Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Today, on World Museum Day, the city reflects on its surprising lack of a dedicated museum showcasing its journey from a small trade centre to its modern avatar.
Despite its rich history and rapid growth into an educational and medical hub, Indore has not seen a new museum in over 100 years. Instead, the treasures of its past remain scattered, waiting for a proper home.
The city’s first museum was established on 29 November 1923 by Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar III. Known as Nar Ratan Mandir, it later moved its collection to the Central Museum near the Indore Zoo after India’s independence. Since then, no institution has stepped forward to build a space exclusively devoted to Indore’s unique heritage.
In the heart of this void stands historian Zafar Ansari, who for the past 30 years has been involved in preserving thousands of original historical artefacts connected to Indore and the Holkar state.
“Indore’s development has been rapid in the last three to four decades,” Ansari says, “and a large number of schools and colleges have been established here. The city has become a hub of education and medicine and millions of students desperately need museums as centres of learning.”
He adds, “The importance of museums is that they connect centuries-old objects with the coming generations. Museums are a centre of education with their own language.” Ansari also stresses the need for museums based on science and the city’s cultural heritage. “A museum is the mirror of a city’s ups and downs, cultural, historical, social and religious pride,” he says.
Central Museum to host events
Central Museum Indore will host several events on Sunday. The programme, organised by the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Madhya Pradesh, will include a vintage photo exhibition, a museum walk, and an award ceremony honouring experts in the museum field.
The exhibition, inaugurated at 11 AM by MLA Mahendra Hardia, features portraits of the royal family, pictures of palaces, Chhatri temple, government buildings, religious processions, markets, industries, infrastructure, and rare photographs by Raja Deendayal.
A five-day museum walk will introduce visitors to the museum’s history and its diverse artefacts, including weapons, coins and paintings. Both the exhibition and museum walk will be open free of charge from May 18 to 22, from 10 AM to 5 PM, offering an engaging and educational experience for all visitors.
