Dogra Art Museum: The museum that is known world over for its prized possessions
Jammu, May 11: Jammu, the city of temples has yet another diamond in its crown that is famous world over for the rare historical items possessed by it. The Dogra Art Museum the first Museum of Jammu established during the times of Dogra monarchy has the distinction of having under its roof some rare historical items dating back to Mughal period besides other historical items found in Jammu.
It is one of the most visited places particularly by school and college students besides the people interested in history while the regular visitors also thong it in good numbers.
The Museum which started from a small room having some old photographs and arms during Dogra rule slowly found its true place in the Sun after the independence when it was declared as full-fledged Museum.
Dogra Art Museum, Jammu previously known as Dogra Art Gallery with a special collection of Basohli paintings was inaugurated by Dr. Rajender Prasad, the thren President of India on 18th of April, 1954 at Gandhi Bhawan, Jammu. This gallery was upgraded to a full-fledged multipurpose museum and shifted in 1991 to its present building situated in Mubarak Mandi complex, Old Secretariat, Jammu known as Pink Hall. Dogra Art Museum, is the abode of treasure trove of Dogra Cultural heritage. The museum is known world over for its collection of miniature paintings especially paintings from Basohali.
Dogra Art Museum is a government museum and the biggest in Jammu region, one of the three divisions in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The museum is unit of Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Jammu and Kashmir Government. The building was erected in commemoration of the visit of the British Monarch Edward VII when he came to Jammu as the Prince of Wales in 1875. This building housed the Public Library as well as the Museum.
In its initial days it was known as the Ajaib Ghar, an Urdu term for the word “Museum” (Urdu used to be the court language then) and was housed in a mini hall having some collection of arms and old photographs where now the Assembly hall has been erected within in New Secretariat, Jammu. It was the first step towards setting up of a museum in the erstwhile Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu. After the states’ accession with the Union of India, a committee – in the year 1954 – was organized under the president-ship of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq, Education Minister, G.L.Dogra, Finance Minister, Master Sansar Chand Baru famous Artist and Prof.R.N.Shastri (now Padamshri) were the members of the committee. Some space in the Gandhi Bhawan Hall adjacent to New Secretariat was allotted to this committee for housing and display of artifacts. The Museum was inaugurated by the first president of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad on April 18, 1954 at the Gandhi Bhawan, Jammu as the Dogra Art Gallery. It was upgraded to a full-fledged museum and shifted to, its present building, the Mubarak Mandi Complex, Jammu. Master Sansar Chand Baru was appointed its first Curator.
The museum has a collection of 7216 objects of historical and cultural importance. Among the collections are the Rasmanjari series of the famed Basohli miniature paintings and some rare manuscripts like the beautifully illustrated Shahnama and Sikandernama in Persian.
Terracotta heads from Akhnoor, Sculptures, numismatics, manuscripts, Dogra costumes, jewellery, arms and armours, metal objects and artifacts related to Decorative arts. The intricately decorated marble jharokhas with inlaid work of semi precious stones in the marble hall further embellishes the charisma of the museum collection. However, what the museum is known all over for is the Pahari miniature paintings from Basholi. A gold plated bow belonging to Mughal emperor Shah Jehan and a stone plate with inscriptions in Takri Script are among some of the most prized possessions of the museum.
The museum is open from 10 O’Clock in the morning till 5 O’Clock. It remains closed on Mondays. Minimal entry fee is required to enter the museum premises.
A visit here is enchanting as the visitor not only gets a glimpse of the old artifacts and rare items but also the real history as the Museum is adjacent to Mubarak Mandi Palace that was once the seat of Dogra dynasty. The main building of this historical complex has also been renovated thus giving the visitor an opportunity to feast the eyes with the Museum collection and the sprawling the beautiful Mubarak Mandi palace complex. (Compiled with inputs from wikipedia and tourism related sites)