Editorial
National Museum
Another wakeup call for improved security and maintenance
THE National Museum, a repository of our heritage and history, is finding it difficult to protect its priceless artefacts. Only that can explain why nine gold medals and 17 antique silver coins have disappeared from gallery 21. It is a clear case of theft and what is even more intriguing is that the stolen coins have been replaced with bronze and silver replicas! It smacks of a neatly executed plan where the involvement of 'insiders' is far too evident.
It is not the first time that the museum has discovered such loss of its valuable possessions. In December 2007, two Gupta era statues were stolen from the airport just before these were being flown to Paris. It is obvious that a gang of thieves took full advantage of the lax security arrangements.
The museum authorities have admitted that some insiders are responsible for the loss of the artefacts. However, people would like to know what they have done so far with such 'insiders' to prevent the pilferage. It is really surprising to learn that they do not even know the exact number of artefacts stolen so far. And they have not maintained an inventory worth the name since 1982! It only shows that the burglary in 1991 and disappearance of statues from the airport in 2007 were not enough to make them realise that the highly damaging thefts had to be stopped.
The museum set up in 1913 has quite a rich collection of things that take us back to the individuals and episodes of the past and help us develop a sense of history. Some of the artefacts have very high sale value in the international market, which definitely calls for much better surveillance, security and preservation arrangements at the museum. The museum authorities have claimed that they do not have the manpower needed to run the organisation. Even if there is truth in it, nothing can alter the fact that they have failed to protect our national assets. It is not clear why the much needed staff could not be recruited, when the museum was not functioning smoothly. To complain about their own limitations, or to blame the insiders, after we have lost so many valuable articles, really sounds like a belated and feeble response to an important matter. The plain and simple truth is that the museum officials and employees have failed to discharge their duties.
The government has to look into the matter and take corrective steps before more artefacts vanish into thin air. The National Museum is too important a place to be left to a bunch of incompetent and unreliable people. Meanwhile, the public would like to see energetic efforts to recover the lost antiques.
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