18th November, 2014
I found the gate open and just walked in. Half way in, I heard someone commanding me to stop. It was a big burly Sikh security officer who pointed out that I hadn’t walked in though the right security gate. I traced back my steps to the main gate. Again walked in through the right gate and was again stopped by the security officer.
“The museum is closed due to flood. Nothing to see here today.”
I could see the place was open. I pleaded to be let it.
“The place is still wet. It is left open for drying.”
“Where have you come from?”
I didn’t tell him I am a Kashmiri. I told him I had come from Kerala. The place is too far and I would be leaving the next morning.
He had a turn of heart and told me that the in-charge of the museum was in the office. I could plead with him.
I was escorted to the officer. An old man busy with office work. I again pleaded. I was let in on the condition that I won’t be photographing anything.
“Condition of the museum would only bring further bad press.”
I promised. A man was assigned to keep watch over me. I walked around the place that should have been one of the finest museum in the sub-continent.
I asked him if there was any literature available about the museum. Officer handed over a big fat inter-office magazine that mostly carries self-congratulatory letters for various members of the history department.
It is a hopeless place.
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| 1906 |
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