Give ‘em back!

Who Keeps The Historic Relics - Coloniser Or Colonised?

Srusti Mishra
AIS Gurugram 46, Alumna

The world today stands to be a testament of yesterday, the yesterdays where we have fought wars, found peace, invented things, and reached peaks of achievement. Museums, too, are a testament to this past. Built on the foundation of academic research and a dedication to preserve history, they open reminiscing doors to us; and yet, one can’t help but wonder if this is all they are?
These archives of history behind clear glass usually have a darker story on the other side. The artefacts they house, that are praised as a sign of victory, have tell-tale signs of bloodshed caused by colonialism. The history here traces back to invasions and wars where the one subjugating the other often takes all per their heart’s desire.
With such practices filling up a major chunk of our history pages, a severe erasure of roots and cultural importance attached to any artefact is witnessed. The stolen Maori remains, Korean antiques stolen in Japanese invasion, Native American figures confiscated by the USA are just some  examples. With Britain’s history of invading almost 90% of the world’s nations, it comes as no surprise that its museums are ladened with stolen collectibles, creating multiple segments of conflicting ownership. The British Museum itself, home to around 8 million objects, is the world’s largest receiver of stolen artefacts, with many of them accompanied with long demands for restitution. Case in point – Elgin marbles from Greece, Hoa Hakananai’a from Easter Island, the Benin bronzes from Nigeria etc. The same goes for the ethnographic collections on display in the museums in Europe, USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand, which explicitly or implicitly are related to colonial history.
It is a given that colonialism brought on a paradigm shift in the way colonised countries and their artefacts were viewed. But now, as the world progresses towards peace, it begs the ethical question of what is to be done with these artefacts. As a solution, some of such museums and institutions are taking the path of reform, whether it is on their own will or due to political pressure. The colonial heritage is being reshaped by being renovation, changing museo-graphical approaches, or by simply returning the objects to where they were looted from. Like how French president Macron announced that the country would be returning the taken cultural objects to African museums, Germany returned stolen artefacts to Namibia, Tanzania, and Cameroon, Scotland signed an agreement with India to repatriate seven stolen items, Netherlands returned almost 1500 articles to the Philippines etc.
Though not all colonising countries in the world have jumped the bandwagon, such small steps are still a giant leap forward in the journey of decolonisation. Yes, it cannot be defied that these artefacts might suffer from a clash of identities – from being a part of their native land once to now being dipped in the culture of the colonised – but this wrong once committed in history must be rectified at all costs. For with the world remembering the damage once inflicted, the demands of such returns are only going to get louder hereon.
Museums have the power of crafting national identities and what is considered knowledge. They act as both educational hubs as well as conservation centres. And with such great power comes great responsibility, of the museum as well as of the once-colonising nation. Repatriation and decolonisation of artefacts are just a few ways in which lost cultures could regain access to their true identities as well as receive the sincere apology they deserve from their subjugators. Thus, agree or not, it really is time we relearn not to glorify the wounds of our past, but rather gain insight from the echoing symbols of cultures, isn’t it now?

Nurturing scientists

Innovation and invention are the driving force behind a nation’s progress, and Amity makes every possible effort to help children hone their scientific temperament so that they can lead from the front and make India a superpower. For example, under the aegis of ACSF (Amity Children’s Science Foundation), many programmes oriented towards scientific innovation and skill development are being held, Vasudha and Mathamity being the key ones.
The Space Design Competition is another ACSF programme where Amitians design futuristic space settlements, an amazing feat at such an early age. ACSF will soon launch Amity Hackathon to promote technological research, and also short term courses in Artificial Intelligence, data science, and quantum computing. It also facilitates participation of Amitians in competitions and science fairs like Maker Mela, Children Innovation Festival, ATL Tinkerpreneur, ATL Marathon, Ideathon, Smart India Hackathon, Odyssey of Mind, ATL Space Challenge etc. Amity Yuva Vichar Manch is another forum that equips students with the skills to discuss and find solutions for various scientific and technical issues of national importance.
Time to say Hip-Hip Hurray!
Meanwhile, ACSF recently facilitated another record-making event for Amitians. A total of 138 students from seven branches of Amity Group of Schools participated in the world’s largest Global Climate Clock Assembly on Earth Day. The event has been recorded in Asia Book of Records, for the highest number of climate clocks assembled and displayed across the country.

Spirit of summer

This week’s prompt box is all about celebrating the spirit of summer, and what a refreshing and interesting bouquet of entries we received for the same! Looking at these creative and imaginative illustrations, I was transported to my own childhood, and I realised that nothing much has changed when it comes to our love for this fun-filled season. Summer continues to be synonymous with eating tons of mangoes, drinking home-made drinks like lemonade and aam panna, and lazing around aimlessly in our homes on sun-soaked afternoons. Most importantly, the month of summer meant a long vacation time, and a chance to visit grandparents in our ancestral villages. During my childhood, we did not have the luxury of a refrigerator or an air-conditioner, but this did not faze us from making the most of the freedom we got during summer holidays. We drank water from earthen pots, slept on the roof under the stars, invented games, chatted incessantly, and made every minute count.
Summer vacation is, indeed, the time to have fun and relax, but today, there are many children who are chained to either their television or social media. Even when they are on a holiday with their family, they are more interested in what’s happening in the virtual world of Instagram than the beautiful world around them. I believe that summer vacation is the perfect opportunity to bond with our families and friends; every moment spent with them creates a memory that lasts a lifetime. So, if you are someone who is planning to spend the vacation scrolling on your phone, it is time to reinvent your summer!