July 20, 2025: While a few of the sculptures that are scattered throughout the grassy and bushy lawn of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) and in many other locations within the Academy's grounds demonstrate the skill of the hands that carved them from ordinary stones, they also reveal the carelessness of those who were obligated to properly care for and preserve these one-of-a-kind works of art. Anyone on entering the main gate of the Academy can easily witness a spacious lawn, now bushy and grassy, where many statues are placed in a haphazard manner on pedestals.
As one progresses, such priceless works of art can be found in numerous other locations, including the one near the water fountain, some of which have damaged pedestals and name plates. On talking to some experts, it came to fore that these sculptures were collected and dumped by the Academy since 70s and the reputed cultural institution has so far failed to come up with some proper plan or policy for these art works due to which common visitors just look these statues and leave knowing nothing about these precious art works.
A representative of the Academy confirmed that there may be between 30 and 35 statues in the JKAACL, though he claimed that he was unsure of the exact number. A few of the statues were also transferred to Kala Kendra in the past. He went on to say, "The Kala Kendra also has some more such sculptures that were made by different artists during the workshops held there." On the condition of not being named, an insider in the Academy claimed that these statues are well preserved by the JKAACL.
He maintained, adding, "Names of the sculptors who have carved these statues are mentioned on the name plates fixed on the pedestals on which these art works have been placed," and "Chemicals are not used for cleaning these statues because it may affect the color of the stone of which these art works are made of." Additionally, he asserted, they have recorded all of these works of art in their stock registers. According to sources, neither the Academy nor anyone else has paid any attention to the technical care or preservation of these statues. They asserted, "However, at the time of Darbar Move funds were released to paint the pedestal over which these sculptures are placed." Ganesh Sharma, a veteran and well-known sculptor from Jammu, said that he made a sculpture for the Academy in 1987 during a camp, and that it has been there ever since. According to Sharma, "there was a plan for coming up with a Sculptors Garden within the premises of the Academy in 1980, which may have been the first in northern India at that time and the renowned sculptor who started this art in J&K, Vidya Rattan Khajuria was the brain behind it." Sharma also stated that back in those days, the Academy used to hold camps with sculptors, and the works of art that were left over from those camps were placed in the garden. He also said that the last such camp was conducted a year back after 10 years and the statues made during that camp are kept at Kala Kendra.
Sharma also asserted that the white, cream-colored stone used in the sculptures came from Srinagar and Thathri (Doda). “Initially, many statues were not displayed in the garden but it happened only after the sculptors raised a voice for that and some of these art works were also taken to Kala Kendra as there was no sufficient space left for these in the Academy,” he informed adding that at Kala Kendra these statues remained neglected and when the artists who carved them raised a voice, these art works were installed but still name plates were not fixed with many of them.
The seasoned sculptor asserted that the sculptors of these precious statues expect that the bushes and grass surrounding them should be regularly cleared, that the name plates bearing the names of the sculptors should be taken care of, and that the pedestal carrying the statues should also be properly maintained and painted regularly. According to an expert, a statue is extremely durable and long-lasting because it is made of stone. He stated, "The worst thing that could happen to it is that it might be buried under the earth during an earthquake, but it could still be dug out again because many stone idols have been dug up while digging, and such things become historically important."