NEWS
The Film Festival at Kochi was held at The Kerala Museum on 14th February 2025. 60 participants (51 students and 9 teachers) from 9 schools attended the festival. Mr. Bonnie Thomas, cartoonist and writer was invited as the Chief Guest. The programme began with a welcome address by Mr. Biley Menon, Co-convenor, Kochi Chapter. He welcomed all the schools and talked about INTACH and the reason why it was setup. He talked about INTACH’s founding members too. He then introduced Ms. Aditi Nayar, Director, Kerala Museum and Mr. Babu C Rajeev. He thanked Aditi for providing the wonderful venue for all INTACH programmes. Aditi welcomed the schools to the museum and talked about the museum’s long standing association with INTACH. She talked about film making as a powerful medium and encouraged the students to make films. Mr. Babu Rajeev congratulated all the schools for doing wonderful work and making great films. He encouraged them to make even more number of films for the next year so that they could win even more awards. Mr. Abhishek Das thanked the Kochi Chapter and Kerala Museum for extended their continuous support for HECS’ activities. He spoke about the FilmIt India programme in brief. He talked about the initial years of the project and its expansion over the years. After the introductory session, students
shared their experiences through speeches and poems. Almost every student mentioned how challenging it was to shoot the films but it was enjoyable at the same time. The Kochi films were screened next after which a short refreshment break was given. Post the break, some films from across the country were screened. Mr. Biley formally introduced Mr. Bonnie Thomas. In his address, Mr. Thomas congratulated the students for making wonderful films and wished them luck for the future. The schools were then awarded certificates, books and prizes which were given away by Mr. Thomas and Ms.Nayar. Mr. Menon gave the formal vote of thanks. He thanked the schools, HECS team and the Kerala Museum. The National Anthem was sung at the end of the
programme
Workshop Photographs
The FilmIt India festival in Chennai was held on 13th February at Jubilee Maharishi Vidya Mandir. 85 students and teachers from 11 schools participated. The programme began with a prayer song by three students of the host school. Dr. TC Perumal, Secretary, Ms. Gnyana Priya, Head Mistress and Mrs. D Jayalakshmi, AHM, attended the inaugural session. The lighting of the lamp was done by the dignitaries which also included Dr. S. Suresh, Convenor, INTACH Tamil Nadu State Chapter. Ms. Sruti Harihara Subramanian, well known director, actress and entrepreneur, was invited as the Chief Guest. Mr.Abhishek Das gave the formal introduction and spoke the FilmIt project. He mentioned how times have changed and technological advancements have been made and students can shoot films even with their mobile phones these days. He invited the schools to share their experiences about their film making journey. The students shared how challenging it was to make films under three minutes and about their bloopers as well. They shared that they learnt a lot during the entire process and though stressful it was very enjoyable as well. The Chennai lot of films was screened which included one film per school. Ms. Sruti was introduced by Dr. Suresh. Few more schools shared about their experiences followed by the screening of some of the films from across the country. Mr.Ramalingam, Chief Administrative Officer, Maharishi Vidya Mandir addressed the students and congratulated them. He termed them as ‘creators’ since they all created something; ‘films’. Ms.Sruthi, in her address said she enjoyed watching the films. She congratulated them as they were all filmmakers irrespective of whether they win any award or not. Filmmaking makes you learn about a lot of things. She congratulated all of them for taking the first step and how they all told their stories differently and maybe some of them might continue and make it as a career choice. Mr. Ramalingam, Ms. Sruthi and Ms. Gnyana Priya were presented with calendars and the Khana Khazana food diary from INTACH’s side. The award ceremony was held next. The prizes, in the form of books, diaries and certificates were given to each school by Dr. Suresh and the three of them. Dr. Suresh gave the formal vote of thanks. He thanked all the schools and teachers, guests and the host school and INTACH HECS. The programme ended with refreshments being served to everyone.
