Museology offers unique career for lovers of art

Mysore, Apr 29 (UNI) Museums, preserving the past, collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits and are custodians of our heritage.

They not only exhibit collections depicting life and culture, but also create awareness and educate society on various aspects. Now many academic institutions offer degrees in museology.

A variety of careers exists within the discipline of museum studies, including museum director, curator, educator, docent or volunteer, graphic designer, exhibit designer, archivist conservation specialist and so on.

The Mysore University is currently offering a course in museology as well.

Mysore has always been famed as the 'royal city' or princely state. It is historically rich in culture and houses a number of museums. So it is imperative to pride, honour and retain this extraordinary culture. The museums are liked 'jewel in the crown' in the 'city of palaces' Mysore, one among the top tourist destinations in the country.

The important museums of the city are Sri Jayachamarajendra Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Natural History, Folklore Museum of Mysore University, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manava Sangrahalya, the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) Railway Museum, Mysore Zoo, Mysore Palace and Scion of Mysore Royal Family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyars Private Museum, Vishwa a Unique Museum and JSS Mahavidyapeetha Museum at Suttur.

The museum experts feel that there is a need to utilise this rich culture and heritage along with history. All the museums should be included in the tourist circuit of the city. The Department of Tourism includes all these museums to boost tourism attraction in and around the city.

The world famous Jaganmohan Palace housing the Sri Jayachamarajendra Museum and Art Gallery, was thrown open to the public in 1955 by then Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. It has a collection of antique pieces, including the unique French calender clock which emits music.

The Palace shows the day, date and month on a separate panel, only one of its kind in the country. It has the collection of paintings of royal family members, old coins, dresses, among other things. The building itself a mirror, reflecting the past splendor of the Mysore Royal Family.

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