Museum offers peak into rural life that existed 100 years ago

Kolhapur, July 29 (UNI) A unique tourism project has come up in Kaneri village on the outskirts of Kolhapur city which gives a peak into village life existing nearly a century ago and will help promote and conserve ancient Indian culture and civilisation. Called ''Siddhgiri museum'', it is the brainchild of the 27th head of the Kaad Siddheshwar Math Swami Adrushya Maharaj.

Around 100 artistes worked round-the-clock for six months under the guidance of Hubli-based T R Solabakkanavar and scientist Dr Sangmesh Biradar to create a village which is self-sufficient, and the residents need not go outside to earn their living.

Talking to a group of visiting journalists, the Swami said the idea was to create awareness among the people about rural life and give an insight into Gandhiji's dream of ''gram swarajya''.

He said the ''math'' has about 25 acres of land on the outskirts of Kolhapur, most of which was wasteland. ''We decided that the land could be put to use in this manner,'' he added.

The museum has human statues which have been sculpted using bricks, sand and cement, while the roof tiles and window structures from village homes were used to construct the houses in the museum's ''village''.

The Swami believes that artistes and art should be brought closer to people. He said visitors to the museum could re-live village life and feel closer to the environment. ''A visitor to the museum will find a reflection of him/herself in it and feel that he/she has led a life in this manner or heard about it,'' he said.

The museum will be maintained by the ''math'' and an entry fee would be charged, the proceeds from which will go towards expanding the math's hospital project in the vicinity, he informed.

He said daily maintenance of the project would amount to Rs 5000. The entire museum has come up from the donations received from the devotees, and has been built at an approximate cost of Rs one crore.

The Swami also has plans to have a gallery of ancient Indian festivals and games. Besides, pictoral depiction of ancient scholars and sages like Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, Valmiki, and Vyas will embellish in the specially-created caves near the museum.

The Swami is of the view that growing urbanisation, competition and the ever-widening divide between the rich and the poor has created stress in the society, and a visit to the museum will act as an effective stress buster. ''People will know that despite their limited needs and desires, the villagers, about 100 years back, were happy and peaceful,'' he added.

The museum depicts the homes of a brahmin, vaidya (doctor), goldsmith, trader, barber, dhobi (washer-man), farmer, fisherman, tailor, and carpenter, among others, and also depicts the lifestyle of ordinary villagers. The museum showcases the traditions and customs existing in villages in the past, and how the barter system operated.

At the opening of the museum today, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil assured all help to the project, and said his Ministry will prepare a Rs 55-lakh plan to promote the project on a large scale and bring it on the tourism map of the state.

UNI