State Museum cries for structural changes
My City, My Life
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2009: Considering the encouraging sign in the number of visitors to the Manipur State museum there is urgent need for structural changes so as to serve the very purpose why such an institution had been established.

Unarguably a store house of knowledge from the primary stage students to the university level scholars owing to the wide range of artifacts racked and tucked around the galleries, the State Museum is nevertheless lacking with regard to provision of basic amenities.

The chief stumbling block impairing the Museum from being a cynosure of the ever increasing number of visitors, including from outside, is the absence of convenience facilities.

Visitors looking in awe at some of the aretefacts put up at the State Museum

As the current state of the Museum had been summed up by an assistant teacher of a Churachandpur district educational institution there is no provision to quench thirst or to respond to nature's call.

The teacher namely L Okendra who had brought along him students of Don Bosco (Churachandpur) for a visit this afternoon cited helplessness when a student visitor queried where the Museum toilet is.

To his astonishment, Okendra found out there was no toilet in the museum and confessed to have guided the anxious student to an isolated corner within the museum premises.

doubting that such a sorry state could be observed or experienced in museums in the other bigger cities, the teacher was certain the inconvenience factor could be addressed with a little effort.

While expressing concern that similar regretful situation might had been endured by other visitors and strongly suggesting prompt redressal measures, the teacher conveyed gratitude that tour of the Museum was a fruitful trip as the young students were able to evidently grasp an idea from the historical point of view the gradual changes manipur went through.

Sharing that the students were enthralled on the visually treat they had from the Museum's collection of antique items and structures which they could comprehend only through their books, the teacher guide desired that Museum authorities put on display the original ornamental collections having historical relevance in place of the photographs of the recovered antiquities.

Located in the heart of the capital city, the manipur State Museum is informed to have been established on September 23, 1969 and since then underwent renovations in phased manner.

Among others the Museum today houses different items of historical importance showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the multi-ethnic State mostly in diorama form as putting on display in physical form recoveries of precious material is considered risky in view of the law and order situation of the State.

Most of the valuable items recovered from different parts of manipur are being tucked away in the strong-room.

when lack of basic facilities was highlighted, State Museum officials insisted that plans are afoot for arrangement of drinking water system and toilets at the earliest.

Affirming that number of visitors had been steadily increasing every year, the officials also recommended that periodical visits to the museum be included in the school curriculum so as to enable the students spawn their knowledge with regard to history of Manipur and contributions of forefathers in moulding the Manipuri society.

They also strongly suggested that teachers accompanying students disseminate information that items put on display in the museum should be limited to sight only rather than physical sensation.