2.6. World Heritage - Std X - Mah Board - My English Coursebook - Semi English and Marathi Medium
- Jun 17
- 11 min read
Updated: Jun 18
SECTION 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Chapter | Unit 2 — Chapter 2.6: World Heritage |
Type | Informative Prose |
Author | Maharashtra State Board (Textbook Committee) |
Textbook | My English Coursebook, Std X, Maharashtra State Board |
Board Section | Section II — Reading Skills (Textual) — 20 marks |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ परीक्षेत Reading Skills Textual विभागात येतो — एकूण 20 गुण.
SECTION 2 — About the Author / लेखक परिचय
This informative chapter is compiled by the textbook committee to educate students about the global significance of preserving our cultural and natural history. It introduces the concept of World Heritage Sites, governed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The text provides highly factual and chronological information regarding how these sites are identified, the rigorous process of their selection, how they are categorized, and the urgent need to protect them from various modern global threats.
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ महाराष्ट्र राज्य पाठ्यपुस्तक मंडळाने संकलित केला आहे. यामध्ये युनेस्को (UNESCO) द्वारे घोषित केल्या जाणाऱ्या 'जागतिक वारसा स्थळांची' (World Heritage Sites) निवड कशी होते, त्यांचे प्रकार कोणते आणि त्यांचे संरक्षण करणे का महत्त्वाचे आहे, याची सविस्तर आणि अचूक माहिती दिली आहे.
SECTION 4 — Summary / सारांश
The chapter "World Heritage" explains the crucial role of UNESCO in identifying and protecting sites that possess outstanding universal value to humanity. It traces the history of the movement, highlighting how the successful rescue of the Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt in 1959 paved the way for the adoption of the World Heritage Convention in 1972. The text clearly outlines the rigorous five-step process a country must follow to get a site officially inscribed on the World Heritage List. It categorizes these sites into cultural, natural, and mixed types, noting that Italy holds the highest number of sites. Finally, the chapter sheds light on the severe modern threats faced by these sites—such as war, pollution, and urbanization—and emphasizes the desperate need to protect them before they are lost forever.
मराठी सारांश: 'वर्ल्ड हेरिटेज' हा पाठ युनेस्को (UNESCO) च्या जागतिक वारसा स्थळांचे महत्त्व स्पष्ट करतो. १९५९ मध्ये इजिप्तमधील अबू सिंबेल मंदिरे वाचवण्याच्या मोहिमेपासून सुरू झालेला हा प्रवास १९७२ च्या जागतिक परिषदेपर्यंत कसा पोहोचला, हे यात सांगितले आहे. एखाद्या स्थळाला 'जागतिक वारसा' म्हणून मान्यता मिळण्यासाठी आवश्यक असणारे ५ कठोर टप्पे, स्थळांचे प्रकार (सांस्कृतिक, नैसर्गिक, मिश्र) आणि त्यांच्यासमोरील धोके (प्रदूषण, युद्ध, शहरीकरण इ.) यांची सविस्तर माहिती या पाठात दिली आहे.
SECTION 5 — Key Points / मुख्य मुद्दे
POINT 1: World Heritage Sites are culturally or naturally significant places, such as forests, monuments, or cities, protected by UNESCO's International World Heritage Programme. मराठी: जागतिक वारसा स्थळे ही सांस्कृतिक किंवा नैसर्गिकदृष्ट्या महत्त्वाची ठिकाणे असतात, ज्यांचे युनेस्कोद्वारे संरक्षण केले जाते.
POINT 2: The historic 1959 international campaign to successfully save Egypt's Abu Simbel Temples from flooding laid the true foundation for protecting global cultural heritage. मराठी: १९५९ मध्ये इजिप्तमधील अबू सिंबेल मंदिरे वाचवण्याच्या यशस्वी मोहिमेमुळे आंतरराष्ट्रीय वारसा संरक्षण संस्थेचा पाया घातला गेला.
POINT 3: The World Heritage Committee, consisting of representatives from 21 elected State Parties, is the main group responsible for establishing which sites get officially listed. मराठी: २१ देशांच्या प्रतिनिधींची मिळून बनलेली 'जागतिक वारसा समिती' स्थळांची निवड करण्याचे मुख्य काम करते.
