The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organized a nationwide art competition in which 11,000 students participated from around 100 cities from all over India and excellent entries were received from different parts of the country. INTACH received entries in English, Hindi and regional languages including Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Malayalam,Odia,Tamil and Telugu. Out of 11,000 entries INTACH selected 15 National Winners and 103 Regional winners. And INTACH A and N proud to announce that one regional winner is from our islands. Master K. Abhi Raj of 8th standard from Khalsa Public School who drew the Gallows at Viper Island was declared the regional winner. Today Shri Santosh, volunteer INTACH A and N Chapter handed over the Trophy and certificate to the winners and gave away certificates to participants of the competition from different schools. Shri. Suresh Ray, Vice Principal, Khalsa Public School received the trophy and certificates.

https://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php/32204-k-abhi-raj-declared-regional-winner-of-intach-s-nationwide-art-competition, September 10, 2024

The INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter conducted an all India ‘My Monument Search’ poster competition on February 10, 2024 at Hawa Mahal. INTACH Visakhapatnam chapter received the ‘Best Chapter Award’ along with a cash award of Rs. 5,000 for its efforts in making the ‘My Monument Search’, a national competition, a success. P. Durga Pranathi, Class VIII, is one of 15 declared national winners for her poster and write up on Undavalli Caves and another student Bhavagnya, Class VII, is one of the 100 declared Regional winners from across the country for her poster and write up on Bojjannakonda. Both the students are from Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan, Visakhapatnam. In all, about 12,000 students from 1,200 schools from about 100 cities participated in the competition. The INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter conducted an all India ‘My Monument Search’ poster competition on February 10, 2024 at Hawa Mahal. This event was organised nationally under the initiative of INTACH Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) Division, New Delhi. About 120 students from 15 schools across the Visakhapatnam city participated in the competition which involved painting a heritage structure and writing an essay on the structure to describe the painting. D. Rajasekhar Reddy, convener, INTACH Visakhapatnam Chapter, expressed happiness on getting the ‘Best Chapter Award’ and thanked all the members involved in organising the event and supporters for making the programme a success. The convener, co-convenor B. Surendra Kumar, program coordinator Sandhya Godey, senior members Edward Paul, Mayank Kumari Deo, Asha Jain, Jayashree Hattangadi, Mahesh Rao, Ravikumar and others had ensured the smooth conduct of the event.

https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1212027, September 08, 2024

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Ambala, has won the Best Chapter Award, among over 200 Chapters across the country for the sixth time, consecutively. Colonel (retd) RD Singh, Convener, INTACH, Ambala, said, “The Ambala chapter has won the best chapter award for the sixth time consecutively. It is based on the number and quality of heritage activities undertaken by the Chapter during 2023, as well as the work done towards heritage preservation and spreading heritage awareness among the youth in Ambala district. INTACH, Ambala, has opened over 27 Heritage Clubs in schools which motivates children to respect and preserve India’s rich culture and heritage. Heritage events build values and good citizenship among people."

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/ambala-intach-wins-best-chapter-award-6th-time-in-a-row/, September 03, 2024

The World Beach Day was celebrated by INTACH A&N Chapter with support from ANET and Dakshin Foundation and in association with Coastal Green Zone. A total of 39 boys and girls from different villages in Wandoor participated in the celebration. The day started with a presentation by Shri. Anand Rao from ANET who explained the significance of beaches to the children. Meera from Dakshin Foundation gave an orientation to the children about the beach ecosystem while Coastal Green Zone helped the children enact a role play where the children were divided into three groups to represent waves, beaches and trees and buildings. The role play explained beautifully how the beaches protect us and why it is important to save our beaches. Further into the day the entire group went up to Old Wandoor beach to clean it up, armed with gloves and sacks. The children enthusiastically dug up shoes and fishing nets, ropes, clothes, discarded beer bottles, plastic debris and a lot more. What was extremely disturbing was that a grove was completely fouled up by some people who left behind half eaten food packets. The entire area was infested with maggots. It was disheartening to see that green and blue dustbins were installed just 2 meters away from this dump that the gang conveniently missed.

