International Museum Day is observed every year on 18 May. Museums play an important role in showcasing and preserving the history of a nation, community or culture. Museums can give shelter to remarkable mementos – which later live on in our collective memories.
The day, initiated by the International Council of Museums in 1977, aims to create awareness among people that museums have a great contribution to society, especially in the field of knowledge and education.
There are about 1,000 museums in India, which preserve the rich socio-cultural diversity and heritage of this multicultural nation. While we have all heard of and admired the most famous museums – such as the age-old Indian Museum in Kolkata, which still stands today. The country’s largest and most elaborate museum, or the National Museum in Delhi, which houses over 200,000 artefacts ranging from pre-historic to the modern era – here are some hidden gems showcasing more obscure and offbeat artefacts.
These museums break away from the standard understanding of a museum gatekeeping from India’s past, and showcase mysterious, bizarre and rare artefacts emerging from cultures and communities across the country with little visibility in the mainstream.