MUSEUMS, ARCHAEOLOGY AND
 ARCHIVES

A. DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUMS

Museums have immense potentialities as centres of culture education and recreation for the community inasmuch as they easily evoke people's interest and supply varied information. Besides, they also function as precious repositories of India's rich and varied cultural heritage. The Union Government have, therefore, continued to maintain and develop a few museums of national importance, besides extending financial assistance to State and other museums for their improvement and reorganisation.

2. Re-organisation and Development of Museums:

Under this scheme financial assistance is given to museums for such items as minor building extensions, equipment, publications, training of museums staff, etc., on the basis of priorities laid down by the Central Advisory Board of Museums. The scheme has been included in the fourth five-year Plan and a programme limit of Rs. 125 lakh is proposed. The pattern of assistance, under the scheme has been finalised and the scheme has been circulated to all the States and museums for submission of their requirements.

3. Central Advisory Board of Museums:

The Central Advisory Board of Museums was reconstituted on 28th March, 1966. The Board consists of the representatives of the State Governments and nominees of the Central Government and important museums in the country.

4. Research in Museology:

Under the scheme of reorganisation and development of museums, financial assistance is given to three scholars selected every year for doing research in Museology. Besides a monthly allowance of Rs. 250, a lump sum of Rs. 1,000 per, year as travel grant and Rs. 500 for the purchase of books, equipment, etc., are also given. During the

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year 1966-67, three research fellowships have been offered and one person has been selected for in-service training in Museology.

5. Museum Camp-1966:

The fourth Museum Camp on exhibition, documentation, education, storage, etc." was held at the National Museum, New Delhi from 14th to 25th November, 1966. Delegates from all over the country, including representatives of State Governments and universities, attended it.

6. National Aft Treasures Fund:

An amount of Rs. 7,01,647 is available in this fund. Steps are being taken to see how best this amount can be utilised.

7. National Museum, New Delhi:

A brief account of the activities of the National Museum, a subordinate office of the Ministry, is given below:

8. Acquisition of Art Objects: The Art Purchase Committee for the National Museum, New Delhi, the Indian Museum, Calcutta and the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, met under the chairmanship of the Vice- President, Dr. Zakir Husain, from 20th to 22nd August, 1966 and recommended the purchase of art objects worth more than Rs. 2 lakh for the National Museum. These art objects included an inscribed bronze figure of Vishnu with two attendants; an illustrated Buddhist palmleaf manuscript of Ram Pala Deva's time; a back frame of a Jain image, inlaid with gold and silver, of the 12th century; an illustrated Nepalese scroll and anthropomorphic figure of the copper board culture.

9. Two anthropological specimens of disarticulated and articulated human skeletons (both complete) were purchased and added to the Museum's physical anthropology collection. Moreover the Anthropological Department added to its collection two more specimens- a stuffed Lemur and a mounted skeleton of the Lion-tail Monkey.

10. The Museum continued to receive gifts of art objects from individuals and foreign Governments. The largest ever individual presentation to the Museum was received during the period from Rani Rajwade of Gwalior. The gift consisted of 650 items, and comprised, among other things, 35 stone sculptures, about 100 brass lamps, ritual objects etc. A set of photographs of the pre-Columbian objects forming a magnificent collection was given by Mr. and Mrs. Heeramaneck of New

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York, and a 'Veena' (harp) by the Burmese Ambassador in India on behalf of Gen. Ne Win, the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma. Notable among other objects received as gifts were four terracotta figures of the Gupta period and a stone sculpture from Shri Shukla of Unnao; a complete set of colourful Rumanian folk dance costume from Mr. Peter Bodeut; a molar tooth of an elephant of the Pliocene Age front Shri Hargopal Jhamb, Chandigarh, and two silver coins as Treasure Trove finds from the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The Director-General of Archaeology, India, has agreed to lend to the Museum about a dozen sculptures, the most important of them being the famous Yaksha from Pithalkhora and the royal couple.

