The Chroma Academy: Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton Museum, Dowleswaram

While the water is the most abundant liquid found on the earth, a severe shortage of potable water for human consumption and for the agricultural purposes continue to exist and threaten us. The grand plan of the barrage across Godavari envisaged by Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton (a British engineer, 1803-99) transformed large areas of hitherto drought lands cultivable. ”Cotton dora” is often portrayed sitting on a horseback and revered as godly figure by the locals.

A small museum was created at a colonial building close to the barrage. The heavy duty machineries like air compressors, steam boilers, drilling equipment used at the times of constructing the barrage were kept as exhibits. Many maps /models copiously labelled with names of irrigation projects, localities and pilgrim centres are displayed. There are many table top models explaining the flow of river Godavari from its origin to the downstream where it empties to the ocean. There are valuable collection of photographs/ models of dams, bridges and aqueducts in the Godavari districts and its surrounding areas built during British period and also few from the recent past.

My poor knowledge on the topography of the areas had been my greatest handicap in understanding three dimensional maps and models.

There were numerous portraits of Sir Cotton inside the gallery done by Andhra sculptors/ artists, but I felt sad that none of them were in Victorian style.