CHAPTER V MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES AND THEIR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Government of India set up and have been administering a chain of museums and libraries, each with the distinguishing features. They have also been extending substantial financial assistance to a few others, considered to be of great importance. Besides, they have been following a few schemes relating to their conservation and development. An account of the activities in this field during the year is given in this chapter.
A. MUSEUMS With the objective of preserving the national cultural,heritage, a National Museum is administered and several central museums have continued to receive Government support. These are
(a) National Museum, New Delhi.
(b) Central Museums
(i) National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
(ii) Indian Museum, Calcutta.
(iii) Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad.
(c) Period Museums and Library
(i) Victoria Memorial Hall.
(ii) Nehru Memorial Museum & Library.
(iii)Gandhi Darshan
(iv) Dr. Zakir Husain Memorial Museum.
(v) Indian War Museum.
In addition, the Department has provided financial support to private/university museums.
National Museum, New Delhi. The National Museum, one of the premier museums in the country, continued to develop in all directions, such as acquisition, exhibition, conservation and cultural activities.
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Acquisition Art objects worth Rs. 3.61 lakhs were purchased by the Museum and a large number of objects were received as gifts from various sources. Significant among the gifts are 2 more Sunga Pillars from Amin seized by the C.B.I., a more gold coin of Vindhya Sakti from Shri S. M. Sukla, a more Head of Shiva image of Kushana period from Mrs. Krishna Ribound, 5 sculptures from Mrs. Pupul Jayakar, 4 sculptures from Shri Kejriwal, an image of Kartikeya from Dr. Rai Govind Chandra, 2 remark- able stone sculptures from Shri M. N. Deshpande.
Exhibition The following exhibitions were organised in the Museum:-
(a) Recent finds of the Indus Valley Civilization in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India.
(b) Excavated antiquities from Sonkh in collaboration with the Max Mueller Bhawan.
(c) Reproductions of Masterpieces of Art from the Museums in the German Democratic Republic.
(d) Pre-Historic Art, Handicrafts and Modern Paintings from Mexico.
In addition it organised a photographic exhibition of the World of Lord Buddha and Buddhism in Japan.
Among the new exhibitions in view are the following
(i) Musical instruments from the personal collection of Smt. Sharan Rani Backliwal, which has been offered as a gift to the Museum.
(ii) Woodworks in the collection of National Museum.
(iii) Newly acquired objects.
An exhibition of Indian Miniature Paintings was sent to the U.S.S.R. on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Great October Revolution.
A seminar on `Pre-Kushan art in Mathura' was organised in col- laboration with the Max Mueller Bhawan.
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Educational Programme A series of extension lectures was instituted with the inaugural lecture by Professor Nihar Ranjan Ray on "What is Classical in Indian Art".
Under the Plan Scheme, `propagation of culture among students in schools and colleges' kits were prepared jointly by the National Museum and the University of Delhi and were distributed among teachers who attended refresher courses organised at different places on the appreciation of fine arts.
A regular programme of gallery talks of Sectional/Departmental Heads/experts was also launched. Besides, guided tours, special illustrated lectures, film shows etc. were held in the Museum and many schools and colleges.
The mobile exhibition van mounted with the exhibition "Architects of India's Glory" was circulated to a large number of schools and colleges in Delhi, and also to Allahabad on the eve of the Kumbh Mela.
The modelling section of the Museum continued to prepare replicas of master-pieces of art for sale to visitors as well as to the educational and cultural institutions. A Modeller was sent to Mexico to learn reproduction in fibre glass.
Conservation The conservation laboratory of the Museum continued to advise and assist museums in India in conservation and preservation of art objects. The laboratory is also assisting the National Museum of Afghanistan in preservation of their art objects and setting up of a conservation laboratory in Kabul. A 3-month course on conservation of cultural property is being organised from mid-February to April.
Publication The following publications were brought out during the year :-
(i) A catalogue of special exhibition in honour of A. K. Coomaraswamy.
(ii) Monochrome Picture Post Cards.
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Other activities Collections of the Museum Library and of slides were augmented during the year.
The Musical Instruments Gallery was formally opened by the Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture.
