One day, when I was in middle school, I went to a museum as part of the school trip. Next day, as an assignment, I had to write an essay on it. I am not sure what I wrote, but I am quite sure it was nothing extraordinary. It was probably about the bus ride, a few things we saw, what I ate, what my friends said, and how grateful I was to have this opportunity.

Over the next few years, I got a chance to visit a few more museums around the country, including the ones in Lahore and Taxila. Going to these places, I felt that a museum was a place that displayed some precious artefacts, celebrated the glory of the past and recognised the contribution of important people. And that was it. Some museums that I went to were in better state than others, but they all had the same central theme of celebration. If I had to write another essay after every visit, it would have been probably just a longer........

© The Express Tribune