FILMIT – content and technical workshop was held at R.N Podar School on 9th August 2024. The workshop began with the presence of the Principal of R.N Podar School, the teachers and students of 10 Mumbai schools, Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS, INTACH and the team from Tuning Folks – Mr Vinod Sreedhar and Ms Pulkita Parsai.

The workshop began with the Principal of R.N Podar welcoming the teachers and students and urged the students to make the most of the unique opportunity given to them and urged them them to enjoy the process. She thanked the Ms Purnima Datt and the team for all their efforts and conducting the workshop at their school.

Ms Purnima Datt introduced the FILMIT INDIA Project, sharing its beginnings and highlighting the cities the project covers now. She started her session with giving a brief about heritage and INTACH and briefly discussed the various themes on which the students can make films. It was an interactive session wherein students shared all the ideas they had on which they could make these short films. She hoped that the students would learn about their heritage through the process of film-making and make amazing films on their regional heritage. From covering the unique tree planting tradition to personal histories, many ideas were presented enthusiastically by the students.

The Tuning Folks production company was introduced with the technical resource persons and the session began with showcasing 2 earlier Filmit films to the students. In this session, Mr Vinod and Ms Pulkita went over all the basics of film-making such as shooting, lighting, angles, shots, music. They divided the session to pre-production and post production and explained all the concepts with examples – videos, photos, bytes, etc. The students eagerly participated throughout the session asking questions and giving suggestions. Post the refreshments break, the students and the resource persons edited some raw footage together, marking the end of the fruitful workshop. The workshop concluded with wishing the students all the best for their film-making process and a group photograph.

The Goa Filmit Workshop was organised at Sharada Mandir School, Miramar on 8th August in collaboration with Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS). The workshop was attended by 12 schools and 102 participants. The programme commenced with an introductory address by Ms Fatima Gracias, Convenor of INTACH Goa Chapter. This was followed by introduction to INTACH and the sharing of Filmit Project themes by Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH. Students were asked to make one black and white and a silent film and themes were shared on Natural, Built, Material, Living and Personal Heritage topics.

Students were very enthusiastic as they suggested additional themes for films including beach heritage, documenting mountain goat, dabbawallas of Mumbai, the lunchbox of chorizo sausage. Students wanted to bring out the smell and sound of food through filmmaking. They also shared documenting film on D’mello House, three king’s church and the use of mother of pearls, old British cemetery and lighthouse, Talking about the material, personal and living heritage ideas students spoke about magnets in old boxes collected by grandfather, coins, folkstories, a child also shared about a unique chronological chart of family heritage.

Two best films of last year were screened ‘Teen Darwaza’ and ‘Forgotten Games’ and students were asked what they liked about the films. MrvinodSreedhar and MsPulkitaParsai, technical resource persons from the Tuning Fork Films team started the technical session by asking students about the process of film making. Vinod discussed in brief the steps of film making and gave an outline on the do’s and don’ts of film-making. Pulkita talked about certain technical aspects of about camera angles, different kind of shots and the process of editing were discussed at length. Importance of subject and sound and how it affects the film was explained through a film. Vinod and Pulkita discussed importance of editing and usage of editing software. A detailed demo was showed to the students on Microsoft Clipchamp about how to effectively edit a film. Things such as assembly of clips, storyboard, credits, titles, background audio, etc. were explained. This was followed by Q & A round.Ms Sharmila Umesh, Principal, Sharada Mandir School gave blessings to the students and Ms Sylvia, Teacher Representative was given the token of gratitude byMsDatt. The workshop concluded with Lights, Camera, and Action group photograph and a formal vote of thanks by Ms Datt.

Celebrating National Handloom Day, 7^th August 2024

INTACH Varanasi Chapter celebrated National Handloom Day on August 7, 2024 at Sunbeam School Lahartara, an institutional member. Film on HIMROO revival was screened. This Film is made by Community Crafts Heritage Division INTACH Delhi. Mrs. Bindu Manchanda, Director of the Division specially sent the film to Varanasi Chapter for screening on the occasion of National Handloom day. Padmashree S. Supakar was Chief Guest. He is an INTACH Life member too and has closely worked with Shri Martand Singh as well. He is a renowned textile designer whose father, also a Padmashree awardee, worked with Pupul Jayakar in revival of Banaras Textile. Mr. Deepak Madhok, Chairman of Sunbeam Educational group was Guest of honour. He is also an INTACH life member. Mr. Ashok Kapoor Convener Varanasi Chapter told all present there to take a pledge that we will use handloom products at least once a month.

Nashik, 6th August 2024

The INTACH Nashik Chapter, in collaboration with the Heritage Education and CommunicationService Division, held a one-day Bohada mask-making workshop at MET's School of Architectureand Interior Design. Led by renowned sculptor Mayur More, the workshop aimed to revive theendangered tribal art form of Bohada masks from the Nashik and Thane regions. Forty students fromthree schools participated, learning about the cultural significance of Bohada masks through hands-onactivities and films about the INTACH and the Bohada tribes. Participants were provided with snacksand certificates from the Principal of METSOA & ID, concluding the workshop with a call topreserve indigenous arts.

Workshop Photos

6^th August, 2024

The Filmit India workshop at Varanasi was held on 6 th August at Sunbeam School, Lahartara. 103 students and 35 teachers from 2 schools participated. This included 4 schools from Ayodhya as well. The welcome address was given by two student of the host school. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp ceremony and felicitation of the resource people from INTACH and Tuning Fork Films. Prof. Suresh Nair, Prof, BHU was invited as a Special Guest for the programme. Varanasi Chapter additional co-convenor Mr. Anil Keshari was also present. Ms. Perveen Quaiser, Principal, formally welcomed everyone. She thanked everyone for attending the workshop and gave her heartfelt thanks to the Varasnasi chapter. Chapter convenor, Mr. Ashok Kapoor addressed the participants. He thanked HECS for conducting activities related to heritage awareness for school children. He thanked the Sunbeam group and mentioned that the Lahartara branch has been an active member since the very beginning and conducted a lot of INTACH activities in the past as well. He also talked about the initiation of the Filmit India project in Varanasi when he became the convenor and how it has come a long way. Mr. Abhishek Das thanked the participants for attending. The HECS film was screened. In the first session, Abhishek talked about the Filmit project in detail and discussed the various themes for the current year. Two of last year’s films Main Teen Darwaza and Forgotten Games were screened. The technical resource persons from Tuning Fork Films - Mr. Anshul Uniyal and Mr. Aditya Verma started with their session. Anshul engaged the students by asking them what they liked about the films they had just watched and which one they preferred. He then showcased a short film titled “Kaveri” to illustrate the powerful message, lighting, and various techniques used in filmmaking. He discussed shots and angles, using videos on shot breakdown to explain different angles, the importance of sound and lighting, and techniques such as juxtaposition. Tofurther emphasize the importance and different forms of lighting and sound, Anshul conducted an activity with the students. After a short break, during which the students practiced the shots and angles they had learned, the final session focused on film editing. Aditya and Anshul discussed the editing software “Clip Champ” in detail, covering aspects such as storyboarding, trimming, splitting, credits, titles, and background audio, using a short video footage shot by the Tuning Forks team as an example. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Nirmal Joshi.

5^th August, 2024

The Filmit India workshop at Kolkata was held on 5 th August at Apeejay School, Park Street. 62 students and 22 teachers from 16 schools of the city participated in it. Mr. Abhishek Das, HECS, welcomed everyone to the workshop and thanked the host school. He gave a brief talk about heritage. Then host school teacher Ms. Anita Bhattacharya gave the formal welcome address and introduced the resource persons – Anshul Uniyal, Aditya Verma and Abhishek Das. The principal Mrs. Paromita Guha welcomed the students and shared how INTACH is playing a big role for the cause of Heritage. She congratulated INTACH for doing such great work. In the first session, Abhishek talked about the different divisions of INTACH and about the Filmit project in detail and discussed the themes for the current year. He also did a brain storming session with the students for selecting topics related to the themes and how they could work on it to make interesting films. Two films – Main Teen Darwaza and Forgotten Games were screened. Anshul and Aditya then began the session. Anshul started with their session by asking the students what they liked about the films that they watched. He then screened a short film ‘Kaveri’. Taking it as an example, he explained why films are powerful. He explained about the powerful message that it conveyed, and other aspects such as lighting and different shots and angles. Through a powerpoint presentation, the technical details of making a film were explained. The three different stages of making a film – planning, shooting and editing were explained. He explained shot breakdown, the different angles, importance of sound and lighting with the help of short videos. He also talked about techniques such as juxtaposition and over the shoulder shots. An activity was also done to explain the importance of correct light. The students were given a short break where they practised the shots and angles that were explained to them. In the last session, the editing part of a film was discussed by Aditya and Anshul. The ‘Clip Champ’ editing software was discussed in detail. Things such as storyboard, trimming, splitting, credits, The Filmit India workshop at Kolkata was held on 5 th August at Apeejay School, Park Street. 62 students and 22 teachers from 16 schools of the city participated in it. Mr. Abhishek Das, HECS, welcomed everyone to the workshop and thanked the host school. He gave a brief talk about heritage. Then host school teacher Ms. Anita Bhattacharya gave the formal welcome address and introduced the resource persons – Anshul Uniyal, Aditya Verma and Abhishek Das. The principal Mrs. Paromita Guha welcomed the students and shared how INTACH is playing a big role for the cause of Heritage. She congratulated INTACH for doing such great work. In the first session, Abhishek talked about the different divisions of INTACH and about the Filmit project in detail and discussed the themes for the current year. He also did a brain storming session with the students for selecting topics related to the themes and how they could work on it to make interesting films. Two films – Main Teen Darwaza and Forgotten Games were screened. Anshul and Aditya then began the session. Anshul started with their session by asking the students what they liked about the films that they watched. He then screened a short film ‘Kaveri’. Taking it as an example, he explained why films are powerful. He explained about the powerful message that it conveyed, and other aspects such as lighting and different shots and angles. Through a powerpoint presentation, the technical details of making a film were explained. The three different stages of making a film – planning, shooting and editing were explained. He explained shot breakdown, the different angles, importance of sound and lighting with the help of short videos. He also talked about techniques such as juxtaposition and over the shoulder shots. An activity was also done to explain the importance of correct light. The students were given a short break where they practised the shots and angles that were explained to them. In the last session, the editing part of a film was discussed by Aditya and Anshul. The ‘Clip Champ’ editing software was discussed in detail. Things such as storyboard, trimming, splitting, credits, titles, background audio, etc. were explained with the help of a short video footage shot by the Tuning Forks team. Ms. Anita Bhattacharya, gave the formal vote of thanks. The technical resource team were also presented a set of books. The workshop ended with interactions of the students with the resource persons and photographs.

