Patna Museum

The government of Bihar has granted a little over Rs. 2 crore for renovation of Patna museum. This is too little and too late. Bihar being the cradle of Indian civilsation fromearly centuries of Indian history, has lots of artefacts and evidences of early to imperial civilisation. Naturally Patna museum is a rich repository of the traces from the past. unfortunately the keepers of heritage and history have been callous i their bounden duty towards the nation and its people. the Museum is in real bad shape with creaking and leaking building, to poor display of objects, no organisation in display, no audio visual lectures, no trained guides, no proper drinking water and very inadequate and rude security. In a nutshell a visit to Patna museum is never pleasant. and it is always inconvenient. moreover since the general profile of the visitor is rural and uneducated, the museum authorities never bother to educate and entertain them. They think that if they have 'allowed' the visitors a peek into the bizarre history then that is sufficient. In fact the Hindi name of museum is ajayabghar (mysterious place) itself speaks volume of the expectations of people and authorities both.
And now the Bihar government has made a sanction of two crores of rupees for its renovation. This is a silly small amount and that too given without much planning. I am sure this would go in painting of the building and repair of the building. There would be nothing left. This is certainly not the way to put museum on the tourist map.
First the Bihar government and ASI needs to waken up to the need of very professional and world class museum management standards that includes world class exhibition and top class facilities to educate and entertain the visitors. Not all visitors are history experts and that's why an audio-visual lecture programme and also a demonstration on the process of excavation is called for.
More over there is an urgent need to reduce the rude and visible security in the form of untrained Bihar police/CISF to trained and educated police force to protect the artifacts and guide the visitors. At present they only intimidate.
The visitors must be able to enjoy the visit and all efforts must be made to make them comfortable and memorable. A cafeteria, book shop, a coffee shop, a curio shop, a photo studio with models of artifacts stored for backdrop and such things are needed to make them comfortable.
for this the government must need a world class architect and interior decorator with museology background. And a committee of historians/archaeologists should be formed(no IAS Please!!!) who can guide the restoration and renovation of the Patna museum. and the money must be in the level of 20 crores to achieve the goals. any thing less will make a mockery of the whole process.