NEW DELHI: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is set to begin a comprehensive Rs 45 crore conservation and restoration project at prominent Gandhian heritage sites in Wardha, Maharashtra, with the aim of making it a “canvas of Gandhian thought” for the 21st century.The initiative will cover Gandhi Smriti Bhavan, Kasturba Kitchen, and Wardha Haat, with the objective of preserving their architectural, historical, and cultural significance while promoting rural development and public engagement.The restoration project is being carried out in collaboration with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI), Wardha, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with IGNCA on July 2. It will be completed within an 18-month timeline, officials said. Gandhi Smriti Bhavan, located within the Sevagram Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived from 1936 to 1948, served as his operational headquarters during the freedom movement. It continues to be a site of national and international significance, symbolising Gandhian philosophy and simplicity. “MGIRI Wardha is not just about conserving the past-it’s about reimagining Bapu’s vision,” said Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary of IGNCA. “Through immersive storytelling, digital heritage walks, and artisan hubs, Wardha will become a living canvas of Gandhian thought for the 21st century,” the IGNCA member said.