JATAN

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Context

• The Culture Ministry under Union government is planning a 3D digitisation of 10 museums under its administrative control. These museums are -
  • Salar Jung museum, Hyderabad
  • The Allahabad Museum, Prayagraj
  • The Indian Museum, Kolkata
  • The Victoria Memorial Hall
  • The National Museum and the
  • National Gallery of Modern Art
• Objective of this initiative is to better preservation and management of these museums.
• It will be done using JATAN virtual museum builder software.

Other Details

• Other 44 museums too, which are in vicinity of archaeological sites of importance, are identified by the Archaeological Survey of India for this project.
• This initiative of 3D digitisation, which involves 3D scanning, would improve the visitors’ experience by enhancing the visibility and accessibility of the artefacts collection.
• Use of virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing would also help in better learning experiences of visitors.
• The whole process of 3D digitization would be carried by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Must read Article:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/agra-fort-1

3D Scanning

• It is a process of creating 3D models of a real-world object.
• It is done by collecting and analysing shape and appearance related 3D data of a real-world object or environment.
• Then the 3D model using this data is constructed.

JATAN virtual museum builder software

• Human Centres Design and Computing Group, Centre for Development of Smart Computing, Pune has designed and developed a software JATAN.
• This software is a client server application which would help in
  • Creation of 3D digitization of museum.
  • Creation of 3D virtual galleries.
  • Assisting public to access museums through web, mobile or touch screen kiosks.
• It is a digital collection management system for Indian museums which has many enabling features like unique numbering of artefacts, efficient management of digital objects with multimedia representations, image cropping, watermarking etc.

Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad

• Established in the year 1951, this museum is located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It is situated on the southern bank of the River Musi.
• The Salar Jung family, one of the most eminent families Deccan history, has contributed to the collection of rare art objects, antiques, rare manuscripts and artefacts of the world.
• Situated in Dewan Deodi, home of late Salar Jung, this museum was opened to public in 1951 by the then by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
• It was declared Institution of National Importance in 1961 by an act of parliament.
• It contains various objects of significance related to diverse Asian, European and Eastern Countries of the World.

The Allahabad Museum, Prayagraj

• Located is Company Bagh, Civil Lines area of Prayagraj city in UttarPradesh, it was established in 1931.
• The Sengol, a ceremonial sceptre which symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India, was given to first PM Nehru and had been kept here in the Nehru Gallery.
• This museum comes under Ministry of culture and has a good collection of rare and unique objects of art.
• In India the largest collection of prehistoric paintings, 14,000 B.C to 2000 B.C., is displayed in rock art gallery here.
• It also serves as a premier research centre for historians, academicians and archaeologists.
• It is pioneer museum in terms of use of electricity generated from renewable sources i.e. solar power.

The Indian Museum, Kolkata

• This a 2 century old museum, founded in 1814, situated in central Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It was founded by the support of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and currently is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• It is considered the earliest and the largest multipurpose Museum in Asia-Pacific.
• It has variety of rare manmade and natural objects/artefacts which includes
  • Antiques,
  • Armour and ornaments,
  • Fossils,
  • Skeletons and mummies
  • Mughal paintings

The Victoria Memorial Hall

• It is a marble building, dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, situated in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It boasts British architecture of the colonial era and now comes under the control of Ministry of Culture.
• Envisaged by Lord Curzon, this british government built this monument during 1906 and 1921 in the memory of Empress of India Queen Victoria.
• It is built in the Indo-Saracenic revivalist style, a style which included elements from British, Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Mughal architecture.

The National Museum of India

• Established and inaugurated in independent India, in 1949, this museum is situated in the Delhi and considered one of the largest museums in India.
• Its collection includes rare objects from pre-historic era to modern era. It houses gallery like
  • Harappan Gallery
  • Maurya, Shunga and Satvahana Arts Gallery
  • Kushana Gallery
  • Gupta Gallery
  • Medieval Arts Gallery
  • Miniature Paintings Gallery
  • Buddhist Artefacts Gallery
  • Maritime Heritage Gallery
  • Arms and Armour Gallery etc.
• Gwyer Committee, chaired by the former chief justice of India Maurice Gwyer, is credited with the Idea and blue print of making this museum.

National Gallery of Modern Art

• As the name suggests it is a premier art gallery situated in Jaipur house, New Delhi which is considered one of the world's largest museums of modern and contemporary Indian art.
• Other branches of this museum are located in city of Mumbai and Bangalore.
• It was established by government of India in March 1954.
• For showcasing the cultural landscape and artistic heritage of modern India, an idea was initiated by an artists’ organisation named All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS) which culminated into this art gallery.
• The Jaipur house has the architectural style of the British Raj and was designed by Charles G Blomfield and his brother Francis.

PRACTICE QUESTION Museums of India reflect the art and architecture of Indian subcontinent. They also immensely contribute to the promotion of modern art and preservation of history. Justify with special reference to JATAN.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-complete-3d-digitisation-of-museums-by-end-of-2023/article66957910.ece