What is a museum?
What is a museum?
Kanika Singh
Scholar-in-Residence, Archives at NCBS (https://archives.ncbs.res.in/scholars)
May 5, 2026, 4 PM IST
Online talk
Talk link and registration: https://ncbs-res-in.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z-enjtxvRYyJNEAAHT69og
Abstract:
What is a museum? The International Council of Museums, the highest international body of museums, nearly fell apart on this question. The reason was bitter dispute among members about this seemingly innocuous and indeed straightforward question. The issue of defining a museum is less about its form but more importantly about its purpose. When we ask what is a museum, we also ask what does it do and why are we building so many museums. This lecture uses examples of museums from India and from the world to think about the museum as an institution and its relationship to society.
Bio:
Kanika Singh is a historian working on public history, museum and heritage. Her recent book, The Story of a Sikh Museum: Heritage, Politics, Popular Culture (Cambridge University Press, 2025), is a study of Sikh museums in contemporary India. She is Director, Centre for Writing & Communication, Ashoka University and was a Scholar-in-Residence at the Archives at NCBS.