Culture Ministry to complete project by December this year
*To depict roots since pre-historic times, rich heritage
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 10: For the first time, a museum tracing the roots of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh since pre-historic times and highlighting the rich culture and heritage is coming inside Red Fort complex.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that six new Cultural Museums are being developed through various organizations under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture and one among them is on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. This museum is being constructed by spending Rs 13 crore and it will be completed by December 31, 2021.
“The museum on Jammu and Kashmir, first of its kind in India, will capture the essence and spirit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as an integral part of the nation since ages as Bharat, Hindustan and India”, they said, adding “the museum will elaborate this by tracing the roots of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh since pre-historic times to the present day and tell unheard stories of the region and people which have been lost in centuries of time”.
Archaeological Museum, Indian War Memorial Museum, Subhash Chandra Bose Museum, Yaad-e-Jallian, Museum of 1857, Drishyakala and Azadi Ke Deewane (earlier known as Swatantara Sangram Sangrahalaya) are the seven existing museums inside the Red Fort complex and among the new additions would be museum on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Dr Manvi Seth, Dean (Academic Affairs) and Head Department of Museology in the National Institute of National Museum Institute of Art History, Conservation and Museology is coordinating between the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ministry of Culture on establishment of museum.
“The Departments of Culture of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh have been asked to prepare a list of artifacts and other items of historic importance which can be shifted and housed in the upcoming museum and the same will be furnished to the Ministry of Culture through the coordinator shortly”, sources informed, adding “even the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) would showcase the important excavations it has been made in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in the museum”.
They further said, “through the museum the people will be told about the evidences of the treacherous attack by Pakistan, stories of resistance and bravery of Kashmiris, narrative of Indian Army victory over the invaders. Similarly, the museum will depict the valour of Dogra warriors”, adding “this will be the first ever major step towards collating, documenting, archiving and representing the history of valour and horrors which continue to affect Kashmir and the rest of India till date”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Union Culture Minister, while participating in national symposium and exhibition on “Memories of 22nd October, 1947” held in the month of October last year, had stated that narrative of the past over 70 years is based on preconceived notions and there is a need to bring out the real stories in front of people, adding “time has come where we need to decide whether or not we need to change the narrative”.
It was also stated that national symposium will serve as a first step towards setting up of a museum dedicated to the Memories of 22nd October 1947.
When contacted, an officer of the National Museum Institute of Art History, Conservation and Museology, while wishing anonymity, confirmed that museum on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will be completed by end of this year and other formalities are being finalized expeditiously. With the coming of this museum, the rich heritage of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would be showcased through a wide platform and would go a long way in teaching the young and future generations about roots of these regions, the officer added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ministry of Culture has also sanctioned Science Centre (Cateogry-II) at Srinagar at an estimated cost of Rs 18.20 crore and it would be completed within 27 months from the date of issuance of Letter of Intent for construction work.
“The project has been approved by the Ministry and even Memorandum of Understanding signed but work is yet to be started mainly because the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has yet not released share of Corpus Fund and informed regarding the site development”, sources informed.
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