Workshop for setting up Heritage Clubs in schools

The Heritage  Education and Communication Service (HECS) in collaboration with INTACH AP Chapter and Forum For A Better Hyderabad conducted "A 2 day Workshop for Setting Up  Heritage Clubs in Schools"

WORKSHOP ON HERITAGE AWARENESS FOR TEACHERS

A workshop on HERITAGE AWARENESS for the teachers is being organized jointly by the INTACH (Delhi), INTACH (AP Chapter) and FORUM FOR A BETTER HYDERABAD on 09^th & 10^th August 2004 in Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, Hyderabad. 50 teachers from 25 schools have participated in the workshop

From Left to Right.. Mr. Veda Kumar, Convenor Heritage Cell, Dr. J. Geeta Reddy, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism & Sugar, Mr. Sravan Kumar, Convenor, INTACH - AP Chapter, and Ms. Shobhita Punja, Honorary Consultant, Heritage Education & Communication Service	The participants at the Inaugural Function

Minister for tourism Dr. J. Geeta Reddy has inaugurated the workshop at 9:30 am. Mrs. Shobitha Punja, Consultant, Heritage Education & Communication Service, INTACH, Delhi gave a keynote address Mrs. Lalitha Gir has invited all the guests on the dais. Mrs. Shravan Kumar, IAS, Retd. Chief Secretary of Govt of A.P., and Convener, INTACH has briefed about the initiatives of INTACH. Mr. M. Veda Kumar, Convener Heritage Cell, Forum For A Better Hyderabad has explained about the importance of Heritage Clubs and informed the activities of INTACH and FOURM FOR BETTER HYDERABAD together in protecting natural and manmade Heritage in A.P. and Hyderabad. Mrs. Shobitha Punja said her keynote address that INTACH has recently released a book on HAND ON HERITAGE and presented the book to the Minister. She said that INTACH is organizing such programs Nationwide and succeeded satisfactorily in her Mission. The Minister said that the Workshop is a part of activities to link the future children with past and present, as the preservation of Heritage Precincts and Monuments is needed lot of awareness, which can be possible through such programs.

The meeting then proceeded with a two-day workshop being organized for teachers recording the meeting of Heritage Protection, Heritage Clubs etc.

Dr. Shobhita Punja involving the participants in a practical work

In the workshop Mr. Sajjid, Conservation Engineer gave a presentation on Heritage precincts. Mrs. Anuradha Reddy, a scholar in history of Hyderabad gave their talk regarding the importance and procedure for the Education in Heritage Presentation. Mrs. Shobitha Punja further organized the Workshop by explaining the intricacies of Heritage with suitable examples.

It is planned to conduct a Heritage Walk from Charminar to Khilwat for all the participants of the workshop to have first hand experience, with the help of department of tourism. Heritage Walks starts at 7:30 am at Gulzar House with the guidance of eminent conservationist. The Reporters can also join the Heritage Walk. During the meeting it was also briefed about the Heritage Awards, Architectural Influence and changes in Hyderabad. Architectural styles and its link to History, Geography and Cultural.

PRESS RELEASE

The 2^nd day of two days workshop on Heritage Awareness for Teachers began with a Heritage walk from Gulzar House to Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Lad Bazar, Chow Mohalla etc between 7.30 A.M and 9.30 A.M, The participants were guided by resourse persons Dr. V.K Bawa, Surya Narayan Murthy and it was organised by the Dept. of Tourism.

The participants had a Heritage Walk

The participants proceeded to the venue of workshop and had hectic schedule of attending practical classes in groups and presenting the feedback to the resourse person Dr. Shobita Punja. Later, Mr. S.P Shorey, special officer, planning HUDA, gave power point presentation of Heritage. Dr. V.K Bawa gave lecture on monuments, Dr. M. Mandal of Heritage Cell brief up the participants about rules and regulations of Heritage. Dr. Vineeta of Save Rock Society, gave video presentation on Rock formation and its importance to preserve them, Mr. M. Veda Kumar, Convenor Heritage Cell gave power point presentation on Heritage Buildings & Monuments in Rome, Italy and he explained a lot of importance is given in restoring and preserving of the Heritage Buildings in Scientific way in Rome, Italy.

Mr. Shorey, Special Officer, Town Planning, HUDA, one of the Resource Person at the Workshop	From Left to Right.. Mr. M. Veda Kumar, Mr. V.K. Bawa, Dr. M. Mandal & Ms. Sangamithra Malik

Two day workshop came to an end with the concluding session attended by S.P Singh, Secretary, Tourism (Chief Guest), Mr. Shravan Kumar, Convenor INTACH, Hyd (AP Chapter), Mr. M. Veda Kumar, Convenor, Heritage Cell were present.

The concluding ceremony began with welcome address by Mr. M. Veda Kumar. He said INTACH, Forum For A Better Hyderabad with other NGO’s is putting efforts to bring awareness for conservation of Heritage Precincts, monuments through which the goal of bringing World Heritage Status to Hyderabad can be achieved. He also insisted to help from Dept. of Tourism to organize 6 workshops in a year to bring a momentum.

From Left to Right.. Mr. R.S. Rao,        Mr. Shravan Kumar, Mr. S.P. Singh,     Mr. M. Mandal and Mr. M. Veda Kumar

Mr. Shravan Kumar said this workshop is intended to motivate the teachers by involving them practically in turn they go back to their respective schools and enlighten the school children. The other intention is to guide the teachers in forming Heritage Clubs in schools.

The Chief Guest Mr. S.P Singh said; present identification of Heritage depends on the past. Hence it is collective responsibility of every citizen, NGO’s and Government to restore and pressure the Heritage Precincts & Monuments which reflects the past glory. Heritage and Tourism has close contacts as Tourism depends mainly on Heritage, he quoted an example, Rome (Italy) has every building with Historical importance, with art and is attracting tourists from all over the world.

The participants expressed total satisfaction with the knowledge they have gained.