Sapree Sangrahalaya

Mrinal Chatterjee

Window Seat 

Sapree Sangrahalaya

Madhavrao Sapre Smriti Samacharpatra Sangrahalaya evam Shodh Sansthan, popularly known as Sapree Sangrahalaya or Museum in Bhopal is a unique institution. It has been established and enriched by contributions by the public. It collects and preserves newspapers and periodicals mostly from the Hindi belt in Hindi, Urdu, English, Marathi, Gujarati, and Sanskrit languages and is a treasure trove for the researchers. It presently has over 26,436 titles of newspapers and magazines, 1,66,222 reference books, 3000 manuscripts, 25,300 Letters of 284 distinguished writers, journalists and academicians and over 5605 reference files.

I went there to find material on cartoons and cartoonists of India, on which I plan to write a book.

The museum is located in an old style high roofed two storied building, with a British era cannon outside with a plaque that has the sher of Akbar Allahabadi (1846-1921:

Khicho na Kamano ko, Na Tawar Nikalo,

Jab top mukabil ho to Akhbar Nikalo.

(Don’t draw bows or swords. When even cannon fails, bring out newspapers)

Inside I met Vijay Dutt Shridhar, a tall septuagenarian man, who founded this institution in Bhopal in 1984 and with a dedicated team nurtured it ever since. Shridhar was a practising journalist. He started his career with Deshbandhu, was correspondent of Aaj and later editor of Nava Bharat. He has written several books on mass communication including his magnum opus Bharatiya Patrakarita Kosh in two volumes. He was conferred Padmashri, the third highest civilian award of the country.

He and his team run the museum with passion and dedication. The museum has grown as people helped by contributing their collection of books and newspapers and periodicals. Presently archiving and digitization of old newspapers and periodicals are underway with the help of SBI, who has provided machine and manpower to do this.

Tribal Museum

Close to IGRMS (Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav Sangrahalaya) on Shamla Hills, stands Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, another beautifully designed and curated museum for living aspects of tribal life, indigenous knowledge systems and aesthetics. With innovative design and lighting, this museum showcases the rich tribal life and culture of India.

There is a separate section for tribal leaders who fought against the British in 1857 and during the freedom struggle.

There is also a restaurant which serves indigenous food including millet-dosa and mahua-jalebi. I ordered a dosa and a tea without sugar, and then as an after though wanted to taste the mahua-jalebi. The man at the counter said, “why should you take jalebi Sir? I suppose you are a diabetic as you ordered a tea without sugar.”

 I had to obey him, as it seemed he was in no mood to serve him jalebi. That’s Bhopal for you.

Balancing the Wisdom Tree

Dr. Gauri D. Chakraborty, a FTII alumna who teaches Film Studies at Delhi based Benett University sent me a book that she conceptualised and edited. Titled Balancing the Wisdom Tree, this beautifully designed and produced book (publisher: Publications Division, New Delhi) chronicles FTII’s women alumni and their contribution to the world of cinema.

Early phases of film as well as theatre in India saw near-absence of women in its making. So much so that the first Indian film Raja Harishchandra had a male playing the role of female protagonist.

This happened in film and television education too. FTII was established in 1961. There were no female students in the first two years. Parvati Menon was the first woman student, who joined in 1963 in ‘Screen Play Writing cum Elements of Direction’ course, who later became the Chief Producer of Childrens’ Film Society India (CSFI) and CEO and Executive Director for their international film festivals. Rehana Sultana graduated in the Acting course in 1963, Rita Saluja in 1969, Jaya Bhaduri in 1970, Shabana Azmi in 1973. In ‘Direction’ After Parvati Menon and Bani Datta, Vijay Saxena graduated in 1974. She directed award winning documentary films and went on to become the Director of UP State Institute of Educational Technology (SIET). Aruna Raje Patil graduated in 1969 at the age of 23 as one of India’s first female technicians from FTII. She made critically acclaimed feature films. The book chronicles their journey to FTII, many of them battling heavy odds; and their memories associated with their alma mater.

The book is divided into several sections like ‘Prelims’, ‘Conversations’, ‘Reflections’, ‘Photo Essays’ and  ‘Bio Notes’.

After going through this fascinating book I can only echo what one of the interviewees said: I hope this book reaches those women who are dreaming of pursuing cinema and are not sure if there is a future to their dreams.

Saloon and Salon

Throughout my adult life (except the Corona years, in which my wife used to cut my hair) I had my hair cut at local ‘Hair Cutting Saloon’s. Recently I went to my son’s place, which is in a bigger city than where I lived. I needed a hair-cut, so he took me to one. I marked the spelling of the smarter looking outfit was different. It read ‘Salon’. I thought it to be a spelling mistake, they had missed one ‘o’.

I had no idea that one less ‘o’ would cost this amount of money- almost ten times of what I usually paid at my local friendly neighbourhood saloon.

Here is some gyan for ignorant people like me, gleaned from digital research:

A salon and a saloon are quite different establishments, though both originate from French. A salon is a place where people go to receive professional services related to personal grooming and beauty, such as haircuts, styling, manicures, pedicures, and other cosmetic treatments. Salons are typically clean, well-lit, and offer a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere.

In contrast, saloons were establishments that served alcoholic beverages and often featured other forms of entertainment such as gambling and live music. Honestly I did not know this. My neighbourhood saloon never offered any of these. 

As things stand now, a salon focuses on personal care and beauty services, while a saloon serves as social hubs.

I’ll stick to my saloon.