PM suggests creating 'museum map of India' at PPML society meeting

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a key meeting of the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML) Society in Delhi during which he put forth a concept of creating a "museum map of India" to provide a unified cultural and informational landscape of museums across the country.

"Underlining the importance of increased use of technology, the prime minister suggested development of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country, incorporating key metrics such as footfall and quality standards," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

The 47th annual general meeting (AGM) of the society took place at the Teen Murti Bhawan.

Modi also advised that a compilation of all the legal battles and documents relating to the Emergency period may be prepared and preserved in light of the completion of 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency in June 1975.

The key decision-making body of the PMML is helmed by Modi as its president, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the vice-president.

Besides Singh, other Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Dharmendra Pradhan, were present in the meeting.

Former Union minister Smriti Irani, former principal secretary to the prime minister, Nripendra Mishra, among others, also attended the meeting.

PMML is housed in Teen Murti Bhawan, which also hosts the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.

Former Air India CMD and ex-chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani, who was recently appointed as the director of the PMML, also attended the AGM.

"During the meeting, the prime minister emphasised that museums hold immense significance across the world and have the power to make us experience history. He underlined the need to make continuous efforts to generate public interest in museums and to enhance their prestige in society," the PMO said in a statement.

Modi put forward "a visionary concept of a 'Museum Map of India', aimed at providing a unified cultural and informational landscape of museums across the country," it said.

He also suggested organising regular workshops for those managing and operating museums, with a focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing.

Modi highlighted the need for fresh initiatives, such as the creation of a committee consisting of five people from each state who are below 35 years, in order to bring out fresh ideas and perspectives on museums in the country.

The prime minister highlighted that with the creation of a museum on all prime ministers, "justice has been done to their legacy, including that of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. This was not the case before 2014," it said.

Modi said top "influencers" and officials from various embassies should be invited to visit the country's museums to raise awareness about the rich heritage preserved there.

He highlighted the importance of preserving and documenting the present systematically.

Modi noted that by "strengthening our current systems and records, we can ensure that future generations and researchers in particular will be able to study and understand this period without difficulty".

Other members of the PMML Society shared their suggestions and insights for further enhancement of the museum and the library.

The prime minister also planted a kapur (cinnamomum camphora) tree in the lawns of the Teen Murti House, symbolising growth, heritage and sustainability.

The government reconstituted the PMML Society earlier this year, with Irani and noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur finding a place in it.

According to the culture ministry's January 13 order, former Mishra has been given another five-year term as the organisation's chairperson.

There are many new entrants in the prestigious institution's society, including former NITI Aayog Vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, retired Army officer Syed Ata Hasnain and Sanskar Bharati's Vasudev Kamath.