JamesTex at 06:23, 26 March 2025

2025-03-26T06:23:36Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Distinguish|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya}}

{{Infobox museum
| name = Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History
| logo =FACT logo.jpg
| logo_caption = FACT logo
| image =FACT FutureMuseum.jpg
| caption = Prospective plan of the museum
| map_type =India Maharashtra
| latitude =
| former_name =
| established = {{Start date|df=yes|2012|01|14}}
| location = Wadgaon Shinde Rd, Gulabhari Vasti, [[Pune district]], [[Maharashtra]]
| coordinates = {{coord|18.6161241|73.9418829|display=inline}}
| type =Historical Museum
| collections =
| owner = FACT
| parking = On site (no charge)
| website = {{URL|www.factmuseum.com}}
}}

'''Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History''' ('''CSMMIH''') is a private historical museum founded by [[François Gautier]] in 2012 under the banner of his [[Nonprofit organization|not-for-profit organization]], the Foundation For Advancement of Cultural Ties (FACT). The first phase the museum was inaugurated by [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Ravi Shankar]] and endorsed by [[Ajit Pawar]] and [[Nitin Gadkari]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-why-a-frenchman-built-a-bhavani-shivaji-museum-1649369|title=Why a Frenchman built a Bhavani & Shivaji museum {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=2012-02-13|newspaper=dna|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-07}}</ref> In addition to various exhibits the museum also has a freely accessible digital library on their website that has hundreds of books on Indian history and culture.

[[File:FACT Inauguration Guruji.jpg|thumb|Ravi Shankar with Francois Gautier at the inauguration of the museum]]

==Layout==
The museum complex has twenty two buildings, each housing a unique exhibition. Among them are displays regarding [[Aurangzeb]], based on his own [[firman]]s, on [[Maharana Pratap]], the only [[Rajput]] to fight the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] and win;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gautier |first=François |date=2013-12-05 |title=SHIVAJI MAHARAJ MUSEUM OF INDIAN HISTORY, PUNE |url=https://francoisgautier.me/2013/12/05/shivaji-maharaj-museum-of-indian-history-pune/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220125529/https://francoisgautier.me/2013/12/05/shivaji-maharaj-museum-of-indian-history-pune/ |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=2016-12-07 |website=FRANCOIS GAUTIER}}</ref> Dara Shikoh, two exhibitions on the great [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]], as well numerous exhibitions on women warriors, like Alyabhai Holkar, [[Tarabai]] of Maharashtra, Rani Kittur Chennama of Karnataka. [[François Gautier|Francois Gautier]] also wanted to highlight the suffering of Hindus throughout the ages, thus there are exhibitions on the Portuguese Inquisition, [[Tipu Sultan|Tippu Sultan]], the Hindu Holocaust. The museum complex also has one of the two temples in India dedicated to [[Bharat Mata]] (Mother India).<ref name=":0" /> The architect of the Bharat Mata temple and the future Museum is MRS Sheetal Harpale of Pune.

The museum houses a series of exhibitions, for example, a miniature painting exhibition on the life of [[Shivaji]], a 17th-century Indian king; an exhibition on [[Toleration#Hindu religion|Hindu tolerance]] throughout the ages; and another exhibition that "scientifically refutes the [[Indo-Aryan migration#"Aryan invasion"|Aryan invasion theory]]".<ref name=":0" />

In July 2013, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] inaugurated a Tibetan pavilion showcasing an exhibition of text and pictures on the travails of people from [[Tibet]] over the last 60 years. An open exhibition on [[Dara Shikoh]], was also inaugurated by [[Uddhav Thackeray]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Every-Indian-must-practise-Ahimsa-says-Dalai-Lama/articleshow/21440500.cms|title=Every Indian must practise Ahimsa, says Dalai Lama - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2016-12-07}}</ref>

[[File:FACT Shivajihall Crowd.jpg|thumb|People appreciating the exhibits at Shivaji Hall, CSMMIH Museum]]
[[File:FACT Exhibits.jpg|thumb|People appreciating the exhibits at CSMMIH Museum]]

The museum is open daily with free entrance. In 2022, it received 15,000 visitors, many of them school children. The future museum is proposed to cost about 17 [[crore]] [[Indian rupee|rupees]] spread across an area of 100,000 square feet and will house 70 exhibitions with state of the art research and archival facilities. It will be in the shape of [[Swastika]], an auspicious symbol in many [[Indian religions|Indic religions]]. It is scheduled to open in 2018.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

==Exhibits and exhibitions==
{| class="wikitable"
!Exhibition
!Year
|-
! colspan="3" |Permanent Exhibitions at CSMMIH Museum
|-
| ''[[Ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus|Kashmiri Pandit]] Pavilion''
| January 2015
|-
| ''[[Minorities in Bangladesh|Bangladesh minorities]] exhibition''
| February 2015
|-
| ''[[Goa Inquisition|Portuguese Inquisition]] exhibition''

The first of its kind in the world, showing how the Inquisition tortured and killed, not only Hindus, but also Muslims and Jews in Goa.
| September 2016
|-
| ''[[Tipu Sultan]] exhibition''
| December 2016
|-
! colspan="3" |Moving or Temporary exhibitions at various places
|-
| ''Sikhs: The defenders of Indian Dharma''

Inaugurated by [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Sri Sri Ravi Shankar]] from 22 January - 7 February 2008 at [[Gurudwara Bangla Sahib|Bangla Sahib Gurudwara]], New Delhi.