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Heritage Education and Communication Service organised Goa Filmit festival on 13th February 2025 at the Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Panjim. It was attended by approximately 51 teachers and students of 11 schools of Goa. The Chief Guest for the festival was Paulo D’Silva Gomes, the present representative of Fundação Oriente in India and Ms Arthy Muthanna Singh, children’s author and freelance journalist. The occasion was also graced by Ms Fatima Da Silva Gracias, Convenor Goa Chapter.
The event commenced with the welcome address by Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH where she introduced the programme and briefed about the Film festival and how it expanded in so many cities. Ms Fatima introduced Mr Paulo and Ms Purnima introduced Ms Arthy. This was followed by experiences sharing by students from each school. Students shared their varied experiences of exploring the art of filmmaking. This was followed by screening of best films of Goa and later overall best films from across India were showcased. Later Mr Paulo took over and shared his experience of how difficult it was to make films during his childhood. He was overjoyed to be a part of the programme and congratulated the children on touching upon unique themes like Theyyam, Vasco Saptah and Viceroy’s Arch. Ms Arthy congratulated the students on making amazing films and said that she is fortunate for this opportunity. She talked briefly about her association with INTACH and children. This was followed by the felicitation ceremony. The festival ended with a formal vote of thanks by Ms Purnima and a group photograph.
Workshop Photographs
The FilmIt India Festival was held on 12th February at Jubilee Hills Public School. 110 students and teachers from 21 schools participated in the festival. The programme began by a welcome classical dance performance by the students of the host school followed by an introduction by two students who were the compeers.
Mr. Arvind Achanta, a cinematographer and researcher was invited as the Chief Guest. The first session was also attended by Ms. P. Kanchana Valli, Principal of the school and Ms. Anuradha Reddy, Convenor, INTACH Hyderabad Chapter also welcomed the students and told them how Hyderabad has always been making good films and been a part of the project since the early years of the project. Mr. Abhishek Das, spoke about the humble beginnings of the project and how it has expanded vastly over the years and it’s the 17th year running.
Post the introductory session, students presented their experiences about their film making journey in the form of speeches and poems. This was followed by the screening of films made by the schools of Hyderabad. Then, a few students of Jubilee Hills Public School performed a skit which was followed by the screening of the Best Overall films from across the country.
Mr. Achanta in his interaction with the students appreciated their films and stated films are a way of communication and collaboration. He said that he enjoyed watching all their films and would love to see some of them as future film makers some day.
The award ceremony was held next. The prizes, in the form of books, diaries and certificates were given to each school by Ms. Reddy and Mr. Achanta. One of the teachers sang the National Song (Vande Mataram). Mr. Das gave the formal vote of thanks, after which, the participants enjoyed refreshments organised by the school which was followed by a group photograph at the end.
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Heritage Education and Communication Service Division (HECS) in collaboration with INTACH Greater Mumbai Chapter and host organisation RN PODAR School conducted the FILMIT INDIA Festival in Mumbai on 12th February 2025 at RN podar school. The event was attended by students across 10 schools and teachers. The chief guests for the programme were Mr Milind Dhaimade, who is a former ad man and has directed many commercials as well as films. The event also saw the presence of Ms Rajul Dhaimade, the co-convenor of the Greater Mumbai chapter, Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS, INTACH and Ms Suman Samarth, Head of the Secondary School at RN Podar.
The programme began with a warm welcome by Ms Datt and a brief introduction about the FILMIT INDIA programme and the cities it has expanded to in its 17 years till date.
It was followed by a brief speech by Ms Suman of RN podar school who spoke on behalf of all the teachers present about this opportunity that HECS, INTACH has provided for the students to expand their creativity and learn about heritage in a unique manner.
The students were then invited to speak about their experiences, sharing in songs, speeches and poems. Post which the best films of Mumbai were showcased as well as the overall best films selected from across the cities. The films were enjoyed thoroughly by everybody, especially the film on Pao bhaji that came from a new school from Mumbai. Mr Milind Dhaimade spoke highly of the short films made by the students and appreciated their efforts and Ms Rajul congratulated the students on the efforts they put and spoke of expanding the programme further to different schools of Mumbai and asked the students to continue on their journey to connect with heritage and film-making.
The programme concluded with the felicitation ceremony followed by a vote of thanks by Ms Datt and a big hearty congratulations as well as a group photograph.
