Attached with the World Monument Fund as the consultant for India, Baig was in the city to look at the Champaner site, one of five sites that have made it to the World Heritage Site list.

Invited to the city by the Baroda Heritage Trust -- which nominated Champaner to the list -- Baig was excited at what she saw in Champaner and its surrounding areas.

``I don't really care about the state these buildings are in, it was the possibility of being able to save the Champaner site that really excited me,'' she said.

``My job is to identify and report to the Fund about the feasibility of the site, sometimes we extend the tenure of the site (usually it is two years), like we did for Jaisalmer, which is still in the endangered site list or like Ahmedabad, which was nominated two years ago but has been dropped,'' she added.

According to Baig, the important point is the presence of an organisation that is constantly demanding attention for the site, gets things done and generally making sure that the nomination does not just fade away.

``In Vadodara, the Baroda Heritage Trust and Karan Grover are going in the right direction to conserve Champaner, but the battle is far from being won'', she said.

``The ASI who are the custodians of the site, and both the State and local government, have to take active interest, otherwise there is little that can be done,'' she said.

But being in the list or having a favourable report does not automatically mean that money, whatever amount it may be, is forthcoming. For that, a feasibility report as well as work in progress are important factors, she said.

``I was heartened by the presence of the Sarpanch and the Deputy Sarpanch at the meeting, which means that the local people are taking it upon themselves to do something about their heritage'', said Baig.

She warned that due to the continuous expansion of industry in the State, something had to be done fast, otherwise it may be too late for Champaner. Even after working for over fifteen years with INTACH (the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Baig still gets excited when new prospects are put before her. ``The possibilities and the difficulties that go with it keep re-igniting the fire to fight,'' she said.