|
The Museum of Rural
life of Punjab in the campus of the Punjab Agricultural University is one
of the must-sees for any tourist of Punjab. This museum displays the
Punjabi Culture to its best. The PAU is perhaps, the only university in
India to have a museum like this.
The museum assumes much importance since the rural Punjab is changing
fast. The old traditions and customs, which were rampant till the last
decade, are now losing their stand with the intervention of the
technology. Women fetching water in gaggars (the bronze pot) from the
village well are no more seen. Old bronze utensils are now antique pieces.
Spinning is no more done. Women do not
embroider phulkari. In the fields with the arrival of
advanced technologies, the electric motors and pumps have
replaced the Dhingli and Charsa by mechanical threshers.
All such traditional items which once lent charm to the
Punjabi culture are now no where to be seen. But the
university museum preserves them all for those who still
want to cherish the old, lovely memories as well as for
those who are anxious to know about rural Punjab.
 The
whole credit for building up this museum goes to Dr. M.S.
Randhawa, the first Vice Chancellor of this University. It
was he who conceived the idea and initiated the project.
He decided suitable design for the building and collected
the old objects from small ancient villages and towns like
Sultanpur Lodhi, Rahon, Goindwal, Zira and Sunam.
The museum is located at the back of College of Home
Science of this University. The charges are minimal at Rs.
2/-. The museum is open on all working days of the
university from 9 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5
p.m.
The museum has a beautiful facade. It resembles the
traditional houses of rural Punjab. It lies in a 4000 sq.
Yards area. The museum looks splendid while also
maintaining the simplicity of rural life. A 100 yard long
path, flanked on both sides by water channels, leads to
the finely carved doors of the museum.
Next
Page
|
