IIT Bhilai partners with Chhattisgarh govt to enhance cultural heritage & tourism research

RAIPUR: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Chhattisgarh government to incubate socially relevant research for the holistic development of the state. The MoUs were signed with the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Chhattisgarh, and the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board.The signing ceremony took place in the auditorium of the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum in Raipur, on the first day of a three-day national seminar titled The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities, organised by the Government of Chhattisgarh.The MoU with the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums outlines the documentation of protected and unprotected historical sites and monuments in Chhattisgarh. It also includes the creation of a knowledge repository in the form of a library and an XR museum highlighting Chhattisgarh's history and heritage at IIT Bhilai. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of a faculty chair in heritage studies at IIT Bhilai to attract top global talent.The MoU with the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board aims to support research on enhancing Chhattisgarh’s tourism potential in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes the development of destination management plans for tourist sites in Chhattisgarh and conducting impact assessments to understand the effects of tourism on local communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage.The MoUs were signed by Vivek Acharya, IFS, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums and Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, and Prof Santosh Biswas, Dean of R&D at IIT Bhilai, in the presence of Prof Rajiv Prakash, Director of IIT Bhilai.Speaking on the occasion, Prof Prakash said that IIT Bhilai is proud to strengthen its ties with the Chhattisgarh government in pursuit of the shared vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He shared that an interdisciplinary research centre – the Centre for Culture, Language and Traditions – has been set up at IIT Bhilai to promote research in cultural heritage, tribal knowledge, and indigenous livelihoods. The Centre aims to advance the institute’s mandate of action-oriented research for the benefit of the people of Chhattisgarh.Acharya affirmed that the Chhattisgarh government is pleased to have IIT Bhilai as a committed stakeholder in the state’s development, highlighting the synergies between history, culture and technology. He noted that Chhattisgarh is home to many unique tribes with distinct artistic practices, traditions and heritage, offering significant opportunities for a premier institute like IIT Bhilai to carry out pioneering research for the state’s progress.