The Allahabad Museum is a
national-level museum in
Prayagraj,
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
. Established in 1931, it is known for its rich collection and unique objects of art, and is funded by
Ministry of Culture. Moreover, it is a premier research centre for archaeologists, historians and academicians and carries out extensive research activities and publications in archaeology, art and literature. Its rock art gallery has the largest collection of prehistoric paintings displayed in India dating from 14,000 B.C to 2000 B.C.
The museum, using
solar power system
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and co ...
, has become the first museum in the country to become self-reliant in power generation. The Allahabad Museum is centrally located in the Civil Lines area of the city in a lush green garden at Chandrashekhar Azad Park, popularly known as Company Bagh. It is about 3 km away from the Allahabad railway junction and almost equidistant from three different Railway Stations such as Prayag, Rambagh and Allahabad junction and about 12 km away from Bamrauli Airport.
History
A museum was originally set up in Allahabad in 1863 by
North-West Province Governor General
Sir William Muir, before being shut down for unspecified reasons in 1881. After the initiative to reopen the museum was taken by
Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat—
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* and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...
, the then President of the Allahabad Municipal Board, stalwarts like
Madan Mohan Malviya
Madan Mohan Malaviya ( (25 December 1861 — 12 November 1946) was an Indian scholar, educational reformer and politician notable for his role in the Indian independence movement. He was president of the Indian National Congress four times a ...
and the then leading newspaper
The Pioneer, the museum was eventually opened in the Municipal Board building in 1931. Due to space constraint, the museum was shifted to the present building at the
Alfred Park. The foundation stone of the present museum building was laid on 14 December 1947 by Jawaharlal Nehru and the museum was opened to the public in 1954. In 1985 it was declared an Institution of National Importance.
Collection
The museum houses galleries each devoted to
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, Anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure ...
and
Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat—
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* and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...
. The Gandhi Gallery displays rare pictures of Gandhi from his childhood till death, while the Nehru Gallery features Nehru's original manuscripts called 'In and Out of Prison' which were later published as his autobiography ''The Discovery of India''. His other collection includes documents, gifts, wedding cards and letters, including some from Gandhi himself. The museum's another valued possession is the Gandhi Smriti Vahan, the 47-Model V-8
Ford truck on which Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the
Triveni Sangam on 12 February 1948.
The pistol of
Chandrashekhar Azad, a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless semi-auto .32 bore, is displayed and preserved in the entrance hall of the museum. Azad used it to shoot himself after a long firefight with British policemen at the
Alfred Park, the same year the museum was established.
The museum boasts 19 exclusive canvasses painted by the Russian painter,
Nicholas Roerich
Nicholas Roerich (; October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947), also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (russian: link=no, Никола́й Константи́нович Ре́рих), was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosoph ...
. There are 10 Roerich Halls all over the world, including the one at Allahabad Museum.
The museum's library stores 25,000 books, including rare collections of
Loeb Classical Library
The Loeb Classical Library (LCL; named after James Loeb; , ) is a series of books originally published by Heinemann_(publisher), Heinemann in London, but is currently published by Harvard University Press. The library contains important works ...
— translated works of ancient Roman and Greek scholars.
See also
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List of tourist attractions in Allahabad
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List of museums in India
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Allahabad Public Library
References
External links
Allahabad Museum, website
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Museums in Uttar Pradesh
Tourist attractions in Allahabad
1931 establishments in India
Museums established in 1931
Art museums and galleries in India
Archaeological museums in India