UK is learning from Jaipur: Jowell (INTERVIEW)

UK is learning from Jaipur: Jowell (INTERVIEW)

Sanket Upadhyay

Garlanded heavily as she visited a restored Haveli in Amer and met the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, United Kingdom secretary for culture, Media and Sports, Tessa Jowell believes that Jaipur gives a lesson that has and would further be taken back home.

On her daylong visit to Jaipur, Jowell spoke to Hindustan Times explaining how Jaipur plays a role model. “All the small towns and cities in the UK are now being regenerated keeping in mind what they originally had for local residents.” This, Jowell says, is a lesson from Jaipur.

Cherishing the art and craft and their artistes is what Jowell believes, is Jaipur’s speciality. “There is a lot of talent in the local artistes, the local people and of their interests are kept in mind while regenerating or restoring some place, it would be better than merely doing it for tourism purposes,” Jowell mused.

The objective, she feels, is that people should enjoy their heritage. Roused by the beauty of a restored Chanwar Palki Walon Ki Haveli in Amer, which she visited on Wednesday, Jowell cited that the example to conserve and help people identify with something “original” has been set. “Restoration work needs to be identified and taken up by other Haveli’s in the state,” Jowell added.

Describing her meet with Rajasthan Chief Minster Vasundhara Raje earlier in the day, Jowell said that principals of conversation topped the discussions. “We would be remaining in contact to compare our experiences in conservation processes.

Jowell also admitted that the process of conserving heritage and its relation to the locals would be helpful for tourism. “People can relate themselves to the conservation process which would help in preserving it in future,” she said.

After the visit of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales on November 1 last year, Jowell is the second senior figure from Britain to be visiting Amer. At Amer, Jowell also observed the restoration process of Panna Meena Ka Kund.

Prior to this, Jowell visited the Amer fort. She also interacted with office bearers of Amer Vyapar Mandal, senior artiste and Padmashree awardee blue pottery expert Kripal Singh Shekhawat and sculptor Satyanarayan Nahta.


Background on Tessa Jowell

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Tessa Jowell has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. She was born in London and was educated at St Margaret's School in Aberdeen and the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Goldsmith's, London. She is a visiting fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford.
Tessa's previous Ministerial appointments were Minister of State for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities at the Department for Education and Employment (1999-2001) and Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health (1997-1999). She became a Privy Counsellor in 1998.
Before the 1997 General Election, Tessa was the Spokesperson on Health (1997-1999 and 1994-1995); Opposition Spokesperson for Women (1995-1996); and Opposition Whip (1994-1995).
Before her election to Parliament in 1992, Tessa had a career in psychiatric social work, social policy and public sector management.