Nitish dispels fear about the slow death of Patna Museum
Patna,(BiharTimes): Dispelling the widespread fear among historians and experts that Bihar Museum is being promoted at the cost of Patna Museum chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday assured that the latter would be modernised and renovated.
Speaking at the function organized to inaugurate four more galleries of Rs 517-crore Bihar Museum on Gandhi Jayanti Day he said all the pre-1764 artefacts would be shifted to Bihar Museum from Patna museum whereas the post-1764 artefacts, including the collection of many Buddhist manuscripts, sculptures and coins donated by Rahul Sankrityayan would remain there.
It needs to be recalled that only a few days back Rahul Sankrityayan’s daughter, Jaya, wrote a letter to Union culture minister, M C Sharma, protesting against the shifting of the collections to the new museum which was donated by her father.
Nitish said that his government understands the importance of Patna Museum and there is a plan to develop it as a modern and contemporary museum. The government is also deliberating that the ticket bought at one of the museums would be acceptable at both the places.
Referring to the opposition he said his government went ahead with the decision amid protests. He said he does not understand why people protest such a decision that seeks to exhibit the rich heritage of the state.
On Patna high court questioning the expenditure of Rs 500-crore for Bihar Museum he said the court later dismissed the PIL.
Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and art and culture minister Krishna Kumar Rishi were among the dignitaries present.
The museum was also reopened for visitors. It had been closed since March 28 this year for maintenance. The museum was inaugurated by the CM on August 7, 2015 with just three galleries.
Patna Museum is the third biggest museum after Kolkata and Madras (now Chennai) and was built exactly 100 years ago.
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