Heritage is often damaged in armed conflicts. Sometimes heritage is not targeted but becomes collateral damage. At other times cultural heritage objects, monument and sites are specifically targeted based on their significance to a particular community or nation.

We regularly hear of heritage being destroyed in Iraq and Syria due to the ongoing conflict. In addition to the various armed conflicts, bombing of cities and related looting, there has recently been the more targeted destruction of heritage sites by extremist militant groups. The meaningless destruction of cultural heritage in Palmyra,

Nineveh, Hatta and Raqqa are part of a growing list. The most recent destruction was of the al-Nuri mosque in Mosel, particularly the unique 800-year old leaning Hadba Minaret, by Islamic State. It was from Mosel that the militants had announced the creation of a Caliphate in 2014 and as they were pushed out in retaliation they blew up the iconic Minaret.

Within a few years the Maoist party won the elections and were ruling the country. Clearly the burning down of the heritage buildings did not support their political endeavours, possibly even tarnished their reputation. I was told that they made an officially statement that it had been wrong to set fire to the historic palace buildings.

The ongoing conflict in Darjeeling could potentially lead to the destruction of cultural heritage. In the past, many historic buildings were set alight, incrementally losing the identity of a wonderful place. Even during the period of more stable politics, numerous historic buildings were demolished.

Darjeeling’s history and identity is greatly defined by the tea estates, the forests, the picturesque settlements with cottages and regal buildings of the

Empire. Furthermore there is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a World Heritage property that boasts the B-class steam engines.

On June 15, the small railway station at Gayabari was set alight targeting the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. It is said that the locals managed to put out the fire. We must congratulate the brave local community. Furthermore, this is a plea to all parties to safeguard the heritage of Darjeeling: the historic buildings and the unique railway.

The author is an architect and can be reached atkai.weise@yahoo.com