Page 33 - Mann Ki Baat English(MAY-2023)

Indian Museums

Navigating Past, Present and Future

India is a land of rich cultural
When we cherish the
heritage. The highlights of this
memories of history, it helps
heritage lies in the treasures of
the coming generations a lot.
its art, architecture, and classical indispensable for
Sometimes we get new lessons
dance, music, textiles and flora research as they can
in museums... sometimes we
and fauna, food, crafts, and
provide scholars with
get to learn a lot. knowledge systems. Alongside access to sources such
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi being worthy of appreciation, as artefacts, objects, and
(in 'Mann ki Baat' address) this unparalleled kaleidoscopic documents. Museums
variety that one of the oldest are community treasures
civilisations in the world houses, that ensure that the nation’s
mandates preservation and history and culture are not lost
promotion. And what better and continue to educate the
place to accomplish this than younger generations.
museums? There has been a
India is home to over and weaponry give us a peek transformational shift in our
1,000 museums, representing into the social and economic perspectives on our culture
a rich and diverse blend of lives of our ancestors and tell and heritage in the past few
the cultural, religious, and us stories about how our nation, years. From being shadowed by
scientific achievements that our communities, cultures, and the colonial past and mindset,
civilisation has witnessed over schools of thought came to be. India is now awakening to its
"Under the leadership of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, there the years. Established in 1814, Apart from being spaces that own civilisational and cultural
has been a growing interest in the Indian Museum in Kolkata pique visitors’ interest and offer depth under the leadership of
museums among the general was the first public museum in them amusement, museums Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
public and students which
the country. Thereafter, several double up as educational spaces His speeches and addresses,
is a positive consequence that showcase objects and along with the several initiatives
of the increasing awareness museums of varied interests
of India’s rich history, were opened across India that materials of cultural, historical, taken by the Government, are
culture and art, the growing have played an integral role and religious importance. reflective of the commitment
importance of tourisms and in preserving the history of our The experiential learning in that the Prime Minister made
the Government’s efforts society. This history comes in museums facilitates deeper from the ramparts of the Red
to promote museums as different forms — it could be conceptual understanding by Fort in 2022 about ‘taking pride
educational and cultural enhancing students’ sensory in our heritage’.
institutions." through art, culture, science, or
-Dr. B.R. Mani natural objects. Exhibits such as literacy — absorption of Till date, around 240 ancient
Director General, paintings, carvings, documents, information through the senses artefacts have been found,
National Museum sculptures, currencies, tools, such as sight, touch, hearing, artefacts, be it the idol of Maa
and smell. Museums also prove Annapurna stolen from Banaras,
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