In a last minute development, the inauguration of the Kunjali Marakkar memorial museum at Iringal in Vadakara on Tuesday was postponed.
The museum, which underwent a 10-month-long restoration project, was scheduled for inauguration by the State Minister for Culture K.C. Joseph on Tuesday. Though the Minister was present in the district, the event was cancelled allegedly due to an inadvertent confusion over the guest list owing to the absence of Minister of State for Home and Vadakara MP Mullappally Ramachandran.
District administration officials said the museum will now be inaugurated on October 20.
The monument, now under the control of the Archaeology Department, was restored without making any alteration in the existing structure. The reopening had been delayed earlier too, but that was due to the department detecting some faults with the works carried out.
The government had sanctioned Rs.10.50 crore for the restoration project.
A portion of the funds would be utilised for the beautification of the surroundings and the construction of a drainage system.
The artefacts recently excavated from various parts of Malabar are also expected to find a new home in the museum. At present, the small museum has only a few exhibits comprising swords and cannon balls.