11. The Anthropological Department also received as gift from the Archaeological Survey of India six pieces of "skeletal material" excavated by the Survey in Nubia, Egypt.

12. Exhibitions: The following special exhibitions were organised during the year:

(i) A photographic exhibition depicting the 'Veena' represented in Indian sculpture, with the Burmese harp, occupying the pride of place, showing the continuity of this tradition in Burma.

(ii) An exhibition of plaster casts, illustrating Indian art consisting of the two educational sets on Harappan Art and Indian sculptures through the ages along with some specially chosen important sculptures represented by miniature scale models.

(iii) An exhibition of photographs illustrating museum architecture in India, organised to synchronise with the 4th Museums' Camp meeting.

(iv) An exhibition of lamps, ritual objects and sculptures-gift of Rani Lakshmi Bai Rajwade of Gwalior.

Besides, a selection of three stone sculptures was made for lending them to the Ministry of Commerce for their inclusion in an exhibition of Indian handicrafts to be held in Japan in April, 1967.

13. Seminars and Camps: A seminar on Museum Education, an offshoot of the Unesco Regional Seminar on the Development of Museums, was held at the National Museums, New

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Delhi in May, 1966. Active museum educators, lecturers, museum directors etc. from all over the country participated in it. The deliberations of the seminar resulted in the formation of a 'National Committee for Museum Education', in India, the main functions of which would be : (i) to serve as a focal point for museum education in India, (ii) to keep liaison with the International Committee of ICOM on Education and Cultural Action, and (iii) to organise limited research projects in museum education in the country.

14. The fourth Museums' Camp on Museum Techniques (including Education) was inaugurated by Shri Bhakt Darshan, ex-Deputy Minister for Education, on November 14, 1966. The Camp met for 12 days and discussed various problems faced by the museums in India.

15. Courses and Training Programmes: Special courses on museum education lecture-cum-demonstration programmes and film shows covering various aspects of Indian art, architecture, culture, history, etc., were organised by the Museum both for the benefit of Indian and foreign visitors. Mention in this connection may be made of :

(a) A special demonstration-cum-lecture on museum education and museum teaching organised for the benefit of the participants of the fourth Museums' Camp.

(b) Lectures delivered by foreign visiting museologists, scholars, indologists and eminent scholars, such as Prof. Spyridon Marinatos of Greece, Prof. Boriskovsky of USSR and Dr. Stepkova of Czechoslovakia.

(c) Lectures delivered by Museum Officers on Indian Art and Culture for the benefit of American Women's Club and the Delhi Commonwealth Women's Association.

(d) Study-cum-observation tour of the USSR and Mongolia by a Deputy Keeper of the Museum.

(e) Deputation of two members of staff of the Museum for specialised training in museology in France.

(f) A two-month short-term course on Care of Museum Objects for eleven trainees.

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16. Participation in International Conferences/Meetings : On the invitation of the Trustees of the de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco (USA ), the Director of the National Museum visited San Francisco and participated in the symposium on Asian, Art arranged in connection with the inauguration of the famous Avery Brundage collection. The Director of the National Museum and the Adviser to the Government of India on Museums attended the expert meeting on the exchange of original objects. between museums convened by Unesco at 'Paris. As a result of this meeting it is proposed to establish a gallery of Western Art in the National Museum.

17. Library and Publications: The Library of the Museum continued to develop steadily during the period. A large number of rare, difficult-to-get-books, were added to its collection. The additions were also made to the collection of slides as well as photos of art objects. Reference and research service was rendered to research scholars, museum officers, and visitors to the museum. Moreover, the papers presented at the seminar on Conservation of Cultural Property in India, held in February, 1966 were edited and brought out in a book form.

18. Moulds: About 555 plaster casts and 8 rubber moulds were prepared in the modelling section besides attending to mending work, finishing and colouring of plaster casts and sales. Training in modelling was given to students of the School of Archaeology.

