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The Birla Industrial and Technological Museum opened its door
to the public on 2nd May, 1959. The museum, the first of its type
in India, was started by the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR). It was at the initiative of Dr. B.C. Roy, the
then Chief Minister of West Bengal, that the House of Birlas donated
the building and the adjoining plot of land. This originally
belonged to Satyendranath Tagore, the elder brother of the great
poet Rabindranath Tagore and was used for setting up a science museum. Since
1978 the museum has come under the National Council of Science
Museums (NCSM) an autonomous body, set up by the Union Ministry
of Education & Culture to administer the museums which were formerly
under the CSIR and to develop new science museums in the country.
The primary objective of the museum is to arouse scientific curiosity
and an understanding of science and technology among the common
people, especially the student-community. The objective is accomplished
through permanent expositions in museum galleries and various
educational extension programmes like Mobile Science Exhibitions,
District Science Centres, Science Camps & Fairs and other related
programmes.
GENERAL INFORMATION : The museum has several separate
galleries exhibiting various wonders of science. Galleries: Atom,
Motive Power, Transport, Iron and Steel, Copper, Petroleum, Mining,
Popular Science, Electricity, Television, Communication, Computer
Section, How Things work, Children's Gallery and Electronics.
Museum Hours:10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Open everyday except Mondays,
Doljatra and Kalipuja.
Special Attraction : Underground Mock-up Coal Mine, Rabbit
House, Snake Pits, Aquarium, Aviary, Bonsai and Cacti Garden.
Television and Scientific film shows are held frequently.
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