INTRODUCTION

This is a report on internship I took at the Government Museum, Chennai. The

internship was started on 26th April 2017 and ended on 25th May 2017. It was
arranged by our Head of the department and other faculties from our
department. It was arranged for P.G students those who are going to the second
year of their course. It is the second largest museum in India after the Indian
Museum in Kolkata and is also one of the leading museums in South Asia. It
was attended by the class of 19 students for 21 days. Our internship was
conducted in Government Museum, Chennai. Because museum and history as a
close relation with each other museum helps us to see the history practically
from what we learned through books. Museum is a centre of knowledge about
the antiquities and remains of the past. The museum officer G. Kalathi the Head
of Education section was in charge for our training in Government Museum,
Chennai. The curator of other sections in museum also gave training in their
respective sections. It helped us to gain more knowledge about the past their
values and importance. They also gave training in the preservation and
conservation of the natural objects. The museum has many sections like
Archaeology section, Anthropology section, Education section, Numismatics
section, Children Museum, Art gallery, Geology section, zoology section,
Botany section, Chemical conservation section, Design and Display section. It
has four main galleries including the Hindu sculpture gallery, Bronze gallery,
Amaravathi gallery, and the National Art gallery. The objects in each section
was arranged according to chronological order and species. Each section
consists of Curator, Assistant curator and guards for protecting the objects in the
section.
AIMS AND MISSIONS

Museums are to develop and diffuse knowledge. The cultural and educational
values of museums have to be fully utilised in Third countries.

CHENNAI MUSEUM AIMS

In its Archaeology Section highlights South Indian sculptures and idols. This
would reflect the high proficiency in carving and casting technology in South
India.

The Numismatics Section with its huge collections of coins, philatelic materials
and documents aims to understand the culture, history and technology of India
and its relationship with the outside world.

The Art Section tries to reflect the changing trends of painting starting from the
periods of the Mughals adaption of western oil on canvas painting technique by
Raja Ravi Varma in the 19th century to the present era.

The Anthropology Section helps to understand the origin of human culture in

South India and the customs and manners of South Indian tribes and its
evolution into the present stylised forms.

The Geology Section tries to present the richness of south Indian rock
formations and mineral varieties and informs the ways they are formed, their
scientific exploitation and their effects on ecology.

The Botany Section exhibits the existing flora of South India with a special
emphasis on commercial Botany.

The Zoology Section with stuffed birds and animals in well designed dioramas
helps in the comparative study of South Indian fauna with those of other
countries.
The Childrens Museum aims to encourage children to touch and feel exhibits to
help them understand their heritage and to develop scientific temper.

The Chemical Conservation Section tries to preserve the objects in the museum
in their pristine form.

The Design and Display Section is in charge of galleries and the thematic
presentation of the collection. This is to attract and sustain the interest of viewer.

The Education Section in coordinates with all other sections tries to act as a
bridge between society, especially the learning younger generation and the
museum.
A website to enable online access and viewing of all the galleries and artefacts
should enable anywhere in the world to visit the museum.

HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

In the year 1846 proposal for the museum to establish in Madras was sent to the
court of directors of East India Company London by Sir. Henry Fotingr the
Governor of Madras Presidency. In January 1851 Dr. Edward Balfour the
medical officer of the Governor body guards was appointed as a first officer in
charge of the Government Museum, Madras. It was initially established in the
Collegeof Fort St. George, on the College Road, at the site of current office of
the Director of Public Instruction. The Museum was housed on the first floor,
and began with 1100 geological specimens of the Madras Literary Society.

In December 1854 the museum was moved to the assembly rooms of the
Pantheon building. The building belonged to a group of eminent British citizens
known as the Pantheon, who were in charge of improving the social life of
British people in Madras. The total area of the museum is 16.25 acres and it was
47 acres of land during British period. The museum has six buildings and it as
three heritage buildings.
The centennial of the museum was celebrated on November 27, 1951. The
celebration was inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.

ANTHROPOLOGY SECTION

The museum has anthropology section we got training for two days 26 th and 27th
April 2017.

It displayed the objects related to early period their contemporary objects and
the objects related to British rule.

In this section they explained the importance of the artefacts from Palaeolithic,
microlithic, Neolithic and chacolithic period and the evolution of man during
various time.

It also explains about the tribes of India lived during earlier periods. The
artefacts explains about their culture, food habits, traditions, customs and their
punishments. For.eg. kani people, Khond tribe etc.

The Anthropology section as a separate gallery for Indus valley civilization it

tells about the life style of Indus people the highly developed urban culture and
the usage of objects made from copper or bronze, stone tools.

The Characteristic exhibits of this civilization indicate the high cultural level of
the people. They knew town planning, pottery, bead making, spinning and
weaving etc.

