Bhopal State Museum's Priceless Heritage Faces Neglect As Ancient Sculptures, Historic Documents Exposed To Sunlight, Damp Walls And Broken Facilities

<b>Bhopal State Museum Faces Neglect</b>

The Madhya Pradesh State Museum, located on Shymala Hills, has been struggling with several issues, including poor lighting, malfunctioning air conditioners, damp walls, broken floor tiles, and exhibits exposed to the elements. Established in 1964 and moved to its current location in 2005, the museum boasts a rich collection of fossils, ancient artefacts, manuscripts, sculptures, weaponry, and textiles from the state's past. However, the museum's upkeep leaves much to be desired.

The lighting arrangements in the galleries are poor, failing to allow visitors to fully appreciate the exhibits. Some areas have insufficient or improper lighting. The air conditioners installed to protect humidity-sensitive exhibits have been non-functional for years, causing rapid deterioration of paintings and old documents. The lift at the museum has also been non-operational for an extended period, causing inconvenience to elderly visitors.

In the Arms and Armaments gallery, a broken showcase and damp walls threaten valuable exhibits, including a painting of the disarming of sepoys at Barrackpore after the 1857 War of Independence, a letter dated November 1, 1858, mentioning the entry of revolutionaries under Tatya Tope into Bhopal district, and a circular order from 1858 detailing conditions for granting clemency to rebels. These documents are exposed to direct sunlight and damp air, further risking their preservation.

Valuable sculptures, such as those of Shakti Ganesh and Gauri from the 10th century, Natesh dated to the 8th century, and the 3rd-century Dwilingi Lakulish sculpture, are kept outdoors instead of in glass casing. A 10th-century Buddha sculpture from Shivpuri and other Buddha and Jain sculptures also sit exposed. An old specimen of Bagh print in the Textiles gallery also faces similar neglect.

Many of the displayed documents are copies, with the originals safely housed in the State Archives. The sculptures have been categorized based on antiquity and value, placed accordingly. Renovation of the museum is overdue, and tenders for the project have been issued. The timing of the renovation will be determined at the government level.