Be the Change..

It’s not the strongest nor most intelligent of the species that survive; it is the one most adaptable to CHANGE” Charles Darwin

How do you want to bring about a good change in this ever changing world?

Ask yourself this question, if you haven’t already.

A couple of weeks ago as I was taking the usual bus ride back home from school, my thoughts were on the Salar Jung museum. I only remember being there two times so far, but I do have recollections of it. The reason that my thoughts were on an important museum was because I recently finished reading the book “The Untold Charminar – Writings on Hyderabad”. As I was reading the book, it brought back to me the fond memories I had of living in Hyderabad for 21 years. I almost get goose bumps when I think of it. I could imagine how Salar Jung museum was in my minds eye, it houses articles collected by only man in his entire lifetime. These objects provide us with an insight not only into the life and times of Salar Jung, but also of Hyderabad and the World at that time. We as Hyderabadis are fortunate to have such a collection right in the heart of the city. It certainly means the same to us as the Louvre is to the Parisians, but the fact is that we certainly don’t treat it the same way as the Parisians treat Louvre. I tried to read more about the museum on the internet. Sadly, it dosen’t even have a website for its grandest museum. All that I found was a Wiki article. I’m glad we have that at least, but I certainly think that when the state can boast of being the I.T. hub of South India along with Bangalore, it can surely have a website. During my free time here in the US, I got a chance to visit two museums, the William Benton Museum of arts at the University of Connecticut and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I was totally overwhelmed by both of them. Both museums have become a success because of the patronage they received. The state is not doing much to make the museums popular which are a window to our culture, tradition and history. I would hate to see Indian items been auctioned at the Christie’s and Sotheby’s for millions of dollars. The fact is that, we are not valuing our traditions to a great extent any more, its only when a price tag of a million dollars is set on it that people realize its value.

I know a lot of industries in India and the State are succumbing due to lack of funds. The solution is to create funds. Make your object presentable, so that it appeals to the eye, market it, so every one knows about it. I would suggest that the museums have a museum store selling clothes-Indian and western with graphic designs of the museum objects, stationary, calendars, mugs etc there are so many things that one can sell. Thus creating employment opportunities and generating revenue. Also provide facilities to make the museum people-friendly, especially towards the old and the handicapped, have food courts selling food for the tourists. Making the industries, especially the native and multi national a part of it will be a good idea. The industry will have the good name of promoting the arts and culture of the state and it will bring funds to the museum that can be used to develop infrastructure. Having podcasts in various regional and foreign languages will make it easy for the visitors of the state to understand what the museum has to offer. I would suggest you to take a quick peek at the website of the Museum of Fine Arts www.mfa.org, this will tell you probably give you an idea of how things can be and should be. The state is a hub for many home grown and multinational industries, but sadly we not able to make use of the home grown talent. I’m sure we have the facilities to make it happen, but it is sad to see that our energy and resources are being misdirected.

I’m also unhappy about the fact that foreign brands for example GAP, Tommy Hilfiger etc, use Indian traditional designs on their clothes etc and market it by using their own labels. I would be happy to see that the Indian designs being patented so the people who are actually involved in it will get the credit and I’m sure we can have a home grown label marketing the Indian designs internationally. For example, the LePakshi brand can be made international. I was curious to check for the Kondapalli toys on the internet; they are something that I really love. They obviously don’t have a website, but through some one else’s blog, I came to know that there are now only 50 odd families practicing this beautiful art. I simply cannot authenticate my information, but it is obvious that something that has a huge potential is not given its due. There are so many institutes and organizations that need to go through a resurrection process in order to for them to be alive in this ever changing world. We as fore bearers of our history and tradition need to preserve it for the future generations that are to come. It is important to give place to the new, but also to not let the past die away.

When I talked about my thoughts to a couple of people, some of them thought that it was good idea and they encouraged me, but there were also cynics trying to silence me by saying that, ‘In India it is hard and next to impossible to bring about this change’. In fact we have a great resource in the form of human capital, which when enlightened is the most powerful resource on earth. It is high time that the cynics turn over a new leaf.

If one desires a change, one must be that change before that change can take place – Gita Bellin.

Let us all join hands to bring about the good change that is much needed.