The Anthropology section has separate gallery for musical instruments used by
sangam people it is classified into three types are displayed here. It as unique
exhibits like Yazh described in Tamil classical literature. Another rare musical
instrument is the Pancha - Maukha Vadyam, ahuge bronze drum with five
faces which is used in temple music.
It as statue of British General for Indian army, the arms and weapons used
during British rule. It also as tiger head cannon captured from Tipu Sultans
army in 1799 upon his defeat at Srirangapattna. The curator explained the
functioning of the cannon.

In this gallery we learned about history of India during earlier period and also
about South Indain history.

DESIGN AND DISPLAY SECTION

The museum has design and display section which we attended on 28 th April
2017. The cuator has conducted a seminar on this section and explained the
methods of how to display and design the artefacts and objects to attract the
people to visit the mseum.

In this section they explained the importance of display, types of display

methods and original materials, models and were to use them.

They also explained the materials used for the preparation of showcases like
wood, plywood, aluminium panel sheets, aluminium profiles, hyalum sheets,
sun boards or vinyl boards, glass and acrylic sheets.

In the seminar they explained the lighting methods used in the museum to
exhibit the objects. There are different light sources used in the museum to
exhibit the objects and make them attractive to the people and enjoy their visit
to museum.

Different light sources like incandescent bulbs, track lights, fibre optic light, led
light, halogen lamps, CFLL lams, halogen bulbs and lamps are used in the
museum according to the nature of artefacts to protect them for long duration.
They also explained about labelling which is the important process in the
museum because it helps us to gain the information and importance about the
artefacts kept in the display.

They taught us about the principles of labelling, types of labelling, materials

used for labelling and principles of neat display of artefacts and objects in the
museum.

GEOLOGY SECTION

We attended Geology section on 3rd and 4th May 2017.In this section they
explained about the formation of earth and its development especially of its
rocks.

NUMISMATICS SECTION

This section we attended on 5th May 2017. This section has coins which belongs
to sangam, ancient, medieval and modern periods in India and coins of various
countries like Roman coins.

On the first day we went to gallery and saw the rich collections of coins from
ancient to modern times made of gold, silver, bronze, copper, lead and nickel.

The curator of this section arranged for a seminar for detailed explanation about
coins and the metals used in the production of coins.

He explained about the importance of coins for writing history as it serves as

primary sources it also helps us to identify the economic condition of the king
and people. Coins also helps us to tell about the important incident in the past as
the kings have the habit of releasing coins when they achieved something
important like victory in battle or to promote their religion.

The curator also explained about the importance of coins and its importance to
know about the history of places and the kings who released the coins. It also
helps to get the portrays of royal kings like Chandragupta, Kaniska and other
kings.

The curator also explained about how to identify coins minting place according
to their mark in the coin. Diamond mark belong to Bombay mint, dot mark
coins belong to Delhi mint, star mark coins belong to Hyderabad mint. If there
is no mark in coin it belong to Calcutta mint.

The coins are made in languages like Urdu, Pali. When Europeans came to India
they used their languages to release coins. Eg. English and French coins.

The curator explained about the methods of making coins. They are

Machine technique
Casting through moulds
Dye striking

The speciality of this coin gallery is the coins in the gallery was designed with
huge models of rare coins displaying both sides of the coin in detail under an
acrylic board with built in lighting. In India, this is the first museum that has
used this technology.

ZOOLOGY SECTION

The museum has a zoology section which we attended for two days 8 th and 9th
May 2017. This section has animals, birds, reptiles, fish, bugs, insects which
belongs to various species vertebrate and invertebrate, mammals etc.

The curator of this section explained about the birds and animals which were
kept in display their family, species, classification and their uses for people and
environment. The museum has separate gallery for birds, snake, fish, crabs,
lobsters and other reptiles etc.
The animals and birds kept in display are stuffed animals because to preserve it
for a long time. The snakes and fish are kept in bottle with solution to preserve
them.

They also kept the models of endangered species and the curator explained
about the importance of that animals, birds and the need to preserve them for
future generation. The curator told us how to preserve the endangered species.

Some of the animals and birds are kept in diorama for giving the visual
representation of birds and animals as it in forest.

The main attraction of this section is the gigantic skeleton of a Pygmy Blue
Whale hanging from the centre of the ceiling in the hall. Some other skeletons
found in this museum belong to Indian elephants, tigers, panthers, horses and
humans.

BOTANY SECTION

This section we attended on 10th and 11th May 2017. On the first day we saw the
objects kept in the Botany section. The Botany section was divided into two
systematic botany and economy botany.

The systematic botany section deals with the systematic classification of plants
and is represented through specimens belonging to Thallophytes, Bryophytes,
Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.S

It also has flora of south India. The plants are preserved in herbarium sheets to
preserve it for a long time. The curator explained about the plants and their uses
in that section.

