The Timeline of Our Legacy
Our timeline reflects the milestones that shaped the Heritage Trust’s enduring legacy. Each chapter highlights our commitment to preservation, community service, and meaningful impact. Journey through the years and discover how our vision has evolved with purpose.
Heritage Trust Timeline
Dr. Rani Dharkars book on Baroda, Once upon a time.. there was Baroda
Dr. Rani Dharkar’s book on Baroda, ‘Once upon a time…….. there was Baroda’ was released on April 18, 2014 on the World Heritage Day by Raj Mata Shrimant Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad. Along with the book release, ‘Water Colours’ by Rani Dharker & Selected Photographs by Rahul Gajjar taken for the book were exhibited. On 19th July, 2014 more than 25 schools participated in an All India Interschool Quiz on ‘India Heritage’ in coordination with Heritage Trust Baroda, INTACH and Xpress Minds. It was hosted by New Era Senior Secondary School, Nizampura. 120 Children of New Era School were taken on a Heritage Ride on bicycles in the city by Shri Karan Grover, President Emeritus HT. Photographs taken by the children were exhibited and judged by eminent photographer Prof. Jyoti Bhatt and architects Gerrit Schilder & Hill Schote from Rotterdam. A calendar with these pictures was printed by HT.
Project on the Study of the Textile
A Project on the Study of the Textile and the Art Works used by the Royal Family of Baroda was started with Students of Home Science, Clothing & Textile Department MSU. Activities like cataloging and documentation culminated in the form of an exhibition.
Dr. Rani Dharker’s Book “Once Upon a Time there was Baroda’ published
In this book, the author seeks to capture the essence of the city, which makes it what it is. The book is divided into sections, which brings alive the magic of the old Baroda, a magic that still exists despite industrialization, giving it its unique character. The Book of Baroda reproduces the photographs taken by an Englishman a Hundred and fifty years back, which were discovered at India Office Library in London. These are juxtaposed with photographs taken in 2010 of the same venues so that one can see the changes that have taken place. Dr. Rani Dharker has also painted water-colors’ of the details of the monuments.
Children-in-Conservation workshop, Navlakhi
As a part of our Children-in-conservation initiative, the trust organized a workshop for children at Navlakhi Vav, Laxmi Villas palace grounds, on the 19th, 20th and 21st of January 2012. About 1000 children (Class VIII-IX) from 16 English and Gujarati medium schools along with two schools working with hearing impaired and autistic children participated in the workshop. The program was supported by the Federation Samaj Kalyan Trust (FKST). The workshop focused mainly on the traditional ways of water conservation practiced over centuries in India and exposed the children to the development of man-made reservoirs like step-wells (Vavs). Interactive techniques were used to garner children’s participation. Activities such as model building, clay structures etc. were taken up with the objective of delivering the message of water conservation. The children were guided by resource persons with educational backgrounds in architecture, Environmental sciences, Archaeology, History and Arts and Crafts. After an interactive session each day, the participating children were divided into different groups and engaged in different activities such as – Information on awareness of ecological issues regarding water conservation and harvesting and understanding the role of step-wells for the same. Archaeological cleaning of the Vav under expert guidance Taking rubbings from the sculptures in the Vav Creating clay models of the motifs in the Vav Sketching, drawing, painting, writing stories, composing poems with Vav as the theme Choreographing dances, enacting plays, performing stories (real or imaginary) with Vavs as the main concept Posters and Panels were displayed during the workshop to provide further awareness and information regarding different Step-wells all over India and water conservation.
City Museum
CITY MUSEUM – An Executive Committee meeting of Heritage Trust was organized at the Collectorate Office under the Chairmanship of the District Collector, Shri. Vijay Nehra, to discuss the starting of City Museum as well signing of an MOU between the Collectorate, the Municipal Corporation & Heritage Trust for the same. Shri. Karan Grover, President, Heritage Trust, said in the meeting that it is the outcome of 7 years sincere work of Heritage Trust that the City Museum is going to happen. Shri. Grover said that the District Collectorate and the Heritage Trust had, in the past around 7 years back, discussed that the Saloon Shed, situated on the Vadodara Railway – Chhani Road, including its location, would be an ideal place to have a City Museum, the concept of City Museum being promoted by the Chief Minister of Gujarat for “B” Grade and “C” Grade cities. Subsequently, the MOU for the City Museum was signed by the Collectorate, the Municipal Corporation & Heritage Trust. It was also decided that the City Museum shall house those artifacts which are presently not being displayed by the Baroda Museum on account of them being duplicates, or surplus, or on account of lack of space. Such artifacts shall be obtained on loan by the City Museum from the Baroda Museum. The State government would facilitate transfer of relevant exhibits from Baroda Museum to the City Museum. Apart from this, the City Museum would also display artifacts that increase the understanding of any aspect of Vadodara city, received as gifts from the citizens of Vadodara or from any other person, institution or organization or purchased by it. The file of the Museum was sent to Gandhinagar. Shri. Karan Grover spoke to Shri. Bhagyesh Jha and was told that the Chief Secretary says that it can be done without the government involvement and can be looked into by the Cultural Secretary. Its work is going on. A workshop on Water Conservation and Heritage Awareness for children was conducted on 15th, 16th & 17th February 2010 at the Navlakhi Vav, Luxmi Villas Palace Compound with the sponsorship of Federation Samaj Kalyan Trust.
