A view from inside Meeras Mahal building.

The Meeras Mahal Museum, the first-ever private museum in Kashmir Valley, recently softly opened its doors to the world, unveiling a captivating journey into the cultural tapestry of this historic region.

This landmark achievement is the result of the unwavering dedication of the late educationist and cultural enthusiast, Atiqa Bano, who spent her life preserving the essence of rural Kashmir in the 18th and 19th centuries.

With over 7,000 meticulously curated artifacts, Meeras Mahal offers an intimate glimpse into the life and customs of Kashmir’s past, shedding light on a way of life that was an integral part of this region until the end of the twentieth century.

Atiqa Bano: Woman behind the museum

All the artifacts have been collected by a burqa-clad Atiqa Bano, popularly known in the region as Atiqa ji. Born in the historic town of Sopore, Atiqa Bano was more than just an educationist and activist; she was a guardian of Kashmir’s artistic and cultural heritage. She never allowed the veil to cloud he work and dreams.

Her journey towards establishing Meeras Mahal began with a deep-seated passion for preserving the customs, rituals, and traditional industries of her homeland. Over the years, her dedication and perseverance became the driving force behind this extraordinary museum.

Atiqa Bano’s commitment to her mission was unwavering, and she tirelessly collected artifacts reflecting Kashmiri life and customs. These treasures, once commonplace in Kashmir, were slowly vanishing from the collective memory. Atiqa Bano’s collection included handwritten Qur’ans, Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit manuscripts, historical coins, and a comprehensive history of the Kashmiri pheran (wedding trousseau from both the Muslim and Pandit communities). The museum also showcases pottery and artifacts related to the weaving of the exquisite Pashmina textile.

The seeds of Meeras Mahal were sown during Atiqa Bano’s tenure in senior positions within the Department of Education, where she promoted and preserved the culture of her homeland. Even after her retirement from government service, she continued her tireless efforts, culminating in the establishment of the museum in 2002.

A Collaborative Endeavor for Preservation

After Atiqa Bano’s passed away in 2017, the Meeras Mahal Trust, in collaboration with the INTACH Kashmir Chapter, embarked on a mission to ensure her legacy lived on. The Delhi-based SPAN Foundation, founded by individuals with a deep connection to the region, joined hands with the local community to refurbish and renovate the museum.

INTACH Kashmir Chapter played a pivotal role in providing expertise, overseeing the design, and executing the museum’s remodeling. The refurbishment project, divided into two phases based on available funding, has successfully completed Phase I.

“In Phase I, structural enhancements were implemented to fortify earthquake resilience, including the strategic insertion of structural steel at critical areas. Retrofitting the building to accommodate expansive exhibition spaces required dismantling and replacing some walls with steel girders. Ramps and fire escapes were introduced for improved accessibility, drawing inspiration from Kashmir’s taq-based architecture for the main elevation,” explained INTACH convenor Saleem Beg. “

The refurbishment addressed electrification needs and expanded the foyer space for an enhanced entry experience,” Beg added.

Meeras Mahal: A Journey Through Time

Today, Meeras Mahal stands as a testament to Atiqa Bano’s unwavering commitment to preserving Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage. The museum’s artifacts are categorized into terracotta, woodwork, wicker and grassware, metalwork (including exquisite jewelry), stone artifacts, textiles, and ancient manuscripts. Each section offers a unique window into the life of the Kashmir Valley’s past inhabitants, allowing visitors to connect with their ancestral heritage.

The terracotta collection, sourced from various regions of Kashmir, includes items like matths (storage vessels), lopun (large storage vessels for grains), daan (clay stoves), toer (serving bowls), chai pateil (tea pans), and more. These everyday objects were once essential to the daily lives of Kashmiris, reflecting the rich tapestry of their rural existence.

The Soft Inauguration: A Triumph of Preservation

The soft inauguration of Meeras Mahal was not just a momentous occasion for Sopore but for the entire Kashmir Valley. Dignitaries and community leaders gathered at the event to pay tribute to Atiqa Bano’s remarkable contribution to preserving the identity and history of Kashmir.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore, Shabir Ahmad Raina, expressed his pride in having such a museum in the town, highlighting its potential to attract national and international tourists. He assured the museum team of the administration’s unwavering support in ensuring its success.

Jaspreet Kaur, CEO of the Span Foundation, urged the people to embrace Meeras Mahal as a cultural treasure and contribute to making it a major tourist attraction.