19. Facilities to Foreign and Indian Bodies for Photographing Exhibits: Facilities were extended to a team of Japanese photographers representing 'Kodansha' Ltd.-a leading Art Publisher of Tokyo-to take colour photographs of important exhibits in the Museum's collection for a book on the National Museum, New Delhi, in their series 'important museums of the world'.

20. Facilities were also provided to a Unit of the Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to shoot miniatures in the Museum's collection for a film on 'Akbar the Great' Similar facilities were provided to the British Broadcasting Corporation for the preparation of their films 'Emperor Akbar' and

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'Saga of Indian Art'. Facilities were also provided to the Canadian National Film Board for filming art objects and certain galleries of the National Museum.

21. Indian War Memorial Museum, Delhi:

The Indian War Memorial Museum, situated in the Red Fort, Delhi, exhibits arms, ammunition and equipment used in the First World War. It continued to attract a large number of visitors during the year.

22. Indian Museum, Calcutta:

One of the biggest museums In India, the Indian Museum has been functioning effectively for the last century and a half. It is governed by a Board of Trustees. Some of the more important activities undertaken by this Museum during the year under review are as follows:

23. Participation in Exhibitions: The Museum participated in Indian Art Exhibition held at Stuttgart and Humburg in West Germany by lending two of its sculptures, viz., (a) Sarnath Buddha, Gupta Period, 5th Century A.D., and (b) Torso of a female figure, 8th/9th Century A.D. Besides, at the invitation of the Exhibition Organising Committee, the Director of the Indian Museum delivered a series of lectures on Indian Art during this exhibition in West Germany. The Indian Museum also participated in the exhibition on "Museums in West Bengal" held recently in Calcutta.

24. Training Facilities/Seminars: The Museum instituted a Children's Programme in which students from different schools were invited to participate. These students were guided through the galleries showing specially interesting and educative exhibits. During the year, 2,097 students from 62 schools took part in this programme.

25. Under the educational programme of the Indian Museum, bi- annual popular lectures (12 in number, six in each session) by eminent scholars, were arranged to interest and enlighten the public in different subjects covered by the Museum. Besides, special lectures by outstanding scholars were also organised.

26. To stimulate research, seminars were organised where research papers were read by the curatorial staff. In these seminars outside scholars were also invited to participate.

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27. Casts and Photographs: The modelling section to the Indian Museum prepared models of the coins, sculptures, inscriptions, etc., of archaeological objects to make them available to the different educational institutions. Moreover, photographs of the museum specimens were also supplied to carter to the requirements of research bodies, different educational institutions and the general public. Altogether 225 photographs of various sizes were supplied on demand during the period under report.

28. Photo Library: The Museum has taken up a scheme for the setting up of a Photo Library where photographs of art and archaeological objects not only of this museum but also of other prominent museums of India will be maintained. During the year the photographer of the Museum covered four museums namely, (i) Prince of Wales Museums, Bombay, (ii) Sarnath Museum, UP, (iii) Bodhgaya Museum, Bihar, (iv) Lucknow State Museum, UP, and altogether 1,500 photographs and 615 slides were added to the Library.

29. Publications: Under the scheme to provide guidebooks in three languages, viz., English, Bengali and Hindi at very cheap rates, the Bengali version of the guidebook of the Geological Galleries of the Indian Museum, "Bhutattva Vithika" was published. The Museum also brought out (a) Bengali edition of Abanindra Nath Tagore -His Early Works, (b) Extinct and Vanishing Birds and Mammals of India. Besides, an annual bulletin of the Indian Museum is also brought out. Other material published included picture folders (13 in number).

