Page 45 - Mann Ki Baat English(MAY-2023)

opportunity to regular visitors of of society, annual ‘Playtime at
National Museum the museum to find something National Museum’, internship
new every time when they visit. to Indian and foreign students
A Centre of Heritage and Education It is a matter of great pride during summer and winter
that during last few years due vacations, in-service training
to the sincere and constant programmes of professionals
efforts made by Prime Minister from other museums, volunteer
Modi hundreds of our artefacts guide programme for visitors
country which is world-renowned including a large number of (free guided tour of 90 minutes),
for its over 2,10,000 objects of art sculptures which were illegally conservation of art objects
and archaeology representing smuggled out of the country and similar related activities.
cultural heritage of each and have been retrieved and some of The museum has introduced
every part of the country and them have been displayed in the digital walls giving details of
also from some of the countries National Museum also. the significant objects and on
abroad. The Indian objects tell National Museum, a the occasion of 200 years of
the story of 8,000 years of Indian subordinate office of the discovery of Ajanta caves, a
art and craftsmanship through Ministry of Culture, Government Virtual Experiential Museum
its collection of sculptures, of India, allows Indian visitors (gallery) of Ajanta (VEMA) was
archaeological objects, bronze, to feel a sense of pride in their created in 2018 for immersive
terracotta and wood, a large ancient culture and identity experience of the visitors.
collection of miniature paintings and enables foreign visitors to The new innovative ideas
Dr. B.R. Mani and manuscripts, coins, appreciate India's culture and its at par with the technological
Director General inscriptions, arms and armour, values. It also organizes special developments and implemented
National Museum, New Delhi jewellery, textiles, costumes exhibitions from Indian and in the museums are definitely
and anthropological objects. foreign institutions and works as going to create much
Antiquities from Central Asia the nodal agency for sending more interest of the visitors,
India in recent years has and pre-Columbian artefacts exhibitions abroad. The museum particularly, the younger
witnessed a rise of museum are two non-Indian collections is in the process of digitization of generation to get closer to the
culture which is a welcome in the museum. The objects form its objects, marking objects for heritage and will also increase
initiative in understanding and Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilization RFID tags, making full efforts to the foot-fall of the visitors. The
enjoying the rich cultural heritage including those excavated by the function the tactile experience youth may also get attracted
of our country. Previously, Archaeological Survey of India for differently abled persons, to find ways for employment.
museums were largely seen at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro opening of art gateways at The museums also provide a
as places for scholars and are prestigious collection which metro stations in Delhi, lecture valuable educational resource
researchers to enrich the besides others attract large series on important subjects by for children and adults alike and
academic knowledge by study number of visitors from India and eminent scholars, conferences thus the transformational shift in
involved in documenting, abroad. and symposiums, various our perspectives of our heritage
interpreting and publishing The museum continuously educational programmes for is well reflected in our approach
the classified works on display. evolves its galleries and presents school going children of various to preserve and promote it.
However, under the leadership new collection to visitors. However, age groups and specially for
of Prime Minister Narendra some of the key galleries and those from weaker sections
Modi, there has been a growing their collection are always on
interest in museums among display. In order to have a healthy
the general public and students competition among the curators
which is a positive consequence and also to show new material
of the increasing awareness of to the visitors, it was decided
India’s rich history, culture and in 2017 to initiate a series of in-
art, the growing importance of house exhibitions titled ‘From
tourism and the Government’s Our Reserve…’ in which a small
efforts to promote museums number of significant objects
as educational and cultural which generally lie unnoticed
institutions. in the reserve collection of the
National Museum, New Delhi is museum are being displayed for
one such leading institution of the about a month or so which gives

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