RamGauri Sangrahalay : Only Private Museum in Sikkim

Rajen Upadhyay

Gangtok : Located at Rhenock in East Sikkim RamGauri Sangrahalay (Museum) is playing an imperative role for the reconstruction of the political history of Sikkim. After visiting the said museum I have concluded that only fervor can make it possible. Taken care by its owner Mr. Ganesh Kumar Pradhan, has a huge collection of documents related to the political development of the erstwhile tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim. The museum also has a collection of various tax receipts paid by the Sikkimese peasantry to their feudal Lords in the pre-independence period. In this category, the most interesting document is the bank receipt issued by Bhojraj and Jethmul Bank, the first bank of Sikkim. The most amazing part of this Archive/Museum is that it has got the entire volume of Kanchenjunga, the first news based journal of Sikkim. 

In a brief interview with the writer, the owner of this museum said that he has named it after his deceased parent Late Ram Pradhan and Gauri Pradhan somewhere 30 years before. Since than, the owner himself is managing its entire expenditure to preserve the incredible documents of the history of Sikkim. Among the oldest documents there are various Sanskrit Manuscripts of some unknown date (possibly of 18th century), but are getting brittle due to the lack of scientific equipments. The only scientific tool that is prevalent at the museum is thymol fumigation machine to protect the documents from various creatures. Apart from the old documents the Sangrahalaya also has preserved various antiques like telegram machine, Gramophone, antique locks and keys, utensils, radio, clock etc. 

Further, one can also witness different variety of rocks found in various parts of Sikkim and few fossils possibly related to the ancient Sikkim. Amid to the “nothing is there in a dead past” approach of the present Sikkimese masses the museum is surviving and it is just because of the efforts made by a single person Mr. Ganesh Kumar Pradhan. Undoubtedly, the endeavor of Mr. Pradhan is serving as a coffer for the history of political evolution of Sikkim, but, due to the lack of scientific bits and pieces it is at the verge of ruination. The museum is at this stage because of the Sikkimese mentality of ignoring the past and least paid attention from the concerned authorities.