MUSEUMS, ARCHAEOLOGY AND ARCHIVES
A. DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUMS India is rich in her cultural heritage. Museums have been the centres of culture, education and recreation in the country in the past. In present-day India this role of the museums has added significance; by evoking people's interest and supplying varied information, museums today function richly as the cultural centres of the community. The Union Government maintain and develop a few museums of national importance, besides extending financial assistance to State and other museums for their improvement and re-organisation. Incentive for research in museology by way of grants and creation of research fellowships and holding museum camps are the other forms of activities in the field. In order to examine and report on the problems of training and employment prospects of museum personnel and teaching of history of art in Indian universities, a Working Group with the Secretary (Science) as chairman, was set up in early 1964. The other members of the Group were :
(i) Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, Chairman, All India Handicrafts Board
(ii) Miss Gera Sarabhai, Ahmedabad
(iii) Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Morley, Director, National Museum, New Delhi
2. The Committee submitted their report in June, 1964. The various recommendations made in the report are being considered in consultation with the University Grants Commission and the Director, National Museum, New Delhi.
3. Re-organisation and Development of Museums.-The scheme of Re- organisation and Development of Museums is a scheme continuing from the second Plan period. For the third Plan period, a programme limit of Rs. 55 lakh was fixed. Financial assistance under the scheme is given on the basis of the priorities laid down by the Central Advisory Board of Museums for certain approved items like minor building exten- sions, equipment, publication, museum libraries, and training of museum staff. Against the estimated expenditure of Rs. 8,25,000 on this scheme during the current financial year the expenditure so far has been Rs. 76,000.
4. Central Advisory Board of Museums.-Central Advisory Board of Museums was set up in 1956 to advise We Government on matters relating to the re-organisation and development of. museums in the country and to promote closer contacts between different museums and closer association of Government and the public with the activities of different museums in India.
4.1. Eighth Annual Meeting of the Board.-This was held at Patna on December 11. 1964. The recommendations made by the Board for 113
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the development of museums in the country from time to time were brought to the notice of all the State Governments and museums in India for implementation.
5. National Museum, New Delhi.-A subordinate office of the Minis- try, the National Museum, New Delhi continued its programme of various activities during the year, an account of which is given in the paragraphs that follow.
5.1. Exhibition-Besides the Nehru Memorial Museum at Teen Murti, the temporary exhibitions organised in the Changing Exhibitions Gallery and in the protohistoric gallery of the National Museum were :
(i) An exhibition of Arts of India-Rajasthani and Pahari-compos- ed of decorative arts and arts of daily use and miniature paintings;
(ii) A photographic exhibition entitled "Monuments of India", to mark Unesco's International Campaign for the Preservation of Monu- ments; and
(iii) An exhibition of new archaeological discoveries in Bihar.
5.1.1. The National Museum participated in the following exhibitions and lent them certain exhibits :
(i) Exhibition in honour of the East-West Music Conference 1964 organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
(ii) Exhibition of Buddhist Art and Afro-Asian Numismatic Exhibi- tion, Nepal
(iii) Exhibition held in Lytton centre, Hollywood
(iv) Exhibition of Oriental Art, organised to synchronise with the World Olympic Meet at Tokyo
(v) Exhibition of stone sculptures and terracottas, which formed part of an Indian art exhibition held in Japan last year, and currently being shown at important art centres in the United States of America.
5.1.2. Re-organisation of the exhibition, study room and storage for manuscripts and of the jewellery galleries is in progress.
5.1.3. A special room has been installed in the temporary exhibitions gallery, reconstituting a room from the Rangmahal, Chamba, consisting of mural paintings and a painted wood ceiling.
5.1.4. A selection of tribal objects from the collection of the late Verrier Elwin is being presented in one of the Anthropological galleries.
