Excelsior Correspondent
![Students presenting cultural item during Exhibition on Cultural Heritage at GCW, Parade on Wednesday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/page10-10-150x150.jpg)
JAMMU, Nov 21: Two days exhibition on Cultural Heritage organised by Government College for Women (GCW), Parade in collaboration with Himalayan Heritage Museum and INTACH Jammu commenced today.
Minister for Higher Education and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik was the chief guest.
While speaking, Malik emphasized the need to preserve the cultural heritage of the State and exhorted upon the student community to learn more about their culture and traditions by conducting research on their own.
He said J&K has a glorious past where people from distinct cultural and ethnic backgrounds settled giving rise to a composite culture.
Malik called upon the students to preserve their mother-tongue as it was the basic attribute of local culture in a particular area.
Coordinator, INTACH Jammu Chapter, SM Sahni dwelt at length on the heritage monuments of the State while Dr Poonam Choudhary, Director, Centre for Studies in Musicology, University of Jammu gave presentation on the Mughal Road.
Earlier, Dr Hemla Aggarwal, Principal of the College presented the welcome address and spoke on tangible and intangible heritage, adding that both needs to be preserved for maintaining identity.
Later, Minister along with College Principal and other dignitaries went round the exhibition and evinced a keen interest in the artifacts displayed by the Himalayan Heritage Museum for the colleges and school students.
Dean, faculty members, Professors, staff and students of the college were also present.