https://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php/32109-intach-in-association-with-anet-dakshin-foundation-and-coastal-green-zone-celebrates-world-beach-day, September 03, 2024

A platform to celebrate and promote India's rich cultural heritage, the INTACH heritage quiz was held at Patanjali Rishikul School of the Sangam city on Thursday. A total of 55 teams from 13 schools of the city participated in the quiz. Organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Prayagraj chapter, the quiz aimed to highlight the need to create awareness and sensitivity towards our cultural heritage, which is often neglected in the fast-paced modern world. Member of the Prayagraj chapter, Col Parag Bhargava gave a talk on the importance of heritage conservation, stating, "Our history is not just a series of past events. It is the foundation upon which our future is built.

By understanding and appreciating our cultural heritage, we are better equipped to shape a more enlightened and progressive nation." He also motivated the youth to join the Indian Army. Shruti Sharma conducted the whole session. Anvita and Anwesha Tiwari from Patanjali Rishikul emerged victorious, qualifying for the state level. Nilansh and Pradyuman secured second place, while Pratyush and Navya Singh claimed third, all representing Patanjali Rishikul. Vice president of Patanjali Rishikul, Krishna Gupta, in her message, praised the good performance of the children.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/city-students-qualify-for-state-level-intach-quiz/articleshow/113499199.cms, September 16, 2024

Eight new life members were inducted into Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) by its Jammu Chapter in a function held here on Wednesday. Three new members viz. Anil Goswami (IAS Retd.), Hemant Sharma (IAS Retd.) and Ar. Himani Badyal were formally welcomed and recognized as life members. Formal membership letters and pins were presented to the Inductees. A book titled Jammu Cantonment, published by INTACH which covers Dogra military heritage buildings in Jammu and its glorious traditions was also released on this occasion by Anil Goswami, Maj General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (Retd.), Hemant Sharma and Dr. Jyotsana Singh, Honorary Director Amar Mahal Museum and Library. Anil Goswami expressed his happiness at joining the INTACH fraternity and assured that all efforts shall be made to add further towards already initiated endeavours. Maj General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal urged upon all the members to think consciously about the decay of our valuable heritage and equip the next generation with knowledge to carry out the work for its preservation and protection. Dr. Jyotsna Singh talked about new initiatives for providing platforms for vibrant discussions and deliberations on various aspects of culture of Jammu. Earlier, the function started with the welcome address by S.M Sahni Convener INTACH

Jammu Chapter. He outlined the ongoing conservation and preservation projects and plans of the Chapter. Arvind Kotwal Coordinator Heritage Tourism presented the vote of thanks. Other life members who were present on this occasion included C.M Seth (IFS Retd.) Co-convener INTACH J&K Chapter, Resham Kashyap (JKAS Retd.), Narinder Khajuria JKAS,Sh. K.K. Sharma, Prof. Sudhir Singh, Ajay Gandotra Sr. Advocate, Dr. Rajesh Sharma and Dr. Vivek Kumar Sharma. Dhara Mayavat, Heritage Archivist was the special invitee on the occasion.

https://statetimes.in/modi-asks-people-to-vote-for-jks-future-promises-restoration-of-statehood/, September 17, 2024

INTACH Uttarakhand organised a successful and interactive virtual session with 10 cultural museums of Uttarakhand presenting ‘ek khas cheez’ of their museums. The Soham Himalayan Centre, Mussoorie, described their numismatic collection. Sameer Shukla showed the vintage silver coin of the 2nd Century BC, from the Kuninda dynasty. They were the first rulers of central Himalayan regions where Uttarakhand falls now. Surbhi of the Mussoorie Heritage Centre showed a vintage Edwardian rear car lamp used during the British times. The Rung Museum from Dharchula represented by Ravi Patiyal, showed their traditional wine fermentation equipment and process and the exciting brass and wood equipment used in it. The Pratap Museum/Tibar, Uttarkashi, exhibited their collection made from the Bhimal tree. The ropes, harnesses, and slippers were made from the tree bark. He also informed the audience that production of slippers made from the bark of Bhimal tree is being exported too from Rishikesh.

