Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 11: The world famous Basohli paintings, symbolizing Jammu's precious cultural heritage is under serious threat as moisture has struck over 500-600 paintings, worth over Rs. 3000-3600 Crores, kept in Dogri Art museum Mubarak Mandi.
Despite gravity of the situation, the authorities at the helm of affairs have been trying to hush-up the matter allegedly under a well -planned conspiracy to destroy Jammu's heritage.
Sources informed Early Times that over 500-600 world renowned Basohli paintings were kept in a wardrobe of the Dogra Art Museum, which is housed in a building of Mubarak Mandi heritage complex.
"Regular care of these precious artworks is to be seriously taken by the authorities, such as exposing them to sunlight at regular intervals, chemical treatment beside others", sources said, adding that but in the last few years, there was some carelessness shown by authorities, which deliberately or un-intentionally refuse to take care of these precious artworks.
Due to casual approach of authorities towards these paintings, few days back when one such wardrobe was opened, it was found that moisture had struck to over 500-600 paintings.
"The cost of one such Basohli painting is over Rs. 6 Crores and as per a rough estimate, the damages could be over Rs. 3000-3600 Crores", sources said, adding that the authorities have been trying their best to hush up the matter due to reasons best known to them. "The administration is trying to shield the officials who are responsible for the act of negligence, by assigning them the work of assessing losses and suggesting measures, due to whose negligence, moisture has struck these precious paintings", sources alleged.
When Director Achieves MS Zahid was contacted, he admitted that moisture had struck to some Basohli paintings, kept in Dogra Art Museum. On being asked, why so far no responsibility has been fixed, he said that the matter has been forwarded to Deputy Director Archives to fix the responsibility.
Deputy Director Archives S N Tashi said that the officials of department were not experts in this work. "Only an expert team could access the losses as well as suggest measures to conserve these antique artworks, which are very precious and delicate.
It will also require some budget for doing all this exercise as it is an expert's job", he said, adding that he had forwarded a communiqué to authorities to engage an expert team for the purpose.
Pertinently, the work on Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is also running at snail's pace whereas the other heritage structures of Jammu province are also in shambles. The authorities, since ages have deliberately turned blind eye towards preserving several Dogra heritage structures and artworks. |