1^st August 2024

Filmit India workshop began with great fervour in Vadodara in Navrachana School on 1st August 2024 with 10 participating schools from across the region. The programme began with a lamp lighting ceremony by the principals of the school, INTACH Convenor, Mr Sanjiv Joshi, Co-convenor Ms Tanisha and the team from HECS, INTACH – Ms Christina Shangne, Senior Programme Coordinator and Ms Smriti Malhotra, Programme Coordinator and the technical team from Tuning folks – Ms Sasha Singh and Ms Shikha Gupta. Post the welcoming ceremony, Mr Sanjiv Joshi thanked the host school and all the participating schools for joining in the workshop. He gave a short brief on FILMIT INDIA Project and shared this year’s fascinating theme that the students of Vadodara can make films around, the theme was the iconic film – Manthan (The churning). The team from HECS, INTACH briefly explained the role of INTACH in preservation of our heritage and the themes for the programme this year. Ms Shangne went over the Natural, Built and Material heritage while Ms Smriti covered the living and personal heritage and concluding their session. The technical team then took over and showed the students last year’s FILMIT films around heritage and engaged in a fascinating conversation around it. Different technicalities and basic elements of film making such as shots, angles, lighting, sound, shooting, etc were taught to the students. The presentation was embellished with lots of images, video clippings and examples for easy understanding of the students, the students too participated with great zeal throughout the session. The concept of editing was taught thoroughly, wherein the students and the resources persons editing a film together, marking the end of the workshop. Lastly, a group photo was taken at the end with all participating students, teachers and INTACH team.

31^st July 2024

Sarada Krishna Iyer Memorial Library Hall, Palakkad

156 students/ 14 schools

The INTACH Palakkad Chapter promoted the Heritage Quiz through newspapers and directcommunication with schools, attracting 14 participating schools. Quizmaster Arun Narayan led the event,with Ms. Sanusha handling AV and Mr. Subash managing scores. Jubin and Sarang from ChinmayaVidyalaya, Tattamangalam, emerged as winners. An engaging Olympics Quiz was also held for the audience.

The Filmit Workshop in Ahmedabad was held at the Shreyas foundation on 31st July’24 with the presence of 8 schools, the chapter Convenor, Ms Utpala Desai, the Co-convenor, teachers and team of the host foundation, HECS team from INTACH – Ms Christina Shangne, Senior Programme Coordinator and Ms Smriti Malhotra, Programme Coordinator, and the Team from Tuning Folks – Ms Sasha Singh and Shikha Gupta. The workshop began with a small prayer held by the teacher of Shreyas foundation and a few encouraging words given by Ms Utpala Desai. Ms Christina Shangne welcomed all the participating students and thanked the foundation for hosting the workshop again this year and began the first session on Heritage and the FILMIT project. She gave a brief introduction to the FILMIT India Project and explained the various themes and topics that the students can make films on under Natural, Built and Material Heritage. Ms Smriti Malhotra covered the Living and Personal Heritage and finished the session by answering some queries of the students. The students were then showcased two films made previously by the students by the technical team. The technical team explained basic concepts of film-making such as lighting, sound, shots, angles and basic understating of shooting via many images/video clips, etc. The students engaged with the technical team and asked various questions around film-making and its technicalities. The workshop concluded with an editing exercise that the technical team did with the students and the vote of thanks was given by Ms Shangne and Ms Utpala Desai, wishing them all the best for the film making process. Post the thank you ceremony, a quick group photograph was taken with all the participating students and teachers.

TheFilmit Programme was extended to Udaipur in its 17th year. The Udaipur Filmit Workshop commenced at Seedling Modern School, Pratapura on 30thJuly in collaboration with Heritage Education and Communication Services (HECS). The workshop was attended by 6 schools and 60 participants.Ms Monika Chaturvedi, organizer and teacher from the School welcomed all the participants and introduced Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS Ms Vaishnavi, Programme Coordinator, HECS, Ms Sasha Singh and Ms Shikha Gupta, from the Tuning For Films. Chairman Mr Hardeep Bakshi and Principal, Ms Keerti Makan, greeted everyone and presented tokens to the resource persons and INTACH Udaipur Chapter Convenor Mr Lalit Pandey and Mr Gaurav Singhvi. This was followed by Lightening of lamp and classical dance performance by the students of Seedling Modern School.Ms Datt briefly talked about the works undertaken by INTACH and its divisions and mentioned about the Filmit Project across different cities. Ms Datt appreciated the efforts of Udaipur Chapter and for always actively conducting programmes.

After the screening of the HECS film Ms Purnima Datt discussed about Filmit themes of 2024-25. Students were asked to make one black and white and a silent film and themes were shared on Natural, Built, Material, Living and Personal Heritage topics in detail. This was followed by an interactive session. Two best films of last year were screened ‘Teen Darwaza’ and ‘Forgotten Games’ and students were asked what they liked about the films. Ms Shikha Gupta and Ms Sasha Singh, technical resource persons from the Tuning Fork Films team started the technical session by asking students about the process of film making. Shikha discussed in brief the steps of film making and gave pointers to the students on how to make a good film. Sasha talked about certain technical aspects of about camera angles, different kind of shots and the process of editing were discussed at length. Importance of subject and sound and how it affects the film was explained through a film. She explained the importance of a clear storyline and cautioned against using unnecessary effects and gimmicks. Shikha outlined the steps of filmmaking: copying and backing up footage, paper edits, editing, and crafting a compelling story. She introduced various editing software, such as Microsoft Clipchamp, and screened a segment of a film she had shot using different shots and angles. Sasha demonstrated how to make and edit a film on Clipchamp, engaging students throughout the process. Together, they edited a film titled “Deccani Wool.” The workshop concluded with formal a vote of thanks from Ms. Vaishnavi and a fun group photo session.

Workshop Photographs

29^th July 2024

The Jaipur Filmit Workshop was organised in Neerja Modi School on 29th July in collaboration with Heritage Education and Communication Services (HECS). The workshop was attended by 17 schools and 160 participants. Principal, Ms Indu Dubey, welcomed all the schools and greeted Ms Datt and team. She spoke about the works undertaken by the school for heritage related activities and how students can engage themselves in extracurricular activities. Purnima Datt, Principal Director (HECS) greeted all the participating schools and spoke about how INTACH has been working towards preservation and conservation of India’s heritage. Ms Vaishnavi, Programme Coordinator (HECS) introduced technical resource person, Ms Shikha Gupta and Ms Sasha Singh from Tuning Fork Films. Ms Datt welcomed the Convenor of Jaipur Chapter, Ms Dharmender Kanwar who has been actively working for preservation of cultural heritage of Jaipur. Ms. Kanwar thanked the HECS teams for always actively conducting programmes and that students took a lot of input from these workshops.

After the screening of the HECS film Ms Purnima Datt discussed about Filmit themes of 2024- 25 in details. Students were asked to make one black and white and a silent film and themes were shared on Natural, Built, Material, Living and Personal Heritage topics. This was followed by an interactive session. Two best films of last year were screened ‘Teen Darwaza’ and ‘Forgotten Games’ and students were asked what they liked about the films. Ms Shikha Gupta and Ms Sasha Singh, technical resource persons from the Tuning Fork Films team started the technical session by asking students about the process of film making. Sasha discussed in brief the steps of film making and gave an outline on the do’s and don’ts of film-making. Shikha talked about certain technical aspects of about camera angles, different kind of shots and the process of editing were discussed at length. Importance of subject and sound and how it affects the film was explained through a film. Sasha discussed importance of editing and usage of editing softwares. A detailed demo was showed to the students on Microsoft Clipchamp about how to effectively edit a film. Things such as assembly of clips, storyboard, credits, titles, background audio, etc. were explained. This was followed by Q & A round. Ms Vaishnavi gave a formal vote of thanks and Ms Chanchal, Teacher from Neerja Modi token of gratitude to Ms Datt, Ms Vaishnavi, Ms Sasha and Ms Shikha. Ms Chanchal also thanked and appreciated HECS team and Tuning Fork Films for their efforts.

