Old is worth its weight in gold — this is the realisation that seems to have dawned upon the West Bengal government. It has decided to renovate a cluster of palatial properties across the state to promote ‘rajbari tourism’ as part of its “Experience Bengal” programme. An initiative to market the project and launch a manpower-training programme has been planned at some 100- odd rajbaris and mansions in Bengal’s districts. Fifty-six of these properties have already been identified, including some famous ones, such as the palaces at Mahishadal, Serampore, Tamluk, Andul, Krishnagar, Sovabazar and Burdwan. Some of these properties, however, are mired in legal issues regarding inheritance that the government is working on.

This is a heartening step. It is no secret that in spite of its rich and diverse culture and history, Bengal is known for doing precious little to preserve and protect the remnants of its brick-and-mortar past. This disregard has been amply reflected in the institutional apathy towards conservation: as recently as 2016, the Chandannagar Municipal Corporation declared the late-19th-century Registry Building unsafe and issued orders to bring it down. In that instance, joint efforts by citizens and the French Consulate managed to save the building, even though it still lies in disrepair owing to a lack of funds. Perhaps Bengal can take lessons from Rajasthan, which has shown how profitable public-private partnerships can be when it comes to heritage conservation. The Union ministry of tourism gave a boost to the heritage hotels movement by introducing a scheme to encourage the conversion of forts and havelis which are over 75 years old. The owners get a 10-per cent subsidy or Rs 5 lakh, whichever is less. The state tourism authority’s scheme bettered the offer.

The potential of rajbari tourism goes beyond filling the coffers of a debt-ridden state. The economic potential of heritage is indisputable. The preservation of these buildings and their thoughtful commercialization, could, in turn, strengthen local economies: this is especially important given the blow that the informal sector and the rural economy have suffered at the hands of the pandemic. Yet another unintended, but crucial, consequence could be the kindling of public interest in regional history, an aspect that is unevenly addressed in the curriculum. Places such as Tamralipta and Chandraketugarh — from where there is archaeological evidence to suggest a sea-faring history of the region’s people — as well as Bengal’s crumbling terracotta temples deserve greater attention. But care must be taken not to remould the past in the name of commerce. There is evidence that in places where the renovation of terracotta temples has been undertaken, Archaeological Survey of India guidelines have been grossly flouted.

There is an additional challenge. The whitewashing of history is, today, a national enterprise. Bengal must resist it. The feudal legacy of these mansions must remain integral to this retelling of the past.