Delhi: IGNCA inaugurates ‘Bharat Muni Dirgha’ to celebrate India’s cultural heritage

The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary of IGNCA, who commended the conservation and cultural archives division and all associated teams for bringing the initiative to life. He emphasised the importance of transforming overlooked corners and corridors into vibrant cultural spaces. “These areas can serve not only as galleries but also as educational venues for scholars, researchers and the public, helping IGNCA emerge as one of the country’s leading cultural institutions,” he said.

Also present at the inauguration were Priyanka Mishra, director (administration); Pratapanad Jha, dean (academics); Sudhir Lall, head of the Kalakosh division; and Anurag Punetha, controller, media centre, IGNCA.

Achal Pandya credited Joshi as the inspiration behind the project. He recalled that when IGNCA relocated to the Janpath premises, it lacked gallery spaces. Since then, Darshnam 1 and Darshnam 2 galleries were established, and now Bharat Muni Dirgha joins them as the latest cultural venue.

In a bid to sustain public engagement, Pandya also announced two new initiatives — ‘Mask of the Week’ and ‘Object of the Week’. These rotating exhibits aim to foster continuous interaction with the IGNCA’s rich collections, sparking curiosity among visitors and encouraging deeper appreciation of India’s artistic traditions.