MY INSTITUTION

AND

MY WORK

BY

JOYEE ROY (GHOSH)

SR. TECHNICAL ASST.

(ASST.CURATOR)

VICTORIA MEMORIAL, KOLKATA,

INDIA

Rabindra Bharati Museum

Jorasanko, Kolkata, IndiaI was Engaged in Rabindra Bharati University Museum, Jorasanko, Kolkata from

1st June, 1999 to 18th May, 2003 as „Guide cum Cataloguer‟ (temporary staff). I

had to look after computerized record keeping i.e. accessioning, cataloguing,

stock verification and digitization of the total collection of the museum. I was

also engaged in guiding the visitors.

Rabindranath Tagore The Nobel laureate of Kolkata, India

Famous Writer, Poet & Artist

Rabindra Bharati University Museum was founded on 1961 by

the State Government of West Bengal, India . It is the ancestral

house of famous Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.

Victoria Memorial Kolkata

. From 19th May, 2003 onwards I am working in Victoria Memorial

Hall as a Senior Technical Assistant ( Asst. Curator) in

Documentation Unit

Victoria Memorial was conceived by

Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British

India on expiry of Queen Victoria in 1901

H.H. Queen Victoria

Victoria Memorial With Awesome

LandscapeIt was expected to be a living institution in memory of the Queen with particular

emphasis on Indo-British history with the contribution obtained from the Indian people

of more than a core of rupees in those days, the Memorial was given a shape.

The foundation stone was laid by King George V, the then Prince of Wales, on

January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.

Victoria Memorial: Beautiful

gardenRaised on a land measuring sixty-four acres a well mentained

picturesque garden with its water-bodies, lawns, gravel pathways

and trees offers visual treat to the visitors. The garden attracts

more than 5 million visitors annually

Victoria Memorial

In the bird’s eye

Victoria Memorial : Night

viewFrom October to June visitors may see in the evening the SON – ET

– LUMIERE shows, “Pride & Glory- the story of Calcutta”. It is

highly appreciated by both foreign & Indian visitors.

The splendor of architectureThe splendour is evident in its architecture. The architecture of the building is

predominantly Italian Renaissance in character – blended with the nuances of

Orientalism. The marble and sand stones used in its construction were quarried at

Makrana, then in the Jodhpur State

Sir William Emerson

Victoria Memorial was designed by Sir

William Emerson, President of the

British Institute of Architects.

The splendor of SculpturesThe group of figures above the north porch were executed in Italy. These

represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main

dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity etc.

Angel of victory

The figure of the Angel of Victory, 16 ft. high and weighing 3 tonnes

surmounts the dome and revolves upon its own base. The building is

184 ft. high upto the base of the figure, of the Angel of Victory.

The splendor of architecture

now represents and draws our attention

visually to the history of modern India. The

history is constructed with the visuals of

approx. 27,000 artefacts in oil and

watercolour, sketches and drawing, aquatints

and lithographs, stamps and postal

stationery, coins and medals, arms and

armour, books and manuscripts, sculptures &

costumes, personal relics and archival

documents.

If initial Curzonian scheme of collection and

arrangement of the exhibits is seen as a

composite representation of Empire,

the post-independence collection could be

Departments of Victoria

MemorialTotal Departments - 13

Total Staff - 170

ADMINISTRATIVE WING TECHNICAL

WING

*Office of the Secretary & Curator

*Documentation Department

*Administrative Department

*Restoration Department

*Accounts Department *Conservation

Department *Security Department

*Photography Department PUBLIC RELATIONS

*Education Department > *Library

DOCUMENTATION

UNIT

TOTAL STAFF- 4

SR. TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

(ASST. CURATOR) – 2

TEMPORARY STAFF - 1

PEON - 1

RESPONSIBILITYWe have to look after the total collection of Victoria

Memorial Hall

Total Artefacts : 27,393

• Oil paintings • Watercolour

Drawings

• Sketches • Engravings,

Lithographs & Aquatints

• Arms and Armour • Postal Stamps

• Textiles • Coins, Medals &

Tokens

• Sculptures • Manuscripts

• Books • Archival Documents

Accessioning of Artefacts

through

Master Accession Register

Entry in the Master Accession Register

Computerized Accessioning through a

Database Software I am engaged in Cataloguing of Arms, Textiles

& Abanindranath Tagore’s Paintings

Training on software

prepared & installed at VM

by C-DAC, Pune, India

Maintenance of Reserve Collection

through

Proper Storage

Supervising the periodical

dusting & cleaning once in

a week

Display of the Artefacts in

the Gallery

Round showcase

to display Manuscripts

Showcase to display

Arms

Showcase to display

Documents

Bust displayed on

wooden stand

Display of Old Cannon of

Kaman

Curating Temporary

Exhibitions

Curating outside exhibition

organized by VM

Prepared the entire content of

Touch Screen Kiosk , recently

launched at VM

Assistance given to scholars from

India & abroad regarding research

on the collection of VMH.

www.victoriamemorial-cal.org

Updating the official Website of Victoria

Memorial Hall

Organizing Lecture &

Seminar

Guiding V.I.P.s as and

when required

Pursuing Ph.D. on Pata Chitra,

Folk scroll painting of West

Bengal, India

Also on Santal Pat, Folk square

painting of West Bengal, India

Presented Papers in various

Seminars & Conferences.

THANK YOU