Baramulla, Oct 16: In partnership with INTACH and Adabi Markaz Kamraz (AMK), Meeras Mahal Sopore celebrated Meeras Day on Sunday in honour of the deceased Atiqa Bano’s fifth death anniversary.
A vast array of supporters and campaigners for heritage and culture were present on this occasion including INTACH Kashmir Chapter Convener Mohammad Salim Beg, Span foundation New Delhi Chairperson Jaspreet Kour, Commissioner Secretary Jal Shakti department Dr GN Itoo, Chairperson Municipal Council Sopore Masarat Kar, President Adabi Markaz Kamraz Mohammad Amin Bhat; Chairman Civil Society Sopore Rashid Parveen, President Traders federation, Executive members of Adabi Markaz Kamraz & veteran writers & intellectual Ghulam Nabi Aatish and Shahnaz Rashid.
On this occasion, the participants stressed upon the need to preserve the Heritage Mahal Sopore.
Ghulam Nabi Atish delivered the keynote speech on Meras Mahal and Atiqa Bano, and columnist Dr. Maroof Shah read an independent paper on Atiqa Bano’s contribution to revitalising the cultural and heritage aspects.
A group interaction between netizens of Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora spoke heart out and paid rich and glorious tributes to Atiqa Bano.
Mohammad Salim Beg, Convener Kashmir Chapter INTACH called the event historic and enlisted the public’s aid in preserving its artefacts.
“We as the members of this society have to work collectively for the upliftment of the Meeras Mahal and carry forward the movement of late Atiqa Bano of preserving our culture and heritage. The people of Sopore should come forward and we hope that this place will soon become a famous spot for tourists and literary circles,” he added.
The audience was given the assurance by Mohammad Amin Bhat, President of Adabi Markaz Kamraz, that it would contribute to the preservation of Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage.
He said that the effort initiated by the Atiqa Bano needs to be preserved, and future generations should be tied to our lovely heritage.
“It was a solo effort by late Atiqa Bano, and now it is our obligation to preserve it, document it, and make it available on a website as well,” Bhat added.
On this occasion, the MEERAS AWARDS were given to Ghulam Nabi Atish, Shahnaz Rasheed, and Waheed Jeelani for their outstanding contributions to the preservation of cultural heritage and creative services.
The Meeras Mahal Museum of Ethnography was curated and managed by late Atiqa Bano, an extraordinary activist, educationist and public servant from Sopore.
She had started collecting objects of historic and ethnic value as an enthusiast over years, her commitment and perseverance for promoting the culture of Kashmir became the driving force behind establishing the Meeras Mahal Museum, literally meaning the ‘Heritage Palace’.
The collections in the museum largely consist of objects of daily relevance, used by Kashmiris in the past.
The museum is home to more than 7000 artifacts that provide an ethnographic lens into the rich cultural heritage of the Kashmir valley, especially its hinterland.
Most of these artifacts are items of everyday use that were a common sight in Kashmir up until the end of the twentieth century.
The Meeras Mahal museum collection has been classified into: Terracotta, Wood work, Wicker and Grass ware, Metal (including Jewelry), Stone, Textiles and Manuscripts.
The Meeras Mahal Museum is the only museum in Kashmir besides the government-run Sri Pratap Singh Museum, which houses more pertinent objects that give local residents direct access to information about their recent vernacular past.