28^th July 2024

Sri Ramakrishna School, Kakinada

174 students/ 14 schools

The quiz program was held on 28th July 2024 at Sri Ramakrishna School, Kakinada, with 174 studentsfrom 14 schools participating. Chief Guest Sri Y.D. Ramarao and Guest of Honour Sri M. Maheshinspired students about INTACH activities. G. Krishna Samhita and K. Bhargava Sanmukha Srinivasfrom Ashram Public School, Kakinada, secured first place, qualifying for the State level.

HECS INTACH organized a FILMIT workshop on 25th-26th July 2024 for Delhi schools, with 17 schools participating. Ms. Purnima Datt, the Principal Director, welcomed students and spoke about INTACH and their objectives, followed by Ms. Vaishnavi Singh, Programme Coordinator and Ms. Christina Shangne, Senior Programme Coordinator, explaining this year’s FILMIT themes. Two student-made films, "Hum Theen Darwaaze" and "Khel," were screened. Himanshi Saini began the workshop by discussing the films and sharing her journey as a filmmaker, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and visualization. Anshul Uniyal shared his journey from a boarding school student in Vadodara to a storyteller inspired by books. He discussed why films are powerful due to their visuals and sounds, and covered the three stages of filmmaking: preparation, shooting, and editing. Anshul emphasized techniques like composition, lighting, and shot types, using videos to demonstrate their impact. Students then created a short video with three perspectives.

After the break, Himanshi Saini invited three schools—Sanskriti School, DPS, and Jaypee Public School—onto the stage to explain what they had shot. Following this interactive session, Himanshi discussed the final stage of filmmaking: editing. She explained the importance of a clear storyline and cautioned against using unnecessary effects and gimmicks. Himanshi outlined the steps of filmmaking: copying and backing up footage, paper edits, editing, and crafting a compelling story. She introduced various editing software, such as Microsoft Clipchamp, and screened a segment of a film she had shot using different shots and angles. Himanshi demonstrated how to make and edit a film on Clipchamp, engaging students throughout the process. Together, they edited a film titled “Deccani Wool.” The workshop concluded with the screening of a powerful film on plastic pollution, followed by a vote of thanks from Ms. Andrea Elizabeth Mathew, Programme Coordinator, and a fun group photo session.

Day 2 (26th July 2024)

The technical workshop on 26th July began with a welcome from Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director of HECS, INTACH. She introduced INTACH, its divisions, conservation efforts, and the FILMIT INDIA Project, urging students to create films and learn about heritage. Nanki Kaur, Programme Coordinator, outlined various film themes: Built Heritage, Natural Heritage, Art and Material Heritage, Living Heritage, and Personal Heritage. Abhishek Das shared past successes of the FILMIT program.

Ms. Andrea introduced the technical team: Mr. Anshul Uniyal and Ms. Himanshi Saini. Himanshi showcased two student-made films, sparking an engaging discussion. Anshul covered pre-production, production, and post-production, using "Chandu Champion" to illustrate lighting, angles, camera stability, and sound. He made the workshop interactive with clips and activities, teaching fundamental filmmaking elements.

After a break, Himanshi detailed editing basics, demonstrating how to use Clipchamp and other software. She guided students through arranging clips, adding music, and exporting a film. Anshul provided additional tips on selecting the best clips. The session concluded with a screening of a film on plastic waste, followed by a Q&A session. Anshul and Himanshi were presented INTACH publications, and a group photo was taken to conclude the workshop.

Day 1

Day 2

FILMIT India 2024 Delhi Content Workshop organized by INTACH Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) was held on 23rd and 24th July 2024. It was attended by 138 participants representing 36 schools (36 teachers and 102 students) from Delhi NCR. The workshop started off with Mrs. Purnima Datt, who shared about INTACH as well as HECS programmes and an introduction to the project and shared with the audience that this programme has reached its seventeenth year. She spoke about how the project started in collaboration with Helen Hamlyn Trust and with the UK.

In the first session, the themes for this year’s FILMIT and the timeline were discussed in detail by Ms. Purnima Datt and Mr. Abhishek Das. The content development and examination of the heritage themes were undertaken by Mr. Feisal Alkazi, a renowned theatre director and educator. Two films from previous year were also screened.

Day 1

Ms. Nanki Kaur introduced Mr. Feisal Alkazi. Mr. Alkazi began by discussing the films the students had seen and what stood out to them, such as camera angles, storytelling, historical significance, music, and sentimental value. He then asked about heritage in daily life and objects over 50 years old, with students sharing examples of family heirlooms. He shared an anecdote about repurposing a mother's old saree for a wedding to emphasize the connection between everyday objects and heritage. Mr. Alkazi asked students to list ten associations with monsoon and link them to heritage. He encouraged them to think outside the box for unique stories. Postbreak, they discussed film ideas, with Mr. Alkazi explaining how to explore themes authentically, offering tips on strong ideas, pre-production, brainstorming, planning, and focusing on key points for compelling and original storytelling.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) L.K. Gupta, Chairman of INTACH, shared words of encouragement. Four HECS publications Young INTACH Regional Newsletters in Kannada and Bengali, Why is hiding behind the curtain? and Chimi in the Magical Land of Kanchendzonga- Know Sikkim in Lepcha) were released by the Chairman, Mr. Alkazi, and some students. Mr. Abhishek Das gave the vote of thanks, followed by a group photograph.

Day 2

Ms. Purnima Datt welcomed participants to this year's FILMIT INDIA Project, providing a brief overview of INTACH and the project's journey. She introduced various themes for student films, with Abhishek Das covering the last two themes. Two unique films were showcased to illustrate the project's essence.

Ms. Christina Shangne introduced the resource person, Mr. Feisal Alkazi. Mr. Alkazi engaged students by discussing what they liked about the films and encouraging them to think creatively about filmmaking and heritage. He had them list heritage objects at home and write ten words associated with 'monsoon' to weave into heritage themes. Various creative activities followed. After the break, Mr. Alkazi asked students about the history of the food they ate and to think about visuals for their films, offering feedback and suggestions. The workshop concluded with a recap, students sharing their takeaways, and HECS presenting Mr. Alkazi with books, a formal vote of thanks, and a group photograph.

The "My Monument Search" competition, organized by INTACH's Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS), celebrated its national winners with a three-day event in Delhi from July 10th to 12th, 2024. Winners from various regions across India, including Beawar, Bhagalpur, Chennai, Delhi, Jamshedpur, and others, participated.

On July 10th, the winners gathered at the INTACH office for lunch and an introduction session with Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director of HECS, who discussed heritage and INTACH's work. They also met Dr. (Mrs.) C.T. Misra, INTACH's Member Secretary and the Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd) L.K. Gupta, and introduced themselves and spoke about the posters they made. The day included a visit to the INTACH Conservation labs guided by HECS Programme Coordinators and a session on Lodhi Gardens' history.

The next day featured a visit to the PM Museum with a guided tour about India's Prime Ministers, followed by lunch and a tour of the Sanskriti Museum, showcasing India's textiles and everyday objects.

On July 12th, the winners enjoyed a Heritage walk at Humayun’s Tomb and a visit to Sundar Nursery. The day culminated in a felicitation ceremony at the INTACH office. Winners presented their posters and received awards from dignitaries like Prof. AGK Menon and Maj. Gen. (Retd) L.K. Gupta. The event concluded with a group photo and lunch, celebrating the students' achievements and highlighting the importance of heritage conservation.

Workshop Photographs:

20^th July 2024

DAV High School

88 students/22 schools

INTACH Ambala Chapter witnessed a record participation with 22 schools and nearly 100 children and25 teachers. Dr Deshbandhu was the Chief Guest of the event. Brig. MS Tomar was the Guest of Honour.Mrs. Madhu Singh was the quiz master. DAV Riverside School won the round followed by KV2.

Varanasi, 16 th & 18 th July 2024

INTACH Varanasi Chapter conducted the craft workshop on Banaras Traditional Painting on16th and 18th July in Little Flower House, Nagwa and Little Flower House, Kakarmatta. Theworkshop was attended by 65 participants and the resource person was Artist Daya Shanker whoholds an expertise in the field of Banaras paintings. Students learnt the intricacies of the paintingand enthusiastically enjoyed learning the traditional aspects of art. The workshop was alsoattended by Mr Ashok Kapoor, Convenor, and Chief Guest Mr Shashank Singh and coordinatedby Ms Aditi Gulati.

Workshop Photos

INTACH Anantapur district chapter AP in association with Heritage Club Rotary English Medium School Anantapur organised seed balls making. Different types of seeds such as Neem, Clustered Appel, Indian Beech collected by school management. Each seed is kept in cow dung finally covered mud and made the balls. These seed would be dried under the shade. The dried seed balls would be distributed in the hillock and roadside during rainy season the seed in the ball will sprouts naturally and will grow into plant. INTACH Anantapur district chapter members encouraged students helped them in collecting soil and cow dung along with the school management.

