Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar: Exploring the Cultural Riches Across Indian Villages

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Project: Its objectives

The “Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar” (MGMD) project is launched by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Government of India has decided to map and document all villages under **Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme.

This project is being conducted in coordination with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture.

The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar project is a crucial component of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, which reflects the central government’s commitment to document and map the cultural diversity inherent in villages across the country.

Objectives

The primary objective of the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) programme is to “map and document all villages” to compile “comprehensive information detailing the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages”.

Specifically, the key goals are to:

• Capture the cultural richness and diversity across villages in India to highlight the unique cultural identity that each village contributes. As per the Ministry of Culture, the project “seeks to explore the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages”.
• Make this wealth of information easily accessible to researchers, enthusiasts and the general public through a web portal that was launched on July 27, 2023.
• Create a comprehensive record of India’s living cultural heritage covering aspects like arts, crafts, history, architecture etc. Information is collected on categories like Arts and Crafts Villages, Historical Villages, Architectural Heritage Villages etc.
• Enable visitors (virtual and real-time) to understand and appreciate the culture of different villages across India by providing holistic insight.
• Preserve India’s diverse cultural heritage that is inherent across remote villages in the country.

By mapping the culture of villages, the project aligns with the India’s commitment to “safeguarding and celebrating the rich tapestry of Indian heritage”.

Information Collected

Under the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) project, information is collected under seven broad categories as highlighted by the Ministry of Culture:

• Arts and Crafts Village: Information on the arts, crafts and related cultural aspects.
• Ecologically Oriented Village: Details on the ecological aspects and sustainability practices.
• Scholastic Village: Details linked to the textual, scriptural and educational traditions of the village.
• Epic Village: Information on oral epics and legends from Ramayana, Mahabharata or Puranic sources.
• Historical Village: Details on the local and national history associated with the village.
• Architectural Heritage Village: Information on the architectural monuments and heritage.

Additionally, information on other characteristics is also compiled like for a fishing village, horticulture village etc.

This comprehensive set of information across categories ensures that the cultural nuances defining each village can be thoroughly explored, to present a holistic picture of India’s heritage.

Conclusion

The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar project provides a holistic picture of India’s diverse cultural heritage across villages in the country.

By compiling comprehensive information across key aspects like arts, history, architecture etc, MGMD serves as a testimony to the cultural richness inherent across rural villages. It highlights that every village contributes uniquely to the tapestry of Indian culture.

The documentation and mapping of villages under MGMD will serve as an archival treasure – spotlighting the living heritage that often gets overlooked in remote areas.

In summary, the key objective of providing accessibility to India’s rural heritage while preserving its essence stands as an embodiment of “unity in diversity” – the fundamental ethos defining Indian culture.