Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME) inaugurated an exhibition titled Discover India. Caroline Déclas visited the museum to take a look at the wonderful exhibits and the various artefacts on display there.

The Foundation for Liberal And Management Education, Pune in partnership with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Formerly, Prince of Wales Museum of Western India) inaugurated an exhibition titled ‘Discover India’ at the  museum on March 30th. The chief guest Dr. A.P. Jamkhedkar, Former Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra State, currently Vice President, Asiatic Society, Mumbai and Director of K.G. Somaiya Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies said, “India is the country of so many paradoxes that everybody will have their own impression.”

It is this variety of impressions that has been showcased in this exhibit, born out of the collaboration between the museum and FLAME, and is the culmination of a long and interesting research work done by the students of FLAME a school that combines academic rigor and experimental learning to bring a different perspective to India’s heritage.

The Discover India Program, which is a six credit course over two semesters, demands individual skills as well as group work, comprising of selection of a site for investigation by the students themselves and providing a comprehensive vision and work over a cultural heritage aspect of the place. Between the two semesters the students went on an eight to 12 day trip and had to use the the things they collected once they were back at school. By the end, they had all produced an analytical report and also submitted documentaries, recordings, photos, documents, diaries and sketches.

This exhibition of their findings and photographs in the museum was a way to showcase their work and to share their experience of discovering India from a different angle with the visitors during the three days. Diverse aspects and places of the country were picked up to discover a different India. Some studied religious aspects such as the group that explored Bylakuppe and its Tibetan culture or the group that went to Varanasi. Others presented another look at tourism going to Goa, Hampi or Chittorgarh while others focused on traditional and economic aspects of studying Veena making in Bobili, Chitrakathi paintings from Pinguli, turbans from Bikaner etc. Finally some chose to follow Narmada River or the railway and to study life and culture that surround it.

By the end of the program Four Awards and the Discover India Trophy were given to the best teams along with prizes such as a Scholarship for International Cultural Research and the publication of an article based on their research. The winning group gets an opportunity to discover places abroad.

(Source: Afternoon DC, 4th April 2012)