Indian Museum Kolkata National Museum of India

The Indian Museum was established in 1814 in the birthplace of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (now the Asiatic Society Building, 1 Park Street, Kolkata), and is the earliest and largest multifunctional museum in the Indian subcontinent and even the Asia Pacific region. After the establishment of the Indian Museum in 1814, the museum movement was launched in India and gained new impetus and tremendous momentum in the following years. Since then, the museum movement has developed rapidly, with over 400 museums currently established in India. This movement, which began in 1814, actually ushered in an important era, opening up India's social, cultural, and scientific achievements. It is also seen as the beginning of modernity and the end of the medieval era.

The origin and development history of Indian museums is one of the major events in the development history of Indian cultural heritage. The Indian Museum was established in 1814 in the birthplace of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (now the Asiatic Society Building, 1 Park Street, Kolkata), and is the earliest and largest multifunctional museum in the Indian subcontinent and even the Asia Pacific region.

This movement, which began in 1814, was actually the beginning of an important era, ushering in the country's social, cultural, and scientific achievements. It is considered the beginning of modernization and the end of the medieval era.

After the establishment of the Indian Museum in 1814, the museum movement began to rise in India and gained new momentum and momentum in the following years. Since then, the museum movement has developed so brilliantly that over 400 museums have been established in India.

To understand the history of the origin and development of Indian museums, we should go back to the last 25 years of the 18th century when Sir William Jones, a learned scholar dedicated to serving India, founded the Asian Society in Kolkata in 1784.

The role of the Asian Society is to establish a learning center, develop arts and culture related to social and cultural activities, entertain the public, disseminate knowledge, and preserve human cultural and natural heritage for future generations within the geographical scope of Asia.

However, Sir William Jones, the founder of the Asian Society, did not mention in his inaugural speech that establishing a museum was part of the society's activities.

In 1796, members of the Asian Society envisioned the establishment of a museum in an appropriate location to receive and preserve man-made or naturally occurring objects.

This idea took shape in early 1808, when society discovered its ability to occupy land allocated by the government and build it at the corner of Park Street.

Six years later, the intention to establish a museum received practical and feasible efforts. Danish botanist Dr. Nathanial Wallich was arrested during the Siege of Seranpur in Hooghly, but was released by the government due to his scientific achievements. He wrote a letter to the association, strongly advocating for the establishment of a museum and suggesting that the association not only serve as the honorary director of the proposed museum, but also provide replicas of his own precious collections.

The proposal was warmly welcomed by the members of the association and it was decided to establish an association museum within the Bangladesh Asian Society.

Therefore, under the guidance of Dr. Nathanial Wallich, the Asian Society established a museum on February 2, 1814. He was appointed as the Honorary Director of the Oriental Museum of the Asian Society.

Various interesting and rare items have been collected from all over the country. In 1816, 27 European donors donated 174 items. Personal collectors include Colonel Stuart, Dr. Tetler, General McKenzie, Mr. Brian Hodgson, and Captain Giron.

Indian donors have started donating items to museums. There are 49 donors on the list, including 6 Baboo Ram Comul Sen, Kali Kissen Bahadoor, Moharaja Radhacant Deb, Mathuranath Mullick, Sivachandra Doss, and Begam Sambroo.

In 1837, James Princip, the secretary of the association, wrote to the government requesting the adoption of the association's proposal to establish a national museum funded by the state.

Dr. Helfer and other scientific officials have decided to establish an economic geological museum in Kolkata; This museum was actually opened in 1840. The Economic Geological Museum, built in this way, occupied the site of the society until 1856, when some of the collections owned by the Indian government were removed and placed at 1 Hastings Street, in connection with the Geological Survey of India.

In 1856, members of the association decided to submit a memorandum to the Indian government requesting the establishment of a Royal Museum in Kolkata. Two years later, the association submitted a proposal to the Indian government urging the establishment of a royal museum in Kolkata. The Indian government recognizes its responsibility to establish royal museums in major cities for collecting and displaying specimens of natural history, physics, economics, and history.

In 1858, the Geological Museum merged with the Geological Survey of India.

In 1862, the Indian government announced the establishment of a public museum in Kolkata and considered putting it into practice.

The negotiations between the Indian government and the Asian Society continued until mid-1865, and ultimately decided that the Asian Society would hand over the proposed museum of zoological, geological, and archaeological collections to the board of directors, while the Indian government would provide suitable accommodation for the Asian Society in the museum building.

Later, people realized that according to the plan, the building could no longer provide space for the Asian Society, the Indian Geological Survey, and the Natural History Museum. Therefore, the society also expressed unwillingness to enter a building that could not accommodate enough space and was easily restricted in terms of freedom of movement.

In 1867, the current site of the Indian Museum was laid in the most beautiful area of Chowringhee, opposite the small court. In 1875, the current museum building on Chowringhee, designed by WL Grandville, was completed. From 1814 to 1878, the museum was located at the Asian Society on Park Street in Kolkata. After the completion of the new building on Chowringhee Road, the Society Museum was relocated from the Asian Society to its current location and opened to the public on April 1, 1878, with two exhibition halls. The archaeological exhibition hall and bird exhibition hall of the Department of Zoology have been announced to be open to the public at their current location.

Although the Indian Museum initially had only two galleries, it was later transformed into a multifunctional institution with six sections (art, archaeology, anthropology, zoology, geology, and botany) showcasing interdisciplinary exhibits.

The museum was initially known as the "Asian Society Museum", later as the "Imperial Museum", and later as the "Indian Museum". The more familiar names for tourists are Jadughar or Ajabghar.

Since its establishment, the Asian Museum has been serving the Indian people as a microcosm of Indian art and culture. The role of Indian museums witnesses the social and cultural harmony between museums and society.

Nowadays, the museum has developed into the largest institution of its kind in India, showcasing India's national heritage and pride, and is hailed as one of the pioneering national institutions in the Constitution of the Republic of India.

The Museum Council has three main cultural departments, namely art, archaeology, and anthropology, as well as eight coordinating service departments, such as conservation, publishing, photography, exhibition, modeling, education, library, and security.

The museum has its own medical department that provides initial medical services to all staff members of the organization.

The administrative management of the cultural sector (i.e. art, archaeology, and anthropology) and other coordinating units/departments is the responsibility of the board of directors under the Office of the Indian Museums Council.