Have a look at the great efforts made by our wonderful Heritage Clubs
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. On the occasion of Christmas, the students presented an assembly on 22nd December 2020 with gaiety. The assembly began with the Christmas prayer followed by the Hymn. A beautiful carol “Joy to the world” was sung by the students. The thought for the day was about happiness. The students enthusiastically participated and danced on Jingle bells. The children were ecstatic! And Santa thoroughly enjoyed the attention. The special assembly ended with a message for the students to spread the essence of Christmas with love and joy of giving. The children got the message of sharing and caring as well as the pleasure and pride of spreading peace, true to the spirit of the celebration.
INTACH Gurugram Chapter conducted an online quiz competition on Indian heritage and culture on 5th December 2020. The event was open to students from classes VII to X. The students from DPS Gurgaon, who participated in the quiz were Hargun Kaur Loomba and Viraaj Rao of class X. The quiz created awareness and was an eye opener to India’s rich culture and heritage.
To create awareness and instill a sense of responsibility about the importance of conserving energy, INTACH school group conducted a comic strip activity on the topic- ‘Saving Energy at Home’. Students were able to organize their ideas and combine pictures and captions and dialogues to depict a message requesting the people not to waste energy. This activity enhanced their creativity and also stimulated their imagination.
As craft can be a great hands-on way to talk about the animals which are on the verge of extinction or are already extinct, class VI students made beautifully designed masks of various endangered species, using cardboard , chart paper , cards and material that was easily available at home.
Students of Class VII made pen holders and decorated them. They also displayed information on any one endangered species (land/water), mentioning what they could do to help protect them.
On the occasion of World Heritage Week, the Archaeological Survey of India, Trichy Circle organised a week-long celebration starting from 19th- 25th of November, 2020. The chief guest for the occasion was Shri M. Govinda Rao I. A. S. The District Collector, Thanjavur has inaugurated the heritage Walk around the Brihadeshwara temple, Thanjavur. The Guests of Honour for the occasion are Shri Deshmukh Shekar Sanjay I. P. S (Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur), Smt. P. JanakiRaveendran, Msc. B.ed. (Commissioner, Thanjavur Corporation) and Sri. S. Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (Hereditary Trustee, Palace, Thanjavur). A special talk on the Heritage of Thanjavur was presented by Dr. Kudavayil Balasubramaniam, (Curator Retd., Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur), Convenor, INTACH Thanjavur Chapter. He appreciated the INTACH Chapter activities & Regional Winner Trophy for Gandhi 150 program. District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Dr. T. Arunraj, Superintending Archaeologist, A.S.I., Trichy Circle, INTACH Thanjavur Convenor, INTACH Members Mr. S. Muthukumar, K. Swaminathan, Shankar and Samsudeen participated in the celebration.
The month of November brings with it the excitement of festivities and warmth of the approaching cozy winter. To inculcate the cultural values and ethos of Indian festivals in our children, the INTACH club followed the tradition of organizing interesting activities for students to learn in a fun way.
Classes 3 & 4: On the occasion of Diwali, the most fascinating festival of lights, a ‘Lantern Making Activity’ was conducted for classes III and IV to brighten up their Diwali preparations and celebrations. A simple yet engaging activity that paved a path for the students to unleash their creative skills. The students enjoyed creating their own lanterns for the upcoming festival of lights and decor. A virtual special assembly was held to reiterate the essence of Diwali, the festival of lights and togetherness, sweets and feast, cleanliness and décor. It also motivated the students to enhance their inner light and progress towards the path of positivity and spiritual enlightenment.
Delhi Public School, Sector-45, Gurgaon organised a 'Diwali Luminaries - Lantern making activity’ in the first week of November to celebrate the festive season. Students of the Middle School enthusiastically participated and made luminaries using recycled paper cups/handmade paper etc. Simple yet interesting techniques were used by the students creatively to make Diwali luminaries which were then shared in the classes by the students.
