Even as museums, the world over, are readying to conserve heritage and to educate children, the Karnataka government is yet to wake up from its slumber. Museums in Karnataka do not have a separate department. They function under the archaeology department. In view of the specialised nature of work, museums need a separate department, trained staff and more funds. Shortage of staff has always been a problem. However, the recent recruitment of 10 assistant curators will help to an extent. But the other problems still remain unsolved. The Karnataka State Government Museum, Kasturba Road (the erstwhile Sidney Road) in Bangalore is the oldest in the state. It was established in 1865 on Museum Road. It was shifted to the present building in 1877. The founding officer Dr Edward Green Balfour was also the founding officer of the Chennai Government Museum in 1851. A new block was added to the building in 1962. There are 15 museums under the department in the state. Except for the ones in Basavakalyana, Kitooru and Hoovinahadagali, all are in district headquarters.
The universities of Mysore and Dharwad have their own museums. The Manjusha at Dharmasthala and Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery at Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, are private museums. The Archeological Survey of India maintains museums at Bijapur, Hampi, Halebeedu, Srirangapatana and Badami. The archaeology department also runs the Venkatappa Art Gallery near the Government Museum in the same campus, the Cubbon Park. Named after the noted artist K Venkatappa, it showcases his famous paintings, plaster of paris works and wooden sculptures. Besides, it also displays the works of various contemporary artists. Plans are afoot to improve the condition of the art gallery. It will be made air-conditioned. The auditorium will get a facelift. A new complex will be constructed for toilets. The department has grand plans for the museum too. But its location in Cubbon Park poses a problem. The plan for the construction of an additional building has been shelved due to the park’s green belt status.

Apart from infrastructure, the role of museums in education is widely neglected in the state. A museum should not be a mere storehouse. Museums should be developed as non-formal educational institutions.  Each district should have a museum, which should become a part of the curriculum of all students. The focus should not be tourists and grown-ups but school-going children. It is they who need to understand the importance of museums and thereby the conservation of our heritage. But museums have been a failure in attracting children. There are no activities involving children in museums. They lack in drive and dynamism. The museum does not even have any plans for the International Museum Day on Friday. It is not even a member of any international body for museums as the authorities feel that fees are exorbitant.

The adjoining Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) is in a better position. The VITM was a tribute to Sir M Visvesvaraya as part of his centenary celebrations in 1962. It is managed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and portrays the application of science and technology in industry and human welfare. The museum attracts close to one million visitors a year. It also conducts mobile science exhibitions.
The museum also conducts a mini-planetarium show called “Taramandal” at regular intervals. This is the only museum with the exception of the Smithsonian in the US, to have a full- scale replica of the 1903 flyer of the Wright brothers.

The highlights of the VITM are: Engine Hall, Electronic Technology Gallery, Kimbe Paper Metals Gallery and Popular Science Gallery. The new gallery “Science for Children” is attracting lots of children since it was opened on April 30. The VITM has also been observing International Museum Day for a long time with the respective themes. This year’s theme is “Museums and Universal Heritage” as suggested by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). There is a need to raise awareness about the role of museums in teaching individual and collective responsibility for global heritage.

Heritage is both natural and cultural heritage, but heritage is traditionally within the museum world used to describe the physical objects that make up collections. But culture and heritage can never be reduced to just artefacts. Hence museums are expected to participate – a wide range of special events: music, dance, theatre and special exhibitions of art are needed. A museum is alive only when it is open and visitors are present. Everything that concerns visitors should be the focus of museum education — and all museum functions impact the visitor’s experience.

But not much is being done by the archaeology department either to attract visitors or to enrich their experience. It is high time the government wakes up.