The Sufi Project explores the lived heritage of Sufi spaces—particularly dargahs and chillas—and the many ways in which communities continue to engage with them as sites of devotion, memory, and everyday life. These are not static heritage monuments; they are living spaces, constantly shaped by ritual, caretaking, and the presence of people who return to them across generations. The project emerged from a British Academy funded research grant (KF8\230147), which brought together three institutions: the University of Leeds (as lead partner), the Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI) in Delhi, and Presidency University in Kolkata.

At its core, the project asks: how do these spaces continue to hold meaning? What forms of attachment, care, and reinterpretation keep them alive? We’re looking not just at the architecture, but at the everyday acts—of prayer, of maintenance, of gathering—that sustain these shrines as vibrant parts of community life. The work is also interested in how these Sufi sites interact with the urban environment around them—how they shape, and are shaped by, the evolving rhythms of the city. This includes questions of access, identity, negotiation, and continuity within rapidly changing urban contexts.

The Haveli of Kavi Santokh Singh ji located on the highest part of the historic settlement of Kaithal, Haryana is a place of high associational value being associated with Kaviraj Santokh Singh ji who was a profound scholar, a Sikh literati, poet, hagiographer & historian in the late 18th to early 19th Century. The Haveli was the home of Kavi ji, his wife Bibi Ram Kaur & his children.

This haveli was given to Kavi ji as a token of respect by Maharaja Udai Singh, the ruler of the Jind who recognized the profound contribution of Kavi ji and designated him as the state poet in his kingdom. He further requested Kavi ji to continue his scholarly work while living in the province. This is where it is said that the Kavi ji completed popular and monumental hagiographic text about Sikh Gurus ‘Suraj Prakash’ also known as ‘Gurpartap Suraj Granth’.

The Conservation and Adaptive reuse of this haveli is undertaken by Kaviraj Bhai Santokh Singh Churamani Trust led by Giani Sher Singh Ji in collaboration with Virasati Asthan Seva, a charity dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Sikh heritage sites of historical, cultural & architectural significance partnered with CRCI India Pvt Ltd. 

Recognizing the significance of the place, the project aims to conserve the historic fabric on one hand & on the other commemorate the living legacy of Kaviraj Bhai Santokh Singh ji with a Gurdwara and langar facility, further a museum about his life & works and a library as an education centre where students can come to learn, in the spirit of the place.

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The Kalka Shimla Railway (KSR), popularly known as the “toy train”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that spans over 96km through the scenic terrain of the Shivalik foothills. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008 owing to its Outstanding Universal Value which testifies to a significant stage in human history and an interchange of human values through technological advancement and cultural heritage.

The railway line was laid to disenclave the mountain population and facilitate better connectivity to the Summer Capital (Shimla) of the British Empire. Consequently, this also influenced the regional socio-economic development while fostering community livelihoods.

This “living heritage” site connects 21 stations, from Kalka (Altitude: 656 m.) to Shimla (Altitude: 2075 m.) through steep gradients, 102 tunnels, 864 bridges, and over 900 sharp curves. The multi-arched bridges resembling Roman aqueducts showcase a great feat of engineering, while the quaint station buildings are an amalgamation of colonial and vernacular architectural styles.

Northern Railways has appointed CRCI to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) for the KSR, which will be submitted to UNESCO. The multi-disciplinary team for the project comprises conservation architects, urban planners, structural engineers, community engagement consultants, and risk management consultants. The CCMP aims to preserve the heritage attributes of the Kalka Shimla Railway while ensuring its continued functionality and cultural significance.

Gurdwara Baba Bikrama Singh Bedi is located in Kanak Mandi, just 700m from Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. The building is a complex structure in its planning and architecture, possibly due to modifications over time and, more recently, has lost part of the structure. The building owes its significance to its association with Baba Bikrama Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak and the son of Baba Sahib Singh Bedi. Baba Bikrama Singh played a notable role in the Second Anglo-Sikh War; his subsequent imprisonment by the British at this location and his death here have deepened the site's historical importance. Following his death, his samadhi (memorial) was erected at the site within the haveli complex, enhancing its religious and cultural value. Notable features of the Haveli include its intricate 19th-century mohra-kashi wall paintings, depicting regional artistic styles enhancing its significance.

The Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of this site is being undertaken by CRCI with an interdisciplinary team of conservation architects, art conservators, and structural engineers. The project is a collaborative effort of the family of Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi and Virasati Asthan Seva, a UK-based charitable organisation. Their contributions underscore the importance of community-driven heritage conservation.

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