Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 16:
Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and President DSS, along with other members while addressing a press conference, thanked the Lieutenant Governor for his detailed visit to the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, accompanied by Sh Raghvendra Singh, Secretary Culture, Government of India, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and other officers, for a first hand appraisal of the status of the ongoing work of its restoration and adaptive reuse. He expressed hope that, besides directing the agencies concerned to gear up the pace of their work, he also took stock of the bare and dusty conditions in which the priceless paintings, other artifacts’ and the valuable record had presently been kept in the Complex, and demanded immediate arrangements of mats etc. for covering the floors of the halls being used to display the precious items of the museum.
He acknowledged that it was a matter of great satisfaction for the people of Jammu that conservation and restoration of the complex was being considered by the Government, as a part of the comprehensive plan for commemorating the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, as it occupies the pride of place as a unique heritage of Jammu region and has been its emotional and cultural hub since centuries. He welcomed the decision regarding deputing of a team of experts from the Ministry of Culture to advise on various aspects of the Master Plan for Conservation and Adaptive reuse of the Complex as a Heritage and Cultural Tourism Destination, already prepared by the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage
Society which, he emphasized, aims at urban rejuvenation of the old city, and mitigating the economic impact of shifting the railhead from Jammu to Katra, by providing for heritage related attractions and activities which are expected to encourage tourists/pilgrims visiting Vaishnodevi Ji, to extend their stay in Jammu.
Sh Charak also pointed out that there are over seven hundred rare paintings of the Basohli School and other Pahari Schools of miniatures which are deteriorating in the Dogra Art Museum in Mubarak Mandi. Besides comprising part of heritage, these have a high antique value with around 80 having been valued in crores each.
He requested the Lieutenant Governor that the Ministry of Culture may be asked to also include experts in the field of restoration of paintings and other rare artifacts’ in the team proposed to be deputed by them for providing expert advice to the concerned officials who are already trying their best for their proper preservation and display. Similarly, expert opinion was also required to be obtained on the restoration and display of the artifacts of the Toshakhana, presently kept in a room in the Civil Secretariat. He also emphasized that expert opinion was further required to be obtained for preserving, in a proper and secure manner, the centuries old and brittle record of the Archives Department which also stands dumped in different buildings in Mubarak Mandi and, therefore, the team to be deputed by the Ministry of Culture also needs to include persons having expertise in this field. In addition, he demanded that some portion of the Archives record shifted earlier to Kala Kendra, where it was deteriorating due to pollution and dampness, may also be shifted back to Mubarak Mandi urgently and, besides safe storage of the entire record, necessary arrangements be made for its convenient accessibility to scholars. Appreciating the hard work being done by the concerned insufficient staff, he said that there is a need to look into the problems they are facing to save this irreplaceable treasure.
Sh Charak also thanked the Lieutenant Governor for visiting the historic Duggar pilgrimage centers of Purmandel and Utter Behani, famous mansar lake and some other tourist spots to take stock of their condition and for his assurance to the people regarding required measures for improving road connectivity and providing proper facilities for the pilgrims/tourists visiting these hubs of national significance.
Prominent among those who were present in the press conference were Prem Sagar Gupta, Col. Karan Singh, Brig. M.S Jamwal, G.A. khawaja, Janak Khajuria,Amanat Ali Shah, Judge Hari Om Singh, Girdhari lal Sharma, Dr. Gian Singh and Yash.
