Allahabad Museum

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox museum | name = Allahabad Museum | native_name_lang = | image = Allahabad Museum Jan 2014 AJ.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = Allahabad Museum | alt = | map_type = | map_caption = | map_alt = | map_size = | coordinates = | established = 1931, 91 years ago | dissolved = | location = Kamla Nehru Road, [[Prayagraj]], India | type = [[List of national museums#India|National Museum]] | collection_size = | visitors = | director = Rajesh Prasad | president = | curator = | owner = | public_transit = | parking = | network = | website = {{URL|http://theallahabadmuseum.com}} }} '''The Allahabad Museum''' is a [[List of national museums#India|national-level museum]] in [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/museum-reform-ministry-of-culture-starts-14-point-agenda-115122700440_1.html | title=Museum Reform: Ministry of Culture starts 14-point agenda | date=27 December 2015 | author=ANI | newspaper=Business Standard | accessdate=13 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Spread awareness on rich cultural heritage: Governor|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/allahabad/31689078_1_allahabad-museum-rajesh-purohit-cultural-heritage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715002137/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/allahabad/31689078_1_allahabad-museum-rajesh-purohit-cultural-heritage |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=13 May 2012 }}</ref>

Established in 1931,<ref>{{cite news |title=Allahabad Museum to celebrate Foundation Day|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/-Allahabad-Museum-to-celebrate-Foundation-Day/articleshow/5644718.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108114206/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-05/allahabad/28134388_1_allahabad-museum-foundation-day-senior-citizens |url-status=live |archive-date=8 January 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=5 March 2010 }}</ref> it is known for its rich collection and unique objects of art, and is funded by [[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture]]. Moreover, it is a premier research centre for archaeologists, historians and academicians and carries out extensive research activities and publications in archaeology, art and literature. Its rock art gallery has the largest collection of prehistoric paintings displayed in India dating from 14,000 B.C to 2000 B.C.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/More-than-a-museum/article12547635.ece|title=More than a museum|last=Rashid|first=Omar|date=2012-10-06|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-01-06|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The museum, using [[solar power system]], has become the first museum in the country to become self-reliant in power generation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/allahabad-museum-switches-to-solar-power-becomes-first-energy-self-reliant-museum/58322963|title=Allahabad Museum switches to solar power, becomes first energy self-reliant museum|last=Khanal|first=Vinod|date=2017-04-23|website=ETEnergyworld.com|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> The Allahabad Museum is centrally located in the Civil Lines area of the city in a lush green garden at Chandrashekhar Azad Park, popularly known as Company Bagh. It is about 3 km away from the Allahabad railway junction and almost equidistant from three different Railway Stations such as Prayag, Rambagh and Prayagraj junction and about 12 km away from Prayagraj Airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Museum – The Allahabad Museum|url=https://theallahabadmuseum.com/about/|access-date=2021-02-09|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History== A museum was originally set up in Allahabad in 1863 by [[North-Western Provinces|North-West Province]] Governor General [[Sir William Muir]], before being shut down in 1881 because it was situated in one of the empty barracks which, besides being liable to injury by fire and storm, was quite unsuited to the purposes of institution. After the initiative to reopen the museum was taken by [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the then President of the Allahabad Municipal Board, stalwarts like [[Madan Mohan Malviya]] and the then leading newspaper [[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]], the museum was eventually opened in the Municipal Board building in 1931. Due to space constraint, the museum was shifted to the present building at the [[Alfred Park]]. The foundation stone of the present museum building was laid on 14 December 1947 by Jawaharlal Nehru and the museum was opened to the public in 1954. In 1985 it was declared an Institution of National Importance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/More-than-a-museum/article12547635.ece|title=More than a museum|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 October 2012|last1=Rashid|first1=Omar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/museums-antiquities|title = Museums & Antiquities | Ministry of Culture, Government of India}}</ref>

==Collection== The museum houses galleries each devoted to [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. The Gandhi Gallery displays rare pictures of Gandhi from his childhood till death, while the Nehru Gallery features Nehru's original manuscripts called 'In and Out of Prison' which were later published as his autobiography ''The Discovery of India''. His other collection includes documents, gifts, wedding cards and letters, including some from Gandhi himself. The museum's another valued possession is the Gandhi Smriti Vahan, the 47-Model V-8 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] truck on which Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the [[Triveni Sangam]] on 12 February 1948.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Gandhi-Smriti-Vahan-on-display-at-city-museum/articleshow/30331709.cms|title=Gandhi Smriti Vahan on display at city museum|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>

The pistol of [[Chandrashekhar Azad]], a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless semi-auto .32 bore, is displayed and preserved in the entrance hall of the museum. Azad used it to shoot himself after a long firefight with British policemen at the [[Alfred Park]], the same year the museum was established.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-take-selfies-with-chandra-shekhar-azad-s-pistol-at-allahabad-museum/story-gPNJDp2mX5Bo5g4qglkuwI.html|title=Now, take selfies with Chandra Shekhar Azad's pistol at Allahabad museum|last=Srivastava|first=Rajesh|date=2016-08-09|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>

The museum boasts 19 exclusive canvasses painted by the Russian painter, [[Nicholas Roerich]]. There are 10 Roerich Halls all over the world, including the one at Allahabad Museum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/nicholas-roerichs-works-on-display-at-salar-jung-museum/article7477467.ece|title=In search of mysticism|last=Ifthekhar|first=J. S.|date=2015-07-29|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-01-06|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The museum's library stores 25,000 books, including rare collections of [[Loeb Classical Library]] — translated works of ancient Roman and Greek scholars.<ref name=":0" />

==See also== {{Commons category}} * [[List of tourist attractions in Allahabad]] * [[List of museums in India]] * [[Allahabad Public Library]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://theallahabadmuseum.com/ Allahabad Museum, website]

[[Category:Museums in Uttar Pradesh]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Prayagraj]] [[Category:1931 establishments in India]] [[Category:Museums established in 1931]] [[Category:Art museums and galleries in India]] [[Category:Archaeological museums in India]]