Tracing Bhavnagar's Intellectual Treasures: Central Library, Barton Legacy, and Gandhi Smriti Exploration

 Tracing Bhavnagar's Intellectual Treasures: Central Library, Barton Legacy, and Gandhi Smriti Exploration

Hello

On January 5, 2024, students from the Department of English at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University went on a tour to different libraries in Bhavnagar, including university's Central Library, the Gandhi Smriti-Barton Museum, and Barton Library. The Library Committee leaders organized these visits to show the students what these places offer in terms of resources.

The journey began at MK Bhavnagar University's Central Library, famous for its huge collection of books. It's the main source of information for 24 postgraduate departments in different colleges. Started in 1979, this library has a lot—over 1,57,000 books, 1547 theses, magazines, newspapers, CDs/DVDs, and special old manuscripts.

The visit showed us the perks of being a member. Anyone—researchers, teachers, students, or staff—can get a special card to borrow books. The library's website is easy to use on phones or university computers, making it simple to find and take out books. Also, they showed us how to use the machines to borrow and return books, helping us understand how the library works.

E-Library :

The eLibrary at MK Bhavnagar University is a goldmine of educational stuff. Going digital is a clever move to make learning easy and accessible anywhere, anytime.

It's not just books; this online library has e-books, research papers, Ph.D. theses, journal articles, and lots more. You'll find audio and video lectures, plus talks by experts—way more than just reading stuff.

In today's fast-paced world, technology keeps growing. This e-library is a big help. It lets students and teachers get info without being stuck in one place. Now, you can explore tons of knowledge whenever you want, wherever you are—no need to stick to the old-school classrooms.

Gandhi Smriti-Barton Museum

Inaugurated in the year 1955, the complex of Gandhi Smriti, also known as the Gandhi memorial, is located in the central area of Bhavnagar, and lies juxtaposed to a clock tower. The museum was inaugurated in the year 1955, and currently showcases books, rare photos and memorabilia linked to the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Barton Museum in Bhavnagar is one of the oldest museums in Saurashtra, carrying a rich heritage from the ancient rulers of the region.

This historical place started way back in 1881, during Emperor Takhtasinhji's rule. Deputy Minister Raobahadur Vijayashankar Gavrishankar, son of Gavrishankar Oza, set up the Ancient Investigation Department. The Barton Library and Museum officially opened in 1885.

By 1955, the museum moved to its new location, thanks to the specially built Gandhi Smriti Trust building. Then, in 1982, the Gujarat state government created a museum department and took charge of Barton Museum on October 28, 1982. From that time, the museum has been directly managed by the Gujarat government's Museum Department.

This museum has a lot of different things to see—like sculptures, ancient coins, weapons, fossils, and more.Many old things have been found in different villages and towns in Bhavnagar District, like Mahuva, Katpar, Talaja, Timana, Hathab, Nesdi, Ghogha, Budhels, Shihor, and more. These things tell us about our rich heritage and culture.

When you enter the museum, there's a display showing how Earth was born and changed over time. They've even got remains of a huge animal and fossils found in 1936 on Piram Island near Ghogha Port. These help us understand how ancient living things evolved.

Sculpture Gallery :

Leo Tolstoy in his work "What is Art" defined art and that is relevant to this museum's visit. Real art can be distinguished from counterfeit art because it "infects" people with the emotion/feelings of the artist. It is also universal in that all people can relate to it and become "infected" by it no matter their social class.

In the sculpture gallery, you'll find Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist sculptures from the 7th to the 15th century. They feature important figures like Vishnu in his Trivikram form, Sheshshayi Vishnu, Surya (the Sun), Matrukas, Bhairav, Ganesh, Brahmani, Gandharva, Garud, Parvati, Avalokiteshwar, Bodhisattva, Karyotsarg, Data Dampati, and many others.

The sculpture of "Chamardhari" was interesting as it portrayed as Dev. The term "Chamardhari" refers to a form of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. The use of a whisk or fan made from the tail or hair of an animal like a yak or a goat, known as a "Chamara" or "Chamar," has historical and cultural significance in various traditions. In some cultures, these items were considered symbols of status, authority, or regality. They were used to fan and honor royalty or esteemed figures, denoting respect and prestige.

Most attractive sculpture was of Avalokiteshvara. It was most compassionate of Budhdha avtara among 108 avatars known as "Padmapani".

Apart from that museum displays Hindu and Jain statues made from a mix of metals. These statues focus on important elements related to Jain foundations.

