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. Ma’am, we also want to know the history of this museum.There is an article from Wikipedia

Ma’am, 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 museumand 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 Bakliwal’s 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?