ABSTRACT
David Lowenthal, the American historian and geographer, distinguishes history and heritage as distinct but interconnected constructs. While history seeks truth through past exploration, heritage employs the past's legacy to address present needs. Heritage constructs a social identity, prioritising narratives for the public. This relationship is complex; heritage shapes history and vice versa. Yet, heritage is selective, omitting complexities. Examples like the Alamo, Great Zimbabwe, and Masada highlight divergence between heritage narratives and historical realities. Heritage, often molded by power, can be contentious, leading to clashes, as seen in the Babri Mosque incident. Recently, social movements challenge dominant narratives, prompting heritage re-evaluation, like Los Angeles’ Civic Memory Working Group. The Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD), an expert-driven, Eurocentric model, defines heritage in most nations, ignoring marginalised groups. Examples such as the Moscow's Kremlin and Dubrovnik illustrate AHD's biases. A shift is underway with critical heritage studies and organisations like ICOMOS, aiming for inclusive heritage management. This transformation supports cultural diversity and offers new heritage principles for a more equitable representation of history and identity.
