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President Murmu grants approval for renaming Nehru Memorial as Prime Minister’s Museum

Preserving the legacies of the Prime Ministers of India 

 

In a recent development, President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval for the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society. According to a gazette notification issued on Thursday, the society will now be known as the "Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society." This decision marks a significant change in the institution's name and reflects its evolving focus on preserving the legacies of the Prime Ministers of India.  This renaming announcement follows the inauguration of the Prime Ministers’ Museum at the historic Teen Murti complex, which once served as the official residence of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The change of name officially took effect last month. 

The decision to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society was made during a special meeting held on June 15, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who serves as the vice-president of the society. The NMML Society, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman, comprises 29 members, including Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy, Anurag Thakur, among others. This decision reflects a shift in the society's focus towards commemorating and preserving the legacies of India's Prime Ministers.

The decision to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society as the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society has sparked tensions between the Central government and Opposition parties. Critics, including the Congress and other political groups, have criticized the move as "petty" politics and an attempt to diminish Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy. 

On the other hand, Union ministers and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have refuted these allegations and defended the renaming, emphasizing that it is a gesture of "respect" extended to all Prime Ministers who have served the nation up to the present day. This controversy highlights the ongoing debate over how India's political history and legacies are commemorated and acknowledged.