POINT 4: There is a strict five-step process to become a World Heritage Site, starting with an inventory called the Tentative List and ending with meeting specific selection criteria. मराठी: जागतिक वारसा स्थळ बनण्यासाठी ५ टप्प्यांची कठोर प्रक्रिया असते, ज्याची सुरुवात 'Tentative List' (प्राथमिक यादी) बनवण्यापासून होते.
Key Data / Facts Table:
Fact | Details |
1959 | UNESCO launched an international campaign to dismantle and move the Abu Simbel Temples. |
1972 | The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted. |
890 | Total number of World Heritage Sites across 148 countries as of 2009. |
Italy | The country holding the highest number of World Heritage Sites (44 sites). |
India | Possesses 36 World Heritage Sites (28 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed). |
SECTION 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Global Conservation (जागतिक संवर्धन) | The entire chapter focuses heavily on the structured international effort to protect both historical monuments and natural landscapes. |
International Cooperation (आंतरराष्ट्रीय सहकार्य) | The Abu Simbel project cost $80 million, with $40 million coming from 50 different countries working together. |
6B. Values / मूल्ये
Preservation (जतन) — We must actively preserve our invaluable world heritage against modern threats like uncontrolled urbanization, pollution, and wars.
Responsibility (जबाबदारी) — State Parties hold the significant responsibility of correctly identifying and nominating their country's cultural and natural sites.
6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
The world's natural and cultural heritage belongs to all of humanity, and it is our collective international responsibility to rigorously protect, maintain, and restore these sites for future generations. मराठी टीप: नैसर्गिक आणि सांस्कृतिक वारसा ही संपूर्ण मानवजातीची संपत्ती आहे, आणि भावी पिढ्यांसाठी तिचे जतन करणे ही आपली सर्वांची जागतिक जबाबदारी आहे, हा या पाठाचा मुख्य संदेश आहे.
SECTION 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह
Word / Phrase | मराठी अर्थ | Example from text |
Heritage | वारसा | "protecting cultural and natural heritage sites" |
Characteristics | वैशिष्ट्ये | "because of its physical landscape characteristics." |
Artefacts | मानवनिर्मित प्राचीन वस्तू | "scores of ancient Egyptian artefacts." |
Scores of | पुष्कळ / विपुल | "containing the Abu Simbel Temples and scores of ancient Egyptian artefacts." |
Dismantling | पाडणे / भाग वेगळे करणे | "called for the dismantling and movement of the temples" |
Initiated | सुरुवात केली | "initiated a draft convention to create an international organization" |
Inventory | तपशीलवार यादी | "to take an inventory of its significant cultural and natural sites." |
Recommendations | शिफारशी | "who then make recommendations to the World Heritage Committee." |
Criteria | निकष | "meets at least one of ten selection criteria." |
Inscribe | नोंदवणे / यादीत समाविष्ट करणे | "it can then be inscribed on the World Heritage List." |
Territory | प्रदेश / क्षेत्र | "property of the country on whose territory it sits" |
Allocate | वाटप करणे | "allocate resources from the World Heritage Fund" |
Poaching | बेकायदेशीर शिकार | "lost due to war, poaching, natural disasters" |
Urbanization | शहरीकरण | "uncontrolled urbanization, heavy tourist traffic" |
Monument | स्मारक | "vary in type and include forests, lakes, monuments" |
SECTION 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न
Extract 1:
HISTORY OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES Although the idea of protecting cultural and natural heritage sites around the world began in the early twentieth century, momentum for its actual creation was not until the 1950s. In 1954, Egypt started plans to build the Aswan High Dam to collect and control water from the Nile River. The initial plan for the dam's construction would have flooded the valley containing the Abu Simbel Temples and scores of ancient Egyptian artefacts. To protect the temples and artifacts, UNESCO launched an international campaign in 1959 that called for the dismantling and movement of the temples to higher ground. The project cost an estimated US $80 million, $40 million of which came from 50 different countries. Because of the project's success, UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites initiated a draft convention to create an international organization responsible for protecting cultural heritage.
Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)
The Abu Simbel Temples were in danger of being completely flooded. — True
The entire $80 million for the project was paid solely by Egypt. — False
The Aswan High Dam was built to collect water from the Nile River. — True
The momentum for creating World Heritage Sites began in the 1800s. — False मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
UNESCO launched an international campaign to protect the temples in the year... (a) 1950 (b) 1954 (c) 1959 (d) 1968 Answer: (c)
The word 'dismantling' in the extract means... (a) building up (b) decorating (c) painting (d) pulling down / disassembling Answer: (d)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Why did UNESCO launch an international campaign in 1959?
