Hyderabad: Salar Jung exhibit on independence omits Nehru, adds Savarkar
Moreover the initiative included the name of RSS ideologue VD Savarkar. Ironically, Nehru had in fact inaugurated the museum in 1963.
Hyderabad: In what can only be seen as a move to undermine India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the former freedom fighter’s photo was given a clear miss in Salar Jung Museum here, where the government has put up photos of other contemporaries, including that of RSS ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Under the aegis of the Centre’s ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative, the Salar Jung Museum has highlighted several heroes of India’s independence who were involved in the freedom struggle against the British. From Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to unsung freedom fighters like Kanhu Murmu, the museum currently houses a treasure trove of names from the independence movement.
But Nehru’s picture was given a clear miss. When this reporter visited the central government-run Salar Jung museum, it was found that among all the photos (accompanied with details of achievements) erected around the museum, that of Nehru was missing.
Moreover, an infographic explaining the independence timeline has astonishingly omitted the first Prime Minister’s name from the historic Red Fort flag hoisting which took place on August 15, 1947.
The irony of the whole matter is Jawaharlal Nehru had laid the cornerstone of the notable Salar Jung Museum on July 23, 1963.
