Past Forward

The Siddhagiri Museum near Kolhapur constructs memories of a self-sustaining village

The Siddhagiri Museum near Kolhapur constructs memories of a self-sustaining village

Its an ideal village scene. Farmers ploughing their fields,cows grazing,a priest reading from the scriptures,women and children drawing water from a well youd almost imagine these cement figurines would come alive. Against the backdrop of lush green trees and cavernous interiors,these replicas are part of an eight-acre museum that is an ode to village life in pre-British India.

Five years ago,when a museum showcasing rural life was opened in Siddhagiri Math,a village near Kolhapur on the

noopener" target="_blank">Mumbai-Bangalore highway,it sounded retrograde,given that the surrounding areas were ready to ride the urbanisation wave. Today,the Siddhagiri Math Museum is a thriving economy,attracting visitors from across the country,in thousands. Managed by the Siddhagiri Gurukul Trust,the entry fee is Rs 40 for adults and Rs 20 for children. It gets over 3,000-4,000 visitors over the weekends,and 1,000 people on weekdays.

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In phase three of the museum,we will show a rathotsav (a chariot festival). It will have a central chariot being pulled by 100 men. Then there will be those holding the wheels to turn the chariot in a desired direction. Onlookers,groups carrying the holy kalas (tower of the temple),musicians,and traders will also be a part of this. Spread across two acres,the tableau is expected to be ready by July-August, says Adrishya Kadasiddheshwar Swami,head of the museum.

Over 100 sculptors from Karnataka stayed on-site to make the figurines in the earlier phases. Currently,over 20 sculptors are working on the festival tableau. The replicas are made with stone and cement but in the future,they plan to experiment with fibreglass.

Community gatherings provided opportunities for tradesmen to do business while musicians and artists could exhibit their art. Drama,entertainment,and sports were all part of the festival. It was about religion,but was interwoven with the principles of economics, says Swami.

A budget of over a crore and earnings from the daily visits help maintain the museum. Profits are directed towards charities that involve food,healthcare and education for the poor at minimal charges. The trust is also planning an orphanage in the vicinity. It takes care of its sculptors too,giving them allowances,gratuity,and provident fund.

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We became an independent nation after the British left. But our villages,which were independent and self-sustained economies,lost their freedom. This museum is a reminder of the independence and freedom of the villages, says Swami.