Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM
Coordinator: Dr. Upasna Chettri

Darjeeling Hills University (DHU) celebrated World Heritage Day on 20^th April 2026 in a collaborative initiative by the Department of History and English, DHU. The objective of the event was to sensitize students and faculty members about the significance of heritage and its relevance in changing contexts. The programme entailed an introductory lecture by Mr. Dewakar Thatal, Assistant Professor of History, Southfield College, Darjeeling titled “Understanding Heritage”.

The lecture was followed by an exhibition titled “Exhibition of Ordinary Objects” in which participants were asked to exhibit ordinary objects from the past and/or from their daily lives which held meaning for them or the community as a whole. This exhibition aimed to raise awareness that meaning of heritage extended beyond monumental structures and aesthetic objects to encapsulate even the most ordinary, everyday lived realities that are significant to the common people. Students and faculty members took part by bringing objects from the past and present that belonged to their family and community, which were passed down from ancestors and/or are still in use.

The event concluded with insightful and thought provoking discussions about the objects in display along with different perspectives on heritage politics.