Chhindwara: The Badal Bhoi Adivasi Rajya Sangrahalaya in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh's first tribal museum, is preparing for its grand reopening with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to virtually inaugurate the renovated facility on November 15. The museum, which recently underwent a Rs 33-crore transformation, stands as a testament to India's rich tribal heritage and the contribution of tribal freedom fighters.
The newly renovated museum, monitored by the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) Bhopal, features intricate wall engravings celebrating the legacies of prominent tribal heroes including Tantya Bhil, Bhima Nayak, and Shankar-Shah Raghunath Shah. Their stories are brought to life through various artistic mediums including bamboo crafts, ironwork, clay crafts, and traditional paintings.
Originally established on April 20, 1954, the museum was renamed the Badal Bhoi State Tribal Museum in 1997. The facility spread across 9.75 acres, houses 14 rooms and 4 galleries that showcase the rich cultural tapestry of tribal communities such as the Baiga, Gond, and Bharia tribes.
Visitors can experience remarkably authentic representations of tribal life through carefully curated exhibits featuring traditional implements like chillums, bullock carts, and oil extractors. The museum also displays an impressive collection of musical instruments including dholaks, ektaras, and mridangs, alongside everyday items such as water vessels and flour grinding wheels.
"The museum has been completed according to the government's vision," says Satyendra Singh Markam, Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Affairs Department. "We have carefully depicted tribal traditions and lifestyle to raise awareness about their cultural heritage."
A unique feature of the museum is its display of specialized tribal artefacts including peacock feather shields, traditional jewellery, and the distinctive posthumous pillars of the Korku tribe. The facility also showcases various aspects of tribal life such as traditional iron-making techniques and live scenes of cultural performances.
While the museum's headquarters shifted to Bhopal's Shyamala Hills in 1965, the original museum remains in Chhindwara, continuing its legacy as Madhya Pradesh's premier institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating tribal culture and history.