Ahead of World Heritage Day, we have put together a list of some Instagram pages that are doing an outstanding job of documenting the heritage, art, culture and the memory of the Indian subcontinent. As we find ourselves amid chaotic times, often overwhelmed with information and ideas claiming our minds, these pages, through nothing but facts of existence remind us of everything our identities are made of.
1. Zikr-e-dilli @zikredilli
Curated by scholars Anukriti and Tanuja, Zikr-e-Dilli documents the history of Delhi through its spatial and material memories, as experienced by those who have inhabited these spaces, at the same time being formed by them. It takes us to the nooks and corners of the city and tells stories that these spaces have witnessed, uniting us with what forms the essence of Delhi – its people.
2. The Random Delhi @therandomdelhi
A curation of heritage, history, art and culture from the cities of India, they have created a brilliant archive of the oldest artistic developments in the country. They also go the extra mile by striving to preserve dying art forms and helping artisan communities interact with buyers in the market. Visit their Instagram to support the Khurja Khes Weavers of UP.
3. City Tales @_citytales
Run by Rameen Khan, this page is documenting the forgotten, unknown or dying bits of the heritage of the historic cities of India. Bringing out fading stories of these seemingly uncomplicated spaces, this page is perfect for discovering Agra, Lucknow, Delhi, Banaras and other old cities like never before.
4. Art-chives India @artchivesindia
From community identities, festivals, art and history to the specific nostalgia of everything Indian, this page covers it all. Telling the tales of society through words and visuals, this page maps historic fact with the subtlety of storytelling and is one of the richest archives of subcontinental culture through time.
5. India Lost and Found @indialostandfound
Created by Amit Pasricha, this ‘virtual museum of thought’ curates research on the rarer monuments of the country – ones that often escape notice – and presents stories of culture that portray a truer picture of the complex, multifaceted, Indian reality.
