then usually leave it to the architects and technical people on how best a solution can work for the structure, case by case.
9. your comments on the support from the government and finance, in saving architecture in goa
Ans: Government of Goa? No support at all except for the festivals that we've had so far. That helped us generate awareness on heritage but then we received no support for actual conservation so it was like being taught how to shoot but then deprived of ammunition! Now people approach us, saying they want to save their properties but how do we help them do it? We don't have the money and neither can we offer incentives or tax holidays and other benefits. Only the Government can and the Government is not interested.They are too busy trying to promote Goa as a "fun" destination, a place that no one takes seriously.
10. Heritage Regulation Act in Mumbai what about goa
Ans: The Regulations for Bombay (now Mumbai) were framed in 1995 and are a good model for Goa too. We've been crying hoarse about this for ten years. But is anyone listening? Not that we know!
11. Old houses crumbling on account of litigation, people settling in foreign countries, and maintenance is a problem, your suggestions.
Ans: Yes, you've summed it up. Litigation, families divided, emigration, no bonds with their homes, caretakers often having no ownership stakes in these homes, these are some of the reasons why these beautiful homes are crumbling.
12. Heritage structures are limited in Goa but are there any maps, or photos of the buildings with government.
Ans: We have listed over 1000 heritage buildings in Panaji, over 1000 buildings in satellite towns around Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and some coastal villages. Photos, descriptions, grading, classification, attributes and values, the list has every piece of information to justify its protection, in a nutshell.
13. do you suggest formation of a Heritage association or a heritage committee with legal authority for the last one.
Ans: We are a heritage group and may there be more such groups! The government must notify regulations, make the lists public, form a heritage conservation committee, scrutinise proposals for these listed properties and get on with the job of advising owners and offering incentives to conserve.
14. Citizens sans government involvement in restoration work
Ans: No group can meet its agenda in full without the support of the government of the day.
15. Funds, how people can generate funds for the projects
Ans: Very tough to find funding.We did get government support, support from INTACH Delhi and from individuals but its mostly our members who chip in when the hat is passed around.
16. Awards you have won so far
Ans: In the year 2000 from the Kerala government and again in 2000 from the Menezes Braganza Institute, Goa the title of "Lekhika 2000".
17. Books you have written so far
Ans:Houses of Goa (with Annabel Mascarenhas), Dust & Other Short Stories from Goa, Walking in Goa, In & Around Old Goa, Hidden Hands-The Master builders of Goa and Walking with Angels, an architectural treatise on the churches of Goa. I am currently working on a book titled Goa Style that showcases restored heritage houses and home owners that have infused their own ethnic cultures into those Goan houses.
18. Worst and best part of your campaign
Ans: The biggest shock over the years has been the loss of the Shri Shantinath Jain temple in Pydhonie, Mumbai. We fought so hard to save it and failed. That failure scarred me for life I think. I just could not get over the fact that something as beautiful as 300 year old frescos could be wilfully destroyed by the very guardians entrusted with their protection. Will never get over that one!
19. do you favour Children being taught to protect the heritage structures and how you suggest it should be done
Ans: Knowledge percolates to children through the action of their peers including adults. We are only holding the planet in trust for the future. So the first step to educating children is to educate ourselves and sensitize ourselves. Their sensitivity will then become second nature. It will not have to be "taught".
20. Goa’s Selling point besides beaches ought to be its architecture, do you think It has been adequately portrayed to catch the attention.
Ans: Why should Goa be "sold" at all? Is it some commodity to be "sold"? Its a place, a beautiful place, home for some and holiday for others and all we can think of is how to "sell"it? Wow, that is an all time low in my book.
21. Goa architecture has been Influenced by Portuguese, Hindus, Muslims, Arabs and other invaders, your take on it.
Ans: Goan architecture as we know it today has evolved from the Kadamba period and then influenced by Portuguese, Portuguese Africa, the English in India and all the other merchants and traders who passed through this gorgeous land over the centuries. Take Panaji for instance that has European (Italian), British-India, Indian Art Deco, Colonial, Indigenous styles of architecture all forming its many layers. Its lovely to see this truly Indian city (although a product of colonial history) evolve and reinvent itself with each passing century.
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