New Delhi: From depicting Narendra Modi’s early life to his entry into politics, highlights of his political career to his becoming the Prime Minister in 2014 and major events during his eight years at the helm — the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Museum of Prime Ministers) will soon have a gallery on PM Modi.
The gallery will be open for public viewing in January 2023, according to a statement issued by the Union Culture Ministry last month. The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, dedicated to all PMs since Independence, was inaugurated by Modi on April 14. So far, it did not have a gallery on Modi himself.
Senior government functionaries in the know told ThePrint that the gallery is being given finishing touches currently before its inauguration. It will highlight the major events and important decisions taken by the Modi government, including demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 banknotes, the 2016 surgical strike, the 2019 Balakote airstrike, the abrogation of Article 370, abolition of triple talaq, construction of Ram temple, among others.
The handling of the Covid pandemic, including the largest vaccination drive undertaken by the country, will also be depicted in the gallery.
“Like the gallery of other PMs, the gallery on PM Modi will also be divided into different segments — his early life, political career and his tenure so far as Prime Minister,” one of the officials, who did not want to be named, said.
He further said that the section on Modi’s term as prime minister so far will further have different segments such as economic policies, strategic affairs, foreign affairs and key domestic policies.
“The section on economic policies will depict some of the important measures including demonetisation. The foreign affairs section will showcase how his government had asserted itself on the global stage with Modi meeting leaders not only from neighbouring countries but across the globe and the vaccine diplomacy undertaken during the Covid pandemic,” the official said.
A second official said the gallery will have displays on the surgical strike and the Balakote air strike and how these cemented India’s position as a country that can take a tough actions to safeguard its interest.
Abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh — and the measures taken by the Centre to restore normalcy there will also be showcased among the major decisions.
Article 370, combined with Article 35A, had accorded Jammu and Kashmir special status under the Constitution, allowing it to have a separate Constitution and a separate penal code among other legal distinctions.
In August 2019, the Modi government brought two resolutions in Parliament. The first rendered Article 370 inoperative in Jammu and Kashmir by applying the power granted under the same Article of the Constitution. The second resolution was for bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
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Modi’s connect with students, empowering women
There will be a detailed section on Modi’s interaction with people through various platforms including his radio show ‘Maan Ki Baat’, the first official quoted earlier told ThePrint.
“It will highlight his connection with school students and will talk about his special show ‘Pariksha Pe Charha’ through which PM Modi interacts directly with school students in an interactive town-hall format [ahead of examinations],” the official said.
The gallery will also highlight the specific measures taken by Modi to empower women, farmers and the poor. It will showcase schemes like Ujjwala under which LPG connections are given to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, abolition of triple talaq and launching of schemes like the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
“Schemes including Direct Benefit Transfer and Jan Dhan Yojana to help farmers and free ration schemes for the poor will also be showcased,” the official said.
The gallery will be located on the ground floor of the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya and has been designed by Tagbin, the same company that has designed the other galleries at the immersive technology-based museum.
(Edited by V. S. Chandrasekar)
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