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Heritage Education and Communication Service and INTACH Vadodara chapter conducted the FILMIT INDIA FESTIVAL for the city on 12th February 2025. The programme was conducted at Navrachana International School with 10 participating schools from across the city and neighbouring areas. The host school graciously began the event with a lamp lighting ceremony followed by a small felicitation ceremony for the chief guests and experts who attended the event. The event was graced with the presence of the two principals of the Navrachana International School and the CBSE section, INTACH Vadodara Convenor, Mr Sanjiv Joshi, Ms Tarisha Gaurav Desai, Co-convenor and the team from HECS, INTACH. The chief guest was a young budding film-maker Mr Karan Bhatt, as well as Ms Aarzoo Patel, Mr Tatsat Shah, both architects who have had experience in being involved in film-making. The programme began with a short performance by the students of NISV and a short presentation on My Shyam Benegal, the eminent film-maker who passed away last year and his film Manthan. The event then proceeded further with a short welcoming note by Ms Christina Shangne and beginning the event with the students experience on film-making and learnings about heritage while making the films for the programme.
Post these sayings, the best films of the city were showcased and the two short films made by the Chief guest – Mr Bhatt were also showcased which covered the life story of Mr Verghese Kurien. The stop motion and animated films garenered a huge applause from the students, who were inspired to see the short films. Post this, some of the overall best films were showcased. Mr Karan Bhatt then proceeded to speak with the students about their experience with film-making and gave them some important tips and tricks they should remember incase if they plan on continuing on the path of film-making. Ms Aarzoo Bhatt also had a small interaction with the students wherein she shared her experience of set designing for the short film that Mr Bhatt directed.
Post a refreshment break, the rest of the overall films were showcased and the last segment of the event – the felicitation ceremony. All the participating students and schools received their award and participation certificates. The programme concluded with a warm vote of thanks by the team and a group photograph.
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The Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS), in collaboration with the INTACH Ahmedabad Chapter, successfully hosted the FILMIT India Festival at Shreyas Foundation, Ahmedabad, on 11th February 2025. Seven schools participated in this year’s programme, showcasing their filmmaking talent and deep engagement with heritage through compelling short films.
The festival was graced by INTACH Ahmedabad Convenor Ms. Utpala Desai, Co-Convenor Mr. Kalpesh Dalal, their team members, and HECS representatives Ms. Christina Shangne and Ms. Smriti Malhotra. The event’s chief guest was acclaimed filmmaker and editor Mr. Sanjiv Shah, best known for films like *Mirch Masala*.The programme commenced with an introduction to INTACH and the FILMIT India Project by Ms. Shangne and Ms. Malhotra. Following this, students shared their experiences of creating the films, discussing their research, ideation process, script development, recce, and the various filmmaking techniques and tools they explored. This was followed by the screening of the best films from Ahmedabad. Mr. Shah then engaged with the students in an interactive session, asking about their creative process, the themes they chose, and the technical aspects of their films. His insights and encouragement inspired the young filmmakers, making it a truly enriching experience.
After showcasing the overall best films, the students took a short break before the felicitation ceremony commenced. The event concluded with a vote of thanks and words of encouragement from Ms. Utpala Desai, who urged students to start observing the heritage around them and thinking ahead for their next projects. The festival ended on a high note with a group photograph, capturing the spirit of creativity and heritage appreciation.
