Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has written to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, urging him to revitalise Kalagram as a living museum and revive the Sarangpur Theme Park project.
In his letter, Bansal said Kalagram was originally conceived as a living museum on a sprawling 17-acre plot allotted to the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC). The idea emerged after he visited the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, Malaysia, as a member of a parliamentary delegation.
The vision was to develop Kalagram as a cultural village and artisan hub to promote the heritage of North India. It was intended to offer visitors an immersive and participatory experience of the authentic cultural life of the states covered by the NZCC, particularly Punjab and Haryana.
However, apart from the annual National Crafts Mela, the restaurant and a collection of sculptures, there is currently little to attract tourists or local visitors on a daily basis. The Virasat Museum also does not align with the concept of a vibrant living museum.
The vast tract of land remains largely underutilised. Using the space for theme parties or private functions was never the intended purpose of Kalagram.
Bansal said it would be immensely popular to establish year-round pavilions showcasing traditional modes of transport, such as the ornate bullock carts of the nomadic Bazigars, and historic agricultural implements like Persian wheels. The pavilions should also feature regional crafts, including pottery, textiles, phulkari, woodwork and demonstrations by nomadic blacksmiths. Although the infrastructure for craft stalls already exists, there is no activity outside the National Crafts Mela.
Artisans should be provided space to demonstrate their crafts on a regular basis, allowing visitors to experience rural crafts firsthand and even try their hand at a particular art form.
Furthermore, Bansal noted that the entry ticket at the Sarawak Cultural Village was uniquely designed in the form of a passport, which visitors could retain as a memorable keepsake of their visit.
He said a similar model could be adopted from the Folk Heritage Museum in Thimphu, Bhutan. There, visitors actively experience traditional Bhutanese life rather than merely viewing static exhibits. Features such as traditional attire, archery, folk music and local cuisine serve as major attractions that encourage tourist participation.
Bansal also demanded the revival of the Sarangpur Theme Park project.
He said the decision to build a theme park at Sarangpur was one of the objectives behind extending development to that area. However, the project could not be implemented at the time because of a controversy surrounding the revenue-sharing model.
“I believe this project is now long overdue and should be revived immediately. In my view, implementing these two projects will immensely boost Chandigarh’s tourism potential and make it a more dynamic and engaging destination,” Bansal said.