Workshop Photographs:

World Museum Day celebration, Guntur Chapter

INTACH Guntur Chapter organized a Museum walk on the occasion of World Museum Day. Members of INTACH gathered at Baudhasree Archaeological Museum i,e, District museum. Red Cross Vice Chairman Sri P. Ramachandra Raju, INTACH Co convenor A. Ravi Srinivas, members V. VenuGopal, Srinath Reddy, Hindu College PG Center Principal S. V. Ramana faculty and MBA students have participated. A. Ravi Srinivas and Srinath briefed the participants about the importance of the museum day.

Workshop Photographs:

Vadodara Chapter celebrating UNESCO World Heritage Day 2024

INTACH Vadodara Chapter celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Day with a workshop on the endangered “Mud Lippan Art,” a 300-year-old traditional art form from Kutch. Held on 19th April 2024, the half-day workshop saw over 60 students and teachers from four schools participate. The Marwada Family from Kutch, renowned for their expertise in Mud Lippan Art, conducted the workshop. Notably, 7-year-old Bhima Raymal showcased his skills, inspiring the children. Each child created individual artworks on 4”x4” MDF templates, with some adding acrylic paint, mirrors, and glass pieces. The workshop resulted in stunning designs within four hours. INTACH Vadodara paid the Marwada Family ₹14,001, covering their honorarium, travel, and materials. They also provided mementos to the Bright Day School CBSE trustee, principal, and the Raymal Family. The event concluded with a meal for all participants, celebrating the living heritage of India and exposing the future generation to traditional art forms.

Workshop Photographs:

28^th & 29^th JUNE 2024

HECS, INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Coimbatore Chapter conducted a Teacher Training workshop on 28th and 29th June 2024. The workshop was held at Prakriya International School and was attended by 42 participants from 24 schools.

The workshop began with a welcome and introduction by Mr. S. Jaganathan, Convenor of the Coimbatore Chapter. All the speakers were invited to light the lamp. Mr. Ramachandra Prasad, advisor to INTACH and former Convenor of the chapter then spoke about the work of the local chapter and the role of education in attaining the goals of INTACH. Ms. Aishwarya Rao, Director of the Vivekalaya Group of Institutions and also the Director of Heritage Education for the Coimbatore Chapter, welcomed all to the workshop.

Mr. A. Sivaramakrishnan, a Chartered Textile Engineer Ret. Assistant Director of SITRA Coimbatore was the speaker for Session 1: Legacy of Textiles in India, Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore. He stated that Textiles is Coimbatore and Coimbatore is textiles" and that the handmade textile industry in India and Coimbatore has been very rich since centuries. He enriched his presentation by showing a dhoti made by a local factory. He concluded his presentation by stating that Coimbatore became the hub of textile cultivation, weaving and product design in multiple stages and with the help of various people.

Session 2 on What is Heritage, Everyday Objects and Textiles of India was conducted by Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH after a short break. She started by introducing INTACH and explaining the role of its founder member Pupul Jayakar in conserving textiles and her quote that "the history of India was written with a thread. She asked each one to share about their special textile. Ms. Datt then shared a story about the Buddha and his explanation of the different uses and stages of a textile. This was followed by the screening of the INTACH film. Ms. Datt then explained in detail the different facets of heritage (natural, built, material and living) and provided many examples of each. She also shared the importance of everyday objects. The last part of the presentation included information on the fibres of India.

There was short break for lunch, followed by a quiz revolving around textiles of India. The next session consisted of Ms. Datt presenting on Heritage Education. She was aided by Ms. Nanki Kaur, Programme Coordinator, HECS INTACH, who explained the publications and online resources of HECS in detail. The session ended with the explanation of the group activity for the next day. The teachers were divided into 4 groups and each group had to prepare on one topic - Khadi, Textiles of Tamil Nadu, Dress of Tamil Nadu, and Weaving Villages and Weavers of Tamil Nadu.

The second day of the workshop began with a session on the textile industry of Coimbatore by Ms. Mona Kalvani, who runs a shop called The Label by Mona. She was accompanied by her associate Ms. Aishwarya. They both spoke to the teachers about their journey in the textile industry. The presentation was enriched by samples of textiles and wooden blocks that were showcased to the teachers.

After this, the HECS team continued their presentation on Heritage Education, the Textile Book, as well as the upcoming Heritage Club Booklet. The teachers were then given time to work in their groups for their final presentations. Each group presented enthusiastically on their topics. The workshop ended with an address by the INTACH Coimbatore Chapter Members, the felicitation of the teachers and the distribution of the resource material.

Workshop Photographs:

21^st-22^nd June 2024

Heritage Education and Communication Service in collaboration with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural HeritageRajkot Chapter conducted a 2-day workshop in Conference Hall of Gandhi Museum, Rajkot on 21st and 22nd June 2024. The workshop was attended by INTACH Rajkot Life members and 25 participants from 16 schools.

The workshop commenced by welcoming of HECS team and chief guests followed by lighting of lamp. Convenor Riddhi Shah inaugurated the exhibition on 40 year of INTACH and briefly talked about the establishment of Rajkot chapter, the work undertaken by them in the past and activities they will be taking up in the near future. She gave insight about the session that will happen in the 2-day workshop.

The first session on local heritage was taken by Mr Pradyuman Khachar,Convenor of Junagadh Chapter who talked about the illustrious history and heritage of Saurashtra region in brief. He talked about the Rajwadas of Kathiawar region, Walker Settlement, architectural marvels, baolis, water management system, emblem of major Rajwadas, establishment of first schools and colleges of the regionand shared some anecdotes of the bygone era.

This was then followed by the screening of the INTACH Film in Hindi.Mrs. Purnima Datt, Principal Director HECS, INTACH shared about works undertaken by INTACH and HECS division in particular. She explained in brief why children must be taught to preserve and protect their heritage and culture. Then she asked the teachers to share their personal favorite site in Rajkot.

She started with her session on what is heritage and talked in detail about the natural, built, material and living heritage of India and Rajkot. She laid emphasis on the diversity of flora and fauna, architectural remains and culture and tradition that India encompasses.

Post lunch, Ms Datt talked about Heritage Education andstressed on the proactive role of teacher and how indulging students in various activities will help them learn about their heritage. Later curriculum and setting up of heritage club was explained. The session concluded with explaining the group activity.

Day 2 commenced with a heritage walk from the then Alfred High School where Gandhi studied for 7 years. The Heritage walk covered the Alfred High school, Lang library, raiyanaka clock tower, unnamed chhatri led by Ms Riddhi. She gave a glimpse of old town and talked about how the structures and need for its protection. Post heritage walk, session on outreach of heritage clubs and HECS resources were discussed by Ms Purnima Datt and Ms Vaishnavi Singh. This was followed by the group activity where each team shared about the rich heritage of Rajkot through role play, singing and presentation. This was followed by felicitation of participants. The 2-day workshop concluded with the vote of thanks by INTACH member Mr Vishal and MsRiddhi.

Workshop Photographs:

Schools Visit

Colonel R D Singh ( Retd) visited several schools in his capacity as Convenor of INTACH Ambala. It was a pleasure to meet the esteemed Principals and teachers, sharing details about INTACH events, and presenting certificates to winners and participants, along with copies of the Young INTACH magazine. What a joy and learning experience for a 70-plus 'young' veteran! It was heartening to see Principal Shivani of Cecil Convent proudly receiving the well-deserved Regional Winner award in the painting competition. Following that, he also met Principal Neeru Ma'am of PKR Jain and the efficient Principal Dr. Vikas Kohli. He also had the pleasure of meeting the mature and humble Principal Sukhjinder Kaur of Sikh Senior Secondary School. Finally, the day ended on a high note at DAV Riverside Public School, where the INTACH Convenor of Ambala was warmly welcomed by the energetic, efficient, and ever-smiling Principal Seema Dutt Ma'am. Thank you for your positive attitude.

During his visit, he also encouraged the schools to continue participating in INTACH events, emphasizing that these activities offer valuable education and help build the personality of children. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with all appreciating the educational and interesting INTACH events. The Chapter gave their regards and best wishes to all the wonderful schools and their helpful and cultured Principals.

April to June'24 activities

The INTACH Faridabad Chapter organized some activities in the month of April to June.

1) New Young INTACH Chapter formed at Govt. College, Sector 16 A, Faridabad in which 45 new 1st year students were enrolled (under oath and given Passports n Badges).

Also a on the spot Competition on heritage was held for about 50 students and 5 prizes were given.

2) An annual Inter College Competition was held for 7 colleges at KL Mehta Dayanand College for Women, with the topics on-
- Declamation contest
- Slogan writing
- On the spot painting competition
4 prizes in each category were given.

29^th- 30^th April 2024

The Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS), INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Firozpur Chapter conducted a two day Teacher Training Workshop at Dass and Brown World School, Firozpur, on 29th and 30th April, 2024. 60 teachers from 34 schools participated in the workshop.

The workshop began with the lighting of the lamp ceremony by Mr. Rajesh Kumar Chandel, Principal, Dr. Celine, DGM Dass and Brown School and Mr. Abhishek Das, INTACH. The students of the host school presented a classical themed dance. Mr. Chandel gave the formal introduction. He welcomed everyone to the workshop and thanked the teachers for attending.