A special assembly on Diwali was also conducted for the students of Middle School on 11th November, 2020. Diwali, also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ is celebrated with pomp and fervour all across the country. It is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair. The assembly highlighted this spirit of Diwali and sought to inform the students about the need to be eco- friendly and the ways to celebrate this festival with family and friends during unusual times. Children were also made aware about the precautions that need to be taken while lighting lamps. They got a glimpse of the thread of unity that binds the diversity of our country. The assembly concluded on a joyous note with the display of lanterns made by the students in their Art Class and exchange of greetings.
A special assembly was organised for the students of Middle School on 9th November 2020 to celebrate Children’s Day. Children are beautiful flowers and create a fragrant garden with their distinct personalities. The assembly celebrated the individuality of each child, with a variety of activities like online games, fun quizzes and tongue twisters. Students enjoyed deciphering the visual clues and unravelling the names of English and Hindi story books, authors and idioms. Tongue twisters enabled the students to improve their concentration. The assembly also provided a platform to the students to display their talents like singing, dancing, playing an instrument etc.
From Baolis to the breathtaking monuments, Gurugram has a rich trail of history which is often overlooked. Every place has a different story to tell, maybe of architectural magnificence or history. Children of middle school researched to discover these hidden gems of Gurugram. The children collated their findings and wrote about the historical importance of the monument, its architectural features and suggestions on how to keep the monument protected. The activity spread awareness among the students and they got to know their city better.
'Peace is the most powerful weapon of mankind. It takes more courage to take a blow than to give one' ~ Mahatma Gandhi.
The month of October saw a lot of merriments like Gandhi Jayanti- “Birthday of Beloved Bapu”. The air was bursting with a lot of festivities such as Durga Puja and Dussehra and the same were reflected by the activities conducted in the INTACH Club this month.
The Junior wing of the school celebrated Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra virtually with a lot of religious zeal and fervour. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti special assembly was held and students made fabulous charkha and they were told about the importance of charkha and home-made products during then and today’s time. The students also made three monkeys depicting the principles of Gandhiji. The object of conducting the activity was to spread the message of endurance, peace, harmony and non-violence propounded by Gandhiji. Images of Ravana were also created using recycled items and reinforced the message of the triumph of good over evil. They learnt the values of honesty, respect, humility and obedience, which are the core of the epic story, Ramayana. Interesting videos were shown to children followed by the assembly in which students spoke on the significance of these festivals and how they are celebrated in the country.
A special assembly to mark the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti was presented by the students of middle school on 1st October, 2020. The assembly started with children singing Gandjiji’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav Jan To’. It was followed by a presentation which helped the students revisit the transforming incidents of Gandhi's life. It conveyed the message of non-violence, truth and brotherhood. The assembly came to a close with teachers urging the students to follow the ideals of Gandhiji in real life.
Delhi Public School, Gurgaon, organized Webinar - ‘Remembering Gandhiji’, on Friday, 2nd October, 2020, to celebrate the 151st Birth Anniversary of the Mahatma. The panelists discussed the relevance of Gandhian principles and ideals in the context of present times. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Aditi Misra, Director Principal, DPS Gurgaon. The panelists comprised of alumni, Mr. Karthik Hariharan and Ms. Bhavya Arora, Parent Reps, Ms. Sumbul Khan, Ms. Roohi Trehan, and Dr. Vinita Malik, and in-house educators, Ms. Suparna Sharma, Ms. Anamika Sethi, Ms. Mamta Kanti Kumar and Ms. Avni Mehta.
The event started with a message from Ms. Dhara Jaipuria, Pro-Vice Chairperson, DPS Gurgaon, talking about the importance of the day. This was followed by a video of the Primary Wing children reiterating Bapu’s principles. In the first segment of the webinar, the panelists discussed how Ahimsa can be inculcated in the community, especially the youth. This sparked conversations about mindfulness, forgiveness and communication, followed by inspiring messages from Dr. (Mrs.) Shayama Chona, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awardee and eminent educationist, and Lt. Gen. Shankar Prasad, PVSM, VSM(Rtd.).
The second segment focused on the principles of Satyagraha and how imperative it is to imbibe them in today’s tumultuous times. The speakers emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself, irrespective of the consequences. Messages from Dr. Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Principal, Springdales School, Pusa Road, New Delhi and Major Atul Dev, INTACH, Convener, Gurgaon Chapter, were featured. They emphasized the relevance of Gandhian philosophy in today’s scenario. The speakers also shared their thoughts on simple living and sustainable use of resources during and post- pandemic.
