<p class="title">The Indian Museum in Kolkata will observe its 205th anniversary on February 2 with a special focus on 2300-year-old artifacts belonging to the 2nd Century BC.</p>.<p class="title">Elaborate discussions and a lecture on the sculptures by eminent art historian R N Misra will be held. Indian Museum was established on February 2, 1814. An exhibition will also be held on the occasion.<br /><br />The Bharhut sculptures belonging to the 2nd Century BC which were discovered in 1860s from Satna in Madhya Pradesh by a British government official Sir Alexander Cunnigham and were brought to the Indian Museum. The sculptures are etched on stone panels which were parts of a railing of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Satna.<br /><br />“There are five parts of the Bharhut collections majority of which are with the Indian museum. However, a crucial part was lost in the Indian Ocean due to shipwreck when it was being taken to London for an exhibition,” Rajesh Purohit, Director of the Indian Museum told DH.<br /><br />He also said that a small part of the collection is at Allahabad Museum, another one is at Bharat Kala Bhavan under Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi and a few sculptures are in Satna.<br /><br />The Bharhut sculptures mainly belong to the Shunga period of 2nd Century BC, which succeeded the Mauryan era. The last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty was defeated by a general called Pushyamitra Shunga who later became a King.<br /><br />One of the Bharhut sculptures on display at the Museum depicts a composite human-animal image resembling an Egyptian sphinx. It also displays features similar to Greek sculpture.<br /><br />“ A similar statue of an animal with a human face is also on display at the Egyptian Gallery of the Indian Museum. It is almost 4000 years old,” said Dr Purohit.<br /><br />Among other specimens, there are stone panels on which the stories of Gautam Buddha from his earlier births are etched.</p>.<p class="title">One of the stories etched on the panel depicts the life of Buddha when he was born as golden dear, a leader of his herd. The herd lived in a royal park which belonged to King.<br /><br />“ In a bid to save his herd Buddha used to sent one of the members every day for the King to hunt. But one day it was turn for a pregnant doe. Buddha offered himself to save the doe. The sculpture shows human emotions such as kindness depicted through animals,” said Purohit.<br /><br /> </p>
<p class="title">The Indian Museum in Kolkata will observe its 205th anniversary on February 2 with a special focus on 2300-year-old artifacts belonging to the 2nd Century BC.</p>.<p class="title">Elaborate discussions and a lecture on the sculptures by eminent art historian R N Misra will be held. Indian Museum was established on February 2, 1814. An exhibition will also be held on the occasion.<br /><br />The Bharhut sculptures belonging to the 2nd Century BC which were discovered in 1860s from Satna in Madhya Pradesh by a British government official Sir Alexander Cunnigham and were brought to the Indian Museum. The sculptures are etched on stone panels which were parts of a railing of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Satna.<br /><br />“There are five parts of the Bharhut collections majority of which are with the Indian museum. However, a crucial part was lost in the Indian Ocean due to shipwreck when it was being taken to London for an exhibition,” Rajesh Purohit, Director of the Indian Museum told DH.<br /><br />He also said that a small part of the collection is at Allahabad Museum, another one is at Bharat Kala Bhavan under Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi and a few sculptures are in Satna.<br /><br />The Bharhut sculptures mainly belong to the Shunga period of 2nd Century BC, which succeeded the Mauryan era. The last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty was defeated by a general called Pushyamitra Shunga who later became a King.<br /><br />One of the Bharhut sculptures on display at the Museum depicts a composite human-animal image resembling an Egyptian sphinx. It also displays features similar to Greek sculpture.<br /><br />“ A similar statue of an animal with a human face is also on display at the Egyptian Gallery of the Indian Museum. It is almost 4000 years old,” said Dr Purohit.<br /><br />Among other specimens, there are stone panels on which the stories of Gautam Buddha from his earlier births are etched.</p>.<p class="title">One of the stories etched on the panel depicts the life of Buddha when he was born as golden dear, a leader of his herd. The herd lived in a royal park which belonged to King.<br /><br />“ In a bid to save his herd Buddha used to sent one of the members every day for the King to hunt. But one day it was turn for a pregnant doe. Buddha offered himself to save the doe. The sculpture shows human emotions such as kindness depicted through animals,” said Purohit.<br /><br /> </p>
