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| Alleged moves afoot to smuggle out artifacts, rare manuscripts from SPS museum | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 11: Reports emanating from the Srinagar's SPS museum are quite disturbing and have raised concerns in the administrative and social circles here. These suggest that some "undesirable" elements have allegedly made secret plans to exploit the tragedy caused by the Kashmir deluge to their advantage. By wrongly showing in official records that the deluge had destroyed rare artifacts, manuscripts, paintings, papier machie pieces and old textile items, they were allegedly conspiring to smuggle them outside the state.
These manuscripts are in Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic and deal with the ancient history and culture of Kashmir.
Insiders reveal that "the number of artifacts preserved in the SPS Museum was over 85, 000 and not 18,000 as was being allegedly claimed by "some" officials in the museum" and that "they are allegedly exaggerating the magnitude of damage caused to artifacts, manuscripts, paintings and other things of great historical, cultural and social importance with a view to mint money".
They claimed that "the damage caused to the museum was not that fatal as is allegedly being claimed by certain undesirable elements".
In support of their alleged claim, the insiders said the SPS Museum was located at a higher place as compared to the Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages in Lal Mandi area. "For being at a higher level, everyone is finding it hard to digest that 90 per cent of the artifacts placed in the museum were damaged beyond repair. If 90 per cent of the manuscripts and paintings are safe in the Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages, how could the functionaries in the SPS Museum claim that 90 per cent of the artifacts in the Museum had been damaged. They are at a mischief," they alleged.
"Only 2 to 3 out of about 700 paintings suffered damage due to the flood waters but it is being claimed that many paintings have suffered irreparable damage. The Gilgit manuscripts are 100 per cent intact," they alleged.
Similar information was being doled out by the insiders as regards the rare manuscripts, books and other invaluable artifacts which were preserved in the museum. "The claim that 90 per cent of the artifacts were damaged by the flood waters is just unbelievable. The fact is that only a few artifacts have suffered damage and even these can be restored. The water level in the area was only by 2 to 3 feet. If the authorities in the Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages could shift the rare manuscripts, books and other invaluable artifacts, including paintings, to the first floor a day before the flood waters entered the areas, why didn't the authorities in the Museum followed in their footsteps to avoid damage to the rare things preserved there? Why did not the officials in the Museum open shelves for almost 20 days when boats were freely available. This shows that they wanted to suppress the facts by making false claims," the insiders alleged.
They suggested to maintain a strict watch around the museum. It is hoped that the Omar Abdullah government would not take these allegations lightly and would make every effort to preserve the rare artifacts, manuscripts, books, paintings, shawls, papier machie items and other things in the museum.
As for the Union Government, it is also required to verify all the facts before it grants money for the restoration of the damaged artifacts and other invaluable things. The best course for it and the state government would be to appoint an expert committee consisting of experts not connected with the museum. The appointment of a high-powered expert committee to look into the whole issue has become imperative. |
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