Philanthropy

On 14th March 2026, on the eve of the event, statues of Maharana Bheem Singh, the 67th Custodian of the House of Mewar and Colonel James Tod, Political Agent to the Western Rajput States during his tenure, were unveiled. The ceremony was led by MMCF Chairman and Managing Trustee Shriji Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, joined by Dr. Norbert Peabody (UK), recipient of the 2020 Colonel James Tod Award, and Dr. Molly Emma Aitken, the 2026 awardee. Dignitaries from India and overseas, award recipients, and special invitees attended to pay tribute to these historical figures and celebrate Mewar's enduring heritage.

Shriji Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar unveils the statues of Maharana Bheem Singh and Colonel James Tod, flanked by Dr. Norbert Peabody, Dr. Molly Emma Aitken and Mr. Shailesh Lodha

The 42nd Annual Awards Distribution Ceremony was held on Sunday, 15th March 2026, at Manek Chowk, The City Palace, Udaipur. The distribution ceremony starts with the presentation of certificates to students from schools and universities in Udaipur and across the State of Rajasthan, followed by the national and international awards.

The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) continues its legacy of excellence by fostering achievements across diverse domains, including heritage management, fine arts, performing arts, education, ecological management, hospitality, philanthropy, spirituality, and sports.
For over four decades, MMCF's initiatives have not only created employment opportunities but have also mitigated rural migration to urban areas, instilling pride in traditional vocations and artisanship.
Dedicated to preserving cultural values, MMCF employs innovative communication methods to make a lasting impact. Central to its mission is the recognition of excellence-celebrating achievements to inspire others to pursue their passions with dedication.
The international award, instituted in 1996 and named after Colonel James Tod is to honour a foreign national who has made a lasting contribution through his work of permanent value and understanding of the spirit and values of Mewar, Udaipur and India.
This year the award is given to Dr. Molly Emma Aitken. She is an Associate Professor in the Art History Department at the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), and in the Art Department at The City College of New York, CUNY. For her doctoral research, she lived for several months in Udaipur, exploring the city's architecture, murals, and important painting collections. She received the Ph.D in 2000 from Columbai University's Department of Art History and Archeology. Her Doctoral dissertation, "The Practiced Eye: Styles and Allusions in Mewar Painting," was awarded with distinction. Bhamashah Student Awards were given to 18 students, Maharana Raj Singh Student Awards to 24 students and Maharana Fateh Singh Student Awards to 39 students

Master of Ceremony: Mr. Gopal Soni and Ms. Rupa Chakravarty