New additions to old museum

With some renovation and added attractions, the 52-year-old Shreemanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum has lot to offer the visitors, writes Akshatha M

Following the facelift and the added attractions, Shreemanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum situated near Bejai Church in the heart of the city welcomes the history enthusiasts with its hands wide open. It was not long ago, that the only government museum of the district, which throws light on the history of 16th and18th centuries, lacked basic facilities and attractions that a museum must possess to draw the visitors.

However, the first facelift in 2007, followed by further renovations in the last one year, after the museum celebrated its golden jubilee, the Shreemanthi Bai museum has lot to offer to the visitors.
One such added attraction is the newly opened Gandhi Photo Gallery which runs across the spacious two rooms in the first floor of the museum. The two rooms which were used as godowns earlier were renovated and developed as the photo gallery, thanks to the idea of its present curator Shejeswara.

Gandhi photos gallery

The gallery which was opened for public viewing two months ago, has over 100 rare photos on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The neatly placed photos starting from the house in which Gandhi spent his childhood, to the portraits of young Gandhi, from Gandhi sharing his moments with father to his days in South Africa, Gandhi during freedom movement to his murder and his tomb in Rajghat, tell the interesting life tale of Gandhiji. Adding to the collection are a few rare letters written by Gandhi addressed to various personalities. One of the letters dated July 23, 1939 addressed to Adolf Hitler as Herr Hitler states, “I am writing this letter for the sake of humanity. You are today one person in the world who can prevent a war which may reduce humanity to the savage state....” Over 100 photos and letters were purchased by the Archaeology Department for the sake of display in the district government museum.

However, the labelling work of the newly opened photo gallery is yet to be done. The labelling work giving details of each photo and letter will be put up soon, informed curator Shejeswara.

Books for sale

The Archeology Department has also displayed over 105 varieties of books on history and archeology for sale to the interested public. Some of the most sought out books which are rarely available in outside shops are the books on Talakad excavations, Heggadehalli excavations and the books narrating the history of each district. The curator said that though books were sold in the museum earlier too, hardly anyone knew about it, as they were not displayed for the public view.
During the recent renovation, an artistic stand has been carved displaying a few sample books.
Archeologist, researchers and professors purchase the books quite often. Over 30 copies of Talakad excavation book has been sold in the last two months, he informed.

Discounts are available for the general public as well as the book sellers on various levels. As much as 50 per cent discount is offered to the general public for the books which are over 10 years old, while 55 per cent discount is offered to the book sellers for the same. About 30 per cent discount is available on books that are six years old for the general public, while 35 per cent discount is offered to the sellers.

Twenty per cent discount is available on three to five year old books while 25 per cent discount is available for book sellers. Meanwhile, 15 per cent discount is available for general public on the books which are newly published while it is 20 per cent for the sellers.

Apart from this, a few new coins, bronze idols, porcelain statues and other articles too have been added to the collection.

A few old articles are replaced by new ones for a change. But the labelling work of several displayed materials is yet to be done. The curator informed that the labelling work is going on and it will be completed within a month or two, thus offering fully furnished information to the visitors.

Gardening work is also in progress to add more beauty to the museum. With all this, Shreemanthi Bai Memorial Government museum, housed in the bunglow of Army doctor late V R Mirajkar is all set to draw more number of visitors in the days to come. In fact, after the recent renovation the number of visitors too has increased considerably. Going by the records, Shejeswara informed that as many as 12,000 visitors visited the museum in 2010-11 where as, over 18,000 have visited in 2011-12.