New Delhi, June 16: In a significant development, the central government on Friday decided to rename Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Society.

 

 

 

This came after a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, resolved to change its name to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society. The Special Meeting was presided by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is also the Vice-President of the Society.

 

Notably, PM Narendra Modi had mooted the idea of setting up of a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers of India on Teen Murti Premises, New Delhi in 2016. The Executive Council, NMML had 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.

 

"Hon’ble Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Vice-President of the Society 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. Describing Prime Minister as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow, Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized 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 official release has stated.

 

Following this, the Congress on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s decision to rename Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Senior leader and Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won’t Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru.”

 

 

Speaking to ANI, Vice Chairman, Executive Council, NMMLA, Surya Prakash said, “The passage of the resolution by the General Body of this Society is not a small step. It is rather a very big step to reiterate our commitment to democracy and to acknowledge our national political leadership.”

 

Interestingly, during the inauguration, despite having received an invitation from the government, no member of the Nehru-Gandhi family was present for the function. Three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have served as Indian Prime Ministers in the past.