Have a look at the great efforts made by our wonderful Heritage Clubs
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad was awarded the Best Heritage Club Award 2012.The efforts of teachers and students are outstanding. The activities ranged from site visits, heritage walks, heritage week celebrations, awareness programmes, art workshops, eco-friendly works among many other school activities.
The heritage club at BVBPS, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad continued with its spree of spreading awareness on our rich culture and heritage through the concept of theme based activities. Unnathi Raj, VIII std., says “Heritage club is such an association where one gets moralized of our culture, values, education, history and lot more."
A survey was performed by the students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School, Hyderabad, on various topics related to the conservation of our heritage. The students asked working professionals to fill out questionnaires pertaining to the question being explored and below produced are the findings.
Govt. Higher Secondary School, Peruvallur, Malappuram, Kerala, Hansraj Model School, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurgaon, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai have also shown remarkable efforts. Govt. Higher Secondary School, Peruvallur, started their first heritage activity to protect Kudakkallu or umbrella stones as part of megalith burials in Malappuram district among others. Hansraj Model School has been maintaining their heritage activities via school blog called ‘Sampada’. Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurgaon started their heritage activities with celebrating World Water Day on 22nd March 2012 and continued with activities on a monthly basis. Like the previous year, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matric Higher Secondary School, Adyar was active throughout the academic year and celebrated many festivals on a monthly basis.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Periyakalapet, Puducherry, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai, Akshara School, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi and G.D. Salwan Public School, New Delhi must be credited for all the efforts they had put in. J.N.V., Puducherry conducted walks at historical places like Gingee Fort, Kanchipuram etc. Sri Sankara through their heritage club ‘Sanskrithi’ organized a competition on ‘Thiruppavai’, a composition of verses by Andal including a seminar on temples of South India by Dr. Chitra Madhvan and celebrated their traditional festivals. Akshara School with their heritage club ‘Nagarjuna’ conducted various events including quizzes, world heritage week celebrations, visits to sacred temples, and organized Beach festival among others. Delhi Public School too conducted heritage walks to historical monuments in Old Delhi including celebration of Heritage Day. They also have adopted a heritage site “Chausath Khamba” for its conservation and creating awareness. G.D. Salwan Public School, New Delhi also conducted many activities through their heritage club ‘Dharohar’.
Heritage clubs in various schools all over the country have made a considerable difference in their own little way. In order to keep up the high momentum HECS has declared 10 schools to be special awardees which include Modern High School For Girls, Kolkata,My School Satya Surabhi, Kodaikanal; GKD Matriculation Hr.Sec. School, Coimbatore; Delhi Public School, Mandla Road, Jabalpur; Ryan International School, Sector 40, Gurgaon; VVDAV,Vikaspuri, New Delhi; Taheri English High School, Jamnagar, Gujarat; Delhi Public School, Visakhapatnam; the Pinnacle School, New Delhi and Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior.
Some of the new achievers who also contributed include Global Indian International School, Surat; Apeejay School, Park Street, Kolkata; and Suncity World School, Gurgaon.
A two day teacher training workshop on Heritage Awareness was held at Ambala on 28-29th February 2012. 45 teachers from 23 schools participated in the workshop. The methodology adopted was a practical and interactive one for the participants- slide shows by resource persons, talks, discussions and group activities. The workshop commenced with a welcome note by Brig Lamba, Convener, INTACH- Ambala Chapter. He urged to protect and preserve the heritage of Ambala, thereby emphasizing that listing work is of utmost importance. His thrust was to reach to the tender hearts by promoting heritage education in schools. Lt. Gen. Ranjit Singh gave an enriching presentation on heritage of Ambala followed by Prof. Anuradha Jindal’s presentation on Sadar Bazaar of Ambala. This was followed by an introduction about heritage given by Ms. Purnima Datt. The two-day workshop also included a heritage walk to the Navrang Rai Sarovar, Ambika Devi Mandir , St. Paul Church and Raja and Rani ka Talab for the participating teachers.
INTACH HECS in collaboration with the INTACH Goa Chapter organized the Filmit India Film Festival in Panjim, Goa, on 15th February 2012 at the Suna
Paranta Centre for the Arts. Seven renowned schools which has participated in the programme attended the festival. There were around 10 students and 1-2 teachers from each school who attended the programme. The Chief Guest for the event was Ms. Israel Sarvistha who has had 15 years of experience in the field of theatre.She has trained teachers in theatre therapy specially in Kabul Afghanistan She has also done a film the Secret Box and folk theatre called Yakshangana of Karnataka . The programme was also attended by Ms. Nilima, Programme Coordinator and Ms. Fatima Gracias, Co-Convener, Goa Chapter. The schools put up interesting performances including a song performance, mime and poetry recitation. Along with screening the films made by the children, snippets of their experiences while making the films were also depicted.