Visitors: 65,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sikhismexhibition.info/|title=Archived: Sri Sri inaugurates exhibition on Sikhism|last=FACT|date=2008-01-23|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326090957/http://sikhismexhibition.info/|archivedate=2009-03-26}}</ref>
| January 2008
|-
| ''Naxalism: Threat to Unified Nation of India''

First shown in [[Oslo|Oslo, Norway]], then in Delhi’s [[India Habitat Centre|Habitat Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://naxalism.info/|title=Naxalism: Threat to Unified Nation of India|last=FACT|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326073000/http://naxalism.info/|archivedate=2009-03-26}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''Exhibition on persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh''

A [[Travelling exhibition|traveling exhibition]], all over India, including interior villages of [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]], [[Goa]]. A total of 250,000 visitors attended the exhibition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bangladeshiminorities.info/|title=Exhibition on persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh|last=FACT|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326101138/http://bangladeshiminorities.info/|archivedate=2009-03-26}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Aurangzeb]]: as he was according to the [[Mughal Empire|Moghul]] records''

The exhibition gathered much controversy in Chennai and was locked up but was soon brought out and will be traveling to Mumbai and Ahmedabad soon after being screened in Delhi (in March 2007), Pune (October 2007) and Chennai (March 2008). Till date 56,000 people visited the exhibition and has received a record critical acclaim from critics and common visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aurangzeb.info|title=Aurangzeb, as he was according to Mughal Records|website=aurangzeb.info|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''A Hero for Modern India: [[Shivaji|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]]''

The exhibition was centered around Shivaji, a 17th-century Indian king who fought with Mughals. The Bangalore leg of the exhibition has had the Chief Minister of the state asking to exhibit it in various schools and colleges in Karnataka.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shivajimaharaj.info/|title=A Hero for Modern India : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj|last=FACT|access-date=2016-12-13|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506124649/http://www.shivajimaharaj.info/|archivedate=2009-05-06}}</ref>
| March 2008
|-
| ''Terror Unleashed, An Exhibition on Kashmir''

A traveling exhibition to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Poland, Germany, Israel, England, Holland, Scotland, Interior villages in Maharashtra and the US Congress. As on date, 300,000 visitors have appreciated the exhibition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kashmiripandits.info|title=Terror Unleashed, An Exhibition on Kashmir|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Ahilyabai Holkar]] the warrior queen''

An exhibition on Ahilyabai Holkar screened in January 2010 in [[Pune]], [[Indore]] and later [[Mumbai]]. She's often regarded as the Warrior Queen who rebuilt the Indian spiritual centers across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ahilyabaiholkar.info|title=Ahilyabai Holkar the warrior queen|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Maharana Pratap]] the indomitable.''

The only [[Rajput]] who fought the Mughals and actually beat [[Akbar]]’s army in [[Haldighati|Haldighat]]. Portrays his simple life with his soldiers and how he respected his enemies’ women and children, cared for his subjects and encouraged arts.
|
|-
| ''[[Dara Shikoh|Dara Shukoh]] the Sufi''

Shah Jahan’s eldest (and [[heir apparent]]), a true Muslim, a [[Sufism|Sufi]] and scholar translated the [[Upanishads]] and studied other religions. Chronicles the beheading of him by [[Aurangzeb]] to usurp the Mughal throne.
| July 2013
|-
| ''The History of Tibet''

The beautiful history of Tibet and the struggle of its people since they were [[Incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China|invaded]] by the Chinese in 1959
| July 2013
|-
| ''The [[Indo-Aryan migration#"Aryan invasion"|Aryan Invasion]] that never was''

Exhibition for 'scientifically proving' that the Aryan invasion theory which is taken as the foundation of Indian history, never happened and as the exhibition claims is still used by politicians and missionaries.
|
|}

[[File:FACT Police.jpg|thumb|Law enforcement officials standing in front of the Shivaji Hall]]

== Videos and documentaries produced by the museum==
The museum has produced the following videos and documentaries:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/FACTindia/videos|title=FACT - India|website=YouTube|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref>

* [[Christianity in India#Hindu–Christian conflict|Christian conversions]]
* [[Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits|Kashmiri Pandits]]
* Brahmins and Upper castes
* [[Partition of India|The Trauma of Partition]]
* [[2006 Mumbai train bombings|Mumbai train blasts]]
* [[26/11 Mumbai|26/11]], The true story
* Biopic of [[Shivaji|Shivaji Maharaj]]
* The legend of [[Lachit Borphukan|Lachit Borpukan]]

==See also==
* [[Ahilyabai Holkar]]
* [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya]]
* [[Indian Museum]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://factmuseum.com/free-rare-books/ Free ebooks at FACT website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008090435/http://factmuseum.com/free-rare-books/ |date=8 October 2017 }}
{{Pune topics|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:2012 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Museums established in 2012]]
[[Category:History museums in India]]
[[Category:Museums in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pune district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]]

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History - Revision history

JamesTex at 06:23, 26 March 2025