Author: Urvashi Srivastava, Principal Conservation Architect, Srijan Sanrakshan
Shekhawati referred to as an ‘open air art gallery’ has the largest collection of painted buildings anywhere in the world. Several towns in the region are strewn with beautifully painted buildings. Efforts made by Government to undertake conservation and promote tourism in Shekhawati have not achieved much on ground especially with regards protection of havelis. Several havelis are being demolished to reclaim land for construction of shopping complexes and renovation of painted facades is rampant. The biggest challenge in preserving the rich heritage of Shekhawati has been in bringing together various stake holders on a common platform and synergizing their efforts.
Centre for Advancement of Traditional Building Technology & Skills (CATTS), a not-for-profit organization, has made a significant headway in this direction and is undertaking conservation of Dangayach Haveli in Nawalgarh based on a novel model of Participatory Heritage Conservation. Paucity of funds and lack of technical expertise for conservation have been one of the major constraints with regards repair and maintenance of havelis. To address these issues conservation of Dangayach Haveli built in 1892 A.D. is being undertaken by CATTS. Both technical assistance and financial help is being provided by CATTS with some limited funds being contributed by the owners of the haveli. The conservation works are being undertaken in phases. To make the effort self-sustainable and generate funds for the repair works adaptive reuse of the haveli has been undertaken. An interpretation and cultural resource center called the Shekhawati Heritage Hub has been set up within the haveli.
Having been in disuse for several years the Dangaich haveli was in a bad state when CATTS began the restoration work. The haveli was infested with bats and the stench was unbearable. Several doors and windows were damaged and fresco paintings in the main court had been either painted over or covered with plastic sheets. Urgent repair works have been undertaken by CATTS and old washrooms that were in shambles have been redesigned to make the haveli useable. Adaptive reuse of the haveli as an interpretation and cultural resource center has ensured that the property does not fall into disuse again and at the same time revenue generated from the activities of the Hub will help fund further conservation works in the haveli in the near future.
CATTS, has been working to safeguard and promote the heritage of Shekhawati for more than a decade and has made several efforts to reach out to the stakeholders especially the local community. A unique campaign Shekhawati Virasat Abhiyan promoted by CATTS aims to safeguard the built heritage of Shekhawati by extending technical and financial assistance to owners of heritage buildings for conservation, repair and maintenance.
In Shekhawati the challenge lies not just in preserving its extraordinary built heritage but also in ensuring its continuity in the future. This seems an uphill task especially when the connections of the owners and custodians of these heritage buildings, both physical and emotional, have considerably weakened over the years. Stuck in the doldrums much of the privately owned heritage buildings of Shekhawati especially in the absence of adequate legal framework for heritage protection and meager finances are constantly facing countless threats to their existence. As a pilot case through the demonstration of the participatory model of conservation of Dangayach haveli CATTS intends to catalyze the preservation and adaptive reuse of several other unprotected heritage buildings in Shekhawati. CATTS strongly believes that a collaborative effort of all stakeholders based on a self-sustainable income generating participatory model can successfully help preserve heritage and ensure continuity of the rich legacy of Shekhawati.
CATTS envisions to develop Shekhawati Heritage Hub as the node to explore and experience the vast region of Shekhawati, its art, architecture and culture all in one place. Through the activities of the Shekhawati Heritage Hub CATTS intends to preserve, interpret and valorize Shekhawati’s rich heritage, enrich visitor experience, revive and facilitate training in craft skills especially traditional construction and ornamentation techniques, create synergy between conservation and tourism interests and most importantly encourage and facilitate participation of owners of heritage buildings and the local community in conservation.
The conservation of Dangayach Haveli and the setting up of the Shekhawati Heritage Hub within the haveli marks the beginning of a new era of participatory heritage conservation in Shekhawati one that has never been attempted before in the region. It is hoped that this new model will not only infuse life in one haveli but become a model to be replicated across the region. Building successful partnerships with local communities would go a long way in helping preserve the rich cultural legacy of Shekhawati. Participatory heritage conservation along with social involvement seems to be the most effective and sustainable way of achieving this. Heritage can best be preserved if it is connected to the community that shaped it.
© 2020 Urvashi Srivastava
