The Math stridently believes that the thinkers of those times weren’t given the credit they deserved. “Not many know that Maharshi Kashyap was the first paediatrician of the world. The first stethoscope was invented by Indians. Indians were far more superior to the rest of the world in surgery, engineering and many more,” says Tejas Thakur, one of the coordinators of the Math.

The second section of the museum talks about “an ideal, self-sustained village”. There are sculptures of everyday life in villages and of pot makers, carpenters, goldsmiths, cobblers, butchers and others. “The Balutedar community of Maharashtra lived in self-sufficient villages. Every village was an independent unit with schools, shops and even arrangements for social and cultural engagements,” says Swamiji.

What’s interesting is the detailing. For instance, a sculpture of a village sarpanch has photo frames, old lamp shades, brick design of the walls and earthen pots in the kitchen. The sculptor has also breathed life into his work as the sarpanch is depicted addressing villagers. There are even sculptures of some extinct village games, places of gathering, an ideal market place and so on. “The ideal village is an attempt to tell villagers that they shouldn’t be waiting for the government to do things for them. So we encourage them to come here and see what they can do to their villages,” says Swamiji.

Also handled and depicted effectively as a separate entity is the practice of farming. The life-size statues in open fields not only explain the enriched life of a farmer, but also set an example for those who are moving towards urbanisation neglecting the potential that exists in farming and villages in general.

... contd.