‘First Freedom Struggle of 1857’ museum awaits inauguration

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, January 13

A museum dedicated to the “First Freedom Struggle of 1857” at Kurukshetra University (KU) is awaiting a VIP politician to inaugurate it.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma was scheduled for its official opening on January 11.

But as the minister did not turn up due the national executive meeting of the BJP the same day in New Delhi, the opening of the museum has been postponed.

Funded by the central government, the foundation stone of the project was laid by the then chairperson of the UPA Sonia Gandhi on July 27, 2008, at the KU.

The museum was conceptualised to mark the 150th anniversary of the revolt against the British rule in 1857. It is the first museum of Haryana dedicated to the theme.

The university authorities said a sum of Rs 5 crore was granted to the KU for the museum. But the work was delayed for a long time.

Though the building adjacent to the Department of Fine Arts was built earlier, the actual work of the museum was delayed.

After assuming the office of the Vice-Chancellor (VC) in 2016, Prof KC Sharma expedited the work and the university engaged Vishalakshi Consultants for the museum.

Parvinder Kaur, the museum consultant, told The Tribune on Sunday that the museum was ready for public viewing and a mandatory nod from the KU was awaited before its opening.

She said the museum had no artefacts or arms and ammunition. It has a special focus on Haryana’s contribution to the revolt of 1857 and later events till India’s freedom in 1947, she added.

“It has been developed in the format of storytelling. Our team of historians and artists have vetted books by eminent historians, officials records and media information to source information about various aspects of the period. We have also developed an audio-visual gallery to engage visitors,” said Kaur.

A senior faculty member said the minister should have declared it open through video-conferencing or urged the Labour and Employment Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who had chaired the foundation day, for formal inauguration.

Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of the KU said the museum was expected to be opened in the next few days.