Answer: UNESCO launched an international campaign in 1959 to protect the historic Abu Simbel Temples and scores of ancient Egyptian artefacts. The initial construction plan for the Aswan High Dam would have completely flooded the valley containing these precious sites, so the campaign called for dismantling and moving the temples to higher ground.
मराठी टीप: 'अस्वान हाय डॅम' (Aswan High Dam) च्या बांधकामामुळे 'अबू सिंबेल' मंदिरे पाण्याखाली जाण्याची शक्यता होती. त्यांना वाचवण्यासाठी आणि सुरक्षित जागी हलवण्यासाठी युनेस्कोने १९५९ मध्ये मोहीम सुरू केली.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) How does the Abu Simbel project show international cooperation?
Answer: The massive project to save the Abu Simbel Temples cost an estimated US $80 million. Out of this massive amount, $40 million came directly from 50 different countries. This impressive financial contribution highlights strong international cooperation, showing how nations united globally to preserve a crucial piece of shared human history. मराठी टीप: या प्रकल्पासाठी ८० दशलक्ष डॉलर्स खर्च आला, ज्यापैकी ४० दशलक्ष डॉलर्स जगातील ५० वेगवेगळ्या देशांनी दिले. यातून वारसा स्थळे वाचवण्यासाठी जगातील देशांनी दाखवलेले आंतरराष्ट्रीय सहकार्य (international cooperation) दिसून येते.
Extract 2:
BECOMING A WORLD HERITAGE SITE There are five steps in becoming a World Heritage Site, the first of which is for a country or State Party to take an inventory of its significant cultural and natural sites. This is called the Tentative List and it is important because nominations to the World Heritage List will not be considered unless the nominated site was first included on the Tentative List. Next, countries are then able to select sites from their Tentative Lists to be included on a Nomination File. The third step is a review of the Nomination File by two Advisory Bodies consisting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union, who then make recommendations to the World Heritage Committee. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year to review these recommendations and decide which sites will be added to the World Heritage List. The final step in becoming a World Heritage Site is determining whether or not a nominated site meets at least one of ten selection criteria.
Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)
There are ten steps to become a World Heritage Site. — False
A site must first be included in the Tentative List to be nominated. — True
The World Heritage Committee meets every month. — False
A site must meet at least one of the ten selection criteria. — True मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
The detailed inventory of significant sites taken by a country is called the... (a) Final List (b) Nomination File (c) Tentative List (d) UNESCO Record Answer: (c)
The Nomination File is reviewed by... (a) the President (b) two Advisory Bodies (c) the local tourists (d) the State Party alone Answer: (b)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) What is the role of the Advisory Bodies in this process?
Answer: In the third step of the process, the two Advisory Bodies are responsible for thoroughly reviewing the Nomination File submitted by a country. After reviewing the file, they make expert recommendations to the World Heritage Committee regarding which sites should be listed. मराठी टीप: दोन सल्लागार समित्या (Advisory Bodies) देशांनी पाठवलेल्या 'Nomination File' चे परीक्षण करतात आणि जागतिक वारसा समितीला योग्य त्या शिफारशी (recommendations) देतात.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Why is the Tentative List so important? Answer: The Tentative List is an inventory of a country's significant cultural and natural sites, and it serves as the absolute first step in the process. It is extremely important because nominations to the official World Heritage List will simply not be considered by the committee unless the nominated site was first included on this Tentative List. मराठी टीप: 'Tentative List' ही देशातील महत्त्वाच्या स्थळांची प्राथमिक यादी असते. जोपर्यंत एखादे स्थळ या यादीत समाविष्ट नसते, तोपर्यंत त्याचा 'जागतिक वारसा स्थळ' बनण्यासाठी विचार केला जात नाही, म्हणून ती महत्त्वाची आहे.
SECTION 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे
Q1. What significant aspects should a World Heritage Site have?
Answer: For a place to be officially determined as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it must have highly significant cultural or natural importance to humanity. Some sites can even be a combination of both cultural and natural areas, possessing historical value as well as unique physical landscape characteristics. मराठी टीप: जागतिक वारसा स्थळ बनण्यासाठी त्या स्थळाला संपूर्ण मानवजातीसाठी महत्त्वपूर्ण 'सांस्कृतिक' (cultural) किंवा 'नैसर्गिक' (natural) महत्त्व असणे अत्यंत आवश्यक आहे.
