Indian Museum, Calcutta
Also called: Indian Museum · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Indian Museum in Calcutta (Kolkata) is the oldest museum in India. It was founded in 1814 with the help of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. It became the main home in India for antiquities collected in the colonial period, including sculptures taken from early Buddhist stupas.
Example
The museum holds parts of the carved railing of the Bharhut stupa in Madhya Pradesh. They show scenes from the Buddha's life added in Shunga times. It also holds some of the Amaravati slabs that were scattered in the 19th century.
Related concepts
- Elliot marbles
- Preservation of Sanchi
- Shahjehan Begum
- Sultan Jehan Begum
- H.H. Cole
- In situ preservation
- Treasure Trove Act
- Rajendra Lala Mitra
- European views of Indian art
- Arjuna's Penance