Share this story!            

Lahore Museum refuses to exhibit ‘Fasting Buddha’ in Japan

By Shoaib Ahmed

LAHORE: The Lahore Museum has rejected an offer to exhibit several items from the museum, including the priceless ‘Fasting Buddha’ and the ‘Miracle of Saraswatti’, in an exhibition on Gandhara art in Japan.

Sources told Daily Times that a Japanese cultural delegation, including the Japanese director of press, information and culture, recently met with Lahore Museum Director Dr Liaquat Niazi at the museum.

They said the meeting had been arranged by the Federal Ministry of Culture to discuss the possibilities of exhibiting items from the Lahore Museum in the Japanese exhibition.

According to sources, Dr Niazi asked the delegation what ‘benefits’ he would receive for sending the items to the exhibition. They quoted him as saying the objects would be sent only if they were accompanied with two personnel from the Lahore Museum, and if the delegation got several books from the museum translated into Japanese.

Sources said the delegation was ‘discouraged’ by this response and quoted the delegation as saying they were not a donor agency and were not interested in spending money on the Lahore Museum.

According to sources, by rejecting the Japanese delegation’s offer, the Lahore Museum has cost the country billions of rupees in foreign exchange.
They said that during the nine-month long travelling exhibition, many Japanese would get the opportunity to see the famous ‘Fasting Buddha’.
They said this would give the Japanese incentive to visit Pakistan to view other similar artefacts, thus earning the country significant foreign exchange through tourism.

Sources added that the exhibition would also give Pakistan an opportunity to prove false Indian claims that the Gandhara civilisation hailed from India. In the past, such exhibitions would have one stall for South Asia, which would contain both Indian and Pakistani exhibits. Sources said that according to the Pakistani ambassador to Japan, this time Pakistan would have its own stall.

When Daily Times attempted to contact Dr Niazi, he said he was driving and could not speak; he then switched off his cellular phone. When contacted at home, Dr Niazi again refused to comment.

Speaking to Daily Times, Secretary Information and Culture Kamran Lashari said the ‘safety conditions’ for the objects to be sent to the Japanese exhibition were not adequate. He added that the board of governors of the Lahore Museum also did not feel comfortable with the security being provided for the objects.

Mr Lashari said it had earlier been agreed in principal that given certain safety requirements, the objects would be sent to Japan. He added that he did not yet know whether or not the objects would be sent to the Japanese exhibition.

Home | National

Share this story!