The museum is an institution of social change. Museums can change people’s lives. They  contribute to cohesive communities and reflect the history and identify of all citizens. In turn, museums live and develop  by the skills and the creativity of their public and they must show their value to society .  These are various types of museums. As a social transformers the objects and activity of museums are very important part of society. Across the world museums are diversifying into eco – museums, community museums, panchayat museums and adapting various indigenous museum – models for wider cultural representations and  social accountability. The years that followed saw more intense change in the museum scenario for reasons more than one. 

In global relation and social accountability , these became more extensive, intensive, facilitating new forms of identity, community and action. Tremendous cultural changes claims to institutional ownership of heritage resources are being challenged.

Now museum is centre for sustainable development, promotion of environment, piece, social, economic, cultural diversity and empowerment individually the components of society, disseminating scientific information of our cultural and natural heritage. The museum must attract the young and the old, educated and the uneducated, the rich and the poor.

We must realise that the museum can communicate as effectively or even more effectively that electronic media, for museums can show the original objects and not mere pictures of them and talk individually on the visitors, more to the students, the peoples of tomorrow, whose job is to shape the density of the country. Museum has certainly a role to play in our nation building.

Museums have become innovative playing grounds. Where adopt new technologies and tools can be developed and applied to everyday life. Digital innovation can make museums more accessible and engaging, helping audiences understand complex and nuanced concepts.Digital applications in museums have been to keep up with the times and launch new solutions for their objects and services. These applications include online exhibitions new research processes, online museum visit and advanced collections displays. By using and promoting digitized products, heritage will be transported to communicates, researchers and visitors more easily, thereby creating value – added services and incredible memories. Digital media can support learning processes in exhibitions in many ways, interactions between visitors and museum. Emailing functions or personalised web links provide possibilities to extend the museum visit and engagement with the contents provided, to times and places beyond the specific on site museum visit. It can connect with the audience through time and space and interaction with their audiences from one  – way to two – way.

A virtual museum is also known as an online museum, digital museum, web museum. Interaction  between  museum and world become possible through this type of  museums.

 Modern technology have an impact with the museums too close engagement with the public. Audio – visual technique and lighting integration in museums for the following reasons – 

Sound and light show can create a mixed atmosphere that attracts an audience to certain piece. Museum can generate many optical and sensory illusions. This gives us  a chance for ancient objects to come back  to life , tell their stories and be a part of life. To play visuals that back up a speaker’s text, speakers, screens and lighting need to be installed.

Museums are organised different programmes for security. Some important museums and their main social activities are as follows – 

Gandhi memorial museum, Madurai – organised Gandhi memorial lecture series, inter religious prayer on 2nd October every year, summer course on histrionic talents ,to develop the histrionic talents embedded in children, self supportive programmes, inter faith prayer,  seminar focusing on women ‘s development, short term courses on household materials preparation , food preservation etc., in which participates sarvodaya workers, educationists , women, children and persons from different sections of the society .

Vivekananda house, Chennai  – Computer training  is given free of charges to the poor children ,coaching to the poor school children, Yoga classes are held for men and women etc.

Dr. Ambedkar Museum and Memorial, Pune – The larger goal is to inspire people to uphold the principles of social justice and equality, peace and humanitarianism. Marathi medium school has been stared  to educate children’s from below poverty line. Museum provide training in computers, mobile phone applications to elders who want to keep up contact with young generation. 

Nehru Memorial Museum and library, Delhi – offers fellowships to scholars. Museum monitors  the research projects and publication , seminars and lectures.

Parliament museum, New Delhi – This is a story telling museum on democratic heritage in India. Museum  with light and sound ,video animation, computer multimedia, immersive visualization with multi screen panoramic projection, virtual reality and animatronics.

Sri Krishna museum at Kurukshetra – Technological advancement attracts the visitors to visit this museum.

Kolkata Panorama – This is a hi –tech story telling museum with panoramic projection, animatronics, light and sound, virtual reality etc.

Goa –  Chitra  Museum, Goa – Along with traditional concept museum emphasised on social inclusion. Museum used space for contemporary art and artist’s residency for organizing local cultural performance. They also engaged local farmers for organic farm, vegetable garden for their open arable land and artisans for craft work shop.

Dakhina Chitra Museum – “a picture of the South”, preserve, promote and present the rich cultural heritage of South India. Promote crafts through hands on activities and workshops for their visitors, learning based special activities for students  and children are organised regularly. Museum contact with craftsmen, artists, artisans, NGOs and Self Help Groups for their products a wider platform. They also offer design advice and marketing advice to interested groups for their product development.

The Crafts Museum – New Delhi, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahashala – Mumbai, Bagnan Ananda Niketan Kirtishala-Howrah, Santal Museum – Birbhum, west Bengal, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manab Sangrahalaya,Bhopal are some of the other museums who have changes their traditional museum function, with contemporary change they have successfully integrated the communities .

State education policy would expose of students from the secondary level on different museum activities, visit to different types museums, as in integral part of the museums. The ministry of Culture  and Human Resource Development Centre and other related Government departments must provide the necessary approval, funds and facilities for the purpose. At present ‘Museum and Heritage study’ included in the degree course level also Master degree syllabus. Every college  and university must have on its teacher a Museologist so that each college and university can develop, with active assistance of parents and students, a mini museum of  replica, originals and illustrations. They should also organised  outreach  programmes of visiting museums and studying relevant collections and specimens. The power of community building through education. The collection of objects of the museum and academic programmes, museums achieve and establish if self as a community building.

 The role of museums and museum personnel have a responsibility to carry on perform properly to shoulder for better. Museums have to connect the past to the present and develop a link to the future.

About Author:

 Dr. Sanjit Jotder 

Assistant Professor, Department of Museology

Calcutta University