From Egypt in west to Afghanistan in east and Turkey in north to Pakistan in south, the entire region is badly disturbed for last more than twenty years even if we leave behind the continuing Arab-Israel enmity since 1948. These upheavals are caused by religious bitterness like the Sunnis threatening Shias or forcing the incumbent govts to implement Nizam-e-Mustafa in to to. Thus far these uprisings have been religious or political. However, since the chaos started affecting the rich heritages of West Asia, which has been the cradle of civilization, the people concerned with history, archaeology, heritage, art and museums are feeling highly concerned and anguished.
It all started in 2001 when the Talibani militia in Afghanistan destroyed age-old stone statues, known as Bamiyan Buddha of 6th century AD. When these huge statues did not give in easily, most cruelly they procured tanks and blew them off. We have been told by knowledgeable people that Islam does not contain anything approving of this iconoclasm. Of course some stress that the Prophet himself had broken some statues in Mecca. Since the Bamiyan Buddha statues were not properly cared for, some European countries had offered to make available funds for conservation which annoyed the Taliban and they precipitated their revengeful activity. How history can forget that Buddhism prevailed in Afghanistan as well? Whatever the explanation, Mankind has lost covetable pieces of heritage.
Similar loss was seen in 2002 when Iraq was being bombarded by the Americans to wipe out the Saddam Hussain regime. One of the important setbacks was the desolation of the local national museum. Costly, rather rare artefacts were thrown away on roads making a heyday for the vandals. The museum was so rich in matchless exhibits that the loss was irreparable. Even the super structure of the building suffered huge damages. When the guns became silent, the museum gates were closed to avoid any more theft or vandalism. It is a matter of great relief that after 12 years, the museum with some repairs has been reopened. Saddam Hussain was killed and the American President retired but the losses to the museum cannot be made up.
Of late, some more such instances are coming to notice ever since the notorious ISIS launched its marauding campaigns in Syria and Iraq. Only a couple of days back, news came that the ISIS militants have heavily damaged the world famous museum there at Mosul while trying to maintain their hold on Mosul which came under reprising attacks by the Iraqi govt forces. Additionally we have learnt that ever since the captured oil wells were either taken away from them or burnt, the ISIS is suffering from coffer crunch. So they have started selling out costly artefacts to the European customers against heavy prices. As a matter of fact even the Boko Haram of Nigeria, also facing paucity of funds, has decided to support ISIS for money. In this bloody game of power and money, entire West Asia has been losing fast its rare pieces of heritage which as a matter of fact is a loss to humanity.
It all started in 2001 when the Talibani militia in Afghanistan destroyed age-old stone statues, known as Bamiyan Buddha of 6th century AD. When these huge statues did not give in easily, most cruelly they procured tanks and blew them off. We have been told by knowledgeable people that Islam does not contain anything approving of this iconoclasm. Of course some stress that the Prophet himself had broken some statues in Mecca. Since the Bamiyan Buddha statues were not properly cared for, some European countries had offered to make available funds for conservation which annoyed the Taliban and they precipitated their revengeful activity. How history can forget that Buddhism prevailed in Afghanistan as well? Whatever the explanation, Mankind has lost covetable pieces of heritage.
Similar loss was seen in 2002 when Iraq was being bombarded by the Americans to wipe out the Saddam Hussain regime. One of the important setbacks was the desolation of the local national museum. Costly, rather rare artefacts were thrown away on roads making a heyday for the vandals. The museum was so rich in matchless exhibits that the loss was irreparable. Even the super structure of the building suffered huge damages. When the guns became silent, the museum gates were closed to avoid any more theft or vandalism. It is a matter of great relief that after 12 years, the museum with some repairs has been reopened. Saddam Hussain was killed and the American President retired but the losses to the museum cannot be made up.
Of late, some more such instances are coming to notice ever since the notorious ISIS launched its marauding campaigns in Syria and Iraq. Only a couple of days back, news came that the ISIS militants have heavily damaged the world famous museum there at Mosul while trying to maintain their hold on Mosul which came under reprising attacks by the Iraqi govt forces. Additionally we have learnt that ever since the captured oil wells were either taken away from them or burnt, the ISIS is suffering from coffer crunch. So they have started selling out costly artefacts to the European customers against heavy prices. As a matter of fact even the Boko Haram of Nigeria, also facing paucity of funds, has decided to support ISIS for money. In this bloody game of power and money, entire West Asia has been losing fast its rare pieces of heritage which as a matter of fact is a loss to humanity.
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