Project Mausam, a Ministry of culture project, aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean World that extends from East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka to the Southeast Asian archipelago. The project is collecting archaeological and historical research to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean. Archeological Society of India (ASI) is functioning as its nodal agency and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is functioning as project’s Research Unit.
The Project Mausam is going to encourage research on themes linked to the study of Maritime Routes through international scientific seminars and meetings by adopting a multidisciplinary approach. It would promote the production of specialized works, as well as publications for the general publicwith an endeavour at encouraging a wider understanding of the concept of a common heritage and multiple identities.
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Objectives of Project Mausam
The principal objectives of the project Mausam are: transnational nomination of Maritime Cultural Routes; formation of a comprehensive database and UNESCO web platform on Maritime Cultural Landscapes and Routes; and connecting other UNESCO cultural conventions with World Heritage convention, through this theme.
Goals of Project Mausam
The Project’s goal is to transcend present-day national and ethnic frontiers, documenting and celebrating the common cultural values and economic ties of the Indian Ocean World. This step is going to not only strengthen current relationships between countries across the Ocean, but also set an example for new bridge of co-operation and continued ties and interaction.
In order to redefined cultural landscape, Project Mausam is trying to identify gaps in listing of sites and filing in the lacuna by providing a holistic, multi-layered perspective drawing links between the existing categories of “Natural and Cultural” Heritage. This would help in redefining concept of Cultural Landscapes and permit for a fresh, multi-faceted approach to understand past and present-day relationship.
Project Mausam is an exciting and multi-disciplinary project that rejuvenates long-lost ties across countries of the Indian Ocean ‘World’ and creates new avenues of cooperation and exchanged.
Launched by India in partnership with member countries, the Project ‘Mausam’ is going to take a significant step in recording and celebrating this important phase of world history from Africa, Arab and Asian-world perspectives.
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