Focus on cultural heritage

Government of India is developing 10 museums on tribal freedom fighters to recognise their contribution in the freedom struggle, besides continuing its support to specialised museums such as textiles and crafts museums, defence museums and railway museums.

Nisha Verma

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, recently inaugurated a two-day Global Summit in Hyderabad on ‘Reimagining Museums in India’ — a first of its kind for India. In his address, he said, “As we celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are proud to renew our focus and dedication to preserving, protecting and perpetuating our cultural heritage. I believe that museums play a pivotal role in reviving our glorious past to life. Today India’s 1000+ museums are instrumental in not just showcasing and preserving the cultural heritage, but also educating future generations.”

Highlighting the role of other ministries and departments in promoting and upgradation of the museums across the country, Reddy said, “The Government of India is also developing 10 museums on tribal freedom fighters to recognise their contribution in our freedom struggle and is continuing to support specialised museums such as textiles and crafts museums, defence museums and railway museums.”

Sharing more details, he said, “As per the mandate, the Ministry of Culture also works for supporting and promoting our museums. Since 2014, the Ministry of Culture has funded 110 museums across the country and in order to promote scientific temper, 18 science museums are also being developed. Apart from this, the Archaeological Survey of India, which functions under the Ministry, runs 52 museums across the country.”

He said that the Ministry of Culture is working on an inclusive model that involves artists, museum professionals and educators, and places them at the core of the museums in the country. “Our museums need to reinvent themselves to be relevant for the 21st century in the new digital age. We need to ensure that our museums are more accessible so that our citizens can own them like their own parks and playgrounds,” he added.

In his address to the media, he shared the kind of efforts being put in to bring back the county’s stolen heritage from abroad. “95 per cent of the heritage that was stolen or taken away has been returned during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Out of the 212 antiques that have been returned since 1976, 199 were returned after 2014. Among these 157 antiques have been returned from the USA recently. This once again shows the Government’s commitment to Vikas and Virasat,” he said.

He said that the government has planned several initiatives for the state of Telangana, including a Science City in Hyderabad.

At the meet, national and international experts shared views on museums across the world.