The Folk Culture Museum, spearheaded by Yashodhar Matpal, Padma Shri, talked of the paintings that they have in their collection which depict the various customs, traditions and landscapes of Uttarakhand. Matpal, who is 86 years old, continues to paint and at times his canvases are as big as 9 ft by 5 ft. The Jugal Kishore Perthshali Museum showed the traditional musical instrument, ‘Ranshinga’, which is used in all cultural functions across Uttarakhand. Neeraj from the recently inaugurated Jim Corbett Museum at Rudraprayag, which is at the very site where the Man-eater of Rudraprayag was shot in 1926, showed the typewriter used for writing letters. The Jim Corbett Museum at Chotti Haldwani, Kaladhungi, which was where Corbett lived with his family showed the ‘dandy’ used to commute the steep climb uphill to Nainital. The session was curated by Anjali Bharthari Ravi, Co-convenor, INTACH Uttarakhand. Bharti P Jain, Convenor, Dehradun, proposed the vote of thanks.

This was an effort to form a collective of museums of the state and to revitalise them by building their capacities so that visiting museums becomes an enriching experience. It was also an endeavour to make museums a popular component in the itinerary of the lakhs of visitors coming to Uttarakhand who miss out on the opportunity to know and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the state. INTACH, by spearheading conservation of heritage, would like to integrate culture into the itinerary of the visitors to sensitise them and make them responsible visitors.

https://garhwalpost.in/from-10-museums-of-uttarakhand-ek-khas-cheez/, September 18, 2024

The Department of Forestry, Manipur University, in collaboration with INTACH Manipur Chapter and ApunbaImagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur, celebrated World Bamboo Day 2024 at the Department of Forestry, Manipur University Canchipur, under the theme “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation and Design”. The Chief Guest for the function was Dr. Khwairakpam Romesh Singh, Faculty, Department of Forestry, Manipur University. Mayanglangbam Khelendro Singh, President of ApunbaImagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur, presided over the occasion and highlighted the importance of bamboo in trying to make new solutions to environmental issues and sustainable designs. This includes a keynote speaker, Guest Faculty of Manipur University’s Department of Forestry, Dr Salam Dilip, who spoke passionately on the subject of “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation, and Design.” He emphasized bamboo’s future-forward potential, how it would buck most challenges contemporary civilisation is confronting, from climate change and deforestation to perpetuated economic inequality. However, he talked about how this kind of bamboo growing so fast and renewing itself has its share in contributions to carbon sequestration for environmental restoration as a substitute for traditional wood and plastics. He also discussed innovations in products made from bamboo, including its use in building construction, furniture, textiles, and even energy generation. His speech really inspired people to consider bamboo as the foundation for future strategies in both environmental and economic operations. As part of the observance, a bamboo plantation drive was led at the Department of Forestry, very much symbolising commitment towards building a greener future. Faculty members and students joined in actively in a plantation drive towards the university’s green endeavours. The programme culminated with a vote of thanks by Dr Rajkumar Chingkhei, Guest Faculty, Department of Environmental Science, Manipur University. Extempore speech competition was held, and cash awards were given to Lanrilu Dangmei (1st position), Korymayum Subhani (2nd position) and Soraisam Hira (3rd position).

https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/world-bamboo-day-2024-celebrated-at-mu, September 21, 2024