This was followed by a captivating presentation by the DPS family singing ‘Vaishnava Jana To’ and the dancers performing to ‘Ekla Cholo'. The panelists then shared an aspect of each of Bapu’s teachings that resonated with them. ‘Simple living and high thinking’, as advocated by the Mahatma, inspires all to make their lives meaningful and think of the greater good of mankind.
INTACH Gurugram Chapter organized an illustrated talk on planning and construction of New Delhi- “I Love My Delhi’ by Convener Atul Dev on 17th October 2020. He gave informative and entertaining talks on Lutyens Delhi. He talked about the planning of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, India Gate and Connaught Place. The talk was enlightening and kept us all engaged.
To celebrate the spirit of art and its intricate connection with Indian culture, the club invited young students to recreate their own Dharohar by painting on recycled goods like paper cups, jute bags, paper bags, used T-shirts, cloth masks etc. The students were asked to paint or draw anything which they interpreted as the ‘Dharohar of India’ example: monuments, paintings, inscriptions etc. The beautiful works of art which were presented by the students gave way to understanding how the tender hearts visualized their land and culture, how proud the achievements of their motherland made them.
In the last few months, all of us have been fazed with isolation, desperation and a sense of apathy from some. However, there were also seen acts of empathy and kindness from many. To celebrate these stories, Dharohar brought to us, “Anybody Can Sing”. Finding out about such stories, whether in one’s own life or in courageous acts of others, putting those heartening stories to words, and singing them out loud with one’s team. The students participated with full enthusiasm, showcased their talent and creativity and cherished this opportunity in bridging gaps in communication and bonding.
The Saga of Independence, the annual event of class IV, organised a live stream on YouTube by Delhi Public School on 15th August 2020. The Saga commenced with the enlightening words of the Director Principal, Ms. Aditi Misra wishing everyone a very happy independence day. In her address, she urged all to be grateful for the things God has bestowed us with in these unprecedented times. Urging everyone to embrace sustainability and minimalism, she requested all to make it a way of life. This was followed by a soulful medley of patriotic songs presented by the school choir. The Saga of Independence unfolded the journey of our independence. The drama commenced with the portrayal of effervescent personalities such as Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bipin Chandra Pal to name a few. The event picked up the pulse when the enthusiastic actors played the role of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to perfection. The students also showed their gratitude and indebtedness towards all the frontline warriors who are working tirelessly round the clock to protect us from the pandemic. It was then followed by the prize distribution ceremony which was also held online for Class III for the academic session 2019-20. The event culminated with the vote of thanks proposed by the Headmistress, Ms. Laveena Hemrajani.
RAKHI MAKING ACTIVITY
Rakshabandhan is a festival which celebrates love between brothers and sisters. A rakhi making activity was organized for the students of classes VI, VII and VIII. Students enthusiastically made colourful rakhi’s using origami.
To celebrate the 74th Independence Day of India, the INTACH school group and Dharohar Club had organized a quiz for the middle school students on the topic- ‘How well do you know India’. In the wake of the rapid spread of coronavirus, the event was conducted online by the social science teachers in their respective slots on 11th /13th August, 2020. The quiz consisted of questions related to music, dance, historical monuments, freedom fighters etc. It had both audio and visual questions. The students actively participated in the quiz. It was a wonderful learning experience for the students as well as the teachers because “knowledge is the only kind of wealth that multiplies when you give it away”. A special assembly The students and staff had dressed up in tri coloured clothes. The students sang patriotic songs spreading a message of love for the nation. Children participated in the assembly with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervor.
INTACH school group had organized an activity on flowers for the students of middle school. The young minds of Class 6th showed off their creative skills and rhyming ability as they wrote poems on their favorite flower, describing its uniqueness and distinct beauty. The final poems were beautiful masterpieces that rejuvenated and reconnected us to nature. Students of Class 7th were asked to write a conversation between two flowers. This dialogue writing activity brought our attention to some of the endangered flower species. Some students showed the power of imagination through extraordinary writing skills. The students of Class 8th researched and wrote stories and legends about flowers found in Indian mythology. These little story-tellers wrote really compelling stories that made us admire the role of flora in our history.
