Lucknow: Did you know that Satkhanda Imambara served as a church when Governor-General Lord Canning visited the city, or that the site of present-day Lucknow Zoo was once known as Wingfield Park to honour the Prince of Wales before it was renamed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden?These questions tested students’ knowledge of India’s history, architecture and cultural heritage at an inter-collegiate quiz organised by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Lucknow chapter, on Friday at Avadh Girls’ Degree College.The quiz covered a range of topics, including the city’s historical monuments, architectural styles, traditional mango varieties and India’s intangible cultural heritage. Questions included the architectural significance of Atala Masjid in Jaunpur, the history of Kothi Hayat Baksh, also known as Jan Bhawan, and the village of Dashaari, known for its mangoes.Students were also asked about Ramleela, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, and the Sankirtana tradition of Manipur.“The competition saw participation from 20 teams from 10 colleges competed to demonstrate their knowledge of the region’s cultural and historical legacy. The quiz aimed to encourage students to explore India’s architectural heritage and develop a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural traditions associated with the city and the country,” said Neetu Agarwal, convener of the INTACH Lucknow chapter.Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University’s (BBAU) Aajad Pasvan and Tazish secured first position, while Harshita Singh and Prakirti Rana of BBAU finished second. Iqra Javed and Hema Dembla of AGDC secured third position.The winners will now represent Lucknow at the state-level competition.
