Cultural and Heritage Preservation

During 2019–2021, while serving as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel undertook numerous historic initiatives for the preservation and promotion of Indian culture, traditions, and invaluable heritage. His efforts aimed to ensure that India’s ancient civilization, folk traditions, languages, festivals, arts, and historical heritage are not only preserved but also revitalized with new energy through modern technology and public participation, gaining recognition on a global platform.

Under Mr. Patel’s leadership, several significant schemes and programs were launched, such as:

  • In 2019, the Indian Culture Portal was launched. Through this portal, comprehensive information about India’s diverse cultural heritage—including museums, libraries, archaeological sites, folk arts, festivals, and linguistic traditions—became digitally accessible in both Hindi and English.
  • ⁠In 2020, the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage was established, providing official recognition to traditional arts, folk festivals, dances, songs, dialects, and handicrafts across the country, thereby strengthening their protection and intergenerational transmission.
  • ‘Heritage in Digital Space’ Initiative – Modern technologies such as 3D scanning, virtual reality, and holography were employed for the digital reconstruction of historical sites like Hampi, giving heritage conservation a contemporary dimension.
  • ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ Campaign – Launched to promote domestic tourism, instill pride in the nation’s cultural diversity, and provide national recognition to local traditions, cuisine, attire, and dialects.
  • Online Exhibitions and Folk Art Promotion – Significant contributions include the first online exhibition of the Ramayana, exhibitions focused on Himachal’s folk arts, and presentations of archaeological heritage at the National Museum for public access.
  • Environmental Conservation and Care of Cultural Sites – Under the ‘Sankalp Parv’, numerous activities such as tree plantation and preservation-enhancement of archaeological heritage were undertaken, establishing a balance between cultural heritage and nature.

Mr. Patel firmly believes that culture is not merely a legacy of the past, but also an identity for the present and the future. The initiatives taken under his leadership are not only a testament to the preservation of traditions but also a commitment to elevating India’s cultural consciousness to new heights.