The chief aim of this gallery is to show the ways in which plants are useful to
man. The specimens have been arranged according to their uses to which plant
materials are put.
The economic section of botany as plants which has commercial purpose. The
curator of this section explained all the plants in the economic botany gallery its
uses and its importance.

This section displays the varieties of fibres, bamboo, jute, sugarcane, plant
fossil, millets, pulses, oils, spices, narcotics, drugs, dyes, perfumes, seaweeds,
beverages obtained from various plants depicts the economic uses of plants. It
displays various types of wood obtained from trees its uses and importance. It
also as a showcase of plant engineering which explains how to use plants in
engineering works.

Diorama showcases depicting seaweeds, ecological environment, tea and rubber

shows the plant adaptation to live in nature.

The botany section has a unique collection of carved wood print blocks which
are kept on display for the first time in botany gallery for the benefit of the
public to see and enjoy the traditional artistic designs.

This section also displays the clothing and textiles which are followed in
different states which depicts their culture value.

EDUCATION SECTION

The museum has education section which we attended on 12th May 2017. The
curator of this section explains about the importance of the museum and how to
promote interest among people to visit the museum to know about the history of
their own country.

He taught us about museology. Muselogy means study about information

restored on artefact kept on display.
Museum is a center which gives entertainment for layman imparts knowledge
for the students and research scholars to prepare article. Museum is a center of
knowledge about the antiqities and remains of the past.

Museum is a guideline and a source of information for creating history. Museum

is a place which enlightens a knowledge of an old artefacts.

It has played an vital role in taking us from past from present. Museum is a
place which educates by way of display.

DUTY OF MUSEUM

The duty or main aim of the museum is

To collect the object

To study the object and

To preserve the object

The objects are kept collected using three methods are

Indian Treasure Troove Act 1878

Gift or donation

Purchase from people

ART SECTION

The museum has art section which we attended on 16th May 2017. The curator
explained about the painting kept in the section and also about the materials
used for paintings from olden days to present time their uses and importance.

The art section as a portraits of British governor which were drawn using oil
paintings. Eg. Portrait of Robert Clive etc.
This section also has the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and the other painters.
Raja Ravi Varma paintings are considered as a National Treasures of India by
the government. Many of his paintings are present in Government museum but
the famous ones are Sakuntala the master piece of his work, The Miser, The
Lady with the Mirror, and Yasodha and Krishna.

There are many paintings from other painters and materials are present in the
museum such as water colour, oil on canvas, pen and ink.

The Government museum Chennai has good collection of traditional paintings

and sculptures. The traditional paintings of Thanjavur, Rajput, Mughals,
Kangra, Deccan are present in the museum each place as different methods
followed by them which make their paintings unique. Eg. The distinctive
character of Thanjavur painting is their gold gilt and gem set technique. The
paintings are framed and wood is used as support material.

In the ground floor of art section it has artefacts belongs to Palaeolithic and
neolithic periods. The main idea behind this exposition is to show how
industries and handicrafts developed from the remote prehistoric past to the
recent period.

It displays the models of the things used by pre historic people such as pottery,
textiles, metals, handicrafts. Transport starts with the invention of wheel which
along with fire changed the entire history of the world.

The early steam engine and the progress of technology till the develpoment of
the diesel engine and the electric engine are displayed.

The art section has the rock cut gallery which provides important Rock Cut art
forms of Tamil Nadu under one roof. The museum has simulated the natural
atmosphere of the caves and has used interactive display techniques.
CHILDREN MUSEUM

The Government Museum Chennai has a separate section for children called
chidren's museum. This section was opened to create interest among the
children to know about their history and glory of their country. The Children's
Museum is a place for entertaining education to the children, which takes them
from land of books to land of objects.

It also encourages a child to probe new horizons and directs into constructive
and worthwhile pastimes.

It tries to mould them into sound citizens of their future.

The display arrangement reveals to children the world in which they live,
arouses their curiosity and open door to the world of educational entertainment.

It aims to encourage children to touch and feel exhibits to help them understand
their heritage and to develop scientific temper.

The Children's Museum has many galleries namely

World Costume Gallery

World Civilisations Gallery
Natural Science Gallery
Physical Science Gallery
Transportation Gallery
Science Corner
Kids Corner

In the World costume gallery it displays the cultural heritage of people around
the world and the costumes of classical dance present in India and other country
and the dresses worn by people in India according to their environment in each
state.

In the World Civilisation Gallery its displays the models of pre historic period
and various civilisations existed in our country and around the world. It as the
models of Ancient Tamilagam, Egyptian civilisation, Greek civilisation.
Sumerian civilisation, Babylonian civilisation, Chinese civilisation, Assyrian
civilisation, Phoenician civilisation which are explained through semi-diorama
showcases in the world civilisation gallery. This gallery explains the town
plannig, life style, food habits and their hobbies through visual representation.

