Latest news with #SabhyataFoundation
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Hans India
Offline, interactive, inclusive; Student builds app to reimagine history learning
A student-developed app turns school heritage trips into immersive, clue-based adventures — no internet required Hidden Gems is an offline, gamified mobile app designed to transform visits to the Red Fort into interactive, educational experiences for students. Developed to function without internet connectivity—critical within heritage sites where signals are weak—the app guides users along a predefined route through the fort, delivering clues, trivia, and story-driven challenges at key landmarks. Each stop presents a puzzle or task that requires observation, collaboration, and critical thinking, turning passive tours into active explorations. Designed specifically for school groups, the app fosters team-based problem solving while enhancing engagement with historical content. The app is structured to make history feel experiential rather than textbook-based, blending learning with play. It encourages curiosity, cultural awareness, and collaborative learning—entirely through an offline, user-friendly interface Ina unique intersection of technology, history, and social inclusion, a Delhi student has developed an app that turns a visit to the Red Fort into an interactive treasure hunt — all without using the internet. Seventeen-year-old Priyang Dalmia, a Class 12 student at The Shri Ram School, Moulsari, has designed Hidden Gems, a gamified offline mobile app that guides students through India's iconic Red Fort using clues, trivia, and historical storytelling. The app is supported by youth guides trained through the Salaam Baalak Trust — many of whom bring lived experience of street life into their roles as heritage ushers. The app was developed in collaboration with the Sabhyata Foundation, which supports heritage preservation at the Red Fort. School visits to historical sites often face the challenge of disengaged students. Dalmia's idea emerged from his own experience during school trips. 'When I visited monuments as a younger student, I noticed how easy it was for us to get distracted or bored,' Dalmia said in an interview. 'It made me wonder — what if we could make the experience feel more like a game than a lecture?' Hidden gems: How it works Hidden Gems operates entirely offline, a necessary feature given the limited connectivity inside the Red Fort. The app guides participants through a pre-planned route within the fort, delivering clues and tasks at key points. These include puzzle-solving, trivia, and prompts from the guides — all aimed at deepening students' understanding of the monument. What makes the model unique is its collaboration with Salaam Baalak Trust. Youth from the trust are trained as on-site guides, offering both historical information and personal narratives. 'We created scripts and conducted training to ensure the guides could confidently deliver an educational and engaging experience,' Dalmia said. 'I also wanted to open up employment opportunities for young people who are passionate about culture but don't always have access to formal heritage jobs.' Development and challenges Developing a completely offline app brought technical hurdles. One of the biggest challenges was ensuring a seamless user experience without real-time data syncing or connectivity. 'We had to strip down non-essential features and focus on what truly mattered: smooth navigation, engaging content, and intuitive interaction,' Dalmia explained. 'Balancing app development with schoolwork was also difficult, especially when unplanned delays pushed our pilot launch.' Pilot feedback from the red fort The pilot program, currently running at the Red Fort, has drawn positive feedback from both students and educators. 'The visit to the Red Fort was way more exciting than I expected,' said a student who participated. 'I've read about it in textbooks, but the stories and clues helped me understand why it matters. It made me feel proud of our history.' Teachers noted the value of combining physical activity with academic learning, as students were encouraged to work in groups, explore the space, and think critically to solve clues. Suggestions from users included adding more interactive elements and expanding the program to include more monuments. These insights are being used to improve future versions of the app. What's next for hidden gems? Dalmia envisions expanding Hidden Gems to other sites in Delhi such as Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb, Humayun's Tomb, and Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Future plans include launching an online version of the app for broader accessibility and integrating features like augmented historical recreations or short interactive reels. 'My goal is to integrate this kind of experience into school curriculums and eventually present it to the Ministry of Education,' Dalmia said. 'History should be relatable, not just something you memorize for exams.' As Hidden Gems grows, it reflects a broader shift in how education and heritage can intersect — not just through technology, but through inclusive, student-driven innovation.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
After a 10-year hiatus, Purana Qila's popular boat ride makes a comeback
