The cultural property chosen from the World Heritage List is the Red Fort Complex in Delhi, India (World Heritage List, 2016). The Red Fort Complex was built by the fifth Mughal emperor in India, Shahjahan. Like other emperors of the Mughal Empire, Shahjahan made numerous contributions to the subcontinent in the form of beautiful, culturally enriched buildings that are present till date. Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the World, was also built by Shahjahan.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD HERITAGE SYSTEM: THE CASE OF RED FORT,
INDIA
Part 1: Analysis
The cultural property chosen from the World Heritage List is the Red Fort Complex in
Delhi, India (World Heritage List, 2016). The Red Fort Complex was built by the fifth Mughal
emperor in India, Shahjahan. Like other emperors of the Mughal Empire, Shahjahan made
numerous contributions to the subcontinent in the form of beautiful, culturally enriched buildings
that are present till date. Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the World, was also built by
Shahjahan.
The Red Fort was built as the palace fort of Shahjahan’ capital city. Salimgarh is another
fort that was built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546 and is adjacent to the Red Fort. Together this
region is called the Red Fort Complex. Although the planning of this fort was based on Islamic
prototypes, its architecture shows a mixture of Persian, Timurid, and Hindu traditions. This
fusion of different cultures and traditions is a key element observed in most Mughal buildings.
The Red Fort Complex was added to the World Heritage List in 2007.
The World Heritage convention is said to be the most significant international
achievement in the field of the conservation of cultural heritage (Jokilehto, 2006). The aim of
this convention was to recognise the increasing threats to natural and cultural sites in the world.
The most significant feature of this convention is its integration of the concepts of nature
conservation and preservation of cultural properties in a single treaty (Meskell, 2013). This
convention was established in 1972 as a provision for the collective protection of the World
Heritage properties. By signing this convention, each country takes an oath to conserve and
protect the World Heritage site located on its territory. By participating in an international

2. community of concern for these properties, these countries are showing their concern to preserve
these sites for current and future generations (Meskell, 2013).
In order for a property to be listed on the World Heritage List, it is important for it to
have Universal Outstanding Value (hereinafter, UOV). Only if the heritage resource is a true and
authentic expression of a particular culture, it will obtain the status of UOV (Jokilehto, 2006).
Authenticity here refers to the idea that any work of art is a product of creativity, and this
creative value of particular pieces of art can be compared and assessed. Cultural heritage sites,
such as the Red Fort Complex, need to meet the test of authenticity in order to become a part of
the World Heritage List. The UOV of these sites needs to be identified and presented to the
World Heritage Committee.
UNESCO identified and recognised various Outstanding Universal Values of the Red
Fort Complex at the time of adding it to the World Heritage List. According to UNESCO, the
Red Fort complex signifies the development and refinement of Mughal architecture by
Shahjahan (Red Fort Complex, 2016). The traditional planning and design of Mughal buildings
initiated by the first emperors in 1526 A. D. were transformed by Shahjahan when he
incorporated a combination of Islamic, Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions in the architecture.
Architects and builders in later times, and till date, study the Red Fort Complex and use it as an
inspiration for designing buildings and gardens in India. Moreover, the Red Fort has been the
venue for important events in history, and this has had an impact on its geo-cultural region.
The World Heritage Nominations are evaluated according to a set of ten criteria. Out of
these, ii, iii, and vi are met by the Red Fort Complex. Other than this, prior to addition to the
World Heritage List, the cultural property must also be authentic, and must have a proper

3. protection and management system to ensure its safeguarding. The second point on the criteria
suggests that the cultural property needs:
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time
or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or
technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design (The
Criteria for Selection, 2016);
According to UNESCO, the Red Fort is one of the last remaining pieces of Mughal architecture
which signifies an interchange between Islamic, Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions, in terms
of technique, craftsmanship, and designs (Red Fort Complex, 2016). Therefore, the Red Fort
Complex fulfilled this condition. The third criteria required the proposed property to:
iii. bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to
a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared (The Criteria for
Selection, 2016);
According to the World Heritage Committee, the impressive architectural style of building
components and innovative garden designs of the Red Fort Complex strongly influenced the
planning of later buildings in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and other parts of India. Furthermore, the
Red Fort is considered to be a reflection of the time when the subcontinent was occupied by the
British military. The British tried to introduce new buildings and functions in the existing
Mughal structures of that time, and signs of this can be seen in the Red Fort Complex (Red Fort
Complex, 2016). Hence, this condition was also fulfilled. The sixth criteria suggest that a cultural
site needs to:
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with
ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding

