Exhibition on J-K history at New York museum from today

NEW DELHI, October 2: A 10 pm flight to New York on Thursday carried artifacts and antiques from Kashmir reflecting around 2,000 years of the Valley’s history. Starting October 3, a New York museum will host an exhibition on Kashmir and on display will be items which have never left the Indian shores. “The exhibits have all been selected on a chronological basis when the Valley was a great centre for Hindu and Buddhist learning with Islamic influence 14th century onwards” said Dr R R S Chauhan the Director of Exhibitions, National Museum, New Delhi.

The event is being organised by the Asia Society, which calls itself “America’s leading institution in educating Americans about Asia”.

A letter from the Asia Society to the National Museum says that “requests for similar exhibitions were pouring in from other museums across America”.

The exhibition will also showcase the skills of artisans and craftsmen from Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist backgrounds and fusion art. The Indian exhibits have been sourced from the Centre for Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, Sri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar, private collectors and from National Museum, Delhi. Director, Archives and Museums of Kashmir, S K A Kadri said: “Internationally people have a very simplistic view of Kashmir and so this exhibition will show a more richer and diverse side to the valley”.

There will be a total of 130 art objects on Kashmir from across the world, including 18 from India insured for Rs Rs 125 crore. Terracotta statues of the Buddha and tiles from the 4th century will be the oldest items on display. “It was from Kashmir that Buddhism spread to Tibet and then to China especially after Ashoka” said Kadri.

In fact, Emperor Ashoka is credited with founding Srinagar. Among the exhibits is a limestone sculpture of Hindu goddess Indrani dating back to 7th Century AD.

The idol has been given Kashmiri features and has been insured for Rs 25 crore. The Islamic period of Kashmiri history is represented by items like a lacquer bound Quran, with an insurance value of Rs 5 crore.

The exhibition will also highlight the rich Islamic period under Zain-al-Abidin. The exhibition will be on from October 3 to January 2008.

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