Excerpts from letters to Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar Congratulating him and MMCF for the VIII Women Together Institution Award 2012
The purpose of settling the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, a Public Charitable Trust with valid Income Tax exemption, was to ensure the sustenance of the duties and responsibilities of the Maharana in democratic India. MMCF has been committed to supporting the goals and objectives held sacred since the 1400 year old family tradition of custodianship. This is the living heritage of the House of Mewar, which encompasses a wide range of activities that include environmental protection through water resource management, extensive medical and healthcare aid, providing pension cover to ex-employees, promoting self reliance amongst women and encourage financial support to educational and cultural endeavors. These have cumulatively transformed the ethos of Udaipur, the capital city of Mewar, to emerge as a centre of excellence in every aspect of present-day life.
MMCF, Udaipur, an initiative of the Custodian of the House of Mewar for the perpetuation of its core value of service to humanity, has, in the true Indian Vedic tradition, become a temple of inspiration for future generations. It is an embodiment of the spirit of trusteeship which permeates every activity undertaken by the Foundation towards sustaining, consolidating and enhancing the hallowed traditions and the heritage enshrined in Udaipur as 'Eternal Mewar'. These traditions include works of permanent value rendered to society and activities in pursuit of excellence.
In 1971, the Parliament of India abolished princely states. As a consequence the privileges and the privy purse of former sovereigns came to an abrupt end. Their vast estates fell into the tax net and in addition the time honored and cherished traditions of the House of Mewar faced the challenges of survival. In anticipation of these changes, His late Highness Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar (r. 1955 to 1984) set up in 1969 the MMCF, to which he donated the main portions of The City Palace, as well as an endowment. Presently, the income is generated from the interest on the original endowment and from the entrance fees to The City Palace Museum, Udaipur.
The activities under the aegis of the MMCF are in tune with the ideology cherished and upheld by the ancient family legacy. The focus areas for MMCF are promoting academic learning, preserving ecological balance, the establishment of public- private partnerships, philanthropy and to encourage understanding of all aspects of Indian history, culture, civilization and heritage. For more information kindly visit <http://www.eternalmewar.in/library/downloads/collaboration/trusts/mmcf/MMCF%20Review.pdf>
MMCF has instituted annual awards from 1981 in various fields of human achievement from school children to international award .It has also tied up with UNESCO and the Udaipur Municipal Council for sustainable development of heritage cities of India, with special focus on Udaipur.
The Chairman and Managing Trustee, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar was quoted on a recent international news channel that 'we have the passion, the vision and the commitment to further develop the activities of MMCF but the pace is dictated by the flow of resources'.
This VIII WT Institution Award for 2012 to MMCF is most timely and will go a long way in fulfilling its objectives. The MMCF records its grateful appreciation and sincere thanks.
Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur becomes the first man from India to represent an Awardee of the WT Award for “Contribution to universal culture” at the United Nations. The award recognizes his leadership and work through the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur. It is a unique case study of governance at the highest level that mankind can aspire to, both in personal and business environment. The only other Indian to win this award is Ms Ela Bhatt of SEWA.
The Women Together Association (WT) is a nonprofit organization created in 1996, which in association with the United Nations, focuses on eradicating poverty. In accordance with such aim, WT promotes Microcredit financing and development industries such as local arts and crafts in underdeveloped countries, thereby empowering the individual and improving health and education. Women have been the main force in these industries and beneficiaries of such financing. Women Together honors prominent people in their fields who have contributed to this mission.
The Women Together Awards promote the implementation of ethical, philosophical, moral, economic, scientific and cultural values that open new horizons for the future of humanity. They also recognize personal and institutional achievements, mainly those that constitute a relevant contribution to universal culture and help reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The MMCF is the largest of the nine public charitable institutions set up in 1969 to sustain the responsibility of the House of Mewar towards humanity after the amalgamation of the State of Udaipur, Mewar into the Republic of India in 1947. For over four decades, the MMCF, currently hiring a 260-member team has invested in mainly four areas: academia, eco-conservation, philanthropy and heritage conservation. In 2011 alone, it ploughed back, it’s own resources, close to US$ Two million for 32 projects it undertook. At its core, the MMCF is a symbol of a conscientious, uncompromising commitment of the House of Mewar to the founding principle of ‘Eternal Mewar Custodianship’ established in the year 734 AD.
If you wish to know more regarding the MMCF please click on: http://www.eternalmewar.in/collaboration/charities/trusts/mmcf/index.aspx