The proposed international-level Gondwana Cultural Museum is all set to see light of the day after a hiatus of nearly 17 years. The project was conceptualised to preserve and promote the art and culture of tribals. It got approval from the government in 2002 and after a long wait this project would be materialised. The museum will be built at Surabardi jointly by State and Central governments.
Availability of land was the biggest hurdle in the project. This was cleared after several rounds of meeting. To expedite the project a meeting was held in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Manisha Verma, Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department. Gond Raja Bakht Buland Shah Uike was to build the Gondwana Cultural Museum in Nagpur 350 years ago.
After 50 years of Pune-based tribal research and training institute, the then President recognized the institution as an autonomous institution and decided to make a sub-center. This sub-center was named Gondwana Cultural Museum. In this, rare items reflecting tribal lifestyle and culture, things used in farming, traditional dress, weapons, literature and dialect were to be promoted. For this, the central government approved Rs.10 crore in 2014 and Rs.11 crore in 2015. Due to non-availability of land in the city for the museum, 12 acres of space was provided in Surabardi on Amravati Road. Joint Secretary Sunil Patil, Deputy Secretary Laxmikant Dhoke, Tribal Research and Training Institute Commissioner Dr. Kiran Kulkarni, joint commissioner Nandini Awade, Vinod Patil were also present in the meeting.
Four groups of advisory committee were prepared in the meeting. Representative of the Manav Sangrahalaya Bhopal, SK Pandey, Historian Dr. Madhukar Kotanake, Vastu Visharad Bhakti Thakur, Professor Dr. Akshay Patil, Nagpur University Department of History Professor Dr. SI Koreti, Madan Meena, Amarja Nimbalkar, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum Director SS Mujumdar were also present.
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