The Central government has decided to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society renamed as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society, a
statement said on Friday.
“In a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, it was resolved to change its name to Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society. The Special Meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is the vice-president of the society,” the Ministry of Culture said in a communiqué.
The Ministry said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mooted the idea of setting up of a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers of India in 2016.The Executive Council of NMML had in its 162nd meeting held on November 25, 2016 approved the construction of the museum of all Prime Ministers in the Teen Murti Estate. The project was completed and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was opened to the public on April 21, 2022.”
The Executive Council subsequently felt that the name of the institution should reflect the present activities which now also include a Sangrahalaya depicting the collective journey of democracy in independent India and highlighting the contribution of each Prime Minister in nation-building, the release said.
“Rajnath Singh in his address, welcomed the proposal for change in name, since in its new form the institution exhibits the contributions of all Prime Ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi and their responses to various challenges faced by them,” the Ministry said referring to the special meeting.
Describing Prime Ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various Prime Ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow, Singh emphasised that all the colours of a rainbow have to be proportionately represented in order to make it beautiful. Thus the resolution has given a new name, respect to all our previous prime ministers and is democratic in content.
Earlier, Chairman of Executive Council, Nripendra Misra explained the need for change in name by emphasising that the Prime Ministers’ Museum expresses the nation’s deep commitment to democracy and so the name of the institution should reflect its new form.
Opposing the government’s decision, the Congress slammed the ruling dispensation and termed it ‘’petty act’’.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a tweet wrote, “This only shows the low mentality and dictatorial attitude of BJP-RSS.”
“Teen Murti Bhavan is a historic monument where India’s destiny was crafted. The architect of India’s post-independence glory was our first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Erasing his legacy by changing the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library is a petty act, which only further diminishes the stature of the current regime,” said senior Congress leader KC Venugopal in a tweet.
He added, “India’s every success is achieved on the foundation of Nehru ji’s vision. India knows that, and removing his name from a museum will not change the revered stature that Nehru ji enjoys in every Indian’s heart.”
