No plan formulated for public display of historic items
Stored articles not inspected during past many years
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 22: Even after the lapse of six months, the assets of the Toshkhana Organization have not been formally handed over to the Department of Culture by the Hospitality and Protocol Department. Moreover, no plan has so far been formulated for public display of historic items, which otherwise are rusting continuously for not having been inspected during the past so many years.
The Administrative Council vide Decision No.115/9/2022 dated August 13, 2022 gave nod to the proposal regarding winding up of Toshkhana Organization. Accordingly, the Hospitality and Protocol Department vide Government Order No.11-JK (H&P) dated August 30, 2022 formally accorded sanction to the closure of J&K Toshkhana Organization.
It was mentioned in the order that sanctioned posts and incumbent staff of the organization have been transferred to the Culture Department and all the records and immovable/moveable assets of the Toshkhana Organization at Jammu/Srinagar will be transferred to the Department of Culture.
However, even after the lapse of 6 months only manpower of the organization has been formally transferred to the Department of Culture while as assets are still under the possession of the Hospitality and Protocol Department, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“There are huge assets in the shape of historic articles which include gold and silver ornaments and armory in the stores of the Toshkhana Organization both at Jammu and Srinagar and these are required to be formally handed over to the Department of Culture and then to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums so as to pave the way for their proper maintenance and public display”, sources said.
They disclosed that inspection of these articles of historic importance kept haphazardly in the stores of the Toshkhana Organization and in a strong room at Civil Secretariat Jammu has not been conducted during the past many years as such nobody knows about their exact condition. This is notwithstanding the fact that such articles need proper preservation after regular intervals to prevent them from decaying or getting damaged further.
It is pertinent to mention here that several valuable articles of historic importance were shifted out of Toshkhana within the Mubarak Mandi Complex to the strong room in the Civil Secretariat after massive fire broke out in the historic complex several years back.
“It would be only after formal handing over of the historic articles by the Hospitality and Protocol Department that Department of Culture through Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums can chalk out any plan for their treatment/maintenance and public display”, sources said while disclosing that at present no discussion on this aspect has been held at any level in the Department of Culture.
Laying stress on formulation of proper plan for public display of such articles by the Department of Culture, sources said, “there is no point in keeping the things of historic value under lock and key and young generation has every right to see and get knowledge about the same”, adding “it is a matter of serious concern that even Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum doesn’t have proper space for display of such a large number of articles”.
“If seriousness is shown by the Department of Archives, Archeology and Museum and matter is pursued vigorously with the Government some suitable structure can be found or created for public display of treasure trove”, sources said while disclosing that there is no space even in the Dogra Art Museum for housing the Toshkhana articles as such timely planning is imperative”.
Moreover, efforts should be made to engage some experts for proper treatment and maintenance of Toshkhana articles well in time otherwise these valuables will perish in near future.
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