MUSEUMS ARE lyceums where ancientism cuddles modernism. Science, art, mysticism, humanity, barbarians from ancient times, extinct species, spirituality, and the masses flock together to augment a community belonging from diverse backgrounds and constrain them to expand their eyeball for extreme visualization of grand panorama of mankind evolution since prehistoric time. These are common center of attraction for scientists, artists, children, students, historians, archeologists, engineers, broadcasters, and tourists etc. to rally on and know the anecdotes about hostile tidal waves confronted by humans since they had embarked their voyage.


The museums exude sheer magnetism to attract clusters of people towards them and as one steps into the museum he becomes student. In museums, time not only pauses, but also rolls back and takes the visitor to primitive world and in a trance one can relate himself to the lives his forefathers lived and leave interminable traces on his mind that he carries with him for rest of his life.


Museums have their origins in the postindustrial revolutions where they were seen as advertisement or as self-congratulatory triumphalism. First known museum was opened in the University of Alexandria in Egypt. They become showcases of the wealth and philanthropy of those whose lifestyles were made rich by industrialization and manufacturing. The great private collections which subsequently became public set the scene for the way in which the museum culture has developed to this day. The role of museums in engaging communities, introducing ancient civilizations with modern day man.


Museums have come a long way in this century from exhibiting the private collections of rich business people to unearthing cultural artifacts from research and education. This stirring transformation infuses boundless impacts on societies and enables the people to learn about discoveries of researchers, archeologists and their contributions.


The museum realm has changed tremendously over the years across the globe. There has been a sizeable shift in the way museums functions, and the way they serve communities. Earlier on, museums were places for specialists; they were run by specialists and were conceived for specialists imitating a research library. But now the situation is changed altogether as museums serve as community centers these days and tend to entice varied audience. Museums see themselves as places for self-discovery where anyone can walk off the street without any previous knowledge or training. Coming and seeing what humans before them have made and learn from these objects and discover themselves as well.


Museums play key role in development of intellectual growth and spiritual sustainment to respond to the common preternatural existential queries that have baffled scholars of every occupation. They have to offer every person something in terms of knowledge and learning; a mysterious gravity tugs and ensnares the visitor to decode the cryptic secrets that are left unanswered by the books, and other information sources.


Works of art at museums act as mirrors in which one looks into the object and see aspects of his own interest, personality, upbringing, culture, beliefs, and values which are reflected back at him with vibes of knowledge, information, and conundrum to ponder. It is a sort of engagement experience between people and work of art with timeline reversed back to old times.


Museums have an indispensable role in community serving as their knowledge base and material could be utilized to improve the curriculum of educational intuitions. They are also an exponential variable in integrating the society and harboring unity and harmony in the society. Museums are such institutions to which people of all creeds attribute sanctity thus proving a podium of unison preferment.


The awe inspiring museums are not only a source of intimidating inspiration for people but also transcend the hackneyed belief. The deluding superstitions become a mere jest in museums as pragmatism and rationality supersedes disbelief and fallacy. The radiant beam of knowledge transmitted by museums enlightens the pitch dark masqueraders mind also. Museums change the layman concept about ancient civilization in a blink of eye just as magic wand. Simultaneously, museums are institutions, recreation place, arena of intellects, relic godown, philosophy class, and a spiritual nucleus around which many of the yearning arbitrators revolve.


The writer is associated with Weekly Technology Times as Editorial Assistant. He can be reached at ahsan@technologytimes.pk.

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