In the first session, the INTACH film was screened. Mr. Abhishek Das spoke about INTACH, its divisions and the kind of work undertaken by the organization. He also gave a brief talk on heritage and the need for awareness among the youth. This was followed by a talk on the local heritage of Firozpur by Mr. Manjinder Singh, teacher, DC Model Dr. Sec. School Ferozpur Cantt. He spoke about the various places of importance such as the Hussainiwala railway station, Empress Bridge, St. Andrew’s Church, the Gates of Ferozpur, Gurudwara Guru Gobind Shri Jamni Sahib and so on. In the next session, the teachers introduced themselves and spoke about one particular heritage of Ferozpur that was close to their heart. Many of them liked visiting the Hussainiwala border, the various places of worship and the orphanage at Ferozpur. Thereafter, a quiz was conducted on the heritage as the heritage walk had to be cancelled due to a heavy downpour. Participants who gave correct answers were presented with gifts. The day ended with high tea and snacks.

Day 2 began with a formal introduction by Dr. Celine followed by a dance performance by the students of the host school. Dr. Anirudh Gupta, CEO Dass and Brown School and Convenor INTACH Firozpur Chapter gave a talk on the activities of the newly formed chapter. He stressed on the importance of heritage awareness. The first session began with Mrs. Purnima Datt, Principal Director (HECS) delivering a presentation on the types of heritage. She also spoke about INTACH and the various projects undertaken. She covered the different types of heritage such as natural, built, living and material heritage and was assisted by Mr. Abhishek Das. A short film from the FilmIt India project was also screened. A presentation on the HECS’ activities was shown by the resource persons followed by the lunch break.

In the post lunch session, the need for heritage education was discussed and teachers were explained how to start heritage clubs in their schools. A role play activity was also done with two teacher volunteers to explain teaching aids. The teachers were divided into four groups (natural, built, material and living heritage) for group activity presentations. Each group selected one particular topic in each category and gave interesting presentations. The workshop ended with distribution of resource materials and certificates to participants.

23^rd- 24^th April, 2024

The Heritage Education and Communication Division, in collaboration with the INTACH Varanasi Chapter, organized a two-day Teacher Training Workshop at Little Flower School, Nagwa. A total of 43 teachers from 22 schools in the city participated in the workshop. The local resource persons for the event included Mrs. Mudita Kapoor (an architect and classical musician), Mr. Hemang Agrawal (a NIFT-Mumbai graduate and founder of Hemang Agrawal label), Mrs. Purnima Datt (Principal Director, HECS INTACH), and Ms. Christina Shangne (Senior Programme Coordinator, HECS INTACH). Mr. Ashok Kapoor (Convenor INTACH Varanasi Chapter), Mr. Nalin Gulati (Co-Convenor INTACH Varanasi Chapter), and INTACH members Mr. Nirmal Joshi and Ms. Aditi Gulati also attended.

Day 1 began with Mr. Hemang Agrawal's presentation on the textile heritage of Banaras, focusing on different textiles of India with a special emphasis on Banaras, weaving traditions, and types of looms. Mrs. Mudita Kapoor followed with a discussion on the architectural heritage of Varanasi, covering various architectural styles and the city's art and craft traditions. Mrs. Purnima Datt introduced INTACH and the workshop's objectives, followed by a screening of an INTACH film. A detailed presentation by Mrs. Datt on "What is Heritage?" explored India's heritage through four aspects.

After lunch, the emphasis shifted to the importance of heritage education, setting up heritage clubs in schools and the activities these clubs can undertake. The aim was to foster a sense of responsibility and sensitivity towards India's cultural heritage and integrate heritage education into school curriculum.

Day 2
Day 2 featured a heritage walk to Tulsi Ghat, guided by Mr. Anil Keshari (Addl. Co. Convenor INTACH Varanasi Chapter), highlighting its historical and religious significance. Participants also visited the nearby Tulsi akhada, traditional Indian Gymnasiums. Following the walk, participants viewed films on Indian textiles and phad conservation by INTACH. Mrs. Purnima Datt presented on the textile handbook, National Programmes, FILMIT Project, heritage walks, and incorporating resource persons into heritage education. Ms. Christina discussed the Young INTACH website and social media. The workshop concluded with group activities, including role-plays, songs, and dances, and vote of thanks by Mr. Ashok Kapoor, followed by the distribution of resource materials and certificates to participants.

19^th April 2024

On April 19, 2024, INTACH's Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) held a special workshop for teachers in New Delhi. It was attended by 62 teachers from 60 different schools across the Delhi NCR area. The event started with Ms. Purnima Datt, the principal director of HECS, introducing the organization. This introduction was followed by a film about INTACH that helped explain what the organization does and its structure.

The session series began with Dr. Swapna Liddle, who illuminated the historical conservation efforts in Delhi, critiquing some past projects by British officials. Following her, Prof A.G.K Menon emphasized the crucial role of community involvement in heritage conservation, challenging the teachers to reflect on the impact of their teaching on societal engagement in conservation efforts.Dr. Manu Bhatnagar then took the stage to discuss the symbiotic relationship between natural heritage and cultural contexts, specifically through the lens of the Green Ganga project aimed at reviving the Ganges.

The day also included an insightful tour of INTACH’s Conservation Lab where teachers saw firsthand the ongoing conservation processes.

Further enriching the sessions, Mr. Harish Benjwal detailed INTACH's role in the Jal Shakti Ministry's Gange project, and a pre-recorded presentation by Dr. Sheila Bora highlighted the Brahmaputra's vital influence on the Assam valley.

The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates and books, and a commemorative group photograph, marking the day’s fruitful exchange of knowledge and ideas on heritage conservation.

18^th APRIL 2024

On the occasion of World Heritage Day on the 18th of April 2024, during the 14th Pupul Jayakar Memorial Lecture at IIC New Delhi, 5 new publications of HECS were released by Dr. Darlie Koshy, the Chairman Maj. Gen. (retd.) L.K. Gupta, and the Member Secretary Dr. C.T. Mishra. These included Moloya Braids a River Journey - Know Assam - A Story cum Colouring Book, and the Regional Language Newsletters (2022-2023) in 4 languages - Punjabi, Assamese, Gujarati and Marathi. The publications were appreciated by all present.

PHOTOGRAPHS:

9^th April, New Delhi

With an objective to engage, educate and empower children through meaningful films, SIFFCY (Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth) initiated by Smile Foundation is being held between 9th – 16th April 2024 PHD House, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi in association with the EU. As part of the festival, 15 films from INTACH’s FilmIt India project from all over the country were selected for screening on the opening day of the festival. The films were based on environment and family values and peace. Students of Shiksha Education Centre attended the screening. Representing INTACH, Mr. Abhishek Das and Ms. Christina Shangne attended the screening and spoke to the audience about INTACH and the FilmIt project.

28th March 2024

The College Heritage Awareness Workshop was conducted by HECS at the INTACH headquarters in New Delhi and was attended by 21 students and 2 teachers from the Shiv Nadar University. The workshop started with screening of the INTACH film followed by brief introduction was given by Ms Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH, who gave an informative session on INTACH. Ms Purnima Datt spoke about the responsibilities of citizens to look after the heritage, and different facets of heritage - natural, built, material and living. She spoke about the complex geographical diversity.She shared many interesting pieces of information regarding different forms of material and living heritage . Students were also informed about how they could care for each kind of heritage. Maj.Gen. (Retd) L.K. Gupta, Chairman of INTACH, spoke about the diversity of India. Ms Christina Shangne, Senior Programme Coordinator of HECS, explained about the workshops conducted all throughout the country for schools, colleges and teachers and of the ways they could volunteer at INTACH or work on programmes within their institutions. The next session was held by the Ms Nanki Kaur , Programme Coordinator of HECS who spoke about the heritage clubs, how to promote awareness about heritages and their action plans according to the different types of heritages.

The students went on a visit to the Conservation Labs to the INTACH Conservation Institute. Here the students were shown how different materials are conserved. Then the students were taken on a heritage walk to Lodhi Gardens by Ms Vaishnavi Singh, Ms Nanki Kaur and Ms Andrea Elizabeth Mathew, Programme Coordinators of HECS. The workshop ended with a group photograph.

World Wildlife Day 3rd of March 2024

INTACH Saraipali Chapter observed the World Wildlife Day, March 3, 2024, by organizing organized a trip to Gomarda Sanctuary for 70 students, 10 teachers, and 10 parents, led by coordinator Yashwant Kumar Chaudhary. The tour's primary objectives were instill sensitivity towards wildlife among the participants and also to conserve, promote animals, birds, and forest resources while raising awareness among children. During the tour, students encountered some wildlife, including Sambar, Gaur, Deer, Bear, Wild Boar, Wild Dog, Jackal, and Monkey. Experienced guides provided insights into Gomarda Sanctuary's features, explaining various trees, medicinal plants, and wildlife. The children explored the dense forest, listened to bird sounds, observed pond biodiversity, and enjoyed games. The picturesque Madosilli Waterfall, 30-foot Watch Tower with Rest House, Khapan Reservoir, Thipa Waterfall, and Bamdai Mountain added to the memorable experience.

