IIT Roorkee Signs MoUs to Preserve, Promote and Revitalise Craft, Culture, Heritage and Tourism in Uttarakhand

Roorkee, January 11, 2025: IIT Roorkee has recently signed three significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), all aimed at driving transformative initiatives in craft revitalization, tourism, and public art. These collaborations align with the Institute’s broader vision of integrating design, technology, and culture to create societal impact and foster sustainable development. 

One of the key MoUs, signed with the IGNCA (Ministry of Culture), for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD), specifically targets Craft Incubation and Revitalization. This initiative, particularly concentrating on the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, aims to empower local artisans, preserve traditional crafts, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Through innovative design techniques and cultural storytelling, IIT Roorkee and IGNCA are working to create a unique ecosystem that blends tradition with modernity. This partnership is aligned with national initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local, and will help drive community-led development while preserving India’s rich cultural heritage. The collaboration reflects IIT Roorkee's commitment to integrating academia, government, and local communities to foster socio-economic growth.

In another significant partnership with UTDB, IIT Roorkee has contributed to the Revitalizing Tourism in Uttarakhand through Unique and Culturally Rich Designs project. The collaboration focused on creating G20 creatives that highlighted the unique cultural heritage and natural beauty of the state during India's G20 Presidency. These creatives, which gained visibility across social and print media, served to create a distinctive visual identity for Uttarakhand, helping to elevate the state as a premier tourist destination. This project exemplifies how government-academia collaborations can harness transdisciplinary design to promote tourism and sustainable livelihoods, benefiting both the local communities and the nation as a whole.

Additionally, IIT Roorkee’s ongoing partnership with UTDB focuses on the development of a Public Art Project in Uttarakhand. The project aims to create public art installations in five key locations across the state: Danya Bazaar in Almora, Thal in Pithoragarh, Bhateliya and Chhoti Haldwani in Nainital, and Jauljibi in Pithoragarh. The project intends to reflect each location’s cultural ethos, natural beauty, and historical significance, establishing a unique identity for these areas. The installation of visually captivating public art will not only engage local communities but also attract tourists, contributing to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the region.

These three MoUs, championed by the Department of Design (under the headship of Prof. Apurbba Sharma and Prof. Inderdeep Singh), and initiated by Prof. Smriti Saraswat demonstrate IIT Roorkee’s commitment to fostering collaboration between academia, government, and local communities to drive sustainable development. These initiatives are exemplary illustrations of bringing diverse stakeholders together; telling immersive stories through transdisciplinary overlaps and narrative design; creating unique identity for the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand, focusing on tourism, through diverse lenses, such as – craft; culture; architecture; design; sustainable livelihoods; smart villages; and, vibrant villages.

Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, emphasized the significance of these initiatives, stating, “These MoUs reflect IIT Roorkee’s commitment to leveraging innovation, culture, and technology to advance societal goals. Initiatives like craft revitalization, public art, and culturally rich designs underscore our alignment with national priorities such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Dekho Apna Desh, and Vocal for Local. By fostering collaborations between academia, government, and local communities, we aim to preserve heritage, empower artisans, and promote tourism, contributing meaningfully to the sustainable development of Uttarakhand and the nation.”

Through these initiatives, IIT Roorkee continues to make strides in merging tradition with innovation, with the goal of empowering local communities, preserving heritage, and driving the sustainable development of Uttarakhand. The Institute's continued collaboration with UTDB and IGNCA represents a model for how universities can partner with government and industry to create lasting societal impact.