Centre to set up three museums dedicated to Subhash Chandra Bose

The government has decided to set up three museums dedicated to the legendary freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) with two to be established in Delhi and one in Kolkata.

The Union Culture Ministry has also decided to establish a museum on the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad and one museum in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh which will showcase "the culture of the Gorakhpur region" along with life and contributions of the 11th century Hindu saint Gorakhnath.

"We will tell you in detail about the museum to be set up in Gorakhpur at an appropriate time. It will showcase the culture of Gorakhpur. The museum will also feature Guru Gorakhnath ji along with others," Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma told reporters on Tuesday when asked for more details about the proposed museum in Gorakhpur.

While the Culture Ministry will open a permanent museum dedicated to Bose and the INA at Red Fort in Delhi, it is in process of finalising the location for the "the main museum" dedicated to Netaji at some other location in the national capital territory.

"The DDA has offered two-three locations in Delhi. We are working on it. We have about 20 acres of land with IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts). We can also think of establishing the museum at this location. In Delhi, we hardly see Bose's presence. We have decided that through the INA, we will create a grand museum dedicated to Bose," Sharma added.

Another museum dedicated to Bose will be set up at the old building of the National Library in Kolkata.

This museum will showcase life and contributions of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, besides those of Bose and the INA, the culture minister said at a press conference.

"Work is on to establish a grand Ramayana Museum in Ayodhya. We held a meeting on this on Sunday," the minister added, when asked for the progress made in the setting up of this museum.