Ms Sarvistha lauded the students for their efforts and the pro-activism shown in saving snakes. She spoke on the privileges of doing creative activities which was not there in war torn countries like Afghanistan
INTACH HECS in collaboration with the INTACH Hyderabad Chapter organized the Filmit India Film Festival on 13th February 2012.Five renowned schools which have participated in the programme attended the festival. There were around 15 students and 2 teachers from each school who attended the programme. The programme was held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School. The Chief Guest for the event was Ms. Nandini Reddy a well-known film director of Telugu films. She had directed a very successful Telugu film and is now making another film. Ms Anuradha Reddy Convenor of Hyderabad Chapter, presided over the programme. The schools put up interesting performances including a song performance, dance performance, mime and poetry recitation. Along with screening the films made by the children, snippets of their experiences while making the films were also depicted. The programme was also attended by eminent journalists and media experts from the city including Indian Express, ETV and Telugu media and television channels.
The Chief Guest Nandini Reddy spoke to the students on how excelling in films was not easy especially if you were a female film director. She said that making films was like a game of squash as it was you who had to hone your skills like this game . She appreciated the role of films in creating awareness.
The Filmit Film festival was held in Delhi on 10th February, 2012 in India Islamic Cultural Centre Auditorium participated by 20 prestigious schools in Delhi. The programme began with an introduction speech by Ms. Purnima Datt, Director, HECS followed by a welcome address by Ms. Kavya Nirman, HECS. She welcomed the Chief Guest Ms. Sagarika Ghose Deputy Editor CNN IBN, and Guests of Honour Lady Helen Hamlyn, Head Helen Hamlyn Trust UK, Sanjana Kapoor, an eminent theatre personality, and Dr Shobita Punja, CEO National Culture Fund.
After welcoming the guests, there was session for presentations by students of participating schools sharing their experiences about the film making. Followed by which, best selected films made by Delhi schools were shown. Then our chief guests spoke to the students and encouraged the participants. Dr. Shobita Punja addressed the students and congratulated them for the efforts. We also had INTACH chairman, Lt. Gen. (Retd) L.K Gupta talking to the students. Our chief guests Ms. Sagarika Ghose and Ms. Sanjana Kapoor shared the experience of meeting the young film makers. We had the privilege of having Lady Helen Hamlyn with us to motivate and encourage the students. The festival concluded with the award ceremony presented by Ms. Moby Sara Zachariah, HECS and vote of thanks by Mr. Abhishek Das, HECS.
INTACH HECS in collaboration with the INTACH Chennai Chapter organized the Filmit India Film Festival on 6th February 2012.Nine renowned schools which has participated in the programme attended the festival. There were around 10 students and 2 teachers from each school who attended the programme. The programme was held at Vidya Mandir school.
The Chief Guest for the event was Dr S.Krishnaswamy, a well-known film maker who is a Padma Shri awardee and has made a number of documentary films including the well known film Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi. He was also Chairman of Jury f0r National awards.
Dr S. Suresh Convener, Tamil Nadu Chapter, presided over the programme. The schools put up interesting performances including a song performance and poetry recitation. Along with screening the films made by the children, snippets of their experiences while making the films were also depicted. The Chief Guest appreciated the films and encouraged the children to continue making films on heritage and culture and learn about their city’s heritage. He said he was impressed by the quality of the films.
The Filmit India Film Festival was held at Kolkata on 2nd February 2012 at Birla High School for Boys. Students and teachers from the participating schools – Loreto Day School, Sealdah; Modern High School for Girls; Lakshmipat Singhania Academy; DPS Megacity; The Heritage School,Birla High School – were present at the event. The programme was presided over by Mr. G.M. Kapur, Convener, INTACH West Bengal Chapter. Famous conservationist, Ms. Papiya who was responsible for coordinating the programme in Kolkata was also present.
The Chief Guest was Suman Mukherjee, a well known theatre and film personality from Calcutta along with his wife, Mallika Jalan who is a film maker and environmental activist in her own right. The Chief Guest inspired the students to continue making films and spoke of the effects of good visuals, editing and crisp music scores for the making of good films. The Guest of Honor Ms Jalan also spoke of having the unique experience of making films and the thought process which needed to go into making short films and advertisements.
HECS, INTACH, in collaboration with the INTACH Greater Mumbai Chapter organized a Teacher Training Workshop on17th January 2012. 25 enthusiastic teachers from 16 prestigious schools of Mumbai participated in the workshop. The workshop began with welcome speech by Ms. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, Vice Chairman, INTACH and Managing Trustee and Honorary Director, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum. There was a presentation by Mr. Vikas Dilawari, Conservation Architect, on local heritage issues and on the architectural conservation of significant heritage buildings and structures of Mumbai. Ms. Purnima Datt, Director, HECS, welcomed the teachers and began the session with presentations on Heritage, Heritage Education and on HECS and its functions. The post lunch session of the workshop started with a walk in Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum. The walk leader, Varsha Reshamwala, Curtorial Associate of the Museum, explained to the teachers about the objects belonging to colonial and contemporary period displayed in the Museum. The Museum contains objects pottery, silver and bronze idols, models of communities came and settled in Bombay, models of boats used in harbour and soldiers of different regiments with their uniforms, models giving glimpse about the village life of Mumbai and also a relief map of Bombay of 1882. The museum displays works of contemporary artists as well. The walk leader concluded the walk in the library which contains books on History of Bombay, Arts, designs and layout of the structures and towns, Photography etc. The workshop concluded with group presentations by teachers followed by the distribution of participation certificates, badges and passports and Hands on Heritage to teachers by Ms. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta.
