Interview of Shri Pradip Kumar Bhaumik – Founder Director of National Science Centre, New Delhi

The National Science Centre in New Delhi celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 9 January 2017. Shri Pradip Kumar Bhaumik was the first project officer and founder Director of this centre. He also was the first Director General of the Pushpa Gujral Science City established at Kapurthala in Punjab. Dr Jayanta Sthanapati, who worked under Shri Bhaumik in NSC for four years, interviewed the septuagenarian through emails to trace the events that laid the foundation of the world-class science communication centre located in the capital of India.

Jayanta Sthanapati:  Sir, let us begin our communication by asking you to please give me a brief account of your origin and family background. 

 

Pradip Kumar Bhaumik: We originally belonged to Dhaka in the Erstwhile East Bengal. My grandfather late Shri Govinda Sunder Bhaumik, was the son of a Zamindar family in Bastia, Manikgunj, in Dhaka District.  After earning his Law Degree, he joined the royal service in Coochbihar in North Bengal in the 1880s. He never went back to his native place. He ultimately settled at Alipurduar. My father was his third son. I was born in Guwahati in the State of Assam in my maternal grandfather's house, the late Shri Naresh Chandra Mukherjee, on March 10, 1945. I am the eldest of two brothers and one younger sister. My father late Shri Prafulla Kumar Bhaumik, was a School Teacher. My mother, Shrimati Durga Rani Bhaumik, is a housewife. My father had been a source of inspiration to me. He was a highly successful teacher.

Sthanapati: Please tell me about your education and hobbies.

Bhaumik: I studied at Zilla School in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, where my father was a teacher, and I passed the Higher Secondary examination from there in 1962. I studied mechanical engineering at Government Engineering College, Jalpaiguri and received a B.E. (Mechanical) degree from North Bengal University in 1967.  My father shifted the family to Kolkata at this stage after retirement from service. After that, I did postgraduate studies at the College of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur University in Kolkata and earned an M.M.E. (Production) degree in 1969. At a young age, my hobby had been philately and autograph hunting. 

Sthanapati: What did you do after your formal education? 

Bhaumik: During 1969-1972, I was an Assistant Professor in Production Engineering at Birla Institute of Technology at Mesra in Ranchi, now in Jharkhand. I, of course, served M/s Jessop & Co at Kolkata immediately after graduation for a very brief period.

Sthanapati: Why did you choose a profession in a science museum? 

Bhaumik: I started my career in CSIR as Curator Gr-II (Mechanical) at Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata, in March 1972. Initially, I had no idea about the requirements of the profession. I visited the BITM and met the Curators. I was eager to learn about the Curator’s duties and responsibilities. I discovered that it was very interesting. Incidentally, I was selected, and I decided to join. I considered this to be a highly creative field, that too under the Government of India and in my hometown in Kolkata being an additional factor.

Sthanapati: Who were your prominent colleagues when you joined BITM?  

Bhaumik: Late Shri Amalendu Bose, Director of Museums, CSIR,  Dr. Saroj Ghose, (he was away on leave in the USA at that time)  Sr. Curator,  Shri Samar Kumar Bagchi, Curator-in-charge, Late Shri C. S. Pai, (Curator-I on deputation), Shri G. Nagarajan, Curator-II, Late Shri R. C. Chander,   Exhibition Officer, Shri G. C. Mondal,  Jr. Exhibition Officer, Shri K. S. Pandir, Mech. Engineer,  and Late Shri P. M. Neogi (Part-Time Consultant).

Sthanapati: Indicate some of your significant contributions as a curator while working in BITM.

Bhaumik: I had to set up a gallery on “Transport” in BITM in 1973, initially planned and partly executed by my predecessor, Shri Sasanka Sekhar Ghosh. I was also involved in planning and organising several temporary exhibitions, namely, ‘50 Years of Radio Broadcasting in India’,  ‘Life and works of Prof. S. N. Bose’, ‘Transport systems of Calcutta’, ‘Solar Energy options’, ‘World of Light Houses’ etc. I was further involved in collecting artefacts, developing museology course materials, organising educational activities, and so on.

Sthanapati: Why did you work for the newly constituted NCSM as Secretary?

Bhaumik: It was a stop-gap arrangement for a few months only as per the demand of the situation. (We were not getting any person from CSIR on deputation. This was obligatory at that stage.) My responsibility as Secretary of NCSM was over when I handed over the charge to Shri Tarun Kumar Roy, who was selected by open recruitment.