The 9th short term in-Service Training Courses in Museology is being conducted, in which trainees from different parts of India are participating.
A survey of visitor's reactions to the Museum collections, display and service was carried out for study.
Central Museums
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi The National Gallery of Modern Art continued its endeavour to enrich its collections by acquiring outstanding pieces of art from eminent artists and other sources. During the period under report, 187 works of art were added to its collections of which 84 were purchased on payment of a price and 98 were received as gifts. This included a collection of 8 Graphics by well-known Italian artists which was received through the Chairman of the Italian Senate, H.E. Professor Amintore Fanfani.
Under the educational programmes, 5608 students of 84 schools and colleges all over India were provided guided tours of the Gallery. Art appreciation programmes were conducted for the benefit of trainee- teachers of schools/institutions. A new programme `Youngsters Sunday Meet Programme' has been started in which students from, various schools meet in the Gallery on the last Sunday of each month and discuss various issues concerning art education.
An exhibition "Selected Landscapes by J.M.V..Turner and John Constable" mounted on the mobile exhibition Bus of the Gallery was sent to 42 schools and 8 offices and was seen by a large number of students and staff members of various organisations.
An exhibition of French paintings was organised in the National Gallery of Modern Art under the Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme.
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The following important publications were brought out during the year :-
1. Two colour reproductions of Amrita Shergil's paintings.
2. Folder on the National Gallery of Modern Art in English.
3. Catalogue of Modem French Paintings' exhibition.
4. A folder on Picasso's exhibition.
Indian Museum, Calcutta The Indian Museum, Calcutta comprises three sections viz. Art, Archaeology and Anthropology under a Board of Trustees. During the year, three new galleries viz. (i) Chinese-Japanese, (ii) Burmese, (iii) Nepalese and Tibetan Art, were taken up under the developmental scheme of the Plan and are almost ready and will be thrown open to the public soon. The work of re-arrangement and improved display is in progress.
The following publications are expected to be brought out :-
(i) "Second Supplementary Catalogue to Vol. I for Coins of Ancient India".
(ii) A monograph of Bharhut railings, Part-I,
(iii) Publication : During the period two catalogues on Tibetan Tanakas and Bidri objects have been prepared.
503 silver Indian-coins of British period were received from the Calcutta Mint as gift, one Persian Mss. viz. Khiradnama Sikandari by Jami was received from Devabrata Ghosal of Simla St., Calcutta, as gift.
Under the programme of Reorganisation of Galleries, the making of show-cases for terracotta gallery has ben completed. The work of display arrangement is in progress.
Education Services, including Mobile Exhibition
(a) Lectures Lectures round the galleries are conducted by the Guide Lecturers thrice daily. Organised parties of students and dignatories.
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are given special guidance. Classes of students of Calcutta Uni- versity, Presidency College were held regularly on Fridays. Popular Lectures on the subjects covered by this Museum have been arranged.
(b) Mobile Exhibitions The Mobile Exhibition Bus called Museo Bus had undertaken extensive tour throughout the state. About 23 schools, colleges and other institutions were covered. Total number of visitors were more than 3 lacs. Besides the exhibition, educational films were shown to the visitors.
(c)Temporary Exhibitions (i) In collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Indian Museum organised :
an exhibition of African Arts and Crafts from August 18- 25, 1976.
An exhibition of art by the artists of the Indian Museum, containing contemporary sculptures, paintings, photographs and posters was organised for the fist time.
The `Exhibit of the Month'-a rotating exhibition of collections from the six sections of the Indian Museum was successfully continued.
Salarjug Museum, Hyderabad The programmes of the Salarjung Museum, are intended to acquire, document, preserve, exhibit and interpret the objects of ancient and medieval art and culture. Keeping in mind the above aims and objectives, the following works were undertaken from April, 1977 to November 1977.
Preparation of Records More than a hundred Master Ledgers were completed giving detailed account on each and every exhibit in the museum. The written records are supplemented by the photographs pasted in the above registers.
Separate registers for each gallery giving detailed description of each and every object in the galleries have been prepared during the period in question.