Q2. What does the World Heritage Committee consist of?
Answer: The World Heritage Committee is the main governing group responsible for establishing which sites will be listed. It consists of representatives from 21 different State Parties. These representatives are officially elected for six-year terms by the World Heritage Center's General Assembly. मराठी टीप: जागतिक वारसा समितीमध्ये (World Heritage Committee) '२१ देशांचे प्रतिनिधी' असतात, ज्यांची निवड ६ वर्षांसाठी केली जाते.
Q3. What are the reasons World Heritage Sites are in danger?
Answer: Many World Heritage Sites face severe threats of being destroyed or permanently lost. The primary reasons include human-made issues like war, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization, heavy tourist traffic, and environmental factors like air pollution and acid rain, as well as natural disasters like earthquakes. मराठी टीप: युद्ध, बेकायदेशीर शिकार (poaching), भूकंप, वाढते शहरीकरण, प्रदूषण (acid rain) आणि पर्यटकांची प्रचंड गर्दी यामुळे या स्थळांना मोठा धोका निर्माण झाला आहे.
Q4. What happens to a site if it loses its original characteristics?
Answer: If a World Heritage Site suffers damage and completely loses the unique characteristics that allowed it to be originally included on the World Heritage List, severe action can be taken. The World Heritage Committee holds the absolute authority to choose to delete the site entirely from the prestigious list. मराठी टीप: जर एखाद्या स्थळाने आपले मूळ सौंदर्य आणि वैशिष्ट्ये (characteristics) गमावली, तर जागतिक वारसा समिती त्या स्थळाचे नाव यादीतून कायमचे 'काढून टाकू' (delete) शकते.
SECTION 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे
Q1. Describe the complete five-step process required for a site to become a World Heritage Site.
Answer: Becoming a World Heritage Site is a strict five-step process. First, a country must take an inventory of its significant sites, creating a 'Tentative List'. Without being on this list, a site cannot be nominated. Second, countries select specific sites from their Tentative List to create a formal 'Nomination File'. Third, two external Advisory Bodies thoroughly review this Nomination File and make expert recommendations to the World Heritage Committee. Fourth, the World Heritage Committee meets once a year to review these recommendations and actively decide which sites will be added. The fifth and final step involves determining if the nominated site meets at least one of ten strict selection criteria. If it successfully meets the criteria, it is officially inscribed on the World Heritage List. मराठी टीप:
पहिला टप्पा: देशाने आपल्या स्थळांची 'Tentative List' बनवणे.
दुसरा टप्पा: त्यातून स्थळे निवडून 'Nomination File' तयार करणे.
तिसरा टप्पा: दोन सल्लागार समित्यांनी फाईल तपासून शिफारशी (recommendations) देणे.
चौथा टप्पा: समितीने वर्षातून एकदा बैठक घेऊन निर्णय घेणे.
पाचवा टप्पा: स्थळ १० पैकी किमान १ निकष (criteria) पूर्ण करते की नाही ते तपासून यादीत नाव नोंदवणे.
Q2. Writing Connection: Write a short paragraph explaining why we should preserve World Heritage Sites and the modern threats they face.
Answer: World Heritage Sites are invaluable treasures that possess significant cultural and natural importance for all of humanity. They act as living museums of our history, such as the ancient Abu Simbel Temples, and safeguard unique physical landscapes. We must preserve them because they belong not just to one country, but to the entire international community, connecting us to our past. Unfortunately, these precious sites are currently in grave danger. They face massive threats from uncontrolled urbanization, heavy tourist traffic, and severe environmental factors like air pollution and acid rain. Furthermore, human conflicts like war and poaching, alongside natural disasters, constantly risk destroying them. If we do not act to restore and protect them, they will lose their defining characteristics and be permanently deleted from the World Heritage List. मराठी टीप:
प्रस्तावना: जागतिक वारसा स्थळे संपूर्ण मानवजातीची संपत्ती आहेत आणि आपल्याला भूतकाळाशी जोडतात.
धोके (Threats): युद्ध, शहरीकरण (urbanization), पर्यटकांची गर्दी आणि प्रदूषण यामुळे ती धोक्यात आहेत.
उपाय/निष्कर्ष: जर आपण त्यांचे जतन केले नाही, तर ती कायमची नष्ट होतील आणि यादीतून बाद (delete) होतील, त्यामुळे संरक्षण आवश्यक आहे.
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