Himalayan
heritage
Sir,
The psyche of
people has been influenced profoundly by several
mountain systems in the world but in our region
Himalayas have played a great roll. A certain
uniformity of cultural pattern can be seen here
also from the north eastern to the north -western
Himalayas. The apparent unity of Himalayan
culture is reinforced by the influence of
alarmism from the north and the cultural
influence from the plains. Himalayas have three
distinct Eco cultural divisions North eastern
region which consists of Sikkim, Arnachal Pradesh
and the remaining States of the north east where
Himalayan culture is relatively well preserved.
The middle region
consisting of Uttarpradesh where the Himalayan
Eco system has been severely damaged and the
northern western Himalayas consisting of Himachal
Pradesh, Kashmir and Ladakh where both the lama
cultural traditions and the Hindu tradition
survive with great impact of sufisun and Islam.
The Khankas and Ziarats of great preachers of
Islam are preserved with grandeur but great deal
of pilfering of art objects has been going on.
Therefore, the three distinct cultural situation
and the three sets of problems of preservation
and development have to be recognized.
At present we have
no institution for the study of Himalayan culture
as a whole. The north western regional office of
the anthropological survey of India, located at
Dehradun has concentrated on the studies of
Himalayan communities. A university has come up
in Arunachal Pradesh and they have put in efforts
to have their museums. There is also the north
eastern hill university. Here we have
enterprising individuals or groups who have been
collecting artifacts on their own for
preservation.
A special
attention is required to protect and preserve the
cultural heritage of the Himalayas. At least the
department of authropology, ancient history and
archeology are to be established and strengthened
fully in universities of state to conduct such
studies on the following lines:
Assisting and
setting up of museums and libraries etc. Study
and research of all aspect of cultural heritage.
Collection of objects of art and craft with
documentation of cultural artifacts including the
folk, music dance and literature. Training in
traditional and folk art and Dissemination
through audio visual programme of art and
culture. In the short term prospective the
academy of art, culture and languages may launch
a scheme for providing financial assistance for
research, documentation and selection of
artifacts and for implementing other objectives
to institutions including the concerned
departments of universities, voluntary
orgainsation, museums, libraries and research
bodies, the third being individual experts
engaged in the task.
Adequate provision
should be made in the plan of the department for
long term projects as well.
Yours etc...
Salman Nizami
Via-e-mail
Bird flu
Sir,
Bird flu is
creating a huge scare in the country. Many States
are already reeling under the deadly attack of
the disease. Lakhs of birds have been culled in
order to prevent the epidemic from spilling over
to other areas.
In this context
the Government in the State should feel alarmed.
As thousands of birds are imported into the State
from neighbouring States there is need to
maintain high alert in the State. This is the
reason that the State administration has chalked
out a strategy to ensure that bird flu does not
occur in our State (DE, Jan 30). The State Chief
secretary has rightly stressed on the need to
maintain high vigil in this matter. So far as no
reports of the disease have been reported from
the State.
Here it is
important that the Department of Animal Husbandry
should give high importance to the creation of
awareness about bird flu. People should be made
to understand about the symptoms of Bird flu
within the state and especially the Jammu region
being a hub of poultry rearing efforts must be
speeded up so that the incidents of Bird flu is
not reported from the State. With so many people
directly and indirectly involved with the poultry
industry any incidence of the disease will send a
wave of scare among the masses. So efforts need
to be made in this matter on war footing.
Yours etc...
S L Sharma
R S Pura
Jammu
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