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Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya
Museum created by Government of India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (ISO: Pradhānmantrī Saṅgrahālaya, lit. Prime Ministers' Museum) is a state-of-the-art public museum located within the historic Teen Murti Bhavan complex in New Delhi, India. Officially inaugurated on 14 April 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the institution is dedicated to chronicling the lives, contributions, and legacies of all prime ministers of India since Independence in 1947, irrespective of their political affiliations. Through the integration of immersive technology, curated archival material, and interactive storytelling, the museum offers visitors a panoramic narrative of India’s democratic journey and socio-economic transformation under successive governments. It is curated and managed by the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture.[1]
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (January 2025) |
The museum is designed as both a commemorative and educational space, aiming to inspire citizens, particularly younger generations, by showcasing how leaders from diverse socio-economic, cultural, and regional backgrounds rose to the nation’s highest executive office. Each leader’s tenure is presented in the context of the historical challenges, policy decisions, and developmental milestones of their era, providing a nuanced understanding of India’s governance and political evolution. The Sangrahalaya blends historical authenticity with modern presentation techniques, featuring rare photographs, personal artefacts, official documents, speeches, and multimedia installations that bring to life key moments in the nation’s post-independence history.[1]
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Inspiration and purpose
The idea for the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya emerged from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an inclusive national tribute to all Indian Prime Ministers, regardless of their political background. The vision was to underscore India’s democratic ethos that leadership of the country is not restricted to any one ideology, family, or region, but is accessible to citizens from varied walks of life. The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society, developed the project as a space that not only documents the past but also motivates future generations to engage with democratic governance.[2][3]
Beyond commemoration, the Sangrahalaya aims to promote civic awareness by presenting leadership decisions in the context of India’s evolving socio-political landscape. It narrates how successive leaders navigated wars, economic reforms, global diplomacy, natural disasters, and technological revolutions, thereby shaping the modern Indian state. The institution also serves as a repository for prime ministerial archives, ensuring that important historical materials are preserved for research and education.[4]
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Architecture, Design, and Planning
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The museum complex is located at Teen Murti Bhavan, a heritage building originally constructed in 1930 as the residence of the British Commander-in-Chief in India. After Independence, it was occupied by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who stayed there for 16 years until his death in 1964. [5]
The existing structure, now called Building I, retained its colonial architecture while it was being adapted into the erstwhile Nehru Museum with upgraded digital galleries.
The newly built Building II, designed by Sikka Associates Architects, introduces a contemporary architectural language inspired by the concept of “rising India.” The design represents the hands of the Prime Ministers shaping a rising nation, with elements symbolizing collective progress and development. Building II incorporates eco-friendly features such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and landscaped green zones, and is planned with clean lines, open atria, and panoramic glazing to symbolize transparency in governance. Both buildings are linked via landscaped pathways, creating a seamless visitor experience between the heritage and modern sections.[6][7]
The entire project spans around 15,600m² and houses 43 distinct galleries. The planning process prioritized minimal disruption to the heritage estate, with much of the new construction placed on previously disturbed ground to protect green spaces.[7]
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Exhibits and Visitor Experience
The museum leverages cutting-edge presentation tools to transform historical narratives into interactive journeys. Key technologies include:
- Holographic displays of speeches and events from various Prime Ministers’ tenures.[7]
- Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) experiences simulating historic moments such as cabinet meetings or foreign visits.[8][7]
- Projection mapping to recreate pivotal events on large-scale immersive screens.[9]
- 360° immersive theatre for a “Time Machine” experience tracing India’s democratic path.
- Motion-synchronized helicopter-ride simulation over development projects, similar to educational motion simulators in Indian science centres.
- Interactive touchscreens offering archival photographs, audio clips, and videos.
- Animatronics for lifelike representations of historic personalities.
- Handheld audio guides are available in multiple languages, with content tailored for different age groups.[10][11][8][9]
References
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