To mark International Museum Day on May 18, the two premier national museums in Kolkata—the Indian Museum and the Victoria Memorial Hall—will unveil a treasure trove of rare manuscripts and artefacts, many of which will be on display for the first time. Accompanied by multidisciplinary performances, the dual-site exhibitions are designed to showcase India's civilisational identity, mythology, and intellectual heritage.
Collaborative Exhibition: Namami Bharatam
At the core of the celebrations is a collaborative exhibition titled ‘Namami Bharatam: Many Forms, One Truth', which explores the evolution of Indian mythological narratives and knowledge systems across centuries. The 212-year-old Indian Museum will anchor the ancient philosophical foundations of the showcase. Its exhibits will feature representations of Siva, a rare Mother Goddess figure, and iconic forms like Ardhanarisvara and Somaskandha. The display will also include works such as Abanindranath Tagore's ‘Ganesa Janani' and depictions of Shri Ram, culminating in artefacts honouring the legacy of Bhagwan Buddha.
Victoria Memorial Hall's Modern Narratives
Concurrently, the Victoria Memorial Hall will trace these visual narratives into the modern era. Its gallery will showcase works by Raja Ravi Varma, Jamini Roy, and Gaganendranath Tagore. 'This unprecedented collaboration marks a historic moment for India's cultural landscape,' said Sayan Bhattacharya, director of Indian Museum and secretary and curator of Victoria Memorial Hall. He noted that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to reimagining museums as dynamic spaces of dialogue, aligning with the national vision of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' and Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
Gyan Bharatam Initiative and Rare Manuscripts
Under the framework of the central government's Gyan Bharatam initiative, a special pavilion titled ‘Gyan–Lipi–Grantha: The Written Soul of Bharat' will display rare historical manuscripts. The Indian Museum will showcase folios from Krttibas Ojha's ‘Ramayana', the ‘Chandimangala', and the ‘Harivamsa'. Meanwhile, the Victoria Memorial Hall will feature folios of ‘Bhagwat Maha Puran', ‘Bhakti-Lila Amrita', and ‘Majme ul Baharin'.
Cultural Performances and Events
The celebrations will also feature a dedicated cultural ensemble, ‘Vande Mataram: Nyaya, Nrtya, and Nation', commemorating the 150th anniversary of India's National Song. Events include a performance by Gaudiya Charukala Bharati, interactive historical role-play sessions for children, cross-genre instrumental recitals, and a classical dance production by the Shivranjani Odissi Cultural Association.
Technological Integration and Future Initiatives
The Indian Museum will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Brainware University, aiming at integrating artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality into heritage conservation, collection management, and interactive digital archiving. On May 19, the institutions will launch ‘Jadughar: Shared Histories, Shared Futures', a curated museum scavenger hunt for schoolchildren.
