Why we need to preserve India’s heritage

By Parth Budhkar

On Wednesday, September 21 2022, students gathered for a guest session with Mr. Anand Bhardwaj, Chief Executive Officer at Heritage and Events, Dalmia Bharat Group at Apeejay School International, South Delhi.

It was a very enlightening session which outlined how and why we need to preserve India’s culture and heritage. We, as citizens, can help fulfill the country’s goal and make it more tourist-friendly. Mr. Bhardwaj started the event by introducing himself, followed by introducing his company’s contribution to the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ programme by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

He further explained how he has currently adopted the Red Fort and “wants to make it the cultural centre of India.” One of the most monumental (pun- intended) changes that he and his team have made is the creation of the Red Fort Centre. In this building, (which is a restored army barrack from the 1800s), he has built multiple amenities for public use as well as experiences and a canteen that is operated by Café Delhi Heights. The Centre works on almost all of what he likes to call “the 3 pillars of monument adoption”: Shows, Events and Amenities.

Elaborating on these points, Mr. Bhardwaj and his team have created a large number of new shows and events using social media to advertise them. His new events include “Dances of India” – a dance showcase, “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata” – a 10 day long festival, and a lot of other interesting sound and light shows.

Being a part of this lecture gave me a deep insight as to how I can grow as an individual by learning more about my country’s rich history. I felt that we all must remember to keep our heritage safe.

After all, if the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, had forgotten about the legacy of his ancestor, Babur, he would’ve never learnt how to build impressive monuments in the motherland.