A sneak peek inside Congress' new Kotla Road headquarters that showcases its 140-year history

New Delhi: Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, V P Singh, K R Narayanan and Manmohan Singh in a single frame, an image of the longest serving AICC employee Sant Ram and Lal Bahadur Shastri ploughing a field are among 246 pictures that adorn the walls of the new Congress headquarters that its leaders say tell the story of its 140 year existence.

Christened Indira Bhavan with a library named after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away recently, the five-storeyed 'green' building in a way realises a proposal mooted by Jawaharlal Nehru at a meeting of Congress Working Committee in 1952 that the party should have its headquarters in this area where the new one has come up.

An inside view of the new All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters - Indira Gandhi Bhawan.

While the entrance is etched with the words, 'democracy', 'nationalism', 'secularism', inclusive growth' and 'justice', the pictures of Congress' first president W C Bonnerjee and current chief Mallikarjun Kharge greets visitors followed by B R Ambedkar's quote, "So long as you do not achieve social justice, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you".

All the floors of the new headquarters, leaders said, is a “walk through” of Congress’ history, depicting the party’s role in the freedom struggle, achievements of its governments and party programmes like Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatras.

An inside view of the new All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters - Indira Gandhi Bhawan.

Images of Mahatma Gandhi, his attendance at Round Table Conference, Nehru holding hands of Albert Einstein with Indira Gandhi looking on, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindra Tagore among others with elaborate descriptions provide a sneak peak into the party's history.

In an apparent reference to its allegation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the walls has a quote from Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, "Nations can't prosper merely on claims and speeches."

Images also refer to Garibi Hatao campaign, bank nationalisation as well as the image of Congress MPs at a Congress Legislature Party meeting in 2004 pleading with Sonia Gandhi to take up Prime Ministership are also mounted on the walls. Manmohan Singh with former US President Barack Obama and pictures of Kharge on all floors are also part of the interior design.

An inside view of the new All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters - Indira Gandhi Bhawan.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, "This building is not a structure of bricks, but, it is a testament of the dreams, dedication and sacrifices of the millions of Congress workers, who have tirelessly served the nation through this great party. The new headquarters is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of the present and the challenges of the future."

Sources said Congress will not vacate 24, Akbar Road and it will continue to house some of its cells. They said the BJP has not vacated its old headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, even after shifting to Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU)  Marg.

While the land allotted for the new headquarters is on DDU Marg, Congress was wary of having an address with an RSS ideologue’s name and chose to have its entrance on Kotla Road, providing it with an alternative address.

An inside view of the new All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters - Indira Gandhi Bhawan.

After her election loss following the lifting of Emergency, Indira along with her supporters of the break-away faction of Congress had made 24, Akbar Road the party headquarters in January 1978. It was then allocated to Congress MP G Venkataswamy.

Much before Congress made 24, Akbar Road its headquarters, it was home for Myanmar's future leader Aung San Suu Kyi, then around 15 years, in the 1960s. Her mother was then appointed Myanmar’s ambassador to India. It also played host to Sir Reginald Maxwell, who was a member (Home) in Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's executive council.

Before 1978, the Congress had its headquarters on 7, Jantar Mantar Road and 5, Rajendra Prasad Road. The split in 1969 led to losing the office in Jantar Mantar Road and had moved to 5, Rajendra Prasad Road.