Dr. Anand Burdhan Calls for Decolonizing Indian Museology

New Delhi: The Conservation and Cultural Archives Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts organized a symposium on the topic ‘Museums & Archives: A Public Space for Education and Research’ at UMANG Auditorium, IGNCA, to commemorate International Museum Day 2024. The symposium was presided over by Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean (Administration) and HoD Kala Nidhi, IGNCA. The event aimed to create awareness and attract more visitors to the IGNCA Cultural Archives, benefiting students, artists, and research scholars. Distinguished speakers at the symposium were Dr. Anand Burdhan, Deputy Dean (Acad.), AUD, Delhi, Dr. K. Sanjay Jha, Archivist, and Ms. Shruti Nagpal, Deputy Controller, Media Centre, IGNCA and Dr. Virendra Bangroo, Associate Professor, IGNCA.

Dr. Anand Burdhan, in his address, argued that the perception of museums in India as a colonial construct is flawed. He emphasized that India has a long-standing tradition of maintaining repositories of art, culture, literature, and knowledge since ancient times. He cited texts like the Narada Shilpa, which outline principles for creating museums and categorising various provisions for housing artefacts, demonstrating that a prolific discourse on museology already existed in India. Dr. Burdhan reiterated the necessity of integrating the Indian Knowledge System into the field of museology. He critiqued the British missionaries and colonial powers for their hegemonic agenda in establishing museums, which he described as provincial centres designed to facilitate the exploitation of Indian resources. In contrast, Indian rulers such as Sayaji Rao Gaikwad and Ram Singh II founded museums as centres of education and civilisational study. These institutions were intended for comparative studies and the exploration of global history, serving as educational hubs. Dr. Burdhan stressed the importance of recognising and reclaiming this indigenous tradition within the discourse on Indian museology.

Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, in his address, described IGNCA as a “mini Ministry of Culture,” highlighting its comprehensive involvement in art and culture and commending the professionals for their good work. He emphasised the importance of museums in showcasing our heritage and culture, citing his recent visit to Mongolia where he was impressed by their museum’s upkeep of national history and heritage. Prof. Gaur shared an anecdote about Hampi, noting the importance of digital conservation, especially when a culture or tradition faces extinction. He emphasised the role of technology in conservation, making the past come alive. Expressing concern about India’s lag in museum education and its integration with technology, he stressed the need for a holistic approach to GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) rather than treating them in isolation. He called for inclusive practices and a change in administrative principles in the field. Dr. Sanjay Jha delivered the welcome address of the symposium.

Associate Prof. Virendra Bangroo presented a paper titled ‘Revisiting Museums for Education’ and Research – A Case Study of Museums in the Himalayan Region Supported by IGNCA,” emphasizing the need to create self-sustaining museum models in the Himalayan region. Dr. Shruti Nagpal, in her paper ‘Practices, Research, and Documentation around Film Cultures,’ explored various aspects of film archiving with a special focus on IGNCA’s film archives. She discussed what film archives are and how IGNCA’s film archives inspire global practice and research. Dr. Nagpal highlighted that film archives provide a material interaction with film history and emphasized their role in the democratization and proliferation of media resources.

International Museum Day (IMD) aims to raise awareness about museums as vital means of cultural exchange, cultural enrichment, and fostering mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace. This year’s theme, ‘Museums for Education and Research’ emphasizes the role of cultural institutions in providing holistic educational experiences and advocating for a conscious, sustainable, and inclusive world. The goals of IMD 2024, as outlined by ICOM, are: Goal 4: Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. The symposium aimed to engage young scholars, researchers, and students of Applied Museology, Art History, and Indian Aesthetics to educate them by giving a glimpse of IGNCA’s archival collections and to create a niche in the young minds about the significance of Indian art and culture.

IGNCA regularly organizes conferences, panel discussions, seminars, and memorial lectures to promote its rich cultural collections. Additionally, collaborative projects, events, exhibitions, and symposiums are conducted to raise awareness among students and researchers. Recently, IGNCA’s efforts were globally recognized with an inscription in the Memory of the World Register in May 2024, leading to the addition of the Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. Other speakers at the event included Miss Gunjan V. Joshi, who presented a paper on ‘An Overview of Collections in Cultural Archives, IGNCA’.  Dr. Satyendra Kumar, Assistant Professor at IGNCA, presented a paper on ‘Conservation and Re-Org Public Education Research and Outreach Programs’.  Shri Hanumant discussed the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection at IGNCA. Mr. Sadhish Sharma, Project Assistant at IGNCA, presented a paper on ‘A Case Study of Sukha Pada Crafts Village: An Indigenous Living Museum.’ Mr. Raghuram S. K., Project Associate at IGNCA, presented a paper on ‘Music Archives of IGNCA.’ The session was moderated by Sadhish Sharma and Raghuram S. K. of Cultural Archives, IGNCA.