CIS-A2K/Events/Heritage Walk in 175 year old Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir library
CIS-A2K facilitated in organising a Heritage Walk in reputed 175 year old library, Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir (PNVM) in Pune city. The event was organised by Heritage Club of H. V. Desai College, PNVM and CIS-A2K. The series of such Heritage Walk Program is supported by Bharat Vikas Group (BVG). There was overwhelming response of citizens for this heritage walk at PNVM. Around 100+ persons attended this two hour event. The digitization, relicensing and Wikimedia session was conducted.
CIS-A2K has built partnership with PNVM for digitisation of books and creating repository on Wikimedia Commons. Till now, 1000 reference value and rare books have been digitised and uploaded on Commons. We are also working with Heritage Club of H. V. Desai College on thematic project to create content on history of Maharashtra. We were able to build bridges among these partners through this heritage walk.
The Heritage Walk at Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir was an effort to "Bridge Past and Present". This event aimed to celebrate history, promote digitization, and foster partnerships among diverse groups.
Over 100 enthusiasts gathered at PNVM, a 175-year-old library, eager to explore its historical significance. Prof. Ganesh Raut opened the walk, emphasizing the importance of preserving our heritage. Mr. Prasad Joshi, PNVM's secretary, narrated the library's journey from its founding in 1848 to its modern adaptations, embracing technology like barcodes, RFID, and e-books to enhance its collections and accessibility.
Subodh Kulkarni's presentation shed light on the free knowledge ecosystems and the Wikimedia projects. He stressed the need to digitize and preserve historical records, discussing copyright laws, relicensing content, and the digitization process, which sparked engaging discussions among attendees. The live demonstration of all these processes was also organised. The audience came up with variety of questions, ideas and proposals after these presentations.
The Heritage Walk wasn't just a stroll through history; it was a platform for shared knowledge and collaboration. It demonstrated the power of preserving the past while embracing the possibilities of the digital age—a true celebration of Pune's heritage.