KABUL, Could 17 (Xinhua) — The Nationwide Museum of Afghanistan stands as a residing sanctuary the place the millennia-old historical past and id of the Afghan persons are intricately woven collectively. It serves as a steadfast custodian, preserving and transmitting this valuable heritage from one technology to the following.
Because the world marks Worldwide Museum Day on Monday, Afghanistan’s premier cultural establishment, positioned on the western fringe of Kabul, continues to attract guests regardless of many years of battle, political upheaval and uncertainty.
At present, this invaluable establishment homes greater than 60,000 historic artifacts, embodying a wealthy tapestry of eras from the Kushan Empire and the intertwined Greek-Buddhist heritage to the Bronze Age, the mighty Achaemenid Empire, the Hellenistic world, the Greco-Bactrian interval, and Islamic dynasties.
With priceless artifacts, equivalent to illuminated manuscripts adorned with gold and lapis lazuli, and historic paperwork, the museum provides a profound narrative of the nation’s wealthy civilizations, fascinating each locals and worldwide guests.
In line with Yahya Muhibzada, director of the museum’s restoration division, the museum welcomed 21,000 guests over the previous 12 months, together with roughly 6,750 overseas nationals. “Luckily, the variety of guests final 12 months elevated in comparison with earlier years,” he stated.
Muhibzada notes that the establishment runs common consciousness applications targeted on the safety, preservation, safeguarding and upkeep of cultural, historic and creative artifacts.
For a lot of Afghans, a go to to the museum is greater than tourism; it’s a deeply private reconnection with their roots. Tameem Qarizada, a younger customer barely over 20 years outdated, spent a whole day exploring the halls. He walked by means of the exhibition galleries, observing historic and creative treasures with meticulous consideration and enthusiastically learning the informative panels to deepen his understanding of his ancestors’ legacy.
Qarizada stated visiting the Nationwide Museum has lengthy been considered one of his cherished aspirations. He additionally inspired his friends to go to, hoping they too might forge a profound reference to their forefathers and achieve richer information in regards to the historical past and superb previous of their nation.
Mayel Aqa Karimi, overseer of the numismatics part within the museum, has devoted greater than 20 years to the safety, safeguarding and preservation of those artifacts.
“The worth and safety of historic artifacts and cultural heritage is tantamount to the nationwide id of a rustic,” Karimi instructed Xinhua. “If we shield our historic property, the truth is, we’re defending our nationwide id and the historical past of our ancestors.”
The museum’s skilled and specialised group works tirelessly to revive and revive items which have survived many years of battle, political instability and cultural neglect. “Our conservators shield and restore artifacts which have been broken,” Karimi added.
Afghan authorities are intensifying efforts to guard the nation’s irreplaceable cultural legacy from looting and illicit trafficking. Over the previous 12 months, Afghan police efficiently prevented the smuggling of 142 priceless historic and cultural artifacts overseas.
Official information confirmed that greater than 5,290 cultural relics have been transferred to the museum over the previous 5 years, whereas over 3,430 artifacts have undergone restoration and restore.
In a world the place cultural heritage is more and more weak, the Nationwide Museum of Afghanistan stands not solely as a repository of the previous however as a beacon of resilience, id and hope, reminding each Afghans and the worldwide group of the enduring energy of shared human historical past.
