ASHA 2026–2029

ASHA — Anād Scientific & Heritage Advisory Committee 2026–2029

Aims and Objectives

ASHA — Anād Scientific & Heritage Advisory Committee is a specialised advisory committee constituted under the broad umbrella of the Board of Advisors of Anād Foundation.

ASHA revives and extends the spirit of the earlier Anād Scientific Advisory Committee, chaired by Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli during the Anād Conservatory phase, while broadening its scope to address Anād’s present and future work across India.

ASHA brings together persons with experience in conservation architecture, heritage planning, archives, museums, manuscripts, musical instruments, intangible heritage, pedagogy, research, public history, publications, and cultural interpretation.

Aims

  1. To provide specialised advisory guidance on Anād’s heritage, conservation, archival, research, pedagogic, publication, and public-culture initiatives.
  2. To support the Foundation in developing thoughtful, ethical, and context-sensitive approaches to the conservation and interpretation of tangible and intangible heritage.
  3. To offer expert perspective on historic structures, adaptive reuse, archival collections, manuscripts, musical instruments, audio-video documentation, living traditions, and knowledge systems.
  4. To help shape project notes, conservation approaches, interpretive frameworks, research directions, and public-facing heritage narratives.
  5. To preserve continuity with the earlier ASAC while extending its scope to meet Anād’s renewed national work during 2026–2029.

Objectives

  1. To review periodic project briefings, conservation notes, architectural proposals, archival summaries, interpretation plans, and research or publication outlines placed before it by Anād Foundation.
  2. To offer written observations, suggestions, or advisory notes where members feel able to contribute.
  3. To meet ordinarily once a year, either in person or online, and to participate through correspondence where necessary.
  4. To advise on conservation-adaptive reuse projects, including but not limited to Anād Khaṅḍ Kapurthala and Haveli Dewan Hari Chand, Kapurthala.
  5. To assist in identifying appropriate experts, institutions, methodologies, and ethical safeguards for specific projects.
  6. To help Anād Foundation maintain high standards of documentation, conservation practice, archival stewardship, pedagogy, and public interpretation.
  7. To submit observations or summaries, where appropriate, to the Board of Advisors for consideration before matters are placed before the Board of Trustees.

Advisory Character

ASHA is an honorary, specialised advisory committee. It does not exercise administrative, financial, statutory, fiduciary, or executive authority. Its role is to advise, review, observe, suggest, and support the Foundation’s work through knowledge, experience, and goodwill.

Institutional Continuity

ASHA — Anād Scientific & Heritage Advisory Committee 2026–2029 — revives and extends the spirit of the earlier Anād Scientific Advisory Committee (ASAC), constituted during the Anād Conservatory phase and chaired by Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli.

The earlier ASAC brought together distinguished scholars, architects, conservation thinkers, and heritage professionals whose reflections helped shape Anād’s early institutional imagination. Its records, including the “First Thoughts” by Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli, Rabindra Vasavada, and Ashok B. Lall, are retained as part of Anād’s institutional history.

View the ASAC Historical Record

Members

ASHA — Anād Scientific & Heritage Advisory Committee 2026–2029 is presently being constituted. Names of members shall be added after consent is received.