MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES
Scholarships to Young Workers in Different Cultural Fields The scheme seeks to provide opportunities to talented young persons for advanced training in both Hindustani and Karnatak music (instrumental and vocal). Scholarships in classical western music, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri and Odissi dances, drama, painting, sculpture are awarded under the scheme every year. It is proposed to make the same number of awards in 1972-73 also.
Programmes of Assistance for Cultural Activities
Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme To provide promising young children with facilities to develop their talent in various forms of fine arts such as music, dance, painting, and sculpture, a scheme for the award of 125 scholarships a year has been initiated. During the Plan period, it is proposed to award such scholarships to 250 children.
Financial Assistance to Eminent Writers, Artists, etc., in
Indigent Circumstances All grants under the scheme which was revised in 1961, are given on a sharing basis; the State and Central Governments bear the expenditure in the ratio of 1:2. Expenditure on grantees from Union Territories is home entirely by the Central Government. It has not been possible to consider fresh cases.
A new scheme for the grant of maintenance allowance to the indigent artists, writers, etc., of regional and national fame has been approved under the 4th Plan. It is proposed to give grants to about 25 persons every year under this new scheme, the Central Government, meeting full cost of the allowance. The proposal is now under review.
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Institutions and Organisations Engaged in Literary and Cultural
Activities, and Special Cultural Studies During 1971-72, a few institutions like the Institute of Traditional Cultures, Madras, Asiatic Society, Calcutta, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, etc., were assisted.
The Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, started functioning in November, 1967. The main aim of the Institute is to award degrees for Madhyama, Shastri, Acharya, etc. As a first step in the development of this Institute, the Shastri Course with an annual intake of 30 students has been started from the academic year 1971-72. The annual intake to the Acharya course has been increased from 13 to 15. Some additional administrative and teaching staff has also been approved for the Institute. Proposals for the further development of the Institute are under consideration.
The School of Buddhist Philosophy, Leh was established in 1959 as an autonomous organisation. The entire expenditure on the School is borne by the Government of India.
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok is an institution engaged in research on Buddhist Tibetanism. The Institute is being aided-both by the Sikkim Darbar and the Government of India, both of whom have decided to increase the amount of maintenance grant to the Institute from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. one lakh annually. The Government of India have also decided to institute two Research Fellowships in Tibetanism each of the value of Rs. 400 per annum.
The Dairakul-Malrif-il-Osmania, Hyderabad, is being financially assisted by the Government of India to the extent of Rs. 50,000 per annum in its programme of publication of manuscripts in Arabic and Persian.
During 1971-72 Cultural Institutions and Organisations like the Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture, Calcutta; P.E.N., All India Centre, Bombay; Jallianwala Bagh, National Memorial Trust, Amritsar were given financial assistance. A proposal for the integrated development of Nava-Nalanda Mahavihara and
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Huen-Tsang Memorial Hall is under consideration in consultation with the Government of Bihar.
Museums and Art Galleries
Reorganisation and Development of Museums Financial assistance is extended to private museums in the country for minor building extensions and repairs, purchase of display and laboratory equipment, bringing out of publications and training of museum staff on the basis of the applications from the private museums received through the State Government, etc., concerned, of the recommendations of the State Governments, and the funds available for the purpose. The scheme also provides for financial assistance to a few scholars for research in the fields of museology.
Museum Camp The Ninth All-India Museum Camp was held from 23rd October, 1971 to 1st November, 1971 at Hyderabad to discuss the subject of "Museums in the service of the Community". Museologists and Museum workers from all over the country attended the camp.
National Museum, New Delhi Set up in 1959, the National Museum, New Delhi is one of the premier museums in the country. It continued to expand its acquisitions to fill up some of the gaps in its collection and received gifts of valuable art objects from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and from Mrs. Alice and Mr. Nasli Heeramaneck of New York. The Museum participated in an international exposition entitled "Man and his World" held at Montreal, Canada. It also held exhibitions at the Museum and helped other museums in the country in holding exhibitions. It conducted a training course in Museology for the benefit of trainees from the Museums from different parts of the country. The educational programme of the museum included inter alia holding of Seminars on the various subjects in the field of Museology. The
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Central Conservation Laboratory of the Museum, besides giving preservation treatment to the art objects in the collections of the National Museum, treated art objects received from other institutions in the country. It also inspected the wall painting in the Sikkim monasteries at the request of the Political Officer, Sikkim and prepared a report for their preservation.
Under the joint auspices of the National Museum and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome, an International Conference was held in February, 1972 to discuss the problems regarding the preservation and restoration of cultural property.
