State grant for Kelkar museum raised

PUNE: The state government has increased the annual grant given to city-based Raja Dinkar Kelkar museum from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh from the current financial year. A government resolution to this effect was issued on May 23 by the department of tourism and cultural affairs.
The resolution said that the increase in the grant comes in the backdrop of rising maintenance costs.Rs 25 lakh were given every year from 2002-03 keeping in mind the significance of the museum that houses over 21,000 rare artifacts representing the variety of Indian arts and craftsmanship.
Sudhanva Ranade, director of Kelkar museum, said: "I am very happy to receive the news of increased grant on behalf of the staff and board of management of the museum, and wish to thank the state government. We look forward to more support in due course in order to further develop and expand the museum which is not just Maharashtra's treasure, but India's pride. Perhaps the government could consider increasing the grant to Rs 55 lakh or Rs 60 lakh considering the rising costs of upkeep and payments to staff. Apart from this, the museum would require concrete financial support for building the proposed "museum city" in Bavdhan which is envisaged as a fitting extension to the existing museum."
The museum is the one-man collection of late D G Kelkar (1896 -1990). 'Kaka', as he was better known, dedicated his collection to the memory of his only son 'Raja' who died an untimely death. It is a collection about 21,000 artifacts in stone, wood, metal, fabric, ivory and clay, which mirror the every day life of India.
A connoisseur of arts, the collection reflects Kaka's journey of over sixty years, even as he travelled to the nooks and corners of India including obscure villages, tribal settlements, temples and huts, collecting objects de art that he believed reflected the spirit and heritage of India. This museum since is aided by the state government and run by a board.