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WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

Paper

Decolonizing Ethnographic Museums: Honoring Unsung Tribal Heroes through Freedom Fighters' Museums in India

presenters

    Nitu Ranjan Dash

    Nationality: India

    Residence: India

    Utkal University

    Presence:Online

    PROFESSOR ITISHREE PADHI

    Nationality: India

    Residence: Odisha

    Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

Keywords:

Ethnographic Museums, Tribal Freedom Fighters, Museum Movements, Culture & Heritage

Abstract:

In recent years, India has witnessed the emergence of a significant initiative aimed at honoring the unsung heroes of its freedom struggle—the establishment of tribal freedom fighters' museums across various states. These museums serve as poignant reminders of the sacrifices made by tribal communities in India's quest for independence from colonial rule. The establishment of tribal freedom fighters' museums in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, and Telangana aims to honor the unsung tribal heroes of India’s freedom struggle. These museums, however, must not be perceived as mere substitutes for tribal history or habitats, nor should they imply that tribal histories are being relegated to static exhibits. Instead, these museums should be integrated with tribal freedom trails and ecological wisdom traditions, encompassing archaeological, paleontological, historical, and both tangible and intangible heritage elements. For these museums to succeed as tourism ventures, they need to be linked with heritage trails across forests and hills, incorporating adventure, rituals, and ceremonial tourism that evoke the immense hardships faced during the freedom struggle. The museums should act as extensions of these trails, where ex situ displays complement in situ revitalization, and the collection of objects supports the recollection of ideas. Rather than merely attracting urban visitors to the museums, these institutions should actively engage with tribal communities, serving as centers for the regeneration, validation, and celebration of life-enhancing knowledge systems and traditions that remain relevant to sustainable development. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2016 Independence Day speech, these museums seek to decolonize the concept of museums in India, emphasizing the richness and significance of tribal cultural heritage. This research paper aims to discuss the emergence of these museums, their role in decolonizing the idea of museums in India, the cultural legacy and significance they embody.