The Kochi Heritage Project

This week, in honour of Constitution Day on the 26th of November, we’re celebrating India, one fundamental duty at a time. In this series titled ‘The Guardians of India’s Constitutional Spirit’ we’re showcasing individuals who are setting brilliant examples of being active citizens. Through their efforts, they’re doing a superb job of fulfilling our fundamental duties and inspiring us all to follow suit :) Meet Johann Kuruvilla, founder of The Kochi Heritage Project! Opportunities to travel in India and Southeast Asia introduced #Kochi resident Johann Kuruvilla to the idea of #heritage walks. And he fell in love. "Why not in Kochi?" he wondered and began his quest to present the stories of his city to the world. He started The Kochi Heritage Project—a venture that combines immersive storytelling with community-driven, sustainable tourism to preserve and celebrate the city’s multicultural legacy. “Kochi is a city of 39 communities and 15 languages, a microcosm of global diversity,” Johann explains. Through the walks, he seeks to uncover the tales of Kochi’s past, highlighting the intangible cultural nuances that often go unnoticed in history books. The storyteller calls himself a “basic B-Com guy”, who started working right after college and took various roles in logistics, market research, and sales. Eventually, once he started traveling, he pivoted to a career in tourism, going all in after a few years in 2018 when he launched this project. What makes The Kochi Heritage Project unique is the kind of people on his team. “We invite passionate people from the community to join us. They come from different walks of life, not necessarily related to the travel industry, but they love their city. So we would have a botany major, a musician, someone from a cultural studies background–all coming up with brilliant ideas to preserve Kochi's heritage.” Johann emphasises the need for stories to understand history. One of the stories closest to his heart originates in Mattancherry. “Mattancherry Old Quarter is our favourite place. It's where people from different communities came and made homes; not just from Kerala. Many residents don't know much about its history. I love this place. It’s the perfect example of what the world is supposed to be like, a place where cultures, languages, and traditions coexist in peace,” he smiles. While we celebrate Johann for embodying the fundamental duty of ‘valuing and preserving the rich heritage of our composite culture’, the one Indian he idolizes for living by this duty is the Late Anoop Skaria, founder of Kashi Art Gallery and co-founder of Cochin Carnival. “He's one of the people I admire the most. In his short life span, he did a lot to preserve the city's heritage and culture. He was among those who turned Kochi into a hub of art and culture. Besides being a pioneer of arts, he spoke about various social causes. I'm trying to take that mantle forward in my own way.” Continued in the comments...

Thank you, Sumitra Nair, for your brilliant article in Open Magazine, "Walking with Gods and Queens: The Kerala Story Through Heritage Tours." It’s an honor to be featured alongside such passionate historians, lore keepers and storytellers as Muhammed Shihad of Kannur City Heritage Foundation, Rajeesh Raghavan of Hearitage stories, Kozhikode, Johann Kuruvilla of Kochi Heritage Project and Balagopal Varma Kochi Thrippunithura heritage walks. Sumitra, your work beautifully captures the essence of our shared mission: preserving and celebrating the rich local heritage through storytelling. Your article highlights how local heritage is more than just history—it’s a living narrative, interwoven with community, sustainability, and culture. To my fellow storytellers, this journey has only just begun! Together, we are building something truly meaningful, and our bond grows stronger with each story told. Here’s to continuing our work in heritage preservation and creating meaningful, immersive experiences for all. We have a long way to go, and I’m excited for all that’s ahead as we work towards our shared goals. More power to us! #MokshaStories Read article here - https://lnkd.in/g9yHa7YX #HeritageTours #SustainableStorytelling #HeritageStorytelling #PreservingCulture #SustainableTourism #KeralaHeritage #CommunityTourism #OpenMagazine #WalkingWithGodsAndQueens #StorytellingMatters

I’m excited to share a glimpse of my graduation project, which I’ve been working on in collaboration with The Kochi Heritage Project over the past few months. This project is close to completion, and I’m thrilled to see it come together. Many people today aren’t aware of the rich history, culture, and heritage they come from. It's important to know our roots, yet there’s a growing risk of neglecting and undervaluing our past. Without proper efforts to preserve and celebrate our heritage, we may lose touch with it. This project is a collaborative effort with The Kochi Heritage Project aimed at creating educational materials for heritage walks, events, and related activities. The goal is to develop a deeper understanding of Kochi’s rich history and culture, engaging both locals and visitors through print and publication materials. These resources are designed to inspire curiosity and promote cultural tourism. A special thanks to Johann Kuruvilla and Setu Sharma for guiding me throughout this journey, and to everyone else who helped along the way. There’s much more to come! more updates and exciting developments soon