Kerala’s first private medical museum opens in Thiruvananthapuram

T’puram: In an era dominated by digital screens, Kerala’s first private medical museum in Ulloor is attempting to revive curiosity about the human body through handcrafted anatomical models, paintings and medical archives.

The Museum of Medical Archives, founded by A Sivaraman, former artist-modeler at Govt Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, brings together decades of medical teaching materials and models designed and created by him. The museum features anatomical models, embryological displays, paintings, microbiology archives and photographs documenting the evolution of medical science and medical education.

The exhibits cover complex subjects ranging from fetal circulation, embryonic development and stages of mitosis to tooth formation, reproductive anatomy, heart development and vascular structures, the concepts usually confined to medical classrooms.

Each model and educational artwork displayed in the museum has been handcrafted by Sivaraman, who spent years creating scientific teaching aids for medical education.

For him, opening the museum is the realization of a long-held dream.

“Human body science is very interesting. If we make science engaging, more children will develop an interest in it. I wanted to create a space where children, science enthusiasts and common people can explore the human body and understand the science behind it. Though such collections exist in medical colleges, they are not always accessible to public,” Sivaraman said.

The museum also houses exhibits on the history of microbiology alongside archival photographs, offering visitors insights into the progression of scientific discoveries and teaching methods over the years.

Rows of handmade models transform textbook diagrams into three-dimensional learning experiences. Processes hidden within the body, including blood circulation in a fetus, organ formation and cell division are recreated through colourful installations intended to simplify complex biological concepts.

Visitors believe such initiatives are increasingly relevant as children grow up with fewer opportunities for hands-on learning. Also walking through its galleries, the exhibits offer a reminder that science can be explored not only through screens and textbooks, but also through observation, touch and imagination.

Bini M, former staff member of Govt Medical College, Thrissur, said such museums can help reconnect children with real-world science.

“These museums are important, especially in the digital era. Earlier, we learned human anatomy through diagrams, crafts and physical models. We used to make our own diagrams and understand concepts through practical learning,” she said.