Due to covid 19 pandemic, taking help of technology a virtual trip to Qutub Complex was conducted by social science teachers for the students of class VII. It was a great learning experience for the students. They learnt about the history and architecture of Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest minaret. Children also learnt about Alai Minar and Iron Pillar and were told facts about these structures. A quiz was also conducted after the virtual walk.
INTACH Gurgaon Chapter organized a webinar on the topic- ‘Forgotten Cities of Delhi’ on 17th July, 2020 for the teachers. Rana Safvi, a renowned author and historian gave informative and entertaining talks on the history of Delhi. She told the stories and depicted the monuments from an area and an era that’s perhaps the richest in Delhi’s archaeological history- Shahjahanabad and Firozabad on one end and Jahanpanah and Siri on the other- a stretch that is today dotted with tombs, dargahs and the ruins of the Purana Qila.
The Film it Content Workshop was held on 23th July 2020 through the zoom video conferencing platform. It was attended by students of classes VII and VIII along with their teacher. The workshop aimed at sensitizing young students about the importance of making films on Indian culturde and heritage. The welcome address was given by Ms. Purnima Datt. The workshop was conducted by Mr Feisal Alkazi, eminent theatre personality, film director and author of some immensely popular children’s books. He introduced the students to the process of filmmaking. Few short films were shown during the session to help the children have an insight into the world of film making and become commendable film makers.
A young learner from KLES International School, Belagavi has found a way to cope with this negative situation by involving themselves in something very positive, like conserving nature! Here is an article written by Miss Palak of class 9 from our school on her experience.
Last two months during lockdown we often came across the word 'Quarantine'. What does this mean, staying home during a pandemic. When the entire world came to standstill we were left with no choice, but Quarantine ourselves. But Hey! Was this not a good opportunity to introspect and do something to help Mother Nature? Indeed yes. That's exactly what I did. Yes folks. I involved myself in nurturing Mother Earth. And how did I do that? I started planting saplings on the roadside and involved myself in gardening. During this time I was introduced to a new way of drip irrigation (saline). Initially I started planting saplings such as frangipani, money plant, mohra, etc. Then with the help of good samaritarions i.e my neighbours. We started a plantation drive near our building and also covered the dividers on the road, while we all were religiously involved in this, we came across the use of saline for drip irrigation suggested by one of our teammates. We didn't realize we were building a team of like minded people. While we continued with our plantation drive, we happened to meet a representative from 'Green Saviour' (Mr.Bidri), who is actively involved in a huge plantation drive across the city. We were happy and excited as he clicked our pictures and also happily made us a part of their group. They were impressed with the usage of saline for irrigation. This pandemic has surely taught us one thing, to nurture and take care of Earth. What better way to spend time in quarantine and plant trees and thank Mother Nature. Last but not the least, I really find joy and happiness when I see them blossom and grow.
- Palak Patil, 9D
The INTACH Ambala Chapter is in good heart and continuing with the heritage activities regularly. The Chapter also keeps in touch with the heritage club schools and keeps motivating them. The Chapter recently visited the Heritage Club students of the middle school of the Cantt Board School, Top Khanna Bazar, Ambala Cantt. It was heartening to see happy teachers and happy children. The Principal, Inderjit Ma'am, was full of positivity and energy. The Co-convenor of INTACH Ambala Chapter Ms. Reena is an Art & Craft teacher in this school and she is doing a fine job. Ms. Reena showed the Ambala INTACH Convenor Col R. D. Singh their latest creations of meshed paper- pots and artifacts. She also showed him the new paintings made by the heritage Club members. It was a soothing and joyous environment in the class. All the children are from underprivileged backgrounds. The visit was very encouraging.
Topic: Dying Art From Telangana - Cheriyal Masks
Students of class VI made colourful Cheriyal Masks used as props by storytellers who wandered from village to village narrating episodes from folk culture. The students clicked a photo of their masks and shared it. Students developed an understanding of dying folk art of our country using readily available eco friendly materials.