Indian Museum, Calcutta During the year, the Indian Museum, one of the largest and oldest museums in the country, brought out three publications and a set of picture postcards and the "Indian Museum" Bulletin. The educational programme of the Museum included preparation of plaster casts of different sculptures and coins and preparation of models and miniature dioramas for the Mobile Exhibition. The Photography Unit of the Museum was active in preparing and supplying photographs and slides for use in the Museum to make it a centre for visual education and also for the use of outsiders. The Unit also enriched the photo- library. The Museum Library acquired 377 books and received 201 publications under the exchange programme. The Museum organised two temporary exhibitions with the themes of "Art of Bengal through the Ages" and "Tagore's Paintings". A new block of Pre-history Gallery with the help of the post-Harappan material and the Indian metal age antiquities has been built up and thrown open to the public. The mobile archaeological exhibition in the Museo-bus was enriched by the addition of two dioramas and was taken round the various cultural and educational institutions especially in the rural areas. To popularise its children's programmes, special lectures to students were arranged and educational films were shown to them.
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Victoria Memorial Hall The Victoria Memorial Hall accommodates exhibits mainly connected with the British period of Indian History. In its National Leaders' Gallery efforts are being made to depict the story of the struggle for Independence. During the period, the Museum acquired the Achkan and lock of hair of Tantiya Tope, some Old Calcutta photoprints, old periodicals and coins of the East India Company and Victorian periods. The Museum also brought out a number of useful publications.
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi Inaugurated on the 14th November 1964, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library has been attracting a large number of visitors from all over the country. The number exceeded 6 lakhs during the period. Mention may be made of the following important activities of the Organisation during the period under review
The Library which is designed as a Research Library on modern Indian History with special reference to the national movement continued to acquire, more books. On November 30, 1971 the Library had 42,261 volumes on its shelves including 2,441 volumes of old newspapers important additions were also made to the Nehruana collection. The cataloguing and classification work also continued to make progress.
Important collections of private papers and correspondence acquired for the manuscript section include papers of Dr. B. C. Roy, Shri B. G. Kher, Nawab of Chhattari, Shri D. G. Tendulkar, Shri N. R. Sarkar and the correspondence of Shri A.C.N. Nambiar with Jawaharlal Nehru. The project of microfiliming old Indian newspapers continued to make rapid progress. A project for microfiliming the manuscripts and correspondence of poet Rabindra Nath Tagore has been taken up in co-operation with the Rabindra Sadan, Santiniketan. The first instalment of the manuscripts has been microfilmed. It is proposed to microfilm the entire collection. In addition Jawaharlal Nehru's correspondence with Shri Mahavir Tyagi and letters addressed to Shrimati Vijayalakshmi Pandit were microfilmed by the
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Reprography Unit, which continued to render assistance to scholars by providing them with copies of documents of interest.
The Library of Photographs was further enriched with the addition of photographs. The Library had 38450 photographs by the end of November, 1971. The Photo-Library continued to be drawn upon by scholars, publishers, mass media organisations etc. During the period, 113 interviews were recorded by the Oral History Department bringing the total number of recordings to 967 by 370 persons. Six lectures were arranged during the period including one on "Concept of Class struggle and Peasant Movement in India."
Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad Among the various educational and other cultural activities undertaken by the Museum and its Library, during the period, mention may be made of arranging three temporary exhibitions, visits by students to the Museum from various educational institutions and providing free guided tours to them and other visitors six times a day, carrying out of improvements in the display arrangements in the various galleries and the reorganisation of the galleries on a scientific basis, preservation treatment to various art objects of the Museum etc.
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi The Gallery, as a depositary of all contemporary art, continues to grow in popularity. During the period under review, the Museum purchased 17 works of art including one sculpture and three works of modern international artists. It also purchased one sculpture and three paintings of Ram Kinkar. It arranged six exhibitions in its premises. 30 art objects were accessioned out of which eight were received as gifts including five crystal pieces of the Stuben Glass Company. Two art objects were presented to the Museum by the Brazilian Ambassador in India.
Indian War Memorial Museum, Delhi The Indian War Memorial Museum situated in the Red Fort, Delhi, exhibits arms, ammunitions and equipment used in the
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First World War. It continued to attract a large number of visitors during the year.
Gandhi Darshan Samiti, New Delhi The Gandhi Darshan Samiti Exhibition was reopened on the 2nd October, 1970 under the management of the Gandhi Darshan Samiti. The Samiti has been registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. The exhibition consists of five main theme pavilions with 12,000 exhibits depicting the entire life, works and philosophy of the Father of the Nation. The present staff strength of the Gandhi Darshan is 100 persons.