Sthanapati: How did you bag the challenging project of establishing the National Science Centre, Delhi?

Bhaumik: The first two major science museums of the country, the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bangalore, were established by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In 1978, these science museums were delinked from CSIR. They came under the newly constituted National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture GoI with Shri Amalendu Bose as its chief executive. ( Director of Museums)

1979 was a year of turmoil for the newly-born NCSM. Staff members of BITM, in general, were divided into two groups – some were interested in serving the new Council, and some were eager to remain under CSIR Services. The NCSM headquarters, located on the same premises as BITM, was closed due to staff unrest. NCSM (Hqrs) was to function from various premises in Kolkata helter-skelter for some time. New recruitments for curators, senior scientific assistants, and senior technical assistants were just done; most of them had joined duties. These fresh incumbents were to be immediately attached to projects lest they leave out of frustration.

I remember that we were functioning from the premises of the Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, for a few days at that time. To put an end to the apprehended stalemate, in a late evening meeting held at the planetarium, options were asked from senior level curators by the authority for their willingness for total involvement in some major projects at hand and then take immediate postings. Such was the National level Science Centre project at Delhi as one of those.

It may be worthwhile to mention that as long back as during 1972-73, science museums under CSIR made efforts to look for a suitable location for the National level Science museum in Delhi as per recommendations of the Task Force of the Planning Commission. A senior officer was assigned the job and sent to Delhi from Kolkata for necessary scouting. There had been some talks going around that the National level Science museum could come up on the Central Vista close to the India Gate. It, of course, did not progress. This is the location where the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) came up in later days. The search work did not continue beyond this at that stage. 

As for myself, earlier, I did opt out and declined an initial offer of my authority to me for a posting as Curator Gr. I, with ad-hoc promotion for the upcoming Nehru Science Centre at Mumbai back in 1975. It was a highly lucrative offer, as very few could expect it so early (after the entrance in 1972). Please keep in mind that there was no provision for an Assessment Promotion system for curators at that time.  Curators were categorised as “auxiliary Technical” and not as “Scientists” & were not covered or considered for assessment promotion. So, the offer to me was extraordinary. However, I had compelling personal reasons not to accept it. The authority was very upset. Eventually, I was side-tracked. A Junior curator from BITM was picked up, promoted, and sent to Mumbai. According to many, I proved myself stupid for declining the offer. Otherwise, the “future could have been different both for the organisation and for me”, many seniors opined.

Now coming back to 1979, I found that the “last bus” had come and was beckoning me. I knew that Delhi was the last among the four National level science centres to come up as per the Planning Commission’s Task Force (1972) recommendations. Two science museums of this status existed; the third in Mumbai was in the offing.

I offered my willingness knowing that I would not get any immediate benefit from this new posting. Financially, too, it would be of tremendous hardship to me. However, “doing a project of this magnitude from nowhere” was what allured me to the capital city. Here I knew nobody, and the city of Delhi was unknown and strange. A small team was constituted then and there. I was re-designated as Project Coordinator. A Curator Gr.II and an STA were attached to me. Tour order was issued to me. An air ticket for Delhi was in my hand for the next day. I was given some funds, and I was shown the way to Delhi.

On the 1st of January 1980, I reached Delhi by morning flight. It was very chilly. The accommodation was available for three months at the NCERT guest house. Thus the Delhi journey began for me on a difficult and unknown path but with a great sense of hope and challenge. The only objective for me was to ‘establish an address of dignity for NCSM in Delhi’.

Sthanapati: Name some famous foreign science museums you visited before starting your work for the NSC project. Have visits to science museums abroad influenced your exhibit development work in India?  

Bhaumik: Things did not happen in the way you so think. No foreign visit was immediately forthcoming or directly linked to my taking up the new challenging assignment. However, under a CSIR- British Council fellowship scheme, I visited the UK beforehand in 1978 and did extensive studies on exhibits and activities at the Science Museum in London for about three months, followed by visits to a good number of Science Museums in England, Scotland & Wales. International Council of Museums (ICOM) provided a bursary to me against some assignment so kindly offered by the ICOM HQ, courtesy of Mdm. Late Grace Morley, the then Head of ICOM Asia-pacific. The fund so earned was adequate for me to visit a few leading Science Museums in France, West Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. This experience had been immensely beneficial to me. Of course, opportunity came my way to visit a large number of museums abroad in later days, which were highly rewarding and helpful in my subsequent curatorial ventures.