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The Palace School hosted the Jaipur Film Festival on 7th February 2025. It was attended by approximately 100 teachers and students of 16 schools of Jaipur. The Chief Guest for the festival was a former TV anchor and senior journalist Ms Falguni Bansal. The occasion was also graced by Guest of Honour Mr Hanu Roj, Founder & Festival Director of Jaipur Film Festival, Ms Rama Datt, Executive Trustee of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Musuem.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Christina Shangne, Sr Programme Coordinator HECS INTACH where she introduced the programme and briefed about the Film festival and how it expanded in so many cities. The arrival of the chief guest was marked by a traditional welcome by school students and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Esteemed guests, including the principal, Ms. Falguni, Ms. Dharmendra Kanwar, Convenor, Ms. Christina Shangne, Sr Programme Coordinator HECS and Ms. Vaishnavi Singh, Programme Coordinator HECS were formally introduced. This was followed by sharing of students’ experience of Film making. This was followed by screening of best films of Jaipur and later overall best films from across India were showcased. Ms. Falguni shared her expertise in filmmaking, her personal experiences, and a captivating story about her connection to museums. She spoke about India’s cultural heritage through examples of traditional sarees, blouses, and shawls, explaining the origins of the paisley design and its Kashmiri roots. She emphasized the importance of embracing pride in one’s heritage and encouraged the audience to rekindle their connection with traditions and food practices, highlighting food as an integral part of cultural heritage. She guided students on the value of storytelling, explaining how heritage is not just about built architecture but also everything around us, and inspired them to feel proud of India’s rich cultural diversity. The students’ filmmaking efforts were applauded for their creativity and execution. After a brief break, a felicitation ceremony followed. Ms. Rama Datt, praised the initiative and encouraged students to value and respect their culture. Mr. Hanu expressed gratitude to the INTACH team for organizing the event and shared insights about his journey, emphasizing the significance of “sanskriti” (culture). Ms Urvashi Warman, Principal of the Palace School showed gratitude in organizing the event and appreciated the films made by the students. The event ended with a formal vote of thanks by Ms Vaishnavi.
The Amritsar and Punjab Filmit Festival 2024-2025 was organised by Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) Division of INTACH in collaboration with Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar. The programme was attended by 54 participants including students and teachers from 5 schools of Amritsar and 4 schools of Beas, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Tarn Taran. The FILMIT Festival began with an introduction to INTACH and FILMIT by Ms. Purnima Datt (Principal Director, HECS INTACH). She spoke about how the FILMIT programme began in 2008, with the support of Helen Hamlyn Trust in Delhi and spread to other cities eventually. She explained the logo of INTACH and the work it does.
The teachers, students, Chief Guests Mr. Ojaswwee Sharma (Filmmaker and Producer) and Guests of Honours Maj. Gen Balwinder Singh (Convenor Punjab State Chapter), Mr. Gagandeep Singh Virk (Convenor Amritsar Chapter), Mr. Rajiv Kumar Sharma (Principal, Spring Dale Senior School) and Ms. Guneet Arora (Vice Principal) were welcomed and introduced by the school. This was followed by a lamp lighting ceremony and felicitation of the guests.
Ms. Nanki Kaur then invited students from each of the 9 school to speak on their experience of making films as part of FILMIT. This was followed by a screening of the Best Films from both Amritsar and Punjab.
A short break with refreshments was then followed by the screening of the Overall Best Films from across the country. These films were appreciated by all. The guests were invited to share their views and advice for the students. Gen. Balwinder Singh welcomed and thanked everyone, especially the chief guest and guests of honour. He emphasized the importance of preserving Punjab’s heritage and highlighted the Filmit project, encouraging students to work hard and contribute to their culture. He appreciated the school’s continuous support for INTACH.
Mr. Ojaswwee Sharma praised Punjab’s rich filmmaking culture and expressed admiration for the young filmmakers. He congratulated Filmit on its 17th year and emphasised the importance of documenting language and oral traditions. He engaged students with questions and highlighted the role of films in representing local and regional heritage, and encouraged students to use filmmaking to uplift Punjab’s image. Mr. Gagandeep Singh Virk appreciated everyone’s work, stressing that great thoughts lead to impactful actions and urging students to pursue their ideas. Mr. Rajiv Sharma expressed gratitude to INTACH for the opportunity to host the event. He emphasised the school's commitment to heritage and the arts and noted their long association with INTACH. He praised the students’ storytelling efforts and encouraged them to use this inspiration to create more meaningful projects in the future.
The speeches were followed by the felicitation ceremony where the winners were announced. Each school was presented with their participation and award certificates and a set of books. The Chief Guest and host school were also presented with tokens of appreciation by HECS INTACH. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks.
