Patna High Court put a full stop on the debate over the utility of Bihar Museum last Friday by stating that the project would not be stalled, as it has neared completion. The authorities are now eyeing a grand opening of the colossal dream project by July-end. Piyush Kumar Tripathi offers a sneak peek into the museum to gauge the overall status of the construction process.

Orientation gallery

It is the gateway to Bihar Museum. It comprises  the orientation theatre offering a seating capacity of 150. Visitors would be shown 2D and 3D movies here, which would throw light on the components of the entire museum, spread over 13.5 acres. “Apart from the theatre, photographs of the different sections of the museum would be placed on the walls and replicas of a few significant artefacts would be kept at different places inside the orientation gallery,” said a senior official associated with the Bihar Museum

Children’s gallery

Also called the Drumhouse, owing to its drum-like shape, the gallery is the gateway to the history of art, culture and tradition of Bihar through various interactive mediums. For instance, Thai craftsmen have developed a large-sized replica of the ancient Barabar caves of Jehanabad using galvanised fibre reinforced concrete, which makes it look almost real. The gallery also has a gaming zone, wherein large-sized screens would be placed on the walls, where children would be able to play video-games based on the history and culture of the state. A replica of a banyan tree developed using Sikki art of Mithila region is placed at the centre of the gaming zone. The gallery also has a cafeteria beside an artificial lawn. 

Discovery room

Adjacent to the children’s gallery, the discovery room would throw light on various aspects of the excavation methodology. Artists from Delhi and Varanasi could be spotted on Tuesday giving final touches to replica of walls of ancient Telhara University as well as the Nalanda ruins. “People would be able to get hands-on information on various aspects of historical excavations, including methodology, tools and documentation works among others by coming to the discovery room,” said the official.

Other highlights

Though most of the artefacts would be from the existing Patna Museum, a number of exhibits, including large-sized replicas, are being procured from Scotland, China and Japan. Apart from the three galleries to be completed on immediate basis, work is going on simultaneously on the remaining galleries as well. Majority of the 25,000 and odd prominent artefacts would be kept in the three blocks — A, B and C — of the history gallery. Several other artefacts, mostly less important, would be placed in the visual gallery. The art gallery, on the other hand, would be dedicated to the traditional art forms from the state, including Mithila paintings, Sikki art, Madhubani paintings and murals among others. The Bihari diaspora gallery is dedicated to renowned personalities hailing from Bihar, who have brought pride to the state.

Authorityspeak

Bihar Museum will be the most significant contribution in modern times to conserving the rich history, culture, tradition as well as scientific heritage of the state. 

The theme of the museum is to showcase the history of Bihar and its contribution to Indian civilisation right from pre-historic times to 1764 AD. There was an urgent need for the museum as out of 40,000 artefacts kept at the existing Patna Museum, only 2,000 are being displayed at present because of dearth of space JPN Singh, director (museums) Art, culture and youth affairs department.

Legal hurdle

During the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Ashok Kumar, Patna High Court in March had asked the state government to prove the utility of the museum being developed in the heart of the city spending Rs 498.49 crore. While disposing the PIL last Friday, the high court stated that though the facts of the case were sufficient enough to stall the project at the initial stage, the question of stalling the project now does not arise since the construction is said to be 
nearing completion.