By Shafeeq Hudawi, Twocircles.net
The Kerala state government will give a facelift to the Arakkal museum in Kannur in a bid to develop it into a destination of tourists and researchers. The decision was taken after a recent visit by Minister for Ports, Museums, Archaeology and Archives Kadannappally Ramachandran along with Kannur district collector Mir Mohammed Ali and officers of departments concerned.
The museum is now functional at Arakkal Kettu, the palace of the former Arakkal Ali Rajas. The Arakkal is the lone Muslim royal family of Kerala. The durbar hall section of the palace was converted into a museum by the Government of Kerala and was opened for public in July, 2005, after a renovation.
Sources associated with the museum told Twocircles that the government will take over half of the museum on a condition that the income will be equally shared between the Arakkal Roya Trust and the State Government.
Protected by the Archaeological and Tourism Department, the museum has a splendid display of numerous artefacts and heirlooms ranging from ancient copies of holy Qur’an to an ancient telescope. Visitors will be charged a nominal fee.
Sources said that the preliminary discussion was over and a meeting of representatives of government and Arakkal Royal Trust would be held soon.
New director for Museum
Aboobacker Amani has been appointed as the director of Research and Development Department of Arakkal Museum. The appointment will help the museum authorities and the royal family revive its glory.
Amani is the Chairman of the Quba Educational Trust and Chief librarian of the Quba Library. The religious scholar holds a Master’s degree and is a graduate from the Jamia al-Maqar and Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya.