“Div Com Anshul Garg inaugurated a Heritage Walk from the Shergarhi Complex to the SPS Museum (Lal Mandi). This act was a symbolic call to Kashmiris to reconnect with and explore their history and heritage.”
The inauguration of the World Heritage Week Exhibition by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg at the Shergarhi Complex on Tuesday is more than a ceremonial event—it is a reminder of Kashmir’s urgent responsibility to safeguard its cultural soul. As the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K unveiled rare manuscripts and archival records, it rekindled a crucial public conversation: Are we doing enough to protect the legacy entrusted to us by our ancestors? The event, attended by scholars, students, and heritage enthusiasts, was not merely an exhibition of history; it was a window into Kashmir’s civilizational depth. By flagging off a Heritage Walk from the Shergarhi Complex to the SPS Museum at Lal Mandi, Div Com Anshul Garg sought to bridge the gap between the region’s past and its present citizens—a symbolic gesture urging Kashmiris to walk through their own history. In his remarks, Garg reminded the gathering that Kashmir is a living repository of Shaivism, Sufism, and Buddhism, and a cradle of artistic excellence that has earned admiration far beyond its borders. The Valley’s arts, crafts, music, architecture, and manuscripts together form a cultural mosaic unmatched anywhere else in South Asia. Yet, this wealth survives today mostly because of the resilience of communities and individuals who refused to let time or turbulence erase their heritage. The Divisional Commissioner also highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives to revive heritage sites—an effort that has seen visible progress over the last four years. Whether through restoration works, documentation drives, or conservation projects, these efforts signal that heritage preservation has finally found space in public policy. But policy alone is not enough. The uncomfortable truth is that Kashmir’s heritage remains extremely vulnerable.
“Kashmir’s precious heritage must be protected from neglect through a sustained cultural movement. This requires schools and colleges to integrate heritage education, local communities to become active custodians, and institutions to digitize and make archival treasures accessible through public outreach. The initial steps (exhibitions and heritage walks) must be expanded into a larger, shared responsibility.”
Urban expansion, environmental degradation, and a lack of community awareness threaten structures and manuscripts that have survived for centuries. Many heritage buildings are collapsing silently; many artefacts remain undocumented; many cultural spaces are being replaced rather than restored. Without collective vigilance, the damage could become irreversible. This is where World Heritage Week finds its true purpose. It is not just a celebration—it is a call to action. As Garg rightly pointed out, archives and museums are not mere repositories; they are mirrors through which societies understand themselves. Encouraging students to visit exhibitions, attend heritage walks, and interact with their cultural history is essential. A society disconnected from its roots can neither preserve its identity nor build a meaningful future. The participation of students in Tuesday’s event is encouraging, but the engagement must deepen. Schools and colleges should integrate heritage education more meaningfully. Local communities must become active custodians rather than passive observers. And institutions must ensure that archival treasures are not only preserved but also made accessible through digitization and public outreach. Kashmir’s story is too rich, too layered, and too precious to be lost to neglect. The exhibition at Shergarhi and the Heritage Walk to SPS Museum are steps in the right direction—but they must become part of a larger, sustained cultural movement. Safeguarding heritage is not the responsibility of institutions alone. It belongs equally to every Kashmiri.
