Museums In India

Gandhi Smriti

Gandhi Smriti is located at the place where Mahatma Gandhiji  spent the last 144 days of his life time and where he was assassinated. This location which was formerly known as Birla Bhavan, also  Birla House, is now a museum dedicated to the father of the Nation, is in Tees January Road, in New Delhi, India. It is now known also as the  Gandhi Multimedia Museum organised in 2005.

History

Birla House, which was earlier a private property, was taken on possession by Indian Government in 1971 to make it a museum  with the name Gandhi Smriti for the benefit of public to view the collections and preserves which were associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi Smriti was opened on15th August , 1973, The museum attached to this building keeps a number of items which  Gandhiji had used in his life and also those were present at the time of his assassination. In fact, the street in which the Smriti is located is itself named after the date of his assassination, paying honor to the great soul.

Visitors are permitted to  go around the building and open space around, viewing the very room in which Gandhihad lived his last few days. One can visit the location on the site  where Gandhiji used to do his daily Prayers with public and the exact spot in which  he was assassinated. A Martyr's Column is laid to indicate the place where Mahatmaji was made a martyr.

An organisation merging Gandhi Smriti with Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat was instituted in 1984 which is now known as GandhiSmritiand  DarshanSamiti ( GSDS) rum with thesupport of  the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The mission of the Samiti is to  bring to the world the life,  ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi using various cultural and social activities.

Collections

There is a collection of large number of photographs with a few personal belongings of Mahatmaji are kept in the Smriti.  There is also a series of small doll houses and  models in terracotta material  illustrating Gandhijis' life which are the primary attractions at this museum.

The room where the Father of the Nation lived his last few daysis kept in- tact,  so also  the open yard where he held prayer meetings every evening. The assassin had chosen this place  to call on him under the pretext of a person who wanted to pay his respect to him after the congregation.

Exhibitions

The Gandhi Smriti Museum has exhibitions of

(a) Visual aspectsbringing to the mind, Mahatma Gandhi’s memory and his noble thoughts and

(b) Educational aspects to elucidate certain values of life that Gandhijipracticed and professed.

There are photographs, paintings,sculptures, frescos and things that would reminisce  Mahatma Gandhi’s days spent here. The objects that were put to personal useby Gandhiji which are expressions of simplicity are also meticulously  preserved.

A Mahatma Gandhi‘s statue larger than life size made by the famous scultptor Sri Ram Sutar, with two youngsterswith doves in their hands accompanying him, , warmly greets the visitor at the main entrance of the Gandhi Smriti.

In order to remind the martyrdom of the one who gave his entire life to the Nation’s freedom a Martyr’s column has  been erected  at the spot where Mahatmaji was assassinated..

How toReach

Gandhi Smriti is right at the heart of New Delhi, with Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi facilitating visitors choosing Air Travel, New Delhi Railway Station for those travelling by Train.

Buses from various parts of NCR ply to Delhi, the ISBTs at …facilitating bus passengers reach Gandhi Smriti.

Timings and Ticket Prices

The museum is open for public between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm on all days of the week except Mondays.

A Multi-media show is also rendered between 1:00 pm and 1:30pm every day.

Photo Gallery