Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, May 18: International Museum Day was observed today by various Departments and institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
Department of Culture observed International Museum Day by organizing a special exhibition of various artifacts at SPS Museum, Srinagar. The exhibition was inaugurated by Secretary Department of Culture Dilshada Khan. Artifacts including Kushan Gold Coins, Satanaite Coins, Mughal Coins, Kashmir Bronze, Manuscripts, Astro Lobe, Tiles of ancient period etc were showcased with detailed information and history of the objects during the exhibition.
Eminent dignitaries including Professor Museology University of Baroda Dr Ambika Patail, Historian Zareef Ahmad Zareef, famous poet Ayoub Sabir, Ex-Director Archives Archaeology and Museums Prof Ghulam Mahi-ud-din, and cultural activist Abdal Mehjoor also spoke at the event and explained the importance of museums as sources of education, in respect of various aspects of life.
During the event, a special book titled ‘J&K Museums speak: History, Culture and Ethos’, authored and edited by Director of the Department, Mohammad Shafi Zahid, was also released.
The International Museum Day was also observed today by the Centre for Studies in Museology, University of Jammu. The programme observed at Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani Museum of Heritage, was organized by Centre for Studies in Museology under the supervision of Director of the Centre, Prof Poonam Chaudhary.
A demonstration- cum- exhibition on the theme ‘Heritage for Peace’ was inaugurated by Prof. R D Sharma, Vice Chancellor, JU, in presence of IGP Jammu Dr S D Singh, who was the guest of honor.
The founding Head of the Department, Museology, Prof. Poonam Chaudhary underscored the importance of this day for promoting and protecting the rich cultural heritage of the borderland villages of Suchetgarh Tehsil of Jammu district which constitutes villages like Kapoorpur, Gharani, Chakroi and Gulabgarh. She informed that the Centre took initiative to document the local living heritage of these villages.
Several interactive events with students of different schools also took place on this day.
Thakur Sindoor Singh from Samba showed the traditional way of tying a Dogri Pagri (turban). A photographic exhibition of the borderland life, its folk heritage and folk culture of villages were exhibited.
After this the monograph ‘Heritage for Peace’, which was designed by Tushita Pandey, was released by the Vice Chancellor and Guest of Honor Dr SD Singh
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in collaboration with Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, Shaswat Art Gallery, Himalayan Museum, Ved Pal Gupta Memorial Educational and Cultural Trust, Amar Santosh Musuem, Yogeshwar Verma (Sketch artist) and Aswhini Sawhney (Private collector) jointly celebrated World Museum Day at GGHSS Mubarak Mandi, which itself is a heritage school in the city of temples.
INTACH organized this programme as a part of Heritage awareness in which more than 500 school children and all the faculty members participated. Impressive lectures, presentations and display of artifacts and various other items were main attraction for the students.
The welcome address was given by S M Sahni, convenor Jammu chapter INTACH. Tashi (Dy Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums), Sangeeta (Asstt Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums) also were present in the function. The Principal of the School, Neelam Gandotra presented vote of thanks.
Other prominent members of INTACH Jammu, present during this function, included Kuldip Wahi (co convener Jammu chapter), Professor Sudhir, Satwant Singh Rissam, Abhimanyu Billawaria and Dr Suresh Abrol.
Follow our WhatsApp channel