The tour also aimed to enhance understanding of climate change through forests, and participants pledged to contribute to wildlife conservation. The success of the program was attributed to the support of convenors, co-coordinators, life members, teachers, parents, and forest department staff. Pushpanjali Chaudhary, a life member of INTACH, expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks, concluding the event on a positive note.

"World Wetlands Day" Celebration, 02 February 2024

INTACH Saraipali Chapter organized a program on "World Wetlands Day" on 02 February 2024, centered on the theme "Wetlands and Human Wellbeing." Led by Yashwant Kumar Choudhary, Convener of INTACH Saraipali Chapter, the event featured lectures, painting competitions, speeches, and slogan contests, engaging school and college students. The participants showcased their creativity and knowledge on wetlands, biodiversity, and environmental conservation.

The following day, students enjoyed a tour to Kodar Dam Reservoir, Forest Awareness Center, and Archaeological City Sirpur. The excursion included water outings, boat rides, and insights into biodiversity conservation. Students also gained knowledge about camping, tourism, and explored the archaeological heritage of Sirpur. Forest Department officials provided valuable information on wetlands and Ramsar.

The program aimed to raise awareness about environmental protection, promote wetland conservation, and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Convener Yashwant Kumar Chaudhary emphasized the crucial role of wetlands in supporting biodiversity, providing essential resources, and contributing to sustainable development. The lectures also focused on water conservation, benefiting 75 students, 5 teachers, and 5 INTACH members. Program coordinator Yashwant Kumar Chaudhary expressed gratitude to all participants, highlighting the importance of wetland conservation for a sustainable future.

Heritage Conservation Awareness Tour, 14th January 2024

INTACH Saraipali Chapter organized a one-day heritage conservation tour on 14/01/2024 for 108 school children and 08 teachers. The tour aimed to raise awareness about heritage conservation and included visits to Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum in Raipur, the Botanical Garden in Naya Raipur, Jungle Safari Zoo, Purkhauti Muktangan, Chandrakhuri Kaushalya Mata temple, and Chhattisgarh Science Center. Students learned about ancient artifacts, tribal culture, and scientific concepts while enjoying cultural and spiritual experiences. The program successfully provided insights into Chhattisgarh's rich heritage and fostered a sense of cultural appreciation among the participants.

29^th February – 4^th March 2024

The College Volunteer Workshop was conducted by HECS INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Himachal Pradesh State Chapter and NIT Hamirpur and was attended by 35 students and teachers of NIT Hamirpur.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Archana Santosh, the Registrar of NITH, Mr. Anoop Kumar, the Dean of Faculty Welfare, Dr. Bhanu M. Marwaha, Head of the Architecture Department, Ms. Maalvika Pathania, Convenor INTACH Himachal Pradesh State Chapter, Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH and the faculty of the university. Ms. Maalvika Pathania started her presentation on the heritage of Himachal Pradesh. Ms. Purnima Datt spoke next about India’s vast natural, built heritage, material heritage, and living heritage.

After lunch, Ms. Purnima Datt and Ms. Nanki Kaur from HECS started their session on the kinds of architecture found in India. This was followed by a session on Volunteerism where students were informed of the ways they could create awareness about heritage.

In the interactive group activity the students presented well-designed activities on the local Kodiyala handloom community, the revival of local crafts, the culture and crafts of various states, and the Gaddi culture.

On Day 2, the first session was held by Mr. TS Randhawa, Consultant, INTACH Knowledge Centre on the Vernacular Heritage of the Himalayas. He spoke of the diversity of Indian vernacular heritage and focused on hill architecture. Following this, the students were taken on a site visit to study the local settlement of Jhaniari in Hamirpur.

Day 3 started with a session on Colonial Architecture of Shimla by Mr. Raaja Bhasin, Co Convenor of INTACH Himachal Pradesh State Chapter. He spoke about the historical significance and architectural style of the colonial structures. Day 4 entailed of the students continuing their work on their chosen sites and study topics.

On the last day of the workshop, the students presented their projects to the professors and Ms. Maalvika Pathania. The workshop concluded with valedictory ceremony, where all the participants were felicitated by INTACH.
PICTURES:

14^th February 2024

The Film Festival at Kochi was held at The Kerala Museum on 14th February 2024. 62 participants from 11 schools attended the festival. The programme began with a welcome address by Mr. Biley Menon, Co-convenor, Kochi Chapter. He welcomed all the schools to the programme and told them about the history of INTACH, the Kochi Chapter and HECS division. He talked about INTACH’s founding members and INTACH’s role in conservation of heritage. He then introduced Ms. Aditi Nayar, Director, Kerala Museum. Aditi welcomed the schools to the museum and talked about the museum’s long standing association with INTACH. She talked about the museum activities and welcomed all the schools for all the future museum activities. She talked about the art and culture and the need to preserve it. Mr. Abhishek Das, HECS, INTACH, addressed the participants. He spoke about HECS’ activities and the FilmIt India programme in brief. He talked about the initial years of the project and its expansion over the years. He also mentioned about the start of the project in Kochi in 2018 and how they have come a long way.

After the introductory session, students shared their experiences through speeches and poems. They shared about the challenges and hurdles faced while filming and also the success stories. The Kochi films were screened next. A short refreshment break was given next.

Post the break, some films from across the country were screened. Some students and teachers shared which films they liked the most.

Aditi introduced the Chief Guest – Ms. Sajitha Rasheed, Founder and Chief Mentor of Mind Mojo. Ms. Sajitha congratulated the students for making wonderful films and wished them luck for the future. Mr. K J Sohan, Convenor, Kerala State Chapter then addressed the students. He told them about the importance of preserving heritage and how their films would go a long way in achieving the same. He congratulated the schools and told them that they are doing good work. He also mentioned about the Kochi Biennale and what a good experience it had been for the schools when their short films were screened during the Biennale. The schools were then awarded certificates, books and prizes by Mr. Sohan, Ms. Rasheed and Ms. Nayar. Mr. Menon gave the formal vote of thanks. He thanked the schools, HECS team and the Kerala Museum. The programme ended with everyone singing the National Anthem.

13^th February 2024

The Film Festival in Hyderabad was held at Gitanjali Devashray, Secunderabad, on 13th February 2024. 88 participants from 15 schools from the city attended the festival. The programme began with a welcome address by Ms. Sujatha Ashwin, Teacher Coordinator, Gitanjali Devashray. She welcomed all the schools and INTACH officials. Mrs. Kasturi Chatterjee, Principal and Mrs. Anjali Sharma, Head Mistress, Gitanjali Devashray were also present. Ms. Anuradha Reddy, Convenor, Hyderabad Chapter and Mr. Abhishek Das, HECS, INTACH were felicitated next. The students of the host school presented a dance performance. Ms. Reddy welcomed all the schools and talked about the various INTACH activities. She thanked the hosts for making excellent arrangements and appreciated the efforts of all the schools. Mr. Abhishek talked about the Filmit project and its journey through the years. He talked how the project was initiated in the year 2008 with a handful of schools in Delhi and slowly spread to various cities in India. After the introductory session, some students shared their experiences through speeches and poems. Mr. Pranav Pingle Reddy, award winning Producer and Director, who was invited as the Chief Guest was felicitated next. Some of the films made by the Hyderabad schools were screened thereafter. This was followed by a short refreshment break. Some more students shared their experience of film making. The overall films selection was screened next.

Mr. Pranav, in his address spoke with the students and shared his observations. He remarked that he has had a close association with INTACH FilmIt over the years and said that he enjoyed watching all the films. He liked the topics that were chosen and gave some inputs on how to use the camera and making ‘sound’ better. He said that sound plays a very important aspect of film making and one should make sure that there are no compromises. He also shared about his own journey as a film maker and talked about his upcoming films. He congratulated all the students for doing excellent work.

Mrs. Kasturi Chatterjee also addressed and congratulated the students. The schools were then awarded certificates, books and prizes, which were presented by Ms. Anuradha Reddy, Mrs. Chatterjee, Mr. Pranav and Mrs. Sharma. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Sujatha followed by the national anthem.

12^th February 2024

The Chennai FilmIt India film festival was held at KSN Secondary School, Thiruvanmiyur, on 12th February 2023. 70 participants from 11 schools attended. The programme began with a prayer song by three students of the host school. This was followed by a welcome address by Mr. Abhishek Das, INTACH. He welcomed all the participants and the Chief Guest, Ms. Usha Kris, renowned photographer and INTACH member. Ms. Sharmila Ganesan, Co-convenor, INTACH Tamil Nadu State Chapter addressed the participants and introduced the Chief Guest. She spoke about INTACH in brief and thanked the school and the HECS team. Abhishek talked about the Filmit project and its journey through the last 16 years. He mentioned that Chennai has been a special city and many good films have been made by the students here.