30. Acquisition of Art objects: During 1966-67, 64 coins of silver, bullion and copper and one brass amulet were acquired through purchase and presentation. Moreover, eight stone sculptures, one bronze image of Durga of Late Vijayanagar School and one terracotta human head of Gupta period from Kaushambi were acquired. Notable among these are a stone sculpture of Virabhadra: a stone lintel of a mandapam, depicting Vasantotsava from Archaeological Museum of Hampi presented by the Director-General of Archaeology in India; one stone image of Bhudevi of late Chola period; and one bust of a Ram-headed Matrica from Central India. Besides, 5 specimens were acquisitioned in the Art Section and 3 in the Anthropology Section of the Museum.

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31. New Galleries: Under the development scheme of the Museum, three new galleries were thrown open to public. The first is the Pre- historic gallery of the Archaeological 'Section which depicts the story of universal evolution of culture by showing the relative position of man in geological time, succession of cultures from stone to steel, typology, technology etc. The second is the gallery of Musical Instruments under the Anthropological Section which shows different varieties of vina, sitar, esraj, tanpura and sarangi apart from a few good specimens of sarenda, rabab, sarod, bamboo flute, Tibetan metal flute, conch-shells, drums and tambourine. Among the instruments to be specially mentioned, obsolete katyayana vina, mayuri vina, maha-mridanga, etc. are most conspicuous. The third is Manuscripts gallery which was thrown open to public on March 20, 1967. Conspicuous among the exhibits of this Gallery are two hand-made paper manuscripts of Prajnaparanita, a palm-leaf manuscript of the Horivamsa, Bengali manuscripts of Chaitanyamangala and Ramayana, ornamental manuscripts of the Bustan and Laila-Wa-Majnun and a representative collection of sanads, parwanas, firmans issued by the Mughal emperors and later authorities.

32. Re-organisation Work in the Galleries: In the Textile gallery, dummies showing stitched garments were introduced in 2 renovated cases. The gallery of miniature paintings was further renovated with a new colour scheme for the panels and with provisions for greater amenities for the visitors in the Khajuraho gallery, a group of 10 selected Khajuraho sculptures typically representing Chandella was set up to represent the contemporary iconography and art of the region.

33. Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta:

The Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta, is managed by a Board of Trustees. It accommodates exhibits mainly connected with the British period of Indian history. These exhibits attract a large number of visitors every year.

34. Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad:

The Salar Jung Museum contains collections comprising art objects from various parts of the world. It is under the administrative control of the Salar Jung Museum Board which was reconstituted with effect

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from July 1, 1966. It is becoming more and more popular and attracts an increasing number of visitors from year to year

35. The Museum is housed in an age-worn building. A new building which is estimated to cost Rs. 43 lakh (excluding the cost of the land) and which is being jointly financed by the Government of India, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the defunct Salar Jung Estate Committee, is under construction. The Union Government has made a contribution of Rs. 27.78 lakh and has agreed to pay a further grant of Rs. 6.66 lakh for this purpose. The new building is expected to be completed before the end of 1967-68.

36. The details of achievements and cultural and educational activities of the Salar Jung Museum during the period under report are given below:

37. Short-term Training Course in Museology: A short-term training course in Museology was arranged from. 23rd April to 13th June, 1966 for the benefit of the museum employees and local postgraduate students interested in museum work. A large number of museum experts from the different parts of the country attended the training programme and delivered lectures on various aspects of Museology. Certificates were awarded to successful trainees who attended the course.

38. Lectures: During the period under review, a few eminent experts in the field of museums delivered lectures for the benefit of research scholars. Notable among them are: (i) Miss Janet Gameron Aissa, delivered a lecture on 'My Travel Experiences'; (ii) Dr. Robert R. R. Brooks. Cultural Attache, American Embassy, New Delhi, gave a talk on "The pre-historic stone-age rock-shelter paintings in India" supported by colour slides; (iii) Dr. (Mrs.) J. Stepkova, Museum Expert from Czechoslovakia, delivered a lecture on "The Structure, Organisation and Research Activity of Czechoslovak Museum".