The Terracotta temple of Antpur: An Attempt to Study the Importance of Heritage Management

Cultural Resource Management is gradually gaining importance in the present world. The act of preserving the cultural heritage of any community seems to be one of the duties which rests on the shoulders of both the institutions like state and the citizens. The cultural history of any nation can be presented to the future generation through their proper preservation, documentation and spreading awareness. In this context, West Bengal is one of the richest states having great traditions of cultural history, exhibiting a vast variety of historical cultural heritage. Antpur is a small village of West Bengal having historical significance. The most famous temple in Antpur is that of Radha Govinda jiu with exquisite Terracotta carvings depicting mythical stories. This particular place houses several terracotta temples through a temple complex. These terracotta temples not only show a great artistic sign of work, but also store a rich cultural heritage within its structure. The present study is the result of a fieldwork conducted at this place with an aim to study the architectural value of the structures and at the same time find out the social importance of these historical monuments in local as well as broader scenario. It also highlights the functioning of the heritage management schemes in the site.