The institution of the museum in India has its roots in colonial times and is closely tied to the European geographical voyages that led to global colonization. Curiosity cabinets in Europe, which were precursors to modern museums, emerged during the Enlightenment era of the 18th century. However, many regional museums in India have remained stagnant and object-centric, focusing on their uniqueness and authenticity, often neglecting the critical engagement with the objects’ connotations and contexts.
There are two predominant museum-related stances: the traditional “Museum as Temple” and the newer “Museum as Forum”. The museum as temple collects, preserves, categorizes, and displays objects for aesthetic veneration, but can also be seen as passive and museum-like. Cultural objects gain new identities within the museum and do not solely represent their original purpose or meaning.
The museum as forum, on the other hand, encourages viewers to look into the object and consider its various contexts, including aesthetic, epistemological, historical, social, and political aspects. To achieve this transformation, Indian museums need to shift their focus from object-oriented approaches and become forums for conscious and discursive practices. This requires re-contextualizing museum objects within wider cultural narratives and redefining the role of the museum itself.
By contextualizing museum objects in multiple historical and conceptual frames, museums can explore the interconnected narratives surrounding the objects. For example, a workshop conducted at a traditional Indian textiles museum addressed issues such as the link between Indian fabrics and the global slave trade, British Indian indigo production, and European espionage. These discussions not only appreciated the beauty and technical proficiency of the textiles but also explored lesser-known histories and connotations.
In conclusion, Indian museums need to shift from an object-centered approach to becoming forums that invoke various connotations and contexts. By encouraging viewers to look into objects and consider their wider narratives, museums can transform into spaces of critical engagement and discourse.