Songs of the Stone: A Saga of Sound, Space and Story Brings the Qutub Minar into a New Cultural Conversation

Songs of the Stone is a cultural initiative that reimagines the Qutub Minar not just as a monument, but as a living space for music, reflection, and storytelling.

Event Overview
- Held on 13th December 2025 at the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi.
- Organized by Inkpot India, in collaboration with Delhi Tourism and the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Designed as an after-dark immersive cultural experience, blending sound, space, and atmosphere.

Artistic Experience
- Curated by Simar Malhotra (Founder of Inkpot India, alumna of Stanford & Columbia).
- Featured a sitar performance by Mehtab Ali Niazi and ensemble, tailored to the acoustics of the Qutub Minar.
- The program integrated all five senses—sound, sight, scent, taste, and touch—to create a holistic cultural environment.

Heritage & Reflection
- The evening opened with Eric Chopra, author and founder of Itihasology, speaking on India’s living heritage and the cultural continuum of the Mehrauli region.
- The format emphasized attentiveness and presence, keeping the monument central to the experience.
- Audience included cultural patrons, diplomats, artists, and thinkers.

Future Vision
- Songs of the Stone is envisioned as a series, bringing similar site-sensitive musical storytelling to other heritage landmarks across India.
- Produced with Excurators Events Pvt Ltd., focusing on experiential cultural platforms that connect India’s heritage with contemporary audiences.

This initiative is fascinating because it transforms heritage into a sensory, lived experience rather than something static. It’s about making monuments resonate with people today, not just preserving them as relics of the past.