Some of the museums I visited in Europe during the trip in 1978 were the London Science Museum, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, National Railway Museum and City Museum, both in York, Beamish open-air Museum, New castle Ironbridge Gorge open-air Museum, Science Museum, Cardiff, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Palais de la Decouverte, Paris, Cite de Science, Paris; Museum of Science and Materials, Paris; Deutsches Museum, Munich; Deutsches Bergbau Museum, Bochum and Evoluon in Eindhoven, Netherlands. 

Sthanapati: Tell us briefly the difficulties you faced to get a suitable plot of land to set up the NSC in Delhi, such as a plot adjacent to Asoka Hotel, a vast land at Timarpur and finally, a small plot of land at a vantage point in Pragati Maidan.

Bhaumik: Within a month after my arrival, a ‘one rupee-a-month’ office space was available on rent from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in Chanakyapuri at the Swimming Pool building on the Nehru Park. Five tiny dwelling units were also taken over by me from NDMC at Re. 1 /- PM as rent to accommodate my accompanying colleagues and also for a dormitory for touring officials. Now we could settle down. These were originally meant for NDMC washermen. They declined to accept these tiny shelters. These were not cosy and were much below standard. But, who would give us accommodation as per entitlement!   

It took me a long time, from 1980 to 1984, to extensively search for a suitable plot of land in or around the Capital City. During this time, by virtue of my sole efforts, offer for 10 different locations for our project were forthcoming at different times from various authorities, like the NDMC, the Delhi Development Authority, the Ministry of Works & Housing, the Ministry of Urban Development, Ghaziabad Development Authority, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Trade Fair Authority of India, etc. But we failed to satisfy the Governing Body of NCSM regarding approval of acceptance.

It had been a gruelling exercise to search for a suitable piece of land single-handedly. Lastly, with active support from the PMO, we could impress upon Md. Yunus, Chairman of India's erstwhile Trade Fair Authority (now India Trade Promotion Organization). Initially, small patches of land disjoined & located here & there in the Pragati Maidan complex were shown to me. This offer was not acceptable to us. At a later stage, a plot of land of about 2.5 acres on Mathura Road, just opposite the Supreme Court, was allocated to us for the Science Museum project. A formal offer letter came to my hand. We were overjoyed. But overnight, the offer was withdrawn, to our dismay and given to Appu Ghar builders, reasons best known to the TFAI. Again, another spell of running around and persuasions followed.

At last, a plot of land on Bhairon Road, where the NSCD stands now within the Trade Fairground, was finalized. Support of Late Prof.H.Y. Sarada Prasad, Information Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr S. Varadarajan, the then G.B. Chairman and Secretary, Dept. Of S&T, GoI Dr. (Mrs.) Kapila Vatsyayan, the then Additional Secy. Dept. of Culture, GoI were mostly responsible for this impossible acquisition because setting up any new Govt. office was banned in Delhi at that time.

You have mentioned the Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri location for the Project. That was the original proposal which came from NDMC back in 1980. But with the change of Govt. at the Centre, this offer was soon withdrawn. It was Prof. Yashpal, the then Chairman, G. B., NCSM, who had information from the Prime Minister herself that objections from environmentalists came against locating the Science Museum in Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, on the ground that the greenery of the park would get spoilt. We were asked to search for some other plot of land.

Another plot of land you mentioned was at Timarpur (Khyber Pass Institutional Area) at the North end of the city limits. It, of course, was large enough (16 Acres) with the challenges of having water bodies, undulations and rocky features. It was an abandoned stone quarry. This was acquired by us (on payment) from CPWD on a lease, and we started working at this location. The office was shifted from the Swimming Pool Building at Nehru Park to a makeshift office in a shed at the new site at Timarpur. Eventually, the development of a large Science Park was taken up at first instance. But here, too, we could not settle. As per the further directive from the PMO, we were asked again to find out a more suitable plot of land closer to the heart of the City. Thus, the Timarpur programme was abandoned. We could subsequently grab the Pragati Maidan land. However small the land had been at the Pragati Maidan,   (a little over one acre), considering its vantage and prized location in the city's heart, it was considered a rare fortune for NCSM. With this, ‘we could lastly establish a permanent address for NCSM in the Nation’s capital’.There was no looking back for us from this stage.

Sthanapati: Please name the architect and civil contractor of the NSC building.