PHOTOS:
HECS and INTACH, in collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC), hosted the FILMIT India festival at the CD Deshmukh Auditorium on February 4th, 2025. The event welcomed 36 schools from Delhi and the NCR, along with notable guests including filmmaker Bappa Ray, photographer Serena Chopra, and BBC documentary filmmaker Himanshi Saini, a former FILMIT participant.The festival began with an introduction from HECS, INTACH representatives Christina Shangne and Purnima Datt, Principal Director of the division who emphasized the programme's expanding reach and the diverse heritage themes explored by students. She highlighted the cities that are covered in the programme and how it has expanded over the years. She also embellished her speech with a few notable examples of the films made in the past that have beautifully explored different facets of heritage. She concluded her speech by thanking the students for their continued interest in the film-making process and the programme and wished them continued success. The chief guests were introduced and welcomed by HECS representatives. Taking the opportunity, Mr Bappa Ray encouraged the young filmmakers, highlighting the importance of sensitivity, belief in their stories, and translating ideas into a visual language. He stressed the impact of every film, regardless of scale.
Students from participating schools shared their FILMIT India experiences, followed by a screening of the best films from Delhi schools. Post which Ms Serena Chopra praised the students and urged them to find their own artistic voice, quoting David Lynch. The Chairman of INTACH, Major Gen. (Retd) LK Gupta who also graced the occasion commended the students for showcasing India's rich cultural diversity and celebrating heritage through storytelling. After more student testimonials, the overall best films from across India were screened. The festival concluded with an awards ceremony, where students received certificates. Himanshi Saini shared her own journey with filmmaking, emphasizing its collaborative nature and inspiring the students to pursue their passions.
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The INTACH FilmIt Festival at Kolkata was held at Birla High School on 31st January, 2024. 67 participants from 14 schools of the city attended the festival. The programme began with an introduction by a student of the host school. This was followed by self composed song performed by two students of the host school. Mr. Abhishek Das welcomed everyone and spoke about the Filmit project. He gave a brief about the project and its journey since it began in 2008. He then introduced the Chief Guest Mr. Ashoke Vishwanathan, renowned national award winning film director. After the introductory session, students shared their experiences through speeches and poems. They talked about the how they made their films. The Kolkata films were screened next. A few more students shared their film making experience after which some films from across the country were screened. Ms. Kanchana Mukhopadhyay, Co-convenor, Calcutta Chapter addressed the students. She appreciated the films made by them and suggested that they should also explore the vast heritage of the local towns and countryside as well. Mr. GM Kapur, Convenor, Calcutta Chapter also addressed the students. He reiterated what Ms. Kanchana said and shared with the students how the project had began in the city when schools were given handycams to shoot films. They have come a long way from there and he congratulated them for the journey thus far and wished them the best for the upcoming years. Mr. Ashoke Vishwanathan spoke at length with the students. He remarked that film making is a creative occupation. He also talked about the difference between film, movie and cinema. He also explained what a documentary is - a creative interpretation of reality. He explained these terms through various examples. He also critically broke down the films that were screened. He appreciated the subjects chosen and gave advice about the technicalities and what can be made better. He congratulated the students for their efforts and thanked INTACH for inviting him to the programme. The schools were felicitated by Mr. Kapur, Ms. Kanchana and Mr. Vishwanathan. Awards, certificates and sets of books were presented to each school. The programme ended with the vote of thanks being delivered by Mr. Das.
The Film Festival at Varanasi was held at W.H. Smith Memorial School, Sigra on 30th January, 2025. 106 teachers and students from 15 schools of Varanasi and 4 schools from Ayodhya attended the festival. The programme started with the lighting of the lamp ceremony by the guests followed by a welcome song and dance performance by the host school. The guests were felicitated thereafter. Mr. Ashok Kapoor, Convenor Varanasi Chapter, addressed the gathering and spoke about INTACH. Mr. Abhishek Das welcomed everyone and talked about the Filmit project. Students from each school made short presentations about their filmit experience. It included self-composed poems, speeches and accounts from their film-making journey. The best films from Varanasi and Ayodhya were screened. Ms. Jaswinder Kaur, the Guest of Honour congratulated the students for their hard work and wished them the best. Some more students then shared their experience followed by screening of some of the overall best films from different participating cities. Chief Guest, Dr. Sunil Vishwakarma, Chairman, State Lalit Kala Academy,UP addressed the students. The principal of W.H. Smith Memorial School, Ms Anita Pauline Dey also addressed the students and lauded INTACH’s efforts.
