Kalidas Jethabhai House - The Cultural Heritage of Dharmaj - Open House 3.0

The third open house was held at Kalidas Jethabhai House in January 2023 and was open to visitors and the diaspora community as part of the Celebrating the Cultural Heritage of Dharmaj event. This open house was organised after the completion of the front wing’s safeguarding, careful dismantling of the back wing and the labelling, organising and stacking of recovered material in the material shed constructed on site. These stages of conservation work were carefully documented and kept on display during the open house so that it could serve as a guide for owners of other heritage buildings in Dharmaj who wish to conserve their respective properties. 

As part of this open house, a session was held for young students under the Young Heritage Explorers' Program (YHEP), designed and conceptualised by Prof. Gauri Bharat at CHC. The YHEP aims to introduce young people to heritage sites and educate them about the significance of history and heritage conservation in our contemporary lives. Students of Tri Gi Mishra Shala and VN High School at Shri M.D. Sarvajanik Pustkalay (public library in Dharmaj) were invited to take a look at the on-site work and participate in activities with the aim of spreading awareness on the urgent need for conservation of heritage. The YHEP was organised with the support of Dharmaj Kelavani Mandal and funded by the heirs of Kalidas Jethabhai Patel.