Saving Our Antiquities

Students and teachers of Mahasthangarh take part in a rally after the launch of the campaign; Dr. Enamul Haque (inset-centre) at the rally.

Bangladeshi archaeologist and art historian Dr. Enamul Haque (also the founder director general of Bangladesh National Museum) is internationally renowned. His contribution to the establishment and further development of the National Museum is immense. In recognition of his contribution to museology, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata awarded him a D.Lit. (Honoris-causa) degree. On May 21, this year, he officially started an awareness generating campaign to protect the archaeological heritage of Mahasthangarh, in Bogra. Interestingly, the people he targeted to work with are students of SSC (class 9-10) and HSC (11-12).
What's the reason for involving teenagers in this significant project? “It's the moral integrity an individual has at that age which attracts me,” said Dr. Haque. “We, as a nation, have gained notoriety for being corrupt. But I believe that the young minds that I have chosen for the voluntary work haven't been contaminated by corruption and politicisation that pervades the society,” he added.
In 2002, Dr. Haque was invited by the World Bank to give a lecture on “utilising the education system for the preservation of cultural heritage”. The basic premise of his theory was that law enforcement agencies including police, RAB, military, customs and the department of archaeology have not been successful to save our national treasures from being smuggled outside the country. “It's simply not feasible to try to stop all the smugglers at the air or sea ports. If you really want to do something, you have to stop them at the roots.” The proposed method was to utilise students of universities, colleges, schools and madrassas as vigilante or whistleblowers.
“In my speech at World Bank,” he recalls, “I asserted that young minds are intrinsically imaginative and their patriotism is untainted. And these virtues can be used to protect our national heritage. All we need to do is trigger off this vigilante spirit.”
He started to materialise his plans through the inception of a project called, 'Sangskritik Satyagraha', in May this year. The project kicked off in Bogra. Dr. Haque conducted training for students through seminars and symposiums; talked to the teachers, informed and trained them as well. “I hope to groom something like 5000 cultural police. These youngsters believe that the country is their mother and they'll prevent any attempt to steal her ornaments.” The slogan of the project is: “Nijer sampad nijey rokkha koro/ Amulyo ratno shey hok chhoto boro” (protect your treasures, big or small).
“Relics are prone to get stolen. This has particularly happened several times at Mahasthangarh. So, we are holding our first programme, as an experiment, in Mahasthangarh. There are four union councils, each consisting of around 10-12 villages. I have personally visited every school and college over a radius of 70 miles. I talked to the headmasters and principals who have shown interest in the matter. I think I have successfully instilled in their mind a fact that no big shot agencies like UNESCO, UN, RAB or police will come to rescue our treasures from being robbed. I told them that the relics are solely theirs and they are the ones who should be protecting them. We have primarily recruited 180 members. And when 180 people keep an open eye, the smugglers will have a hard time stealing the relics,” said an excited Dr. Haque.
“The number of people involved in the business of smuggling is substantial in Mahasthangarh. It's very important to create awareness to prevent them. The students have taken a vow to protect our heritage by informing the local museum or us if and when they come across incidents of artefacts being stolen in the area. There are specific guidelines for them. I don't want the students to actively confront the crooks; all they need to do is to inform us or the authorities.”
A committee has been formed in Bogra to make the project a success.
Dr. Haque admits that his project will only work as an additional help to the government initiative. “It's more like a pilot project. I will observe what happens for three months and then move the project to Bikrampur, Mainamati, Paharpur -- wherever the nation needs us.”