SOLOMON Islands could benefit from India’s example by establishing a museum that is dedicated to all Prime Ministers who have served the country since independence in 1978.
Such a museum would provide the younger generation with insight into the nation’s history, showcasing the contributions and challenges faced by its leaders after gaining independence from Great Britain.
The above photo is a statue of the first PM of India inside the PM Museum in New Delhi, India.
This idea was inspired by a visit from a Solomon Star reporter to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society, formerly known as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, located at Teen Murti Premises in New Delhi on August 20, 2024.
The reporter was part of a group of 23 journalists from the Indo-Pacific region invited by India’s Ministry of External Affairs for a familiarization visit from August 18-27.
The visiting journalists represented a diverse range of countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Lao PDR.
During the visit, it was revealed that India’s current Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, proposed the idea of creating a museum dedicated to all of India’s Prime Ministers at Teen Murti Premises in 2016.
The Executive Council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) approved the project during its 162nd meeting on November 25, 2016. The museum, named ‘Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya’, was inaugurated on April 21, 2022.
The India’s Executive Council later decided that the institution’s name should reflect its expanded role, which now includes a museum highlighting the collective journey of democracy in Independent India and the contributions of each Prime Minister to nation-building. The museum seamlessly integrates with the renovated Nehru Museum building, featuring advanced technological displays on the life and achievements of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru.
The museum, housed in a new building, narrates the story of how India’s Prime Ministers have guided the nation through various challenges and contributed to its progress.
It serves as a tribute to each Prime Minister since Independence and a record of their contributions to India’s development over the past 75 years.
The ‘Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya’ reflects the collective effort and success of India’s democracy, showcasing leaders from diverse backgrounds and demonstrating the inclusive nature of the country’s political system.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
In New Delhi, India