International Museum Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 18 2014 : The International Museum Day was observed today under the aegis of the Manipur State Museum at its auditorium.

A tribal textile museum was opened on the occasion.

Speaking at the gathering, Art and Culture Commissioner Dr RK Nimai said that this year's International Museum Day theme 'Museum collection make connection' is quite relevant to the State of Manipur as it is inhabited together by around 35/36 communities.

Though distrust between different communities has been increasing nowadays, contributions of museum in the society can certainly ameliorate the situation to some extent.

There are many similarities between traditions and folk stories of different indigenous communities of Manipur.

Manipur State Museum has been working at its best level to protect identities of each and every indigenous community.

Mankind achieved the present state of civilization after a series of evolution.

Culture is one word which cannot be given any clear definition.

Discipline is also a part of culture, Nimai said.

Before Christianity, Hinduism and other religions reached Manipur, those people who lived in the hills were called hill people while those settled in the valley were known as Meitei.

The State museum's primary function is to establish the similarity and links between different indigenous communities of Manipur, he said.

Instead of lecturing students in classrooms about the importance of museum, it would be much more useful if teachers bring their students to museum and explain what students see there.

Manipur State Museum Curator Dr L Dhanapati said that the International Council of Museum started observing the International Museum Day for the first time in 1977.Since then May 18 is observed as International Museum Day every year on different themes.

The basic objective of observing the International Museum Day is highlighting the importance of museum and its contribution in the history of human civilization, she said.

Manipur State Museum was opened by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on September 23, 1969.Different types of tribal textiles collected since then are being preserved in the museum.

A nation's identity is shown by its traditional dresses.

Museum items are not some ordinary objects.

They are symbols of human civilization and progress, Dhanapati said.

Art and Culture Director K Sobita too spoke at the function.

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