Another cultural saviour

So here it is folks, the venerable Royal Society of Arts, 250 years old in Britain and guardian to a heritage and renaissance in its scope for "inspiring the future", with a chapter in India.

Lady Arthur, wife of Britain's high commissioner, gathered together a varied bunch of "doctors, gallery owners, media, principals and teachers of mathematics, potters, painters" and the like to announce the society's "enthusiasm" at taking a shot at India's heritage and future "through creating jobs".

And with "the RSA chaps visiting here in February", it's clear that the chapter is being taken seriously by the parent body.

For those of you who came in late, the RSA was formed in 1754 for "improvements in the liberal arts and sciences, manufactures etc", and has since had such people as Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin, and now Cherie Blair, as members.

Heritage and learning were prime posts, but the society also involved itself with seeking solutions, such as an emphasis on forestry and timber for hardwood required for building ships, hosting the first ever international exhibition (the Great Exhibition of 1851 for which the Crystal Palace in London was built; alas now burned down) or, at another level, the creation of public toilets in the city of London.

Institutions that have been created or at the least been inspired by the RSA include the Royal Academy, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Centre for Tomorrow's Company.

The RSA has been prompted by what it calls "humanitarian considerations" to bring improvements in society.

While the agenda in India is still to be formed "" designer Mike Knowles of India Chic is the principal force behind the movement to invite the Society to India "" the charter will probably closely follow the original.

This is where the Society may find itself engaged in some politicking, for besides the Archaeological Survey of India as keeper of India's past (as much as it can), there is Rajiv Gandhi's INTACH which has propped itself up as the upholder of culture and the arts.

INTACH has, on occasion, found itself dragged into controversy, not least because its members and ideas have clashed with each other or with outdated government institutions.

But like the Society, it has a membership of the country's brightest and best.

It is almost certain there will be some commonality in the membership of these two institutions, but the overlap will hardly be able to prevent them from stepping on each other's corns.

For instance, at Lady Arthur's announcement party at her official residence, one of the guests asked whether the Society would be able to do something about dying schools of music/musicians.

"We want more ideas like this," Lady Arthur encouraged, but it would hardly seem that INTACH would willingly give up its turf to accommodate a 'usurper' in its place, at least in India.

Much, of course, will depend on the members and how they propose to chalk out a programme in this country to manage their resources and their ideas without clashing with each other.

Overall though, INTACH's many chapters will give it a leadership edge over the Society.

How successful the RSA proves will depend on how diligently the chapter's founding members are in keeping it out of reach of the city's lunching ladies.

But in the end, some brisk footwork at snatching projects or ideas away from each other will only contribute its bit to keeping ASI, INTACH and RSA on their toes "" which can only be good for an India that can do with all possible help on grounds of "humanitarian considerations".

---

Possible differentiators

Archaeological Survey of India

The guardian of all monuments under its beat, it needs to prevent encroachments and get increased funding to ensure better maintenance. Entry fee should be pumped back into better preservation.

INTACH

The protector of all things cultural, it could be a watchdog to ensure vigilance and continuity for the arts, through popular mandate and the involvement of local citizenry.

Royal Society of Arts

Could be an ideas bank, assist with programmes and documentation, involve itself in civic facilitation and create a mandate for artisans and jobs.