Can the Blue Plaque Help Heritage Conservation?

If you stroll through the historic districts of cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, or Kolkata, you'll likely spot blue plaques adorning heritage buildings.

- Manoj Sharma

NEW DELHI: Inspired by London's renowned blue plaque programme, these markers honour the legacy of structures that have endured through time.

Whether it's an old haveli, a colonial-era institution, or the residence of a notable figure, these plaques put up by municipal corporations aim to make the past more visible in the present. By drawing attention to these sites, they seek to encourage people to pause, reflect, and engage with the city's architectural and cultural legacy.

But beyond their symbolic value, do these plaques truly help preserve heritage? Do they inspire restoration efforts, or are they merely decorative celebrations of a fading past?

Ahmedabad was the first city to introduce blue plaques in 2019 after its old city, founded by Ahmad Shah, was declared India's first World Heritage City in 2017. Kolkata followed in 2022, and Delhi is the latest to join this league of cities commemorating heritage through blue plaques.

In December 2024, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) began installing blue oval plaques on heritage buildings such as Town Hall and Hardyal Library—formerly known as Hardinge Library—among others.

The MCD's oval plaques feature a white border and golden lettering over a navy-blue background. Each plaque reads "Municipal Corporation of Delhi-Heritage Building", along with the civic body's logo, the name of the site, and its year of origin.

"We have installed 50 of the 55 plaques planned for the first phase of the project. The idea is to educate people about the city's heritage," an MCD official overseeing the initiative said.