Bhaumik: M/s. Kanvinde, Rai and Chowdhuri were appointed as architects for the project in Delhi. They earned the confidence of NCSM after they did a design for the Nehru Science Centre project in Mumbai to our satisfaction. M/s. Bridge & Roof, a Government of India undertaking, was appointed as the principal Civil Contractor for the project.

Sthanapati: When did work for the NSC project start?

Bhaumik: If I remember correctly, construction began in early 1987.

Sthanapati: Who inaugurated NSC? Who were other dignitaries present at that time?

Bhaumik: It was inaugurated on 9 January 1992 by the late Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India. Among the dignitaries present were the late Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resources Development and President of NCSM Society; late Dr A.P. Mitra, Chairman, G.B. of NCSM, Prof. H.Y. Mohan Ram, Chairman, E.C. NSCD, Dr Saroj Ghose, the then DG NCSM and all Directors of NCSM’s units. 

Sthanapati: Kindly comment on a few challenges you faced in completing the NSC project.

Bhaumik: Challenges came in many ways. Here I mention a few.

The plot of land acquired by us contained a 3-storied pucca building belonging to the Ministry of Communications, GOI. We paid for the property at the evaluated price to the Ministry. Now we were to demolish it, clear the site and start our work. It took us more than six months to persuade the Ministry people to vacate it officially. I was tired of chasing them. Lastly, I myself, backed by about 40 and odd labour force and my civil engineers, struck rods and hammers and started the demolition process ourselves, of course, with the consent of my authority. The building came down in a few hours. The labour contractor was arrested. But our job was accomplished. Ministry of Communication people rushed to the site and found no solution; they left bags and baggage.

Secondly, the plot of land was at the lowest level in Pragati Maidan. All rainwater used to accumulate here every monsoon. Flooding of the construction site and then the basement of the building when it came up became a very disturbing feature. It was a major problem to fight against inundation for a few years until protective measures were in place.

Thirdly, the underground water level of the site was very high as it was located close to the river Yamuna. For conducting piling work round the clock, systematic dewatering was to be carried out until the basement slab casting was over. I was required to inspect the work site at night time as well.

Next, there was no approach to the building from Bhairon Road. With much difficulty and in a hide-and-seek manner, a culvert was built on the open sewer running along the front of the building. Later on, MCD’s wrath had to be faced by me. Whatever threat they gave, my entry path with a gate was meanwhile ready. There was a risk of myself being arrested because MCD filed an FIR against the  NSC. It was, however, withdrawn with the interference of the Secretary of Culture.

Some very vital issues had been close coordination of exhibits developmental work at Kolkata, Bangalore and in Mumbai Centres. At Delhi, we also had a full-fledged working team in the workshop & were dedicated to setting up galleries and individual exhibits. At the same time, all very utility divisions were set up – like the store & purchase unit, the library & archive, the Adm. & Accounts unit & what not!       

Sthanapati: What was the significant contribution of Dr Saroj Ghose in establishing the National Science Centre?

Bhaumik: Dr Saroj Ghose was the Chief priest in this giant “yagna”. It was he who was solely responsible for taking up every single decision starting from the very beginning of the search for land, chasing work at a very high level in the corridors of power, the appointment of Architect and very close interaction with them, the appointment of contractor(s), design of exhibits and activities, layout planning and what not.

Dr Ghose’s involvement in the project was total, and dedication was rarest of the rare. I saw and worked with him on meticulous issues like fixing locations of power points at skirting, on floor or ceiling level in each hall, coffer details for fixing fans and light boxes or fire alarm system as per the demand of the situation, etc. Every inch of the building was at his fingertip.  I was also trained to know the building so intimately. I saw him working all night on exhibit planning on quite a few occasions. I experienced working with him on such a work schedule.

Briefly, I can tell it with no ambiguity that for Dr Saroj Ghose’s farsightedness, enormous energy and ability to work, enormous far-sightedness and excellent leadership quality, the National Science Centre did not happen in reality at that time. He was an Institution, so to say.

It was decided by NCSM sometime in 1989-90 to hold an International Conference of the CIMUSET of ICOM from this “halfway-through” building. Some quality exhibits were to be fabricated and brought to the half-finished halls on the ground floor. All major NCSM units were asked to do their part of the job. A large number of finishing work was taken up, such as power, water, air conditioning, sewer system and many more. The building was, no doubt, “not ready for occupation”.

