NOVEMBER 18, 2012

MY VISIT TO A MUSEUM
The museum is a place where you can see a collection of rare things and things of historical
interest. It is a store house of all wonderful and valuable things.

The Lahore Central Museum is situated near the Town Hall. In front of it runs the Grand
Trunk Road, and opposite to it stands the University hall with its lofty clock-tower. The
museum is housed in a massive building which consists of many big halls. It is managed by
an officer called the Curator.

A visit to the museum is an education in itself, and for this reason it is visited by hundreds of
people every day. Travelers from foreign countries also make it a point to visit it because it
enables them to form an idea of the arts and crafts of Pakistan. Women and children also go
to the museum in large numbers every day. They perhaps do this out of idle curiosity.

When we enter the first hall, we find many pictures hung on its walls. These pictures are of
old kings, saints and statesmen. Some of these are drawn purely from the imagination. All of
them, however, provide a feast of colours for the eye. If we were to take a student of painting
with us he would tell us many interesting things about these pictures and paintings.

The museum also gives us an idea of the handicrafts of the province. At one place we find a
collection of the articles of everyday use, while at another place we find beautiful articles,
which are meant for purposes of Show only. Side by side with lovely hand loom cloth, we
find costly lungis from Mashad and Peshawar. A pair of shoes which costs only Rs.120 is
displayed by the side of another the price of which also runs into three figures.

In this way one finds in this hall the pottery of Multan, the woodwork of Gujranwala, the
shawls of Kashmir the carpets of Karachi, and so on. There is also a large collection of old
daggers, swords, shields, weapons, and ornaments.

A zoological section is also attached to the museum. It comprises collection of stuffed

animals, birds, reptiles and fishes. Perhaps the most interesting collection is that of statues
of Buddha and Buddhisatvas. Some of them are the finest specimens of sculpture, and were
dug up from under mounds of earth at Taxila or the Swat Valley.

To mention all the collections in the museum is a very difficult task. But it may be mentioned
in passing that the museum contains a model house, a beautiful model of a steam-engine, a
miniature Persian wheel and many other beautiful things.

People say that they feel dull if they read too much. If however, one wants to get information
without feeling bored, one ought to visit a museum. There one reads history "without tears",
learns to take interest in one's surroundings, and begins to appreciate the value of cottage
as well as large-scale industries of one's own country.

In the end, it must be said that the museum is well worth a visit. A day spent in it is not a day
wasted, but a day utilized in the best way possible.