Gen-Y revisits bygone eras

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Delhi is a city of heritage. Its splendid past dates back to hundreds of years and 1,300 odd monuments stand witness to it. Why is it that the city is yet to get the World Heritage City tag? Now young Dilli-lovers are out to accomplish the same.

Apart from individual efforts like organising heritage walks and online movements by young professionals, now students from various city colleges are geared up to take the campaign to their campuses.
Recently, encouraged by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), students from six city colleges participated in the “heritage volunteer” workshop that introduced students to the unexplored architectural, natural and material heritage of the city.
These students will not only adopt some of the neglected monuments in the city, but will also help the authorities document the heritage of Shahjahanabad and Lutyens’ Delhi for the World Heritage City nomination.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the main city, Aditi Shrivastava, second year, History student from Lady Sri Ram College, loves to explore the Hauz Khas village, Tughlakabad and Paharganj areas.
Aditi is keen on being a heritage guide. She feels that it will enable her to share Delhi’s past with foreign visitors. “If more people related to the city, it will get more signatures for the heritage title for the city,” she says. “I am also conducting discussions and debates in my college so that more and more students know what the city is all about,” she says.
For Mamta Azad, 17 of Sri Venkateswara College, it’s an absolute must for a citizen to know the city they love to call home. “We Delhiites are lucky to be living in the lap of history. But it’s unfortunate that we take this wealth for granted. We drive past important monuments without sparing them a thought,” she says. “Let’s slow down, pause and appreciate an architectural landmark,” says Mamta, who is using social media for her mission.
Asif Khan, 23, founder of Delhi By Foot, has been advocating the prestigious tag for the city on each of his walks. “There are hundreds of lesser known but important monuments in the city and we are focusing on them too. Little stories connected to them bring the visitor closer to the city,” he says.
According to A.G.K. Menon, convenor of Intach, Delhi Chapter, youngsters are “actively and excitedly” participating in the programs. “The efforts youngsters are putting in are praiseworthy,” says Menon. “Our idea is to involve this young population in the process, but in an interesting way,” he says. Come February 6, Intach is organising a film workshop, “Saving Delhi’s Heritage”, showcasing best films make by students.