Jesus & Mary College New Delhi

DASTAAN - THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE SOCIETY

Dastaan’s Logo

About Dastaan

Delhi, as a city, is an amalgamation of the old and the new, the rich and the poor and of the lively and the solemn. Given the rich tangible and intangible culture of India, we, as a society, try to remain true to our name - Dastaan, which means stories or the art of storytelling. Under the guidance of our convenor, Dr. Amita Paliwal, Dastaan organised walks and informative talks with prominent historians from India and abroad such as- Prof Emeritus Irfan Habib, Prof Shireen Moosvi and Prof S.P. Verma , Prof Nadeem Rezavi from AMU, Prof Catherine from Minnesota University and Prof Andre Wink from Greece. Since the inception of the society in 2012, we have travelled to various corners, shared anecdotes and created lots of memories. We delve deeper into these beautiful locations and their aesthetics, along with their actual histories. We also keep the doors of Dastaan open to whoever wishes to join and learn about the field of art and architecture. Together, we learn about the architects who shaped this beautiful city and what these places meant for the people of the time.

We conduct 4-6 walks every semester and we collaborate with other colleges of Delhi University as well. Heritage walks, interactive sessions with scholars, and a range of competitions at our annual fest, Utsav, show that heritage can be perceived through diverse means. The society has lived up to its vision of making art and architecture known to students and laymen alike while making sure that culture is not seen as something passive and a thing of the past. The society rather believes and enlivens that heritage, tangible or intangible, grows and encapsulates one’s perception for the city: Delhi’s history as a tale from the past, and its citizens as custodians for its preservation.

We are supported by a General Body of 300+ history enthusiasts with whose support we conduct the walks. The society has also sought volunteers from the first year to help in the working of the society and provide them an experience that they can nurture further.