What did it take to get over 500 princely states to join the Republic that became India? A new exhibition on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel gives you an immersive glimpse
A few exhibits also have voice support with four languages to choose from — Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati — to ensure greater clarity in understanding. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
We enter the makeshift hall where the Nehru Science Centre is hosting a travel exhibition on the Iron Man of India, with two questions — why is the science center hosting a historical exhibition and how dull is it going to be. To the first, one of the officials has a quick answer. The exhibition, titled Uniting India: Role of Sardar Patel, is a travelling one that has come to Mumbai from Junagadh and while the permanent one, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31 last year is hosted by the Nehru Science Centre, which falls under the Ministry of Culture. The answer to the second question is simply not at all.
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A Nehru Science Centre official using the EEG headset and the power of concentration to bring the fragmented states of India together on the screen in front of him
The curatorial team — there are involved, right from high-ranking officials in the government, to design experts from Ahmedabad’s National Institute of Design and a team from Nehru Science Centre, a scripting team and a research team that pulled out documents from the National Archives — has put in much effort to make this not just a digital (it completely is), but also an interactive exhibition. We are led first to a digital map of India on a large screen. Tap the screen on a state of your choice and you will be given a brief history on the history of the state, its last ruler and when its accession date. Hyderabad for instance, joined united India on September 18, 1948. But, it gets cooler.
It wasn’t just state boundaries that changed when the smaller kingdoms came together. What was lost in the homogeneity was a whole host of currency and there’s an exhibit that pays tribute to that. Slip in a coin that a volunteer will hand you and a scanner will tell you which state it’s from, the year of minting and under while ruler it was issued. At the Jungadadh exhibition, says an official, an erstwhile royal from Anantpur on not finding their coin on the list said he would give one to the exhibition.
At another exhibit, a wave of the hand will give you details of which states were friendly to the idea of joining India, and which were not so sure. Crowd control will however be needed to ensure that the visitor has a good experience. The officials at the Centre say volunteers have been called in to ensure that the screens are not attacked by multiple users at the same time.
There are three must-try experiences. One is the EEG headset, which when you put it on and concentrate hard, will bring the fragmented states of India together in a graphic on a screen in front of you. It’s hard, so practice before you head. There’s also a VR experience and a quiz (for three teams). So, if you are competitive, head out with friends or family.
What doesn’t work is the loud blaring noise from one of the videos, but may be they will take heed or our suggestion. Pro Tip: Head to the center during weekdays, when we hear, it’s less crowded.
Uniting India: Role of Sardar Patel
When: 10 am - 7 pm, On till Feb 20, 2017 Where: Nehru Science Centre, Worli
Entry: Rs 40 onwards
Call: 24920482
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