Gujarat Confidential: On War Footing

Chief whip of the ruling BJP in Gujarat Assembly, Balkrishna Shukla, has been busy organising symposiums to “brainstorm” over the future of Vadodara, with the city’s rich royal architecture and culture making it to the discussion list. Shukla, who has been batting for a heritage corridor along the periphery of the Sursagar lake, took a walk around the area with eminent citizens and heritage experts — including Surat-based architect Sumesh Modi, artists Kakoli Sen and Jitendra Baoni, members of the heritage trust, civic body officials and political representatives — to exchange views on how the old city could be turned into an enchanting heritage corridor. Shukla chose an evening earlier this week to have the experts gather near the iconic Nyaymandir, which will also be turned into a museum and multipurpose centre soon. The walk comes ahead of Shukla’s plan to hold a day-long seminar dedicated to Vadodara’s urban contour and heritage.