Field workshops will culminate with discussions on follow-up action on Feb 15
Mumbai, February 14, 2013: Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) along with City of Strasbourg and various government, non-government and international organizations, organized a field workshop from February 2-15, 2013 in Udaipur to brainstorm on development and maintenance of heritage sites in Udaipur and planning urbanization that does not affect the heritage.
Organised by IHCN Foundation (Indian Heritage Cities Network) and UNESCO New Delhi in association with City of Strasbourg among others, the workshop will conclude with a presentation of initial findings and discussions on follow-up actions. This is part of the three-year quadripartite cooperation agreement that was signed in October 2011.
Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, Chairman & Managing Trustee of MMCF, and the scion of the House of Mewar, said, “The last few days saw an exchange of time-tested ideas and best practices from both sides. By consulting with international experts in the field, we are looking beyond Udaipur. MMCF is conscientious enough to get inputs from the outside to get a world-view that is holistic. Through this initiative, MMCF is not just looking at development for itself but extending it to the entire city. This is a path-breaking initiative – a new way of governance through the public-private partnership model.”
The partnership’s main themes include the enhancement of local heritage, public transport systems and active citizenship. The Government of Rajasthan and the French Embassy in India have also lent their whole-hearted support to this initiative.
Strasbourg and Udaipur share a rich and valuable heritage and both cities have to cope with the same issues of urban development and the question of striking the right balance between the ancient and modern, while offering the local population the best possible quality of life.
Participants of this workshop include six professors and experts from Strasbourg and 13 Masters-level students from the School of Architecture of Strasbourg (ENSAS) under the coordination of Prof. Francois Nowakoski and Prof. Serge Sentelli. From India, there are about six students of Architecture from the University of Jodhpur as well as six Masters-level students and one professor from SPA, New Delhi.
The workshop consisted of field investigations and data collection finally culminating to discussion and finding resolutions for challenges.
MMCF is also getting ready to organize its 32nd annual awards on March 3, 2013 in Udaipur. It gives away international, national and state awards to honour ‘service of permanent value rendered to society’.
About MMCF
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation was set up in 1969 and currently works with a 260-member team. It was founded by the House of Mewar, which is acknowledged as the world’s oldest-living dynasty.
It invests mainly in four areas: academia, eco-conservation, philanthropy and heritage conservation. MMCF also helps maintain The City Palace Museum – which is among the best private museums in the country. It therefore plays an active role in preserving its heritage through the upkeep and restoration of old artifacts, paintings, classic cars, royal clothes, accessories, coins, etc – that talk about the rich past of the Mewar region – at the City Palace Museum.
MMCF has termed this unique movement that it promotes as ‘Living Heritage’.