Visit three museums in Delhi.

Study the ways and modes of collection and conservation of the

artefacts in one of the museums. Interview the curator and write a report.
National Museum, New Delhi
1. We have visited the whole museum and we came to know that there comprises of different
artefacts which reflects our history of Indus valley civilization, Gupta Empire and of different
Mughal rulers too.
By looking towards the Buddhist section we feel the real picture of Buddhism. By looking to the
idols I myself remembers my social studies class.
The way the arts are presented here in a second it represent my history which means that it
keeps my history alive.
Comparing to those of others museum of Delhi.
How do you feel that yours museum is the unique one in the country India?

2. Maam, we also want to know the history of this museum.
There is an article from Wikipedia







Maam, please relate your words with this situation of history.
and we are also keen to know how the museum got its name as National museum.

3. The Museum has around 2,oo,ooo works of art, both of Indian and foreign origin, covering over
5,000 years of the rich cultural heritage of different parts of the world.
From where you have collected the artefacts in this museum
and what are some other salient features about it which attracts people?

4. The beauty of art always happens when we have a system of its preservation.
Before coming to the present era we will have to ask questions from the very beginning of our
civilization, The Indus civilization.
Sir, how do you preserve the skeleton from Rakhigarhi (Haryana).. terracotta images of
Mother Goddess & Clay Pottery and especially the bronze dancing girl..

5. Most of the objects on display in the Harappan Gallery are permanent loans from the
Archaelogical Survey of India.
What does this permanent loans mean,sir?

The roots of the National Museum begin with an exhibition of Indian art and artefacts at the
Royal Academy in London exhibition , the exhibition curators had decided to display the same
collection intact in India before returning the artefacts to their individual museums. The Indian
exhibition was shown at the Rastrapati Bhawan in 1949 and was so successful that it led to the
decision to form a permanent National Museum.




6. Sir, now we will move to the theme of this interview
Sir, this museum is not only a Museum it is a temple also, I think so because it is somewhat
dham type that you have collected and preserved our Indian Gods and Goddesses .
Many people come and go everyday , in those category of people most of them are those who
have a holy faith in God and they might be nodding their head as a respect to God in this
Museum too.
You only preserved them but people really feel the holy sense.
How are you in the management of some Gods and Goddesses like
Sun God and Goddesses Saraswati from the Chauhan Dynasty
God Buddha, Kuber (god of Wealth ), different symbols of Buddha, Rama, Sita and also
of Lakshman.
Sir, basically what are some of the steps in preserving those statues.
7. And the next is a short and simple question that how do you preserve paintings which are in this
museum such as those which are in the Miniature paintings gallery?

8. A lot of finishing is present in the bronze gallery which tells a lot of Indian techniques in that
Bronze age.
Bronze is basically an alloy of Cu and Zn. It also corrodes as I think .
How do you maintain its shine?

9. Sir, there is a manuscript Gallery present in this Museum. There are different collection of
manuscripts in parchment, Birch Bark, Palm leaf, Cloth.
What are their preservation techniques?
10. The coin gallery in this museum tells a lot of the economy of India. The coins over here are rich
and authentic source of information on various aspects of Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian
History.
How do you maintain and preserve coins especially the glow of coins at the same time keeping
the texture of the work done on it?
11. The next question belongs to Textile gallery in the same manner as I have asked you the
previous question.
12. A curiosity also generated in me that Jahangir also was using Hookah in his time.
From where you have collected it sir and what do you do in its preservation?
13. Sir, I am a bit confused that why you have a collection of masks in the North East Tribal lifestyle
gallery which comprise of the heritage of North East India?
Why they must be using these masks?
14. When we are in the field of knowledge or in the musical field we generally ask a lot from
Saraswati mata .
Now, you may be thinking that I am talking of the Sharan Rani Bakliwal Musical Instrument
Gallery.
What are some of the steps in the preservation of Miss Bakliwals musical instruments?
15. Now, this is the final question of this interview from Arms and Armour Gallery.
How do you preserve Body Armour of Aurangzeb and Bow and Arrow of Bahadur Shah
Zafar 2?