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Indian Museum is an offspring of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and owes its birth to Dr. Nathaniel Wallich in the year 1814. This cultural Insititution was established to preserve, exhibit, research and share the cultural heritage in the subcontinent. This monograph deals with the early history of the Indian Museum-the oldest museum in the country, formally know as the Imperial Museum' in the days of British rule in Indian. The main emphasis in the book, das been to draw a panoramic view of different types of exhibitions especially the temporary ones organized by the Indian Museum on various occasions.The exhibitions in the Indian Museum commenced in 1880. From 1880-1970, the temporary exhibitions were held once or twice in year and from the 1980 onwards it became a common practice to exhibit artifacts several times in a year Besides temporary exhibitions, there were other exhibitions, viz. Permanent exhibitions, Inter-state exhibitions, International exhibitions, Travelling exhibitions, Mobile van exhibitions. exhibitions on loan etc. The aim of these exhibitions has been to promote educational activities and disseminate information to public about the precious collections of the Indian Museum. Thus this book is a pictorial illustration of exhiobitions conducted by the Indian Museum during the years of its incepation.

In this book an humble attempt is made to compile the exhibition experiences of the Indian Museum. The data were collected rom many sources, however, almost all the information cited in the sections of the book are based on the Annual Reports on Indian Museum, Guide Books of Indian Museum, exhibitions brochure, Indian Museum etc.. Evidently, it is not meant to be a text book, the primary aim being to focus the problems and prospects of exhibitions. So that one can experience the rich cultural heritage of our country preserved in the collections of the Indian Museum.