My month on an exchange at the Indian Institute of Heritage

I'm Charlotte, and I've just completed my MA in Art History and Curating at the University of Birmingham. When I was offered the opportunity to spend a month at the Indian Institute of Heritage, I knew it would be transformative. But I could never have anticipated just how profoundly this experience would reshape everything I thought I knew about heritage, culture, and the power of cross-cultural exchange. 

Upon arrival, the Indian Institute of Heritage's Noida Campus’ physical magnitude struck us immediately, both as an academic institution and as a heritage building in its own right.

Delhi, I discovered, is an all-consuming city. It envelops you completely, demanding your full attention with its layers of history, its relentless energy, and its capacity to overwhelm and inspire in equal measure. Within the first week, we had a comprehensive tour of Delhi's National Museum and were encouraged to ask probing questions about both the objects and the histories associated with the building, and how its curators conceptualise displays and how public institutions interact with and entice visitors. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Heritage was giving a standout moment, an exclusive tour of the Anthropology storage units. Her knowledge of the collection was second to none. Having the collection toured by someone who had studied at the Indian Institute of Heritage enhanced our experience immeasurably -  showing us the career trajectories possible for heritage studies graduates.

We attended lectures on museum architecture, exploring concepts of design and visitor engagement. Our private lectures on intangible cultural heritage with Professor Dr Manvi Seth opened our eyes to the invisible threads that bind communities together through tradition and practice that are actively being preserved through IIH's efforts. Our first online lecture focused on the unexpected impact pigeons have on outdoor heritage sites, which acted as a perfect introduction to the multifaceted challenges facing modern museology and conservation efforts.

Our itinerary was comprehensive and covered heritage sites across Delhi, Jaipur, Haryana, and Bhopal. The Indian Institute of Heritage supported our studies through expertly curated lectures and excursions to Delhi's National Museum, Gandhi Museum, and Crafts Museum, plus trips to Bhopal and Jaipur. We gained exclusive access to the Crafts Museum's conservation laboratory and engaged directly with heritage preservation professionals, witnessing the meticulous work that goes into maintaining objects.

A real highlight was my discussion with Squadron Leader T.S. Rana Chinna at the United Services Institution of India Headquarters. We talked at length about the intersection of military history and cultural preservation. Another highlight was the Heritage Transport Museum, as we embarked on a whistle-stop journey through the history of transportation in both practical and artistic forms across India and beyond. They had commissioned fantastical sculptural pieces, including a car entirely plated in coins. Another was suspended in the centre of the museum, catching light in shimmering spots that created an incredible and lasting memory of excellent curatorship and imaginative display techniques.

In the following weeks, we wandered through Jaipur, stopping at every other corner to admire the nooks and crannies of the Pink City. The vibrant stalls and equally zestful shopkeepers made walking through the crowded avenues a feast for the senses. It was a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, and aromas that had me buying far too many souvenirs! More than this, though, Jaipur revealed itself as a masterclass in architectural heritage, where every building tells a story and every street corner holds centuries of cultural significance. The Jantar Mantar, which is a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, was by far my favourite architectural spectacle to have ever visited. While exploring Jaipur's Amber Fort and standing beneath the magnificent Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), where thousands of tiny mirrors created an otherworldly experience of light and reflection that seemed to capture the very essence of Mughal artistry.

August, incidentally, proved to be a busy month for festivals. Raksha Bandhan on 8th August saw sisters tying sacred threads called "rakhi" around their brothers' wrists to symbolise bonds of love and protection. Independence Day on 15th August brought patriotic fervour and national pride. Ganesh Chaturthi on 27th August celebrated the birth of Lord Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed deity known as the god of wisdom.

Our experience was heightened by the fact that we lived on campus and were openly encouraged by the students to join in with all celebrations. Most valuable were the genuine connections forged with the local students, who generously shared their cultural traditions. They educated us about the histories of festivals and traditional practices, such as the intricate art of rangoli pattern making that transforms floors and entryways into attractive and welcoming displays of reverence.

The variety of heritage sites we visited was astounding, too. The ethereal beauty of the Taj Mahal in Agra, as well as the contemporary collections at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, will be ingrained in my memories forever. During a short backpacking stint as part of our itinerary, we took an overnight train (would highly recommend!) to the leafy Bhopal in Central India. We were able to have accommodation at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (Museum of Mankind), which is located in a 200-acre National Park on the Shamla Hills overlooking the vast Upper Lake.

Staying on site was an incredible opportunity to explore history amongst nature, especially as we were staying a mere five-minute walk away from 30,000-year-old rock paintings, which we were able to explore all to ourselves on Mondays when the museum was closed to visitors. Lying under the rocks, looking up at paintings in the serene silence the park allows, will forever be one of my most cherished memories.

Towards the end of our adventure, we both gave presentations summarising our experience. Quite the task to encapsulate a once-in-a-lifetime experience in fifteen minutes of slides!

Studying at the Indian Institute of Heritage has been invaluable for my future heritage studies work. This unforgettable immersion in India's heritage landscape has transformed my understanding of cultural preservation. It has highlighted the critical importance of cross-cultural academic exchange in developing truly global perspectives on heritage practice.

I would like to emphatically thank the College of Arts and Law faculty at the University of Birmingham and Dr Faye Sayer, Associate Professor in Heritage and History, for facilitating this extraordinary opportunity. Their support made possible an experience that has shaped my academic trajectory and personal understanding of global heritage practices.

I would thoroughly urge anyone studying in the College of Arts and Law to apply for next year's exchange opportunities. Programmes like this Indian exchange offer perspectives and insights that broaden your academic curriculum as well as your own curiosity about the world! The investment in cross-cultural understanding and professional development is immeasurable, and I have most definitely made memories and connections that will last a lifetime.