Museums are a great way of learning about things, people and communities. In India, there are plenty of museums based on different themes. One such theme is the tribes of India. The nation has quite a few tribal museums that are worth a visit.
Here is a list of tribal museums located in India:
- Birsa Munda Museum, Ranchi
The Birsa Munda Smriti Udyan sah Swatantra Senani Sanghralaya is the first museum in the government’s effort to honour tribal freedom fighters of the country. It is built inside the prison in Ranchi, where Birsa Munda died at a young age. It contains a 25 feet statue of Birsa Munda. The statues of other freedom fighters will be 9 feet. Besides this, it will have a musical fountain, a children’s park, an infinity pool, a garden, a food court, etc.
- Tribal Museum, Bhopal
It is one of India’s famous tribal museums. Madhya Pradesh’s tribes themselves make it. It has six galleries that display the culture and tradition of seven tribes- Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Kol, Koru, Sahariya and Bhariya. It also houses an auditorium, an artefacts shop and a restaurant. It also organises cultural events with representation from tribal groups.
- Odisha State Tribal Museum, Bhubaneshwar
Odisha State Tribal Museum is also worth a visit. It has digitised galleries that represent 62 tribal communities. It also has a library, five tribal homes that look real and a herbal garden. Galleries at this museum are based on themes like agricultural objects, adornments, art and dokra items.
- Tribal Museum, Araku Valley
The Tribal Museum at the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh is unique in its structure. It is built with mud, metal and colours and showcases tribal lifestyle, culture, tradition, customs, artworks, textiles, and utensils, including the technology used. Music and dance have a separate sections. It also has a fortune-teller who speaks the local language. His predictions are believed to be accurate by many people.
- Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum, Hyderabad
Located in a Red and White building in Hyderabad, the Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum showcases the lives of various tribes of the state. It has a simple display of literature, figurines and dioramas that look real. It also has a market where tribal people can come and sell their products.
- Living and Learning Design Centre, Kutch
When a series of droughts hit Gujarat, it felt the need to empower its residents. It is when Shujan Trust was established, establishing the Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) in Kutch.
With the help of this trust, the tribal women from 12 tribal communities in the state started selling their traditional crafts to make a living. Currently, around fifty tribal embroidery styles, including Rabari, Ahir and Meghwal, are displayed in LLDC. It also has a library accessible to all and a studio where artists practice.
- Tribal Museum, Silvassa
Located in Silvassa in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the Tribal Museum tells you about its tribal culture. It is where you can understand the origin, lifestyle and development of different tribal communities.
This museum exhibits hunting and fighting weapons of the tribes like bows, daggers, and spears. It also has tribal wedding dresses, handmade ornaments, utensils, musical instruments, Worli artwork, 3D tribal houses, ceremonial photographs, clay models of their lifestyle, and much more.
- Tribal Museum, Delhi
Delhi’s Tribal Museum is also a way of exploring the lifestyle, culture and music of different tribal groups in India. It was set by Bharatiya Adimjati Seva Sangh in Thakkar Bapa Smarak Sadan. It contains figures, dancing sticks, jewellery, metal-tipped arrows, textiles and musical instruments. It also houses a library with 6000 books on tribes.
Upcoming Tribal Museums in India
On the first Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15, 2021, the Government of India announced to build 10 tribal museums to honour the tribal freedom fighters. Out of them, one museum belonging to Birsa Munda has already been completed. PM Modi inaugurated it on the same day. It is an attempt to recognise the efforts and honour their contribution n the Independence of India. This initiative is sanctioned by Renua Singh, Minister of State Tribal Affairs.
Here is a list of upcoming Tribal museums in India:
| Upcoming Tribal Museums in India | |||
| S.no. | Name of the Museum | State | Tribal Freedom Fighter it belongs to |
| 1. | Tribal Museum, Rajpipla | Gujarat | Prominent freedom fighters across the country |
| 2. | Tribal Museum, Raipur | Chhatisgarh | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh |
| 3. | Tribal Museum, Lammasingi | Andhra Pradesh | Shri Alluri Seetha Ram Raju |
| 4. | Tribal Museum, Chindwara | Madhya Pradesh | Bheema Nayak, Khajaya Nayak, Tantya Bheel, etc. |
| 5. | Tribal Museum, Kozikhode | Kerala | Thalakkal Chanthu |
| 6. | Tribal Museum, Hyderabad | Telangana | Ramji Gond |
| 7. | Tribal Museum, Makhal Village | Manipur | Rani Gaidinliu |
| 8. | Tribal Museum, Kelsih | Mizoram | Contributions of Tribal Freedom Fighters |
| 9. | Tribal Museum, Ponda | Goa | Tribal Heroes during India’s freedom struggle in Goa |
