Museum studies

This grant allowed me to start a larger study of prehistoric Indian antiquities in both Indian and UK museums. The report which I submitted to the NTICVA at the end of the grant had chapters on foreign tools in Indian tools in UK museums such as the Institute of Archaeology, the British Museum, the Liverpool Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum., who supplied me with literature and some photographs.

The detailed history of museums has not been attempted much in India, but I had an inkling that such a detailed study may throw considerable light on development of the museum as an institution in our country. I also felt that the Madras Museum, which was in its 15th decade at that time, could be an ideal starting point for such a study because it had been carefully groomed through the years of its existence to attain an eminent position in its field. The first award from the NTICVA to me was meant to carry out such a study of the first gfive decades of the Madras Museum.

To study and train in the conservation of paper and palmleaf manuscripts at the V&A & other UK museums

This award was very useful in the development of Chennai district museums. I had the chance to see some important museums in India and by seeing the display arrangements and interpretation techniques my knowledge was increased. I had the chance to apply this knowledge in newly opened museums.