A solemn ceremony was held at the Saragarhi Memorial in Dhun Dhai Wala in Tarn Taran district to commemorate the martyrdom of Naik Lal Singh, IOM (Indian Order of Merit) and second-in-command during the historic Battle of Saragarhi. Naik Lal... A solemn ceremony was held at the Saragarhi Memorial in Dhun Dhai Wala in Tarn Taran district to commemorate the martyrdom of Naik Lal Singh, IOM (Indian Order of Merit) and second-in-command during the historic Battle of Saragarhi. Naik Lal Singh hailed from the village of Dhun Dhai Wala in Tarn Taran district, and his bravery in defending Saragarhi Fort continues to inspire generations. The event began with Bhog and Ardas (prayer) at the memorial, where the caretakers, along with the residents of Dhun Dhai Wala, paid homage to Naik Lal Singh. The community transformed the day into a festival of remembrance, honouring the legacy of the brave soldier. The Indian Army presented a guard of honour, with participation from the 18 Punjab Battalion and a contingent from the 4 Sikh Battalion. The event was co-hosted by Tarn Taran chapter of INTACH and the Saragarhi Memorial Committee, Dhun Dhai Wala. Maj Gen Balwinder Singh VSM (retd), Punjab State Convener of INTACH, led the tribute, alongside Dr Baljit Kaur, convener of INTACH Tarn Taran, Surjit Singh, president of Saragarhi Memorial Dhun Dhai Wala, Kirti Chakra awardee Charan Singh Dubbli, and Indian Army personnel.

In his address, Maj Gen (retd) Balwinder Singh expressed deep gratitude to the people of Dhun Dhai Wala for preserving the spirit of nationalism. He further mentioned, “We remember the event in a befitting manner, along with the Saragarhi Foundation, Dhun village. Our efforts are to transform this historic place into a destination for tourists from Punjab, as well as national and international visitors.” Dr Baljit Kaur of Tarn Taran chapter of INTACH was recognised for her commitment to reviving Punjab’s cultural and historical heritage. Subedar Sukhbir Singh, addressing the attendees, informed them that the remembrance function began with an Akhand Path and concluded with a guard of honour. Maj Gen (retd) Balwinder Singh also highlighted the ongoing collaboration with Punjab government’s cultural department to revive other historical sites across the state. “These efforts will not only help preserve our heritage but also boost tourism and contribute to the local economy,” he stated. The annual commemoration not only pays tribute to Naik Lal Singh’s supreme sacrifice but also reaffirms the commitment of the people of Punjab to their rich history. The event was attended by several prominent members of INTACH, including Dr Sukhbir Kaur Aulakh, Mandeep Kaur, Sahib Singh and Varinder Pal Singh, who contributed to making the ceremony a success. The residents of Dhun Dhai Wala maintain the Saragarhi Memorial on their own and with respect. The visitors who come to this sleepy village appreciate the patriotic zeal of the villagers.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/tarn-taran-diary-commemoration-ceremony-of-saragarhi-martyr, September 22, 2024

According to Kumar, weapons found as part of the artefacts were discovered by farmers in Nigohi around two years ago. An archaeology enthusiast who’s helmed the police department in the state has claimed to have found 250 artifacts that dated back to 2400 BC in the Nigohi area of Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur. The finds, carbon dating of which had been done and which weighed around 200 kg, were similar to the artefacts found in the Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture, a Bronze Age culture in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, former U.P. DGP Vijay Kumar said in a press conference here on Tuesday. “The findings, which have been published in the Indian Journal of Archaeology, show that scientific evidence of the antiquity of Ganga Valley culture has been found.

The Chalcolithic Culture of Ganga Valley (Ocher Color Pottery Culture) is dateable to 2400 B.C.” “This Chalcolithic culture had a huge population as it spread from Ayodhya in U.P. to Jalandhar in Punjab from east to west. From north to south, it was spread from the Himalayas to Jaipur in Rajasthan,” said Kumar, who is the chief editor of the Journal. According to Kumar, weapons found as part of the artefacts were discovered by farmers in Nigohi around two years ago. “These were sent to Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow for carbon dating and then to Hungary, which verified that they belonged to 2400 BC,” said Kumar. Anupam Sharma, a scientist at BSIP, confirmed carbon dating of the objects was done at the institute.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/artifacts-from-2400-bc-found-in-shahjahanpur-101726625718275.html, September 25, 2024

