Mysuru: The Zonal Anthropological Museum, Southern Regional Centre of Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), had organised International Museum Day celebrations in the Museum premises in Bogadi here recently.

The Museum had invited students and Museum professionals and general public collaborating with Schools, Associations and other Museums for the celebrations.

Delivering a special lecture titled “Museums and Contested Histories” to mark the day, Anthropologist and President of Anthropological Association Prof. P.K. Misra said, “The knowledge that all human beings have a common origin irrespective of their sizes, colours, shapes, languages they speak, religion they profess and cultures is extremely important in the world striven with contested identities.”

Stressing on the importance of visiting a museum that allows one to understand the self better, he said, “What is displayed in a museum is a product of sustained and systematic research, and analysis of what nature has preserved for us and what human beings left in their habitats (nature preserved museums) and preserved by human beings (human being made museums). These researches establish that though human beings are a part of nature, they still have some distinctive traits.”

A special event called “Expression of Culture” was held on the same day especially for the school and college students. The invited 75 students took part in the surprising event (as it was not announced earlier) by drawing the material culture displayed in the Anthropological Museum.  

Museum professional from Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) Dr. Indresh, Scentist-in-charge, Dr. S. Verma (Scientist – B), O. P. Naik  and others were present at the celebrations.  

Dr. C. R. Sathyanarayanan, Deputy Director and Head of Office, Anthropological Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Mysore, welcomed.

About 50 students from Gangothri PU College, Mysuru, participated in the programme, according to a release from Nilanjan Khatua, Officer-in-charge, Zonal Anthropological Museum, ASI, Mysuru.