State museum in Bhopal, a showcase of cultural prosperity

by Anil Gulati
Source -www.merinews.com

The state museum of Madhya Pradesh has an impressive collection of artifacts illustrating rich cultural history of the state. Sixteen galleries exhibit collection of sculptures, archival and excavated materials collected from different parts of state.


IF YOU are planning to visit Bhopal, you should not miss a chance to visit the state museum of Madhya Pradesh. The museum is a splendid collection of artifacts illustrating rich cultural history of the state. Bhopal, the capital of MP, hosts the state museum that is located in the Shymala hill. The museum exhibits some old and the best pieces reflecting art and culture richness of the state.

The museum has sixteen galleries displaying unique showcase from pre-historic tools of lower Paleolithic period to stamps and autographs used in previous years in the state. The state museum was established in year 1964 and it was shifted to a new building at the end of year 2005 for better display of the exhibits. The museum, actually based on archaeological relics, also exhibits antiques such as sculptures, paintings, objects of arts, crafts, coins, bronze images, archival and excavated material from different parts of diverse state of Madhya Pradesh. The beautiful and rare exhibits of statues like Narwar in Shivpuri, sixteen feet long treaty of Burhanpur of year 1804, statues of Lord Shiva and many others will keep bringing you back to museum again and again. In the first hall of the museum, titled as master pieces of Madhya Pradesh, you can find some of its best sculpture pieces like sculptor of Yakshi of 2nd century BC, acquired from Satna, and statue of Buddha of 2nd century AD, acquired from Gwarighat, Jabalpur.

The Narvarha of 9–10th century AD, acquired from Mansaur, was not in India. Recently, it was brought back to the museum. Similarly, ‘Birth of Krishna’ that dates back to 11th century AD was also bought recently to the museum. Some interesting exhibits acquired from lower Paleolithic period are on display in its fossil section. In sculpture gallery, one can find sculptures of Ganesha, Shiva, Uma–Maheswar, Vishnu etc. These sculpture were collected from different places of state.

You can find a valuable collection of different editions of stamps of Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Badwani, Orcha and Datia state. In the musical instrument section, you can see the well-preserved instruments such as Israj and Rudra Veena. You will notice cannons of 18th century AD acquired from Indore, guns of Holkar period in the weapon section and coins dated back to British and Moghul period in its coin section.

In the excavation section, the water conservation and water reuse systems are just gleaming to watch. One can imagine how beautifully the communities in early years used to conserve and recycle water.

In the inscription gallery, the museum exhibits inscriptions on stone, copper plates found in state, prominent citations, grants issued by Pratihar and Parmar rulers and interesting six line inscription referring to building construction in Chanderi, Guna (now Chanderi is in newly formed Ashok Nagar district). In the section of royal collection ornate art objects, you can find several interesting things such as inkpot of 18-19th century AD and pen stand of 20th century AD also. One can say after visiting the state museum that this is really a splendid collection of artifacts illustrating the rich cultural history of the state.