Victoria Queen’s gift to Kashmir craves for conservation

Srinagar, May 21: The government’s failure to preserve an 18th-century antique boat gifted by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to Maharaja Ranbir Singh has sparked concern among historians and locals alike. The boat, now decaying in the compound of SPS Museum in Srinagar, requires urgent conservation efforts to prevent further deterioration.
Queen Victoria who was coronated in 1838 and remained the Empress of India from 1876 until her death in 1901, to Maharaja Ranbir Singh, a monarch who ruled Jammu and Kashmir from 1857 to 1885.
Measuring approximately 30 feet in length and 8 feet in width, the boat bears an inscription marking its royal provenance.
Despite assurances from officials, including Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Assistant Director of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums in Kashmir, the boat has remained neglected for years.
“The ship will be displayed in a proper showcase on the ground floor of the new museum building. The DPR prepared by Police Housing Corporation (PHC) Kashmir, is awaiting approval due to financial constraints over the past 2-3 years,” Beighsaid.
Beigh mentioned that preserving the ship is part of their plans, and once the DPR is approved, it will be placed in a glass case at the SPS Museum, similar to how the wooden temple from Kerala is displayed outside the National Museum in New Delhi.
“The idea of encasing the ship was approved by the government, but the final DPR is still pending. The current museum building will be modified to ensure all artifacts are displayed appropriately,” he added.
Beigh said this boat’s uniqueness as a gift from Queen Victoria, originally used for water transportation between Baramulla and Srinagar.
“In addition to the Queen’s gift, our Archaeology section houses many unique items, including a rare bronze frame and 24 incarnations of Lord Shiva, known as Dashavatara elsewhere in India. This is the largest bronze collection of its kind in the world,” he said.
Beigh said the museum’s efforts to preserve centuries-old stone, bronze, and terracotta art for future generations. The idea of framing it was already approved by the government as final DPR is still pending. Present museum building will undergo further changes, so that all things will be put in the right manner,” he said.
This unique antique of Queen Victoria to Maharaja and meant specially used for water transportation from Baramulla to Srinagar.
Beigh said the remains of centuries old stone art and bronze art, terracotta art are unique arts found in the SPS Museum and they are trying every possible effort to preserve these unique things for next generations.
As per museum records, the boat was transferred to the museum from Tosh Khana, treasury of Kashmir’s erstwhile monarchs, in 1987.Since then the boat remained decaying, year after year.
However, locals like Mohammad Alam and Sajad Ahmad Mir lament the government’s inaction, criticizing the neglect of such a significant historical artifact.
Noted Kashmiri poet and historian Zareef Ahmad Zareef emphasised the boat’s historical significance, highlighting its role as a means of transportation for Maharaja’s guests along the river Jhelum. Zareef called for urgent preservation efforts to ensure the boat’s legacy is not lost.
“Basically, the place where the museum is located was a guest house of Maharaja Pratab Singh. In 1899 when the Queen had to visit Kashmir, there was no guest house. Motor Launch (Aghan Boat in Kashmiri) was specially meant for their travel in Jhelum,” he said.
The Jhelum, or the Veth is navigable from Khanabal, 55 km upstream of Srinagar, all the way up to Baramulla, a total distance of about 110 km. The depth of the river rarely exceeds 13 feet during the dry season.
Srinagar, once called the city of canals or the “Venice of the East”, boats were a popular means of transport until its waterways were sealed up to make way for roads.
Zareef said following the historical significance of the Aghan Boat, the government failed to preserve it. During that time there was a passenger ghat located on river banks to board the guests of the royal family called ‘Sanghi-Siya’.
Established in 1898 by then Dogra ruler Maharaja Pratap Singh, the SPS Museum houses a vast collection of over 80,000 objects, spanning archaeology, numismatics, decorative art, arms and armor, paintings, and textiles. However, the deteriorating condition of the antique boat serves as a reminder of the urgent need for preservation efforts to safeguard Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.
The museum records indicate that the boat was transferred to the museum from Tosh Khana, the treasury of Kashmir’s erstwhile monarchs, in 1987. Since then, it has remained neglected, prompting concerns from locals like Mohammad Alam, who recalled seeing the boat lying unattended since his childhood.
Furthermore, Zareef Ahmad Zareef shed light on the historical context, explaining that the boat was usually meant for Maharaja’s guests to tour the river Jhelum. He emphasized the need for preservation, suggesting that the boat could become a key attraction at the museum premises.
Approximately 79,595 artifacts and objects covering various subjects like Archaeology, numismatics, decorative art, arms and armory, paintings, Textiles etc are housed in the Museum.