Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad

SALAR JUNG MUSEUM, HYDERABAD
GOLDEN JUBLIEE OF INDEEPENDENCE (ART)

(Contributed)

The Salar Jung Museum, derived its name from Salar Jungs (I to III) the erstwhile Prime Ministers to Nizams of Hyderabad. It is a Museum of National importance and houses rare and varied art collection from all over the globe, acquired by the family, more specifically by Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III (1889­-1949). The most important activity of the Museum, as envisaged in the Salar Jung Museum Act, is to properly exhibit the art collection to the visiting public from all walks of life, so that they get an adequate glimpse of the treasures of world art housed in this Museum. Govt. of India under the VIIIth Five Year Plan scheme sanctioned two more additional wings on the East and West of the existing Building so that the Eastern and Western art collections apart from Indian are appropriately displayed. This scheme will be realised during the Golden Jubilee Year of India’s Independence.

Besides, the Museum is geared up to provide a variety of educational and cultural programmes based on its contents, the history behind them, as also the devotion and artistic aims of the founders of this Museum. Accordingly, diverse popular programmes are undertaken every year for the benefit of the public, and students of all ages as well as scholars.

Objective and relevance:

The role of this Museum which came to be established immediately after India’s Independence as also the role played by great Indian administrators like the Salar Jungs in collecting, preserving, appreciating and enriching the global art content of the Museum will be highlighted through various programmes like exhibitions, workshop, Seminars and publications. Public attention will also be drawn to the various aspects of the global collection from the point of view of a variety of styles, themes and group of objects, belonging to the creative life of the society, from the 16th to 20th century. The academic and cultural programmes on the treasures of the World Art will be held on a National scale between August, 97­ - August, 98 as approved by the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India.

I. PROGRAMMES DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1997

The 50th Anniversary of Independence is regarded as a solemn occasion for assessment and evaluation of achievements and the role played by the Museum in the field of Cultural Propagation.

A part from the fitting observance of the National Flag hoisting Ceremony on Friday, the 15th August, 1997 in front of the Statue of the Founder, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur, the Museum is poised to observe the following Cultural and Academic Programmes during this month.

(1) Exhibition on Wheels: “HIGH­LIGHTS OF FREEDOM MOVEMENT AND EMERGENCE OF SALAR JUNG MUSEUM”

The Moving Exhibitions on Museum collections has assumed importance and attracted the leisurely audience. The Salar Jung Museum has a specially designed van to move occasionally with “Unique Exhibitions on Wheels” and takes the rare historical documents to the door steps of certain public places, Educational Institutions and remote corners within the twin cities as also nearby rural habitats. The present exhibition with rare photo illustrations and write up in English/ Hindi, Telugu/ Urdu languages, highlights the historical events related to the Freedom movement and role played by distinguished personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Abul Kalam Azad, etc. besides a galaxy of National Leaders and personalities connected to the emergence of India’s Independence.

The display here also includes rare photo-views of the art collections, their arrangement in Dewan Deodi (16th Dec. 1951); Passage of SJM Act (No. 26, 19th May, 1961) during the 12the year of the Republic of India, declaring the Salar Jung Museum as of National Importance; shifting of the collection to the new building, (1968) and visits of National Personalities, select programmes and special exhibitions held during the years find place in this Mobile Van.

(2) SPECIAL EXHIBITION:

“BIRDS AND ANIMALS IN THE ART COLLECTIONS OF SALAR JUNG MUSEUM”

Salar Jung Museum is a result of a one Man’s quest for the rare and great passion to acquire things beautiful. Nawab Salar Jung’s unparalleled art collection around the globe included rare objects depicting birds and animals, through various media Pottery, Metal, Wood, Ivory and Paintings. Nawab himself was fond of pets like Siamese and Persian Cats, Bull dogs and Japanesse pugs. Large stables with Arab and English horses existed. Polo ponies were cared fondly, Polo ground at Boyenapalli was famous during the period. The monogram of Salar Jung itself depicts two stately horses flanking and floating legend “MY TRUST IN GOD”. A large variety of birds were cared and lured in the Ainakhana. They include multi­ coloured parrots from Zanzibar; from Far East, Cannaries birds hanging in every couch of the verandahs of Dewan Deodi. A large variety of birds and animals are replete among, the Children’s Toys in the galleries (7 to 13) and open verandah.

(3) NATIONAL SEMINAR ON “ASPECTS OF PROTECTION, PRES­ERVATION, CARE AND DISPLAY OF ART OBJECTS IN MUSEUMS OF NA­TIONAL IMPORTANCE”

The Museum objects constitute physical evidence of Cultures passed from one generation to another. They provide inspiration and wisdom to many generations to come. One needs a lot of organised effort to display the collections effectively, take care of them, protect and preserve by different techniques. It is so because all the material relics are subject to the process of decay and deterioration over years, due to their interaction with various natural factors, like pollution, uncontrolled conditions of heat and moisture, light, human ignorance and neglect, etc. The modem scientific studies and technological development have opened up many new areas not only in creating adequate control conditions in temperature and humidity but new products and techniques are forthcoming. These need technical evaluation beforehand while adopting them in preservation and protection of multimedia art collections like those in the Salar Jung Museum which is poised for a thorough re- organisation in an expanded set up during the Golden Jubilee Year of India’s Independence.

II. FORTHCOMING PROGRAMMES

(1) National      Seminar (Oct­-Nov.97) “SELECT ART TREA­SURES AND ILLUSTRATED MSS. IN THE SALAR JUNG MU­SEUM”

This unique display provides a rare feast among the Far Eastern, European and Indian Art Collections apart form a glimpse of outstanding illustrated Mss. and Miniature Paintings of Deccan.

(2) SPECIAL EXHIBITION: (To coincide with Museum Week Celebrations (Jan. 98) “MASTER PIECES OF BUDDHIST ART IN SALAR JUNG MUSEUM
(Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan, besides Indian)

(3) NAWAB SALAR JUNG-III: 112th Birthday Celebrations (12th Feb. 1998) Memorial Lecture by Eminent Scholars.

(4) RELEASE OF PUBLICATONS: (1998)

a) SJM BI-ANNUAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, Vols, XXXIII -XXXIV for the Years 1996 -97
b) An illustrated work in colour: MASTERPIECES OF SALAR JUNG MUSEUM, to conclude the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of  India’s Independence.

III. REGULAR PROGRAMMES (AUG. 97 TO AUG. 98)

a) SPECIAL VIDEO FILM SHOWS on Every Saturday/Sunday A.N.

b) EDUCATIONAL COMPETITIONS: CHILDREN WEEK (14th - 20th Nov. 1997) Essay Writing and Elocution in four languages, viz. English/ Hindi/ Telugu/ Urdu for School students and College students upto under graduate level are held. Besides, Painting competition exclusively for the Disabled students is also organised during this period as per the Tradition of the Museum.

c) MUSEUM WEEK CELEBRATIONS: (8th - 14th Jan. 1998) Apart from lectures, Rangoli competitions for the ladies are conducted on the Pongal Festival Day.