Development Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation
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Joint Custodianship Initiatives O Son of Gauri ! O Chief of hosts ! O Remover of obstacles ! O Bestower of auspiciousness ! O Lord of hosts ! O one without a lord ! First of all we invoke you and pray to you that you be gracious enough to be present here to bless the rites, rituals and ceremonies we conduct with auspiciousness and success ! Our salutations to you again !! Xktkuue Hkwr Xk.kkfn lsfore~ dfiRFk tEcw Qy pk: Hk{k.ke~ mek lqre~ 'kksd fouk'k dkjde~ uekfe fo?us'oj ikn iadte~ Parmeshwaraji Maharaj Shree Eklingnath ji The Ruler of Udaipur, Mewar esokM+ vf/kifr ijes'ojkth egkjkt Jh ,dfyaxukFk th Contents The Evolution of an Institution 4 - 5 A Special Invitation 6 - 7 Facsimile of a letter to Shrimati Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India from Maharana Bhagwat Singh 8 The Eternal Mewar Joint Custodianship Initiative Programme 9 Continuing Initiatives 10 - 11 Raise The City Palace Museum to world class stature 12 Interactive DVD Version 2.0 / 1 Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur arriving at the Manek Chowk to celebrate the Holika Dahan Ceremony. The six in hand English Royal Landau dates to l905 and has recently been restored to its original pristine condition. Version 2.0 / 2 The foundingofM I H n thispaintingM ospitality P P ainting depictingB ewar wasbasedontheprincipleofGuru-S aharishi HaritRashiisentrustingM hilanthr appa RawalwithM opy P aharishi HaritRashi. ewar toBappaRawal,734A.D. hishya (teacher-pupil)parampara. r eser v Accession No. 2010.T.0002 | Image courtesy: Pictorial archives of the Maharanas of Mewar ation V ersion 2.0 /3 The original drawing of The Mewar Coat of Arms Mewar Coat of Arms received from the sent from Udaipur to the College of Arms, London. AD 1877 College of Arms, London. AD 1874 The Evolution of an Institution In essence, the Mewar family values revolve around an To put Bappa Rawal's establishment of the House of ethical principle. This blueprint to 'live by' was handed Mewar in historical context, it is worth considering it in down to Bappa Rawal, the founder of the House of the light of other contemporary events. At around the Mewar, by his Guru Maharishi Harit Rashi in 734 A.D. same time, the tide of Arab conquest of the Middle East and into what is now Europe was coming to an end. The Vikings had begun to raid coastal Mediterranean cities It is from that time that Mewar was established as a and in mainland China the Tang Dynasty was reaching governing institution responsible for the support and its pinnacle. The Roman Empire had crumbled and protection of the people of its geographically defined Constantinople became the hub of the Empire of the entity. Since that time, though much has changed in the East. Later, when the first Mewar fort-city at Chittorgarh world, this commitment to follow the spiritual path of was at its prime from the 10th to the 13th Centuries, service to others in Mewar has remained as steadfast as Europe's feudal economy was waning. When Jagmandir the foundations of the House, central to its philosophy and Jag Niwas were lively pleasure islands on Lake and activities. Pichola, both the French and American revolutions were still decades away. Version 2.0 / 4 Present Mewar Coat of Arms Bappa Rawal created the concept of 'custodianship.' Thus Bhagwat Singh Mewar established various aspects Each generation of his descendants serves only as a of the family endeavours under trusteeships defined by Custodian, not as owner or ruler, providing for the the prevailing laws of India. This guaranteed the people and the property and possessions of Udaipur and protection and support of Udaipur under their careful holding it in trust for the next generation. Compared to guidance, enabling the Mewars to fulfil their sacred the traditions of rule by divine edit prevalent at the time spiritual and ethical commitments. It assured that these when the House of Mewar was founded, the idea of traditions would never die. In India's new spirit of custodianship was a radical new system. entrepreneurial dynamism, all ventures and enterprises were consolidated under one umbrella now designated as 'Eternal Mewar'. The same principle of holding in trust remains the guiding and distinguishing characteristic of the Mewars to this day. As the concept developer and current 'face' of 'Eternal Mewar', Arvind Singh Mewar continues to serve as a host, welcoming all into his 'House'. He will carry on When India became independent in l947 the Mewars, until the next generation of Mewars proudly takes over together with the other princely rulers of the Indian sub- the ancient legacy left by Bappa Rawal and preserved by continent, lost their authority to govern and their special all the previous 76 generations. privileges. The last recognized Maharana of Udaipur, Bhagwat Singh Mewar, and subsequently his son Shriji, welcomed it as an opportunity to find another way to assure the continuity of their responsibility to serve. Version 