A symbol of Kashmir’s cultural harmony
SEVERAL QURANIC MANUSCRIPTS AND CALLIGRAPHIC WORKS ARE PUT ON DISPLAY BY A JAMMU JEWELLER IN SRINAGAR
SRINAGAR : A rare exhibition of Islamic art is turning out to be a symbol of cultural harmony in Kashmir as many Quranic manuscripts and calligraphic works on Islam have been put on display by a Jammu-based jeweller, Suresh Abrol, who is carrying on his grandfather’s legacy.
The latter was the jeweller of the erstwhile Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, and a private collector of artefacts.
A 52-year-old Suresh has ferried around 150 rare manuscripts on Islam and Quranic verses written on vellum (animal skin) and showcased them at the Tourist Reception Centre, where an exhibition is being organised by J&K’s cultural academy along with department of archives, libraries, tourism and three private families.
The exhibition, Shireen Qalam, was visited by J&K governor NN Vohra and cultural minister Naeem Akthar on Saturday.
“My grandfather, Rekhi Ram Abrol, had started collecting these rare manuscripts a century ago. He even purchased several paper and vellum calligraphic manuscripts,” said Suresh, who now runs an art gallery, Shasvant, in winter capital Jammu.
Pointing towards the 100-yearold handwritten 1x5 feet Quran and 1x24 feet ‘Shajra- e-Nasab’ (family tree) of Prophet Muhammad, the jeweller said, “In Jammu, we have dedicated a house to preserve these manuscripts and have been using traditional methods to safeguard them.”
Suresh said it was for the first time that he had travelled to the Valley along with these rare calligraphic Quranic verses. “The response is quite encouraging. Large number of people, of all ages, visit here and pose different questions. We have around hundreds of rare paintings comprising of Basholi, Kangra, Jammu, Kashmiri and Ladakhi schools, besides 25 to 30 kg of silverware,” he said.
AKHTAR INVITES HURRIYAT LEADER
Naeem Akthar has even extended invitation to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq through social media. “Sincerely inviting @MirwaizKashmir saheb to exhibition of Islamic art @ TRC Sgr. Stunning display of never seen masterpieces. A treasure from a private collector Mr Abrol from Jammu, who converted his home into a museum. Rare manuscripts. Mirwaiz family, Shehre Khas forte (sic),” Akthar has tweeted.
Director archives, Muneer- ulIslam, said the exhibition was a success. Another private collector and former KAS officer, Hakim Ghulam Jeelani, said among the rare manuscripts on display was the work of famous historian Mohammad Azam Dedmari. “We have exhibited the unpublished work of Dedmari on botanical herbs found in Kashmir 300 to 400 years ago.”
Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage convener Saleem Beg said the collections presented the Islam in art forms with calligraphy being the most significant part of it. “What is special is that we have got manuscripts from both official and private individuals. Srinagar could have been the biggest repository of manuscripts but people don’t take them out,” he said, adding that they were trying to encourage people to bring their collections to the fore.