4. universal significance (The Committee considers that this criterion should
preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria) (The Criteria for Selection,
2016);
Since the Red Fort was constructed by the fifth Mughal Emperor, it has seen the transition of
Indian history from Mughals to British. The Fort was considered a symbol of power in the reign
of Shahjahan and is still considered very important. Its importance can be measured by the fact
that the first Indian independence was celebrated there. Many Indians still celebrate their
Independence Day in the Red Fort. The Red Fort has, therefore, been the setting for major events
that were critical to the formation of regional identity, and which have had a huge effect on the
geo-cultural region. These are the three criteria out of ten that were met by the Red Fort.
Another important thing to know about the significance of this cultural property is that it
not only represents the Mughal era, but also the time period after the British occupation of the
subcontinent. The British wanted to use Mughal structures and buildings for new purposes. Some
were used as offices while others were used by the British military. The Red Fort Complex was
used for the latter purpose. The Fort was mainly used as a cantonment and even after
Independence, a part of the Fort remained under the control of the Army till the year 2003
(Hoiberg & Ramchandani, 2000). According to a report by the World Heritage Committee, the
integrity of the Salimgarh Fort is only visible by its association with the Red Fort Complex. The
report also stated that “in the specific case of the Salimgarh Fort, the authenticity of the Mughal
period is related to knowledge of its use and associations, and of the built structures dating from
the British period (Red Ford Complex, 2016)
The Red Fort Complex was proposed as a World Heritage site in 1993 (Red Fort now,
2007). In the advisory body’s evaluation report that was published regarding the addition of the

5. Red Fort Complex in the World Heritage List, it was stated that the Fort was included in the
tentative list on March 16, 2005. There was no international assistance given by the World
Heritage Fund in the preparation of the nomination. Data for this nomination was received by the
World Heritage committee thrice, in 1982, 1992, and 2006. The International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) recommended that the first nomination is deferred due to
multi-administrative control and until the major portion of the monument was handed over to the
Archeological Survey of India. At that time, this portion was in the use of the Indian Army. Then
in December 2003, the Indian Army finally vacated the Fort (The Red Fort Complex India, n.d.)
After this, a new, revised nomination was submitted to UNESCO on December 31, 2006.
According to the report, ICOMOS consulted its International Scientific Committee on
Fortifications and Military Heritage, after which, it sent letters to the State party twice requesting
supplementary information about the Fort in 2006 and 2007. The report provided was approved
by ICOMOS on March 11, 2007. The Red Fort Complex was formally made a part of the World
Heritage List in June 2007 when the World Heritage Committee held its annual meeting in
Christchurch, New Zealand.
UNESCO has a set of rules that guide State Parties to manage and protect World Heritage
properties located in their territory. The Red Fort complex is owned by the Ministry of Culture of
the Government of India and enjoys the highest level of protection because it has been declared a
monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act, 1959. Moreover, there is a 100-meter wide buffer zone around the Red Fort
Complex, and a further 200-meter wide prohibited area has been established by the Indian
government to control development and land usage.

6. In the advisory body’s evaluation report, there is a detailed analysis of the building and
measures to conserve it. The Archaeological Survey of India has had the control of the Fort since
2003 and has taken measures to improve its conditions, for example, it has restored lime plaster
on many buildings, restored lime concrete flooring, repaired the inlay, and repaired sandstone
flooring and stairs. There are, however, some problems that arise with the conservation of the
Fort that has been highlighted in the report, for example, problems caused by water ingress and
rising damp, and the impact of dust, dirt and air pollution. Because of its importance, the court
ordered that comprehensive conservation management plan (CCMP) for the entire property
needed to be prepared by the Archeological Survey of India could carry on with any
conservation interventions inside the Complex. The Institute of Archaeology, University
College, London, in collaboration with the Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative in India and
the Archaeological Survey of India were appointed to prepare a CCMP for the Fort.
In the nomination dossier presented to the World Heritage Committee, it was stated that
the CCMP would be a site management plan for the Fort to take into account the threats of
conservation problems and visitors’ pressures. Moreover, it would incorporate research,
education, and social values into the overall management plan. The State Party gave this
information to the World Heritage Committee in a report form and stated that the plan would be
implemented in a time span of ten years.
Moreover, the advisory body’s evaluation report mentioned that there are few problems
related to the management of visitors in the Fort. Since the Red Fort Complex is one of the most
visited sites in India, there needs to be a mechanism present to control and monitor the visitors.
The report stated that although the ticketing system was adequate, there is no mechanism to
control the number of visitors to a particular spot inside the property at a given time. All of these