Students of middle school celebrated ‘World Environment Day’ to encourage awareness and take action towards the protection of the environment. Children identified any two birds from their neighbourhood and created hanging mobiles of those birds using origami technique. They also researched the scientific names of the birds and their role in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. Children showed their creativity and innovation in creating hanging mobiles of birds. A special assembly was also conducted wherein the students expressed their views on biodiversity and the ways to preserve it.
INTACH Gurgaon Chapter organized a webinar on the topic- Central Vista and New Delhi- a virtual walk through the architecture of the British Imperial Capital on 19th June for the teachers of Gurgaon chapter.. Ms Swapna Liddle renowned author and historian conducted the virtual tour. It was an informative and interesting session on Lutyens Delhi.
INTACH Nagpur Chapter in association with Architectural Sankul organized an online heritage poster making competition with the theme -Nagpur Heritage. The competition was open to all under-five different age groups. Participants were given liberty to use any medium to make posters and send the entries by mail along with their photos. We got an overwhelming response with around 150 entries. The results were declared after scrutiny dealt by experts from the poster designing fields. All the participants were given E certificates of participation as a token of appreciation. During this pandemic lockdown period, the competition gave the participants an opportunity to explore their creativity and pay attention to Nagpur's rich heritage. Dr. Madhura Rathod and Ar. Nitika Ramani, the organizers of the competition extended their thanks to all the enthusiastic participants.
Commemorating significant Environmental Day milestones in the week of June [the World Environment Day (5th June), the World Oceans Day (8th June)], INTACH HECS organized a webinar on the ‘Diversity of our Natural Landscape and the Role of Citizens’ for the middle school students and teachers of the Army Public School, Shankar Vihar on 11 June, 2020, through the zoom video conferencing platform. The webinar scheduled for over an hour aimed at creating an understanding of the diverse natural heritage landscape of our country and highlight the role of citizens in preserving it. It was attended by over 55 participants who expressed enthusiasm to be a part of the HECS webinars and its ongoing educational initiatives.
An introduction to INTACH and the school’s involvement in HECS educational initiatives was shared by the teacher coordinator, Ms. Namrata. It was followed by an introduction to the resource person, Ms. Purnima Datt (Principal Director, INTACH HECS). A detailed powerpoint presentation accompanied with an informative talk was delivered by Ms. Purnima Datt. She offered a detailed overview of natural heritage and kept the participants engaged with several lesser known fascinating facts about each heritage asset. The final segment examined the role of citizens in safeguarding their natural heritage. It was pointed out that fundamental duties enshrined in the constitution laid an emphasis on preserving heritage. However, its survival was dependent on us as a collective and our constructive engagement with it as responsible citizens. The session concluded with an interesting question and answer exchange undertaken by Ms. Purnima Datt. It was followed by an interactive quiz on natural heritage and enthusiastic participation by many students. The webinar concluded with a vote of thanks by the teacher coordinator, Ms. Namrata and the participants commitment to carry out several more educational activities in their heritage clubs.
Taking the opportunity at this current situation of the pandemic, Ecole Mondiale World School continues to nurture the curiosity and enquiry of Indian Heritage , Art and Culture in the minds of the young children through the Young INTACH Newsletters and other publications.
The students have been utilising their time by doing some extensive research on Human Rights and Environment under the guidance of their Homeroom Teacher, Specialist Teacher (Hindi) and Mentors. Below are some thought- provoking speeches and articles the students have written to create awareness and bring change in the society. The students believe that the thoughts and ideas of the students expressed in the articles will make the readers think about the issues prevailing in our society more seriously and work towards a better society.
As much as 80% of the world's forests have been destroyed or irreparably degraded over the past 100 years. The world lost more than 26 million hectares of trees - an area the size of Britain - each year from 2014-2019 as per REUTERS.
Deforestation can happen quickly, such as when a forest is cut to make way for infrastructure projects like highways, a power plant, cement factory, a major dam project across a river or a new settlement. It can also happen gradually as a result of ongoing forest degradation as temperatures rise due to climate change and growing human population.
