IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section A

Abstract

The ‘sacred cities’ of India are important sites of pilgrimage and heritage-tourism. Most of these cities are characterized by the presence of a primary place of worship surrounded by an old city area (the Core). Apart from heritage structures, the Core houses artisanal communities which play an important role in boosting the heritage value of these cities. One such city is Madurai, an Indian city of ancient origin in the state of Tamil Nadu. Considering the rising commodification of heritage and growing multi-faceted importance of Madurai, we explore its structure, particularly the Core. Fieldwork entailing a rapid reconnaissance survey and semi-structured interviews was conducted. While the presence of some artisanal groups in the Core has almost completely disappeared, some other groups such as the Saurashtrian silk weavers have managed to retain their position. Moreover, those weavers who moved out of the Core have settled in an enclave (Saurashtrapuram) towards the east of the city proximate to another important Hindu temple. Despite financial struggles, these households continue their practice of silk weaving and crucially feed into the silk tradition and trade in the Core. Notably, while the artisans in the Core have gotten at least a cursory mention in the city plan towards heritage conservation (under the Smart Cities Mission), the secondary settlement of weavers finds no mention. We conclude by reiterating the importance of including the network of secondary artisanal settlements outside Core areas in preserving the heritage value of such cities.