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Improvement of galleries A new gallery of `Modern Indian Painting' with florescent lighting arrangement was designed and opened to the public.
Big four column show-cases were prepared to keep the illustrated manuscripts along with the paintings in the Miniature Painting gallery for the view of the public.
Overcrowding of exhibits in the Chinese, Japanese, European bronze galleries as well as the children section was reduced in order to present a better display.
Improvement of Museum surroundings (a) The Museum entrance, was beautified by adding new fixtures and providing better seating arrangements;
(b) A new departmental sales counter was opened at the entrance for the sale of museum publications and re- plicas.
Conservation of Art objects During the period under review 8263 art objects were chemically treated in the, conservative laboratory.
Temporary Exhibitions During the period under review, four temporary exhibitions, viz. (i) `Astronomy, Astrology and Mathematics'; (ii) `Oriental Metal Ware; (iii) `Shadow Puppets'; (iv) `Flora and Fauna' in Art' were arranged in the museum for the general public.
Educational activities (1) A seminar on `Modern Art is more National than International' was arranged in the museum on 19-10-77 which was presided over by Dr. N. Ramesan, IAS, Commissioner of Enquiries and Director of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh and eminent artists like Prof. K.G. Subramanyam, Shri K.K. Hebbar, Shri Jagdish Mittal etc. participated;
(2) On 12-9-1977 Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, Bombay gave a talk on `Art-Nonsense or creative expression ?' in the museum premises which was largely attended by local elite.
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A temporary exhibition on `Oriental Metal-wares' was arranged in the museum which was anaugurated by H.E. Smt. Sharda Mukherjee, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chairman, Salarjung Museum Board on 24- 9-1977 and the same was, kept open for public for about fifteen days. About 135 specimens from China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, India, Persia, Syria and Turkey were displayed in this exhibition.
(3) Under the `Museum Lecture Service', three lectures on Indian Art and Culture were delivered to the students of local High Schools and about 300 students benefited by this.
(4) Under the `Museum School Service' about 200 students from local primary and high schools were invited to visit the museum, and were taken around the galleries after introductory talk.
(5) The `Children's Week' was celebrated from 14- 11-77 to 20-41-77. About 13,300 children visited the museum during this week, free of admission fee. On this occasion, cultural and academic competitions in Essay Debate (in four languages) and drawing were held. The other activities such as school Service Gallery talks, film shows etc. are continued to be undertaken.
Future Plans 1. Preparation of card-index and photographic card- index of all museum objects;
2. Reorganisation of the remaining galleries of the museum on modem scientific lines;
3. Construction of the second phase of the museum building;
4. To bring out various publications such as Research journal, monograph of the Deccani paintings, handbooks on museum collection, Guide book, editing of Urdu and other catalogues etc.
5. To acquire art objects in order to fill up the gaps of the existing collections;
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6. To have a mobile van for sending reproductions & replicas to the nearby places.
Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta Pursuant to the, programme of re-orientation of the Memorial as a Period Museum of Indian History (1700-1900) relevant art-objects have been acquired, the most outstanding among these being 12 oil paintings of the Nawabs of Bengal from Murshid Quli Khan onwards. Two of the, existing galleries viz. Documents Gallery and the Arms & Armours Gallery have been provided with illumination.
A number of popular lectures mostly on museum objects, illus- trative of the main currents of the 18-19th century of Indian history and art and Special Exhibitions have been the high lights of the Memorial's educational programme. The themes, chosen for Special Exhibition, viz. Selected Manuscripts in the collection of the Memorial, Forts & Fortifications in engravings, Glimpses of Maratha history and Transport in India, proved to be highly attractive to students, in particular. Publications which are yet another regular item in the Memorial's programme include, among others, illustrated folder giving essential items of information on the working and the contents of the Memorial. A folio in polychrome of a Daniell acquatint on Calcutta in 1798, a get of coloured picture post cards in the series-Houses of Worship and a portfolio entitled the Nawabs of Bengal with text and profuse illustrations.
Projects for research include collaboration with the University of Calcutta on the unpublished Hyde papers (1775-98) now in the archives of the Memorial.