Past Forward– Proposal for Community & Heritage Collaboration with The Planetarium

1 Feb 2026

The Director,

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (BASE),

High Grounds, Bengaluru – 560001.

Dear Dr. Guruprasad,

Subject: Proposal for "Past Forward" – A Community & Heritage Collaboration with The Planetarium

I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you for the chat we had and  your interest in this space and on being a stronger part of the local community.

I am writing to you on behalf of Heritage Beku, a citizen’s initiative dedicated to preserving the unique historical and cultural character of our city. As you know, we are deeply invested in connecting the citizens of Bengaluru with their roots, not just to celebrate the past, but to anchor our future.

We have long admired the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium for its tremendous impact on children and students, sparking curiosity about the cosmos in young minds. However, we see a wonderful, untapped opportunity to widen this circle of wonder to the adult community and the local residents of our vibrant neighbourhood—including Palace Road, Millers Road, Vasant Nagar, and the Raj Bhavan area.

Our Proposal: A "Past Forward" Quarterly Program While the planetarium is a gateway to the future, the study of the skies is also one of our oldest shared heritages. We propose collaborating on a special quarterly evening program designed specifically for adults and the local community.

• The Theme: "Past Forward"—exploring how our understanding of the universe has shaped our history, culture, and future.

• The Format: A conducive, relaxed setting where adults can engage with astronomy, perhaps linking it to Indian heritage (like the Jantar Mantar legacy) or modern "Dark Sky" conservation, followed by a sky-watch.

• The Goal: To bridge the gap between "science for kids" and "lifelong wonder for adults," making the Planetarium a community anchor for all ages.

Community Integration We believe the Planetarium can be the beating heart of the Central Bangalore community. By engaging with local residents, schools, and colleges in a more direct, informal capacity, we can embed the institution as a caring, responsible, and integral part of our daily lives.

Formalizing the Partnership To take this forward, we would be delighted to sign an informal Letter of Understanding (LoU) or Collaboration with you. This would allow us to co-curate activities, drive community engagement, and bring a new demographic of enthusiastic citizens to your doorstep.

We are certain that this initiative will build on your existing success and position the Planetarium as a dynamic space where Heritage meets Science. We look forward to discussing this with you at the earliest.

Warm regards,

Priya Chetty Rajagopal 

Founder, Heritage Beku

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Research: Global Best Practices & Similar Initiatives

To support our discussion , here are examples of how planetariums and heritage organisations worldwide are collaborating to engage adult audiences:

1. "Archaeoastronomy" & Heritage Walk

• Concept: connecting ancient sites with astronomical significance.

• Relevance: India has a rich history of astronomy (e.g., Jantar Mantar). A session on “How Bengaluru’s ancestors saw the sky” or “Indian Astronomy Heritage” would perfectly blend the missions of Heritage Beku and the Planetarium.

2. The "Museum Late" or "Star Party" Model

• Global Practice: Institutions like the Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles) and Science Museum (London) host "Lates"—adult-only evenings with talks, music, and telescope viewings.

• Local Adaptation: A quarterly "Star Party" at JNP for the Vasant Nagar/Millers Road community would foster a sense of ownership and neighbourliness.

3. "Dark Sky" Heritage Conservation

• Trend: The International Dark-Sky Association works to protect the night sky as a shared heritage.

• Idea: Heritage Beku could champion a "Dark Sky" awareness campaign in the Central Business District (CBD) to reduce light pollution, with the Planetarium as the technical expert. This positions the sky itself as a "heritage structure" worth saving.

4. Citizen Science Projects

• Example: Galaxy Zoo allows citizens to help classify galaxies.

• Idea: Launch a "Bengaluru Sky Watch" where locals contribute data on star visibility, blending community effort with scientific observation.