Both urban areas and rural areas contribute to deforestation.
You & me as a city dweller are used to high rise buildings, luxury office spaces, cinemas, recreation clubs, five-star hotels and need broad highways to drive our fast cars. All this comes at a cost, cutting down forest cover. Rural areas or villages are slowly encroaching into city development areas due to their growing population. One good example is Mumbai that used to extend from Victoria Terminus to Andheri in the early 80’s has now extended to Borivali, Virar, Thane & beyond which have now become small townships by themselves.
Rural areas tend to feed the urban population, by converting forest land into farmed spaces for crop production and cattle cultivation. Villagers living in the rural areas are dependent on fire wood cut from forest for their livelihood & cooking needs. Vast forest cover is depleted to breed cattle and poultry.
Dams prevent flooding and since our rivers cut across forest land, the process of dam construction is at the cost of destroying forests. Mining industry is also a big culprit in forests being damaged as can be seen in areas like Goa which are destroying its natural beauty by iron ore mining.
In India, logging has been the biggest contributor to destruction of our forest cover. This started as early as 1853 when the Britishers started building the rail network in India. The extensive network of Indian railways cuts through several forested landscapes of India. The first logging has been recorded while developing the Indian railway network where trees were cut for wooden sleepers, ballast, (this is the piece of wood that holds the track together) and firewood for early steam engines.
Migration of people from neighboring states has also led to deforestation. They have cut trees and destroyed forests. The number of rhinos at Assam has gone down due to loss of forests and continued flooding.
Awareness must be created among the general public about the advantage of afforestation. People should be encouraged to make their own forests. One such person that needs mention is Dr. Akira Miyawaki from Japan; who has regrown degenerated forest & barren land across Japan. Using indigenous trees, shrubs and with scientific methods of soil treatment he has created dense forests. Using his method, community forest in small land patches should be introduced among the villagers in India. Even the sides of the railway tracks in India can be converted into mini forests. Afforestation can help in the preservation of wild animals, herbal medicines, bee farms among other natural benefits. Let us all become Afforestation Warriors and join me at Instagram #leadafforestation. share your views and how you can contribute to minimize the effect of deforestation.
And finally, one interesting fact; as early as 1864; a German expert, was called for advice by the Britishers and made the first Inspector General of Forests in India. Sir Brandis set up the Indian Forest Service in 1864 and helped formulate the Indian Forest Act of 1865. This only goes to show that the concern of deforestation has been ongoing within India for the past 150 years.
Deforestation is serious but on a lighter note are my two cartoons that show the funny side of deforestation:
On the occasion of World Heritage Day organised by ITIHAAS, on 18th April students of Junior school participated in various activities like a pencil sketch of their favourite monument, Poem writing on their visit to a monument or a self-composed poem on heritage. The students proudly participated in the above activities and enjoyed doing their bit during the lockdown. The objective behind conducting these activities was to enlighten students about the value and significance the world’s heritage holds.
Earth Day was also celebrated where students enthusiastically participated in the activity ‘Grow a plant’ to commemorate our benevolent Mother Earth. Saplings, stems of money plant and by using seeds, children planted at their homes. The aim was to raise awareness about our role in protecting the natural habitat. The students participated in the activity and pledge to reduce pollution by following the 5R's -Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse and Respect.
Due to COVID-19 outbreak, DPS Gurgaon participated in World Heritage Day celebrations organized by INTACH via the internet. The children wrote about the most interesting experience that they had visiting any monument in India. The winner of the World Heritage Day challenge was Aahana Borooah Sahu of class 6 from our school. The school also participated online in World Heritage Day activities organized by ITIHAAS. Students of middle and senior school participated in various activities like a pencil sketch of their favourite monument, Poem writing on their visit to a monument or a self-composed poem on heritage. The students proudly participated in the above activities and became aware of the monuments that India possesses. Getting children engaged in these activities helped them learn the small facets of architecture and our history.
On the occasion of Earth day students of the middle wing participated in a poster making competition organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Through their posters children showcased climate friendly actions that can be taken to combat climate change in the post COVID- 19 world.
