Suresh Kumar Gupta, Mukul Magotra
International Museum Day or World Museum Day is observed on 18th May. International Council of Museums (ICOM), an apex advisory body for museums and museum professionals, describes museum as “A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”
From the definition it is quite evident that heritage whether tangible or intangible is the core of any museum and all the primary functions of a museum be it collection, exhibition, conservation, documentation and research move around heritage.

World museum Day 

As we glance into the history of museums, it started as collection by curios individuals and sometimes society or associations of curious intellectuals of diverse discipline. In course of time the collection grew in numbers and could no longer be contained in the store houses. The collections also presented problems of preservation against natural decay. So, the collections had to be housed and preserved properly, leading to evolution of museums.
Museums like all other social institutions have changed through time. In modern times, concept of museums has widened viz-a-viz technological advancements. It is no longer a store house of artefacts but a centre of education, research and heritage awareness along with entertainment.
Role and social relevance of museums
Guardians of cultural heritage: Museums serve as custodians of our collective memory through artefacts, paintings, manuscripts and sculptures etc. They present the essence of human existence. Museums play a critical role in conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, be it tangible or intangible. Through careful stewardship of their collections, museums ensure that these valuable artefacts and specimens are protected for generations to come.
Informal education and lifelong learning centres: Museums have evolved from being repositories to dynamic educational institutions. They are now the centres for informal education and lifelong learning. By presenting tangible artefacts and interactive displays, museums provide experiential learning opportunities that stimulate curiosity and critical thinking. Through their carefully curated collections, interactive exhibits and specially designed educational programmes, museums play a vital role in both education and research, serving as invaluable resources for scholars, students and the public alike. By engaging with exhibits, young learners develop critical thinking skills, creativity and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Through specially designed educational programmes, it enhances the learning experience providing context, encouraging questions and fostering essence of discovery where the children can learn at their own pace without the fear of any competition as in the case of formal education.
Community engagement and inclusiveness: Museums also play a key role in fostering community engagement and dialogue around heritage. It plays a role in promoting cultural understanding and appreciation serving as bridges between different communities, cultures and perspectives. As museum is a place where visitors from different social backgrounds of society visit and interact, irrespective of caste and creed and share their experiences, thereby it also promotes social inclusiveness.
Museums in Jammu and Kashmir
As we all are well aware that Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is bestowed with ample natural beauty. Likewise, cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir is also very rich. Heritage in the form of sculptures, archaeological remains, paintings, numismatics, folk art, arms and armoury, manuscripts are well preserved in the museums/repositories of Jammu and Kashmir.
SPS Museum Srinagar: In pre-independence era, as many museums were established in various princely States of India, J&K also contributed towards the museum movement by establishing SPS Museum in Srinagar in 1898. The visionary Maharaja Pratap Singh and his brother Raja Amar Singh were credited to have established this museum. The collection of this museum was earlier based on the objects which were transferred from Toshakhana of Jammu and Kashmir which included paintings, textiles, arms and armoury etc. Later on various archaeological objects, excavated from different sites in Kashmir were shifted to this museum which further enriched the archaeological collection of this museum. The SPS museum is biggest of all the museums in J&K and is now housed in the purpose built state of art museum building in Lal Mandi, Srinagar. The museum is quite famous for its archaeological collection be it centuries old sculptures of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Goddess Indrani. A 10th century sculpture of Goddess Durga in the form of Mahishasura Mardini which was handed over to Prime Minister of India by German Chancellor, sometimes back, is also one of the main attractions of the archaeological gallery of the museum. The museum is also famous for its collection of Gilgit Manuscripts, Bronze Frames, Numismatics and natural history section. The museum is hosting various special exhibitions regularly to attract the visitors. The museum is administered by Directorate of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, J&K Government.
Dogra Art Museum, Jammu: Soon after the independence, a need was felt to have a museum in the winter capital city of Jammu. With the efforts of the government and some individual art lovers and intellectuals, the Dogra Art Gallery was established on 28th May, 1954. The gallery was inaugurated by the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Master Sansar Chand Baru, legendary artist from J&K, was appointed as its first curator. In 1991, it was upgraded to a full-fledged multi-disciplinary museum and was shifted to Mubarak Mandi Complex. The museum is famous for its collection of Pahari miniature paintings viz Basohli School, Kangra School and Jammu School. Its prized collection includes 17th Century miniature paintings of Rasmanjari series of Basohli School, Arms and Armoury of Dogra rulers, 5th century Terracotta heads from Ambaran, sculptures and manuscripts. Apart from its exhibitions, the museum is conducting various educational programmes for educational institutions regularly. The museum is managed by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Amar Mahal Museum, Jammu: Amar Mahal Museum and Library, established in 1978, is also a prominent museum in Jammu and Kashmir. The museum is housed in the palatial building ‘Amar Mahal’ which itself is a treat to watch. The museum is famous for its art collection, with paintings of M F Hussain and Laxman Pai on display, among other famous Indian contemporary painters. Another interesting aspect is the Pahari paintings, depicting tales from the Mahabharata and other folklore, especially those of Nal Damyanti. The golden throne of last Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir is also the prized possession of museum. The museum is governed by Hari Tara Charitable Trust.
Apart from these three major museums, there are also some smaller museums established by Universities and other Government Departments of Jammu and Kashmir. Some private collectors and heritage enthusiasts are also maintaining their private collection and in one way or other also conserving and preserving heritage for future generations.
Opportunities
Implementation of National Educational Policy (NEP): The primary focus of NEP is to inculcate the critical thinking skills and cognitive abilities of students. Implementation of NEP across the nation is an opportunity to the museums as the focus is being shifted from theoretical concept of education to the practical one. By introducing Object Based Learning (OBL), a new trend in museum education) as a tool, museums are capable of stimulating all the three modes of learning viz cognitive, affective and skill, as they have an advantage of priceless heritage collection in their possession. NEP also talks of promoting bag less days at schools in which students can be provided various internships and educational tours to heritage sites and museums. After the implementation of NEP, student groups from different schools are regularly being hosted in the museums which apart from being providing necessary knowledge regarding their heritage, also inculcate the habit of museum visits right from their childhood.
Technology revolution: Technology revolution is an opportunity as well as a challenge for museums. By utilising the new technological means (social media) museums have potential for vast outreach activities and thus shall reach to the new target audience. Likewise, through these means, new avenues for publicity and promotion are being generated and museums in J&K are trying to expand the outreach.
Growing Tourism sector: With the normalcy prevailing in the Jammu and Kashmir, a conducive environment for tourism sector has been generated and the sector is making rapid strides with a record of more than two crore tourists visiting the Union Territory. Museums are being put on tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir so that such heavy influx of tourists can also be diverted towards museums which will thereby enrich the experience of tourists after experiencing the heritage value through these visits.
Conclusion
Government of Jammu and Kashmir is quite serious and working on various ways and means to popularise the museums among masses and is taking every possible measure, be it publicity and/or promotion to make museums popular. Necessary steps are also being taken to bring the museums and other important heritage sites on the tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir. A scheme for “Revival, Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance of Architecture and Heritage” is under implementation for the purpose of safeguarding built heritage for present and future generations. As we navigate the complexities of the contemporary world, museums remain beacons of enlightenment, resilience and hope for preserving the legacy of civilisations and inspiring future generations to embrace the richness and diversity of human heritage.
(Suresh Kumar Gupta is Principal Secretary, Culture, J&K and Mukul Magotra is Curator, Dogra Art Museum, Jammu)

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