A City in Constant Evolution

You cannot deny, that ours is a city that is most dynamic. And in the eyes of The Man from Madras Musings nothing can be more representative of this than the current craze to develop museums among the various government departments. They seem to have come a long way from the time when they wanted to demolish and destroy anything of heritage value that they possessed to now when they not only want to restore but also convert them into museums. MMM, who has been called in very often for his views, has expressed himself very clearly. At a time when the best of museums in the city are unable to attract footfalls chiefly owing to poor displays, lack of circulation of artifacts, and no vision on how to attract people, what can several more museums do? But his words have thus far fallen on deaf ears.

The Puzzle of What to Display

Having decided to protect their built heritage, and then having decided to convert it into a museum, the powers that be are now puzzled over what to populate these museums with. MMM learns from credible sources that it is only now that the government departments are waking up about heritage not being just buildings but also a lot by way of photographs, files, and a thousand other things that a historic city can actually be in possession of ! The problem is that much of these have been thrown away over the years as worthless and have no doubt made some scrapdealer into an antique dealer. The net result is that the government departments are now scrambling for displays that they can put into their museums.

The Odd Requests to MMM

It is interesting that many seem to think that MMM may be having something that concerns their history. Many of them get their minions to call MMM and ask for strange things such as newspaper clippings, photographs, and what have you. In fact, ‘what have you’ is the correct description because the general telephone conversation always goes that way after the ubiquitous greetings of “Saar” and the hope that the saar is doing well. And when saar replies in the negative, deep dejection and despair follow. There is always a tight deadline with a minister arriving for inauguration and so can something makeshift be done? Some of them even ask MMM albeit ever so gently, as to how he can call himself a historian, when he does not seem to be in possession of what they want! To this MMM has to say that he is only a historian by accident and that even if he is one, his intention is only to collect information and not artifacts.

What Already Exists (But Is Not Looked For)

From what little MMM knows of these departments, he is fairly certain that tucked away somewhere in their vaults is everything that they need to have to put up in their museums. It is just the usual bureaucratic sloth and the lack of awareness as to where all their archival material is stored that prevents them from searching. A good place to begin for instance in MMM’s view would be the Tamil Nadu archives where every unwanted paper of the government ends up never to be seen again. The same is true of bureaucrats as well.

The Need for Archivists

Why can’t all these government departments have an archivist who can work towards protecting their history and heritage? That way the government would also be giving employment to several students of departments of history and archaeology in the various universities and colleges

Heritage as a Continuous Journey

MMM is glad that these government departments are now waking up to heritage. They also now need to realize that it is more a journey. Protecting the building is just the first step. Protecting what you have by way of other artifacts is a never-ending journey.

This article appeared in Madras Musings–https://madrasmusings.com/vol-35-no-14/wanted-an-act-to-protect-heritage-in-private-hands/

My book, Chennai, A Biography can be ordered-http://- https://sriramv.com/2021/12/27/how-to-buy-autographed-copies-of-chennai-a-biography-from-outstation/