Telangana Heritage Centre at Our Sacred Space, Dharur Inaugurated

Honourable Member of Parliament, Shri Konda Vishweshar Reddy inaugurated Telangana Heritage Centre in Our Sacred Space Dharur, Vikaraabad district, Telangana on Sunday, Oct 29, 2017. Shri Jayesh Ranjan Garu IAS, Principal Secy, Commerce and IT, Govt of Telangana also graced the inauguration. Other Guests of Honour included renowned permaculture expert Shri Narsanna Koppula, dance Guru Smt Swati Mahalakshmi, Conservationist Shri Raunaq Yar Khan, and Educationist Smt Revathy Thangavelu. Other dignitaries included Shri. Kosalram Former Chief Secretary, Shri. A.P. Rajan Former D.G.P. Police, Smt. Srilakshmi DFO Vikarabad, Sr Devnayak Sarpanch of Station Dharur. Several eminent artists and activists also present.

Speaking at the event, Shri Konda Vishweswar Reddy Garu said that one of the promises he made during his election campaign was to set up an art theatre in the district to promote local culture and art. He remarked the world over it was the initiative of private individuals that was instrumental in promoting the arts. The Government supports these initiatives. He emphasized the importance of eco-friendly work that could reduce pollution and support local resources. He later planted a tree at the centre.  Mr. Vishweshwar Reddy said he was happy the Telangana Heritage Center is in his constituency and he looks forward to its work and growth.

Shri Jayesh Ranjan Garu hoped that the centre would serve as a resource centre for seed saving methods, local handloom production, and revive beneficial local practices. He hoped that centre would provide support to local villagers in their livelihoods, women’s self-help groups, children’s education etc. Nayantara Nandakumar, Founder of Our Sacred Space agreed with the suggestion and explained that Dharur centre will support ecotourism in conjunction with various activities in Kotapelly reservoir, create a village resource centre to support needs of local community. She dedicated the centre to the children of Dharur.

Shri Narsanna garu, said that he felt the positive vibrations from the land as he stepped into the Telangana Heritage Center, Dharur.  In his address he said that the land in Our Sacred Space was sacred because of the work and philosophy behind it. He remarked that as he left the city he felt worried but as he stepped onto the campus he felt full of positive energy. The Dharur centre will incorporate permaculture principles. He said permaculture is permanent culture and thus Telangana Heritage Centre will be preserving heritage on multiple levels.

Dance Guru Smt Swati Mahalakshmi said, “there is a fresh breeze here. Urban life is so busy and people are looking for wellness.” Smt Swati Mahalakshmi compared the Telangana Heritage Center to Kalakshetra, Shanti Niketan and Nrityagram. She said that because Nayantara is an engineer she is practical and because she is a dancer she is sensitive to beauty.

Shri Raunaq Yar Khan noted that he was awed by the work Nayantara had done at Our Sacred Space in Secunderabad, and that her work was genuine. He said he was sure the Dharur centre will start a revolution in rural Telangana.

Smt Revathy Thangavelu talked about the family heritage and history. Nayantara’s great great grandfather Shri Varadaraj Mudaliar had invested in Dharur a century and half back. Over generations, the land was kept pristine by the family and with the Dharur centre, Nayantara will be taking the vision of Vardaraj Mudaliar Garu forward.

The event had a cultural programme that featured Jayawant Naidu on Hawaiin guitar, Amy Kumar and her students with an engrossing Kuchupudi performance, and a thrilling Kalaripayattu performance by Kalarigram. Friends of Snakes Society showed local snakes and explained difference between non-venomous and venomous snakes. The event concluded with Shanthi Mantra performed by Nayantara’s Odissi students, one of who was a two year old, performing beside her mother.

Details about the Centre

Spread over 24.5 acres, this centre will to preserve local craftsmanship, nurture and support local rural human resources, and conserve and protect local environment.

The centre plans support to the already-occurring Saturday Angadi in the Mandal which hosts potters, bamboo weavers, Lambadi artisans, local weavers. The centre will ensure local craftsmanship carries over into next generation. This is work Our Sacred Space is already doing in Secunderabad. So the work in Dharur is a meaningful continuation.

The centre has adopted Permaculture principles. To this end, centre has already laid the ground for to harvest water and prevent water loss effectively. Further, the local soil is being protected and nurtured. To this end, the first round of plantings has been several hundred trees to break wind, prevent soil erosion, and build the soil. Soon smaller trees and shrubs will be planted and finally crop cultivation would start. Thus the centre will also serve as a model permaculture farm.

The best practices from Permaculture design and seed saving methods will be taught to local farmers to enhance their productivity and build community in the area.

The centre is also being designed to serve as a Botanist’s paradise. Baobabs, Nagalingam, rich timber trees of various species have been planted. South Indian Temple tree – the Kalabash or Beggar-Bowl tree has also been planted. For aesthetic delight, several flowering trees and shrubs have also been planted like Pride of India, Jasmine, Jacaranda, Gardenia, Kamini, Oleandar. A food forest is being planned close to the retreat building which will host several fruit trees.

Beginning in 2018, the centre will be hosting three special residential retreat – 1. A contemplative dance retreat by one of the foremost exponents of Odissi, Smt Jyothi Rout from California Bay area; 2. Yoga, Nutrition and Spinning retreat; 3. Permaculture retreat. An alternative education retreat is also planned with Kb Jinnan, India’s foremost alternative thinker and educationist.

Several other retreats – Dance Retreats, Yoga Retreats, Writing workshops, Heal Your Life Workshops, Kalari retreat, Night camping by adventure groups, are in the pipeline

Via these retreats, the centre will support eco-friendly village experience. Local sightseeing for retreat residents will include a kayaking trip in the exquisite Kotapally boating project set up by MP Konda Vishweswar Reddy on the Kotapally Reservoir. The boating project is already supporting local rural youth.

Smt Nayantara Nandakumar is founder and vision-head of Our Sacred Space. She spent 14 years in United States studying and working as an environmental engineer before returning to India to set up the Space. She is also a renowned Odissi exponent and loved dance teacher. Our Sacred Space Secunderabad was set up 5 years back and has grown from strength to strength. Please find more details about the Space on our facebook page www.facebook.com/OurSacredSpace.

-Press note