The Peoples' Institute for Re-thinking Education and Development

Udaipur as a Learning City

Udaipur as a Learning City is a process-project which attempts to co-create and re-discover different kinds of learning eco-systems throughout the city. This process was started about 15 years ago to unfold and highlight different visions, dreams, practices and experiments which are more sustainable, local and community-driven. The core belief driving this process is that we need to deeply rethink our urban lifestyles and create alternatives to the way urbanization and complex change is taking place in India. ULC is an intergenerational, multi-partisan platform which also encourages us to re-imagine the concepts of public commons, abundance vs scarcity, vulgar consumption, media and expressions, sustainable lifestyles, and happiness. There is a special focus on unlearning. The ULC process has nurtured many innovative prototypes and incubated many new changemakers and sustainable initiatives in the city. For more frequent updates, check out our Shikshantar Andolan facebook page.

Udaipur Localization Fellowship

Do you have a dream project to improve the local culture, environment or health of Udaipur city? We would like to support you in making your dream come into reality.

Gavri

A short film about the tribal ritual performance called Gavri. 

Be the Gift Festival

See how we shared the spirit of the gift culture at the Be the Gift Festival on Fatehsagar Lake, Udaipur.

Pyaoo Belonging Ad film

A film about the power of water.

Seva: Pyaoo

This film highlights the tradition of pyaoo in Udaipur as a Learning City. Film by Ashish Sharma.

Travel blog - A Perfect Day in Udaipur

Udaipur as a Learning City invites you to experience the follow itinerary when you visit Udaipur:

 

Day 1

Swaraj Shakti Girls

This is a glimpse of Swaraj University leadership development program for tribal girls in Udaipur.

Creativity Adda Musical Learning Journey to Udaipur

Learners from Creativity Adda visited Udaipur for the World Music Festival.

Istemal: For Climate Change

In the spirit of the Slow Fashion movement, Istemaal is a cloth re-purposing project started to provide a possible solution towards the waste and over-consumption generated by Fast Fashion industry

Cookbook of Traditional Mewari Recipes

Slow Food Udaipur presents the first cookbook featuring traditional Mewari dishes. Many of these recipes have been featured in Hulchul Cafe. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Jail University - Sohan Lal

This is a Kabir sufi song sung by Sohan Lal, an inmate-learner in the Udaipur Jail University. The Jail University is a place for inmates to explore their deeper passion and purpose.

Jail University - Code Red Climate Wake Up Call

The Swaraj Jail University held a 1 week Mime Theatre workshop with Susanta Das (actor and director, Kolkata) in August 2021.

Jail University Stories: Ganesh Pargi

This is the story of Ganesh Pargi. He is a Art Faculty-Inmate at Central Jail, Udaipur. He belongs to the tribal area of Dungarpur. He loves to make mural paintings on walls.

Out of the Box

Concert by inmate-learners on Fateh Sagar at the World Music Festival. 

Udaipur Magical Treasure Hunt Game

SHIKSHANTAR - UDAIPUR AS A LEARNING CITY

MAGICAL TREASURE HUNT IN THE OLD CITY

Happiness Udaipur!!! Chair Zumba with JJ Clown

Have a break during you zoom calls with Chair Zumba starring JJ the Fitness Clown in Udaipur as a Learning City. Shikshantar Films 2020.

DIY Udaipur: Upcycling with Bamboo

Here is a little video how to make beautiful photo frames with bamboo.

Ram Ram Udaipur: Jazbaa

This film is about an inspiring female auto rickshaw driver in Udaipur, affectionately known as Auto Aunty. A film by Rama Barhat, a 17 yr old girl, who lives in Udaipur.

Urban Edible Fruit Forests

One of Udaipur's eco-heroes, 80+ yr old R.S. Bhandari, shares about his fruit forest at his residence in Fatehpura.

Hass Gulla!!! 12 - Mukesh Meghwal

Hass Gulla is Udaipur's first Mewari Comedy Channel. Here is a preview episode of Mukesh Meghwal, a home delivery grocery boy and aspiring actor, who lives in nearby Nai.

Grandmothers University: Usha Kunwar

Where can we look for wisdom to get out of the planetary mess that we are trapped? Film by Vidhi Jain, Sanjay Maharishi, Sharad Khanna, Rama Barhat. Shikshantar Films copyleft 2017.

Grandmothers University: Zero Waste Cooking Mango Peels Subzi

The Grandmother's University project was initiated by Shikshantar to share traditional wisdom of Mewar. This episode features a Zero Waste Cooking recipe using mango peels.

Grandmothers University: Zero Waste Cooking Banana Peels Subzi

The Grandmother's University project was initiated by Shikshantar to document traditional wisdom of Mewar. This episode features a Zero Waste Cooking recipe using mango peels.

