Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Indian Museum, Kolkata
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question concerns Indian museums and cultural institutions. Museums preserve the archaeological, artistic and historical heritage of a country. The largest museum in India is an important fact that often appears in general knowledge exams. The question asks you to identify which museum holds this distinction, focusing on size and richness of collection.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which is the largest museum in India.
- Options include Salar Jung Museum, Indian Museum, Subhash Chandra Bose Museum, Tagore Museum and National Museum, New Delhi.
- We assume the standard general knowledge classification, which recognises the Indian Museum in Kolkata as the largest and one of the oldest museums in India.
Concept / Approach:
The Indian Museum in Kolkata, founded in 1814, is widely regarded as the largest and also one of the oldest museums in India. It houses extensive collections of art, archaeology, anthropology and natural history. Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad is also large and famous, but standard general knowledge references usually treat the Indian Museum, Kolkata, as the largest national level museum. The approach is to distinguish between size and fame, and to recall the special standing of the Indian Museum in the museum system of India.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that India has several major museums, including those in Kolkata, Hyderabad and New Delhi.
Step 2: Remember that the Indian Museum in Kolkata is one of the oldest museums in Asia and is often described as the largest museum in India.
Step 3: Note that Salar Jung Museum, though very famous for its art collection, is usually not cited as the largest in standard GK references.
Step 4: Recognise that Subhash Chandra Bose Museum and Tagore Museum are more specialised and smaller institutions.
Step 5: Compare with the National Museum in New Delhi, which is a major museum but typically comes second to the Indian Museum in terms of historical recognition as the largest.
Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling that many GK books state the Indian Museum, Kolkata, as the largest and oldest museum in India, founded by the Asiatic Society. Photographs and descriptions often highlight its vast building complex and wide ranging collections. Salar Jung Museum and National Museum are very important, but they are not usually designated as the largest in standard quiz style questions, which confirms the answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad: A major museum famous for its private art collection donated by the Salar Jung family, but not generally cited as the largest in India.
Subhash Chandra Bose Museum: A thematic museum devoted to the life and contribution of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, smaller in scale.
Tagore Museum: Focused on Rabindranath Tagore and his works, not comparable in size or scope to the Indian Museum.
National Museum, New Delhi: A leading national level museum with significant collections, but typically the Indian Museum in Kolkata holds the title of largest in general knowledge references.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes select Salar Jung Museum because of its fame or assume that the National Museum in the capital city must be the largest. Another pitfall is to ignore the historical dimension; the Indian Museum in Kolkata is both very old and very large. Remembering that this museum was founded in the early nineteenth century and became a model for later institutions helps to anchor it in memory as the largest museum in India.
Final Answer:
The largest museum in India is the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
Discussion & Comments