Hyderabad: A new initiative to boost awareness and spur action for sustainable conservation of the unique cultural heritage across India and around Hyderabad, was launched today at the iconic “Green Gates” building of Vidyaranya High School, Saifabad.
Feisal Alkazi, legendary theater director, prolific author, teacher, art critic and heritage activist headlined eventsthat included a cultural heritage curriculum development workshop targeting primary and high school teachers and a public event, “Preserving the Past for Tomorrow: Exploring Heritage Education in India. “
Alkazi also ran a workshop for over 40 Class 9 students from Vidyaranya High School, where he interacted with the young students and spoke about working on heritage education with children and communities in Delhi, Jaipur and Srinagar.
Alkazi said, “Heritage Education for our younger generation is crucial to encourage a culture of respect and appreciation for heritage. There is a growing interest in the preservation, protection and conservation of heritage but much more needs to be done.
Through creative learning, I believe that we can help educate our youth and the community at large about how each one of us can make a difference and through actions can contribute towards saving our heritage which includes monuments, books, photographs, food, art, music and people.”
The curriculum development workshop was oversubscribed and featured over 10 primary and high school level teachers who came as observers from schools including Alliance International School, Glendale Academy, Springfields School Masab Tank, Focus High School, VIP International and Lumbini Montessori House of Children.
The events were conceptualized by a member of Heritage Buffs, a WhatsApp virtual group of heritage lovers including senior professionals, writers, historians, medicos, veteran and young individuals who are leading a grassroots effort to raise awareness and boost sustainable conservation of Telangana’s cultural heritage.
The objectives of the pilot workshop are ambitious as much as they are compelling.
The Heritage Buffs aim to raise awareness about heritage issues including the rich local history of the Kakatiyas, Qutub Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties in school curricula, build awareness of cultural heritage issues and encourage teachers and students to support efforts for sustainable conservation of cultural heritage and iconic monuments of Telangana and India.
“We were delighted to host such events to help catalyze meaningful change in the cultural heritage space,” said Nandini Rao, Director of Vidyaranya High School.