KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6
A museum is normally a venue or a place which looks after and exhibits, permanently or temporarily, a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance. It preserves and promotes our cultural heritage and acts as a good source of entertainment and information for researchers.
A museum is regarded as a custodian of society's heritage, and therefore, it does research on a particular object before it decides to collect, preserve and exhibit it.
The objects of historical and cultural importance are stored scientifically in a well-managed and secured area in order to keep safe from humidity, light effects, natural hazards, theft, fire and vandalism. Museums should not be involved in any kind of debatable issues about artifacts, hence, need to responsibly gather accurate information about them, which proves their authenticity, identification and composition.
Museums are key contributors to the well-being and sustainable development of our communities because of their activities like educational programmes, exhibitions, community outreach and research. In order to achieve sustainable development goals, museums can support climate action and foster inclusivity, tackle social isolation and improve mental health. The International Committee of Museums has set "Museums, Sustainability and Well-being" as the theme for International Museum Day 2023 in support of a set of goals from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
Thus museums are envisaged as an existing global infrastructure, which facilitate collective action via networks, raising public awareness and supporting research and knowledge creation to enhance sustainability and climate change education. They can empower communities to bring about change to ensure a habitable planet, social justice and equitable economic exchanges for the long term.
It would also be worthwhile to recall the UNESCO resolution of 2015, which clearly mentions the role of museums in sustainable development through the preservation of heritage and cultural diversity, transmission of knowledge, increase in social cohesion, development of educational policy, creative industries and the tourism economy.
Of the many museums of Nepal is the International Mountain Museum (IMM), the largest mountain museum of its kind in the world. It was established by the Nepal Mountaineering Association in Pokhara with the objective to record, document and chronicle the past and present developments in mountaineering activities in the world and to preserve the saga of mountaineering history. Since its inception on February 5, 2004, IMM has succeeded in attracting visitors averaging thousands a day, and has become a must-see tourism site of Pokhara.
With mountain tourism being an important component of our tourism economy, the museum should be developed sustainably to achieve the SDGs. The UN has called on all sectors of society for their involvement in order to achieve the SDGs, and in this regard, the role of museums has become very important. Preservation of the natural and cultural heritage, cultural participation, sustainable usage of natural resources, gathering of large numbers of people and cross sectoral partnership are some of the reasons that highlight the IMM plays a big role in motivating mountain people for their active participation in the preservation of the mountain environment, natural and cultural heritage role of museums for the achievement of the SDGs.
Its collaborative approach with national and international organisations for the successful execution of programmes focused on our mountain issues necessitates a united effort, which ultimately works in favour of the SDGs. In addition, IMM advocates the proper management of natural resources for the betterment of the whole of human society without making any compromises on the needs of our coming generations.
The visitors feel mentally refreshed and excited with the excellent management of the landscape and splendid view of the Annapurna range from IMM, which covers 100 ropanis of land.
From the perspective of museums, participation of the public and museums in global issues, usage of their collected unique resources, partnership and collaboration to move ahead for a common agenda are important for achieving the SDGs. IMM has been involved in creating awareness about the global problem of climate change and its effect on the mountain environment. As a result, an annual programme like the Mountain Festival, organised to mark International Mountain Day, is witnessing an increase in the number of visitors, which means there is growing awareness about the mountain environment among the local people.
The visitors to the IMM consider the exhibits depicting the cultural and natural cultural heritage of the mountain region as a collection good resources, information that can be used to understand the past, present and future of the mountain region.
Conclusively in our context, this year's theme of International Museum Day creates an opportunity for the management of IMM to stay more focused on the development of the museum with a concrete program and strategy for the sustainable development of mountain tourism through the conservation of the mountain environment.
IMM should focus on the continuation of the annual programme to increase awareness about the sustainable usage of natural resources with more and active participation of the local people and students.
The timely update of the exhibited artifacts, appropriate and more scientific usage of the available resources, sharing of information about the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity with a call for social engagement are some of the activities on which IMM can concentrate on to contribute to the SDGs.
Sindurakar is the Chief Administrative Officer of Nepal Mountaineering Association. IMM plays a big role in motivating mountain people for their active participation in the preservation of the mountain environment, natural and cultural heritage.