A day & night work schedule continued for over two months. A reasonably acceptable shape was achieved so that foreign dignitaries would not look down upon or treat it as sub-standard. Forty-plus foreign professionals and many Indian delegates arrived. Union Minister of HRD inaugurated it with good grandeur. This gave a big boost to our morale and also enhanced and advanced the process of completion substantially.

I was Soldier No. 1 with a high order of responsibility in Dr Ghose’s dedicated team. I tried to do my best for the project all along. I still can remember the thrill, agony and ultimate happiness when I look back.

On the day of the inauguration (9 January 1992), after 12 years of untiring efforts, I was asked to address my staff. But my voice was choked, and tears rolled down. I could not speak out of emotion. This was tears of joy and of tremendous satisfaction. But again, I salute Dr Ghose, who was available to me at every point of each happening during 1980-1992 and solved every bit of problems I brought to him. It was a ‘labour of love’ for my dedicated team and me.

Sthanapati: Why is the centre called National? Is it because of its location or for some other reason?

Bhaumik: The science centre in Delhi was termed as ‘National Science Centre’ by ourselves because, according to us, that could be the only name for the centre.  We called it so and referred to it as such on all possible occasions. Some alternative name was given, but with time, the name of our choice prevailed.

Sthanapati: Did you get support from other units of NCSM to set up galleries of NSC before its opening? 

Bhaumik: From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, NSC Delhi was given the topmost priority by the NCSM. While the building was getting ready, exhibits came in large numbers from Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai Centres. Curators, artists and other staff members came down to Delhi to set up of the galleries. We, at Delhi, of course, with the active involvement of other NCSM units, set up a completely new gallery titled ‘Information Revolution’(IR). Before doing the IR gallery, Dr Ghose arranged a special study visit for a few curators and an exhibition officer of NCSM, including me, to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. We were exposed to newer ways of Concept development and Presentation of exhibits, hitherto not known to us. Interaction with Dr Bernard S. Finn, Curator of the Electrical Division and other colleagues of the NMAH opened up our eyes to look at exhibits presentation from a different perspective. This knowledge helped us immensely while making an IR gallery at the NSCD. At that time, it became a flagship gallery for NCSM.  It was for the first time “walk-through” exhibits were introduced. A good number of “Period Settings” were also created. NCSM received international recognition for this gallery as the best presentation of the year.

Sthanapati: What other actions did you take before the inauguration of NSC? 

Bhaumik: A strong recruitment drive took place. Quite a number of staff came on transfer from other units. We had to arrange accommodation for them. The Centre was ready to complete with exhibition galleries, a large Exhibits Development facility, a Store and Depository, an independent Administration and Finance wings, a library, a Cafeteria, Guest Rooms, an auditorium, Conference and seminar rooms and what not. The Reception hall was equipped with a giant ‘Energy Ball’ exhibit in an atrium. It was designed and developed in-house at the NSCD.

The Centre was complete almost in every respect by mid-1991. By word of mouth, people came to know that great attractions have come up within the ‘Dream Castle’, as some preferred to christen it. But it was not opened to the public because the Prime Minister was to dedicate it to the nation. In the local newspapers, students’ demands and urges were reflected for the immediate opening of the centre for them to witness these wonders. We received an advisory from the PMO stating that the Honourable P.M. desired that he would formally inaugurate it at his convenience. But students’ demand is to be honoured. So, a soft opening of the Science Centre took place.

Sthanapati: Please tell us about your involvement in the Pushpa Gujral Science City project as its Director General. 

Bhaumik: I received a call from the Union Ministry of HRD at Shastri Bhawan. The Minister was the President of NCSM. He informed me of a letter from the then Chief Minister of Punjab in which the CM requested the President of NCSM to spare my services, particularly the new PGSC project to come up near Kapurthala in Punjab as its 1^st Director General. It was a joint project of Govt. of Punjab and Govt. of India. It was to be fully funded by the Dept. of Culture of GoI. The President of NCSM asked me to be ready to take up a posting in Punjab on deputation. I also was asked to meet Late Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, former P.M., at his residence. The proposed Science City was to come up in his mother’s name. He spoke elaborately to me about his dream and desire at the PGSC. Dr H.C. Pande, the then Chairman of the G.B. NCSM, also communicated his mind to me in favour. Under the prevailing circumstances at that time, I decided to move to Punjab, thinking it to be an offer worthy of consideration in my best interest at that juncture.

