Daily Mains Question – GS 1 – 22nd July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — crafted to explore the rich intersections of Indian heritage, regional history, and civilisational identity, as tested in GS Paper 1. Today’s question critically examines how the recent UNESCO inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes reflects India’s assertion of its indigenous architectural traditions and cultural diplomacy on the global stage.
With the inclusion of twelve Maratha forts—spanning the Sahyadri hills and the Konkan coast—on the World Heritage List, global recognition has been accorded to a uniquely decentralised and terrain-adaptive system of fort architecture. This topic holds high relevance for GS Paper 1 (Art and Culture: Indian Architecture, Heritage Conservation, Civilisational Values) while also offering insights into themes such as regional identity, indigenous resistance to colonialism, and the evolving narrative of Indian soft power—concepts that resonate across both GS Paper 1 and the Essay paper.
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QUESTION
Examine how the inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes as a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflects India's regional architectural traditions and assertion of civilisational identity.
Answer: The Maratha Military Landscapes, comprising 12 strategically significant forts built, modified, or expanded by the Maratha Empire (17th–19th century), were inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2024. These forts—11 in Maharashtra and 1 in Tamil Nadu (Gingee)—reflect a unique military, architectural, and civilisational response to the geopolitical challenges of the early modern period. Their inclusion marks a significant step in India's cultural self-assertion and heritage diplomacy.
Historical and Cultural Significance of Maratha Forts
The Maratha forts represent decentralised military ingenuity rooted in Indian civilisational ethos, contrasting with the more centralized and ornate Mughal architecture.
Key Features of the Forts:
Fort Type | Examples | Key Features |
Hill Forts | Rajgad, Raigad, Salher, Shivneri | Steep terrains, natural defenses, multi-tiered gateways |
Coastal/Island Forts | Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Khanderi, Vijaydurg | Maritime defense, camouflaged entrances, shipyards |
Self-Sustaining Settlements | Panhala, Gingee | Granaries, water reservoirs, markets, administrative complexes |
Architectural Characteristics:
Integration with topography rather than monumentalism
Use of local materials (black basalt stone, laterite)
Rainwater harvesting systems (e.g., Badami Talav at Shivneri)
Camouflaged gates and hidden escape tunnels (e.g., Vijaydurg’s undersea tunnel)
Civilisational Identity Reflected Through the Forts
The forts assert a regional yet pan-Indian civilisational identity through:
1. Indigenous Governance Ethos
Centers of Swarajya (self-rule) envisioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Bases for local administration, tax collection, and justice delivery
Examples of non-feudal, decentralised power structures in contrast to imperial models
2. Maritime and Naval Innovation
Coastal forts like Sindhudurg and Suvarnadurg represent India's maritime traditions and the rise of a naval power to challenge European colonial expansion
They reflect India’s pre-colonial maritime sovereignty
3. Symbol of Resistance and Regional Pride
Battle of Salher (1672 CE): First open-field victory of Marathas over Mughals
Pawankhind (1660): Heroic stand by Baji Prabhu Deshpande enabling Shivaji’s escape from Panhala
These events are deeply embedded in local memory, folklore, and identity
UNESCO Recognition and Global Cultural Diplomacy
The inscription was made under UNESCO Cultural Criteria (ii), (iii), and (iv):
Criterion (ii): Interchange of military strategies between local and global powers
Criterion (iv): Outstanding example of adaptive military architecture
Global Implications:
Enhances India's soft power by projecting pluralism and regional diversity
Brings non-Mughal, non-Indic narratives (like Maratha and Dravidian) into global discourse
Reinforces India’s commitment to cultural heritage conservation, as seen through prior inscriptions (e.g., Jaipur City, Rani ki Vav, Western Ghats)
Challenges in Conservation and Dissemination
Challenge | Implication | Solution |
Encroachment & Urban Pressure | Structural degradation | Buffer zone enforcement |
Tourism Management | Risk of over-tourism | Carrying capacity regulations, heritage circuits |
Lack of Awareness | Cultural disconnect | Integration into textbooks, regional languages |
Way Forward
Digitisation & Documentation: 3D mapping, drone surveys for monitoring
Community Involvement: Employ local youth as heritage guides and caretakers
Heritage Tourism: Develop cultural routes like “Maratha Fort Trail”
Educational Integration: Promote regional histories in school curricula to foster pride and ownership
The UNESCO inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes is more than a heritage listing—it is an affirmation of India’s plural, decentralised civilisational past that resisted imperial homogenisation. It reflects a resurgence in India’s cultural self-representation, rooted in regional strength, indigenous governance, and architectural sustainability. Through this recognition, India continues to reclaim its layered historical narrative and position itself as a steward of civilisational continuity in the global arena.
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