The network formed is unique in its breadth and capacity, including school students from six to eighteen years and from different socio-economic backgrounds. Smita Vats envisioned this idea from her work over three decades in theatre, film-making, writing and traveling across India. Looking at changing family structures and pressures to succeed in the job market, she recognized that if young people were more in touch with their heritage, this would enable them to understand their changing environment and become agents of transformation in society. ITIHAAS was born out of this concern and out of a rare collection of 300 detailed interviews with families of Delhi. What ITIHAAS brings to children, is not just data and dates but feelings, joys, victories of the past. All as a first person account.


2004 ITIHAAS begins operations with its pilot project and only 6 member schools and 1200 children. The ITIHAAS PROGRAMMES is widely accepted.

2005 ITIHAAS is registered as an educational trust under the Indian Societies Act….

The number of students engaging with ITIHAAS goes up to 7,000 from 30 schools.

2006 ITIHAAS trains local boys and girls as part of the project

2007-2008 ITIHAAS launches additional PROGRAMMESs and consolidates its work in the field of Heritage Education. 

2009 ITIHAAS integrates its PROGRAMMES on indeginous toys and games. Teacher training and facilitation become an intergral part of our PROGRAMMESs.

2010 ITIHAAS works with 35,000 students every year from over 110 schools in the NCR region. ITIHAAS adds new centres in Gwalior, Bhopal and Allahabad. Launches its’ newsletter, “Dharohar”.