Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Jasti Chalameswar spoke on December 18 about the need for children to understand and preserve local heritage. He addressed the first session of a two-day teachers' workshop organised by INTACH-Vijayawada and HECS in Vijayawada. Justice Chalameswar pointed out that while people know about national and international history, they often neglect their local history. He used the example of Sri Krishnadevaraya, a famous southern king, whose birth and death dates remain unknown, unlike King Henry VIII of England, whose history is well documented. “Much of what we know about Krishnadevaraya today comes from the Portuguese records and inscriptions,” he said. The workshop aims to train teachers to educate students about heritage. INTACH-Vijayawada plans to start Heritage Clubs in schools for this purpose. N.K. Narasimha Rao, former Commissioner of the Academy of Rural Development, urged focus on “positive history that showcases the greatness of our heritage.” He said Andhra Pradesh alone has around 100 folk art forms useful for teaching history. He added, "heritage is that knowledge of the past which is positive, and it requires society to actively transfer such positives to future generations. Teachers must internalise historical knowledge and communicate it effectively to students, thereby kindling interest in young minds." Purnima Datt, Principal Director of HECS, highlighted India’s unique heritage with examples like the Oldest Banyan tree near Anantapur and the Gol Gumbaz’s whispering corridors. Many teachers joined the interactive session to learn more about local heritage education.