Sunny Dua
Sunnydua55@gmail.com
As the world prepares to observe International Museum Day on May 18, the spotlight once again falls on preserving cultural heritage and making museums interactive, educational and accessible for all. In Jammu, however, the condition of the historic Dogra Art Museum raises serious concerns about conservation, accessibility and long-term planning, specially making it differently-abled friendly.
For decades, the museum has witnessed repeated shifting from one location to another, often under difficult circumstances. From Gandhi Seva Sadan near Civil Secretariat to the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, and presently to the old Army Headquarters building, the museum’s treasured artefacts have continuously been displaced. Experts believe such repeated relocation violates basic museum ethics and increases the risk of damage to rare collections.
The museum houses invaluable Basholi paintings, ancient manuscripts, terracotta heads, armoury and historical documents reflecting the grandeur of Dogra heritage. Yet many of its finest collections remain hidden from public view. Only around 25 percent of the total artefacts are presently displayed, and even after restoration of old halls, the available gallery space appears insufficient for proper exhibition of all the artefacts.
Equally worrying is the absence of accessibility for differently-abled visitors. Neither the current temporary location nor the proposed restored Pink Hall structure provides adequate wheelchair access. The proposed layout includes galleries spread across multiple levels including the Marble Hall, basement fountain gallery and corridor displays, making movement extremely difficult for handicapped visitors and senior citizens.
The entire Mubarak Mandi heritage complex itself lacks universal accessibility. Basic public amenities such as potable water, public washrooms, resting spaces, green lawns and visitor facilities are missing. While offices managing museums and Mubarak Mandi and private utility areas have been upgraded, visitors continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, specially washrooms, eateries or even souvenir shops.
Museum experts argue that modern museums across India have successfully blended heritage structures with contemporary facilities. Institutions like the Red Fort museums in Delhi and the Partition Museum in Amritsar have incorporated modern lighting, accessibility, audio guides and visitor-friendly infrastructure without compromising heritage value. Similar professional planning is urgently required for Jammu’s museum spaces.
The present situation becomes even more alarming because ongoing construction activity, dust and heat are reportedly affecting fragile artefacts. Security arrangements too are considered inadequate, while the absence of trained guides limits visitor engagement. A museum is not merely a building where old objects are locked behind glass showcases. A true museum is a living cultural space that breathes history, inspires curiosity and creates emotional connections between generations. Around the world, successful museums are designed as interactive public spaces where architecture, accessibility, technology, conservation and visitor comfort work together.
Officials have indicated plans to introduce audio guides and virtual reality experiences to improve public interaction, but experts feel cosmetic additions alone cannot compensate for structural shortcomings. The museum requires a professionally designed modern facility with climate control, proper storage, conservation laboratories, accessibility infrastructure and expanded gallery spaces.
Another major challenge remains low footfall. Despite housing world-famous Basholi paintings, the museum attracts only around 15,000 visitors annually. Lack of visibility, poor visitor amenities and absence of souvenir shops, cafés, cultural spaces and interactive galleries have prevented it from becoming a vibrant cultural destination. Financial constraints continue to hamper growth. Since national-level funding norms often favour museums with over one lakh annual visitors, institutions like Dogra Art Museum struggle to secure adequate assistance. The shortage of trained staff further adds to operational difficulties.
“Museums are not merely buildings filled with objects; they are institutions that preserve collective memory and connect generations with their roots. Jammu deserves a world-class museum that reflects the richness of Dogra history and heritage. A modern, accessible and professionally managed museum can become both an educational hub and a major cultural attraction for future generations”, said an official on the condition of anonymity.
Spacious galleries, climate-controlled interiors, proper lighting, audio-visual experiences, cafeterias, souvenir shops, research centres, children’s activity zones and open green spaces together transform museums into vibrant destinations rather than silent storage houses. Jammu deserves such a museum. The priceless heritage of the Dogras cannot continue to remain trapped within shifting walls and crumbling corridors.
It is perhaps time for the government to think beyond the congested and inaccessible lanes of Mubarak Mandi and create a completely new, modern museum complex at a more suitable and visitor-friendly location. The banks of River Tawi near the developing River Front could emerge as an ideal destination for a world-class museum representing the glorious history, culture and art of Jammu, said Avneet Kour, a local residing near Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
Such a location would not only improve accessibility for tourists, students, senior citizens and differently-abled visitors, but would also integrate heritage with recreation and tourism. A modern Dogra Museum overlooking the riverfront, surrounded by landscaped gardens, amphitheatres, cafés, libraries and cultural spaces, can become Jammu’s cultural heartbeat. It can host exhibitions, literature festivals, school tours, art residencies and international collaborations while preserving priceless artefacts in scientifically managed conditions, she added.
Museums across the world today are city landmarks and tourism magnets. Jammu too has the potential to create an iconic cultural institution that reflects the pride, identity and historical richness of the Duggar land. Continuing to shift fragile artefacts from one temporary location to another only weakens their historical value and puts irreplaceable treasures at risk, said Nirmal Mahana, an educationist.
The emotional connection between people and their heritage cannot survive in neglected buildings lacking basic facilities. Future generations deserve to witness the grandeur of Basholi paintings, Dogra manuscripts, royal armoury and historic relics in an atmosphere that commands dignity and respect. The Dogra Art Museum should no longer remain a symbol of administrative neglect and endless displacement. It must finally find a permanent, accessible and world-class home where history is not merely preserved, but proudly celebrated for centuries to come.
Unfortunately, this year’s International Museum Day theme, “Museums uniting a divided world,” appears difficult to achieve in Jammu due to the limited outreach and poor visitor engagement at the Dogra Art Museum. Museums become platforms for cultural exchange only when they attract visitors, researchers, students and collaborations from different regions and institutions. However, low footfall, lack of modern facilities and almost no interaction or exchange with other reputed museums have restricted the museum’s ability to emerge as a centre of dialogue and cultural unity.
(The writer is senior journalist)
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