Kerala has a unique history shaped over the centuries by cultures from both outside and inside the Indian subcontinent. But for years, museums in Kerala hardly showcased the State’s gripping evolutionary story. The largely neglected museums did not have much of a connect with the local people and their lives.
But since 2011, things have been changing for the better. This was largely driven by the efforts of Dr. V. Venu, the current chief secretary of Kerala, who was then the tourism and cultural secretary.
Globally, museums are being decolonised, where colonial artefacts are slowly being replaced with indigenous ones. Similarly, efforts are being made to change the way museums are conceived and presented in Kerala. The aim is to show life, both from the past and the present, with a deep local connect.
