AMU gets opportunity for collaborative research on conservation of cultural heritage

The Department of Museology at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) hosted a webinar on heritage conservation.

The virtual event was in collaboration with the International Council of Museums (ICOM)-India and the International Council for Biodeterioration of Cultural Property (ICBCP).

The UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Development, Anant National University, Ahmedabad, Amareswar Galla, offered AMU a research collaboration opportunity during the international webinar on Retrospection of Museum and Conservation Professions.

“The conservation of heritage buildings and materials should be given top priority as it throws light on human civilization, culture, living and other dimensions of life,” said Galla, the chief guest at the webinar.

The research collaboration with AMU’s Department of Museology will be in the field of conservation of cultural heritage. The offer was appreciated and accepted by AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor, who also presided over the inaugural function and appreciated the department’s work in the field of conservation of the cultural property.

Abduraheem K., chairperson of the Department of Museology, gave a welcome speech and introduced the theme of the webinar. He highlighted the contribution of professionals from AMU in the conservation of Taj Mahal.

“The Department of Museology, AMU, has a research collaboration with the Czech Republic. Documentation of heritage buildings in Aligarh and Agra ASI Circle has also been taken up by researchers from AMU,” Abduraheem said. He also highlighted the role trained professionals play in conservation work.

Waseem Ahmad, dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, AMU, appreciated the work done by AMU’s Department of Museology in his introductory remarks. Felicitation speeches were delivered by Aparna Tondon, project manager, The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Italy; Virendra Nath, former chief scientist, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; and president, International Conference on Biodeterioration of Cultural Property; and Ambika Patel, President, International Council of Museums, and head, Department of Museology, MS University, Vadodara. Ameeza Zarrin, assistant professor, Department of Museology, AMU, proposed the vote of thanks.

Arun Arya, MS University, Vadodara, and vice-president, International Conference on Biodeterioration of Cultural Property (ICBCP), delivered the first Padma OP Agarwal Memorial Lecture after the inaugural function. It highlighted the problems of biodeterioration and challenges in the preservation of valuable cultural heritage. The lecture was presided over by Virendra Nath, president, ICBCP.

Discussing Agarwal’s contributions in the field of conservation and museology, ICBCP president Virendra Nath said: “OP Agarwal played a key role in the formation of International Council for Biodeterioration of Cultural Property (ICBCP), NRLC, Lucknow, and INTACH.”

Experts from different governmental and non-governmental organisations delivered speeches on internship, training and placement agencies and their programmes during the webinar.

Some of the speakers were Rajkumar Patel (superintendent, Archaeological Survey of India, Agra); Jairaj (former conservator, Govt. Museum, Chennai); Nandan Shastri (Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, California, US), Anupam Sah (head of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay Art Conservation Centre, Mumbai), Rashmi Sharma (former curator, National Children Museum, New Delhi), Naaz Rizvi (director, National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), and Al Shaz Fatmi (assistant director, State Museum Lucknow, UP).

A panel discussion was also a part of the webinar. The discussion featured the departments of museology of different universities — Usha Rani Tiwari of Banaras Hindu University, Supreo Chanda of Calcutta University, Ambika Patel of MS University, Vadodara — and Venugopal, former director, National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi; and Indian Museum, Kolkata.

Alumni from across the country participated in an online alumni meet. They shared experiences with young professionals, students and scholars of the department.

The webinar ended with a resolution to advocate for the change in recruitment policies to include postgraduation degrees such as MA/MSc of Museology/Conservation as an essential qualification for the museum profession.