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UDAIPUR AS A LEARNING CITY

Udaipur as a Learning City is a Learning Lab for reimagining and localising our urban lifestyles.

Our Vision

A Learning City seeks to nourish the learning commons and expand the web of learning opportunities for the benefit of all of its citizens. It focuses on innovative un/learning approaches to nurture intergenerational social cohesion and trust, ecological regeneration, spiritual well-being and resilient local economies. Through the diverse range of resources and technologies they bring together, the participatory processes they use, and the spirit of seva (sacred service) they invoke, learning cities can generate powerful local solutions to complex challenges.  

OUR VISION

Udaipur as a Learning City was initiated in 1999 by diverse citizens of Udaipur. We were concerned by the growing pollution, violence, inequality and loneliness due to urbanization. We did not want Udaipur to grow into another mega metro city or be the 'Venice' of India. We wanted Udaipur to grow into Udaipur.

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Tribal Dance
OUR OFFERINGS
Local

OUR OFFERINGS

Services include: Impact Investing, City Fellowships, Startup Mentoring, and more.

Services include: Hosting groups to more deeply understand local wisdom and gift culture, Alivelihoods and how to start reimagining education.

Services include: Organizing Workshops, unConferences, Festivals, Community Cafes.

Services include: Filmmaking and Documentation Projects, Social Media Promotion, Theatre Productions, Mural Art, Research and Publications.

ALIVELIHOODS INCUBATOR

The Alivelihoods Incubator invests in, mentors and supports regenerative projects and eco-cultural startups. We are committed to reviving the real wealth - natural capital, social capital, health capital, and knowledge capital - of the city and surrounding villages.

Swaraj University

Swaraj University

Millets Bakery and Cafe

Millets Bakery and Cafe

Banyan Roots Organics Pvt. Ltd

Banyan Roots Organics Pvt. Ltd.

Mulchwale Organic City Farming

Mulchwale Organic City Farming

Sukoon

Sukoon

Natyansh Theatre Group

Natyansh Theatre Group

Water Harvesting

Water Harvesting

Jaisa Organics

 Jaisa Organics 

Eklavya Community Media

Eklavya Community Media

Aavaraan

Aavaraan

Vimukt Shiksha Yatra

Udaipur Learning Journeys

Millets of Mewar

Millets of Mewar

Wisdom Walks

Wisdom Walks

Bindaas Group

Bindass Group

Jugaad Garage

 Jugaad Garage

Pranav Ayurveda

Pranav Ayurveda

ULC Alivelihoods Hero

Kudos to Inventor SL Surana. He has developed a viable solution for Rajasthan's marble slurry waste problem. These mountains of white slurry pose significant ecological and health risks. Inventor Surana is now producing eco-friendly, low cost (Rs.4.50), strong, light-weight BRICKS using marble slurry, cement and fly ash in village nathdwara. These are PWD-tested and approved. Contact Shikshantar (mail@shikshantar.org) for more details about Super Eco-Bricks.

SL Surana

Learning Cities seek to broaden processes of learning and unlearning beyond what stifling terms like 'schooling', 'training' and 'literacy' imply.  We believe that there is a need to reframe these understandings within the larger context of Swaraj (building on Gandhiji’s vision of Hind Swaraj). This implies:

- questioning and critiquing what have become well-entrenched narratives of ‘progress’, 'development' and ‘success’;

- challenging exploitative, extractive and dehumanizing structures, technologies and institutions;

- engaging in personal self-reflection and expansion of our notions of Self; and,

- re-membering traditional wisdom and negotiating shared visions of the good life

COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS 

10 Signs of a Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Society*

10. People take time and mourn together for at least 12 days after a death.
9. Marriage ceremony between lovers and their friends and families take place for at least a week.
8. People’s primary mode of transport is either walking and bicycling.
7. Animals of all shapes and sizes (at least 10 different species) can walk freely on the roads in neighborhoods and they feel safe and respected.
6. At least 100 diverse plant and tree species (with lots of fresh organic fruits, wild foods and medicinal plants) growing in every neighborhood and the soils are alive and rich with micro-organisms
5. People have at least 1 hour per day to drink a cup of herbal tea together with their friends.
4. People make and eat fresh breads daily using freshly ground flour, (in most cases 2-3 times per day)
3. Men feel comfortable crying in front of others and are encouraged to share their feelings openly. Various forms of daily human touch is encouraged.
2. People don't have to lock their doors and/or don't have to have excessive security measures such as CCTV, security guards, barbed wire fencing, police, military spending, etc.
1. What are your indicators for Happiness?
                                                         
                                                          * Shared by Manish Jain, My Happiness Index (Inspired by Bhutan's GNH
)

Experiments with Sustainable Lifestyles

Nurturing Youth Leadership

 How to spend the Perfect Day in Udaipur...

UNLEARNING JOURNEYS

Traditional Knowledge and Grassroots Wisdom

The river never drinks its own water. 
The tree never tastes its own fruit. 
The field never consumes its own harvest. 
They selflessly strive for the well-being of all those around them.
                                                                             -Mewari gift culture proverb

Local Gift Culture Experiments

COMMUNITY MEDIA: RE-STORYING OUR LIVES

About Udaipur

Udaipur, formerly the capital of the Mewar Kingdom, is a city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559 with the support of the indigenous Bhil tribal community. The city is built around a series of artificial lakes and majestic mountains and is known for its lavish royal palaces. The local language is called Mewari. Udaipur has a unique blend of traditional wisdom, gracious hospitality and cosmopolitan culture.
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Ram Ram Udaipur Community TV Show

"The biggest challenge of our times is to replenish soil, soul and society."
                                                                          - Satish Kumar, Earth Pilgrim

Hass Gulla Mewari Comedy Channel

Our Local Publications

Our Team

Manish

MANISH JAIN

CO- FOUNDER

Wishall

VISHAL SINGH

UPCYCLING DESIGNER AND COMMUNITY FACILITATOR

Sakib

SAKIB

ORGANIC PERMACULTURE LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

Vidhi

VIDHI JAIN

CO- FOUNDER

Ashish

ASHISH SHARMA

FILM MAKER

DR. NISHTHA

DR. NISHTHA JAIN

WELL-BEING GUIDE 

Harsh

HARSH WARDHAN

WEAVER & FACILITATOR

Priyank

PRIYANK KASHYAP

MUSICIAN

Karan

KARAN SINGH

ORGANIC FARMER AND COMMUNITY FACILITATOR

Reema

REEMA NAGARKOTI

UPCYCLING DESIGNER 

SHARMILA GAMETI

SHARMILA GAMETI

YOUTH MURAL ARTIST

Govind Kharol

GOVIND KHAROL

CYCLING AND NATURE ADVENTURES

JAMNA GAMETI

GOPI GAMETI

YOUTH UPCYCLING DESIGNER 

JAMNA GAMETI

JAMNA GAMETI

YOUTH ORGANIC FARMER

PRIYA GAMETI

PRIYA GAMETI

YOUTH MURAL ARTIST

CONTACT US

Shikshantar Andolan

21 Old Fatehpura,

Udaipur 313004

Telephone: +91 9829 724 189

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