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The Ganga Golden Jubilee
Museum (3 Kms.)
An Introduction
Bikaner Museum was founded by his Majesty Ganga Singh, the 21st
ruler of
Bikaner State, on the occasion of his golden jubilee in 1937, when he
completed
fifty years of his reign. A big celebration was held and dignitaries
from overseas
graced the festivity. Inauguration of this museum was done by lord
Linlithgow the
then viceroy of British India.
At
first the museum was housed in a sand stone building near the Lalgarh
palace, but it was rater a small building. So a new building was
sonstructed and his majesty Karni Singh declared it open to visitors on
Sept. 4/1954. In the six years of it inauguration it remained in
charge of the state government of Bikaner. Then in 1950 it was handed
over to the central government of India and the central government of
India handed it over to the state government of Rajasthan.
Bikaner Museum comprises some of the very
precious archeological preces which prove that a cultured civilization
flourished in the area of Bikaner division from 320 A.D. to 1200 A.D.,
Most of those archaeological piece discovered by the great italion
scholar, Sir Luigi Pio Tessitory who was appointed for the
arcaeological survey of this region by his highness Ganga Singh in
1915 A.D. and Dr. Tessitory surveyed the area of Badopal, Pir Sulthan
ri Their and Ranga Mahal and Munda etc, between sutatgarh and
Hanumangarh division of Bikaner state. And he founded such
remarkable pieces as made this museum famous in the whole of india.
Bikaner Museum has two floors (Ground and first floor.). Further
reference is given follows-
Ground Floor
As soon you enter no. One you see two stuffed
figures of a lion and a tiger in a glass case. It shows that the ruler
of Bikaner state were adventurous, and those particular animals were
hunted by his majesty Ganga Singh (1887-1943 A.D.). The room also
exhibits numerous black and and white photographs British India, and
English travellers are suggested to see those photographs attentively
as they may recognise some of their forefathers.
On the order side of the same room, seven life
size paintings are displayed. These depict his majesty Ganga Singh
and some contemporary dignitaries. All these printings are made by
master painters Mr. A.H. Mullar, Mer. James Genthric and Mr. William
Orphan. See the paintings carefully; they deserve your attention.
Second Room
(Above the gate on the wall is inscribed, ‘Art
section’)
The following items are exhibited in this
section.
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Art
piece of wooden work, made in Bikaner state.
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Art
pieces of glasswork, Made in Bikaner State.
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Metal post of Bikaner State.
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Gilded leaf paintings on camel hide vessels.
Additional
information of wooden work
There is a carved teak wood casket displayed in
one of the shelves of glass in room. No.two. This wooden casket is a
unique example of wooden art.
Glass Work
In one shelf some glass vessels are kept, these
pots are called liqueur set. Once during the reign of his majesty
Ganga Singh (1887-1843A.D.) there was a glass factory in Bikaner state
and glass pots were exported, but now time is changed and the factory
of the state time was closed many years ago. Its walls are now
perishing but the production of the factory is still shining in the
room No secound of Ganga Golden jubilee Museum of Bikaner.
Gilded leaf
work on camel hide
One of the most elaborate, attractive and
lovely sight of room no. two is gilded lead work it is the typical art
of the ‘Usta’ artisans of the Muslim community. In the part, pots of
this kind were exported to some countries on repeated demand.
Room No. Three
This room shows to you lots of carpets of
Persian look, but they were made by prisoners of Bikaner jail during
the state time. These are really beautiful carpets, even today the
same type of carpets are made in the central jail of Bikaner, in side
Kote gate.
Room No.
Four
In shows to you some life size paintings
related to the Bikaner state and some other lords and warriors of the
Muslim community. These paintings were made by the great master of
paintings Mr. A.H. Mullar.
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