Efforts, not hype, can save city’s legacy for future

The matter regarding loss of Chandigarh's valuable heritage at international auction houses has been given unnecessary hype. Instead of complicating the issue, a new perspective needs to be looked upon. The Administration should preserve original artifacts and not replicas that are present in bulk. Also furniture personally used by Le Corbusier and his foreign team mates should be called heritage. Terming replicas of original furniture designed by them makes no sense. Most importantly, it is ideas that are of heritage value not the replicas. These furniture items are considered of immense value abroad. So, the UT should capitalise on it by starting sale of replicas in Chandigarh itself. This will help contribute to future support and preservation of Chandigarh. With so much craze for furniture in the West there is nothing wrong with the auction of replicas there.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

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Spread awareness on heritage items

Heritage furniture made during the stay of Le Corbusier must be preserved as it provides a sense of identity and continuity for future generations. The Administration should take initiative by spreading awareness regarding the importance of old things and form a heritage committee in every institution where this furniture is in use and make an inventory of it. The authorities should devise ways and means to protect heritage articles for the future generations. 

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh 

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Only alert Press raked up issue

Residents own protection being at stake dismal rating of heritage items is understandable. Crushed with poverty majority is engaged in manipulating own existence. Where remains inclination for rating or maintaining heritage items? Issue of sale of heritage items in foreign lands raised only by awake Press has hardly any backing of residents. If residents are able to think above filling their own stomachs heritage will certainly gain importance.

MPS Chadha, Chandigarh

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Admn has failed to protect city’s heritage 

The heritage of City Beautiful is in danger. The UT Administration has failed to protect heritage items. Chandigarh has an inventory of 12,793 heritage items designed by Le Corbusier and his capital project team in 1950. Items that recall their presence in our mind should only qualify as heritage items and presented. Many of heritage items have either been stolen or sold off. According to a report there are 190 different categories of heritage items. Nothing has been done to protect them. It learnt that now the UT Administrator VP Singh Bandnore has given in principal his approval to protect all heritage items and setting up a museum. It is good news for heritage lover. More needs to be done to protect these items. 

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula 

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Find modus operandi of thieves

It is clear that the authorities so far have not done enough to save heritage items. Firstly, we must know modus operandi of thieves to steal heritage items. All such ways must be plugged. Heritage items are not small and cannot be smuggled out of the country easily. All channels of smuggling should be blocked. Heritage items available with the department concerned should be shortlisted and numbered. If not in use proper, arrangements for safe storage of heritage items should be made. Periodical audit should be conducted. If any irregularity is found, stern action should be taken against the staff responsible for maintenance of heritage items.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Nefarious activities go unchecked

It’s highly deplorable that certain uncouth and anti-social elements are able to hoodwink the authorities concerned and export Chandigarh's heritage items and historical artifacts for pecuniary gains at the cost of country's respect. It was shocking to learn that on October 24 three heritage items were auctioned in the UK for Rs 1.5 crore. Again, 14 items went under hammer in the USA for Rs 1.44 crore on October 27. Despite people’s resentment and voices raised in these columns against these nefarious activities there seems no check. Yet again on November 27, six heritage items were auctioned in Paris for Rs 1.75 crore. It proves beyond any doubt or imagination that the nexus between anti-national elements and government agency is so strong that the operation of pilfering and export of heritage items is going on unabated. It is high time the authorities take a call and in coordination with intelligence and law enforcing agencies end such illegal activities. Immediate action also needed for computerised inventory with accountability fixed for security and maintaining country's heritage. The recent three cases of auction must be thoroughly investigated and those fond involved must be proceeded against with deterrent punishment. 

SS Arora, USA

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Diplomatic channels still not used

The auction of UT's heritage furniture has been a regular affair of different auction houses abroad. It seems that the Administration has not taken proactive steps to halt future auctions of heritage furniture specially designed by the French. First of all the question arises how could heritage furniture reach those auction houses? Secondly, why can't diplomatic channels be used to halt auctions? There is a need to promptly act and stop auctions of the heritage furniture. Fix responsibility and accountability for the safety and security of the heritage furniture in future.

Wg Cdr (retd) Jasbir Singh Minhas, Mohali

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Display heritage items for public 

I feel the auction of furniture related to Le Corbusier should remain in India. Hence, there is no question of auctioning it to foreign houses. Auctioning of heritage items in itself does not sound nice. It is as if we are unable to take care of our own heritage furniture and other architectural masterpieces. The authorities must take stock of all Le Corbusier's furniture and ensure their proper upkeep and maintenance. These should be kept at secure place to avoid thefts.  Chandigarh reflects Le Corbusier in its soul. We have to maintain the city with all its roots and heritage assets. Let's make people aware about the heritage value of Chandigarh and open architectural pieces of furniture for public viewing. Let's not succumb to the temptation of auctioning furniture items to foreign countries, which should rightfully adorn our houses, offices and institutions. Make in India remain in India.

Colonel (retd) RD Singh, Chandigarh 

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It’s laxity if not complicity

The UT Administration appears to be in deep slumber by letting heritage furniture find an easy exit from its source and appear for auction on the foreign shores time and again. Needless to say that heritage furniture is the property of the UT Administration and must be on the inventory of the department concerned. If the Administration is not rightfully getting its due share from the auction proceeds, involvement of caretakers of such heritage furniture items cannot be ruled out. Whatever may be the ground reality news of heritage furniture auction is bound to raise eyebrows in the City Beautiful. The UT Administration must clear its stand on the issue. 

