Special exhibitions draw hundreds to Srinagar, Jammu museums

Srinagar, May 18 (Scoop News) –   On the International Museum Day today, the Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums in Jammu & Kashmir organized special exhibitions at two major museums of the State in Srinagar and Jammu. The exhibitions drew large number of people, especially the school going children, who evinced keen interest in the objects displayed at the museums. This year’s theme of the International Museum Day was Museum and Memory: Objects Tell Your Story.

Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Khalid Bashir Ahmad launched the special exhibition on Terracotta Art of Kashmir at SPS Museum, Srinagar this morning. The objects displayed in the exhibition include finds from different archaeological sites of Kashmir including Hoinar, Letpora, Kotabal, Ushkar, Harwan, Hutmura and Madeen Sahab representing the period from 2nd century A.D. to 17th century A.D. Khalid highlighted the need for creating awareness among public about the rich collection of the State’s museums. He said the exhibitions were aimed at creating this awareness and the special focus this time was the young generation. He urged them to acquaint themselves with the glorious heritage and commit themselves for its preservation.

The SPS Museum is the oldest museum in Jammu & Kashmir established in the year 1898 A.D. The State Government is constructing a magnificent Museum building adjacent to the existing museum. The project is at an advanced stage of completion at a cost of Rs.   30.74 crores.

 The exhibition on Painting Art of Jammu was thrown open for public at Dogra Art Museum, Jammu, 300 kms from here in the summer capital of the State. The highlight of the exhibition was the world famous Basohli Paintings. Students of various educational institutions in their school uniforms were allowed free entry to the exhibitions as a measure to generate interest in the youth about their heritage and history. Deputy Directors, M. S. Zahid and Perzada Muhammad Ashraf were also present on this occasion.

The catchphrase of the exhibitions was ‘Visit your Heritage’. A stream of school children from various educational institutions of the two capital cities, accompanied by their teachers, visited the two museums. They were conducted by the staff of the museums and elaborately briefed about the displayed objects. A number of small enthusiastic children said they had visited a museum for the first time and were delighted.

The exhibitions were open from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Curator, SPS Museum, Srinagar said that a record number of over 1300 visitors, mainly students, visited the museum. Similarly, around 400 school children had visited Dogra Art Museum, Jammu, the Curator of the Museum, Dr.  Sangeeta Sharma said.

In the meanwhile, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, in his message on the International Museum Day, said that Jammu & Kashmir has distinct cultural heritage which is displayed in its museums. He said each of the three regions of the State – Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh – has a treasure trove of its own in the form of rich archaeological, artistic and historical collections. He said the International Museum Day is the apt occasion to commit ourselves for its preservation. The Minister complimented the Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums for holding special exhibitions. He said he was confident that the exhibitions would sensitize people towards the protection of the State’s heritage. 

Minister of State for Tourism, Culture, Home and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani believed that museums tell the story of the evolution of human civilization and culture. He said the International Museum day also “casts upon all of us the responsibility to preserve this treasure for future generations.”

The Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Tourism & Culture, Atal Dulloo appealed the people to safeguard and preserve the rich cultural heritage Jammu & Kashmir was known for. He said he was hopeful that people in large numbers will visit the museums to have a feel of their history and culture in the form of the objects displayed there.

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