AA&M Deptt asked to complete process within one month
Modern repository completed at Leh for safe custody
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 18: Even over four years after the creation of both the Union Territories, the transfer of archives and artifacts from Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh is pending although identification exercise has already been completed by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
After the creation of both the Union Territories on October 31, 2019 following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act by the Parliament, apportionment of assets, liabilities and manpower was started between the administrations of both the Union Territories as per the provisions of the law.
“While majority of the assets and liabilities have already been apportioned, the transfer of archives and artifacts pertaining to the Union Territory of Ladakh is pending even more than four years after the enactment of Reorganization Act”, official sources in both the UTs told EXCELSIOR, adding “the delay in this regard is notwithstanding the fact that archives and artifacts belonging to UT of Ladakh have already been identified by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs”.
They informed that majority of the archives and artifacts of Ladakh are lying in the repository of Archives, Archaeology and Museum (AA&M) Department at Srinagar and some in Jammu. “The segregation of archival records has already been done but the digitization is still pending as a result of which the transfer exercise could not be initiated till date”, they added.
“The delay is despite the fact that several rounds of meetings have already been held between the concerned officers of the Departments of Culture of J&K and Ladakh Union Territories”, sources said, adding “recently the issue came up for discussion in a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Union Territory of J&K and after threadbare discussion he issued directions to the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum to expedite the process and complete the transfer exercise within a period of one month”.
Sources in the Culture Department of Union Territory of Ladakh said, “we have constructed modern repository at Leh for keeping the archives and artifacts in safe and secure manner”, adding “we are expecting visit of a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs for inspection in near future for approval of the structure raised by the Ladakh administration”.
In response to a question, they said, “the archives and artifacts are required to be shifted with proper security but the mode of transportation has yet not been decided”, adding “decision on this and other aspects will be taken by the administration of both the Union Territories once all the formalities for transfer are finalized by the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums of J&K UT”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the issue of transfer of valuable cultural assets such as art, artifacts and archival records to the UT of Ladakh was also discussed in a meeting held between J&K Chief Secretary and Advisor to Ladakh Lieutenant Governor in the month of April this year.
Archives play an important role in helping cultures and communities preserve their identity. Within archives are primary sources that can help a person or group learn about their history and shared experiences. Personal papers, photos and official records all help tell the story of where people have come from.
Similarly, artifacts are important because they can provide evidence about the cultural, economic, historical, religious and social aspects of society. They can also reflect a culture’s values, motivations, aesthetic taste and rhetorical decisions. Artifacts can also express human experience and motivations that may not be available in verbal discourse.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
