A museum in Kargil has given refuge to memories

At the India-Pakistan border, in the district of Kargil lies the village of Hunderman. It is forever adrift with memories of its residents who have had an agonizing history. A Museum of Memory has been set up here in the town, dedicated to the border families, their history of displacement, and how the wars and conflicts have affected them over the years.

One of the northernmost villages of India, Hunderman is sitting on the bank of the Drass River. The village was under Pakistan’s control after 1947, until the war in 1965. Then after the war in 1972, it came under Indian control. Interestingly, records suggest that the village was under no one’s control from 1965 to 1971.
Nationals became refugees, refugees became nationals, marking a strange chain of events in the lives of the villagers here.

The Museum of Memories has been set up to showcase the past, so that the future generations do not forget the past. The man behind this project is one Ilyas Ansari, and the project is aptly called Unlock Hunderman - Museum of Memories. It is located in one of the restored homes of an abandoned building. You will be able to see all kinds of exhibits that tell the tale of the people of Hunderman.

Items such as photographs, old passports, army helmets, perfumes, traditional kitchen items, indoor games, old landmines, and even letters from family members can be seen here in the museum.
One of the most interesting items here at the museum is a letter written by Ansari’s uncle, Ghulam Hussein, to his family. He was visiting Skardu when the village came under Indian control during the war in 1971, and he could never return home.