ASIA

by S. K. Bhatnagar, Head of the Library

Inaugurated on January 30, 1961 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, the present building of National Gandhi Museum houses a Museum open to the public and a Library mainly used by Research Scholars working on “Gandhiji” and “History of the Freedom Movement in India, 1857-1947.”

The Museum has a rich collection of relics, photographs, audio-visual material, exhibitions, art pieces and other memorabilia closely connected with Mahatma Gandhi. Apart from a full-scale replica of “Hridaya Kunj,” in Satyagraha Ashram at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, where Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba lived from 1918 to March 1930, situated outside the main building; a large sized, 20’x6’x10’ modern sculpture in black marble stone of Mahatma Gandhi and 12 other Marchers of the famous Salt March, started by Gandhiji and others on March 12, 1930 is worth a visit. Inside the Museum, the Photographic Gallery, Commemorative Gallery, Martyrdom Gallery, Art Gallery, Ashram Gallery and Spinning Wheel Gallery are visited by hundreds of visitors every day.

The Library, comprising approximately 41,000 books has a significant collection of books on Mahatma Gandhi, Freedom Movement in India 1857-1947, Nonviolence, Satyagraha and Peace Studies. It also possesses photocopies of approximately 25,000 letters, telegrams, notes etc. written by Mahatma Gandhi to others or by others to Mahatma Gandhi. The Library also has the periodicals: “Indian Opinion, 1903-1914,” “Young India, 1919-1930,” and “Harijan, 1933-1955,” which were established, edited, and supported by Mahatma Gandhi during his lifetime. “Indian Opinion, 1903-1914” has further been digitized, and the same can be consulted online also. Its CD/DVD has also been made.

The entire catalogue of the Library can be viewed at our website: www.gandhimuseum.org, where other information about the Museum and Library is available.

Address: Rajghat, New Delhi - 110002, India
Tel: +91-11-23310168
Homepage: http://www.gandhimuseum.org
Days closed: Monday and designated holidays
Admission: Free

(Originally published on February 18, 2008)