DOWNTOWNPLUS: Laxmi’s here but no one’s noticing: October 17, 2008

Laxmi’s here but no one’s noticing

 

 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a monetary museum at Amar Building, Sir PM Road, Fort “to document, preserve and present India’s monetary heritage for the public”. But unfortunately, the museum that takes you on a fantastic journey through the history of money in India, and even has a sensex ticker, is a deserted one. The museum has coins dating as far back as 5th century BC but they seem to mull between themselves on why they don’t seem to attract more city revelers.

“The museum sees approximately a maximum of 800 visitors each month – including children who are brought in by their schools,” smiles a forlorn PV Radhakrishnan, curator of the museum. The museum that was inaugurated in 2004, two years hence, it is still languishing due to a complete lack of publicity by the RBI. The only effort made has been to keep it open longer – till 5.15 pm instead of the initial 3 pm.

So how come the city that worships Laxmi over all else, finds no interest in a state-of-the-art monetary museum? Old money is boring? Not true. A vast collection of rare coins and notes – including hundies or promissory notes – make a most interesting cash walk. And even if history doesn’t get you hooked, ensuring how not to get cheated by the very real fake note nexus should. The museum – through graphic panels in English and Hindi — teaches visitors how to detect fake notes. Until now, if you only knew of a ‘silver ribbon’ to find out if a note is real, welcome to fake note land. “The ribbon may also be present in counterfeit notes. You should also check the watermarks and hidden letters to ensure the note is not a counterfeit,” says Radhakrishnan.

If even all this seems blah to you and not exciting enough to drag yourself to a museum, check out its large screen that displays live forex quotes. Yes, you could check that out on your computer screen as well but what you couldn’t do is play the index. Here you can take up imaginary positions — sell, buy, make or also, lose money!

The museum authorities are hoping to highlight the existence of this unique museum. Radhakrishnan promises, “We are now concentrating on publicity. We have already got in touch with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) as well as India Tourism for putting up information of our museum on their websites. In fact, India Tourism has already acknowledged the museum on its Incredible India tourism map.”

Well, incredible place needs incredible acknowledgement!

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