Here is a partnership that could go a long way in Ahmedabad achieving its dream of becoming India’s first Unesco World Heritage City. Leading jewellers Zaveri & Company have become one of the first business houses in the city to fund the walled city’s restoration. Brothers Bharat and Kishore Zaveri have joined hands with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s heritage cell to help preserve the historic Desai ni Pol, which has given Ahmedabad some of its leading citizens.
The duo bought a 200-year-old heritage building in Mahurat ni Pol — the first pol in the city — earlier this year. They also restored the statue of poet Akho in Desai ni Pol. Now, they want to help restore the area around the statue. “We also plan to help residents of the pol restore their buildings and preserve the architecture which is of immense heritage value,” the duo said. The Zaveri brothers have requested the heritage cell to prepare estimates for the restoration of statue’s surroundings, entry gate of the pol, Akho’s ancestral haveli and paving the roads. An official in the heritage cell said, “We are also preparing estimates for paving the road from entry gate of the pol to the interiors.” Officials say more business houses are pitching in for the restoration plan.
The Zaveri family owns three jewellery outlets in walled city area. “Akho’s writings and the fact that the poet himself was a goldsmith and a jeweller by profession have inspired us to take up the restoration work,” said Bharat. “We plan to undertake restoration in two phases with the area around Akho’s statue being our priority.”
Besides Akho, visionary businessman Rachhodlal Chhotalal and Sewa founder Ela Bhatt among others trace their roots to Desai ni Pol. The work of restoring the 200-year-old haveli in Mahurat Ni Pol has reached the final stages.
