People and Impressions

On January 16, 2025, the Anant Anadi Vadnagar, an Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar, Gujarat was inaugurated by the Honourable Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah.


A project incredibly close to my heart, as I have been part of it since the beginning. Over the last three years, I’ve witnessed every piece of this vision come together. Countless days and nights went into this project—whether working in the office, on-site, in an airplane, a cab, meeting rooms, or even on the streets of Vadnagar.

In the final months of the project execution, I was stationed at site. Being there as the thought turned into a physical reality was a transformative experience. It was a world beyond sketches, screens, and simulated renders. Here, visualizations came alive, materials spoke their language, and the spaces evoked emotions I couldn’t have imagined while seated at my office desk. The on-site challenges were a true test, but they brought a rush of adrenaline—a feeling that words can hardly describe.

The inauguration day was a moment of stillness amidst the chaos—a pause to reflect. As I stood there, flashes of the past three years played vividly in my mind. Faces of those who shared this journey with me appeared—hands that worked tirelessly, minds that dreamed fearlessly.

Yuval Noah Harari writes in Sapiens: “Large number of strangers can cooperate successfully by believing in common myths.” For us, the myth was the shared belief in completing this project within record time without compromising the quality of our deliverable. It was this collective aim that united a diverse team and kept us moving through sleepless nights, intense discussions, and countless challenges. Everyone brought their unique expertise to the table—designers, architects, archaeologists, historians, administrators, artisans, and labourers—all working towards a common goal.

Harari says - “Humans think in stories, and we try to make sense of the world by telling stories.” resonates with me. Through this project, we’ve all created a weave of individual tales that has now formed a collective story—one that will be told and retold for generations. This museum is more than a building; it’s a space to celebrate archaeology, preserve history, share knowledge, and inspire masses.

As this chapter closes, I am filled with immense gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to co-create, for the growth I’ve experienced, and for the privilege of working alongside people who remind me why I chose this path. Design is more than a profession; it is a way of connecting, envisioning, and evolving. It demands a part of you but gives back in abundance, shaping not only spaces but the person you become.

Through this journey, I’ve found not just purpose but also a community of individuals who inspire, challenge, and elevate me every day.

 

Comments

  1. Aloka22 January 2025 at 03:13

    Amazing to see your vision of a small girl sitting on my bed dreaming about Design, to yearning to always design spaces and Now to this where the Dream starts shaping you as a human. Brilliantly written! Keep writing your Insights on this Chaotic World

    ReplyDelete
  2. Santosh Hedau22 January 2025 at 03:52

    Great! Congratulations. Enjoying what you do is the greatest feeling!

    ReplyDelete

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