Workshop held on Conservation of Archival Materials
ALIGARH : The Department of Museology, Aligarh Muslim University organized a two-day workshop on “Preservation and Conservation of Archival Materials” including manuscripts and old documents.
The resource person, Dr. Nooruddin Ansari, a Preservation Chemist and conservation expert at Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna, emphasized the importance of safeguarding fragile documents through effective conservation practices for future generations.
He shared his expertise in conservation and highlighted the best practices, techniques, and the latest innovations in paper conservation.
The chief guest of the valedictory session, Padamshree Prof. Hakeem Syed Zillur Rahman, former Treasurer, AMU and Director, Ibn Sina Academy stressed the need for deputing skilled conservationists at libraries and museums who are well versed in modern techniques of paper conservation.
He lamented the ignorance of common people of India towards museums compared to European countries and urged the students of Museology to work of creating awareness among people about the importance of museums and articles of archival significance.
The guest of honour, Prof. Nafees Ahmad Khan, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences underscored the significance of preserving paper-based heritage materials such as manuscripts, rare books and artworks, which are essential components of history and culture.
Another guest of honour, Mr. S.M. Athar, Joint Registrar, AMU appreciated the efforts made by the Department of Museology in creating awareness among students about culture and history.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and participants, Prof. Abduraheem K., Chairman Department of Museology said that the objective of the workshop was to provide participants with practical skills and hands-on experience, focusing the significance of heritage materials that are vulnerable to deterioration due to factors such as ageing, environmental conditions, pests and mishandling.
Zainab Iftikhar, a research scholar from the Department of Museology, who has been appointed as Scientist C at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India , was felicitated on this occasion, along with Dr. Nooruddin Ansari.
A prize distribution ceremony was also held on this occasion to felicitate the winners of the essay writing competition, organized by the Department of Museology on International Museum Day (May 18, 2024), who wrote their essays on “Museums for Education and Research” and won various prizes for their write ups among 50 participants from different schools of Aligarh.
In the senior category (XI and XII), the first prize was given to Sarah Athar (Class XII), Senior Secondary School (Girls), AMU, while the second prize went to Lavi Yadav (Class XII), Heritage International School, and the third prize to Hamid Abbas (Class XII), M.U. College.
In the junior category(IX and X), Zaid Abdur Rahman (Class IX), Blossom School got the first prize, Kulsum Fatima Ali (Class X), Delhi Public School, Civil Lines, won the second prize and the third prize went to Vaishnavi Pathak (Class X), Wisdom Public School.
Under the university category, the first and second prizes went the research scholars Farha Asif and Nawazish Raza, while the third prize went to an M.Sc. student Adib Rizvi from the Dept of Museology.
A portrait conserved by the Department of Museology of M. Hameedullah Khan, Ruler of Bhopal was presented to Prof. Hakeem Syed Zillur Rahman.
Dr. Ameeza Zarrin, workshop coordinator, conducted the programme.