History

Heritage Trust was formed in Baroda in 1984 by like-minded architects, artists, art historians, archaeologists, historians, museologists and writers interested in conservation of different kinds of heritage of the city. The creation of awareness of heritage and related issues is the focus of the Trust. While it was decided that the Trust undertake city-centred programmes, the only exception was the Champaner-Pavagadh project.

Champaner-Pavagadh, 40 kms from Baroda, is the once prosperous medieval capital of Gujarat, that we found was completely neglected and what’s more, dangerously threatened by the operation of more than 100 stone quarries in its immediate vicinity.

It is with a sense of great pride and achievement that we can announce today that the Trust’s efforts over the last 18 years have culminated in Champaner-Pavagadh being selected as India’s nomination for World Heritage Site status in the year 2004.

Heritage Trust is registered as a Trust with the Charity Commissioner and eligible for exemption under section 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act. It is also registered with the FCRA and eligible to receive funding from foreign sources.

Executive Committee

Executive Committee

  • Radhikaraje Gaekwad
    Radhikaraje Gaekwad Patron
  • Sameer Khera
    Sameer Khera President

    Sameer Khera – President, Heritage Trust ; Managing Director – SEE LINKAGES PVT LTD, Co Chairperson – Vadodara Marathon & Chairperson – Baroda Citizens Council

  • Sameer Gaikwad
    Sameer Gaikwad Vice President

    Sameer Gaikwad, Vice President – Heritage Trust, and Director of Doble Engineering Pvt Ltd.

    He is also a Sportsperson, Amateur Astronomer and Photographer

    Facilitator – Stepwells project

     

  • Rati Desai
    Rati Desai Honorary Treasurer

    Rati Desai, Honorary Treasurer – Heritage Trust, Baroda, since 2015.
    Ex Vice President & Chief Manager with a Multinational Bank, with over 25 years of total work experience. Currently associated with a number of NGO’s, in a honorary capacity, like Gujarat Nature Conservation Society and Society for Clean Environment.

  • Arati Desai
    Arati Desai Honorary secretary

    Arati Desai : Art curator, writer and educator

  • Jaideep Verma
    Jaideep Verma Jt. Secretary

    Lawyer with multiple social and cultural affiliations.
    Teacher, author, sportsperson and animal lover.

Governing Council

This information is being updated at this time.

Timeline

Timeline

2002
Nov 04

UNESCO World Heritage

Champaner-Pavagadh became India’s nomination to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status for 2004. The Trust instituted the Viraasat Lecture Series which will feature an eminent person in the vast field of heritage issues. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Professor George Michell, well-known architect-art historian who has done path-breaking work at..Read More

2001
Nov 04

Visual, Historical and Architectural Documentation

The Trust completed the visual, historical, and architectural documentation of 120 heritage monuments at Champaner-Pavagadh. The Trust received 3000 pound-sterling from the INTACH-UK Trust which was used in organising a workshop on landscape development of Champaner-Pavagadh monuments with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA and department of Architecture, M S..Read More

2000
Nov 04

Task force on Champaner-Pavagadh

The government of Gujarat formed a task force on Champaner-Pavagadh for the protection, conservation, and development of the site. The Trust received US $ 20,000 from the WMF (General Electric Global Fund) towards the creation of a comprehensive management plan for the heritage site.  

1999
Nov 04

Nomination for Champaner-Pavagadh

The Trust successfully nominated Champaner-Pavagadh to the World Monuments Fund (New York)’s 100 Most Endangered Heritage Sites of the World for the year 2000.

1996
Jan 01

Second Champaner Dance Festival

At the second Champaner Dance Festival, Astad Deboo performed with the Gundecha Bandhu singing the Dhrupad. The programme was sponsored by General Motors who launched the Opel Astra at the function. Then Ambassador of the United States to India, Frank Wisner attended the function with a delegation of 40 top..Read More

1995
Nov 04

The story of Champaner-Pavagadh

At the first Champaner Dance Festival, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai performed “The Story of Champaner-Pavagadh”. The Trust filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the Gujarat High Court to ban quarrying in the environs of Champaner-Pavagadh, as all our efforts with the government of Gujarat over the last 8 years to..Read More

1990
Jan 01

Chowghadia

The Chowghadia programme was inaugurated by Ustad Bismillah Khan, the shehnai maestro and it continues even today. The Gaekwad Brothers have added Jaltarang to the Shehnai. It is thoroughly enjoyed by the hundreds of early morning joggers and strollers in Sayajibaug and is supported by ONGC.

1988
Jan 01

Heritage Club for Children

The Heritage Club for children was established. Workshops on traditional terracotta toys for 140 children, 7 schools, and visits to Hajira, the only Moghul monument in Baroda for 627 children were held. Visits of children to the Baroda Museum were accompanied by informed guides and slide shows with the Department..Read More

1987
Jan 01

Three-Day Workshop on Champaner-Pavagadh

The first three-day workshop on the architectural conservation of Champaner-Pavagadh was held at Champaner, presided over by Sir Bernard Fielden, Chairman, ICCROM, Rome. It was attended by national level architects, archaeologists, art historians, environmental journalists and so on. The Trust decided to press government of Gujarat to ban quarrying in..Read More

1986
Jan 01

Save Sursagar

The Trust organised a seminar on “Save Sursagar” with the Baroda Municipal Corporation, where Mr. Sherban Cantancuzino, Secretary, Royal Fine Arts Commission, London, who had directed the cleaning of the Thames project, presided. A street exhibition was also mounted at Sursagar, opposite the music college. A detailed plan was created..Read More

1985
Jan 04

Heritage of Baroda

The Trust persuaded the Baroda Museum to prominently display the famous Akota Bronzes and other city-related artefacts that have established the antiquity of our city. These artefacts were earlier put away in the museum storeroom. A special exhibition, Heritage of Baroda, was organised on this occasion, inaugurated by Shri B K..Read More

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