Ideal Indian Village

This diorama depicts the 'ideal' for village life and agriculture in India, as imagined and planned by the British in the late 19th century. It showcases early ideas of town planning in the colony. Note the orderly layout and the typical cottages reminiscent of early British towns. Given the lack of film and video at the time, museums were an important medium through which to reach the public. Similar dioramas were showcased at the great exhibitions of Europe.