Bonjour India aims to change the perception of heritage, showcasing how it can become a source of economic growth and employment. Three projects under the title, “Know Your Indo-French Heritage” will provide the foundation for the development of this long-term initiative:
✓ A two-layer contest mobilising students (8-12 and 13-16 year-olds) from 80 schools, raising the awareness of the young public in India;
✓ A collaborative project between Indian and French schools of architecture, involving Chandannagar inhabitants, where students work on a case-study to restore one of the city’s heritage buildings, the Registry Building;
✓ A crowd-funding campaign which hopes to trigger many more similar initiatives and lead to the complete restoration of Chandannagar, making it a template to be replicated elsewhere in India.