Amazing India Blog Know India Better
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation of India was shot dead in 30 January 1948. Gandhi Smriti is a memorial which is made to pay tribute to the Mahatma at – 5, Tees January Road of Delhi, the place where he was shot. The main objective of the place is to memorize the thoughts, life and missions of Mahatma Gandhi through various socio educational and cultural programmes. This epic place was formed in September 1984 by the merger of Gandhi Smriti.
The Prime Minister of India is its chairperson and out has a nominated body of senior Ghandhians and representatives of various government departments to guide it in activities. Gandhi Smriti is the place where Gandhi spent his last 144 days of life before he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
Gandhi Smriti – Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial in Delhi
Gandhi Smriti has a collection of rare photographs, paintings, sculptures, relics and inscriptions that beautifully depict the time he spent there.
History of the Museum
The place where the museum stands today was initially a house built by G D Birla. Mahatma Gandhi being a frequent visitor at the house of Birlas, stayed at the house during the last 144 days of his life (from 9 September 1947 to 30 January 1948). On 30th January 1948 he was shot dead on the same place. In 1971 the Government of India purchased the house from Birlas and turned it into a memorial. It was opened to public on 15 August 1973 as Gandhi Smriti. The museum in the building houses many articles as Gandhiji’s remembrance.
Preservation and Renovation by the Government
The management here has preserved the rooms where Gandhiji used to live and the prayer ground where he used to conduct an evening mass congregation. Then there is a martyr’s column which stands at the same spot where he was assassinated. Outside the house stands a pillar that contains a swastika symbol, the pillar also contains the Sanskrit symbol for the meditation sound, Om. The place was converted into a museum with Mahatma Gandhi such as his walking stick, spectacles, a spinning wheel and a pair of chappals (sandals). The adjacent house where the Mahatma spent his last days, contains rooms preserved as Gandhiji left them.
The building has two campuses. One of which is Gandhi Smriti and the other is international centre of Gandhian Studies and Research.
▪ Gandhi Smriti is the museum housed in the Old Birbal house in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. This museum preserves all the personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi and also consists of the Educative Aspects, Visuals Aspects and Service Aspects which Gandhiji followed and represented.
▪ The International Centre of Gandhian Studies and Research is the second campus which is situated adjacent to Mahatma Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat. The Centre offers research and guidance facilities to scholars from India and abroad documentation of various peace initiative and seeks to provide various inputs on Gandhi and allied subjects at one place.
Location
The memorial is located at 5 Tees January Marg, a few kilometres away from the Connaugh Place, in New Delhi.
How to Reach
To reach the museum you can choose metro trains, buses, auto rickshaw or cabs. The nearest metro station is the Race Course Metro Station and is at a distance of 6 km from New Delhi Metro Station.
Best Time to Visit
The museum can be visited at any time, as the museum remains open throughout the year. But for Delhi tourists its better to know that October and March are the best months to visit Delhi as the weather here remains pleasant during these months.
Entry Fee
Three is no entry fee required to visit the place.
Timings
It is open throughout the week (except on Monday) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
You may also like to Read :
