Aligarh :
The Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences was founded by Padma Shri Hakim Syed Zillur Rehman in the year 2000. It is well known for its vast library and the museum of medieval science and medicine. Few people know, however, that it also houses a museum that showcases “Muslim culture, steeped in Urdu tehzeeb”.
Rehman says this museum “chronicles Muslim culture through objects”. He says the attempt is to preserve, before these cultural artefacts are lost entirely.
Why would a centre dedicated to medicine and science preserve a “chogha” (an earlier form of the sherwani)? Where else, in a centre like this one, would you expect to see a three-metre dupatta studded with diamonds and laced with gold and silver? Step into this museum to see crockery that sat on the dining tables of Muslim households in times gone by.
“Times are changing. Sixty-seven years after independence, many families now have a second generation that is acquiring a modern education. They will then go out in search of work and money, and a time will come when they will feel nostalgia and return in search of their roots and their traditions. People want to know of their virasat,” he said, adding, “That is when some of my efforts to conserve our heritage through these things will matter”.
Some of the objects on display were part of his own inheritance. Some were gifted by people who saw that he had the wherewithal to preserve priceless items for posterity.
An NGO “Heritage Restore” has now started work on documenting the objects in Rehman’s collection. So far, over 4,500 objects are recorded as stored in this repository.
Heritage Restore president Azfar Ahmad said, “People think Muslim culture is about maqbara and madarsa. But look here – you find gramophones, harmoniums, costumes for weddings and trays for biryanis, all uniquely designed.”
Some of these objects, in some years, will be so alien that few will understand without explanation what a paandaan (a box for preserving items used to make paan), ugaldaan (spittoon for the pan user), haath ka pankha (a hand fan), batua (wallet), chogha (a form of the sherwani), gharara (a dress item) look like.”
Rehman’s collection also has a fruit tray from the dining table of Begum Sultan Jahan of Bhopal, her brooch made of precious stones, with her name inscribed in gold, a chogha that belonged to the Qazi Shamsuddin of Rewari, dating back to 1830, a paandaan weighing over 5 kg and a betel stand.
There are original royal orders of Mughal emperors that have come to Rehman from his father, and a paper weight made of shells that was used by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
There are also silver-lined razais (quilts), dinner sets with plates having a vacuum so that hot water poured in them keeps the curry warm till the last bite.
Rahman has earlier served as professor and chairman, department of Ilmul Advia at the Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University. After a 40-year stint, he retired as dean, faculty of Unani medicine.
He is the author of 45 books and several papers on different aspects of Unani. He boasts of being the possessor of the largest collection of books on Unani medicine. He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2006 for his contribution to the field of Unani medicine.
The museum grew out of his penchant for all things unique, some of which were also priceless — coins from ancient times, stamps, pens and other artefacts.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home > City> Agra / by Eram Agha, TNN / November 12th, 2014
