Souvenirs of our past.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

The National Museum in Central Delhi is a guide to India.

Opened in 1960, it has 2, 00,000 exhibits — the older dating back to 2500 BC and beyond.

The bronze sculpture of a dancing girl from Mohenjadaro is traced to 2700 BC. A clay pot is traced to 2900 BC. There is a 5th century Shiva, a 6th century Buddha, a 9th century Chola Tripurantaka and a 16th century illustrated folio of Bustan.

There is a lion throne of the king of Benares. There is a painting depicting Sufi ascetic Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya absorbed in a sitar recital of his disciple Amir Khusro.

In a city marked by Islamic and British-era monuments, the National Museum reveals a more varied land.

The Delhi Walla wrote on the museum here, but it is not enough. In the series Mapping National Museum, I intend to survey minutely each room in the museum, observing with you the souvenirs of our past. Watch this space.

Where Janpath Time 10 am to 5 pm (Monday closed) Nearest Metro Station Udyog Bhawan

A journey into the National Museum

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