R A Yukta

MONUMENTS, MEMORY AND RUINS

Traditions, by virtue of stemming from a shared memory, having been passed down from generation to generation, offer a collective identity to a people. Through this identity, they are united and form a community, thereby becoming one whole. The city of Ahmedabad is rich in traditions by virtue of the Gujarat Sultanate, the Marathas, the British, as well as the local communities. These traditions of handicrafts, dramas and dances are mediums of storytelling, of crafting narratives born from a collective memory. They reveal the story of Amdavad. 
Over time, however, some of these traditions have been lost to history. The reinterpreted city museum aims to uncover these traditions that define the city. It is important to remember here that tradition is not solely governed by customs. The act of passing down these customs from generation to generation also defines the idea of traditions. Keeping this in mind, the museum also seeks to add to existing traditions using technologies and innovations available in the present day. Through this two-fold intent, the city museum is reinterpreted as a ‘Museum of Reimagined Traditions’.