Culture & Heritage
India has formally nominated Sarnath, the important Buddhist site near Varanasi, for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This comes after the site remained on the tentative list for 27 years.
Ahead of UNESCO’s evaluation, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will install a corrected plaque. It will credit Babu Jagat Singh, a local ruler in 1787–88, for rediscovering the site instead of the British, thereby correcting colonial-era narratives.
Sarnath flourished as a major monastic centre until the 12th century CE. Its decline is historically linked to invasions under Qutb-ud-din Aibak during Muhammad Ghor’s campaign in 1193 CE, when temples and monasteries were destroyed.
By the 13th century, Sarnath was in ruins, coinciding with the broader decline of Buddhism in India. Its nomination highlights India’s renewed efforts to protect its Buddhist heritage and restore historical accuracy in cultural memory.
Course Purchase Query 