MAINSTREAM

A newly launched museum in Victoria is the embodiment of Indian heritage in Australia

0n die eve of India's 68d1 Independence Day, Melbourne's Musewn India threw open its doors

Proud!)' d isplayed in side are a collection of artwo r ks from India including photographs, paintings, sctt.lptures, engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs, coins a nd stamps dating as far back as 400 BC. T his includes a smnni ng statue which is one of die best sculptures of Ganesha T have ever seen.

Sim ated in die heart of Melbourne's Little India Precinct in Dandenong, Museum India is set to add ro t he nmlticulturalism in d1e Most Liveable C ity in the Wo rld.

For the Australian Indian community, dus museum, die first of its kind outs ide of India, marks an allegiance to preserve die ricb historical legacy of our ancient land, and share it with d1ose ln our adopted land.

The massive collection is in large part the work of Jvfelbourne-based Dr Dinesh Parekh and lus wife Dr Krishna Parekh Art collectors for more than SO years, tl1e Parekhs are well-known in art circles in the ciry.

Dr Parekh is inde ed a collector par exrrao rdinaire. A reti red psychiatrist w ith an extremely interesting and motivating career profile, an avid phorographer and collector, bis passion for photography starred in his early teens and continued well after earning hi s medi cal degrees. The Parekh family collection has been displayed at several interna tional exrubitions.

Tbe massive museum coUection, held currently under d1eir family trust, h as been generously loaned to Museum lndia to be preserved for the fmure generations

On die occasion of the latmch , Dr Parekh, a srrong pillar of die Indian commwii cy in Victoria, was characteristically hwi1ble

·'Museum L1dia is a wiique and distinctive venture, one of its kind in die wo rld, buil t with dedication, support and generosit y of many," he said.

Accompanied b y d1e melodious strains of [he rlhol, 11arlaswam111 and 111ridt111ga111 p laying in die background, l\foseum Lndia was join tly inaugurated by Matdiew Guy (Minister for M ulciculmral Affairs, Citizenship and P lanning), Manika Jain (Consul General of India Melbourne), Jim Memeri (Mayor of Greater Dandenong)

14 SEPTEMBER 2014 and John Pandazopoulos (Member for D andenong).

A Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria project, d1e museum has been an idea tli at came about many years ago.

President of FIAV, Mr Vasan Srinivasan said at the laun ch diat the concept of M useum India first entered his niiod a few yea rs ago He envis io ned a standing testimony to die legacy and he ritage of cbe vast lndian commu1ury in Australia. After mondis of toil, along \vid1 die conjoined and collaborative efforts of many, his vision has finall y become a reality

"It was d1e support, passion, dedication and gen erosity of Dr D inesh Parekh and his fanuly which h as given us the oppo rtwiity to comprehend, app reciate and preserve the hi sto rical legacy of Motlier Tndia, here in V ictoria, Australia," Mr Srinivasan said.

In her address, Ms Manika Jain applauded che efforts of Dr Parekli , whose priva te coUection holds more t han 11,000 artefacts pertaining to Indian hiscory.

Matthew Guy, a long smnding patron o f FIAV, said mat the inauguration of mis Museum is a momentous occasio n, and applauded d1e efforts of all mose who worked so hard to make it a reality. Mayor Memeti said mat d1e Museum was a befitting addition to the L ittle India precinct for promoting me mulriculrural camaraderie of the City of Greater Dandenong.

Chiera Sudarshan, an academic and Indian Link wri ter with a great knowledge of Indian arts, said after the launch, "T ho se who h ave been fotmnate en ough to have viewed b its of the Parekhs' collection earlie r at the Hindu CuJmral Centre in the Shiva Vishnu temple in Carnun Downs, which houses a permanent exhibition of exquisite photographs, paintings a nd lithographs pert.'lining to Hindu m ythology, will be delighted at this display at FlAV's premises The display has been wondetfull}' put toged1er b y die Parekhs memseh·es and is a testament to dieir grea t caste, aesthetic sense and connoisseurshi p".

The event also witnessed d1e presence of man y d ignita.ries and VIPs including Luke Donnellan (Seate Member for Narre \Varren r o rth and Shadow Minister for Roads, Road Safety and die TAC); Simon Wilson , General Manager, Precinc t U rban Renewal at Places Victoria; Professor Amitabh Mattoo, CEO and Director, Australia India Institute; Chin Tan, Chairperson of Victorian Multiculmral Commission and Chidambaram Srinivasan, Member of the Victorian Multicultural Comnussion. The Indian APL team was also present at tl1e event and so was Rahul Roy, yester year Bollywood actor of Amhiq11i fame.

Museum India is a collaborative effort from Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, CIA.A, FIAV, me Indian High Com.mission, Australia India Institute, State and local governments, City of Greater

Dandenong and die Imperial College of Australia.

This museum will be a treasure house of knowledge for sn1dencs, researchers, tourists and anyo ne interested in tli e story of Indian civilisation and heritage. Curr ently, less d1an fi ve per cent of die collection is disp layed due to lack of space and facilities, but efforts will continue, ove r die years, to identify and build a larger museum wbicl1 can eventually display the collection in it~ entirety

As Dr Parekh rightly said, "No museum can be built in a dar !" le is a journ ey, over me ages, diat will stand witness to the h istory, rrad ition and culture of a majestic and ancient civilisation called India.

Museum In dia

61-63 Foster Street and 2 R obinson Street, Dandenong 'fllesdaySaturday: 11 .00am4. 00pm Sunday: by appointment only

For furth er details, conta ct 1800 FlAV 00 {1800 3428 00)

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