“The government needs to introduce heritage education in school curriculum,” said Mr Vinay Sheel Oberoi, IAS, Education Secretary in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India. He was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the 3rd International Conference on Living Heritage, organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation with the support of UNESCO New Delhi Office and Dronah Foundation, Gurgaon, at the Sabhagaar Conference Hall, Fateh Prakash Palace Convention Centre. Mr Oberoi said, “Living heritage is linking our past with the present and has the power to shape the future.” He appreciated the work on heritage preservation at Udaipur’s City Palace Museum.

The inaugural session of the conference witnessed the participation of His Excellency The Ambassador of France to India Mr Francois Richier, Mr Jean d’Haussonvile the General Manager of Domaine national de Chambord, Mr Sabhyasachi Mukherjee Director General and Secretary, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai , Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation and Mr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation.

The Ambassador of France to India Mr Francois Richier highlighted the numerous projects being undertaken by the French Embassy to help preserve heritage across India. “We will bring senior conservation architects from France to help the heritage preservation projects in Lucknow, Pondicherry,” he said. The Ambassador was satisfied with the progress on the partnership agreement between Domaine national de Chambord in France and the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur.

Mr Jean d’Haussonvile, the General Manager of Domaine national de Chambord, said in his address, “Chambord and City Palace, Udaipur have many common characteristics and features. Both were established in the 16th century and have demonstrated perpetual renewal.” Chambord is regarded as the ‘Mona Lisa of architecture’ and a shining example of Renaissance genius. “Just as the City Palace of Udaipur works for sustainable development, Chambord too believes in these modern practices to preserve its heritage,” he said.

Mr Sabhyasachi Mukherjee, Director General and Secretary, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai delivered the keynote address. “Even after eight decades of Independence in India, we have not been able to give our ‘culture’ its due importance and priority,” he said, adding “Our identities are based on our culture but the budgetary allocations of the government for culture and cultural institutions are miniscule.”

In his welcome address, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, thanked the dignitaries for being in Udaipur and acknowledging the power of ‘living heritage’ to unite people and nations together. “Our city is over 450 years old; the City Palace Museum has crossed 45 years. To state that there is tremendous potential in their development is to state the obvious. I can see an all-round development of Udaipur as a destination for not just tourism but education, the performing arts, spirituality and sports: A veritable power-house for our time and age.”

Mr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, said, “Let us involve the youth of our countries in several activities and programmes of living heritage. They must be awarded fellowships and scholarships to understand the values and power of living heritage.” Mr Lakshyaraj was the signatory, on behalf of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, to the partnership agreement with Domaine national de Chambord signed in April 2015.

Vote of thanks was given by Ms. Vrinda Raje Singh, Coordinator of World Living Heritage Festival 2016 and Master of Ceremony was Mr. Raju Mansukhani.

Being held at The Fateh Prakash Palace Convention Centre, the 3rd International Conference is being attended by leading dignitaries drawn from UNESCO New Delhi Office, Central and State governments, NGOs, universities, Udaipur Municipal Corporation, industry bodies besides academicians, researchers, students and activists.

The Conference will explore and advance in the understanding of various approaches towards the promotion of living heritage and its integration in urban space and structures.