The young heritage club students of Summer Fields, Kailash Colony celebrated the Earth Day by organizing a ‘Slogan and Poster Making’ activities along with a pledge. Despite the lockdown, the students actively and enthusiastically participated online and shared their views on how each one is responsible to save the earth. Beautiful and creative poster with a slogan was created by the students..
The Taheri English School in Jamnagar is an active school that always shows positive approach to participate in all sorts of activities conducted by INTACH. The students from grade 7th to 10th participated in various activities like mehendi, glass painting, embroidery, etc. The students also get great support from the Principal and teachers, who always motivate the students in taking part and exploring their vivid skills. All these activities help not only in honing the skills and creativity of the students but also in making them aware of their rich culture.
On the occasion of CM. K. C. R’s birthday the Oxford Grammar School organized as Plantation drive on 17th February. The OGS Members planted trees to combat many environmental issues and also to create awareness about the benefits of trees that absorb harmful gases and emit oxygen resulting in increase in oxygen supply.
Members of the Heritage Club of The Oriental Seminary actively work all round the year to explore local heritage and discover interesting topics for their short films. Taraknath Sadhukhan, a student of Class X, happens to be the most active member of the club who has always shown precocious sincerity in discovering new ideas for their short films. For quite some time he had been planning to make a film on traditional Indian wrestling- Kusti, for which he was searching for a traditional Kusti Akhara to shoot for his film.
Located on the bank of the Ganga in North Kolkata, there is a ghat called 'Prasanna Kumar Tagore Ghat' (close to Howrah Bridge) that has been in use for more than a century. Right there stands a very old Kusti or wrestling academy called 'Kopin Dev Baam Sangha'. When he visited the authorities of the academy to seek permission for shooting, they readily agreed. While shooting he was informed by the 'pahalwans' or the students of the akhara that the academy is on the verge of destruction as it might be soon wiped away by the Ganga. They showed him the rotting condition of the river bank or the ghat that has not been looked after for years and has become a dumping ground for waste. The stairs of the ghat hardly exist and many people regularly get drowned while trying to access the water of the river. Quite helplessly they requested our student, Taraknath, if his video could help to spread awareness about the dangerous condition of the ghat as the future of the academy is totally dependent on the restoration of the ghat.
The video with a proper write-up was shared on the school's official and the school's archive page from where it was further shared by many students to make the matter known. There is a group called 'Purono Kolkatar Golpo' who is doing serious work on heritage restoration in Kolkata at present. One of their founding members came across this post and he assured us that he will forward this video to the West Bengal State Heritage Commission. The inmates of the academy are very grateful to Taraknath for showing such sincerity at such an early age. They have praised him for his endeavour and told him that even if nothing comes out of this initiative, they truly appreciate the sincere concern and interest shown by Taraknath. They are also cooperating with him wholeheartedly by providing ample of scope to shoot and make the film richer in content.
Basant Panchami Celebration
Spring is known as the "King of all Seasons" and the festival of Basant Panchami formally marks the onset of spring season. It is also a festival dedicated to goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, language, music and all arts that resonates the INTACH’s core areas. Students of Junior school were shown a presentation on the festival of Basant Panchami, which described the associated legends, traditions and celebrations associated with it. As a follow up activity, the students also made colourful posters reflecting their understanding related to the spring festival.
National Science Day
The school organised the screening of films as part of the ongoing Science Film Festival 2019 conducted by the Goethe Institute, the theme being ‘HUMBOLDT AND THE WEB OF LIFE’. A collection of three movies were shown to the students of class VIII. The selection of the movies was based on the current scenario and the challenges faced by the human society such as: benefits of urban farming which increases the availability of nutritious foods and strengthens community ties; threats to the ecosystem due to the unrestricted use of plastic in daily life. The movie helped to create, foster and strengthen scientific temper in students through visual learning. Activities were conducted to reinforce the concepts and discussions were held to bring out viable solutions for a better tomorrow.
