Museum Matters, Matters in Museum

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It is an honour for me to write a preface for the volume entitled "Museum Matters, Matters in Museum" by Prof. (Dr) A. K. Das who was my professor at the National Museum Institute, New Delhi (now called Indian Institute of Heritage). In fact, I feel it humble when he asked me to write this preface. I am indebted to him in many ways and that is why I am not writing the preface of this book as an expert in museology but to express my deep respect and also to lower the burden of indebtedness. Prof Das not only taught us museology dealing with the theoretical issues but abe compulsorily involved us in the critical operational aspects of the institution of museum. My sincere thanks to him for giving me this opportunity to express my gratitude One thing which is very important to mention here is that in this volume he tries to bring forth some latest development in the field. These issues are currently discussed in various national and international forums. From the latest references cited by him reveals the criticality of the study and research in the field of museum and cultural heritage. This volume is divided into two parts (1) Museum Matters and (II) Matters in Museum explores as to how museums came up with multiple new issues in which museologist all over the world racking their brain and wit. And at the same time the question of survival of the traditional cultural materials in their respective habitat which are facing onslaught of time have been dealt with deep understanding. The interface of museology and cultural heritage is the main plank of this work. The first part of the book brings forth certain critical contemporary issues such as Al induction in museum communication system, evaluation as a part of museum marketing research, the dichotomy of ideational and experiential museum in communication, community and social empowerment through museum toolkit, the contemporary need for teaching of museum related disciplines in view of the changing situation and deconstruction of heritage and social curation etc are scanned thoroughly in the first part of the book. All the critical areas of museology have been redefined and reconstructed in this treatise. I am sure this will open further avenue in museological research and thereby restructuring museums functional format in near future. The second part of the volume deals with cultural heritage as well cultural landscape in the hanging situation of the rural habitat of the country. Here certain less explored areas such as the musical instruments and its intangible cultural legacy, weaving tradition of folk and tribal apparels, assorted craft traditions and its question of continuity, endangered cultural landscape of eastern Himalaya and its vanishing cultural properties, little known cultural history of the north-east India and celebration of heritage have been delved taking into consideration the immaterial aspect of cultural heritage within the realm of conservation and safeguard. One of the paper deals with the folk art in transition from intangible to tangible as a market strategy and how it portrays bizarre social life in a changing urban situation. This part deals with matters in museum which calls for immediate attention of the museologists due to the impact of modernization. These matters in the realm of heritage conservation have repercussion for the future functioning of the museum and its sustainable development. The museological aspects covered in this work are significant because the knowledge domain today is saturated with user friendly communication medias which ensures easy access, quick retrieval, and availability at one place at one time. In fact, the virtual cosmos is posing challenge to the relevance of he museum as a community hub and that is why functional metamorphosis of this heritage institution a must at this critical time. This volume will be the inspiration to infuse necessary synergy in the Fallenging task of the museologist and others dealing with heritage.

This book is designed to deal with museum, museology and cultural heritage in a holistic manner. The beginning of the museum as the public institution, standing of the museology as an academic discipline, cultural heritage as the heart and soul of the museums and heritage repositories are the basic premises incorporated in this volume. Besides some critical issues of the contemporary time in the realm of museum communication and marketing are also figure in this work. The alternative museum movement that has impacted in the structure and function of the conventional museum since end of the last century have been explored within the realm of the future of museum as an institution of knowledge. There are continuous of discussions about the tribal culture in the country and need for preservation of tribal heritage has become the focus in recent time. The format of a new museum of tribal culture is succinctly discussed in this volume with the objective of creating awareness among the public at large about their way of life in the changing situation of 21st century. Due to the globalization and impact of the technology cultural heritages are at stake at all levels of culture. This aspect has been dealt with in several selected areas both in terms of tangible and intangible cultural properties. Offbeat topics like music and musical instruments, tradition of textile, other minor crafts practices, regional cultural mapping and cultural landscapes of immense beauty, world heritage convention for conservation of cultural heritage etc are seamlessly described in the second part of this book. This book brings forth the interface of the muscology and endangered human heritage on one platform for asy comprehension of the scholars, students and teachers and persons interested in human heritage.

Prof. A.K. Das is one of the stalwarts in the field of museology and museum in India continuously working for the last 40 years in various capacities in different Institutions contributing immensely for the organization and development of museums at state, regional, national level as well as at the international level. Starting from Arunachal Pradesh to the Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata, National Museum and National Museum Institute, New Delhi and to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. Finally, Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, New Delhi which he himself conceptualized, designed and developed. During his carrier he worked in various capacity as Director, Chair Professor, Advisor and Member Secretary with dedication and zeal. A person of great experience whose contribution in the field of museum and cultural heritage which could be gauged from a number of museums created by him. His literary works since 1978 found to be useful in research projects. Some eight books and edited volumes and many papers and articles in journals and periodicals in India and abroad so far published are referred to as original source. An astute researcher in the field of museum and human heritage which could be seen from the award of lucrative fellowships to his credit. Culture Ministry, Govt. of India awarded him Senior Research Fellowship and the most prestigious Tagore National Fellowship in recent time. He was also awarded UGC Visiting Fellowship, Dibrugarh University, Tezpur University Visiting Professor at the National level while at the international level ICOM Fellowship, Paris and Korea Foundation Fellowship for Korean Studies are some of the laurels bestowed on him. A versatile person served as the Governing Member of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, New Delhi, Member of the Academic Council and Research Advisory Committee of the Indian Institute of Heritage, Noida. He also served as the Member of the Board of Studies of National Museum Institute, New Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. In 2011 he was conferred with "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the All-India Museums Association, New Delhi