Expanding ideas

Not only will the building be redesigned,a 1,500-square foot museum shop,a café and an air-conditioned multi-purpose hall are also in the pipeline. The Museum also has plans to beef up its security system at the gate adding an X-ray machine and guards who will frisk visitors. All this plans to be realised by 2010.

“One has to change with the times and our museum is no exception. The heritage committee has approved our plans; the Central Government has financed it along with the Indian Ministry of Culture,this will be the jewel in the crown of the museum,” says Mukherjee,who is at the helm of a team of incessantly working museum staff,including Dr Ranade who is heading the restoration section that often uncovers a new artifact or painting that adds to the museum’s collection.

“Currently,what we had for a museum shop was a counter,now we will have publications,souvenirs,artifacts and reproductions of paintings that the museum has. The coffee shop will give visitors a place to sit and relax before they go on to their next event at the museum. Currently,because there is no café,we have a lot of people itering around the premises,which is a security hazard. We have also increased our security since it is a

requirement of the times,” says Mukherjee.

Ranade adds that with a collection that is constantly growing,one needs added security. “Recently,we uncovered a precious artifact that had been forgotten in the storage. A 50-year-old stuffed baby elephant,” says Ranade. The pachyderm was born in Mumbai from a mother elephant that was part of a travelling circus. Unfortunately the baby died when it was just a calf and it was brought to the museum taxidermist. “The children are so delighted by the baby elephant,we have called it Pappu,” beams Mukherjee,proud of the activities bent on shaking off the impressions of a fuddy-duddy institute.