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Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
SANGRĀHIKĀ
e-newsletter on the museums of ASI
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
Editorial Team Dr Urmila Sant, Director (Museums), Archaeological Survey of India Sh. Indu Prakash, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Dr Aprajita Sharma, Assistant Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Data Supplied by Archaeological Site Museums, Archaeological Survey of India Hindi Translation
Hindi Section, Archaeological Survey of India
Mail us at [email protected] image on cover: Goddess Lakshmi, Raja Vishal ka garh, Vaishali (source: Patna Circle, ASI) image on back cover: Indra, Ganwaria, Sidharth Nagar (source: Central Antiquity Collection, ASI)
Contents
Director-General’s Message
3
From the Director’s Desk
4
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
5-6
Education and Awareness Activities and Special Events Exhibitions
7-13
Best Practices in Museums
14-16
New Publications
17-18
Prized Antiquity
19
Forthcoming events
20-21
All contents in the publication are for information only. Feel free to refer and distribute this work with due acknowledgement but no part of this publication can be reproduced for any purpose in any form.
2 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Director-General’s Message...
Dear friends and colleagues,
It is my privilege to release the first issue of e-newsletter on the
museums of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which is an obvious
indication that ASI museums are gradually moving towards a digital era. The
objective of this newsletter is to share with you the information on multiple
activities of all museums under ASI.
Since setting up of first archaeological site museum at Sarnath
(Uttar Pradesh) in 1904, the museums of ASI have metamorphosed into a
vibrant institution engaged in cultural awareness, education and research.
The technical skill up-gradation gained by our professionals through
training in reputed international museums has also significantly helped in
functional improvement which is reflected in the activities.
I appreciate the initiative and pains taken by Director (Museums) and
her devoted team for introducing this innovative way of museum’s interaction
with the society within a very short time.
This newsletter is dedicated to the public which is the greatest
stakeholder of museums.
I hope you will find this newsletter informative and interesting.
Rakesh Tewari Director-General
Archaeological Survey of India
3 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
from the Director’s desk…
Dear friends,
I am extremely delighted to present the inaugural issue of e-newsletter
“Sangrāhikā”, a quarterly publication in Hindi as well as English aimed at
appraising the masses on the significant events and activities undertaken by
44 museums of ASI spread across the country. The first issue covers the
period June-September 2015.
Evolving as an institution of learning in tune with the international
concept, museums of ASI indulge in multiple activities to communicate with
the society in a very effective way. This reach to society can be enhanced to
further levels through digital communication. That is why this newsletter is
being brought out. The feedback from any corner, whatsoever, is welcome
for desired improvisation in future. In this way, our objective to harness social
network for creative ideas regarding development of museums will succeed.
The present issue includes an introduction to the archaeological
site museums of ASI, a note on two excellent exhibitions organised at
Fatehpur Sikri and Khajuraho, coin augmentation system at Fort St. George
Museum, Chennai; new publications; forthcoming events, etc.
I hope this newsletter will become a popular navigational tool for the
public to think about museums primarily as social institutions instead of
storehouse for heritage artifacts.
Urmila Sant Director (Museums)
Archaeological Survey of India
4 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
A rchaeological Survey of India has 44 archaeological site museums
under its jurisdiction spreading over the length and breadth of India
i.e. Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) in the north to Mattancherry Palace (Kerala)
in the south and Sri Surya Pahar (Goalpara, Assam) in the east to Dholavira
(Kachchh, Gujarat) in the west.
The idea of archaeological site museums was initiated by Sir John
Marshall who established museums at Sarnath (1904), Agra (1906), Ajmer
(1908), Delhi (1909), Bijapur (1912), Nalanda (1917) and Sanchi (1919). The
concept of site museums has been explained by Harold Hargreaves, the
Director-General of ASI as -
It has been the policy of the Government of India to keep the small
and movable antiquities, recovered from the ancient sites, in close
association with the remains to which they belong, so that they may be
studied amid their natural surroundings and not lose focus by being
transported.
~ Excerpt from the Indian Archaeological Policy, 1915; Calcutta
During the course of evolution, new innovative themes were adopted
enlarging the scope of site museum. Such themes included within the
extended ambit consist of the sculptural museum, palace museum and fort
museum (colonial collection and period museum). There is a unique instance
also where site museum is situated at a different set up, for example - the
Archaeological Site Museum at Nagarjunakonda, the only island museum in
the country, where salvaged antiquities are displayed.
