JD Birla Institute’s “Custodians of Tomorrow” Event Champions the Future of Heritage Conservation
Kolkata, 22 November 2025: On November 22, 2025, the historic Vidya Mandir Auditorium became the epicentre of a vital conversation on heritage and futurity, as the Department of Interior Designing, JD Birla Institute successfully hosted its World Heritage Week Celebration under the resonant theme, “Custodians of Tomorrow.” This gathering was not merely a celebration but a powerful call to action, challenging all present to actively participate in safeguarding our shared cultural legacy for the generations to come.
The event was set in motion by a profound keynote address from the esteemed Dr. Anjan Mitra, a renowned architect, urban designer, and heritage conservationist. He masterfully framed the day’s discourse, illuminating the critical and urgent role that interdisciplinary dialogue plays in shaping sustainable urban futures. His words served as a compelling reminder that the responsibility for conservation extends beyond experts and into the hands of the broader community.
This foundational address was followed by an insightful 3-tier seminar series which brought together a distinguished panel of practitioners. Architect and conservationist Monica Khosla Bhargava offered a captivating exploration of the city’s dynamic urban fabric in her session, “The Changing Colours of Kolkata,” providing a deep understanding of its historical layers and evolving identity. Subsequently, Architect Sukrit Sen transported the audience into the future of preservation with his talk and performance, “Digital Documentation of Heritage: Using Technology to Preserve the Past.” He demonstrated how water and its stories can connect human beings through the journey of heritage and is revolutionising conservation efforts, creating precise and permanent records for posterity. Adding a unique dimension to the discourse, celebrated installation artist Mr. Susanta Paul presented a captivating audio-visual narrative on “Temporary Architecture, Permanent Impact: Durga Puja Pandals as Urban Art Installations.” His audio visual and 360 view session beautifully articulated how transient cultural phenomena can leave an indelible mark on a city’s artistic and social heritage by transporting everyone momentarily to his Durga Puja pandal Creations.
The celebration also provided a vibrant platform for the next generation of custodians through its inter-college and inter-school competitions. The creative pulse of the event was felt in the judged entries for the inter-college photography contest, “Frames of Legacy: Untold Stories of Bengal,” and the inter-school digital storytelling competition, “Through Young Eyes: My Heritage, My Story.” These competitions were evaluated by an esteemed jury comprising designer Mr. Dulal Paul, National Geographic photographer Mr. Atanu Paul, and photography expert Ms. Madhuparna Chatterjee, whose expertise highlighted the immense talent and fresh perspectives of the youth.
By seamlessly uniting the wisdom of visionary thought leaders with the innovative spirit of young creatives, JD Birla Institute’s “Custodians of Tomorrow” successfully transformed its powerful theme from a conceptual ideal into a tangible mission. The event concluded by leaving a lasting impression on all attendees, reinforcing the imperative that the future of our heritage depends on the conscious, collective stewardship we exercise today.
