A Kashmiri couple, Dr Khurshid and Dr Lubna Guru are planning to launch a Kashmir museum in the United States.
The couple intends to share their treasured collection of books and art with the millions of annual visitors to Niagara Falls. The duo aims to highlight the diversity and peaceful traditions of Kashmir.
Kurshid, a surgeon at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Lubna, adolescent and pediatric doctor in Lockport, have spent years collecting over 1,500 books, paintings, prints and other artefacts related to Kashmir, reported the BuffaloNews.
The Kashmiri couple is buying a vacant 97-year-old stone church, located in Niagara Falls, which they plan to convert into their new museum- the Center for Kashmir. They are also purchasing two houses to provide residential space for visiting Kashmiri artists, scholars and other contributors.
Born and raised in Kashmir, Khurshid graduated from medical school in India, where he met his wife.The duo came to the United States for further training and residency in Detroit and then to Buffalo.
Guru acknowledged that the venture is risky, especially at the time when tourism has plummeted due to the coronavirus pandemic. He, however, is confident that visitors will come back quickly enough.