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The National Rail Museum plans to coordinate with
various organisations and agencies to cash in on its growing
popularity
In order to remain popular, museums must
authentically preserve the past, become nerve centres of culture and
society, and keep an eye on expanding their role. In fact, ‘past
present and future’ is the leitmotif behind the popularity of
all museums the world over. And National Rail Museum (NRM) is no
exception.
It takes the visitors on an exciting journey into
the glorious history of the Indian Railways—the museum yard has
a collection of almost 100 exquisite exhibits that include steam
locomotives and saloons of various gauges. The collections can be
experienced in proper perspective, in their original colours and
livery of the state or the company railway to which they belong.
Romance of yesteryear is rekindled and nostalgia revived. This is the
past.
The museum has emerged as a cultural centre. A visit
to NRM is stimulating, enlightening and entertaining. It caters to a
variety of interests for all age groups. Today, NRM is not just any
other spot for tourists. It is a hub of activities—exhibitions,
workshops, conferences and other programmes are organised on a
regular basis for the benefit of the community. People throng to the
museum not just to experience the imposing marvels of engineering,
but enjoy the place. The verdant surroundings, the serene ambience,
library, island cafeteria, souvenirs make it a favourable place for
an exciting getaway. There has been a remarkable increase in the
number of people thronging to the museum every year. The figure for
June 2001-02 is 25,193 as compared to 21,128 in the corresponding
period in 2000-01(see chart). This is the present.
And now for the future. The museum plans to
coordinate with rail enthusiasts, the travel industry, educational
institutions, media, museum professionals, event managers, various
government ministries, publicity agencies, NGOs, business houses and
key officials of the Indian Railways to increase its popularity and
goodwill.
The museum offers the following possibilities:
- Quality time for
informed people.
- Informal education.
- Interpersonal
interaction in a stimulating setting.
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Lighter opportunities for meeting, leisure, de-stressing, emotional
fulfillment and recreation.
- Using heritage themes
for marketing and publicity of products.
- Gaining customer understanding,
acceptance, loyalty, impact, attitudinal changes through heritage
association.
- Business with a
purpose, a matter of pride.
- Association with
museum exhibits, symbols, logos, emblems and memorabilia to gain
visibility.
- A noble social,
cultural, emotional association with heritage.
- Gratitude and
blessings for business from a heritage approach.
- Maximising a
get-together, presentations or conferences with the stories,
substance and impact of heritage.
- Heritage has an
universal appeal and acceptability. A heritage partnership can have
an indelible, significant and long-lasting impact.
- Increasing awareness
of social and cultural issues consequent to the process of
globalisation.
- Heritage and culture
will become part of the world economy.
Steps are being taken improve facilities at the
museum. A Palace-on-Wheels rail heritage restaurant, an auditorium
and a regional rail museum in Chennai are coming up. A son-et-lumiere
is also being planned.
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