'Only trying to democratise' Nehru Memorial Museum & Library: Director to WION
Jawaharlal Nehru
'We are only trying to democratise the institution. We are trying to build awareness about all the Indian prime ministers,' Shakti Sinha said. He added that no one can take away the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Shakti Sinha, the director of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library(NMML), responded to the letter written by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blaming the government for changing the nature of NMMLand undermining the importance of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
When WION spoke to Shakti Sinha, he said, "We are only trying to democratise the institution. We are trying to build awareness about all the Indian prime ministers." Sinha added that in the past 70 years, Congress prime ministers have governed for over 50 years, so thattoo will be reflected.
"I feel that the contribution made by other prime ministers has been neglected in the past but in no way it is an attempt to undermine the contribution made by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru," Sinha added.
"If you look at NMML, it is not limited to Jawaharlal Nehru only. It is alot about the freedom struggle and if you add archives as a component to NMML, then Nehru will only constitute 2 to 3 per cent of the total body,” said Shakti Sinha.
Shakti Sinha also added that no one can take away the contribution of Jawahar Lal Nehru.
“NMML is undergoing modernisation and lot more aspects of Nehru will be presented to the people. His portrayal will be far more comprehensive and a different area has been selected for showing the achievements of other prime ministers,” he said.
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Manmohan Singh in his letter had written that the complex should be left undisturbed in order to respect both history and heritage. Singh also wrote that NMML must remain the centre of first-rate scholarship and professional excellence.
"The museum must retain its primary focus on Jawaharlal Nehru and the freedom movement because of his unique role having spent almost ten years in jail between the early 1920s and mid 40s,” Singh wrote.
The culture war has become central to BJP-Congress relationship where the former accuses the latter of ignoring people outside Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress, on the other hand, accuses BJP of hijacking there leaders.