In May this year, a heritage museum was opened in Harchin Village, Laspur Valley in Upper Chitral with the support of Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) and Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP). The museum was designed and curated by an Islamabad based NGO, Laajverd.
The museum consists of the collection of historical artefacts collected by Amirullah Yaftali, a renowned polo player and former captain of Laspur polo team. Yaftali’s collection consists of over a hundred items of historical significance including weaponry, polo gear, pottery, tools, musical instruments and devices, apparel and household items. The collection has been collected over the decades by Yatfali with items dating back to the 11th century.
The new museum has been designed and curated by professional architect and curator Zahra Hussain and architect Abdullah Aslam, founder and core team member of Laajverd respectively. A multidisciplinary organisation that undertakes projects on architecture, sustainable development and knowledge sharing.
The ‘punjetan’ columns hold a strong spiritual significance for the resident Islamaili community. The museum also has a central skylight, following the tradition of a central source of natural light
Regarding the museum, Hussain commented, “It is very important that local communities initiate their own museums where they get a chance to tell their stories and narrate their own cultural landscapes.”
The museum has been designed as an octagon around five columns in a ‘punjetan’ architectural pattern found in traditional homes in the area. The museum has focused on keeping to the traditional architecture of the area which is suited to the climate and topography of the region.
The ‘punjetan’ columns hold a strong spiritual significance for the resident Islamaili community. The museum also has a central skylight, following the tradition of a central source of natural light. All efforts have been kept to align the museum with the traditional artisanry and architecture of the area. The door of the museum has been designed to showcase locally woven textile and carved wood dating back to the sixteenth century.
The collection was created while working closely with its owner, Amirullah Yaftali. The artefacts have been categorised, named and tagged with instructions and stories by Yaftali and the assistance of locals.
The writer is a freelance writer and journalist. She tweets @SaysHumaira and can be contacted on [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, September 25th 2018.