Centre revamps Nehru Memorial Museum, renames it Prime Ministers’ Museum to exhibit achievements of all Indian PMs

“In a special meeting presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the Vice-President of the Society, it was resolved to change the name of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society to Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society,” the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of setting up a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers of India on Teen Murti premises in New Delhi.

The Executive Council, NMML in its 162nd meeting held on 25-11-2016 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 21st April 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 statement said.

“The museum is a seamless blend which begins at the renovated and refurbished Nehru Museum building, now completely updated with technologically advanced displays on the life and contribution of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,” it said.

Housed in a new building the museum then goes on to tell the story of how our Prime Ministers navigated the nation through various challenges and ensured all-round progress of the country. Thus, it recognises all the Prime Ministers, thereby democratizing the institutional memory, the ministry said.

Addressing the meeting, Rajnath Singh said 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.

Describing Prime Ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow, Rajnath 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,” the ministry added.

Executive Council Chairman Nripendra Misra in his welcome address 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.