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Nimhans to inaugurate history museum

1940s psychiatric instruments, oldest lie detector will be on display from July 28
Last Updated 23 July 2015, 20:19 IST

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) houses a rare instrument from the early 1940s, which was used in magneto-electrical therapy for neuron diseases.

Only five such instruments have survived in the world. This unique British-make instrument, along with similar path-breaking technologies used in the mental health-care system both in India and across the globe, will be put on public display for the first time.
On July 28, Nimhans will throw open its History Museum in an attempt to educate and enthuse the public about brain/mind sciences. President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the same.

 Also on display will be one of the oldest anaesthesia machines, dating back to the Second World War era.

This obsolete machine was used in the animal lab at Nimhans until it was condemned in 2009. The first lie detector and early psychological tests can also be found in the museum, which has been set up at the institute’s premises on Hosur Road. Nimhans commissioned the museum at one of its heritage structures in 2012. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), Bengaluru, co-ordinated the project and restored the building, which was earlier the Children’s Pavilion.

While Intach restored the 15,000 square feet building with a customised lift for the physically challenged, another agency EDC, Bengaluru, spent Rs 1.6 crore to set up the museum/interpretation centre.

Unclaimed belongings

Apart from the various milestones of Nimhans since its inception in 1847, the institute has also decided to put on display some unique finds. A recent recovery of a locker gestured to the different kinds of patients who have passed through it. The locker contained unclaimed belongings such as jewellery, mangalsutra, a war medal, cash, Ganesh beedis, spectacles, an LIC policy and other things that patients held dear to them. The register listings are as old as 1938 till 1983.

Delayed opening

Though Nimhans gained the Institute of National Importance (INI) status on November 29, 2013, it has waited two years to get the President to dedicate the facility on July 28.

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(Published 23 July 2015, 20:18 IST)

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