Museums play a pivotal role in preserving the glorious treasures of our past for the understanding of our great cultures and traditions so that the present generation would, besides drawing inspiration from these treasures, will feel emotionally bound to preserve them for posterity.

The Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory of the Government Museum, Chennai was established in 1930 in order to cater to the conservation needs of the Museum, especially to preserve the rich collection of bronze icons in the Museum. Later it enlarged its scope to other antiquities. In order to disseminate knowledge about the basic measures to be taken for the preservation of objects of art and other antiquities, the Refresher course on Care of Museum Objects was started in 1974. For the past five years, the refresher course on "Care Of Museum Objects" has been restructured to train Museum personnel, Curators, Librarians and Custodians of cultural properties, in taking care of Manuscripts and Archival documents also. The 36^th Refresher course on Care of Museum objects with special reference to Manuscripts was conducted in collaboration with National Mission for Manuscripts, NewDelhi, at the Chemical Conservation Laboratory from 1^st to 30^th of July 2010.Ten participants from Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal, belonging to Departments of Archaeology, Museums, Universities and Cultural organizations, underwent the training.

The Training Course was inaugurated in the Conference Hall of the Museum at 11.00 am on 1^st July 2010. Ms.J.M.Gandhimathi, Curator, Chemical Conservation Section welcomed the gathering and briefed about the Laboratory and the course. During the Inaugural Address, Dr.T.S.Sridhar,IAS, Principle Secretary and Commissioner of Museums, stressed the importance of preservation of our cultural heritage and the need for such training programmes. He elaborated upon the various schemes for upgrading the Conservation Laboratory of the Museum and stressed the importance of collaboration among Indian Museums in keeping abreast with latest techniques of conservation. He said that Documentation of the conservation procedures was of utmost importance in disseminating the knowledge to the scientific community so that the cultural object will be better preserved for posterity.

Thiru.N.Harinarayana, Former Director of Museums, delivered a Special Lecture on "Introduction to Museology and importance of Conservation". He stated that this training, which was started by him in a small way had developed into a fullfledged professional course with support from Central and State Government. Dr. V.Jeyaraj, Former Curator of the Conservation Laboratory felicitated. Ms.M.N.Pushpa, Curator, Botany section proposed the Vote of Thanks.

The Speciality of the course is that both theoretical and practical training in conservation were provided using original museum objects. Experts drawn from the Field of Conservation throughout India conducted Special Lectures for the participants. The Participants were taken on fieldtrips to different Institutions such as Tamilnadu Archives and Historical Research, Chennai, Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Theosophical Society Library, Adyar, Government Oriental Manuscript Library, Chennai, Archaeology Museum, University of Madras, Fort Museum, Chennai,to see the processing of leather, status of antiquities, exhibits and manuscripts and study the various conservation procedures being followed in the respective institutions. The participants also visited the Oriental Manuscript Library at Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi Deemed University at Kanchipuram, and other Monuments in Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram to observe the Conservation measures adopted by the Archaeological Survey of India at those places. They also participated in the Heritage Awareness program organized by Tourism and Archaeology Departments, and cleaned the Punnaivananathar mandapam at Kapaleeswarar temple, Mylapore on 23.7.2010.

In connection with the course a Special Exhibition titled "Care of Museum objects" was arranged by the participants on the various conservation methods adopted for cleaning and conserving different types of Museum objects and antiquities. It was inaugurated by Dr. S.Narayanan, Professor and HOD [Chemistry], Presidency college, Chennai. The aim of the exhibition was creating awareness among general public and students about caring for and preserving our cultural heritage for posterity. Simple terms were used to convey the idea along with a number of photos and original artifacts conserved by the participants during the training course. Different methods for the conservation of sculptures made of wood, stone, ivory and bronzes, paper and palm-leaf manuscripts, books and documents, coins and medals, weapons, bamboo objects and Paintings were kept on display. The Exhibition was open to Public and students (Free Admission), from 31.7.2010 to 2.8.2010 between 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

The Valedictory function of the Training Course took place in the Conference Hall of the Museum at 10.30 am on 30^th July 2010. Dr.T.S.Sridhar, IAS, Principle Secretary and Commissioner of Museums, stressed the importance of preservation of our cultural heritage and the need for such training programmes. He explained about the role of the Departments and Archaeology in protecting our Cultural heritage through various activities that are going on. He gave a PowerPoint Lecture, which was attended by students from Stella Maris College, Chennai. He elaborated upon the various schemes for upgrading the Conservation Laboratory of the Museum and stressed the importance of collaboration among Indian Museums in keeping abreast with latest techniques of conservation. He gave away Certificates to the Participants after completion of the training course.

Lecture on "Biodiversity Conservation"

A Lecture on "Biodiversity Conservation" has been arranged for the benefit of students and public in the Centenary Exhibition Hall of the Government Museum, Chennai on 11.08.10, at 3.00 p.m.

The talk will be delivered by Dr. K. Venkataraman, Additional Director, Zoological Survey of India, Marine Biology Regional Centre, Santhome, Chennai 600 028.

Dr. T.S. Sridhar, I.A.S., Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Museums, Government Museum, Chennai 600 008, will preside and also Inaugurate the "Nature Study Programme" in the Museum Campus.

Felicitation will be given by Ms. Rachel Pearlin, State Director, World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF),Tamilnadu.

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INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

A special programme called "Know Your Museum" is being organised in the Government Museum, Chennai from 18^th May to 20^th May 2010 to expose the resources of the Museum to the school children. Power Point Presentation, Gallery visit and interaction with subject expert will also be arranged. No participants fee for children will be collected. All participants will be awarded certificate and prizes. Age group between 12 to 16 years will register their names in advance for this workshop on or before 17^th May 2010. For Registration to participate In this programme you may please contact the Curator, Education Section by Mobile No. : 94435 26604 or Office No. : 044 - 2819 3238

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WORKSHOP ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING

FROM 18.11.09 TO 20.11.09

The Botany Section of Government Museum Chennai, conducted Workshop on Vocational Training on request from the Principal, Venkateswara Teacher Training Institute, Kalitherthalkuppam, Madagadipet, Puducherry-605 107. The Workshop was organized by the Curator, Botany Section Tmt. M.N. Pushpa for a group of forty students and five teachers from the institute for a period of three days from 18.11.’09 to 20.11.’09. The students were given hands on training in plant modelling and preservation of plants. The Curator delivered a special lecture to the students and teachers regarding the preservation techniques inclusive of wet and dry preservation methods. Practical demonstration was imparted by the Artist modeller. Students were taught to prepare the models out of plaster of paris, wax, and fibre. In the valedictory function Tmt. Nalini P. Rajagovindan, Principal, Venkateswara Teacher Training Institute welcomed the gathering. Shri. N. kesavan, Chairman, Sri Manakula Vinayakar Education Trust presided. Felicitation was rendered by Shri. M. Dhanasekaran, Managing Director, SMVET and Shri. S.V. Sugumaran, Vice-Chairman, SMVET. Dr. T.S. Sridhar, I.A.S., Principal Secretary/ Commissioner of Museums, delivered the Chief Guest Address and distributed the Certificates and prizes to the participants.

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