SC Luthra, Chandigarh  

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Admn should set its priorities

Chandigarh was conceptualised from a scratch over six decades ago in the fifties. Will all that went into making it what it is today become heritage inherited by the present generation? The Chandigarh Administration should set its priorities right to improve quality of life and governance and not while away its time and waste energy and resources on unproductive pursuits. It would be prudent to leave traders at home or abroad to venture into crazy deals, may be involving some pieces of furniture termed as heritage to lend them hefty price tag in auctions abroad.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Chandigarh

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Laxity on part of admn to curb practice

It is laxity on the part of the Chandigarh Administration to allow the auction of any heritage article. The heritage of City Beautiful does not belong to an individual. So, a collective effort should be made to curb such practice of selling heritage furniture abroad. Separate funds should be generated by the Administration to preserve such commodities. Many NGOs will be surely ready to help for such a noble cause. Many affluent people will also be ready for charity. Even city residents can contribute small amount for this purpose. Only monetary problem is the reason behind selling heritage furniture as the Administration lags behind in generating funds. So, it must work to stop all such practices which will mar the heritage of Chandigarh. 

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Showcase heritage items at museum

The Administration has limited staff, which deals with heritage items in the City Beautiful. Heritage items are scattered in different sectors of Chandigarh. Maybe the Administration is doing its best to protect heritage items, but due to limited staff, it is not able to conduct an audit such items from time to time. Taking advantage of this some agents take benefit and sell heritage items on lucrative rates with the help of some official in different countries. The Administration should construct a museum to showcase heritage furniture and also hire experienced staff, which conducts time to time of audit such items.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Familiarise residents with city’s past

The Administration has not done justice by getting heritage furniture of the city auctioned abroad. It was the legacy Le Corbusier, the architect of Chandigarh. The Administration can either come up with a separate museum or display these items at government buildings, Rock Garden, Capitol Complex or Rose Garden where people can easily see them. Masses should be made aware of the architect and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, who designed Chandigarh and furniture. The government is just trying to generate revenue to overcome financial crunch. Had heritage furniture be taken care by the Administration, it could not been stolen. The Administration should make suitable arrangements to preserve this legacy.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Insiders’ role cannot be ruled out

The UT Administration has miserably failed to stop auction of city's heritage furniture items by foreign auction houses. In the previous years, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret had designed heritage furniture items. Both used to design chairs, tables, stools and racks for government offices in the late 1950s. This furniture lot was replaced the Administration, which tossed heritage items in backyards and stores of its offices. Unaware of the furniture's international worth most UT departments auctioned old furniture thinking it was junk. Though the Administration started work to stop auctions abroad and even wrote to foreign auction houses, to no avail. The Administration can't auction heritage items without permission of the Centre Government. This means heritage furniture is going out of country illegally with the help of some inside people of the Administration. 

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh 

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Items sold as scrap by institutions

The heritage items auctioned abroad were sold as scrap by the university and other institutions. Heads of these institutions were either totally ignorant or smart enough to sell these heritage items as scrap in connivance with foreigners. It's no use now to beat the bush. Let's preserve whatever is left with us. 

Ashutosh Vermani, Chandigarh 

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Admn should auction scrapped furniture

It was shocking to know about yet another auction of six heritage furniture items from Chandigarh, including a library table in Paris recently. The Chandigarh Administration has failed miserably to stop auction of city’s heritage furniture by foreign auction houses. In the last three years, foreign auction houses earned Rs 6.20 crore by selling heritage furniture items designed by French architect Le Corbusier, his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and others associated with the founding and planning of Chandigarh. Chandigarh has 12,793 heritage items designed by Corbusier or his team associated. As per the report, there are 190 different categories of heritage items including drawings, murals, models, tapestries, chairs, tables, among others. Items like desks and chairs that Le Corbusier or Jeanneret personally sat or worked on or a very few selected items that recall their presence in our midst should be seen as heritage items and preserved because of the strong personal association with them, but not every table or chair of that design becomes heritage. In the late 1980s and early 1990s furniture designed by Corbusier and his team was replaced after which the UT Administration  tossed these items in its backyards and stores. Items except really heritage ones, which were declared scrap because unusable, should be auctioned by the UT Administration to fetch best price in the international market and the amount thus earned be credited in government treasuries. 

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Hope for the preservation of our heritage items has revived as the team headed by Administrator VPS Badnore has designated the Press building as a heritage museum. Diplomatic channels are yet to be involved to bring back our heritage from foreign auctions and create a stronger legal framework for their protection.  Ajay  Jagga , advocate

The time has come to take immediate action to stop loot of the city’s heritage . Auction houses are making millions by selling most items sold as scrap in the UT. The Admini-stration must  make an inventory of heritage items and seek the Centres’s intervention to stop heritage auction  in foreign countries. Mukesh Bassi , industrialist

We are all proud of the city’s planning and heritage. It’s residents and Administration’s responsibility to keep heritage items secure. Strict action must be taken against those stealing heritage items. city’s heritage must be preserved at any cost. The decision to set up separate museum for heritage items is welcome.Ajay Chopra , resident

Heritage furniture was sold in foreign counties due to lack of awareness. People did not know the importance of heritage items. The Administration should make people aware of the importance of  heritage items. A comprehensive plan can save heritage items. Awareness camps can be organised in schools and colleges. Sanjeev Chadha, trader

The Administration’s efforts to stop auction of heritage furniture are insufficient. Not a single person has been held responsible for selling heritage items illegally. An inventory of heritage items should be  prepared. Such items must be declared art treasure. Awareness about heritage items is also important. Pritam Sharma, resident

QUESTION

Last week, a cyclist hit by an unknown speeding vehicle was run over by a number of vehicles near Sector 20, Panchkula, on the Zirakpur-Shimla highway. By the time the police could take the body in custody, it was crushed and fragmented beyond recognition. None cared to stop and inform the police leave aside shifting the injured man to hospital. Do you think we as a society have lost our human sensitivities and sensibilities?

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