5.2. Conservation Laboratory.-Work on the mounting of the murals removed from the Rangmahal, Chamba, was continued in the Conservation Laboratory. Besides caring for the National Museum's collections, of which an important manuscript, the Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri, is being treated, the Conservation Laboratory also helped several other institutions, such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, the State Department of Archaeology, Hyderabad, and the Department of Archaeology, Government of Nepal. Analysis of the pigments and the plaster of the mural of Kulu was undertaken and a report prepared preparatory to considering its removal.
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5.3. Plaster Casts.-2646 plaster casts, a reduced scale model of the Ashoka Lion Capital and another of the Mathura Buddha and nine moulds were prepared in the Modelling Section.
5.4. Educational Service.-The Museum Educational Service provided its regular scheduled services, such as four daily guided tours of the museum galleries, special guided tours for school children by appointment; special lectures in the Auditorium, illustrated talks on museum subjects by Indian scholars and visiting foreign specialists; illustrated lectures on Indian Art in Delhi schools, university and special institutions by Museum officers; and documentary film show. The educational service organised this year its first special exhibition outside the Museum as part of its extension programme. An exhibition of protohistoric sites in photographs and plaster casts was organised in the Delhi University Library Hall from November 11-14, 1964.
5.5. Publications.-Hindi versions of "A Brief Guide to the National Museum, New Delhi", of the educational brochures (a) "Harappan Art" and (b) "Indian Sculptures Though the Ages", are being printed and will be issued in January.
5.6. Library.-Nearly five thousand books were added to the Library bringing the total number of books accessioned to 14,000. Special mention may be made of the collection of 3,530 books belonging to the late Verrier Elwin which the Library has acquired, 1,500 slides were added to the slide collection, bringing the total number of slides accessioned to 3,350.
5.7. Acquisition of Objects.-During the year under review art objects worth Rs. 2,78,466.87 paise were purchased by the National Museum. These include 47 objects of late Dr. Guha, 1,084, of late Mr. Elwin and 23 other items, all of anthropological interest; an inscribed bronze image from Chamba another of Buddha from Nepal and wood carvings from Kerala.
5.7.1. The Art Purchase Committee for the three Central Museums viz. the National Museum, New Delhi, the Indian Museum, Calcutta and the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad was constituted during the year 1963- 64. The Committee was reconstituted for another year. This Committee for the year 1964-65 consists of 9 members including Vice President as the Chairman and the directors of the three Central Museums, among others.
5.7.2. The additional art objects purchased for the National Museum during 1964-65 included one manuscript 'Suwar-ul-Kawakib' from Syed Masud Hasan Rizavi, Lucknow; Gold coins from the National Defence Fund, Anthropological specimens of Shri S. K. Goswami, Anthropological specimens from the Superintendent, Government of India, N.E.F.A. (Tirap Division), Shillong.
5.7.3. Apart from other purchases, Dr. Elwin's collection was also acquired for the National Museum at the total cost of Rs. 3,01,508.
5.7.4. 380 Palaeoliths and Microliths were acquired through explorations by the Museum staff. Sixty-one prehistoric tools on an exchange basis from Cambridge University, London; 21 silver coins as treasure
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trove find from Trichanapali and a big hoard of coins from the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India were added to the collection of the National Museum.
5.7.5. Forty-eight gifts from friends of the Museum including weapons and other anthropological specimen from Nagaland, a fine terracotta grave votive offering from Surat District and an interesting terracotta seal to be attributed to the 9th cent. A.D., from Kashmir, representing preaching Buddha were also received in the National Museum. Besides the above, an ancient amphora from Cyprus along with a coin, a manuscript and five large architectural pieces were also received as gifts.
6. Establishment of the National Science Museum in Delhi.-At a meeting held on July 31, 1962, the Committee of the Cabinet agreed that the National Science Museum should be located in Delhi. The availability of site for the location of the museum is yet to be cleared and the actual work on the project may perhaps start only towards the close of the third Plan. A provision of Rs. 1 crore is suggested for the fourth Plan.
7. Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort, Delhi.-The Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort, Delhi, which exhibits arms, ammunition and equipment used in the First World War along with the contemporary regimental colours etc. continued to attract large number of visitors- which were over 10 lakh during the year.
