New Delhi, December 3 — The International Conference on the Preservation of Rural Buddhist Heritage ended on November 30 with delegates adopting the Delhi Declaration, a strategic framework aimed at protecting and revitalising India’s numerous rural Buddhist sites. Held over three days at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre and organised by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD), the meeting brought together Indian and international scholars, conservation specialists and policymakers to focus on community-led, systematic preservation measures.
A headline outcome is a proposal to create a National Academy for Rural Heritage Conservation and Development Training at Nagarjunakonda. The Andhra Pradesh government, under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has set aside five acres for the institution, which is intended to become the country’s first centre dedicated to training, coordinated conservation planning and strengthening local capacity to manage rural Buddhist heritage.
ITRHD chairman S. K. Misra said the Delhi Declaration will guide future initiatives and called for annual reviews to ensure the declaration’s recommendations deliver measurable results. Final-day sessions emphasised practical approaches such as digital documentation techniques, recognising local communities as custodians, education-focused outreach and sustainable tourism models that protect vulnerable sites. Delegates stressed that rural Buddhist heritage is not only archaeological but also a living cultural resource tied to identity, livelihoods and regional development.
Harvard scholar Prajapati Trivedi urged the establishment of a common definition of success to enable long-term coordination. Conservation architect A. G. K. Menon pointed to gaps between agencies and argued that heritage protection and development must be integrated, measuring national progress by conditions in villages as well as cities. International participants praised the event’s breadth; Victoria Demenova of Ural Federal University described it as unusually comprehensive with potential global influence.
Organisers say that with the Delhi Declaration and a concrete institutional proposal, India is better positioned to build a national framework for conserving rural Buddhist legacy while increasing community participation and advancing cultural diplomacy. The item was sourced from a syndicated feed (ANI) and published as received; the Tribune disclaims responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