With a variety of rich archaeological and artistic assemblage, no doubt
the site museums are re-organised as major centers of cultural interaction
and play a pivotal role in the dissemination of knowledge of the country’s
colourful past.
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
5 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
fig. 1 ~ Museums of ASI
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India
In the year 2014, Guidelines for ASI Museums were prepared to ensure the
preservation and protection of the collections, develop best practices in
documentation and interpretation of their collections and spread knowledge and
understanding of the site and the museums to the public. These guidelines are
available at http://asi.nic.in/pdf_data/Guidelines_ASI_Museums_14.pdf
6 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Education and Awareness
A rchaeological Site Museums as well as Circles of ASI celebrated
occasions like Museum day, Yoga day, etc. by organising heritage walks,
painting competition, debate competition, cleaning of environs of the
monuments and museums (under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan) with the help of
various school and college students.
Activities and Special Events
fig. 3 ~ Fort St. George Museum, Chennai: Exhibition on Yoga Postures
fig. 2 ~ 1857 Memorial Museum, Lucknow: Workshop on Social Change and Heritage Conservation
8 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Activities and Special Events
fig. 5 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Vaishali: Workshop on Casting and Moulding
9 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
fig. 4 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Quiz Competition on International Museum Day
Activities and Special Events
fig. 6 ~ Residency, Lucknow: Students distributing tickets at the sale counter
fig. 7 ~ 1857 Memorial Museum, Residency, Lucknow: Students guiding visitors
10 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
L ucknow Circle has organised a Community Involvement Programme
“Heritage Managers for a Day” intending to create awareness among
the public especially students. Under this programme, the charge of
management of the Centrally Protected Monument - Residency; and 1857
Memorial Museum, Residency, Lucknow was handed over for a day to a group
of 20 school students. The idea behind this programme was to make aware the
younger generation about the management of monuments.
Activities and Special Events
fig. 8 ~ Fort St. George Museum, Chennai: Key-chains on rare commemorative stamps
11 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
F ort St. George Museum, Chennai, celebrated Independence Day with
differently abled children and Madras Day (22nd August). On the
occasion of Independence Day, commemorative medals, postage stamps with
the images of the Lion capital and tricolour flag with the slogan ‘Jai Hind’ were
exhibited. As a part of the celebration and to popularise museum movement,
key chains depicting rare commemorative postage stamps were distributed.
On Madras Day, multiple programmes were organised wherein special
cover on coins and tea-coasters with famous aquatints of Thomas and William
Daniel were released.
fig. 9-10 ~ Fort St. George Museum, Chennai: Cultural programme by the differently abled children on the occasion of
Independence Day (left); Release of tea-coasters with famous aquatints of Thomas and William Daniel (right)
Archaeological Site Museum, Fatehpur Sikri
A s a part of assignment work of
Vivekananda Memorial Programme for
Museum Excellence, Fellow training of 2014-15
organised an exhibition titled “Rediscovering
Fatehpur Sikri: The Mughal City” at
Archaeological Site Museum, Fatehpur Sikri,
which was inaugurated on 13th July, 2015.
Through this exhibition, a permanent gallery on
the Mughal period, particularly focusing on the
reign of Akbar, has been established.
The exhibition presented 50 antiquities that
includes ceramics - red ware, Chinese
porcelain, Glazed ware; copper coins; stone
objects - querns, pestles, muller; iron objects -
crowbar, chisel, etc. An exhibition brochure and
key-chains as a souvenir were also released
during the inauguration of the exhibition.
Exhibitions
12 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
fig. 12 ~ Exhibition Display
fig. 11 ~ Exhibition Brochure
Archaeological Site Museum, Khajuraho
A n exhibition titled “Pratibimba: Reflection of Chandella Art” was
organised at the new museum building of Archaeological Site Museum,
Khajuraho. It was inaugurated on 4th July, 2015 by Shri Nagendra Singh,
Hon’ble Member of Parliament along with other dignitaries. The exhibition was
curated as a part of post-Chicago training assignment of Vivekananda
Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence Fellow training of 2014-15.