The exhibition has been very popular among the public and the visitors, more than 10,000 school children, several delegations and foreign dignataries.
Besides, celebrating the Gandhi Jayanti on the 2nd October, 1971, the Samiti organised the Nehru Bal Mela on the occasion of the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Lal Nehru's birth day on the 14th November, 1971. Film shows, demonstration of Khadi and Village Industries and other events were organised during the period.
Committees on Museums The Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mod Chandra to examine the work of the Museums in the country, make recommendations towards providing the basis for a national policy and programme for the development of museums, and suggesting measures for promoting the educational role of museums as instruments of mass education submitted its report in July 1971. The recommendations of the Committee are under consideration.
The report submitted by the Committee set up by the Government under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. S. Randhawa to review the working (if the three Central Museums and the Museums under the Archaeological Survey of India has been examined. The recommendations which do not involve any financial or administrative implications have been implemented or are being implemented. The other recommendations which
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have financial administrative implications of considerable magnitude and involve consultation with the other Ministries etc., are being processed.
National Archives of India The major activities of the Department during the year under report relate to research and reference services, accession and management of records, compilation of reference media, National Register of Private Records, reprography and conservation of records, training in archives, keeping, publications and the Indian Historical Records Commission.
650 scholars including 64 from abroad availed themselves of the research facilities afforded by the Department.
Due to paucity of storage space, the Department, accessioned only such records as were helpful in filling up gaps in the various series in its custody. These included files of the Railway Board, the erstwhile Foreign and Political Department, Legislative Department and Department of Agriculture. Authenticated copies of about 400 Bills passed by the Legislatures of Union Territories were also accessioned.
Under its programme of acquiring papers of national importance, the Department acquisitioned valuable collections of the private papers of Dr. Sampurananand, Pandit Banarsi Das Chaturvedi and Prof. Nirmal Kumar Bose. It also acquired from the District Court, Meerut, records relating to the Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929-33).
The microfilm collection of the Department was further enriched by the addition of 57 rolls covering the, private papers of Secretaries of States for India and other British officials. Four strips of microfilm covering portions of some rare books and manuscripts in the State Library of the German Democratic Republic were also added.
The programme of appraising non-current records, sorting out those worthy of permanent retention and drawing up schedules of unimportant papers with a view to their eventual destruction registered good progress during the year under report.
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The Department continued its regular programme of imparting training in Archives Keeping 16 trainees including one from Burma joined the new session which started in October 1971. Short-term training in the preservation and photo duplication of records was imparted to the persons nominated by the State; Archives of Kerala and the Maulana Azad Library of the Aligarh Muslim University.
The Department pursued with vigour the programme of compiling reference media to the records in its custody with a view to facilitating research among its holdings. The reference media prepared during the Period under review included a Descriptive List of Secret Department (1783), inventory of files of Central Board of Revenue (1927-44) and check-list of files of Home Department (1876- 1945), proceedings of the Military Department (1907-10) and proceedings of the Foreign and Political Department (1865-73) and all the original Persian letters' received (1837-50). Check-Lists were also prepared of about 2500 documents belonging to the collection of papers of Dadabhai Naoroji, Padma Kant Malaviya and Pandit Banarsi Das Chaturvedi. Subject-lists were prepared of over 4000 important documents. Similar lists were also prepared of the microfilm rolls covering the documents relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the private Papers of Ripon, Morley, Chatham and Durand. Besides this about 246 Mughal seals and 877 Survey of India maps were catalogued.
The work of compiling the, National Register of Private Records made considerable progress during the year underreport.
Volume XX and XXI of the Fort William India House Correspondence were released for sale. The Printing of Volume VIII of the series neared completion and Volumes X and XI made satisfactory progress. Volume XVI and XVIII were made ready for the Press, and the scrutiny of the editorial work of Vol. XIX was taken in hand Vol. XI. (1794- 95) of the Calendar of Persian correspondence and Vol. III of the Descriptive List of Mutiny Papers in the National Archives of India, Bhopal came
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out of the press during the period Vol. XIX covering 1970 of the Indian Archives was published and Vol. XX No. 1 (January-June 1971) was sent to the press.
The 41st Session of the Indian Historical Records Commission was held at Trivandrum on 9-11 October, '1971. Important Resolutions regarding compilation of reference media, weeding of records, Research Fellowship Schemes of State Archives, compilation of classified lists of documents by State Archives, Administration and management of State Archives Offices etc. were passed at the session. Meetings of the National Committee of Archives and representatives of the Regional Records Survey Committees coordinating in the compilation of National Register of private records were also held at Trivandrum after the session of the Commission.