A city-based archaeologist and former DGP claimed to have found weapons (copper hoard) from the Nigohi area in the Shahjahanpur district which is very similar to those found in the Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP). For the unversed, OCP is a Bronze Age culture of the Indo-Gangetic Plain "generally dated 2000–1500 BC," extending from eastern Punjab to northeastern Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. Artefacts of this culture show similarities with both the Late Harappan culture and the Vedic culture. Kumar claimed that the carbon dating of these weapons revealed it to be from

2400 BC. The findings, which have also been published in the Indian Journal of Archaeology, show that scientific evidence of the antiquity of Ganga Valley culture has been found. The Chalcolithic Culture of Ganga Valley (Ochre Coloured Pottery Culture) is dateable to 2400 B.C. “Ganga Valley has always been an important centre of Indian Culture. An independent ancient culture existed in the Ganga Valley. It was indigenous and was not brought to this area by any human group from western India or elsewhere. This Chalcolithic culture had a huge population as it spread from district Ayodhya UP to district Jalandhar Punjab, from east to west. From north to south, it was spread from the Himalayas to river Yamuna and Jaipur, Rajasthan," said Kumar who is also the chief editor of the Journal claiming that it was most ancient and many evidences confirming this have been found. "The people of Ochre Coloured Pottery Culture knew the technology of extraction of copper from copper-ore imported from Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan Aravali and MP regions.

They used copper to make sophisticated weapons. These weapons were found in the form of hoards in Ganga Valley and were used for war. The whole village belonging to this culture used to be armed and these sophisticated weapons were kept in the armoury situated in the middle of the village," said Kumar. Carbon dating was done at BSIP and then in Hungary. According to Kumar, these weapons were found by some farmers in Nigohi village around two years back in a rocky form. "These were sent to Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, for carbon dating and then to Hungry which authenticated its ancient age which is around 2400 BC. Accelerator mass spectrometry, the most reliable carbon dating method, was used," said Kumar.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/artifacts-from-2400-bc-found-in-shahjahanpur-101726625718275.html, September 26, 2024

Srinivas School of Architecture (SSA) students of Srinivas Institute of Technology (SIT),Valachil, Mangaluru received the ‘Award of Merit’ (South Zone) for documenting city-based historic Zeenath Baksh Masjid at a programme on April 18 at India InternationalCentre, New Delhi. The objective of the competition was to promote documentation ofheritage buildings and sites of Historic, Architectural and Cultural significance.Students from all architectural colleges across the nation participated for thiscompletion. A team of six students namely Akshay kumar G.K., Santhosh Prabhu T N,Rajat K R, Prajwal Prakash, Adithya Hebbar and Harsha Raj extensively worked over amonth for this national level competition under the guidance of Dr Shaila Bantanur (IITRoorkee). The award ceremony was organised by Indian National Trust for Art andCultural Heritage (INTACH) Academy.

Dr Sachchidananda Saha, who workedextensively on conservation of Angkor Wat, Cambodia and L.K Gupta, Chairman ofINTACH, India and Dr C T Misra, Member Secretary of INTACH were present guests ofthe event. Eminent architects, Head of Schools, teachers, academicians, professionalsand students of architecture participated in the event in large number. The teamacknowledged the kind support of the Management Committee of the Zeenath BakshMasjid Mangaluru and the Principal SIT, Dr Srinivas Mayya D for their kind support.

https://www.coastaldigest.com/mangaluru-students-bag-intach-academy-documenting-zeenath-baksh-masjid?page=3, September 28, 2024

