Kashmir museum's delayed launch puts artifacts at risk

Srinagar, Dec 07: The delay in the inauguration of the new SPS Museum building has not only miffed the antique-lovers but it has also put at risk the preservation of the priceless items kept at the old museum.

The antiques at Sri Pratap Singh Museum are kept in a haphazard order that has annoyed the visitors. “A person wonders how things are kept in the haphazard manner. Some of the antiques are covered with dust which is shameful for the administration that looks after it,” a visitor said.

“A museum is the identity of one’s rich culture….we are surprised why government is not taking any serious steps to preserve them in a better way. Moreover, we have been hearing for years now that the new building will thrown open to public soon….I wonder what is causing this delay,” he added.

Another visitor said, “Sri Pratap Singh Museum holds historical importance as it was the erstwhile summer place of the kings of the princely state of Kashmir. It should have all the antiques by which our rich culture gets displayed to the people of other countries, but our museum displays only few of them that too present a sorry state.”

During this reporters visit, the premises of the museum was filled with garbage and occupied by dogs. Most of the cupboards were lying empty where as some of the mummified birds and animals were found with broken necks and shelled bodies.

While asking about the pathetic conditions of the museum to one of the official, he said, “We don’t know about the broken necks of any of the mummified birds or animal but surely we will look into the matter.”

Pertinently the museum contains more than 78000 antiques but only 18 percent of them are kept for the public exhibition.

Curator of the museum, Mushtaq Ahmad said, “The museum authorities are busy with the documentation. Very soon we will be shifting them to the new building and these antiques will be kept in a proper way.”

When asked about the display of only 18 percent of the antiques, he said, “Every object needs a rest for some time and we put few of the antiques for exhibition for a given period of time.”

Sri Pratap museum was established in 1898, which houses paintings, ancient coins, Ladakhi handicrafts, shawls mummified animals and birds and arms of some of the rare terracotta heads of 3rd century.