Kashmir: Saleem Beg Honoured with Atiqa Bano Memorial Award at Youm-e-Meeras

SRINAGAR: The same spirit that defined Atiqa Bano’s life resonated once again within the walls of Meeras Mahal as Mohammad Saleem Beg, Convener of INTACH J&K Chapter, was conferred with the Atiqa Bano Memorial Award during the annual Youm-e-Meeras celebration. Organised by Majlis Nisa in collaboration with Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK), the event brought together writers, educators, cultural activists, and legislators to honour the legacy of the late Atiqa Bano and to reaffirm the continuing importance of heritage conservation in Kashmir.

Beg, delivering the Atiqa Bano Memorial Lecture, spoke on the enduring role of cultural institutions in shaping Kashmir’s sense of identity. “Atiqa Bano’s work is a reminder that heritage is not only about preservation—it is about continuity and consciousness,” he said, noting how Meeras Mahal has emerged as “a living classroom of Kashmir’s cultural history.”

Born into the respected Masoodi family of Sopore and granddaughter of Islamic scholar Ghulam Muhammad Hanfi Sopori Masoodi, Atiqa Bano dedicated her life to education and social reform. After retiring from the Department of Education, she turned her full attention to collecting and conserving the objects, stories, and traditions that defined Kashmir’s everyday life. Her dream took shape as Meeras Mahal, first opened in 2002 and re-established in a new building in November 2023.

Today, the museum houses over 7,000 artefacts, including traditional musical instruments such as the Tumbaknaer, Rabab, Sarang, Sitar, and Swarnai; exquisite examples of Kashmiri craftsmanship in woodwork, wickerwork, and jewellery, such as Halqaband and Daek Tik; and rare manuscripts in Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit. From embroidered pherans to brass samovars, every display speaks to Kashmir’s rich history and its artistry, rooted in both faith and aesthetics.

At the Youm-e-Meeras event, the ceremony was presided over by Irshad Rasool Kar, MLA Sopore, as Chief Guest, with Irfan Hafiz Lone, MLA Wagoora; Dr GN Itoo, Director General Education Jammu and Kashmir; Muhammad Amin Bhat, President of Adbee Markaz Kamraz; and Muhammad Rafiq Masoodi, Advisor to Majlis Nisa, as Guests of Honour.

Anchored by Aisha Masoodi, the proceedings were guided by Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, Advisor to Majlis Nisa, who kept the focus on Atiqa Bano’s vision of education through culture. The award citation described Saleem Beg as “a custodian of memory and conscience-keeper of Kashmir’s built heritage.”

The dignitaries praised Meeras Mahal’s growing role as a centre for heritage learning and research. The question-and-answer session with the audience, especially local students, reflected the renewed interest in heritage studies across north Kashmir.

Eight years after Atiqa Bano’s passing, Meeras Mahal continues to embody her philosophy — that cultural preservation is a moral act, a way to strengthen identity and belonging. Her journey, from an educationist to the founder of Kashmir’s most significant private museum, continues to inspire scholars, students, and cultural workers.

In Sopore’s heart, among artefacts and manuscripts she once lovingly arranged, Atiqa Bano’s spirit endures, urging us not merely to remember, but to build upon her mission and expand its light.