Ehsaas-e-itihaas is a heritage project aimed at raising awareness among the local people about Surat's local history and its importance. Through this project, the hub has been able to connect to and help various local stakeholders who are working towards heritage conversation and collaborated in data collection. Projects to enhance local heritage have the potential to re-energise neglected areas and provide opportunities for local people to engage with and re-interpret their heritage. Such projects help generate a greater sense of pride and belonging in the local area. It provides a basis for local economic development and innovation in tourism, agriculture, entertainment, education and business generally. The hub has also connected with historians and writers from across the world who have researched on Surat. The aim was to know more about the city and share this knowledge freely with people.

Hub activities

Data collection: 

- Consolidating the heritage data at one platform to allow easy access to the public. The hub is building a heritage website along with a heritage trust foundation which will have all the information about Surat's significant places, people, books and stories. 

Awareness:

- Organizing events like heritage walks to connect to more people and let them know about the lesser known history of the city

- Organizing seminars with historians and writers from across the world. The hub has already conducted 3 sessions with the Once upon a time in Surat series. 

- Posting videos and guides on social media to reach more people.

Impact

- Better maintenance of the heritage sites. The hub has met with different stakeholders regarding this Dharohar Foundation, INTACH, Archaeological Survey of India to collect data and help them reach more people.

-Promotion of local art forms. The hub's posts on social media have raised more awareness about indigenous and endangered artforms of Surat.

- Get heritage in discussion. Since there is less awareness about Surat's heritage, the content posted on Surat's history after thorough research prompts curiosity, discussions and dialogues among people it reaches. Furthermore, the volunteers involved in this project also get to know a lot about the city. 

Plans for the future

- Reaching out to more people by organizing heritage related events. 

- Get the heritage website ready

- Post more content on social media 

- Build a bigger volunteer network

- get local governing body involved

Data

- the level of outreach, currently in the times of pandemic, is measured via number of volunteers involved, social media analytical tools and the amount of people who have attended the seminars.

- the other data collected in terms of history and heritage is being consolidated in a website.