Kurnool: Kurnool Archaeological Museum that is maintained by the Archaeological Society of India holds a priceless trove of Rayalaseema history.
While the 2009 flash floods devastated it, the apathy of the government after bifurcation could run it to the ground.
The museum has not reopened for seven years. Historians, research scholars, travellers and those interested in getting a glimpse into the rich and varied culture and hoary past of Kurnool are left with no other source.
Situated on the banks of the Handri river, museum presents a pathetic picture as most of artefacts are destroyed. The ruined relics of the past were given chemical treatment but the charm and glory was lost.
The presence of one technical assistant and almost no staff members reflects the low priority of the government.
KAM has about 900 plus objects which were recovered and chemically treated after the flash floods that damaged the treasure beyond repair.
Though the chemical treatment was over, all these objects of history are not yet ready for public exhibition as the KAM is not ready.
Mr B. Manohar Naidu, the lone technical assistant, said there were no recruitments in the museum. Prior to bifurcation, they had staff deputed from Qutub Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad. After bifurcation, they have left for Telangana state.
“The problem now is display cabinets. We have all the artefacts ready with treatment. But do not have any display cabinets. Unless new staff comes in, opening it up to public exhibition is not possible in the immediate future,” he said.
KAM is also facing paucity of funds. Whatever funds it gets, comes only from Archaeological Survey of India (AS). Earlier ASI used to allocate funds based on recommendations in 13th Finance Commission. But that has stopped now.
KAM houses prehistoric objects, megalithic pottery, pre-historic tools, hand accessories, beads, coins, Chinese porcelain, armours and paintings, Mr Naidu said.
Asked as to how many objects they lost due to flash floods in 2009, Mr Naidu said that they have not lost any objects.
However, the register of objects was washed away in floods, along with it the invaluable artefacts which could not be accounted for, said a historian.
Housing some of the rare pieces of sculpture, KAM needs government support to make it a vibrant place of cultural repository, said historian Matheen Khan.
He said that KAM had a rare Holy Quran but it was lost in the floods. As Kurnool was ruled by Muslim rulers, many artefacts depicting the culture of Muslims was also washed away in the devastating floods, he said.
Old timers in Kurnool recollect that paintings belonging to the 18th century were lost. Not only this, the glass showcases containing prehistoric stone tools, coins of Ikshvaka, Moghal, Sathavahana dynasties and sculptures of Chalukya period were 'must see' items in KAM. But the ravages of time have taken them away, they quipped.
Why was KAM priceless? Because it housed artefacts such as broken sculptures from the temples in the vicinity such as Sangameswaram, Alampur and Srisailam. Weapons used by the local chieftains are preserved in the museum. That says it all.