Preserving Kashmir’s Cultural Heritage

The soft inauguration of Meeras Mahal represents a substantial milestone in preserving Kashmir’s cultural heritage, fulfilling the long-held dream of the late Atiqa Ji. The museum’s diverse collection of artifacts offers an invaluable opportunity to reconnect with the region’s roots, making it a vital resource for future generations.

As visitors step into Meeras Mahal, they are transported back in time to a world where terracotta vessels held sustenance, intricate metalwork adorned the finest jewelry, and handwritten manuscripts preserved the wisdom of generations. The museum is not just a repository of artifacts; it is a living testament to the enduring spirit of a woman who dedicated her life to safeguarding Kashmir’s heritage.

In the heart of Sopore, the Meeras Mahal Museum stands as a beacon of culture and history, inviting all who enter to embark on a journey through the annals of time.

It is a testament to the power of preservation and the enduring legacy of Atiqa Bano, whose dream has now become a reality, ensuring that the rich heritage of Kashmir will continue to shine brightly for generations to come.

Courtesy: The Kashmir Times

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Image: Twitter / @AnkitLal
 
Varanasi: Countless Shivling sculptures were found strewn near a drain around the Kashi Vishwanath corridor construction site in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The news reached the local police on Wednesday and prima facie, it looks as if the Shivling’s were tossed aside after excavation for the construction.
 
Tensions were high as over 126 Shivling sculptures were found just 5 kms away from the construction site in Rohit Nagar area.
 
The ruling government had promised that the construction for the Kashi Vishwanath corridor around the temple will be undertaken with caution and all the idols, sculptures and religious material unearthed would be treated with respect, care and secured a museum. On Wednesday, numerous Shivling sculptures were found in a community dump near Assi Ghat. The area was gripped by controversy and angry residents were momentarily pacified when the police loaded the sculptures in auto and trucks and moved them away to control the tense situation.
 
As the news spread, local residents came together to protest the incident. A video was shot which soon went viral on social media. Party members of SP, BSP, Congress and religious activists thronged the area to criticize the BJP government. Many women also expressed their anger over the incident.
 
According to media reports, a plot near the banks of Assi drain was being dumped with Shivling sculptures on Wednesday. When the locals heard of this, they gathered at the spot and took some of the sculptures with them to their homes. City ADM Vinay Singh and City SP Dinesh Singh arrived at the spot after getting the information. As the situation had become delicate, a police force was deployed in the area.
 
After SP and Congress members reached the spot, former Congress MLA Ajay Rai, who also ran against PM Modi in the Lok Sabha Polls from the Varanasi seat, urged the police to act after which a case was registered under 295, 153 B and 427 of the IPC.
 
Many said that the sculptures were thrown on the orders of the BJP

The police said that they will investigate the matter and find out who could have thrown such a large number of sculptures at the spot. Rai targeted the BJP and said the government which consolidated its power in the name of religion has been exposed after this incident. “The BJP govt sought votes in the name of religion and their true face has now been exposed in front of the public. It is in their constituency that these sculptures were thrown in the drain. What could be worse than this? The citizens will never forgive CM Yogi Adityanath,” he said.
 
Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati’s disciple Swami Avimukteshwaranand, who rushed to the spot along with his disciples alleged that the debris and Shivlings proved that temples and idols of the deities were being destroyed for the project. The group also prayed to sculptures in the debris.
 
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT) administration, however, claimed that the debris and Shivlings had no connection with KVC, as debris of buildings being removed for the project were being dumped only in the Rajghat area.
 
The government is taking over the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex by demolishing over a hundred structures, including heritage buildings and temples around it.
 
“According to informal estimates, as of the second week of November 2018, as many as 168 structures, including about 95 residential buildings, have been taken over. Demolition of these buildings is at various stages of completion. The number of temples and places of worship that have been demolished would be approximately 55, say social activists associated with the Joint Action Committee and the Sajja Sanskriti Manch, which has been monitoring the demolitions,” reported Frontline. The corridor is being built on a Rs. 413 crore budget.
 
“It is a multipronged undertaking facilitated by various departments of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre and accompanied by communally polarising propaganda by a clutch of Hindutva-oriented organisations, some of which have sprung up all of a sudden and seem to have been set up especially as part of the “Target Varanasi Project,” the report said.

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With ‘Clean Up’ Plans around Gyanvapi Masjid, Lakhs Being Siphoned in ‘Compensation’, Activists Fear an ‘Ayodhya’ like Demolition in Varanasi
 

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