Science and technology have been key agents in human history. It explains the
connection between them from use of fire by our early ancestors to today's
manipulation of the genetic code, thr triumphs and tragedies of our lives have
been inextricably likened with the advance of science and technology

It also displays the various transport used by the people from ancient period to
present time. It has the art work done in paper which were attracts the children
and induces them to learn art work.

CHEMICAL CONSERVATION SECTION

We attended chemical conservation section on for three days 17th, 18th and
23rd May 2017. The curator of this section explains the importance of the
section and its uses because this is the section which conserve and preserve the
artefacts to keep it for display. The curator also explained the chemical and its
uses in preserving the artefacts.

The curator of the section explains the methods and ways used for conserving
the artefacts such as bronze statue, copper, gold and silver coins. The curator
showed us the conservation and preservation of artefacts practically and
explained the process in detail.

There are two methods of conserving the bronze statues. They are Mechanical
method and Chemical method. Before the starting of conservation process the
artefacts documentation is done for each object by details of objects like weight,
width, diameter and photo of the object.
In mechanical method the statues are first scraped with scraping tool and copper
brush are used to remove the sediments from the statue. It takes two to three
days or more according to the condition of the statues.

The chemical method is followed by the completion of mechanical method. In

this method chemicals are used on the statue to protect it from disease arrest
because the statues were under the land for a long period of time which leads to
the growth of bacteria and erection in statue.

To protect it from disease and further damage chemicals such as surgical spirit
and benzotrizole (3%) should be applied on the statue and kept for 24hrs. After
this the statue should be coated with poly vinyl acetate and acetone kept it for
two to three days to give a smooth finish.

PRESERVATION OF COINS

In this section coins are conserved after statues. There are coins made up of
gold, silver and copper coins are conserved.

Mechanical Method

For coins the mechanical method is same as of bronze mechanical method

documentation, scrapping and brushing.

In chemical method sodium hydroxide 10%, potassium sodium tartrate 5% are

mixed in 100ml beaker with water and coins are kept n the solution for
cleaning. After it gets cleaned citric acid is used for washing the coins.

In electro chemical method coins are tightly tied in aluminium sheet and kept in
a solution of sodium hydroxide (15% - 20%) in 100 ml beaker to get cleaned
citric acid is used for complete cleaning.

The curator also explained about how to clean the manuscripts and specially
palm manuscripts. In this process manuscripts are cleaned with brush to
reomove dust and insects. To prevent it from disease rectified spirit and
citronella oil (5%) is used.

If there is any damage in manuscripts Japanese tissue paper can be used for
joining them. By this way palm manuscripts can be preserved for future
generation.

The curator also explained about the ways of conserving paintings paractically.

ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION

The museum has Archaeology section which we attended for two days 24th and
25th May 2017. The curator of this section explained the objects kept in the
display and also explained about usage of ornaments in variou period.

This section has sculpture belongs to various kings who ruled Tamil Nadu Early
Chola period 850- 1100 A.D, Later Chola period, Vijayanagar period, it has
extensive collection of sculptures of Pallava period.

It aslo has copper plates in the first floor namely which belongs to Chera kings,
Chola kings Vijayanagara kings, pallava Kings and copper plates belongs to
Nayak of Madurai, Sethupathi and other kings which explains about the kings
and the people. It has 600 inscriptions in copper plates and 100 stone
inscriptions.

In addition to this it has sati stones, memorial stones which belongs to various
period and places. A Sati stone, Mahasatikkal or Mastikkal is a memorial stone
set up over the place when a faithful wife had committed sati. Hero stones are
memorail stones set up i memory of valiant heroes who died either on battle
field or defending the village cattle during a raid.

The section has separate galleries for Hindu sculpture gallery, Amaravati
gallery, Jain sculptures.
In Hindu sculpture gallery all the sculptures are religious in purpose with a few
exceptions they are designed to remain worshippers of the divine conceived by
Hindu philosophy. The sculptures belong to saivite, vaishnavite and
architectural piece datable to 9th century to 16th century C.E.

The Amaravati gallery has many sculptures of Buddha. The sculptures in this
gallery are made of lime stone. At the end of the gallery the stone sculpture
Buddhas from various parts of Tamil Nadu are displayed along with the stone
slabs of Bhattiprolu, Vidhyadharapuram and other buddhists sites of Andhra
Pradesh.

The Jain sculptures gallery has the sculptures of Jain Tirthankara. The
Government Museum, Chennai has a good collection of Jain sculptures. The
sculptures in this gallery belong to Tamil Nadu region, Karnataka region an
Andhra Pradesh region.