8. Indian Museum, Calcutta.-Indian Museum has functioned effectively as one of the biggest centres of education in India for the last century and a half. This institution is the first of its kind established in India and is governed by the Indian Museum Act, 1910 as amended from time to time. At present the Museum has been divided into six sections namely, Archaeological, Art, Anthropological, Geological, Industrial (Economic Botany), and Zoological. All these sections except Art Section are administered by various surveys under the Government of India. With a view to improving the present set-up it has since been decided that the sections of the Museum be integrated with the Indian Museum under the direct control of the Board of Trustees. To start with, the two sections viz. Anthropological and Archaeological are being integrated immediately.
8.1. The institution is the biggest of its kind and is visited by persons from all parts of India and abroad totalling a minimum of about 12 lakh each year. Visitors are taken round the galleries by qualified Guide-Lecturers. Organised parties of students and scholars are given special guidance by appointment. The Indian Museum celebrated `Asutosh Centenary' in 1964.
9. Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta.-The Victoria Memorial Hall is managed by a Board of Trustees. It accommodates exhibits mainly connected with the British period of Indian History. The exhibits continued to interest a great number of visitors. Grant-in-aid of Rs. 2,09,500 has been released to Victoria Memorial Hall so far.
10. Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.-The work of construction of the new building of Salar Jung Museum is in progress. The original estimate of Rs. 38.82 lakh approved by the Salar Jung Museum Board
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has been revised to Rs. 42.20 lakh in consultation with the Central Public Works Department.
10.1. For the maintenance of the Salar Jung Museum, a grant of Rs. 3,00,000 has been released up to 31st December, 1964. For the new building of the Museum a grant of Rs. 5,00,000 has also been released up to 30th December, 1964. Further grants for the current financial year will be released according to the actual requirements of the Museum before the close of the financial year.
11. Development of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.-The Committee appointed to consider the integrated development of the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara and the Huen Tsang Memorial Hall (at present under cons- truction at Nalanda) has recommended the integrated development of the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara and the Huen Tsang Memorial Hall as one Centre of Research and Learning in Buddhistic studies under a common Board of Management. The recommendations of the Committee in this behalf are under consideration of the Union Government and the State Government of Bihar.
12. National Gallery of Modern Art.-The National Gallery of Modern Art is located in Jaipur House. It started with a nucleus collection of about 160 paintings mostly by Amrita Sher Gil in the year 1953. Since then efforts have been made to enrich the collection and to make arrangements for their suitable display and storage. In accordance with the scope of the Gallery, the exhibits represent pictorial and sculptural art from 1857. The collection consists of art objects including metal images from South India, Gujarat and Nepal, hand printed textiles and embroidery, Rajput and Kangra paintings, paintings of the Bengal school represented by those of Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Gagendranath Tagore, Abdur Rehman Chugtai, Kshitindranath Majumdar and others, almost the entire work of Amrita Sher Gil, important works of Rabindranath Tagore and of several other artists. Besides contemporary paintings, there are also modern sculptures from all over India and also specimens of graphic art like wood cuts, lino cuts, etching aquatints etc.
12.1. Artist's Week.-With a view to making available all the collections of renowned artists at one time to the public and to satisfy the wishes of their patrons, it has been decided that all the paintings of every outstanding artist in National Gallery of Modem Art should be displayed for one week. Under this arrangement, 94 paintings of Amrita Sher Gil were displayed at the National Gallery of Modern Art from 21st to 31st December, 1964.
12.2. Art Purchase Committee.-There is an Art Purchase Committee for the National Gallery of Modern Art which was set up in 1961.This Committee advises the Government of India in regard to the purchase of art objects for the Gallery. The Committee meets about 4 times a year at different places in the country. During the year 1964 two such meetings were held at New Delhi and Madras and as a result 48 art objects were purchased at a total cost of Rs. 45,000. The 3-year term of the Committee that expired on 31-3-1964 was further extended up to 30-9-1964. It has been decided to reconstitute the committee.
