Of late, water conservation has been a buzzword in Delhi with the Delhi government exploring various ways and means of water conservation. Heritage buildings in Delhi present fine examples of conservation and mobilisation of rain water to quench the city’s thirst. Historians say that water has been the driving force behind many administrative decisions by the successive rulers of Delhi through the centuries. Ratish Nanda, CEO, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (India), says “Usually the Mughals were building gardens on the hillside, like in Afghanistan and Iran. The Humayun’s tomb was the first attempt at building a garden on the plains. So they built it on the river itself.” When the Trust began restoration of the tomb in 2007, they found evidence of river water being lifted for the fountains through underground terracotta pipes.

The Aga Khan Museum is putting the spotlight on local students with two photography exhibitions in August. Both exhibits are the result of the Museum’s ongoing partnership with Frederic Roberts Photography Workshops, a programme that teaches high school students valuable computer and camera skills. But it is about more than building knowledge. “Photography is a tool for self-expression, and the stories are very powerful,” says Roberts. Capturing the spirit of multiculturalism in Toronto and the surrounding area, the participating students found inspiration at events, community centres and walks around the Aga Khan Museum neighbourhood. In sharing the stories of these spaces that are rich with diversity, the students communicate a larger message about finding their own place in the world.