In
a first of its kind endeavour, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and Royal Enfield, the world’s oldest
motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901, have come together in a
unique partnership to promote and safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of
India, beginning with the Himalayas.
The
announcement of this unique partnership between UNESCO and Royal Enfield is
being done during a four-day creative showcase at the iconic Bikaner House in
Delhi, curated by Dr Monisha Ahmed and Mary Therese Kurkalang. The programme is
curated as an experiential and creative showcase of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH) practices in the Western Himalayas and the North Eastern region.
This
includes an exhibition, panel discussions, film screenings, performances and
lecture-demonstrations. The four-day programme features eminent artists,
designers, chefs, mixologists, musicians, actors, photographers and luminaries
of the social development sector such as Adil Hussain, Peter D’Ascoli, Sonam
Dubal, Rita Banerji, Mallika Virdi and Tsewang Namgail, Yangdup Lama, Nilza
Wangmo and Anumitra Ghosh.
As
part of its ongoing programme globally and in India, UNESCO has been
spearheading the movement to identify, document and preserve the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of India, which is one of the 178 countries to have adopted
the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH), for decades. Apart from its incredible heritage of monuments, a
substantial part of India’s cultural heritage consists of an extraordinarily
dynamic array of living heritage. This includes traditions of music, dance,
theatre, storytelling, festivals, and rituals.
Eric
Falt, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri
Lanka said, “The wealth of India’s living heritage remains largely untapped,
and the task of recognising and preserving it is something that should be
shouldered by all stakeholders, including the private sector. It is a matter of
pride for UNESCO to partner with Royal Enfield Motorcycles, as we come together
to promote and preserve the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas. I
hope this will inspire people to support sustainable, respectful travel.”
Commenting
on the partnership, Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Eicher Motors said, “The Himalayas is the spiritual home for Royal
Enfield and we are very excited to partner with UNESCO to work towards building
a sustainable future for this region. With more members of our motorcycling
community heading there, Royal Enfield is working in this iconic landscape to
promote sustainable tourism and build resilient communities. Through this
partnership, we aim to preserve and promote the culture, knowledge and
traditions that are harmonious with fair and regenerative living and ensure
that Himalayan communities are empowered to make decisions that support their
resilience.”