Sculptures like Karyotsarga, Bodhisattva, and Sleeping Vishnu show how carefully artists worked on them. If you look closely, you can see how they express feelings like a mother's love for her children and how they connect nature with people. Artists paid a lot of attention to these details, making the sculptures full of emotions and meaning.

Nut Cutters:

It was fascinating to see how artists express their creativity on nut cutters. In the era of machines and industry, traditional craftsmanship is fading away. However, looking at these nut cutters, one can truly appreciate the artists' creativity. They carve intricate designs like animals, scissors, dancing men and women, and even horses on these small tools. The level of detail and artistry they put into these nut cutters is truly remarkable.

Ivory works: 

The museum shows off some really fancy carvings made from ivory and a beautiful swing made from deer horns. Ivory trading is now illegal, but in the past, it led to extensive hunting of elephants and deers. In Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," Marlow and Krutz ventures into ivory trading. It shows how ivory was used to make toys, ornaments, and various items back then.

Tamra-Patra: 

This section showcases a special set of copper plates that highlight the importance of perpetual giving during the time of royalty. Among them, there are donation plates (Daan-patra) from King Dharsen in 561 A.D., King Shiladitya III in 662 A.D., and from Dhruvsen II in 629 A.D. Also, there's the notable Bhatark seal from the Maitrak kings at Vallabhi.

Throughout this part, ancient writings on these plates remind us of our vibrant historical background. Vijaydank of Vallbhi with inscriptions of Nandi upon that shows king's devotion to some religion.

Small sculptures and coins depicted the lifestyle of the Vallabhi people, showcasing their religion, jobs, and entertainment. These artifacts offer a clear glimpse into the society and lives of the people during that era.

Coins :

The coin collection here covers many different times of rulers. It includes coins from the Hiranya pin era of Rigved, the earliest coins from the Mathura republic, Yodheya, Ujjain, Takshashila, and coins from Panchmark, Greek Kshatrap, Gupta, Rajput, Mughal, and British times. You'll also see coins from South India, local states of Gujarat, and coins from Independent India in this part of the museum.

The Life Of Kathi People :

The people native to Bhavnagar, connected to Panini's Ashtadhyayi, were known as Kathiyawadi and worshipped the sun.

The museum also has an artistic collection that includes wooden carved temples, dressing tables, wooden toys from Mahuva, earthen wares from Patan, marble jewelry boxes, metal utensils, old locks and keys from Shihor.

Agriculture Instruments:

In the farming section, there are lots of tools like kadiyu, Khapali, Orni, Dhundhiya, Beli, Tarlu, Ghosru, Plough, and more. These tools show how farming was done traditionally.

There's also a collection of folk instruments from Gujarat. They have string instruments like chonku, Ramsagar, Tingri, Dobru, Ravanhatho, and Sarangi. Plus, there are rhythm instruments like madal, Bhilodi, Dhol, Pakhwaj, Duf, Daak, Transa, Khanjari, Nargha, Nobat, Tur, Kasi, Joda, Manjira, Thali, Machhli, Khareto, and Karges. And they also show other instruments like sur, sharnai, mahuvar, roli, karnaat, bhungal, naagfani, kani, tota. While looking at the Ramsagar there was instant strike of the scene from Midnight's Children Shiva's father.

You can also see copies of wall paintings from Shihor Darbargadh, watercolor paintings by famous artists from Gujarat, and oil paintings by the famous artist Raja Ravi Verma. These paintings are special and have a unique place in the museum. The exhibition showcased Darwin's Theory of Evolution, tracing humanity's journey from Homo sapiens to modern-day humans.

Gandhi Smriti :

The Gandhi Memorial in Bhavnagar, inaugurated in 1955, honors Mahatma Gandhi. It's linked to the city's clock tower and holds a museum with books, rare photos, and Gandhi's belongings. The place is tied to Gandhi's connection with Bhavnagar University. Entrance costs 5 rupees for most, 2 rupees for students, and 50 rupees for foreigners. There's a picture gallery displaying Gandhi's life and a museum with ancient items. A library there offers diverse books on Gandhi's life and teachings, once known for its vast collection and popularity among students and locals.

Barton Library :

The Barton Library started in 1882 and was named after Colonel L. C. Barton by King Takhtsinhji Gohil. It began as the "Shri Chhaganbhai Desai Library" in 1860. Now, it holds thousands of Gujarati books on different topics and is very important in Gujarat's history.

It was great learning experience to go through this places. We get dipper understanding of art, moreover it also highlights how literature and other arts are intertwined. 

Thank you.