Emotional connect drives community led conservation of Murshidabad heritage havelis
Times of India | 5 January 2026
KOLKATA: Sandip Nowlakha, vice-president of Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS) and founder-president Atulniya Virasat Manyata Sansthan (AVMS), who spearheaded the movement to revive 3 centuries old heritage havelis in Jiaganj-Azimganj in Murshidabad, pointed out that a key ingredient for heritage conservation is the emotional connect of the built heritage among local communities.
“Heritage can survive only when communities feel pride in their inheritance and legacy and consider the responsibility of preserving it as their own. Without this emotional connection, even the best-funded restoration efforts would struggle to endure,” said Nowlakha, a founder member of MHDS that was set up in 2010 with the objective of restoring and reviving heritage in Azimganj and Jiaganj in particular, and Murshidabad in general. It was envisaged with the aim of preserving the past, integrating it with the present, and laying the foundations for future conservation efforts.
While the Nawabs built grand palaces, several heritage buildings in Murshidabad were built by Marwaris who settled in the former capital of Bengal around 4 centuries ago. Nowlakha acknowledged that there is a key difference between conservation of old buildings in Rajasthan and those in Bengal, and that is material.
The Murshidabad Heritage Development Society was founded in 2010, with the objective of restoring and reviving heritage in Azimganj and Jiaganj in particular, and Murshidabad in general. It was envisaged with the aim of preserving the past, integrating it with the present, and laying the foundations for future conservation efforts.
“Many historic structures in Bengal were built using mud and clay. That makes restoration far more challenging than those in Rajasthan, where stone-built architecture is comparatively easier to preserve,” he pointed out.
The Bengal-Rajasthan connection is particularly strong in Murshidabad, which has 97 identified heritage sites, including colleges, museums, churches, 14 Jain temples, and other historic structures. A multi-pronged approach adopted in Murshidabad brought together govt bodies, local communities, and stakeholders under a shared long-term vision, activated through festivals.
“These festivals aren’t designed merely as cultural showcases but as tools to instil pride, responsibility, and a sense of ownership among local residents,” added Nowlakha. MHDS hosts a 2-day mega festival every year to showcase the heritage, art, culture, and cuisine of the region.