A heritage trail with student guides

New Delhi: With an aim to create awa-reness about the rich history that the national capital offers, DU’s Miranda House has been conducting heritage walks all over the city for students and faculty of the varsity.

The history department of the college, which launched its own heritage walk club —Musafir (traveller) — in July 2016, increases heritage awareness through such walks while making it a matter of popular discussion and debate amongst the participants.

“Delhi presents mindboggling scenery of sorts, the juxtaposition of the old with the new. In the background of modern infrastr-ucture consisting of high-rises and malls, live the remains and ruins of a glorious shared past, rich in heritage and culture. Thro-ugh the medium of a heritage walk, Musafir strives to educate those with an active interest in Delhi’s vibrant history,” the HWC leaders said.  

Each walk is headed by a history student from the college who provides lots of historical information in a fun and interesting way. Unlike tour guides, these walk leaders contextualise facts and talk about a wide variety of things ranging from architecture to the society of the past.

Initially, these walks were organised only for Miranda House students and the faculty, but now these are open to all DU students. The students, though, are required to carry their ID card.

However, each walk is charged Rs 50, which is exclusive of the ticket fee. The students, who are interested, are required to register with the society due to limited number of seats.

“True to its name, Musafir instigated in us the travelling bug and made us revisit Delhi’s long forgotten past. The neglected, forlorn yet majestic buildings of Jahanpanah and Begumpur reminded me the need to study and conserve the heritage that we claim as ours. It was one of the very few incidents where I did not regret getting up at 6 in the morning,” said BA English student, Anukriti Rai.

So far, walks have been organised to 11 heritage si-tes, including Qudsia Bagh, Old Fort, Qutub Minar, Lodhi Garden, Red Fort, Jahanpanah-Begumpur, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Jama Masjid, Humay-un’s Tomb, Tughlaqabad Fort and Shahjahanabad.

The latest walk was held on Saturday.