Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, DD, As part of the Historic Cities Series 2025, a seven-day Photo Exhibition on Jammu as a Historic City commenced today at Kala Kendra, Jammu. The exhibition has been jointly organized by Jammu Edition of Riverine Memory Plural Heritage and Community Narratives and Kala Kendra, Jammu Department of Culture , J&K Govt.
Harvinder Kour, Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, graced the inaugural function as the Chief Guest, while Ansuya Jamwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, was the Special Guest. The presidium included Dr. Javaid Rahi, Secretary Kala Kendra; Dr. Mrinalini Atrey and Kushagra Anand, City Co-Coordinators; S. M. Sahani and Arvind Kotwal of INTACH Jammu.
In her welcome address, Dr. Mrinalini Atrey stated that the event showcases an Archival Photography Exhibition featuring rare archival pictures, heritage temples of Jammu, wooden temples of Ramban, and the intangible heritage of the region.
Dr. Javaid Rahi, Secretary Kala Kendra, informed that the exhibition features around 200 archival photographs with detailed descriptions, displayed across all galleries of Kala Kendra. He added that the exhibition will remain open to the public for the next seven days.
Delivering the presidential address, Ms. Harvinder Kour observed that Jammu and Kashmir possess a rich built heritage spanning thousands of years. She noted that several photographs on display are among the rarest, depicting the oldest visuals of Jammu’s historical landscape.
Ms. Ansuya Jamwal, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the importance of documenting such photographs with detailed context to preserve the historical memory for future generations. She remarked that Jammu’s architectural journey — from stone to wood to modern structures — reflects a continuum of cultural evolution that deserves regular public engagement.
Prominent attendees at the inaugural event included Ms. Sonali Arun Gupta, Additional Secretary, JKAACL; noted author Dr. Lalit Gupta; senior journalist Sunny Dua, Sangeeta Sharma, Deputy Director, Archives, Archaeology & Museums; and Juhi Mohan among others.
The exhibition is supported by Jammu Heritage, Jammu Smart City, Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), DRONAH Foundation, ICOMOS India (Council on Monuments and Sites), Heritopolis, and Altrim Publishers.
The exhibition will continue till October 17, 2025, and is open to art lovers, researchers, and the general public.DD
