ONE more feather has been added to the 160-year-old Central Museum’s cap with the mounting of eight British-era cannons which were unearthed from the historic Kasturchand Park. The museum building has now got a facelift with the display of these ancient cannons with British crown insignia. After using conservation techniques on scientific lines, including chemical treatment, these cannons were installed by experts at designated places in the museum premises. Custodian of cultural heritage of Maharashtra, the State Archaeology Department mounted these ancient iron artefacts of the British period for the general public. The eight cannons were found by workers while digging at the south of the pavilion for construction of a jogging and walking track at Kasturchand Park in October 2019. The track was constructed by Solar Industries under its corporate social responsibility initiative in association with District Collectorate, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Heritage Conservation Committee.

 

Historians believe that these cannons were used during the Battle of Sitabuldi fought between the British and the Bhonslas of Nagpur in 1817. The Central Museum has a rich collection of thousands of sculptures, highly valuable ancient inscriptions, paintings, stuffed birds and animals, firearms and weapons, textiles, ivory idols, coins, manuscripts, archaeological findings from excavations, anthropological artifacts (aborigine art), fossils and other rare antiquities. Digital and mobile technologies are being used to enhance its outreach to domestic and foreign visitors.