The award ceremony was conducted thereafter. Schools received books, DVDs, diaries and calendars as prizes from Mr. Kapoor and Ms.Kaur.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Nirmal Joshi. He thanked the host School and teachers for their efforts to make the festival a grand success. He also thanked the Ayodhya schools for making the effort to come to Varanasi. A group photograph was taken at the end.
The Chandigarh and Ambala Filmit Festival 2024-2025 was organised by Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) Division of INTACH in collaboration with St. Kabir Public School, Chandigarh. The programme was attended by 62 participants including students and teachers from 8 schools of Chandigarh and 4 schools of Ambala. The FILMIT Festival began with an introduction to INTACH and FILMIT by Ms. Purnima Datt, the Principal Director of HECS INTACH. She spoke about how the FILMIT programme began in 2008, with the support of Helen Hamlyn Trust in Delhi and spread to other cities eventually.
Ms. Datt welcomed the students, teachers, Guests of Honour and Chief Guests. The Chief Guests Mr. Ojaswwee Sharma (Filmmaker and Producer) and Guests of Honours Mr. Virinder Kapoor (Convenor Chandigarh Chapter), Col. R.D. Singh (Convenor Ambala Chapter), Ms. Deepika Gandhi (Co-Convenor Chandigarh Chapter) and Mr. Gurpreet Bakshi (Chief Administer of St. Kabir Public School) were introduced by Ms. Nanki Kaur, Programme Coordinator, HECS.
Ms. Nanki Kaur then invited students from each of the 12 school to speak on their experience of making films as part of FILMIT. This was followed by a screening of the Best Films from both Chandigarh and Ambala.
A short break with refreshments was then followed by the screening of the Overall Best Films from across the country. These films were appreciated by all. The Chief Guests were then invited to share their views and advice for the students. Mr. Ojaswwee appreciated the enthusiasm of the children and their efforts. He said that there is a need for those who are making films to look at heritage and those who preserve heritage to think of films as a medium for conservation and awareness. Mr. Sharma then went on to talk about the rich cultural diversity of India and said that we should preserve it in the best way we can. He appreciated how children had filmed lesser-known local customs and traditions as well as language. He spoke particularly about films made on the Luddi dance, Punjabi Pinni and personal heritage items. Mr. Sharma ended by stating he plans to make a film which will have 80% participation by school students.
Col. R.D. Singh encouraged the students with his words and explained to them how filmmaking makes them not only better conservationists, but also more confident and well-rounded human beings. He explained the work of INTACH and HECS in detail following this and showcased some publications. Mr. Virinder Kapoor also congratulated the students and teachers for their hard work and asked them to continue on this path.
The speeches were followed by the felicitation ceremony where the winners from both cities were announced. Each school was presented with their participation and award certificates and a set of books. The Chief Guest and host school were also presented with tokens of appreciation by HECS INTACH. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks.
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The 5th INTACH Utsav was held from 28th to 31st January 2025 at the INTACH headquarters in New Delhi. Launched in 2018, the INTACH Utsav is an annual celebration that embodies the organization's ethos, providing a platform for unrecognized, small artisanal communities to showcase their craft. These traditional art forms represent a rich heritage of craftsmanship and knowledge, passed down through generations.
As part of the event, students from Army Public School, Shankar Vihar; Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan; Green Fields School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, The Shriram Millennium School, Faridabad; The Mann School and Modern School, Barakhamba, were invited to participate in an immersive experience.
The students were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS, and Mrs. Bindu Manchanda, Principal Director, HCCD Division, INTACH. They were introduced to INTACH’s mission and its efforts in heritage preservation before embarking on an insightful tour of the Craft Mela, guided by the HECS and HCCD teams. During the tour, students engaged with skilled artisans and explored various traditional crafts such as handmade paper, kite making, block printing, pottery, and glass bead making.
