A Akhter
President Pranab Mukherjee today completed four years in the office at Rashtrapati Bhavan. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase-II of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum in presence of Mr Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and other dignitaries on Monday evening.
The museum depicts the story of the planning and construction of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the British Viceroys who occupied the building till 1947, freedom movement, transfer of power and formation of the Republic. The life and work of all the Presidents since 1950, the beauty and environment of the campus are also featured in it. It has an Art Gallery for holding temporary exhibitions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the museum which was inaugurated today at Rashtrapati Bhavan is an attempt to bring the past back to life. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, the various scheme of the Central government like renewable energy, water conservation and digital India have been implemented at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He said, the contribution of President Mukherjee to India is immense and he has given a lot to the office of the President also. Prime Minister said, he has learned from Mr Mukherjee how people from diverse political backgrounds can work together.
Three portfolios of paintings in Rashtrapati Bhavan published by the Lalit Kala Akademi and five new books on Rashtrapati Bhavan published by the Publications Division were also released. The books are “Around India’s First Table: Dining and Entertaining at Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “The Arts and Interiors of Rashtrapati Bhavan: Lutyens and Beyond”, “Discover the Magnificent World of Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “A Work of Beauty: The Architecture and Landscape of Rashtrapati Bhavan” and “First Garden of the Republic: Nature in the President’s Estate”. The portfolios titled “Paintings in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan”, “Company Paintings in Rashtrapati Bhavan” and “Select Paintings of Rashtrapati Bhavan” can be purchased from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. The five books are available in outlets of Publications Division, Government of India.
The President launched a micro-site on the Rashtrapati Bhavan website which will contain information on Rashtrapati Bhavan as a tourist destination and its three new tourist circuits namely, the Rashtrapati Bhavan main building, museums and the gardens. He also flagged off a Hop on – Hop off tourist bus.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said he had spent 43 years of his life within stone’s throw of Rashtrapati Bhavan but his knowledge of life inside Rashtrapati Bhavan was limited. Therefore, the first decision he took on assuming Presidency was that people must know about life in Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was happy to say that on conclusion of four years he had been able to open the doors of Rashtrapati Bhavan to the common people.
The President said history has to be told and narrated. Rashtrapati Bhavan had been a mute witness to the evolution of history in the modern period and of the time when the largest functional democracy of the world started operating. Since that time, Indian democracy has moved from strength to strength. He invited all dignitaries present on the occasion to find time to see the newly inaugurated museum in detail and admire the magnificent creation.