Udaipur Local Farmers Market

Grow Local. Buy Local. Eat Local.

Happiness Udaipur: Sukoon Inspiring Giving

Can you survive merely on love? Do you know of a place where love is the only currency? Do you think a world without money is possible?

Gaon ka Vikas?

The Swaraj Jail University held a one week Mime Theatre workshop with Susanta Das (actor and director, Kolkata) in February 2020.

The Parrot's Training in the Jail University

Here are some glimpses of a mime theatre performance by inmate-learners in the Swaraj Jail University.

Happiness Udaipur: Dancing Magicians

Dancing Magicians from Belgium in Udaipur Learning City performing in Sukher Orphanage, free learning centers and at government schools around the city.

Swaraj Jail University, Udaipur - An Introduction

The film features the highly innovative Swaraj Jail University based in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is a space for the learner-inmates to connect to their deeper purpose and passion.

Jail University Musicians - Bablu bhai

This is a Bulleh Shah Sufi song sung by Bablu bhai, an inmate-learner in the Udaipur Jail University.

Jail University Musicians - Parmeshwar Bhai

This is a sweet love song written, composed and sung by Parmeshwar bhai, an inmate-learner in the Udaipur Jail University.

Jail University Musicians - Judge Bhai - Honto pe naam tera

This is a spiritual love song written, composed and sung by Judge bhai, a learner-inmate in the Udaipur Jail University.

Jail University Musicians - Sanjay bhai

This is a love song sung by Sanjay bhai, an inmate-learner in the Udaipur Jail University.

From Waste to Wealth

New publication from Zero Waste Udaipur for social entreprenuers and local communities.

Udaipur Learning City unConference 2016

Enjoy some footage of the Udaipur Learning City unConference which took place on Sept 18, 2016. Film by Govind Kharol and Bindaas Community Media Academy.

Slow Food Udaipur

A local solidarity network of primary producers, farmers, grandmothers, chefs, activists, natural healers, suppliers, distributors that embrace a philosophy of good, clean & fair food for all.

Happiness Udaipur: Dariya Dil Foot Path Library

An experiment with Gift Culture and Sharing by the lake, Udaipur

Banyan Roots

Come learn about an organic store in Udaipur that has a dream to make Mewar - beautiful and healthy.

Happiness Udaipur: Sukoon Free Store

Come find out ways in which you can open your heart and soul with others.

Ram Ram Udaipur - E6

Check out the new episode of Ram Ram Udaipur!!! This episode features Shri Padam Singh Rathore, renowned snake-catcher and animal lover, and Shrimati Kavita Jain of Banyan Roots organic store.

Happiness Udaipur: Clowning Without Borders

Happiness Udaipur collaborated with Clowns Without Borders to visit several hospitals and communities in Udaipur to share joy, laughter and friendship.

Grandmothers University: Summer Natural Drinks Festival 2016

Some glipmses of the Summer Natural Drinks Festival hosted by the Slow Food Network of Udaipur in May 2016

Cycle Marathon 2014

Harawal is an initiative taken to promote cycling in Udaipur city. The best part is that we know by doing so, we will only improve our health and help the environment of Mewar.

Social Innovators of Udaipur: Interview with Santosh Padwal

Interview with Mr. Santosh Padwal, documentary film-maker and co-founder of the ÔÇÿBindaas Community Media AcademyÔÇÖ in Fatehpura, Udaipur, to learn more about this initiative and his vision of community media.

Ram Ram Udaipur - E5

Here is the 5th episode of Ram Ram Udaipur, featuring Dr. Jaya Bhavsar and Dr. Ruchi Dixit from Sankalp. 

Taji Bhajhee Tokri - City Farming

Our dream is that every resident of Udaipur, particularly all the children, should get to eat fresh organic vegetables and fruits every day. What good is our money, if we can't eat good food. 

My Happiness Index

Everyone is talking about happiness these days. So I started thinking about what are the things that are important for me and my community as part of our work in Udaipur as a Learning City.

Bicycle power

A wheel can do so many things..

Rangoday

This is a beautiful film which explores the city of Udaipur through its colors. A real tribute to the streets of udaipur and its vibrant communities.

Regenerating Our Languages and Expressions for Uncovering Peoples' Potential

Working with concerned citizens of Udaipur to regenerate Mewari, the local language of the Mewar region of southern Rajasthan.

Colors of Devotion

This is a film about Shri Rajaram Sharma, a Picchwai artist from Udaipur. Rajaramji walked out of school after class 5 and learnt this art form from his guru.

Pure Cold-Pressed Cooking Oil Service

Get your fresh, cold-pressed cooking oil from Shikshantar. We have an oil expeller which makes cooking oil from groundnuts or coconuts.

