Visit to Kolkata Police Museum
Few weeks back while surfing for something else, my search result showed the Kolkata police official website. What came in my mind I don't know but I started surfing the website.
It took a very brief section of the otherwise white space filled page of Kolkata police website - http://kolkatapolice.gov.in/Museum.aspx
I never ever ever heard of this Museum.So, I decided to visit it because I promised me something about criminal history and show me Kolkata's history from a different aspect.
So, off we (I mean me and my wife) went on a Sunday morning. Its next to Raja bazar science college, Kolkata. The Museum is located inside police compound so in that sense it was pretty secure and the number of police presence in terms of men and vehicles and ambiance outside the museum got me slightly nervous.
Anyways, inside of the museum is maintained by plained clothes policemen. They were nice and courteous and seeing me spending 3 hours in 1 section of the Museum through their CCTV, 1 policeman in particular came and explained me the working of several weapons on display and were actual case evidences against several armed Bengalee Indian independence fighters.
Like there are specialty stores in Western Countries, this museum can be cited as a specialty museum. Its not for a family tour with your kids. Yes, of course you can go but to enjoy the things in display you can take adults or even kids not less than class /standard 8.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention there is no entry fee in terms of money. However, you have to make entries while entering and exiting in the visitors book. Dont take any camera as photography is prohibited and dont try to do something funny with the show case and all as people are watching you and they are trained police eyes.
I simply dont know how can they hide hide this jewel by prohibiting photography. I left a comment in visitors book to allow photography. There is also another disadvantage - everything is written in English to get the taste of the jewels on display, you need to be patient and read read read. The display items are in pretty good condition considering their age. The Museum has 2 sections as per me with their subsequent subsections:-
Pre-Independence section
Important insights regarding law and order, perspective of British while controlling Calcutta, now Kolkata. Some orders issued by British police are quite opposite of what British Police was portrayed as in the movies or books and so on.
It also sheds important insight on the depth of engineering knowledge, philosophical guidance, physical fitness, clarity, personal integrity and importance of continuously educating oneself. Things which added value or a different perspective to what I learned from my school text book and Indian movies on Indian freedom fighting.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose case files
There are numerous case files on display released by West Bengal government which is an extremely good move but they are bound in file covers.So, basically except the file name you wont be able to read anything else which is really sad. this section in on the 1st floor of the building and researchers do get opportunity to get hand on these files based on special permission. There is a well manned computer lab for your use but there are no people around to help you out so 1st floor is pretty useless.
Post Independence
Modernization
This section shows equipments used by police for policing. You will come to know about several new equipments.
Famous criminal cases
You will see case evidences, human remains, murder weapons of famous criminal cases which shook kolkata in different period of its history. Some like terrorist attack on US Embassy in Kolkata.
End note
So, go ahead and enjoy and dont forget to read, read and read. Avoid taking old people and very young kids because old people will not be able to stand a long period of time and young people will loose interest.
It took a very brief section of the otherwise white space filled page of Kolkata police website - http://kolkatapolice.gov.in/Museum.aspx
I never ever ever heard of this Museum.So, I decided to visit it because I promised me something about criminal history and show me Kolkata's history from a different aspect.
So, off we (I mean me and my wife) went on a Sunday morning. Its next to Raja bazar science college, Kolkata. The Museum is located inside police compound so in that sense it was pretty secure and the number of police presence in terms of men and vehicles and ambiance outside the museum got me slightly nervous.
Anyways, inside of the museum is maintained by plained clothes policemen. They were nice and courteous and seeing me spending 3 hours in 1 section of the Museum through their CCTV, 1 policeman in particular came and explained me the working of several weapons on display and were actual case evidences against several armed Bengalee Indian independence fighters.
Like there are specialty stores in Western Countries, this museum can be cited as a specialty museum. Its not for a family tour with your kids. Yes, of course you can go but to enjoy the things in display you can take adults or even kids not less than class /standard 8.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention there is no entry fee in terms of money. However, you have to make entries while entering and exiting in the visitors book. Dont take any camera as photography is prohibited and dont try to do something funny with the show case and all as people are watching you and they are trained police eyes.
I simply dont know how can they hide hide this jewel by prohibiting photography. I left a comment in visitors book to allow photography. There is also another disadvantage - everything is written in English to get the taste of the jewels on display, you need to be patient and read read read. The display items are in pretty good condition considering their age. The Museum has 2 sections as per me with their subsequent subsections:-
Pre-Independence section
Important insights regarding law and order, perspective of British while controlling Calcutta, now Kolkata. Some orders issued by British police are quite opposite of what British Police was portrayed as in the movies or books and so on.
It also sheds important insight on the depth of engineering knowledge, philosophical guidance, physical fitness, clarity, personal integrity and importance of continuously educating oneself. Things which added value or a different perspective to what I learned from my school text book and Indian movies on Indian freedom fighting.
What you will see? - Pieces of original grenade (blasted and un-blasted pieces), knives and swords varieties and wide range in terms of design, power, origin of manufacture different revolver,pistol,rifles, bullets of different bore weapons. There are some custom made rifles,pistols,revolvers which shows engineering knowledge depth about arms which allows effective customized solutions being made indigenously. For example rifle which looks like a walking stick, a pistol which looks like a pen and so on. Dont forget to read the last letter written in bengali by very young freedom fighter to his elder sister about love. You will know what I am talking about. Its at the bottom of a display section.
Banned books which used to motivate freedom fighters. Evolution of Kolkata police uniform. You will learn the difference between a revolver and pistol. You will also see the evolution of guns from Muskets to AK-47 with details about changing internal mechanism. But everything you have to read, read and read. you just cant see and learn like you can in Indian Museum.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose case files
There are numerous case files on display released by West Bengal government which is an extremely good move but they are bound in file covers.So, basically except the file name you wont be able to read anything else which is really sad. this section in on the 1st floor of the building and researchers do get opportunity to get hand on these files based on special permission. There is a well manned computer lab for your use but there are no people around to help you out so 1st floor is pretty useless.
Post Independence
Modernization
This section shows equipments used by police for policing. You will come to know about several new equipments.
Famous criminal cases
You will see case evidences, human remains, murder weapons of famous criminal cases which shook kolkata in different period of its history. Some like terrorist attack on US Embassy in Kolkata.
End note
So, go ahead and enjoy and dont forget to read, read and read. Avoid taking old people and very young kids because old people will not be able to stand a long period of time and young people will loose interest.
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