As we move forward in life, we sometimes stumble, lose our way, or face great misfortunes that disrupt our normal way of living. In such times of crisis, we are compelled by self-reflection to look back at our past history, heritage, and culture.
In the current global context, this introspection holds special significance for every nation. As Marcus Garvey rightly said, "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."
English poet T.S. Eliot also compared history and tradition to the roots of a tree, saying, "Just as all the strength of a tree is stored in its roots, so too the aesthetic beauty and vitality of a society lie in its traditions."
From this analysis, it becomes evident that just as a tree cannot survive without roots, a society that forgets its heritage is inevitably doomed. We often judge the beauty of a tree by its leaves and branches above ground, rarely thinking about the importance of the roots beneath the soil.
When a tree is severed from its roots, it gradually withers and moves towards death. Likewise, a nation can only claim to be "civilized" as long as it remains rooted in its traditions. That is why tourism is not merely a source of entertainment—it is also a powerful means of awakening awareness of a nation’s history and culture.
Unfortunately, our ancient heritage and culture are steadily fading under the tide of modernity. Buddhist monasteries, temples, mosques, royal palaces, ancient educational institutions, ponds, large water tanks, stone inscriptions, copper plates, coins, terracotta plaques—these are our priceless archaeological treasures.
Alongside them are vast tourist attractions: the world’s largest mangrove forest, the longest natural sea beach, the historic city of Panam, and numerous Mughal-era relics in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area.
Scattered across Dhaka and other parts of the country are countless historically significant structures, but due to lack of proper preservation, most are on the brink of destruction. Even among those that have been the focus of conservation efforts, there are various allegations of mismanagement and irregularities.
Yet, there are encouraging signs. A report published in The Daily Ittefaq yesterday stated that travel enthusiasts from Dhaka and elsewhere are gathering at the Hobeer Bari Green Forest Park in Bhaluka with their families to enjoy leisure in a tranquil, natural environment.
Teachers, students, businesspeople, and employees of various organizations are regularly visiting the park. Its safe and orderly environment has won the hearts of visitors. If such effective examples could be replicated in every tourist destination, the legacy of our civilization could be passed on to future generations.
So, what needs to be done? First and foremost, proper preservation of archaeological resources must be ensured. Various statistics show that the extent of our country’s archaeological heritage is so vast that it would require another two centuries of effort to bring it all under effective protection and management.
For instance, of all the archaeological sites in North Bengal alone, only 10% have been researched and preserved in the past 200 years. The remaining 90% remain unused and neglected—a profoundly painful reality on a national scale.
It must be remembered that interest in history, heritage, and culture has become a global trend. This pursuit of knowledge continues to break all boundaries.
In this context, if we as a nation aspire to progress and wish to pass down a glorious cultural legacy to future generations, then we must water our roots—that is, we must care for and take responsibility for our history and heritage. And to do so, we need sincere intentions, visionary planning, and proper patronage.
