2,000 everyday artefacts, rare textiles go on display at Humayun Tomb

A new gallery at the historic Humayun Tomb Museum complex in Delhi has opened its doors, offering the public a rare glimpse into the daily lives of Indians from a bygone era. The Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art and Indian Textiles features over 2,000 artifacts and nearly 500 pieces of textile, with items ranging from 100 to 300 years old.

The collection, originally amassed by OP Jain, a 97-year-old Delhi-based paper merchant, was donated to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in 2023. The IGNCA, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), undertook extensive preservation work to prepare these historical pieces for display. The museum aims to showcase the artistry and cultural significance embedded in objects used by ordinary people, not the elite.

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This is who we used to be.

Visitors can explore a diverse array of items, including children's toys, kitchenware, farming implements, and personal adornments, crafted from materials like brass, silver, ceramic, and leather. Notable exhibits include intricately carved wooden toys resembling chariots and balancing figures, as well as metal rolling pins with bells on their ends, suggesting an auditory dimension to daily practices.

"This is who we used to be," remarked Ratish Nanda, India CEO of AKTC, emphasizing the profound artistry found even in the most common objects. He highlighted that these items were not possessions of aristocrats but integral parts of everyday life for commoners, demonstrating that beauty and craftsmanship were accessible to all. The museum seeks to foster a sense of pride and cultural connection by preserving and presenting these tangible links to India's rich past.

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These objects were not used by aristocrats or rich people, but were part of the everyday lives of commoners. We had so much beauty and artistry even in common objects found in the house.