Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 13: Despite big strides of technology in the 21st century, the Department of Archives, Archeology and Museums is still relying on primitive means to determine the authenticity of rare antiques, instead of using scientific techniques like carbon-dating.
The department has been purchasing several items, from a particular persons, who used different addresses and ways to sell these things, raising a question mark over the entire process of sale and purchase of items.
In response to a question, the Department of Archives has maintained that a committee of experts has been constituted to determine and ascertain the authenticity of the objects. "The committee of officers including Director Archives, Archeology and Museums (Chairman), Deputy Director (member), Accounts Officer, (member), Curator SPS Museum (Member), Two experts from Kashmir and Jammu University", the reply reads as:
Carbon-dating and other scientific techniques have been used in present times but it is still very surprising that only experts have been used to measure the authenticity of items, an official said.
Moreover, the sellers of antique items and artifacts have been found changing their addresses and ways to sell these items. A resident of Mastgarh had sell items including English Deorative Sturchu, Wooden Box, Shrimati Bhagwat Geeta and Metallic Chair to the tune of Rs. 49 thousands and his wife had also sold items to the tune of Rs. 9,000 to the department.
In the same way, items to the tune of several lakhs of rupees have been sold by people to the department.
The items purchased by department include Puja coins, Colpper Coin, Gagar, Dekcha, Majma Big Size, Nikah Nama (Persian), Giyan Choper (sanskrit), Tarkhhasha (MSS), Sanskrit manuscript, Bangles (Tantric), Neckless, Jewelry, Four burner stove, Anangrang, Graygya Vidhan (Rs. 35,000), Rollercord Vintage Camera, Siddhant Chandrika, beside others. |
