Birla Industrial & Technological Museum
Encyclopedia
Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM), a unit under National Council of Science Museums
[NCSM], Ministry of Culture, Government of India
, is at Gurusaday road, Kolkata
.
in India was set up by the industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla
at BITS
, in Pilani
in a hall (185 sq.mt area) of the Tower Building. The museum depicted mainly the industries and business enterprises of the Birlas. The museum was opened to the public in 1954. Ten years later the museum was shifted to the present building.
The second science museum was mooted by Professor K S Krishnan, physicist and the then Director of National Physical Laboratory (NPL), he was inspired and encouraged by the then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru
. Professor R. Subramanian was appointed to develop science museum and planetarium project by NPL in 1956. The science museum of 555 sq.mr floor space in Delhi was opened for public in 1956, but it was close down by the authority after few years, although it was appreciated by general visitors.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy
, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal
and physician was impressed to see Deutsches Museum
of Munich
. He thought to set up a science museum and a planetarium in Calcutta. Dr. Roy requested to Ghanshyam Das Birla for a help. Ghanshyam Das Birla donated his residential house to the then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. The three storied Victorian style architectural building along with five bighas land of ‘Birla Park’, where they had lived for thirty five years.
National Council of Science Museums
National Council of Science Museums is an autonomous organization under Indian Ministry of Culture. It is the largest chain of science centers or museums under a single administrative umbrella in the world...
[NCSM], Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, is at Gurusaday road, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
.
History
The first science museumScience museum
A science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in museology have broadened the range of...
in India was set up by the industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das "G.D." Birla was an Indian businessman and member of the influential Birla Family.Birla's grandfather Shiv Narayana Birla wanted to diversify from the traditional marwari business of lending money against pawned items. He left Pilani, his hometown in Rajasthan with a modest capital...
at BITS
BITS
BITS or bits may refer to:* Plural of bit* Background Intelligent Transfer Service, a file transfer protocol* Birla Institute of Technology and Science, a technology school in Pilani, Rajasthan, India, with campuses in Goa, Hyderabad, and Dubai...
, in Pilani
Pilani
Pilani is a small town situated in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. It is in the Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, India. It notable for being the home of a large number of education institutes for its size.-Etymology:...
in a hall (185 sq.mt area) of the Tower Building. The museum depicted mainly the industries and business enterprises of the Birlas. The museum was opened to the public in 1954. Ten years later the museum was shifted to the present building.
The second science museum was mooted by Professor K S Krishnan, physicist and the then Director of National Physical Laboratory (NPL), he was inspired and encouraged by the then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
. Professor R. Subramanian was appointed to develop science museum and planetarium project by NPL in 1956. The science museum of 555 sq.mr floor space in Delhi was opened for public in 1956, but it was close down by the authority after few years, although it was appreciated by general visitors.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy
Bidhan Chandra Roy
Bidhan Chandra Roy, M.R.C.P., F.R.C.S. was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal in India. He remained in his post for 14 years as a Indian National Congress candidate, from 1948 until his death in 1962. He was a highly respected physician and a renowned freedom fighter...
, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and physician was impressed to see Deutsches Museum
Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of technology and science, with approximately 1.5 million visitors per year and about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology. The museum was founded on June 28, 1903, at a meeting of the Association...
of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He thought to set up a science museum and a planetarium in Calcutta. Dr. Roy requested to Ghanshyam Das Birla for a help. Ghanshyam Das Birla donated his residential house to the then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. The three storied Victorian style architectural building along with five bighas land of ‘Birla Park’, where they had lived for thirty five years.
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Existing galleries
- Biotechnology
- Electricity
- Fascinating Physics
- Life Science
- Mathematics. Inaugurated on 8 May, 2010
- Metals
- Mock-up Coal Mine
- Motive Power
- Popular Science
- Television
- Transport
Regular activities
- 3D film show, Alien Adventure - started from July 1, 2008, using digital technology
- Annual Science Quiz
- Community Programme
- Creative Ability Programme
- Environmental Campaign
- Mobile Science Exhibition for rural schools
- Nature Trail
- Popular Science Lecture
- Science & Engineering Fair
- Science Demonstration Lecture
- Science Drama Competition
- Science Fair, in 3 stages: district, state & eastern India
- Science Seminar, in 2 stages: district & state
- Science Shows on Magic & Miracle, Surprising Chemical Reactions and Super Cold
- Science Workshop
- Sky Observation Programme
- Taramandal Show
- Teachers Training Programme
- Vacation Hobby Camp, in summer and Puja
Satellite units
- Bardhaman Science Centre, Babur Bagh. Inaugurated on 9 January, 1994. Covered floor area 952.7 Sq. metres.
- Digha Science Centre & National Science Camp, New DighaDighaDigha is a seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It is the most popular sea resort in the West Bengal....
. Inaugurated on 31 August, 1997. Covered floor area 2589 Sq. metres. - Dhenkanal Science Centre, OrissaOrissaOrissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. Inaugurated on 5 June, 1995. Covered floor area 1147 Sq. metres. - District Science Centre, PuruliaPuruliaPurulia , also spelled Puruliya, also known as "Manbhum City", is a city located in West Bengal state, India, and was constituted in 1876. It is the location of the district headquarters of Purulia district. Purulia is located on the north of the Kasai river and is a major road and railway...
. Inaugurated on 15 December, 1982. Covered floor area 1637.40 Sq. metres. - Kapilas Science Park, DhenkanalDhenkanal, IndiaDhenkanal is a city and a municipality in Dhenkanal district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Dhenkanal is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres .-Demographics:...
. Inaugurated on 5 June, 1995. Area 4.8 Acres - North Bengal Science Centre, MatigaraMatigaraMatigara is an administrative division in Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Matigara Investigation Centre and Siliguri police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Kadamtala...
. Inaugurated on 17 August, 1997. Covered floor area 1875 Sq. metres. - Regional Science Centre, BhubaneswarBhubaneswarBhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
. Inaugurated on 18 September, 1989. Covered floor area 3819 Sq. metres. - Srikrishna Science Centre, PatnaPatnaPaṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
. Inaugurated on 14 April, 1978. Covered floor area 3523 Sq. metres.