Time-Heritage is an interdisciplinary programme (Geography, History, History of Art, Archaeology, Indology…) centred on the study of the reciprocal influences between India and the World and widely open to the transdisciplinary study of Indian societies, its political, technological, religious or cultural expressions over time. It analyses the material and technological transfers that have marked India and built its map. It gives a special place to the role of the transmission of memory in Indian communities, to their formation and dissemination, and to its contribution to the narrative of a plural nation.
Time-Heritage analyses local and national Indian memory and heritage policies and aims to be a source of proposals within the framework of Franco-Indian collaborations. It is interested in both global and local scales, analysing in particular the characteristics of heritage making in Pondicherry and its region: conceived from a strong local, historical and geographical anchorage, Time-Heritage places the French experience of India in its context and analyses its role. Widely open to the most varied audiences, Time-Heritage intends to serve as a centre for memory and digital preservation of private documents that will be commented on by specialists, original studies and databases that will be published on a dedicated site. It is also aimed at the general public through conferences, physical or digital exhibitions, and at specialists through the possible distribution of a newsletter or journal. It is organised in three main areas which should overlap and support each other:
- France-India (14th-20th century): this axis deals with most of the issues related to the colonial, diplomatic, economic and cultural presence in India. It participates actively in the cultural activities of the Franco-Pondicherry community and in the heritage programmes of the Territory of Pondicherry.
- World-India (Prehistory-21st century): this area deals with issues related to past and present relations between the world and India. It broadens the scope of the "France-India" axis and participates in wider collaborations. It is as interested in the major geopolitical and geo-economic factors as it is in the transformations of material culture.
- India-World (Prehistory-21st century): this theme is based on the study of past and present Indian societies in their own structures and dynamics, their cosmogonies, their ability to project themselves as a diaspora outside the Indian world, their technological and monumental achievements.
Contacts: Raphaël Malangin, Nicolas Bautès