– Bhawna Gupta, Principal, Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre, Kamla Nagar

Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre (SPSEC), in collaboration with the district administration of Kanpur, has pioneered an innovative public-private partnership through the initiatives “Kanpur Ek Khoj” and “Kanpur Darshan”. These programmes have spotlighted the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage while aligning seamlessly with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes integrating local knowledge systems and experiential learning into mainstream education.

At its core, “Kanpur Ek Khoj” is a journey of rediscovering identity—helping students uncover the stories, legends, landmarks, and legacies that define the soul of Kanpur. Students embarked on field visits to heritage sites, mythological locations, architectural marvels, educational institutions, industrial landmarks, and centres of innovation. Sites such as Bithoor, Massacre Ghat, Nana Rao Park, Bhitargaon Temple, Valmiki Ashram, JK Temple, Lal Imli Mill, the Kanpur Smart City Command Centre, and IIT Kanpur became living classrooms where history, science, mythology, and civic learning intersected.

Students as cultural custodians

What sets this model apart is the active role of students. Beyond being learners, they were trained to serve as heritage ambassadors, guiding parents, teachers, and visitors at these sites. With confidence and pride, they narrated the significance of each location, transforming into storytellers, researchers, and cultural custodians. This pedagogical shift strengthened students’ connection with the land while instilling a sense of responsibility toward heritage preservation.

Administrative support and city-wide expansion

The initiative received significant support from the district administration, particularly Commissioner of Kanpur Zone, Amit Gupta, whose visionary guidance elevated the school-based project into a broader mission for local tourism promotion. Under his leadership, “Kanpur Darshan” emerged as a city-wide cultural revival campaign, inspired by the school’s initiative but scaled up into a district-level movement. This collaboration united students, educators, administrators, parents, and the wider community in a shared journey of rediscovery.

Objective of the initiative

The primary objective of “Kanpur Ek Khoj” was to reconnect students with their cultural roots while fostering civic awareness, leadership, and local pride. Through exploration of historical landmarks and community interactions, the initiative sought to:

• Foster historical curiosity and civic pride
• Promote experiential and place-based learning
• Empower students as researchers, storytellers, and guides
• Encourage intergenerational dialogue and cultural continuity

Alignment with NEP 2020

The initiative exemplifies NEP 2020 in practice by:

• Integrating local heritage and history into mainstream curriculum
• Promoting interdisciplinary learning across history, art, literature, and social science
• Enhancing student agency through leadership roles as guides and communicators
• Strengthening community engagement through participation of parents, NGOs, and government school students

Learning outcomes

The initiative was designed with clear learning objectives and outcomes:

• Participation: 2,700+ students and 3,200+ parents visited heritage sites.
• Inclusion: 1,600+ underprivileged students from government schools and NGOs joined via SPSEC-sponsored buses.
• Skill-building: Students gained experiential learning, public speaking, teamwork, and documentation skills.
• Knowledge preservation: A comprehensive monograph, written and designed by students and faculty, captured Kanpur’s heritage narratives for future generations.

Living classrooms

Students, parents, and teachers engaged in immersive visits across diverse locations:

• Historical & Mythological Sites: Bithoor, Dhruv Teela, Valmiki Ashram, Sita Rasoi
• Freedom Struggle Landmarks: Nana Rao Park, Massacre Ghat, Tilak Hall
• Industrial Legacies: Lal Imli, ALIMCO, Flex Factory
• Cultural Centres: JK Temple, Christ Church College, Kanpur Museum
• Technological Hubs: IIT Kanpur, GSVM Medical College, HBTU
• Urban Development Models: Kanpur Smart City Command Centre, Metro Rail Corridor

These visits enabled students to connect history, development, sustainability, and future aspirations.

Voices of encouragement

“This initiative is not only a celebration of heritage but a blueprint for cultural revival. It must be replicated in other districts.” — Amit Gupta, IAS, Commissioner of Kanpur Zone

“The students’ work reflects passion, research, and community spirit. I am proud of this collective achievement.” — Smt. Manorama Govind Hari Singhania, Chairperson, SPSEC

Documenting heritage

The project culminated in the publication of a monograph, Kanpur – Ek Khoj, featuring heritage site histories, student reflections, artworks, and narratives from parents and teachers. Distributed in both print and digital formats, the monograph ensures the preservation of Kanpur’s spirit through the voices of its youth.

Community engagement

The initiative extended participation to:

• Parents and families, creating multi-generational learning experiences
• Government school students and NGOs, ensuring inclusivity and equity
• Teachers and staff, who acted as co-learners and co-creators

This wide engagement fostered ownership and pride across communities, strengthening the role of education in cultural nation-building.

The road ahead

The success of “Kanpur Ek Khoj” has paved the way for:

• “My City, My Story” projects in other districts
• Annual cultural mapping of different cities by schools
• Student-led heritage walks, exhibitions, and digital storytelling
• Collaborations with tourism boards and historical societies
• Integration of heritage education in school curricula as per NEP

A replicable model

The initiative is nationally replicable due to its minimal resource requirements, emphasis on student ownership, strong public-private collaboration, tourism promotion, and adaptability to both urban and rural contexts.

Recognition and acknowledgment

The project has been widely recognized through media coverage, appreciation by the District Tourism and Cultural Departments, and endorsements from community leaders. SPSEC has thereby emerged as a lighthouse institution, championing transformational education in India.

A journey of heart and heritage

“Kanpur Ek Khoj” is more than an educational initiative—it is a cultural movement. It demonstrates that education is not only about learning facts but about living them, and in doing so, it revives pride in heritage, identity, and civic responsibility.

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