Ram Ram Udaipur: Pukhaar

Meet Bhuvnesh Ojha and his group Pukhaar who is setting up tiny forests in Udaipur as a Learning City. Shikshantar Films copyleft 2020.

Hamo Desi Mela

This film is about local neighborhood fairs to promote localisation and swaraj in Udaipur.

Eco-tourism in Udaipur

Hear what Tourists have to say about tourism in Udaipur and the City of Lakes.

The Gifts of the Soil - Urban Organic Farming

This film features the stories of two remarkable individuals, Sumit Vaishnav and Sandeep Bordia, who are working on urban organic farming in udaipur.

Udaan Green Theatre Festival

Scenes from the Udaan Green Theatre Festival held in Udaipur, 2009. Hosted by Shikshantar. Film by: Axieno, Aman, Vidhi and Vishal.

DIY Udaipur: Geodome Style

Come check out the geodome made from natural bamboo at shikshantar. Film by Kiran Patil (Swaraj University Khoji). Thanks to Sarah Davitt for sharing the design and also dancing with us.

Ram Ram Udaipur - E4

Ram Ram Udaipur is a local Mewari tv show in Udaipur. This episode features Avinash Nigam, bird conservationist.

 

Our Cities, Our Homes, Our Lives

Cities all over the world are rising up to make a difference in food, energy, transportation, communication and urban space. We have been inspired in Udaipur as a Learning City by many others.

Udaipur's Edible Fruit Forests

One of Udaipur's eco-heroes, 80+ yr old R.S. Bhandari, shares about a fruit forest at his residence in Fatehpura.

Regenerating our Learning Commons

This is a short video about Udaipur as a Learning City and the core ideas of re-creating learning commons in Cities like Udaipur.

Mithai Milan: A Festival of Healthy Sweets

A festival of Healthy Sweets had been organized as a part of Udaipur as a Learning City to explore, experiment and devour sweets made without processed sugar and processed flours.

Ram Ram Udaipur: Chocolate Amla Candy

A glimpse of the Amla Ka Mamla Food Festival hosted at Shikshantar. Also celebrating Slow Food Terra Madre  Day.

Millets of Mewar

As one of the experiments of Udaipur as a Learning City -Millets of Mewar is an Indian fusion food restaurant in Udaipur serving millets (gluten-free grains), less oil & heatlhy foods.

DIY Udaipur: Green Shaving with Aloe Vera

Dr P C Jain shares how he shaves with Aloe Vera. You can also grow Aloe Vera in your own home. This is part of Udaipur as a Learning city and was filmed by Raja and Padmaja Gungun.

Happiness Udaipur: Game-a-thon

Join us at Gulab Bagh park in Udaipur every Sunday early morning for the Game-a-thon. The Game-a-thon is a cooperative games festival that began in Udaipur in 2001 to rekindle the spirit of the gif

Happiness Udaipur: The Shop of the Open Hearted

Watch this video to find out how you can organize a Dariya Dil Dukkan in your organization, conference, workshop or community

Happiness Udaipur: Welcome to Hulchul Cafe

Learn about Hulchul Saturday Cafe which promotes slow food and gift culture in Udaipur.

Happiness Udaipur: Tokriwala

This is a film about a local basket maker and an social entrepreneur who wants to make him rich. Film by Nikilesh Tayal and Santosh Padwal, made at Bindaas Community Media Academy.

Hass Gulla!!! 6 - Shail Choyal

Hass Gulla is Udaipur's first Mewari Comedy Channel. Here is a preview episode of Shri Shail Choyal, an eminent artist and educator, who lives in Bari. Produced by Bindaas Community Media Academy.

Hass Gulla!!! 3 - Sandeep Sen

Hass Gulla is Udaipur's first Mewari Comedy Channel. Here is a preview episode of Sandeep Sen, a talented hair stylist and artist, who lives in Dewali. Produced by Bindaas Community Media Academy.

Hass Gulla!!! 1 - Mahesh Nayak

Hass Gulla is Udaipur's first Mewari Comedy Channel. Here is a preview demo episode of Mahesh Nayak who lives in Dewali. Produced by Bindaas Community Media Academy.

Ram Ram Udaipur - E3

This episode features Eco-Hut founders Guddi Prajapat, Vishal Dhaybai, Ritesh Shekhawat.

EcoHut

We dream of creating a zero-waste Udaipur. We are a fair-trade social business which offers eco- products and services, such as upcycling workshops and sustainability walks.

Welcome to Hulchul Caf├® on Saturday

Halchal caf├® is a slow food gift culture caf├® started in 2010. We started it as an experiment to rebuild trust, friendship, health and connection in udaipur.

Learning Cities: A Search for Meaning

As the process of deep-dialogue continues, some glaring questions stare at us. How do we see our city, and how do we see it in the future?