Mysuru set to get State's first tribal museum

Soon, the heritage city will have one more feather in its cap. City-based Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI) is gearing up to set up the State’s first tribal museum at Kergalli in Mysuru.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation stone for its construction in a couple of months.

KSTRI has secured 2.5 acres of land from Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to develop the museum, which will be developed at a cost of Rs 50 crore, funded by both State and Union governments.

The State government has already released Rs 8 crore and the Union government will release funds in three installments, after the institute submits the proposal, KSTRI Director T T Basavanagouda said.

The institute has approached the Social Welfare Department Secretary Gangaram Baderiya to get the chief minister’s date to lay foundation stone for the construction work of the museum, he said.

The institute has roped in archeology and anthropology professionals and also tribal community people to make the museum authentic and also interesting. Initially, the institute is preparing a blue print and also collecting a variety of artefacts from tribal community people, he added.

The objective of the museum is to preserve tribal artifacts and popularise them among the people and also within the tribal communities. The State is home to over 50 tribal communities. The institute has been collecting artefacts, hunting weapons, utensils and musical instruments, he said.

However, tribal leaders want the museum to be developed on the lines of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalay (IGRMS), Bhopal. The museum should give a real feel of Haadis (hamlets) to make the concept attractive, said District Tribal Development Union secretary T Madegowda.

The authorities should display real huts, music instruments and culture of each community as they follow different traditions, he added.