2.0 / 5 Arvind Singh Mewar 76th Custodian, House of Mewar Version 2.0 / 6 A Special Invitation The House of Mewar represents the longest serving To achieve these objectives we constantly strive for a greater unbroken custodianship in the world. A custodianship awareness of Eternal Mewar and its aims and principles, which transcends all the boundaries of kingship, raising funds for its multifaceted projects and activities. democracy and everything in between. This custodianship I will be extending a special invitation to those who continues to manifest the cardinal rules of governance subscribe these values to become a Joint Custodian of through its core values, yet provides for flexibility of action. Eternal Mewar, to share the internationally important At the turn of the millennium, I envisaged that all responsibility of sustaining a legacy unbroken since 734 enterprises in the House of Mewar needed to further the A.D. continuity and responsibility of Custodianship, thereby presenting a role model of governance and sustainability for the 21st Century and beyond. I first articulated this vision in the late l980's in the document 'Inheritance 76' which has evolved and st transformed into the 21 Century heritage brand of Eternal Arvind Singh Mewar Mewar. The core values of the Joint Custodianship 76th Custodian, House of Mewar Programme of Eternal Mewar are holistic, embracing Eternal Mewar cultural, environmental, social and economic The Palace, Udaipur 313001, Rajasthan, India sustainability. Telephone +91 294 252 8001 Fax +91 294 252 8007 Version 2.0 / 7 Extract from a letter by Maharana Bhagwat Singh 11 August, 1970 to Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India in reply to her letter on the subject of “doing away with certain institutions”. Version 2.0 / 8 The Eternal Mewar Joint Custodianship Initiative Programme The Joint Custodianship Initiative Programme was We are sure that, in becoming a Joint Custodian and established by Arvind Singh Mewar several years ago as therefore a member of the Mewar Sabha Shiromani the path forward to the future. Central to this, the family, you will be motivated to aid in the continuing Mewar Sabha Shiromani, an ancient forum, was re- development of the Mewar region. This involvement established under the aegis of the Maharana of Mewar further strengthens our own ancient emotional and Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, to carry forward the historic links by fulfilling the vision of the House of duties, responsibilities of the trust and also to rekindle Mewar through participation in activities, events and and revitalise the spiritual and cultural heritage of our projects. region. Version 2.0 / 9 Continuing Initiatives Human Values and Education The Maharana Mewar Foundation Annual Awards honour the recognition of service of permanent value from eminent scholars, students and citizens. Mewar runs an excellent primary and secondary school system. Medical Aid is provided for the citizen of Mewar and other precincts in Rajasthan. Other donations cover a diverse range of charitable expenditure from sports, astrology, educational institutes arts, centres of learning etc. Tourism In the realm of Religious Tourism, trusts are responsible for the maintenance and functioning of more than 30 historic temples around Udaipur. The responsibility for the running of the City Palace Museum, the Crystal Gallery, the Flora Danica Collection and the Vintage & Classic Car Collection is vested in 'Eternal Mewar'. Grand Heritage Hotels and Royal Retreats include Shiv Niwas Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace and Jagmandir Island Palace, a palace on an island in Lake Pichola at Udaipur. Gajner Palace at Bikaner is a heritage hotel, awarded as best heritage hotel by the Ministry of Tourism. Royal Retreats include the Garden Hotel and Shikarbadi Hotel at Udaipur, The Aodhi at Kumbhagarh, Fateh Bagh at Ranakpur, Gorbandh Palace at Jaisalmer and Karni Bhawan Palace at Bikaner. Version 2.0 / 10 Built Heritage and Environment The Conservation Master Plan for The City Palace Complex outlines a value-based and process-oriented approach. It aims to serve as a model in international heritage management. The Heritage-based development of Udaipur City is carried out in conjunction with UNESCO India to formulate a joint programme to create a sustainable agenda to preserve Udaipur. Various restoration projects have been carried out using age- old techniques. Culture A cultural tourism plan is being developed for the City Palace Museum. The Museum will also generate an interpretation plan with innovative and interactive means to engage the visitor with Mewari history and culture. The Regal Festivals are a testimony to the 'living heritage' of Mewar. These festivals see the participation of the 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar, Arvind Singh Mewar, performing centuries-old royal rituals with the royal family in attendance. Of particular note is Holika Dahan, the Spring festival, held in March which celebrates respect for mankind.