Chandigarh, July 3:- A high-level review meeting was held late Thursday evening under the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini regarding the progress and design of the world-class site museum and interpretation center being developed in Rakhigarhi. While reviewing every aspect of the project in detail in the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini directed that this ambitious project should be developed as per international standards, so that Rakhigarhi emerges as not just an archaeological site, but a global center of India's ancient civilization, cultural heritage and knowledge tradition.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary of the state Shri Anurag Rastogi, Commissioner and Secretary of the Heritage and Tourism Department Dr. Amit Agarwal, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Yashpal, Deputy Director of the Haryana Archaeology and Museums Directorate Dr. Narinder Parmar was also present.
Regarding the upcoming plans for Rakhigarhi, Commissioner and Secretary, Heritage and Tourism Department Dr. Amit Agarwal told the Chief Minister that the Interpretation Center and Site Museum being developed will go beyond the concept of a traditional museum and will use ultra-modern digital, electronic, audio-visual. Tourists will not only see the ancient relics, but will also be able to experience the lifestyle, culture and social system of that period through modern technology.
He said that it is being developed in an area of ??about 1 lakh square feet. Five thematic galleries will be built on its ground floor and first floor, in which various aspects of the Saraswati-Indus civilization will be presented through modern technology. These galleries will showcase a detailed introduction to the seven mounds of Rakhigarhi, archaeological excavations carried out in different stages, important relics found, town planning, housing arrangements, streets, drainage system, water management, food storage, commercial activities, livelihood, social life and the technological and cultural achievements of that time in an attractive and scientific manner.
The Orientation Gallery will provide detailed information on the civilization of the seven rivers and the development of the Saraswati-Indus civilization. Apart from this, the story of the entire civilization will be explained to the tourists in an easy and interesting way through short films, digital projection, 3-D presentation and other modern media.
The Interpretation Center will also arrange for specially designed experiential activities for children and youth. Children and other tourists visiting here will be able to see and understand the process of making seals of ancient times, bricks used at that time, replicas of ancient objects and other historical materials up close. Traditional games of that period and other participatory activities will also be arranged for children, which will make learning history an interesting experience for them.
The officials said in the meeting that archaeological excavation work is currently underway on three mounds of Rakhigarhi. The museum will also show when the excavations took place in different phases, which important relics were found and how these discoveries gave a new direction to the understanding of world history and Indian civilization. Being located near National Highway-152, Rakhigarhi has immense tourism potential. After the completion of this project, it will be included in the major tourism, cultural and educational centers not only of Haryana but also of the entire country. This will also create new employment opportunities at the local level and will give impetus to the economic development of the region.
The officials informed in the meeting that an amount of Rs. 90 crore has been approved by the Union Finance Ministry, through which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plans to develop sheds and other necessary infrastructure for the convenience of tourists, so that the tourists can get a safe, convenient and authentic experience of the archaeological site.
**A replica of Akhand Bharat will also be visible
Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini instructed the officials that the aim of the Haryana Government is to make Rakhigarhi such a world heritage center, where every tourist who comes can feel the scientific thinking, cultural prosperity and human development journey of India's ancient civilization with pride. He said that the view of Akhand Bharat of ancient times should also be shown in Rakhigarhi and the extent to which the heritage of Rakhigarhi spread should also be displayed.
So that the tourists can also know about that ancient Akhand Bharat. The Chief Minister said that the aim of the museum is not just to display history, but to bring it alive and pass it on to the new generation. Families, students, researchers and tourists from home and abroad who come here should have an experience that will help them understand the thousands of years old Indian civilization from a modern perspective.