Abha Narain Lambah leads efforts to preserve Indian heritage

Architect Abha Narain Lambah has spent three decades working to preserve India's diverse cultural heritage, ranging from ancient Buddhist caves and Islamic tombs to Hindu temples and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Lambah notes that rapid urbanization poses a significant threat to the country's historical sites. She observes that while efforts to census and regulate heritage have increased over the last 30 years, protections remain largely limited to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Calcutta. She highlights a lack of public protection and insufficient financial resources among local communities and owners to maintain these structures.

Throughout her career, which included working with modernist architect Joseph Allen Stein, Lambah has contributed to the conservation of more than twenty UNESCO World Heritage sites, including 15th-century temples in Hampi and buildings designed by Le Corbusier.