After the introductory session, some students shared their experiences through speeches and poems. The Chennai films were screened next. Some more students shared their experience of film making. They recited poems and their experiences while making the films on different topics. The overall films selection was screened after that. Ms. Kris was then invited to share her observations about the films. She started her speech by talking about the immense heritage of our special country and that the students are doing a great job in its preservation. She said that very interesting subjects were chosen by the students while making the films. She asked them if they could read and write in their mother tongue and most of them replied in the affirmative. She then talked about the great country that India is and that we were mainly subjugated and history was written only by the rulers. But, many people are not aware of the rulers of southern Indian subcontinent. She said she was glad to see that from her generation to the current generation things are slowly changing. She also talked about a few great women rulers and their immense contribution to India’s heritage. She ended by saying that she was glad that the students are making films about India’s heritage and that they are a part of the reawakening of India. The schools were then awarded certificates and books. These were presented by Ms. Usha and Ms. Prabha, Vice Principal, KSN Sec. School. Ms. Prabha also congratulated the schools and said that it was a great pleasure to get a chance to have INTACH programmes at her school. Abhishek gave the formal vote of thanks. He thanked the Chief Guest, the host school, INTACH team and all the participating schools.

9^th February 2024

The 16th FILMIT India Festival, hosted by Heritage Education and Communication Services in partnership with INTACH Greater Mumbai Chapter, took place at Khadi Gramodyog for eight regional schools. Distinguished guests, including Ms. Katyayani Agarwal, Ms. Anita Yewale, Mr. Sandeep Sethi, and Mr. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, graced the event. Students enthusiastically recounted their experiences with the FILMIT program, highlighting the profound impact of local heritage on their filmmaking journey. The festival showcased films created by Mumbai students, celebrating their creativity and dedication. Ms. Katyayini Agarwal appreciated the efforts of the students, teachers and everybody involved with the project. She noted INTACH Mumbai's restoration work at Khadi Bhawan, the festival venue, while Ms. Anita Yewale highlighted their heritage walks and successful craft film festival collaboration with CSMVS. Mr. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, applauded HECS division, schools, and students for their dedication to FILMIT India. He shared a personal connection to Khadi Gramodyog, the venue, having participated in "Bharat Ek Khoj" filming there. Reflecting on the venue's historical significance, he noted the changing times from tramways to metro lines. Mr. Shivendra praised a film on tiger conservation and highlighted his familial ties to "Bismillah." Encouraging Mumbai students, he emphasized observing surroundings for filmmaking inspiration, calling it an expression of visual arts. He urged students to believe in their filmmaking journey and learn from existing films for improvement. Mr. Sethi commended the film "Drama Queen" for its poignant portrayal of theatre’s significance in society. He encouraged students to explore topics related to heritage monuments, fostering awareness and appreciation for India's rich cultural legacy. The event concluded with an award ceremony, followed by heartfelt gratitude expressed by Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS, INTACH marking a memorable conclusion at Khadi Bhawan's charming venue.

Workshop Photographs:

8^th February 2024

Sharada Mandir School hosted the Goa Film festival on 8th February 2024. It was attended by approximately 65 teachers and students of 11 schools of Goa. The Chief Guest for the festival was Mr Srinivas Mangipudi. The occasion was also graced by The event commenced with the welcome address by Ms Purnima Datt,Principal Director, INTACH HECS where she introduced the programme and briefed about the Film festival and how it expanded in so many cities. Ms Sharmila Umesh, Principal SharadaMandir School greeted the audience and mentioned that the Filmit project started 14 years ago in Goa and the school has been actively participating in the programme. She appreciated INTACH’s effort in encouraging students to learn about heritage. Ms Fatima Da Silva Gracias, Convenor Goa Chapter, spoke about the Lady Helen Hamlyn and the restoration works undertaken by INTACH at Reis Magos Fort and St. Anne’s Church. 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 Mangipudi took over and shared his experience of attending such kind of event for the first time. He was overjoyed to be a part of the programme and congratulated the children on making such amazing films. story. Each participating school received awards and certificates from the esteemed guests. And the programme ended with a formal vote of thanks by Ms Datt and a group photograph.

Workshop Photographs:

Baroda- 7th February 2024

The Baroda Filmit festival 2023-2024 was organised by Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) Division of INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Baroda Chapter and Navrachana International School Vadodara, CBSE. The programme was attended by over 100 participants, teachers, and guests. The FILMIT Festival began with a brief overview of the FILMIT project by the students of the host school and an introduction of the guests – Dr. Arjun Singh Mehta (Chief Guest), Mr. Sanjeev Joshi (Convenor INTACH Vadodara Chapter), Ms. Tarisha Desai (Co-Convenor INTACH Vadodara Chapter), Ms. Christina Shangne (Sr. Programme Coordinator, HECS INTACH), Ms. Nanki Kaur (programme Coordinator, HECS INTACH), and Mr. Theophane D’Souza (Principal, NISV).

Mr. Sanjeev Joshi welcomed everybody and gave an introduction to INTACH and FILMIT. This was followed by a Kashmiri dance performance by young students from the host school. Ms. Christina then invited students from each participating school to speak on their experiences of making films as part of FILMIT. This was followed by a screening of the Best Films made by the schools of Vadodara.

After a short refreshment break, the Overall Best Films from across the country were screened. These films were appreciated by all and students even spoke about what they learnt through them. Mr. Sanjeev Joshi proceeded to screen the newly-made film on INTACH to celebrate its 40 years. The Chief Guest, Dr. Arjun Singh Mehta was then invited to share his views and advice for the students. He appreciated the brilliant work done by the students and their efforts at covering such interesting topics. He commended many students in the audience for their skills and even provided them with tips to improve their films for the next FILMIT session. This was followed by the felicitation ceremony where the winners from each school were announced. Each school was presented with their certificates and a set of books. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Christina Shangne and Mr. Joshi, felicitation of the guests and the national anthem.
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Ahmedabad – 6^th February 2024

The 16th FILMIT India Festival in Ahmedabad, held in collaboration with INTACH Ahmedabad Chapter and Heritage Education and Communication Services (HECS), took place on February 6, 2024, at Shreyas Foundation. Seven schools from the city participated in the festival. The program commenced with a prayer, followed by an introduction by Ms. Nanki Kaur. Mr. Pawan Bakeri, former Convenor of INTACH Ahmedabad Chapter, acknowledged the students’ efforts and emphasized the importance of film-making as a means to explore the country’s diverse culture and heritage. The festival featured distinguished guests, including Mr. Manuel M DeLas Hera (an accomplished architect from ETSAM, Madrid, Spain), Ms. Sanskruti Panchal (Co-Founder of LxS and Founder of Drsyata Consultancy), and Ms. Fanny Servolle (French Interior designer). During subsequent sessions, Mr. Manuel praised students’ creativity and shared his film-making journey, while Ms. Sanskruti highlighted heritage conservation efforts in Ahmedabad’s old city. Ms. Utpala Desai encouraged curiosity and creativity among students. The principal of Shreyas Foundation Ms. Pratiba also shared some few words of encouragement. The festival showcased student presentations on film-making experiences and screened the best films from the city and the overall FILMIT India project 2023-2024. The event concluded with the distribution of award certificates and books to all participating schools.

6^th February 2024

The 16th FILMIT India Festival was organized in Jaipur by Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) at The Palace School, Jaipur. The festival was attended by students and teachers of 15 schools. The programme began with an introduction by a student of the host school followed by Saraswati vandana and lighting of lamp.

Ms. Swati Deora and Ms. Vaishnavi Singh welcomed everyone and spoke about the Filmit project and gave a brief about the project and its journey since it began in 2008. Through well prepared speeches and poetry, students recounted the fun of filmmaking, how they discovered their cultural heritage, and their Filmit experience.

Mrs. Urvashi Warman, Principal, The Palace School welcomed the Chief Guest Dr. Rima Hooja, Director at the MSMS II Museum City Palace Jaipur, and Ms. Rama Datt, Executive Trustee, MSMS II Museum City Palace Jaipur. Best films of Jaipur city and some overall best films from across the country were showcased. Audience was left in awe after the screening. Dr Rima Hooja expressed her enjoyment of watching films on Jaipur's heritage and commended INTACH’s efforts in creating awareness among young minds.

This was followed by the felicitation ceremony where the students were presented with certificates and books. A formal vote of thanks was done the host school and the HECS team. The workshop concluded with expressions of gratitude from Mrs.Warman and presented a token of thanks to Ms Swati and Ms. Vaishnavi.
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1^st February 2024

The Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) of INTACH organised the 16th Filmit India Festival on February 1, 2024, at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi. Students from over 30 schools were a part of the Filmit India Festival in Delhi for 2023–24. The festival was a celebration of their efforts and focused on showcasing films made by students on the theme of the natural, material, living, and built heritages of their regions.

The programme began with an introduction by Mr. Abhishek Das (Senior Programme Manager), and the welcome address was given by Ms. Purnima Datt (Principal Director, Heritage Education and Communication Service, INTACH), who spoke about the Filmit journey and its expansion to 11 cities: Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, and Kochi. Thereafter, students shared the joys of filming, how they learned about heritage, and their Filmit experience in the form of dance, speech, and poems. The films were showcased from both Delhi and from across the country.

