Acworth Leprosy Museum

Visit this of its kind museum in India dedicated to the stigmatized disease of Leprosy that bursts all the myths related to it. Located in Mumbai inside the Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy, the Acworth Leprosy Museum is an eye-opener and an informative place to visit.

About the Museum

Established with the aim to throw light on leprosy and the stigma and discrimination attached to it, the Acworth Leprosy Museum is a unique project in India founded by late Sharad S. Naik, the Founder Secretary of Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research, Rehabilitation, and Education in Leprosy (ALH-RRE Society) located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The only of its kind in India, Acworth Leprosy Museum was founded in 2003 and is dedicated to numerous leprosy sufferers throughout history along with the social workers philanthropists who bettered their sufferings and whose efforts paved the way for the most disregarded of human society to get remedies and other benefits. Housed inside the Municipal Hospital for Leprosy, the Leprosy Museum narrates the story of the hospital and the stigma, colonial tussles, and a long battle fought against the disease that, if given a thought, reminds us that is still not over.

The museum has been set up to:

• Tell the visitors about the significant events, institutions, and people fighting against leprosy
• Preserve the past of leprosy for future generation
• Serve as a leprosy archival centre

The museum houses a repository of artifacts, documents, and photographs that illustrate the history of leprosy, the people fighting against It, and its development over the decades. The display in the museum consists of the following modules:

Module 1 – The Homeless Leper Asylum, Bombay 1890

This includes-

• Information about its foundation which was established to deal with the imminent dangers of leprosy beggars.
• Birth and initial years of the asylum with the milestones achieved.
• Heighted feature such as Respect for all religions, no discrimination based on caste, sex, gender, and color.

Module 2 – Leprosy the Disease

This module illustrates the definition of leprosy which is a disease that has been highly defamed because of the repulsive sight of ulcers and deformities developed by the person affected. This module includes-

• Its indicators
• Perceptions in Indian medical traditions
• Concepts in modern medicine

Module 3 – The Line of Developments in Treatment

For over three millennia, leprosy was treated through oil massages, but later in 1940s, a scientifically proven therapy was identified by Armauer Hansen of Norway. The module includes-

• Historical perspectives that comprise therapies from 1854 to 1982, Oil of ‘Gurjan’ experiments, and Vaccine therapies from 1899 to present.
• Modern Perspectives

Module 4 – Philanthropic Efforts and Approaches

It includes-

• Foundation of some historic institutions and organizations set up by government bodies, princely states, Christian missions, etc.
• Documents and articles on personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Father Damien, Dr. Hansen, Dr. Vendye Carter, etc.

Module 5 – Self Settled Colonies

This includes-

• Brief history- self rehabilitation by affected people.
• Information about 700 such colonies in India.

Module 6 – Literature and Leprosy

It comprises-

A disease which brought out sch contrary emotions in human beings was meant to be subjected to literary works such as religious texts, biographies, autobiographies, plays, films, novels, and dramas.

Module 7 – Archival Records

This includes records dating back from 1860 to 1950 from the State Archives of Maharashtra and copies of leprosy from the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Some other documents such as medical and social documents with special reference to India are also on display.

Module 8 – Official Reports

This includes-

• Official reports from the pre-independence and post-independence era.
• British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA)
• Indian Council of BELRA (ICBELRA)
• Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL)
• International Organizations
• League of Nations
• World Health Organizations
• International Leprosy Association

Module 9 – Leprosy Under the Legal Gaze

The society’s reaction to the repulsive sight of leprosy affected people sent some of them to depressions and to the extent of abetting suicide by patients. The module includes-

• The Civil Law: Abetment to suicide; inheritance; matrimonial
• Criminal Law: compulsory segregation; denial of certain trades and callings; restriction in use public transport
• Mendicancy

Module 10 – Leprosy Health Education

The modern focus is on the heath education of the public which is imparted through posters, pamphlets, booklets, and advertisements.