Aman Nath

Aman Nath (born 1951) is an Indian writer, hotelier, and architectural restorer. He is the co-founder and co-chairman of the Neemrana Hotels chain, along with Francis Wacziarg. Both are today credited for pioneering the heritage hotels movement in India.[2][3] They started in 1991. Since then, they have acquired over 25 heritage properties and converted them into heritage hotels after restoration. Nath has published several illustrated books on Rajasthan and Indian arts.[2][3]

Aman Nath
Born1951 (age 68–69)
New Delhi
NationalityIndian
Occupationco-founder and chairman Neemrana Hotels[1]

In June 2016, Nath and five others, all members of the LGBT community themselves, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India challenging Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.[4] This resulted in the 2018 landmark judgment in Navtej Singh Johar and others v. Union of India in which the Supreme Court unanimously declared the law unconstitutional "in so far as it criminalises consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex".[5]

Early life and education

Born and brought up in New Delhi, Aman Nath's family migrated from Lahore, Pakistan during the partition of India to settle in Delhi. He completed his education with a post-graduate degree in medieval Indian history from Delhi University.[3][6] He also has an adopted daughter named Aadya Nath.

Career
Neemrana Fort Palace hotel, at Neemrana, Alwar district Rajasthan, the first property of Neemrana Hotels, opened 1991
Aman Nath with his book Jaipur: The last Destination

Nath started his career as a copywriter and graphic designer in advertising. He was one of the founding members of INTACH, a heritage and conservation organisation, established in 1984.[7] He became the arts editor for the magazine India Today, and later remained curator of "Art Today"—an art gallery of the India Today group, situated at Connaught Place, New Delhi—for seven years. Meanwhile, he started publishing books on history and heritage, including "Jaipur: the Last Destination", "Arts and Crafts of Rajasthan", and "Dome Over India: Rashtrapati Bhavan.".[8]

He first came across the ruined 15th-century Neemarana Fort, about 120 km from Delhi, in 1981 while researching for a book on Shekhawati painting and frescoes with Francis Wacziarg, former French diplomat and resident of India since 1969.[2] After restoring two havelis in Rajasthan, they had developed enough expertise to take on the fort. Thus in 1986, they acquired the fort and, after restoration, a 12-room heritage hotel was opened in 1991. Over the years, they have acquired many heritage forts and palaces and converted them into successful heritage hotels, including Neemrana Fort Palace, Hill Fort Kesroli, Pataudi Palace, and Baradari Palace in Patiala.[8][9][10]

In 2011, Neemrana Hotels had 25 properties in 17 locations.[11]

Nath lives in the Nizamuddin East area of New Delhi.

Works
  • Rajasthan: the painted walls of Shekhavati, with Francis Wacziarg. Vikas Publications, 1982. ISBN 0706920872.
  • Goa. Vikas Publishing House, 1984. ISBN 0706923855.
  • Arts and crafts of Rajasthan, with Francis Wacziarg. Mapin Publishing, 1997. ISBN 0944142060.
  • Horizons: the Tata-India century, 1904–2004, with Jay Vithalani, Tulsi Vatsal, Amit Pasricha (photographs). India Book House, 2004. ISBN 8175084316.
  • Larger Than Life: The Popular Arts of India. India Book House, 2004. ISBN 8175083042.
  • Palaces of Rajasthan, with George Michell, Antonio Martinelli (photographs). Frances Lincoln, 2005.
  • Brahma's Pushkar: ancient Indian pilgrimage. Rajan Kapoor (photographs). India Book House, 2005. ISBN 8175083719.
  • Jaipur: The Last Destination, with Samar Singh Jodha (photographs), India Book House, 2006. ISBN 978-81-7508-188-8.
  • Dome Over India. India Book House, 2006. ISBN 8175083522.[12]
  • Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan: The Maharaja of palaces : a book, with Fred R. Holmes, Anna Newton Holmes, Amit Paschira (photographer). India Book House, 2008. ISBN 8175085118.
  • The Monumental India book. Amit Pasricha (photographer). Constable, 2008. ISBN 1845298829.
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References
  1. "Founders and Chairmen". Neemrana Hotels. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. Goyal, Malini (24 August 2009). "Two Unlikely Maharajas". Forbes India. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. Bagchi, Subroto (1 January 2011). "The Neemrana Art of Resurrection". Forbes India. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  4. "Many ups and downs in battle against 377". The Indian Express. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. Safi, Michael (6 September 2018). "Campaigners celebrate as India decriminalises homosexuality". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  6. Pande, Alka (1 August 1999). "A new lease of life". Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Hindu.
  7. "Founder Members". INTACH. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  8. Gautam, Savitha (29 July 2004). "Ruins revisited". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  9. Talreja, Vishakha (31 October 2010). "The heritage tourism specialists". The Financial Express. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  10. Subramanyam, Chitra (27 November 2008). "Holding fort". India Today. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  11. "Neemrana hotels: Making History Hip". Outlook Business. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  12. Salam, Ziya Us (26 September 2002). "Dome over Hardinge's Delhi..." The Hindu. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
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