Dolls are the perfect means for a child’s entertainment and so are the dolls museums where people from all ages can visit. Such is the spot in Bhopal called ‘Aakar gudiya Ghar’ at Jail road which is the perfect place not only for the entertainment of children but also for the adults where they can aware themselves with the customs and traditions of different states.

‘Aakar Gudiya Ghar’ is the museum where the visitors get to know the cultural background of different states at one place.  The dolls put on display are beautifully dressed representing the traditions of various states.

Every museum has its own unique characteristic while ‘Aakar gudiya Ghar’ is best known for the fact that the dolls put on display are being made by the women criminals. The women criminal at karond jail prepare the dolls which are then sent in the museum for display as well as for sale.

These women criminals are first being imparted training in the making of doll and then the dolls made by them are kept for sale.    

The museum displays a huge collection of almost 200 dolls each having a unique representation of the state.

The dolls displayed in the museum are dressed up in the traditional costumes of the country or the area to which they belong.

The museum is divided into two parts whereby in one segment of the museum are the dolls exhibited from different states while the other segment is meant for the dolls kept for sale.

The dolls are being sold in the fair that is organized every year in Dusshera Maidan at New Market whereby the members of ‘Aakar Gudiya Ghar’ book a stall to keep the dolls for sale.

 Since the dolls are displayed in their traditional attire, with conventional costumes, jewelry they tend to represent the true culture of the respective countries or areas.

The main motive of starting the museum was to grant employment to the women prisoners so that when they complete their punishment period they become independent and choose the right path for their future. It was started mainly to encourage women criminals to lead their life positively. 

Presently the women are granted a certain amount for the dolls made by them which is directly being deposited in their accounts and the amount deposited in their accounts is given to them when they complete their punishment period. The museum was inaugurated in the year 1996 by Narendra Prasad, former DG.

Farida, care taker of the museum said that,” ever since the museum has been established it has been the center of attraction for the visitors here and especially small kids are more interested in visiting here.  The museum remains open on all days from 10.30 am to 5 pm and especially on Sunday the museum remains crowded.”

The dolls in ‘Aakar Gudiya Ghar’ are made with utmost perfection by the women criminals to display the tradition and customs of different states.

Radha Gupta, another care taker of the doll museum said that, “The museum is established especially to encourage women criminals to become independent so that when they are set free from the jail they have the source to earn their livings. Many women criminals have now adopted a positive attitude towards life and this has given them a feeling of satisfaction to pursue positive attitude towards life.”

The museum also displays ancient utensils that were used in houses for cooking food. The place is not only meant for children but also for the adults where they get to know background of every state through the attire of dolls. 

The visitors enjoy being in the museum as they get to know the art, dance, clothes, culture and tradition of different states.