13. Fellowships in Museology.-On the recommendations of the Central Advisory Board of Museums a scheme for the award of fellow- ships in Museology has been instituted to promote research work, in
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Museums. To begin with 3 fellowships of the value of each Rs. 250 p.m. have, been awarded to carry, on research in approved subject of museology.
14. National Art Treasures Fund.-It has since been decided to wind up the fund and utilise the amount of Rs. 6,48,532 collected so far for the purchase of art objects for the Indian Museum, Calcutta, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad and National Museum, New Delhi.
15. Buddha Jayanti Park.-At the instance of the late Prime Minister and the then Vice-President, it was decided by the Union Government to lay a Park at the Kushak View, Ridge, Delhi. The work allotted to the Central Public Works Department was divided into two phases. First phase that included the development of land at an estimated cost of Rs. 9,17,800 has been completed. The second phase included development of an additional area of 22 acres at an estimated cost of Rs. 17,21,600. Major portion of the work was completed and the rest was suspended due to the National Emergency in October, 1962. The proposal for laying a Japanese style Garden has been dropped and an administrative approval for Rs. 35,640 to develop the two acres of land kept for the purpose has been issued in 1964-65.
B. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA 16. The Archaeological Survey of India continued to give attention to all its major activities, viz. conservation of the monuments of national importance and the gardens attached to them, exploration and excavation of sites of archaeological importance, development of archaeological museums and publications of informative and research value.
17. Exploration and Excavation.-Eighteen sites are proposed to be excavated during the year, of which the work at Kalibangan, (Rajas- than), Ahichchhatra and Gadharona, (Uttar Pradesh), Burzahom (Jammu and Kashmir), Besnagar (Madhya Pradesh), Gudiyam and Kaveripattinam (Madras), Dharnikotta (Andhra Pradesh) will be a continuation of last year's work. The site at Kalibangan has continued to yield evidence of great importance to the understanding of our culture and civilization of a bygone age. Up to November 1964, 1,876 villages were surveyed as part of a country-wide exploration under the Five- Year Plan. The recent discovery of Harappan sites in Saharanpur District and. other sites in Patiala and, Amribar revealing the further extent of Harappan culture is noteworthy.
18. Up-keep and Maintenance of Monuments.-Seventeen monuments in Goa have been chosen for declaration as monuments of national importance. Of these, large-scale repair works, including chemical treatment (comprising extensive rebuilding and preservation of paintings) were undertaken to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi so as to bring them in a good state of preservation. Gardening operations were also undertaken to beautify the monuments. Major repair works were also undertaken to the Walls of the Sindhudurg fort at Malwan, and to tomb of Zaimul Abdin's mother at Srinagar. The Mahaparinirvana Stupa at Kushinagar, which bad collapsed, is being reconstructed. Special repairs to Rani Lakshmi Bai's Palace at Jhansi and monuments at Hampi are in progress.
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19. Archaeological Museums.-Two new museum buildings have been constructed, respectively at Konarak and Amravati, and these will be opened to the public after arrangement of the exhibits therein. The hill-top Museum at Nagarjunakonda, constructed at a cost of about 8 lakh of rupees, is being got ready. The work received a setback due to national calamities in that area recently and as such, the opening of the museum is likely to take some more time. The Indian Museum, Calcutta, which was badly affected in many ways due to the Emergency, is fast regaining its fulness. A new bronze gallery has been opened at the museum.
20. Exhibition.-An exhibition of Ancient Indian Art symbolizing our art and cultural tradition was arranged in Japan from November 1963, to March 1964, which earned encomiums from the public and art- lovers alike. At the request of a few museums in the United States of America, the exhibition is being currently held in the U.S.A., the Archaeological Survey of India also participated in the Exhibition of Arts of Oriental countries arranged by the same Tokyo Organisation for two weeks from 20th October, 1964, to synchronize with the Olympic Games. An exquisite sculpture of Buddha in preaching attitude from the Archaeological Museums at Sarnath known for its remarkable serenity and grandeur was lent for this exhibition.