The Book “Myths and Legends” of Champaner Pavagadh
The Book “Myths and Legends” of Champaner Pavagadh, compiled by Smt. Sonal Mittal Modi and illustrated by late Artist Jaidev Thakore & published by Heritage Trust was released by the Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri. Ahmed Hameed Ansari where Minja Yang, Director, UNESCO for India was also present. Minja Yang delivered a speech on the World Heritage Site of Champaner-Pavagadh.
Publishing a calendar with pictures of Champaner
Ravi Kapoor, Managing Committee member took initiative to publish a calendar with pictures of Champaner for the year 2008. The calendar was sponsored by 12 corporates. Heritage Trust participated in the United Way Mela held in Febrauary 2008. As a part of intangible Heritage panels of Myths & Legends of Champaner, Pavagadh were diplayed. On the centenary of Maharaja Pratap Singh the Walks of Baroda – Linking all the heritage building of the walled city was organized on 29th June 2008 by Maharaja Ranjitsinhji Gaekwad starting from Mandavi Gate. 2 Exhibitions one of French Jewellery Designers and second of a French Artist were organized at the Red Earth Gallery, ABS Tower
UNESCO’s World Heritage @ Champaner
President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam unveiled the UNESCO’s World Heritage Plaque at Jami Masjid, Champaner on 11th November 2006. He was accompanied by Governor of Gujarat Shri Naval Kishore Sharma and the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi. The programme was jointly organized by Heritage Trust, Vadodara and the ASI. Heritage Trust President Shri Karan Grover, Committee member Prof. Ghanshyam Joshi and Shri Sumesh Modi featured in the 10 minute slot for an episode of Siddhartha Kak’s famous TV serial ‘Mano ya Na Mano’ in which they presented valuable information about Champaner. Heritage Trust undertook the task of surface cleaning of Malek Sandal Vav situated on a private land at Champaner with financial support from INTACH, UK. Shri Munavvar Hussain’s (a taxi driver by profession) paintings of Champaner were appreciated and put on the Heritage Trust calendar for the year 2007. Heritage Trust completed 3 Projects sanctioned by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. Walks on Baroda: An easy to use map featuring 4 Heritage walks in the walled city A book on Baroda for Children A set of Panels on Heritage Structures of Baroda.
Collaboration with INTACH-UK
Heritage Trust collaborated on projects with the Archaeological Survey of India, the INTACH-UK Trust, INTACH, Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, National Mission on Manuscripts, Faculty of Fine Arts (MSU, Baroda), University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, USA), and United Way of Baroda.
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 Hampi. The Trust organized the third Champaner Dance Festival featuring Sharara Shakti Ascending, choreographed by Chandralekha with a live vocal accompaniment by the Gundecha Bandhu. It was supported by the Reliance Group and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Trust published a reprint of Prof R.N Mehta’s monograph on Champaner – Champaner and the Magic Mountain – a book for children written and illustrated by the Baroda-based author, Rani Dharkar. A book on the extensive documentation of the 120 monuments at Champaner-Pavagadh is under publication. All three books are in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India. The Heritage Club organised a 3-day Workshop on Vavs (stepwells) at the Sewasi Vav for 300 children in association with CCRT, New Delhi, and a 5-day Workshop at the Navlakhi Vav for 1000 children, in association with the World Bank. The Trust organized an exhibition of old photographs of the city, “Vadodara: The Changing Face of a City, 1898-1986” at the Baroda Museum, in association with Friends of Museum. It was partly supported by the United Way of Baroda.
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 University.
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.
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.
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 US industrialists and businessmen. The Trust prepared the Heritage Conservation Act with urban heritage bylaws for Baroda city and presented to the government for approval.
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 stop this had failed. The Trust published a book on Baroda for children, in English and Gujarati.
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.
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 of History on Secular Historical Sites for 200 children were organised. The Trust revived the Shehnai Chowghadia programme of Gaekwadi Baroda. This is an important zural heritage of the city, where the Shehnai was played from the palace gates at fixed times every day. We even located the same family of shehnai players whose descendants were in the city and still playing the shehnai. The programme was held at the Leheripura Gate, where the Gaekwad Brothers played early mornings thrice every week. It was inaugurated by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.
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 the area. A 7-day ICCROM workshop on education in architectural conservation was also held in collaboration with the Department of Architecture, M S University.
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 which included cleaning up Sursagar, revitalising its water through the introduction of aquatic flora and fish, etc., re-routing traffic to create promenades for people to walk around, streamlining the fast-food vendors on the shore and structuring a waste management system to dispose leftovers, and lighting up the heritage buildings on the banks to create a wonderful city centre. In spite of several follow-ups with the Baroda Municipal Corporation over many years, these plans continue to gather dust.
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 Nehru, the then governor of Gujarat. The Trust designed a special plaque installed on Leheripura Gate explaining its significance.