The Dard community, one of Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest tribes, gets its own museum in Gurez Valley

Shinon Meeras, a centre to highlight the Dard-Shina tribes was thrown open at the Gurez Valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Shinon Meeras, a centre to highlight the Dard-Shina tribes that were once recorded in the chronicles of ancient Greeks and Romans for expanding their rule into Afghanistan and Tibet, was thrown open at the Gurez Valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday.

The first such cultural centre dedicated to the 38,000-strong Dard community, which speaks the rapidly fading Shina language, has been curated and developed by the Indian Army and the Lieutenant-Governor’s administration.

“The centre is a unique tribute to preserve and promote the glorious artistic heritage of the Dard-Shin tribal community, and to provide glimpses of its rich culture to the world,” L-G Manoj Sinha said.

Gurez, which once bore the brunt of the India-Pakistan conflict, and reported frequent cross-border shelling, especially during the Kargil War in 1999, has emerged as a top tourist destination in recent years. 

“India’s first museum for Dardis traces the journey of Shina culture, language, and the Gurezi way of life. It acknowledges the immense contribution of the Dard-Shin community in nation-building,” Mr. Sinha said.

He said the Shinon Meeras will become the centre of attraction for travellers visiting this “best off-beat destination of India”.

Various sections of the museum will provide an opportunity to travellers and historians to explore tangible and intangible art and a vibrant space for the community to tell its stories and showcase its traditions.