The Chief guest was Ms. Rintu Thomas (an eminent film maker) and Guests of Honour were Ms. Himanshi Saini (film maker and video producer), Ms. Parul Munjal (head of INTACH Heritage Academy) and Ms. Bhadra Sinha (senior journalist and classical dancer). Ms. Rintu Thomas commended the students and their films, saying that they expressed and executed their ideas really well and talked about the struggles of making films and documentaries. Ms. Himanshi Saini spoke about her experience as a school student participating in Filmit years ago and how it inspired her to pursue her career in filmmaking. Ms. Bhadra Sinha encouraged the students to continue on their creative journey and keep this creative fire burning throughout. She was impressed by not just the films made by the students on various topics of heritage but also the sheer enthusiasm they showcased at the festival. Ms. Parul Munjal spoke about how we should remember to connect with the idea of what we feel is valuable, and the opportunity to create these films is the first step to developing the ability to see, do, and observe the most critical things that life has to offer. Mr. K. N. Srivastava appreciated the children and shared how this encourages students to develop creative thinking and imbibe the idea of preserving and knowing heritage and culture and how heritage plays an important role in building good citizens. Maj.Gen. (Retd.) L.K. Gupta spoke about the importance of heritages, traditions, and languages and gave the best wishes to the students for the efforts they had put in. The address by the chief guests was followed by the felicitation and award ceremony for the students.

31^st January 2024

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.

29^th January 2024

To mark the 40th Years of INTACH and the Foundation Day, HECS administered the INTACH pledge for the entire staff at the headquarters on the 29th of January 2024. The two new publications of HECS 'The Hornbill Warrior - Know Nagaland (Story cum Colouring Book) in Pochury and Tenyidie languages were also released on this momentous occasion.

Varanasi and Ayodhya

29^th January 2024

The Film Festival at Varanasi was held at W.H. Smith Memorial School, Sigra on 29th January, 2024. 17 schools from Varanasi and 3 schools from Ayodhya attended the festival. The programme started with a welcome song and the lighting of the lamp ceremony by the guests. The guests were felicitated thereafter. The teacher coordinator MsRoopali and MsUtkarsha welcomed everyone and the INTACH representatives, Mr. Ashok Kapoor, Convenor Varanasi Chapter, Ms Vaishnavi, HECS and other members. Ms Vaishnavi greeted the audience and talked briefly about the Filmit project. The principal of W.H. Smith Memorial School, Ms Anita Pauline Deywas also the Chief Guest of the event along with MrNirmal Joshi. She motivated the students on the grounds of preserving the heritage. the lines of She thanked INTACH for starting this 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 Ayodhyawere screened. Some more students then shared their experience followed by screening of some of the overall best films from different participating cities. The award ceremony included certificates, books and prizes which were presented to the schools by Ms. Anita, Mr. Nirmal Joshi and Mr. Ashok Kapoor.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Nirmal Joshi. He thanked the host School and teachers for their exemplary efforts to make the festival a grand success. A group photograph was taken at the end.
Workshop Photograph

Chandigarh and Ambala

29^th January 2024

The 16th FILMIT India Festival, a collaborative effort by Heritage Education and Communication Services (HECS), INTACH Chandigarh, and Ambala Chapters, unfolded at St Stephen’s School, hosting 10 participating schools. The event commenced with a warm welcome from Ms Nanki Kaur, acknowledging the presence of dignitaries, including INTACH Chandigarh Convenor Mr V.K Kapoor and Ambala Chapter Convenor Col R.D. Singh. Chief guests Ms Sumit Kaur, an esteemed architect, and Ms. Ashima Raizada, an artist, added grace to the occasion. The festival featured insightful sessions, including student presentations on their FILMIT program experiences and the impact of local heritage.

Participants from Chandigarh and Ambala schools expressed gratitude for the opportunity to explore heritage through film-making. Notable guests, Mr V.K Kapoor and Col R.D. Singh praised the students' dedication and emphasized the importance of community involvement and heritage preservation. The event also included film screenings, with students showcasing their creative endeavors. In the subsequent sessions, overall best films from the FILMIT India project 2023-24 were lauded, followed by inspiring speeches from Ms Sumit Kaur and Ms Ashima Raizada. They commended the students' dedication and encouraged them to continue their creative pursuits. The conclusion featured Ms Deepika Gandhi urging Chandigarh students to enhance their film-making efforts, emphasizing the significance of utilizing tools like AI effectively. The workshop concluded with awards, certificates, and expressions of gratitude from Ms Nanki Kaur and Mr. Pascal Daniels, fostering anticipation for even more impactful films in the coming years.
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24^th January 2024

The College Volunteer Workshop was conducted at the INTACH headquarters in New Delhi and was attended by 94 students and teachers from 12 colleges of Delhi University. The INTACH film was screened in the beginning to tell the students a little more about what INTACH does. After this, a brief introduction was given by Ms. Purnima Datt, Principal Director, HECS INTACH, who gave an informative session on “What is Heritage” where she spoke at length about the different facets of heritage - natural, built, material and living.

The next session on ‘The History of Modern Archaeological Study and Preservation in Colonial Delhi’ was conducted by Dr. Swapna Liddle, an eminent historian, author, and former convenor of INTACH Delhi Chapter. She spoke about the various forms of conservation and preservation that took place in Delhi over the centuries, starting from the period of the Delhi Sultanate. Her session was augmented by numerous archival images of Delhi and its historic sites.

After a short break, the third session on ‘Built Heritage of Delhi and the Role of Citizens in its Protection (Focus on the INTACH Charter)’ was conducted by Prof. A.G. K. Menon, Architect, Professor, and principal author of INTACH Charter of conservation. He spoke about the importance of conserving buildings and sites holistically and in the context of India.

The next session ‘Objects of the Ancient Period of the National Museum (with focus on Buddhist-Hindu artefacts)’ was conducted by Dr. Abira Bhattacharya, Assistant Curator, Dept. Anthropology, National Museum, Delhi. She spoke in detail about the Buddhist museum at the National museum and elaborated on various artefacts present in the Buddhist collection of the national museum. This session was followed by a visit to the Conservation Labs where students were shown how material heritage is conserved and restored.

After lunch, Dr. Narayani Gupta, historian and former director of the INTACH Documentation Centre, conducted the next session on ‘Romance of Ruins and the Boredom of Textbooks’. In her session, she spoke about the architecture of Delhi, its history, and its stalwarts. She said we should look at things and admire, criticize, and appreciate our heritage and architecture in an intelligent way. In conclusion, she reiterated that we must remember that ruins will become important if we build a community around them.

The next session was held by the HECS team where students were informed of the ways they could volunteer at INTACH or work on programmes within their institutions.

In the interactive group activity that was conducted, the students were asked to propose programmes they can organise to promote heritage and what help they require from INTACH while doing so. The students presented various innovative ideas. This was followed by the felicitation ceremony where the students were presented with certificates and publications by the Chairman and the Member Secretary.

9^th- 10th January 2024

The Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS), INTACH in collaboration with INTACH Murshidabad Chapter conducted a two day Teacher Training Workshop at Murshidabad District Journalists’ Association, Berhampore on 9th and 10th January, 2024. 37 teachers from 19 schools participated in the workshop.

The workshop began with an introduction by Dr. Jaydev Biswas, Journalist and Member, INTACH Murshidabad Chapter followed by the welcome address by Mr. Balaknath Bhattacharyya, Convenor INTACH Murshidabad Chapter. He spoke about the objective of the workshop and gave a brief about Murshidabad Chapter. Bouquets were then presented to the guests and resource persons. The first session was conducted by Dr. Mausumi Bannerjee, Curator, Murshidabad District Museum. She discussed heritage and history of Murshidabad from the point of view of archaeological evidences preserved in the Murshidabad District Museum. She showed images of various artefacts showcased in the museum and spoke about them. At the end of her lecture, she invited the schools to visit the museum to learn about the history of their own city.

Post this, the INTACH film was screened. The next session was on the ‘Types of Heritage: An Overview’ conducted by Mr. Abhishek Das, INTACH HECS. He asked the teachers what they understood by heritage and what it meant to them. The session offered a detailed description focusing on the four aspects of India’s heritage. The session also highlighted the fundamental duties and their emphasis on preserving heritage. Post lunch, the presentation focused on heritage education and the importance and need of incorporating heritage education as an active part of school curriculum so that children can learn heritage values and imbibe them in their day to day life. In the last session, the participants for divided into four groups (natural, built, material and living) to discuss for the next day’s group activity.

On the second day of the workshop, a heritage walk was carried out at the world famous Hazarduari Palace. The group visited the palace complex and museum. The walk was guided by Mr. Balaknath Bhattacharyya took the participants around the area. After the walk, the group returned to the venue of the workshop and setting up of heritage club and list of HECS’ publications, youngintach website, national programme sand social media were discussed by Ms. Christina Shangne, INTACH HECS. The teachers were given time to prepare for their presentations. The teachers presented some interesting group activities highlighting the heritage of Murshidabad.

The workshop ended with distribution of resource materials and certificates to participants.

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2^ndJANUARY 2024

On the occasion of the New Year, the HECS Calendar 2024 was released at INTACH by the Chairman, Maj. Gen. (retd) L.K. Gupta and the Member Secretary, Dr. C.T. Misra on 2nd January 2024. This calendar is based on the unique traditional utensils of India, all taken from the student entries of the National Programme Khana Khazana: My Food Heritage which took place in 2023.

Khana: My Food Diary, a HECS publication based on India’s culinary heritage, was also released by the Chairman and the Member Secretary. This diary is a compilation of some of the best entries sent by students for the National Programme Khana Khazana: My Food Heritage.

Both the publications were greatly appreciated by INTACH HQ and the Chapters.

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