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How did European colonial influence contribute to museums in Indonesia and India?

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Gallery room at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, with framed portraits and group paintings on the walls and a bench in the center of the wood floor. — museum Interior of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

European colonial influence was a primary driver in the establishment of early museums in both Indonesia and India, as colonial powers introduced the European model of collecting and exhibiting artifacts to these regions.1

In Indonesia, the foundation for what is now the National Museum in Jakarta began in 1778 with the collection of the Batavia Society of Arts and Science. This institution evolved over time, reflecting the colonial interest in documenting the culture and history of the region.1

In India, the Indian Museum in Kolkata originated from the collections of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which began its efforts in 1784. The society, dedicated to multidisciplinary research, formally established a museum on its premises in 1814. These collections eventually moved to a dedicated facility in 1878, growing into the largest museum in the Asia-Pacific region.123

In both cases, these institutions were initially rooted in the scholarly activities of colonial-era societies, which curated artifacts to preserve and study the cultural and natural heritage of their respective territories.12