A key highlight of the event was the hands-on workshop, where two women artisans demonstrated the intricate art of Kerang weaving from Koraput. Students had the unique opportunity to observe and participate in the weaving process, deepening their appreciation for this traditional craft.
The INTACH Utsav 2025 provided an enriching experience, allowing students to witness India's diverse artistic heritage firsthand. Through interactive craft demonstrations and vibrant stalls, they gained valuable insights into the meticulous processes behind these timeless crafts—each a symbol of India's cultural identity.
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The College Heritage Volunteer Workshop was conducted on 22th January 2024 in collaboration with India International Centre, New Delhi at the IIC Annex and Multipurpose Hall, INTACH, New Delhi. The workshop was attended by 59 students and 13 teachers from 11 colleges of Delhi University – Lady Shri Ram College, Jesus and Mary College, Hindu College, Gargi College, Mata Sundari College for Women, Kamala Nehru College, St. Stephens College, Kirori Mal College, Sri Venkateswara College, Hansraj College and Motilal Nehru College. The resource persons for the session were- Dr. Swapna Liddle, eminent historian, author, Advisor INTACH Delhi Chapter; Dr. Narayani Gupta, author, historian and advisor, INTACH; Mrs. Nerupama Y. Modwel, Principal Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division, INTACH, and the HECS team.
The Workshop began with a welcome address by Mrs. Purnima Datt, followed by the screening of the INTACH Film. An insightful introduction on INTACH was shared by Mrs. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH, who also emphasized the vulnerability of intangible heritage, which faces a greater risk of disappearing, and provided an overview of INTACH’s aims, objectives, and the various categories of heritage, illustrating each with examples
The next session on 'People and Water in Delhi's history' was shared by Swapna Liddle, who highlighted the importance of preserving heritage, urging students to value personal artifacts and to digitize them for preservation. She discussed the Yamuna’s pivotal role in shaping Delhi as a trading hub and its influence on the city’s culture, architecture, and daily life. Liddle encouraged students to reconnect with water’s historical and cultural significance in shaping Delhi’s identity.
This was followed by a quiz activity. Thereafter, Dr. Narayani Gupta’s session on ‘Local histories, the region, and the nations- Interactions of communities with college students’, emphasized the fragmented representation of Indian history in textbooks, urging students to explore regional and local histories, including marginalized communities and lesser-known narratives. Dr. Gupta encouraged students to examine place names in their neighborhoods, engage with diverse communities, and contribute to preserving India’s rich heritage through precise language and personal exploration.
A visit to the INACH Conservation lab was also done. The students learned about the practices of conservation and how different materials are conserved.
Post lunch, Ms. Nerupama Y. Modwel’s talk highlighted INTACH's cultural documentation of the Ganga under the Namami Gange initiative, emphasizing the river’s cultural richness beyond its technical aspects. Ms. Modwel shared insights on cultural mapping, traditions like Kalpavas, Panchami ka Bharat Milap, Dev Deepawali, and culinary practices. She highlighted contributions from Dr. Pushpesh Pant and artefact collectors, and showcased narratives like Ganga Katha and INTACH's role at the Kumbh Mela. The session underscored the importance of preserving the Ganga’s cultural legacy for future generations.
This was then followed by a presentation on 'College Heritage Volunteer Programme and Heritage in my Institution' by the HECS team.
During the interactive group activity, students proposed innovative ways to engage with heritage, organize heritage-focused programs, and identify the support they would need from INTACH. The presentations showcased insightful and creative ideas. Dr. S. Suresh, INTACH Tamil Nadu State Convener, felicitated all students and teachers, awarding them participation certificates and books for their college.
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Heritage Education and Communication Service in collaboration with INTACH Ahmedabad Chapter conducted a 2-day Teacher Training Workshop in Sheth CN Vidya Vihar, Ambavadi, on 9th-10th January 2025. The workshop was attended by 35 participants from 19 schools.