Exhibitions
The exhibition showcased 39 antiquities of the Chandella period. The
graphics about Chandella history, temple architecture, important components of
architecture were also highlighted. An exhibition catalogue was also published
on this occasion for free distribution among the visitors.
fig. 15 ~ Exhibits
13 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
fig. 13-14 ~ Inaugural function of the Exhibition ‘Pratibimba’
Best Practices in Museums
fig. 16 ~ Fort St. George Museum, Chennai: Coin Augmentation System for high resolution 360° digital image of coins
New Techniques
fig. 17 ~ Virtual Museum Builder namely JATAN implemented at 10 museums of India under the Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India that includes Archaeological Site Museums - Nagarjunakonda and
Goa (source: http://www.museumsofindia.gov.in/)
15 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Vivekananda Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence
I n the year 1994, the Government of India memoralised Swami
Vivekananda’s historic and celebrated speech made at the Art Institute,
Chicago by installation of a plaque outside the museum’s Fullerton Hall. In
2012, a new plaque was unveiled by the Hon’ble President of India, Sh. Pranab
Mukherjee, to honour the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s birth.
To commemorate this event, the Government of India and the Art Institute,
Chicago decided to establish a training programme namely ‘Vivekananda
Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence’. An agreement was signed for
the programme in 2012 between the Ministry of Culture and Art Institute of
Chicago for organising capacity building programme for museum professionals
in the field of museums.
Under this programme seven officials were imparted training on different
themes at National Museum, New Delhi, Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad and
Art Institute, Chicago in USA. During the current year (2015), four officers have
been nominated for training in Chicago on the theme of - Collection
Stewardship, Interpretation and Audience Engagement.
The first module of training was conducted at National Council of Science
Museum at Kolkata from 7th-9th September, 2015. The participants have
proceeded to Art Institute, Chicago, on 27th September, 2015 for second
module of training.
Training and Courses
16 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Capacity Building Programme
fig. 18 ~ Trainees at NCSM, Kolkata
New Publications
Monographs and Booklets
Hazarduari Palace Museum, Murshidabad
A pocket booklet titled “Archaeological Museum Sarnath in 15 minutes” has
been prepared by the Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath specifically for the
visitors who do not have sufficient time to visit the entire museum collection.
A monograph was prepared to illustrate forty-four most intriguing objects
designated as masterpieces of Hazarduari Palace Museum. It includes
description of objects like weapons, rare oil paintings, lithographs, costumes
and jewellery, objects of silver and ivory, ceramics, wooden furniture, etc.
Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath
18 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
Prized Antiquity
Lion Capital of the Ashokan Pillar
T he Lion Capital consisting of four crowning lions seated back to back on
a circular abacus, is an epitome of vigorous workmanship sculptured
with great naturalism. A horse, a lion, a bull and an elephant are carved on four
directions of the abacus, which symbolises the four events of Buddha’s Life,
while wheel with twenty-four spokes carved in between each pair of the animals
is probably a representation of Buddha’s expounding the law in four directions.
In 1950, the Lion Capital was adopted as the “National Emblem of India” and
can be seen on the currency of India. The Wheel or Chakra from its base has
taken place in the centre of the “National Flag of India”.
Material: Chunar Sandstone with lustrous polish
Period: Mauryan period (3rd century BCE)
Location: Gallery no. 3 (main hall) of Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath
Exhibitions
Forthcoming Events
Venue: Quarters Guard, Red Fort, Delhi
Opening Date: 19th November, 2015
About the exhibition: Hair has always been associated with beauty not only
among women but also men. Since time immemorial, long hair with elaborate
hair-styles represents beauty and power. Historically, cutting of hair was
assumed to be great sacrifice and the tradition is still prevalent at many places.
Sculptures, paintings, murals of different periods give an exhaustive account of
hair-styles. The forthcoming exhibition titled Kēśavinyās will present a
kaleidoscope of hair-styles in Indian Art through photographs and
line-drawings.
Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015 20
Kēśavinyās:
A Story of Hair-styles in Indian Art
Virtual Exhibitions
Forthcoming Events
Rediscovering India: 1961-2011
Exhibitions done in the past by the Archaeological Survey of India are being
converted virtually. Two exhibitions titled ‘Rediscovering India: 1961-2011’
and ‘Stamp of the Past: Indian Heritage in Philately’, organised in the year
2012, would soon be available online.
Stamp of the Past: Indian Heritage in Philately
21 Year 1, Issue 1, June-Sep 2015
A new gallery at Swatantrata Sangram Sangrahalaya, Red Fort, Delhi on
children, who sacrificed their lives in the India’s Freedom Struggle, is being set
up. The work is under progress.
Upcoming gallery
© Archaeological Survey of India, 2015
Museums
Repositories of cultural wealth
Preserves Past for Future
A Synonym for Education and Entertainment
A Mirror of our Traditions
Promotes National Integration
Shows Windows of Knowledge
Brings People Together
A Mine of Knowledge and Source of Recreation
War and Peace: Museum Preserves Cultural Heritage
