Seminar in Patna Marks International Museum Day with Focus on Education and Research

Patna: In celebration of International Museum Day on Saturday, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Bihar, hosted a seminar titled “Museums: Medium of Education and Research” at Hotel Maurya in Patna. The event was inaugurated by Chief Secretary of Bihar, Brajesh Mehrotra, alongside Additional Chief Secretary of the Art, Culture and Youth Department, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah and Museum Director Rahul Kumar, who lit the ceremonial lamp in the presence of distinguished guests.

During the seminar, the Directorate of Museums released a new issue of its magazine, “Virasat Darshan.” In his keynote address, Chief Secretary Brajesh Mehrotra highlighted the importance of museums as repositories of history, culture, and technology. He emphasized the need to make museums more engaging for younger generations through the use of illustrations and 3D models. Mehrotra also suggested the creation of dedicated facilities for researchers within museums, including specialized rooms and extensive libraries to support academic study.

Additional Chief Secretary Harjot Kaur spoke about the broader role of museums in preserving historical artifacts and educating the public about their heritage. She advocated for the establishment of museums not only in Patna but also in other districts lacking such institutions. Kaur proposed the creation of theme parks dedicated to historical figures like Emperor Ashoka to further enhance public engagement.

Museum Director Rahul Kumar explained that the theme for this year’s International Museum Day is the role of museums in education and research. He announced that, in addition to the seminar, events were being organized in all 29 state museums, with the week being celebrated as Museum Week. The initiative aims to raise awareness about heritage among students, the general public, and intellectuals. Kumar also noted ongoing efforts by the department to publish reports on recent excavation site activities.

The technical session featured insights from prominent figures such as Professor Ratneshwar Mishra, retired Head of the Department of History at Lalit Narayan Mithila University; Dr. Umesh Chandra Chaturvedi, former Museum Director of Bihar; Parvez Akhtar, former Museum Director of Bihar; Dr. Atul Kumar Verma, former Director of Archaeology in Bihar; and Dr. Sujit Nayan, Superintendent Archaeologist at the Archaeological Survey of India’s Excavation Branch (III) in Patna. The session was moderated by Soma Chakraborty.