On May 18, the world observed International Museum Day. It is important to consider the significance of museums and, more broadly, the history and heritage of our country. The International Council of Museums created the day to draw attention to how crucial museums are to “cultural exchange, enriching cultures, and development of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.” As implied by this explanation, museums are more than just destinations where people go to kill time and gaze upon the “cool stuff” of the past.
In addition to preserving our history and cultural heritage, this year’s Museum Day theme emphasises how museums can contribute to sustainability and wellbeing.Most Pakistanis probably have never visited a museum, aside from the occasional school trip for school. Going to a museum is firmly at the bottom of the list of ways that people in this country prefer to spend their free time. Additionally, there haven’t been many high-profile government initiatives to support museums and emphasise the value of preserving our history and showcasing it.
Given that few nations have a culture and history as rich and varied as ours, this is rather strange. Despite the fact that there are literally dozens of museums across the nation covering almost every imaginable area of human interest, they have a negligible impact on both our private and public lives.The theme for this year’s International Museum Day emphasises the fact that when museums are neglected, we forfeit not only our sense of history and heritage but also the future. The fact that Pakistan is home to some of the oldest and most significant historical sites in the world is generally known to most of us thanks to the names “Taxila” and “Mohenjo Daro.”
But how many of us are aware of the severe harm that last year’s devastating floods inflicted on these locations? When heritage sites were severely damaged, Unesco was forced to mobilise $350,000 in emergency funds to assist them. The loss of our national heritage is one of the most tragic effects of climate change on us. Here, we watch as our own history is wiped out in front of us as heatwaves and floods literally reduce large portions of the nation to the kind of ruins we are working to protect. Additionally, this is only one illustration of how museums can connect the past and present to create a better future.
They are also well positioned to foster a sense of a shared past, future, and social connections in our frequently divided and distrustful nation, something our polarised environment sorely needs.
It is hoped that both the people and the state will take museums and our history in general much more seriously in the years to come.