7. issues would be addressed in the CCMP, which ICOMOS recommended that the State Party
should submit to the Committee on its 32nd session (The Red Fort Complex India, n.d.)
Part 2: Reflection
UNESCO is an intergovernmental organisation with a primary aim of promoting peace
and equality. The introduction of the UNESCO constitution states “That since wars begin in the
minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”
(UNESCO constitution, 2016). Changing the mindset of people by educating them and urging
nations to work in collaboration is the main goal of this organisation. The gist of UNESCO
constitution and the World Heritage Convention is more or less the same. Where UNESCO talks
about protecting the rights of people and promoting collaboration among nations through
education, science, and culture, the World Heritage Convention emphasises the importance of
protecting peoples’ heritage. The Convention promotes nations to collaborate in terms of
protecting historically significant properties located on their territories (UNESCO, 1972).
In order for any property to become part of the World Heritage List, it is important for the
State Party to present a proposal to the World Heritage Committee, which consists of
representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the convention elected by their General
Assembly. This shows how each property must be evaluated and then approved by the
committee so it can formally have the status of a World Heritage Site. There are different
advisory bodies that are present to give their opinion about matters that are technical or unclear.
In other words, each property is added after consulting all the member nations. They may help
formulate a management and protection plan for the proposed property. This collaboration
between nations and recognition of each other’s culture and values is one of the primary aims of
UNESCO which was achieved through this Convention.

8. Other than this, various nations show their support for the Convention by actively giving
funds. These funds consist of compulsory and well as voluntary funds and are given by State
Parties without any political condition attached. They can be used to help a State Party that is
struggling with the management or protection of its World Heritage Property. Although the
Committee does not always give financial aid, but in some rare cases, it may provide financial
assistance. This also helps improve the relations between different nations and instils in them
respect for each other’s culture and social values.
Moreover, an important requirement for inclusion in the World Heritage List is that the
proposed property must have Universal Outstanding Value. This means that the features of the
property need to be distinct and have cultural or natural importance. Each nation would have a
different interpretation of what this UOV can be. The World Heritage Convention recognises this
and therefore, evaluates each property keeping in mind the culture and norms of the State Party
that proposed it. This further deepens nations’ understanding of other nations’ norms and values.
This collaboration not only makes nations aware but also educates them. This is how the purpose
and philosophy of UNESCO are carried forward by the Convention.
References
Hoiberg, D., & Ramchandani, I. 2000. Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan.
Jokilehto, Jukka. 2006. The World Heritage List: What is UOV? ICOMOS, Paris. Available
from:
http://www.icomos.org/publications/monuments_and_sites/16/pdf/Monuments_and_Sites
_16_What_is_OUV.pdf

9. Meskell, Lynn. 2013. UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention at 40. Challenging the Economic
and Political Order of International Heritage Conservation. Current Anthropology Vol.
54, No. 4: pp. 483-494
The Criteria for Selection. (2016). Available from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/
The Red Fort Complex (India). n.d. Available from
http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/231rev.pdf
Red Fort Complex. 2016. Available from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/231/
Red Fort Now World Heritage Site. 2007. Available from
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-11-30/news/27685853_1_red-fort-
world-heritage-list-natural-sites
UNESCO. 1972. Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage. Adopted by the General Conference at its seventeenth session, Paris, 16
November 1972. Available from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/
UNESCO Constitution. 2016. Available from http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-
URL_ID=15244&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
UNESCO World Heritage List. 2016. Available from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/