Kelkar Museum mulls thematic exhibitions abroad

PUNE: The

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

in the city is exploring the possibility of holding thematic exhibitions of artefacts abroad through the

Indian Council for Cultural Relations

(ICCR), Delhi.

Dr

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

, president, ICCR, Delhi, visited the museum earlier this month and evinced interest in collaborating with the museum to showcase some of the artefacts in various museums and shows across the world.

“The discussion was informal and at a primary stage, but I am expecting some formal communication to take this initiative forward. During the time of the founder, Dr Dinkar Kelkar, the museum participated in a festival inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi in Washington DC. With the support of the ICCR, we now hope to participate in such activities again,” said Sudhanva Ranade, director, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum.

“What makes the museum interesting for institutions abroad is the way the founder dedicated over 70 years of his life building his vast ,” said Ranade.

The proposed developmental plan of the museum has been on hold for a couple of years now. The state government had allotted six acres of land in Bavdhan for building a state-of-the-art museum, incorporating technology to provide cultural education for visitors and virtual tours, among other plans. “Technology and culture must go hand in hand. We plan to integrate technological advancement in the display and presentation of collection with touchscreens, providing information about the artefacts, their significance and history. A visit to the museum needs to be informational and educational experience,” he said.