InterGlobe Foundation, in partnership with Sahapedia has initiated a project on “Rediscovering the culture and heritage potential of Indian cities” and will entail documentation and dissemination of the heritage and cultural aspects of these 12 cities. The project spread over a period of 3 years will organize heritage walks, guided tours of the museums, workshop at museums, baithaks, and fun based learning activities such as Treasure Hunt, DIY sessions, etc. to benefit school students (children) and general audience.

The cities to be covered in the first year are Ahmedabad, Indore, Prayagraj, Goa and Shillong. Under the project cities’ key historical and cultural assets would be documented and a range of curated experiences would be held for widening public engagement in these cities.

The first “Anubhuti experience” was conducted in Sarkhej Roza, Ahmedabad on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, for children with special needs. The visit to Sarkhej Roza was organized for children of the Prabhat Foundation, an NGO based out of Ahmedabad that looks at the development of children and adults with special needs and helps them lead a life with dignity and hope as productive and confident citizens. The experience included a storytelling session for children on the theme of water with UK based storyteller Ms. Gauri Raje accompanied by Sukrit Sen in the background score. Sarkhej Roza is a prominent centre of Sufi Culture in Ahmedabad associated with the famous Sufi Saint Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh.

Sarkhej Roza was a space that the kids had not visited before, and heritage is generally not an active part of their curriculum. Hence, to create a history that also involves the kids and does not distance them, story-telling was considered as the appropriate tool. This story told the history of water, and the role it has to play in the lives of people. It involved the children as active partakers in the history of water, and laid the ground for a good relationship between them and the facilitators, for the upcoming sessions.

The Anubhuti experience aims to develop an art integrated learning system for each student/participant, for access to heritage, and to make the experience enjoyable. This is done through activities such as observing and sketching, music, story-telling, etc.