Former joint director general of the Archaeological Survey of India Dr S. B. Ota said museum should be used as educational institution instead of a place of tourist attraction.
Museum stores vast knowledge so it should be developed as a cultural hub, he added.
He was addressing as a chief guest at a lecture series to mark the ‘International Museum Day’ at Mahant Ghasidas Museum, Raipur on Saturday.
Culture and archaeology directorate, government of Chhattisgarh and ASI, Raipur Division had jointly organised it. This year the theme is ‘Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of Tradition’. International Museum Day is being held since 1992, every year on May 18.
Dr Ota adds archaeology and history can be exhibited through street plays along with highlighting local culture. Common men interested in museum’s works can be linked as ‘Friend of Museum’ so that they can work as volunteer.
Archaeologist and Padmashri A K Sharma said slowly the interest among people on archaeology is being lost while the sites should be protected and conserved.
Department secretary Dr M Geetha said 32 documentation series on archaeological heritage of Chhattisgarh have been made. Now series on heritage is being made. Mahant Ghasidas Museum is counted among the 10 best museums in the country. A book based on Mahant Ghasidas Museum was released by guests.