On my request made through the C.M. of Punjab, Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the then Principal Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence, agreed to be the Patron-in-Chief for the Project. He paid a visit to the site in Kapurthala, where I briefed him with a layout Model about the Concept. He made valuable suggestions. I incorporated those in the final plan before I placed it for approval by G.B., PGSC.

As DG of PGSC, I completed the Concept Plan and got it approved by its Governing Body. I also got the Architectural Plan frozen, appointed the Civil and other contractors, made essential recruitments, and placed orders for items to be imported. Also, I did develop workforce infrastructure, identified academic specialists/advisors, finalised shortlisting of prospective exhibit developers, did adequate plantations and extensive liaison with various agencies in Punjab and also with DoC. I was with the PGSC for about three years.                

Sthanapati: What was your contribution to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama of Amritsar while working as DDG, NCSM? 

Bhaumik: Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama Project at Amritsar came to me after I rejoined my parent body (NCSM) after the deputation was over. My knowledge about the Maharaja was very cursory. I did many projects in 30-plus years of service in NCSM at that point in time. These were all on S&T topics. I was thrilled to handle a history-based project when it came my way. I agreed to do it just to experience what it was like.

My role in the MRSP project started with location finding and finalising it at the heart of Amritsar – once the summer capital of the Maharaja at Lalbagh. I thought it to be the most appropriate spot to locate the project. However, it was declared a protected plot by the Army. I succeeded in my efforts at long last as it was not forthcoming. This is a long story. I had to meet with the Governor of Punjab, who was an ex-Army General, to convince him why this protected plot should be allocated for my project as a tribute to the great Maharaja.  He asked the army to relax & the plot was available for the project.

I was the sole Concept & Content Developer for the project. This was possible after I did extensive studies for over a year on the Maharaja’s life and contributions in libraries, Museums, archives and having meetings with historians. Wars won by the Maharaja were meticulously studied by me. How he posed to be a threat to the British was to be highlighted according to me. I had to choose events for depiction. The visualisation job started at NCSM HQ with the right earnestness. It took over a year to finalise it. A Mock-up for a huge diorama with over 120 characters based on the Maharaja’s Lahore Durbar as depicted by a famous European Artist was first conceived and then executed at the site. Giant war scenes on a circular panorama were created. These were the star attractions for the presentation.  

Close interaction with architects and contractors continued simultaneously. I was very content with what I could do for the project. Basically, as a Curator in S&T, I considered my work for the MRSP project as truly satisfying. Here, history was brought to people’s reach and appreciation by a humbled person who knew very little of history, that too of Punjab, 200 years back. I retired from the service of NCSM in March 2005. The MRSP project work was completed by other officers after I left.

Sthanapati: Your advice to Curators and Education Officers who have many more years to serve the Science Museums in the Country.

 

Bhaumik: When I look back upon it,  I find that I was most fortunate to have received extra-ordinary nature of guidance and support from some of my seniors from time to time in the profession. I learnt “Swimming” when I was pushed into the ocean of problems. I never felt monotony in my long career stretched over 33 years and beyond. Every day was different from the other. It is true that I failed on many occasions. However, success also came extravagantly to remind us that failures were essential to achieve high goals and having the right feeling of success.

Today’s Curators – the leaders for tomorrow must consider the fact that they are inheritors of a great legacy created by some giant leaders and large dedicated team members of the past. From a meagre strength of only two museums in the mid 60’s to a massive network of museums and Centres spread over every corner of the nation and even overseas today speaks so highly about our competence and capability, which is rarest of the rare in this professional World. It is amazing in one word. The Council we built became the largest single umbrella for such museums and centres in any Country. 

Things done in the past cannot be ignored. Those were the foundations and would provide inspiration and clues to many practical problems. But sometimes museums must be made priority destinations for today's young visitors. All efforts must be mobilised to make the museum presentable with the use of various modern techniques — the museums must win the competition with new attractions of other kinds in the foray. So, the right marketing strategy is to be evolved and thoroughly pursued. A grand fusion awaits to create an “immersive world” of education through entertainment. It is necessary to keep intimately abreast of what is happening in museums in other countries. We need to pick up the best that suits us and go for collaboration so that the best techniques and ideas can be adopted and Indianised.  At the same time, we should try to remain a leader that others in the World would admire. In international scenes in our time, we experienced it. Our leader became the president of the ICOM – the first Indian to hold this position ever.