By Anushka Srivastava The moat has been cleaned, boats have arrived, and a ticketing counter has been set up. Almost 10 years after it was suspended, the popular boat ride on the Purana Qila lake finally made a comeback and was opened for visitors on a trial basis after the inauguration on Monday. A 20-25 minute ride costs between Rs 125 and Rs 150 per person. The ride starts from the Talaqi Darwaza side of the lake, and services are available between 9 am and 6 pm. Both two-seater and four-seater paddle boats are available. A non-profit, Sabhyata Foundation, played a key role in the resumption of services. It serves as a 'Monument Mitra' for five iconic Delhi landmarks: the Red Fort, Purana Qila, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Safdarjung Tomb, and Humayun's Tomb. Monument Mitra, also known as the 'Adopt a Heritage' project, is a scheme by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to involve private and public sector companies in developing and maintaining amenities at protected monuments. Ajay Verma, CEO, Heritage and Events, Sabhyata Foundation, explained that they signed an MoU with the ASI on April 1, 2024, under which they are functioning as 'Smarak Sarthi'. For the past four–five months, preparations were underway at Purana Qila to operate boats and related facilities. A lot of work has gone into enhancing the visitor experience, including building a cafeteria, new toilets, and other amenities, according to the non-profit. A major launch event is planned for September. Currently, there are five to six boats — the number is expected to increase to 20-25 later. On Monday, Ohi Pecha, a Hotel Management student from Udaipur, was the first visitor to experience the resumed service. 'It was a good experience… I came with friends. We did boating for 20 minutes, but they said we could do it for as long as we wanted since we were the first ones.' Regarding safety provisions, Verma asserted, 'We have world-class tenders, life jackets in all sizes, and National Disaster Response Force-trained staff. We also have insurance, proper licensing, and professional divers.' While there are only four lifeguards at the site at present, the number is expected to increase once the service is in full swing from September. Sakshi Das (29), one of the lifeguards, is also a trainer. Originally from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, she is here to train the other lifeguards and will return once the task is done. She facilitates boating at the Bhilai Zoo. The boating facility around Purana Qila used to attract more than 2,000 visitors each weekend before it stopped in August 2016. It was halted after the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation was unable to renew its agreement with the ASI for the moat's upkeep. As a result, the water body, which stretches from Purana Qila's Talaqi Darwaza to the Bada Darwaza, dried up, and boating had to be stopped. Even as the moat were revived in 2018, boat rides did not start. (Anushka Srivastava is an intern with The Indian Express)
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Boating resumes on Delhi's Purana Qila Lake
Boating on the Pura Qila Lake resumed after almost a nine-year hiatus on Monday, giving visitors a picturesque view of the Mughal-era fort from multiple angles along the course of the lake. Officials said the boating has been resumed on a trial basis and it will be formally inaugurated on September 1. Visitors enjoy 20-minute boat rides. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) An official with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said that for the boating activity, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Sabhyata Foundation. 'Currently, we are running a two-month-long commercial trial. It is mainly for feedback; in a few days, we will also ask customers to fill out a feedback form,' said Rishikesh Chaudary, proprietor of the Delhi branch of Rishikesh Infra, which is handling the boating operations on the lake for Sabhyata Foundation. Boating at the Purana Qila lake is a popular activity, and it has also been featured in several Hindi movies. The lake forms part of the moat that once surrounded the Purana Qila, which would get water from Yamuna. As a recreational activity, boating in the lake was started by the Delhi tourism department in 1991. In 2007, the lake was transferred to the ASI, and an agreement was signed with the tourism department to share boating revenue. In 2016, the lake dried up. Although the lake was later restored, boating remained suspended. Officials said that on the first day of the trial, 73 visitors—most of them chanced upon it while visiting the fort and zoo—took the 20-minute boat rides. They said the service will run all days of the week from morning to evening. They said two-seater and four-seater pedal boats, priced at ₹ 250 and ₹ 500, respectively, were currently operational, and that they plan to introduce motorised boats piloted by staff members for larger groups. Officials said various measures have been taken to ensure visitor safety. 'No one will be allowed on the boats without wearing a life jacket, which is also available for infants,' said Chaudary, adding the entire staff has been trained for rescue operations. According to the approval letter given by the ASI to the Sabhyata Foundation, all boats must be equipped with life jackets, life buoys, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits. 'The boats will be equipped with first-aid kits in a few days. Fire extinguishers and life buoys will only be added to the motor boats, as the paddle boats do not catch on fire,' Chaudary said, adding that the staff on site was a women-only team. Visitors, meanwhile, were elated with the boating experience. Twenty-nine-year Lakshay Bharadwaj said: 'It was a calming experience... It is good in this weather.' A student, who did not want to be named, said that she enjoyed the experience and would definitely revisit. 'The safety is good, but they should have someone in the middle of the lake to help people for whom this is a new experience.' The only complaint from visitors was of the 20-minute duration. 'The duration should be longer, at least 40 minutes, so that you get to properly experience the environment,' said 19-year-old Aman Thakur, adding that a rescue boat should also be introduced.
