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| Saturday, September 29, 2001 |
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This little-known treasure, which allows a peep into cultures of various countries, could well serve the purpose of an effective educational tool. But, unfortunately, there has been lack of proper publicity of the museum by the authorities concerned. Sometimes, during winter season, schools do take their students to the museum, but such visits are few and far between. Visits by the general public are also rare. And even most of the tourists who visit the city do not come to know that such a museum exists in Chandigarh. "I have been born
and brought up in Chandigarh, but I didn’t know that the city had such
a museum," laments Paramjit Singh, a resident of Modern Housing
Complex. "The administration has not bothered to put up even a
single sign board to apprise visitors and residents about the existence
of such a museum in the city," he adds. |
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A huge model of a German railway station, placed right in the middle of the big hall, makes an impressive exhibit. The aerial view, showing criss-crossing tracks, signals, platform, three trains, buildings, cars, trees and grass, is beautiful indeed.
The majority of the dolls are ordinary looking. Many of them have been made for commercial purpose only. So much so that those from Spain are kept in the very boxes in which they are sold in shops. Only two Barbie dolls represent the USA. There is not much variety in the Indian section, too. The diverse cultures and lifestyles of people living in various parts of our motherland could have been better represented.
Efforts should be made to make the
museum more attractive and popular so that a visit to it can both be an
informative and entertaining fare. Besides, the museum should be open on
Sundays as well. |
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AS
the clock strikes 9.30 in the morning, the gates of International Dolls
Museum in Sector 23, Chandigarh, open and the dolls there begin another
day of fruitless wait for visitors. Though this museum, which houses 250
dolls from 28 countries, was set up in the city 15 years ago, very few
people are aware of its existence.
The beautifully
decorated gate of the museum ushers one into a small room, which
showcases small dolls depicting scenes from famous tales for children
such as Alladin and his Magic Lamp, Sleeping Beauty,
Cinderella, Ali Baba and Forty Thieves and Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs. Next, one enters a big hall, the home of dolls from 28
countries, including India, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia,
Latvia, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Hungary, France, Spain, Denmark,
Finland, Yugoslavia, Israel, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South
Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Argentina
and the USA.
While the majority of
the dolls displayed in the museum are not half as well made as those
found in Shanker’s International Dolls Museum, New Delhi, nonetheless
they serve a useful purpose for the people of this region. Scenes from
folk tales, depicted with the help of dolls, are valuable educational
aids for small children. And so are the glass enclosures which showcase
episodes from the lives of Lord Rama, Krishna, Eklavaya, Buddha, Christ,
Guru Nanak, Guru Teg Bahadur, Laxmi Bai, Shivaji and Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. Apart from seeing the traditional dresses worn in different
regions and countries, the visitors can also view the flags and
photographs of famous landmarks of the countries that the dolls belong
too.
Inaugurated on December
24, 1985, the museum is managed by the Indian Council of Child Welfare,
Chandigarh. It is open from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 2.30 pm to 5.30
pm daily. It is closed on Sundays and gazetted holidays. Only recently
CITCO has begun to mention this museum in its tourism-related
literature.