Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum is located in a sprawling yet simple white bungalow where the great leader Mrs. Gandhi lived as prime minister of India. It was here in the gardens of this bungalow that her two bodyguards assassinated her on October 31st 1984. The bungalow was later converted into a memorial museum.
Though the museum has limited display but still it has a beautiful collection of photographs covering the Nationalist movement and personal and public life of Nehru-Gandhi family. The collection gives a visual narration of her life from childhood to her last days. Apart from some personal belongings of Mrs. Gandhi, one can also view her still laid out simple drawing room and study room through the large glass. The museum conserves her blood stained sari, which she wore on the day she was assassinated.
The museum also contains the personal exhibits of her son Rajeev Gandhi including the burnt clothes and shoes that he wore when he was assassinated in a bomb blast in May 1991. As Rajeev was himself a trained photographer, the museum houses some of his best photographs covering some good times of his life.
After coming out of the house, the visitor reaches the garden where Mrs. Gandhi was shot. The whole stretch that she last walked has been enclosed in a glass like frame giving a rippling affect of a river. The place where she finally fell after being shot on the frame has been marked, which also has few dried blood spots.
Visitors should not miss to read one of the last writings of Mrs. Gandhi (hung at the right hand side partition of the entrance room), probably written on the last night before her death. It reveals the love and devotion of this great soul for her country and countrymen as well as the determination and strong will to work for the overall welfare of the country in spite of the threat to her life.
The museum is very popular among the tourists especially the domestic ones who in a way pay tribute to their leaders who sacrificed their life for their country |