Filmit is a multi- cultural project funded by Helen Hamlyn Trust (UK). The project aims at nurturing cultural understanding, care and concern amongst school children through the exciting experience of making films. INTACH Filmit Delhi Festival was held on 6th February 2020 at India International Centre, Delhi. Over 40 schools of National Capital Region participated in the project. Students of DPS, Gurgaon won prizes in two different categories:
1. Best Documentary Film- Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings-‘Mirza Ghalib Ki Haveli’
2. Best Screenplay- Family Heritage- ‘Green Chillies Pickle’
Filmit proved to be an exciting and novel way to ignite an interest for heritage amongst the young. It uses a medium that the young today feel motivated about, namely, film-making, to explore their own culture.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd February to raise global awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. Wetlands and biodiversity is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2020. It aims at drawing attention to the relevance of promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in such an important ecosystem. The Pracheena Heritage Club of Oxford Grammar School celebrated it to develop awareness about water pollution status among teachers and students and through them to communities. The programme was celebrated to highlight the problems caused due to water pollution in River Musi and other Rivers in Telangana. The students spoke on various aspects how to protect wetlands.
The main objective of the INTACH club is to make the students more sensible and alert citizens of the country. This year, India is celebrating 71st Republic Day, a great historic moment when the Constitution of India came into effect. To celebrate the Republic Day and make the students understand its importance, various activities were conducted in the class. Students were told the true meaning of being republic, having the power to choose their representatives who will lead the country in the right direction. Students made Preamble of the Constitution and understood the importance of the ideals laid down in it in the functioning of the country. A special assembly was held in the auditorium, which highlighted the importance of Fundamental Rights and Duties for a citizen of India. Students promised that they will make their country proud and do their duties very well and will always follow the right path.
Makar Sankranti Celebration
INTACH school group organized an activity for middle school students on the celebration of Makar Sankranti across our country in different ways. Students researched and wrote about cultural significance of the festival as we move from one state to another. They also wrote about the various rituals performed and traditional food prepared during the celebrations. Children learnt that every region in our country celebrates the festival of Makar Sankranti according to its localization, culture and traditions.
18th January, 2020 was a day to remember for the members of the “Miras Heritage Club” as they met for their monthly session. This time, the students were given the task of finding about unknown tourist destinations in Rajasthan. They prepared PPTs and charts on Todargarh, Salim Singh ki haveli, and many more, which the children were surprised to know about. Their teacher informed them about several unique temples all over India, including the most famous Vitthala Temple. The students were in the seventh heaven at the beginning of the session, feeling extremely sad at the end, as it would be the last meeting of the year, but they were also thankful for the incredible journey throughout the year.
On 25th January, the heritage club students were given the opportunity to visit the Amber Fort, as a heritage walk, which they enthusiastically accepted. Reaching there, they began to work upon saving and creating awareness about our precious heritage, since we all should preserve the past to save the future. They made posters with slogans and took interviews from the numerous tourists, who were visiting the fort, asking about the various architectural and historical aspects of the monument. Inside the fort, the students saw Sheesh Mahal (palace of mirrors), Mansingh Palace, etc. it was an amazing and learning experience, which they couldn’t describe to the fullest. Overall, the children had a lot of fun, and were happy to visit and see such incredible heritage sites in Jaipur.
21st January was a red letter day in the annals of the Heritage Club of St Michael’s School. We had the opportunity to listen to an erudite speaker, Ms. Anuradha Reddy Convenor of INTACH Hyderabad Chapter, whose knowledge about the history and architecture was awe inspiring. She requested the members of the INTACH Club to preserve the heritage of our country by adopting one monument in the vicinity of the school. Her talk provided a lot of food for thought and gave some good ideas on how to take the club forward and make it a happening and useful club. We took part in an enlightening heritage walk as we got an insight into the history and architecture of the Wesley church, a heritage monument located in the heart of Lalbazaar, Secunderabad. All the participants had a fun and a good learning experience.
The Oxford Grammar School, Hyderabad believes that celebrations will bring students closer to traditional and cultural belief. The School recently celebrated Makar Sankranti. A close bond is built between the students as they understand each other's different customs. The students of 6th to 9th grade celebrated as per different states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Assam and Telangana. It was a fun filled celebration and all the students as well as the teachers enjoyed the celebration.
