• International Day of Museums-2021
• Theme: “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine” 

Mysore/Mysuru: The devastating second wave of Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns have compelled Mysuru Division of South Western Railways (SWR) to close both its Mysuru Rail Museum at Mysuru city as well as the Malgudi Museum at Arasalu in Shivamogga District for visitors on the occasion of International Day of Museums-2021 (May 18). 

Consequently, plans for addition of artefacts and features have been rendered difficult. The focus is now on sustaining the operations meaningfully notwithstanding the fact that the resources are limited with an eye towards the future consistent with this year’s theme “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine.” 

Rahul Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), SWR Mysuru Division, has called upon the Nodal Department managing the affairs of the Museums to devise innovative schemes to augment the revenue in a big way. 

He has also sought the cooperation of Corporate Houses to contribute funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives on creating more of interactive facilities in the Rail Museum to make it truly world class. Agarwal further said that Mysuru Rail Museum had played a pivotal role in preserving many of the remnants of the historical journey of the Railways in this region for over 140 years. 

“While we are all in isolation and confined to our homes, the Railways continue to contribute significantly in mitigating the sufferings of the people even during this critical times,” Agarwal said and called upon individuals to record their experiences in a diary, or videos, which can later become a part of the narrative of the Museum with voices being mainly from economically marginalised groups like migrant labourers to ordinary citizens, as to how they have responded to the present crisis. 

Agarwal said that people can take the virtual route to Mysuru Rail Museum to understand the evolution of the Railways founded by the rulers of the erstwhile Princely State of Mysore as it takes a while for people to come back to the brick and mortar buildings. “We are rethinking our long and short-term strategies in the changed scenario,” the DRM added.