Museum in search of friends

THE CHENNAI Government Museum is now 150 years old. A series of high profile events is being drawn up to celebrate the occasion. The State Government has decided to invite the President to inaugurate the celebration. A commemorative postage stamp has been planned.

Simultaneously, the Museum has planned to make a beginning in an area that has not been touched so far - Friends of the Museum Society.

With the State Government giving the green signal, the Museum authorities have invited interested individuals to enrol themselves in the proposed body. ``Such a set-up will be a forum for like-minded persons to discuss and debate how the functions of the organisation can be improved, to chalk out plans of action and, possibly, mobilise funds through the Friends,'' officials of the Museum say.

The Museum is not just collecting art, cultural, scientific and natural history specimens and preserving them but also extending educational services to students and researchers.

It has been recognised by the Madras University as a research institution for the fields of anthropology and chemical conservation.

``At present, we are getting quite a sizable number of students, who are keen on becoming volunteers for the Museum,'' Dr. V. Jeyaraj, Curator of the Museum, observes.

To rope in such individuals and some more for the benefit of the Museum, an institutional framework is sought to be created. Interested persons can contact the Commissioner of Museums, Dr. R. Kannan, through phone (nos. 8269638/8261578) or fax (no: 8218735) or e-mail to him at govtmuse@md4.vsnl.net.in.

Though it is a welcome move to establish the Society, the authorities should also think of ways through which the proposed set-up does not go off the rails with a change of Commissioner.

A pro-active chief of the Museum may keep the body going but, once he or she moves out, Friends of Museum Society will become defunct, heritage lovers point out.

There are such Societies in European countries. Those who are interested in museum activities join as ``Friends of Museums'' and work along with the staff.

They serve as volunteers, guides, and conservators in sections in which they have a liking. There is a membership fee and the funds are spent for the development of museums.

In India, certain museums have similar bodies, but they remain on paper and serve no real purpose. One of the reasons for this moribund state is lack of interest among officials in ensuring that the Societies play an active role. The Chennai Museum, one of the striking national assets, could provide the much needed model for an active Friends society, the architects of the concept say.

There is also tremendous scope to pursue publication activities, which would boost the financing of the Chennai Museum.

Despite advances in technology, and excellent academic resources available, publications with good production values have not been coming on the rare collections here.

Another priority item is the Museum shop which the Egmore complex cannot boast of. Such a shop is a must in any similar international museum, be it in Europe or America. Books on exhibits, scale models, videos on tape, VCD and DVD, pictures and other souvenirs are avidly collected by those with a sense of history.

The Louvre tickets in Paris are valid for two days, to encourage the visitors to return the next day. Free admission to students with identity cards is also a feature of the wealthier museums abroad.

Though the State Government, a few months ago, allowed the Museum to have a Publication Fund, there was not much budgetary support. What the new Government can do is to contribute substantially for the Fund at least now. This can go on till the Museum is able to sustain itself.

By T. Ramakrishnan

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