Revised mechanism, timeline yet to be finalized
Experts seek high-level intervention to revive exercise
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 9: Even several months after the verification and handover exercise of priceless Dogra-era treasures housed in the historic Toshkhana at Mubarak Mandi came to a grinding halt following objections by experts over the methodology adopted by the authorities, no serious effort has been made by the Government to restart the stalled process, leaving the fate of invaluable royal artifacts shrouded in prolonged uncertainty.
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After more than 28 years, the Toshkhana was reopened on May 28 last year and inspection of articles lying in the single-lock enclosure was initiated in the presence of officials from the Hospitality and Protocol Department and the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.
The exercise was considered a crucial step prior to the formal transfer of these valuable articles from the Directorate of Hospitality and Protocol to the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.
However, the process of scientific verification and transfer of the royal treasures came to a grinding halt after experts associated with the exercise expressed reservations over the procedure adopted by the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for verification of the artifacts.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the Directorate had insisted on taking detailed measurements of each and every article before completion of the inventory and takeover formalities. However, an expert from the School of Architecture of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, after extending assistance for nearly 15 days, questioned the necessity of measuring every individual item, describing the exercise as highly time-consuming and impractical considering the huge volume of artifacts awaiting verification.
“Similar observations were subsequently conveyed by another national-level expert associated with the exercise. Following these objections, the verification process came to a halt,” sources said. They added that what has raised serious concern in official circles as well as among heritage experts is that despite the passage of several months, the authorities have failed either to modify the procedure or evolve an alternative mechanism for re-starting and expediting the exercise.
“There is neither any clarity on the revised methodology nor any timeline for restarting the stalled process,” sources said, adding that due to non-seriousness in the relevant quarters, the formal transfer of valuable articles from the Directorate of Hospitality and Protocol to the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums could not reach its logical conclusion.
The Toshkhana houses ornaments and other precious items belonging to the erstwhile princely rulers of Jammu and Kashmir. Several other valuables, however, are stored in a strong room inside the Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
Earlier, the entire armory, jewelry and other precious items were housed in the Toshkhana inside the Mubarak Mandi Complex. However, after the devastating fire of December 15, 2006, most of the precious articles were shifted to a strong room in the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, for safety and security as the fire had rendered the Toshkhana completely unsafe for storing treasures.
The then Administrative Council, vide Decision No. 115/9/2022 dated August 13, 2022, had approved winding up of the Toshkhana Organization and transfer of its assets to the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums. Subsequently, the Hospitality and Protocol Department, vide Government Order No. 11-JK (H&P) dated August 30, 2022, formally sanctioned closure of the Toshkhana Organization and transferred its sanctioned posts and staff to the Culture Department.
“However, the actual transfer of priceless articles remains incomplete because of procedural bottlenecks,” sources said, adding, “after completion of the verification and handover exercise of priceless Dogra-era treasures housed in the historic Toshkhana, the authorities were supposed to shift focus to the valuables stored in the Civil Secretariat strong room, where the majority of the precious items are presently lying.”
“But due to non-completion of the verification and handover/takeover exercise relating to the Toshkhana, doubts are being expressed over the commencement of a similar exercise in respect of those artifacts kept in the Civil Secretariat,” sources further said.
Heritage experts have stressed the need for immediate high-level intervention to break the prevailing deadlock and ensure early resumption of the verification and handover process, warning that prolonged delays could adversely impact preservation, documentation and scientific management of the priceless Dogra-era artifacts.
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