Government museum lacks funds for renovation

No new artifacts have been put on show for 2 years

The Government Museum of Bangalore

BANGALORE (Sept. 13)—Home to Neolithic artifacts, the Government Museum of Bangalore on Kasturba Road  is having a tough time keeping visitors coming with nothing new to showcase.

A senior official from the state Museum Department who is also the curator and did not want her name to be used said that the last time artifacts were added was two years back, when the head office in Mysore decided to send some Neolithic pottery.

A government school teacher who often visits the museum expressed disappointment about the lack of variety in the museum’s display items.

“I came last year to this museum on a school picnic and this year again,” Shanti said. “There is nothing new to see. What’s the use of making children see the same thing again and again?”

Excavations are carried out regularly in the state, but the transfer of artifacts is the sole responsibility of the director of state archeology and museums, Dr. Gopal.

“How can we add new excavations to the museum? Renovations are going on from such a long time,” Gopal said. “To add new artifacts you need space, and there is no space in the city museum.”

Renewal of 135-year-old building stalled over fears of collapse

This renovation of the museum was proposed three years ago but was not sanctioned because it was feared that demolishing walls and building new ones might cause the 135-year-old building to collapse.

According to the Karnataka government’s Directorate of Archeology & Museums, the last excavation took place in May 2011 at Annigeri in the Dharwad district, where skulls that carbon dating found to be 638 years old were dug up.

Earlier in 2010, a book titled “Kalkad Excavations” was published by the Karnataka Archeology Department, detailing the results of an excavation that took 36 years to complete. Beads, broken inscription slabs, two brick wells, burial pots, porcelain pieces and terracotta pots were found and are currently stored in the Mysore Museum.

Siddana Gowda, director of the Government Museum of Bangalore said: “Artifacts found in excavations go through a long process before being added. Two wings in the building have to be merged, but that will not happen overnight—it will take time. We have submitted reports to the government for allocation of funds and they’re in the process [of being examined].”

Land earmarked for new museum

The BDA has allotted one acre of land for building a new museum to be called the Karnataka Heritage Museum, but has received no financial assistance for its construction.

Artifacts from all over the state museums will be displayed here, with special emphasis on ones displaying Kannada culture and heritage.

Dr K. Puttaswamy, public relations officer at the Bangalore Development Authority, refused to comment in detail on the matter, only saying the BDA had allotted the land and the construction of the museum will take time as the project is at a very early stage.