Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Priya Sethi today said that Jammu and Kashmir is a sanctuary of diverse, harmonized culture, saying that Government is keen to launch massive campaign on the State’s artifacts and priceless manuscripts, having high historical value.While inaugurating a five day workshop-cum-Exhibition regarding ‘Preservative Conservation of Manuscripts’ at Kala Kendra here, the Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir possesses an un-interrupted account of oriental learning, which could be traced to the beginning of history. She said by virtue of its uniqueness, the state has remained a sanctuary of mixed and harmonized cultures.“We need to have a research-based approach for carrying out works in listing the manuscripts and work on the national and international arenas,” she said and added that the officials must work scientifically in this department and prepare themselves for getting national projects which will help us in the preservation of manuscripts and other artifacts. She said the ‘Mission for Manuscripts’ would help the State to understand its past and its linkage to the culturally rich origin. “We lack awareness as far as the cultural aspects of our society are concerned. We, perhaps, don’t know the importance of artifacts available with us,” she said.
Priya said in Jammu and Kashmir, there are large number of manuscripts and other historical documents written during the last several centuries and are lying in libraries, oriental research institution, temples, Khanqah’s and in private collections. “In fact the number is so large and widespread that we do not have even a rough estimate of what is available in our state and where. Manuscripts are written on different types of materials like birch bark, palm leaf, cloth, or paper and constant efforts are required for their preservation,” she said “We must focus in this cultural repository for our better future,” she added.The event is being organized by Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with Shasvat Art Gallery, Jammu and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The workshop has been sanctioned by National Mission for Manuscripts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for creating awareness among general public regarding the importance and preservation methods, techniques of Manuscript Conservation Resource persons from apex conservation institutions of India are expected to deliver lectures.
Besides workshop, the exhibition of rare calligraphic specimens, rare Thangkas, Manuscripts, and painting are being displayed. The exhibition also displays rare items including complete 30 chapters of Holy Quran (hand written) on one sheet of Parhment size 6X4 feet, the Specimen of Islamic calligraphy on vellum (Goat Skin), Ladakhi Buddhist Tanka’s (With Gold Work), Paintings (Jain school and Sikh school of paintings) Manuscripts (Palm leaf, Bhoj-petter, rice paper) Shajra- Mubarak from Prophet Adam A.S. Size 25 feet x 1 feet (gold illuminated)The workshop has been sanctioned by National Mission for Manuscripts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India for creating awareness among general public/Scholars regarding the importance and preservation methods/techniques of Manuscript Conservation Resource persons from apex conservation institutions of India are expected to deliver lectures. Near about 45 participants are expected to attend the 5 days workshop.Government of India for the safeguard of Manuscript wealth has established the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) in the year 2003 with the basic mandate to survey, document, preserve and disseminate the cultural wealth hidden in manuscripts and historical documents. Pertinently NMM is the first consolidated national effort for reclaiming India’s inheritance of knowledge contained in the vast treasure of Manuscripts in the field of Philosophy, Science, Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Medical science, Geography, Astrology, Astronomy, History, Agriculture and pluralistic faith system of India. They represent the collective vision and experience of generations.