It's not really a question of which is a heritage building and which is not, or which building is over 60 years old and which is not.

It is a question of owning and appreciating what is ours and, more importantly, what is conceptualized and understood by us as our own. It is about remembering the vision of a time when the nation was rebuilding post-Independence, and how some of us were innovating for the future.

Over the years, our cities have managed to remain devoid of any specific architectural expression. We still look back to the ancient temples, mausoleums, step wells or forts to showcase 'Indian architecture'. Otherwise, we look at the works of masters like Kahn, Corbusier and Lutyens and invite the likes of Foster to design our future. Somehow 'Made in India' does not look impressive to the Indian bureaucracy and the ignorant citizens when it comes to archi- tecture. And therein lies the reason why our cities and towns still wear a look of dishevelled makeup. What happened to the Hall of Nations should come as a warning to a country, which is still unaware of the influence of architecture and urban design in shaping society. The demolition took place in blatant disregard for this realization and sent a wrong message.

Build again

Putting disappointments aside, there is room - in hindsight - to think of possibilities, be they preventive or corrective in nature. The preservation of such architectural marvels as Gaudi's works in Barcelona, Affandi's house in Yogyakarta, the Bauhaus building in Dessau and Bawa's buildings in Sri Lanka not only gives tourists an opportunity to learn about the history of the city through art and architecture but also presents the youth of the country with an opportunity to be proud of and responsible for their inheritance.

A visitor to Barcelona will appreciate the city's strong desire to preserve and showcase the masterpieces of its master architect, Antonio Gaudi. In addition to the edifice itself, the buildings also house drawings, sketches, models and stories. The city has also preserved and rebuilt buildings like the Barcelona Pavilion by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

It is possible to recreate the Hall of Nations in another part of the city, using the same technology that was used to rebuild the original structure. Alternatively, it is possible to recreate a part of the building and show-case it as an exhibit. This would remind people of how an initially conceived steel structure was masterfully designed in precast concrete by Raj Rewal and Mahendra Raj in 1972 since the young nation did not have the resources for the initial design.

Disturbing queries

It was certainly possible to create the 'world class' convention centre without completely demolishing the Hall of Nations building. One wonders why this was not considered at a time when there was such an upheaval within the architecture community across the world to stay the demolition. Did the architects, who have now designed the new building, not make a similar suggestion?

The demolition of the Hall of Nations at Pragati Maidan, Delhi, actually raises more questions than it answers. It is an issue regarding the awareness - or the lack of it - among the people. And, in this instance, it is not just a political but also a social matter.

India should be looking to create its modern heritage beyond the Taj Mahal and the ghats of Varanasi. It should work towards the creation and preservation of a modern identity, designed and built by its own people, for its own people, for its own future.