MUSEUM
Gandhi Memorial Museum
V.Geetha*
Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai, Tamil Nadu is one of the many Museums built by
the `All India Gandhi Memorial Trust' in India to perpetuate the memory and propagate the
message of Mahatma Gandhi, the Apostle of Peace and Non-violence.
Gandhi and Madurai
The museum in Madurai was the first Gandhi Memorial Museum inaugurated in India by
the former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 15th April 1959. Madurai city, popularly
known as the `Athens of the East' and `Cultural Capital of Tamil Nadu' was chosen to be the
venue of Gandhi Memorial Museum in view of its close association with the life of Gandhiji who
visited it five times in the years 1919, 1921, 1927, 1934 & 1946. He adopted the `loin cloth' during
his vi sit to Madurai on 22nd September 1921.
History of the Building
The central building that houses the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai is the historic
Tamukkam Summer Palace of Rani Mangammal of Nayak dynasty, built around 1670 A.D. Later,
this was under the occupation of the Nawab of Carnatic and thereafter the British East India
Company. The palace had remained for many years as the official residence of the British Judges
and District Collectors (District Magistrates) of Madurai. In 1955, the Palace with about 13 acres
of land was gifted by the Tamil Nadu State Government to Gandhi Smarak Nidhi for establishing
Gandhi Memorial Museum. Besides major renovation of the original building, a complete new
wing was added to house the library on the northern side as also several other buildings and an
open air theatre.
Architecturally the building stands as a `marvelous' piece with three different
architectures- Nayak, Victorian and Modern.
Museum Galleries
At the Durbar Hall, the special exhibition on "India Fights for Freedom" with 265 pictorial
illustrations on 30 panels depicts the history of the Freedom Movement of India. Then follows the
exhibition of the choicest specimen of Handicrafts donated by the states of Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Next is the pictorial Gallery depicting the biography of
Mahatma Gandhi by means of rare photographs, quotations, mural and colour paintings and
some of the selected photostat copies of Gandhiji`s letters.
Relics and Replicas
The Hall of Relics and Replicas contains fourteen original artifacts used by Mahatma
Gandhi and replicas of his personal belongings. The most important one is the blood-stained
dhoti worn by Gandhiji at the time of his assassination.
Babu Kutir
The Babu Kutir, the replica of the hut in Sevagram where Gandhiji lived from 1936 to
1946 is a little towards south in front of the main building.
Library
The library, housed in the northern wing of the main building, contains 36,000 books
dealing with the cultural heritage of India, books on and by Gandhiji and allied literature.
Photostat copies of 27,000 letters of Gandhiji and 22 reels of micro-films are the valuable part of
collections of the library. `Readers Forum' and `Book Review Meetings' are held periodically in
the library.
Education and Extension Activities
Gandhi Memorial Museum is conducting an examination on "Gandhiji`s Life and
Message" for the students of colleges and schools. Meetings, seminars, symposia, conferences
and endowment lectures are arranged periodically on themes relating to Gandhian thought,
sarvodaya, nonviolence and other current issues. Special exhibitions on "Gandhi: His life and
message", "Hiroshima and Nagasaki", "Freedom Movement of India" are periodically conducted
by the museum in educational institutions. Yoga and Hindi classes are conducted for the benefit
of public. Summer camps for children and women are popular. Thousands of students participate
and get certificates. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated by conducting seminars, meetings and special
lectures.
Institute of Gandhian Studies and Research (IGSR)
Institute of Gandhian Studies and Research, an approved institution of the Madurai
Kamaraj University conducts Certificate course in Gandhian Thought, Diploma in Gandhian
Thought, Diploma in Yoga, Meditation and Holistic Health and P.G. Diploma in Yoga, Meditation
and Holistic Health.
Eminent Visitors
Right from the day of its inauguration by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, several national and
international dignitaries have visited the museum. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr., Mrs.Coretta Scott
King, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Jayaprakash Narayan, V.V.Giri, His Holiness Dalai Lama, Miss.
Anita Bose, daughter of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to mention a few.
Around 1.5 lakh visitors visit Gandhi Memorial Museum per year. Children and foreign
tourists also come and pay homage regularly.
Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai comes under the Peace Museums Worldwide
selected by United Nations Organisation(UNO). It is published in the United Nations Publications
on Peace in 1995 that Gandhi Memorial Museum is a living institution and not merely a building
preserving and showing exhibits, however precious they may be. It seeks to help an ever
increasing number of people particularly the youth to understand and value the life, work and
teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Photos of Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai, TN
Gandhi Memorial Museum
Babu Kudir
Blood stained cloth worn by Gandhiji at the time of his
assassination is at display
A letter written by Gandhiji
Gandhi`s wooden footwear
A foreigner at the museum
*Jr Media and Communications Officer, PIB, Madurai
**PIB Photos: S.Ponnaih, PIB, Madurai
SRK/RTS/VN
SS-187/SF-187/01.10.2007