Dear Sir/Madam,
The news about the heist at The Christian Art Museum, Goa is utterly
shocking and scandalous, to say the least. It is an assault on an
institution which also happens to be the House of God. More than 72
hours after this unpardonable act, there is as yet no information about
the nature and extent of exact loss of artefacts. Neither is there any
statement and explanation from any committee members on this outrageous
and deplorable incident.
The state administration and most of the media, by and large, too are
puzzlingly silent on this day-light pilferage which needs to be
thoroughly investigated and the culprits brought to books.
Meanwhile, the inexplicable silence on the part of authorities,
especially the esteemed members of the committee, raises too many
misgivings. Was it an incidence of robbery by some outsiders or a
planned heist in connivance with someone/s in the know of things?
Some Questions that need to be raised are:
1. Is the Christian Art Museum being treated as an abandoned child? Why
has the museum management or the committee not given any statement? Why
are they not taking any responsibility?
2. Who are the committee members and what are their credentials to run
or look after a museum of international repute?
3. Where is the museum inventory and layout? What were the exhibits that
went missing or robbed or damaged? Why is the list of heritage artefacts
stolen not declared, disclosed or published by the committee to the public?
4. Are the museum exhibits valued? If yes, by who? Are they insured? If
yes by which agency?
5. Were the stolen heritage pieces belong to the museum or were loaned
or donated and by whom? Where is the contract copy and what did it say?
6. Who was responsible for the museum keys? Who locked and secured the
keys of the museum and the display cabinets?
7. If it is the security agency then why were the keys of this
institution given to the security guard? Is our priceless heritage at
the mercy of migrant guards?
8. What is the name of the security agency used for the museum? Did the
management check their credentials?
9. Have we forgotten that it was Mr. Parikar, member of the BJP and the
then Chief Minister of Goa who gave an annual Grant of Rs. 3,00,000/- to
the Christian Art Museum towards security?
10. Why was there only one guard (aged 55 years) on duty when the Goa
Government has given a grant of rupees three lakhs (Rs 3,00,000/-) a
year for security ?
11. Why was the same guard retained for 7 long years and allowed him to
get familiar with the museum running and functioning?
12. Does the museum have security sensors or CCTV systems? If yes, where
is the footage?
13. Why were strangers allowed to take photographs of the museum
exhibits and for what reason? Why was photography of the exhibits
permitted for personal gains of committee members ? As stated by a
committee member that the photos were taken for the museum brochure,
then why was it required when the second edition of the brochure, was
recently printed, sponsored and released by Calouste Gulbenkien?
14. Since when were private functions allowed in the hallowed precincts
of sacred museums? Please note that even the inaugural function of the
Christian Art museum in 1994 was done in a pandal about 300 meters away
from the museum premises because of security reasons.
15. What is the Governments stand on this crime? Why is it that, there
is no round the clock security at these declared heritage sites? Is our
Government responsible towards taking care of our heritage?
16. Is the security of our elected representatives more important than
that of our priceless heritage?
17. Isn’t this incident utterly shameful? Specially when this Congress
Government accuses BJP of scrapping Good Friday leave but allows this
huge robbery in the house of God in the heart of Old Goa which is a
UNESCO world heritage site?
18. Taking this irresponsible attitude of the govt, is the silver casket
of St Francis Xavier and other priceless heritage artefacts in Goa also
at stake?
Is it not shocking and utterly irresponsible that the state government
has allowed only one police inspector to struggle alone to solve Goa’s
biggest heritage robbery ever. We demand therefore that this crime be
brought to book within the next 24 hours.
At a very personal level, I feel extremely anguished about this hideous
crime since I was the founding curator, administer and fund raiser of
The Christian Art Museum way back in 1992. We, a dedicated team then,
worked tireless to build this invaluable collection and most of which I
have personally identified, negotiated. Restored and collected for the
museum.
I am also a heritage activist and founder of two internationally-famed
museums, Goa Chitra and Goa Chakra. Hence, I feel that the authorities
should take every effort to ensure the security of museums and the
artefacts therein.
In desperate hope of the case being solved in the next 24 hours.
Warm regards,
Victor Hugo Gomes
(Curator & proprietor of
Goa Chitra and Goa Chakra Museum, Benaulim)
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