Indian Museum, Kolkata

Introduction

The foundation of the Indian Museum marks a significant milestone in India’s cultural heritage and the history of heritage preservation. Emerging from the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the museum stands as one of the earliest and largest multipurpose museums in the country.

Origin and Establishment

The idea of establishing a museum took concrete shape in 1808, when the Asiatic Society occupied new premises at the corner of Park Street on land granted by the government.
To lead this initiative, Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist, was appointed as the Honorary Curator and later Superintendent of the Oriental Museum of the Asiatic Society.

The Society envisioned a museum with two major divisions:

• Archaeological, ethnological, and technological artifacts
• Geological and zoological specimens

Dr. Wallich played a pivotal role not only as the museum’s first curator but also as one of its largest early donors. Of the 174 items donated by 1816, forty-two botanical specimens came from him.

Growth and Development

Dr. Wallich took charge on 1 June 1814, marking the official beginning of the museum. Under his guidance and with contributions from individual collectors, the museum flourished rapidly.

In 1878, the Museum relocated to its iconic building designed by Walter R. Granville, situated on Chowringhee Road, Kolkata. It opened to the public on 1 April 1878 with two galleries. The following year, it received part of the dispersed collection from the India Museum (South Kensington).

Over time, the Indian Museum evolved into a multidisciplinary institution, presenting collections across six major sections:

• Art
• Archaeology
• Anthropology
• Zoology
• Geology
• Botany

Evolution of Identity

Initially known as the Asiatic Society Museum, it later acquired the prestigious title of the Imperial Museum. To the general public, however, it became fondly known as the “Jadughar” or House of Wonders, owing to its vast and diverse collections.

Since 1878, the Indian Museum has continued to serve as a vital centre of art, culture, education, and research in India.

Philatelic Tribute

A commemorative postage stamp on the Indian Museum, Kolkata has been issued to honour its historic legacy and invaluable contribution to the preservation of India’s cultural and scientific heritage.