Apeejay College of Fine Arts organised a three-day workshop on folk art — ‘SainchiPhulkari’ — in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage(INTACH). Sudhakar Sharma (former secretary, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi) waspresent as... Apeejay College of Fine Arts organised a three-day workshop on folk art —‘Sainchi Phulkari’ — in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and CultureHeritage (INTACH). Sudhakar Sharma (former secretary, Lalit Kala Academy, NewDelhi) was present as the chief guest. Manmeet Kaur, who is an artist, researcher andeducationist and alumna, was present as the resource speaker and Maj Gen BalwinderSingh (retd), convener of INTACH Punjab State, was present as the special guest.Sucharita Sharma (director, Apeejay Education) said the objective was to introduce thestudents to the endangered folk art ‘Sainchi Phulkari’ and encourage and motivate themto preserve it. Jahnvi Mehta (BFA semester VIII), who had won the Award of Excellencein Graphic Design Technology at World Skills Competition Lyon 2024, was alsohonoured.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/campus-notes-exhibition-on-sainchi-phulkari/, September 27, 2024

World Rhino Day is a reminder of the urgent need to protect these magnificentcreatures and their habitats. Visiting national parks in India not only provides anopportunity to witness the Indian rhino up close but also supports conservation efforts.World Rhino Day, celebrated on September 22, is a global event dedicated to raisingawareness and promoting the conservation of rhinoceros species. In India, the one-horned rhinoceros, or Indian rhino, holds a special place in wildlife heritage, and thecountry is home to several national parks where you can witness these majesticcreatures in their natural habitat. As we approach World Rhino Day 2024, let’s exploreeight national parks in India where you can spot rhinos and contribute to theirconservation. By promoting eco-tourism and raising awareness, we can contribute to thepreservation of these majestic animals for future generations. As you plan your travelsfor World Rhino Day 2024, consider these incredible parks and take part in the globalmission to protect rhinos! Kaziranga National Park is the most famous habitat for theIndian rhinoceros and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning over 430 squarekilometres, it boasts the largest population of one-horned rhinos in the world. The parkfeatures lush grasslands, marshland, and dense tropical forests, making it an ideal spotfor rhinos, as well as tigers and elephants.Best time to visit: November to April2. MANAS NATIONAL PARK, ASSAMAlso a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manas National Park is known for its breathtakinglandscape and diverse wildlife. This park is a crucial conservation area for the Indianrhino, and it offers a unique opportunity to see them in a more pristine environmentcompared to Kaziranga. The park is also home to several endangered species, includingthe Assam roofed turtle.Best time to visit: November to April3. DUDHWA NATIONAL PARK, UTTAR PRADESHDudhwa National Park is a lesser-known gem that is crucial for the conservation of theIndian rhino. The park’s grasslands and swamps provide a perfect habitat for thesemagnificent animals. Dudhwa is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and is a haven for avariety of wildlife.

Best time to visit: November to March4. JALDAPARA NATIONAL PARK, WEST BENGALJaldapara National Park is another excellent location to spot the Indian rhino.Located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, this park offers a unique blend ofgrasslands and forest, making it a great habitat for rhinos, elephants, and various birdspecies. The park also provides elephant rides for tourists.Best time to visit: November to March5. POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMSmaller than Kaziranga, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is still an excellent place to see theIndian rhino. With a high density of rhinos, this sanctuary is often less crowded,allowing for a more intimate wildlife experience. The park is also home to diverse birdspecies, making it a birdwatcher's paradise.Best time to visit: November to April6. RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK, UTTARAKHANDRajaji National Park is not just known for its stunning landscapes but also for its diversewildlife, including the Indian rhino. The park features a mix of deciduous forests,grasslands, and riverine habitats, providing ample opportunities for spotting rhinos,elephants, and leopards.Best time to visit: November to June7. KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, RAJASTHANWhile primarily known for its birdwatching opportunities, Keoladeo National Park isalso home to a small population of Indian rhinos. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is aformer royal hunting ground that has been transformed into a sanctuary for numerousspecies, including the one-horned rhino.Best time to visit: October to March

https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/world-rhino-day-2024-7-national-parks-in-india-where-you-can-spot-rhinos-2604369-2024-09-22, September 30, 2024