When Lakhnawi heritage got awarded

A heritage awards function was recently organised by The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to celebrate the spirit of sustainability of heritage. This was the first time an award function for the best practices in restoration and maintenance of heritage structures was presented in Lucknow after Hyderabad. From bigger precincts and palaces to smaller habitats of bylanes of old city, people sent the nominations with much enthusiasm.
(L) Vipul Varshney (R) Keshav and Sama (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
The award categories included the Awards for Excellence, Awards for Distinction and Special merit awards. Some of the award winners included Craftsmen who restored La Martiniere College, Kotwara House, Khunkhunji Kothii, Itaunja House, Sharga Haveli, Shanti Sadan and Jahangirabad Palace to name a few. The awards were presented by Jitendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Culture and Tourism, Anita Bhatnagar Jain, Additional Chief Secretary and Bharat Kumar Bhaskar, Director of IIM Raipur.
(L) Muzaffar Ali and Meera (R) Dr Bharat Kumar Bhaskar (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
In between the award ceremony, renowned Sufi Kathak performer, Manjari Chaturvedi enthralled the audience with her dance performances on the theme of ‘The feminine of Awadh’ or the journey of feminine Awadh Radha-Raas. Convenor of the event, Vipul Varshney said, “It was a wonderful experience to have met all the heritage lovers under one roof. They are the real crusaders of heritage preservers and conservers.”
— Yashi Agarwal
(L) Bina Krishna and Amrita Dass (R) Jitendra Kumar (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui) (L) Dr Anita Bhatnagar and Anushree Jain (R) Jayant Krishna and Anuj (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)