Preserving our past

Museum visit
Students of Class V of St Paul’s School,SDA,visited the children’s museum for heritage by asi. The event was conducted by The Indian Express

Himanshu Gullaiya
When I went to the museum,from the school bus of the St Paul’s School,I saw a museum designed with very good material and technique. I went inside with my friends and teachers. I saw a hall; there were many photographs on historical architecture like the Ajmeri Gate that was one of the 14 gates of Shajahanabad. The Red Fort that was built in 1639- 48 AD. The Jantar Mantar (misra yantra) was contributed by Maharaja Madho Singh (1751-68 AD).

There were fantastic photos and information on historical monuments. Then we went in another hall; there we got to see how people are destroying the monuments by writing and scribbling all over it. They showed us that people are destroying the monuments and living there.

We all pledged that we will not destroy our monuments and respect them. From the visit,I gained that we should go to see historical monuments and learn something from there. The guide told us that the monuments have been existing for several years,if we damage and violate them,what will the children who visit them in the future see? So,from today onwards,I will always be careful of preserving our monuments and respect our heritage.

Merin Varghese
I was among the children who were taken to visit the museum on December 18 last year. It was a great experience we had lots of fun and gained a lot of knowledge about historical monuments.

We went to a hall,which was full of photos. We saw different pictures of monuments of the past and present,like the Red Fort,Chhata Bazar,nubat or nuqqar khana,Diwan-i-’Am,Rang Mahal,Shah-Burj,Zafar Mahal,Sher Mandel,Khana Masjid,Chhoti Gumti and Lodi Garden.

We went to an another hall there we saw how people destroy the monuments by scribbling on the walls,pasting posters etc. We scratch names,slogans and gibberish on the walls of national treasures,ripping out iron gates and latches of unsupervised monuments,showing no regard for our history or their significance.

We went to another place outside where we saw the Moti Masjid,which the people were repairing. It is a mosque people still use to offer prayers and it is 600 years old.

Jishnu Gangadharan
We went to the children’s museum near Siri Fort Auditorium on December 18 last year.

First we saw Lord Ganesh with 14 hands. Then the instructor took us to a hall full of photographs and paintings,which were old and new; some were black and white and some colourful.

They made us realise how the city is changing. Like earlier Kashmere Gate had no roads to pass through,but now the roads are cemented through which heavy vehicles can pass. The paintings we saw there were Alai Minar 2.5 metres high and the Red Fort built by Shah Jahan. After this we promised to our respected National Emblem that from now onwards we will save our heritage.

Lastly,we went to the Moti Mosque which was 600 years old and built by Allaudin Khilji.

Siddharth Ganguly
On December 18 last year,we went to the Children’s Museum for Heritage by the Archaeological Survey of India. We got knowledge of Indian heritage and culture through pictures and paintings.

Old photographs of the Diwan-i-’Am,the Old Tank of Rana Mahal (1639-48) were displayed. We should follow rules and regulation in life by not smoking,drinking and other prohibited items. We pledged to plant more trees on earth and protect our heritage. We should also raise awareness in society about the green house effect. I am grateful to everyone for their time to help us understand the importance of our heritage.

Akash PS
Our school had organised a heritage walk for my class to the Children’s Museum at the Siri Fort Auditorium on December 18.

It is a very good place for children as it gave us vast information about the heritage of our country. We saw many paintings of monuments like the Red Fort,the tomb of Muhammad Shah in Lodi Garden,Chor Minar in Hauz Khas Enclave,Jantar Mantar,Tughlaqabad Fort,Sikandar Lodi’s Tomb in Lodi Garden,Kotla Feroze Shah,Ghiasuddin Tughlaq Tomb’s etc. But now people go there and start living there,like Kazanchi Ki Haveli in Chandni Chowk,Begumpur Masjid in Sarvapriya Vihar,the Hauz Khas monument in Haus Khas village etc.

After that,we saw the repairing work being conducted at Moti Masjid,which was 600 years old. A chemical wash of the masjid was going on to make it as shining as it was when made. It was totally destroyed.

We should preserve and keep our monuments safe as they are very important to us. The government should take necessary steps to prevent them from being destroyed,because our monuments are 100 per cent historical monuments and 0 per cent renewable. We all should also take steps to prevent them from being destroyed.

Abraham Simon
When I heard that we were going for a heritage walk,I was very excited. When I went there I saw how important the monuments of old and present times are.

When I saw pictures of the monuments near Hauz Khas I noticed that people were living there. I saw pictures that talked about how people scribble on the walls of our national heritage without understanding their value. I saw the pictures of monuments of the olden days. It was so beautiful,but now their condition is quite terrible. If we continue like this,nothing will be left for the future. I would like to conclude by saying that we should take care of our national heritage,because they are our pride and we should be proud of them and not destroy them.

Siddharth Khare
In this trip,I learnt that we should take steps to save our monuments and not think that these monuments are useless. So let’s not draw,spit or put up posters on it or break any part of it. The monuments tell the history of our country and are precious. They need to be protected and cared for.

But the question is,how can they be protected? The monuments that are not in a good shape should be reconstructed and their surroundings should be cleaned daily. By this method I think we can keep the monuments clean and tidy. I had a wonderful time seeing the various photos of the monuments for our city.