The workshop commenced by welcoming of the chief guests. She thanked the school which is in campus established 112 years ago. Convenor Utpala Desai welcomed all the schools and thanked INTACH HECS Team from Delhi. She welcomed the speaker, Ms Bhavna Ramrakhiani and introduced the INTACH Ahmedabad team.
The first session on local heritage was taken by Ms Bhavna Ramrakhiani, who spoke about the difference between tangible and intangible heritage. She at length talked about how to differentiate between the two and why there is a need to understand the meaning defined by UNESCO. In an interactive session teachers were asked to prepare the list of intangible heritage things and discussion were held for the same.
Purnima Datt, Principal Director of HECS at INTACH, shared insights into the initiatives undertaken by INTACH, particularly by the HECS division. She emphasized the importance of teaching children to preserve and protect their heritage and culture. During her session, she discussed the concept of heritage, focusing on India's natural, built, material, and living heritage, with special reference to Ahmedabad. Ms. Datt provided guidance on organizing activities and conducting heritage walks in the city. She highlighted the significance of Heritage Education and the proactive role of teachers in engaging students through various activities to help them connect with their heritage. The session also covered the development of a curriculum and the establishment of heritage clubs, concluding with an explanation of the group activity.
Day 2 began with a heritage walk at the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, guided by Ms. Priyanka and Ms. Sunanda. Participants were introduced to the rich repositories of Jain heritage and the exquisite Ragmala paintings of Gujarat and Rajasthan, with key highlights of the museum explained in detail. Following the heritage walk, Ms. Purnima Datt and Ms. Vaishnavi Singh conducted a session on the outreach of heritage clubs and the resources provided by HECS. The day continued with a group activity where teams showcased Ahmedabad's rich heritage through role play, singing, dancing, and presentations. The event concluded with a group photograph and the felicitation of participants.
Workshop Photographs
HECS, INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Rajkot Chapter conducted a Teacher Training workshop on 6th January 2025. The workshop was held online on Google Meet and was attended by 36 participants from 18 institutions, along with INTACH HECS Team, Rajkot Chapter Team, and volunteers.
Ms. Riddhi Shah, Convenor, INTACH Rajkot Chapter opened the workshop by introducing HECS and providing an overview of the session. She emphasised that this workshop is the first of many upcoming programs, including heritage walks, scheduled over the next two years.
Ms. Purnima Dutt, Principal Director, HECS, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Rajkot Chapter, district collectors, and the involvement of PM Shree schools in organising the workshop. The INTACH Film was then screened in Hindi.
The first session on What is Heritage was held by Ms. Purnima Datt where she explained in detail the different facets of heritage (natural, built, material and living) and provided many examples of each. Ms. Dutt ended her session by mentioning the efforts made by the INTACH Ahmedabad convener in getting the Garba Dance recognised by UNESCO, and said there are many examples of similar heritage in Rajkot that need to be protected.
Ms. Riddhi Shah summarised the key points from Ms. Dutt’s talk in Gujarati to ensure clarity among all participants. This was followed by the screening of two FILMIT films made by school students.
Ms. Riddhi Shah then began the second session on INTACH as well as the heritage of Rajkot. She provided an in-depth look at the natural heritage, local crafts, performing arts, literature, and architectural heritage of Rajkot. She concluded her presentation by urging teachers to spread heritage awareness in their communities and schools.
The next part of the workshop was led by Mrs. Purnima Dutt, where she introduced the concept of Dharohar Shiksha or Heritage Education. She discussed the primary objectives of INTACH, highlighting the importance of heritage education in schools. The HECS Team then introduced the resources of HECS and the various educational initiatives conducted by it.The workshop was concluded by Ms. Purnima Dutt and Ms. Riddhi Shah who once again emphasised the importance of heritage education and the crucial role of teachers in spreading among students. A group photograph was taken to mark the successful completion of the workshop.
This project is an ongoing one where the INTACH Rajkot Chapter will organise heritage walks, screening of documentaries, hold interactive sessions and hold poster-making and essay-writing competitions in the selected PM Shree schools of Rajkot and its surrounding region. All arrangements for this project have been done by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Office of Rajkot District.
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