For Peace and Humanity

NAK, "Cultural heritage of J&K cuts across all regional, religious and ethnic barriers: Prof. Amitabh Mattoo " - News Agency of Kashmir - Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Friday, November 14, 2008

Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu Professor Amitabh Mattoo on Friday said that the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir cuts across all the regional, religious and ethnic barriers.

"Three regions (Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh) may apparently look different keeping in view the geographical factors, but they have so much in common, acquired through age old association amongst the people of the State that it will be a stupendous task to isolate them culturally and politically," said Professor Amitabh Mattoo who was delivering presidential address during the release of a Newsletter "Thati" and Website of the Centre for studies in Museology and Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani Museum of Heritage University of Jammu here this morning in General Zorawar Singh Auditorium.

Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda was chief guest of the function. Professor Amitabh Mattoo said that University of Jammu's remarkable features reflects tradition of Jammu region and General Zorawer Singh Auditorium reflects Cultural heritage of all the three regions of the state.

"A treasure house showcasing the Sufi tradition of the Kashmir valley, the Duggar ethos of the Jammu region and Ladakh's Lama culture has been set up in the Jammu University, General Zorawer Singh Auditorium itself speak the rich cultural and ethnic bond of Jammu and Kashmir State," Professor Amitabh Mattoo said adding that it is a gift of Jammu University to the brave Dogras for showcasing the treasures that represent the culture, ethos, paintings, history, heritage and art besides old manuscripts of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Amitabh Mattoo said that University of Jammu give a glimpse of history through pictures and artifacts, "The art gallery is named after scholar and translator Lotsava Richen Bzangoo (958-1055 AD) -- the great Buddhist saint of ladakh --, houses classical pieces of art and artefacts of Ladakh, including oil paintings and wooden and stone sculptures by renowned artists," Professor Amitabh Mattoo said adding that the Nund Reshi museum, named after Kashmiri Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, depicts not only traditions but inter-cultural aspects that have been the hallmark of the Sufi tradition.

Professor Mattoo further said that the contribution of the scholars of this State to Sanskrit literature has simply been remarkable. Names of Pt. Kalhana, Bilhan, Mammat, Abhinav Gupta and many others have gone down as legends in the history of scholarship.

"Today the greatest need for scholars and artistes of the State is to rise to the occasion and play an important role in maintaining and preserving our national integration and cultural heritage so that we come out of this temporary phase of turbulence and uncertainty to emerge stronger in future because divisions on the basis of religion, region or language or caste has not been our tradition. Such aberration and estrangement of our people from the national mainstream is to be resisted strongly," added Professor Amitabh Mattoo.

Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda while speaking on the occasion said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be proud of Cultural heritage of the state as the J&K state is traditionally rich and this land has given birth to the renowned Sofi's and Saints.

"The renowned Sofi Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din Norrani who was the most secular person, worked for peace and humanity throughout his life," said Kuldeep Khuda. He said that the State has a unique distinction of being a place where people from all walks of life and from all across the world have been coming to seek peace, knowledge and spiritual enlightenment.

"Kashmir which has traditionally been called the place of saints, has remained a seat of learning for years together," he said adding that unfortunately, during the recent past we have been witnessing a spurt of violence and intolerance where all human values have been thrown to the winds and unprecedented levels of crime, cruelty and outrage of humankind have been let loose.

While appreciating the role played by Professor Amitabh Mattoo as Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Kuldeep Khuda said that the way Prof. Amitabh Mattoo is leading the University of Jammu for the last six year; the Varsity has emerged as the leading educational hub of the world. "It was the leadership of Prof. Amitabh Mattoo that University of Jammu has emerged globally in all the fields. We wish success to Prof. Amitabh Mattoo in near future but we the people of the state expects that in future also he will work for the Jammu University to add more and more feathers to its cap," he added.

Earlier in the welcome address, Prof. Poonam Chowdhary, Director Centre for studies in Museology and Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani Musium of Heritage University of Jammu said that way back in 2004, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo decided to name the Museum of Heritage after the name of Sufi Saint, Noor-Ud-Din Noorani, who is considered to be the best representative of the composite culture of the state.

Dignities present on the occasion were Dean Academic Affair Prof. BPS Segal, Dean Student Welfere Dhian Singh Bahu, Controller Examination Prof. PS Pathania, NK Sharma Commissioner Secretary Culture , Prof. DL Chowdhary, SP South (Jammu) Mubasser Latifi Balwan.

On the occasion, Centre for studies in Museology and Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani Museum of Heritage University of Jammu honored the persons who has donated valuable items to the museum.

The persons honored include Prof. GM Bhat, Balbir Jamwal, Prof. Anita Billawaria, Dr Neeru Shrama, Prof. Nirmal Singh, Dr Sharda Sharma, SDS Jamwal (IPS), Ian Farooq (PRO), DK Verma, Bishan Das, Zahoor Ahmad Wani, Jasbir Katoch, Prof. Poonam Chowdhary, Ms Anju Tamang, Ms Sonam Saplzin, Ayoub Khan and Sudershan Singh Thakur.