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  • 25 September 2019

    Delhi: Nature & Heritage in Urban Renewal

    Her Excellency, Ratish and President of the UK Jurisdiction looking at the Nizamuddin Basti area development
  • 25 September 2019

    Delhi: Nature & Heritage in Urban Renewal

    Her Excellency, Ajjampur Rangaish Ghanashyam, Ratish and President of the UK Jurisdiction viewing the exhibit in the Zamana Space
  • 25 September 2019

    Delhi: Nature & Heritage in Urban Renewal

    Her Excellency, Ratish and President of the UK Jurisdiction looking at the Nizamuddin Basti area development
  • 25 September 2019

    Delhi: Nature & Heritage in Urban Renewal

    Her Excellency, Ratish and President and Vice President of the UK Jurisdiction in the Ismailli Centre Library looking at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Music Initiatives

On 23rd September 2019, The Ismaili Centre, London, welcomed Her Excellency, the High Commissioner of India, Ruchi Ghanashyam to inaugurate the exhibition: Delhi: Nature & Heritage in Urban Renewal, curated by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

The High Commissioner of India opened the exhibit by sharing her insights and perspectives on how the technological transformations in Nizamuddin, Delhi, could be brought to the heart of London.

Ratish Nanda, CEO of AKTC in India, spoke about the technological transformations that have occurred in Nizamuddin as a result of the pioneering work between AKDN and the Government of India. He told the audience about how the grandeur of the monument and its adjoining garden began to deteriorate from the 19th century where the Nila Gumbad was taken over by the railway lines and the Nizamuddin railway station was built, abutting the monument. He discussed the different projects he has been working on over the years to help restore and conserve the surrounding areas.

After five years of this extensive conservation work, the unique blue domed ‘Nila Gumbad’ has been completely restored thanks to the work of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and AKTC.

The exhibition in the Zamana Space of the Ismaili Centre displays how Delhi has become a re-emerging city in all its grandeur and renewed greenery, its youth empowered, neighbourhoods energised, and commerce and livelihoods resurrected. It is a story of heritage revived amidst nature in all its vibrancy, but also of cultural regeneration, social uplift, and economic opportunity.

In partnership between the High Commission of India – represented by her Excellency the High Commissioner — and the Ismaili Centre, which enables the Ismaili Muslim Community – and our friends and partners – to meet to share knowledge and enjoyment, it showcases the magnificent restoration of Humayun’s Tomb and Sunder Nursery in Delhi which has been developed through the use of technological advances.

The Ismaili Centre is proud to share the exhibit with the public and encourage visitors to take this journey from the Chandragupta Maurya dynasty in the 3rd century before the common era - and bring you to the present day.

The exhibition is open to the public between 11am and 6pm, daily until 2nd October.