Fri Apr 18 04:44:00 UTC 2025: ## Indian Man’s Lifelong Collection Wins Prestigious V&A Award

**London, UK –** A 71-year-old Indian man’s extraordinary 50-year collection of everyday objects has earned international recognition after his niece’s film about it won the prestigious Jameel Prize at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A).

Selim Khandakar, a former doctor’s compounder from Kelepara, West Bengal, amassed over 12,000 items, ranging from vintage records and stamps to bus tickets and even his own fingernails. His niece, Ohida Khandakar, transformed her uncle’s lifelong passion into an installation and film titled “Dream Your Museum,” which challenges traditional museum structures and celebrates the storytelling potential of ordinary objects.

The film, which also features Selim’s grand-niece, Maria, showcases the collection and its significance to Selim and his village community. Selim views his collection as a way to share a glimpse of the world with his neighbors, showcasing items rarely seen in their rural community.

Initially housed in his now-destroyed mud house, the collection faced the risk of being discarded until Ohida intervened. Inspired by her uncle’s dedication, and drawing parallels to Dadaist art, Ohida documented the collection digitally and submitted it to the Berlin Biennale before its V&A success.

The V&A award has provided funding for Ohida to fulfill Selim’s lifelong dream of establishing a museum in their village – a space designed to be inclusive and accessible, representing the narratives of rural minority communities and challenging traditional museum exclusivity. Ohida hopes to create a space where everyone can appreciate the stories embedded in ordinary objects, mirroring the unique perspective and enduring passion captured in “Dream Your Museum.”

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