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1951 AD - Centenary Celebrations of the Madras Government
Museum - Visit of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
The Prime Minister arriving at the National Art Gallery to dedicate it to the Nation. The
future Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi is also seen. |
National Art Gallery, Government Museum,Chennai.
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The Prime Minister addressing
the gathering at the Museum Theatre in connection with the Centenary Celebrations of
Government Museum, Chennai on 27th November 1951. The Prime Minister, Shrimati
Indira Gandhi, His excellency the Governor of Madras and Her Highness The Maharani of
Bhavnagar, The Chief Minister of Madras Sri. P.S. Kumaraswami Raja, The Hon'ble Education
Minister Sri K.Madhava Menon and Dr.A.Aiyappan, Superintendent of Museum were on the dais. |
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The foundation stone of the Victoria Memorial Hall was laid on Jan 24th 1906 by His
Royal Highness George Frederick, Ernest Albert Prince of Wales P.C., K.G., C.G.S.I., G.C.M.G.,
G.E.I.E., G.C.V.O., I.S.O. Stone laid to commemorate the opening of the Victoria Memorial Hall
by HE The Hon.Sir Arthur Lawley C.C.I.E.K.C.M.C. The Governor of Fort St. George on March 23rd
1909.
In 1951, the Madras (now Chennai) Government
Museum celebrated its Centenary in a grand manner. The then Prime Minister of India, Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru dedicated the Victoria Memorial Hall, built in 1909 by the British Architect,
Mr. Erskine Irwin, as the National Art Gallery after extensive repairs. A special Centenary
Exhibition was arranged to add festive mood to the occasion. To the title of the
Superintendent Madras Government Museum and National Art Gallery. “The Goli
Room” and the small lecture room at the back were connected by a new doorway and renamed
the Centenary Exhibition Hall. The repairs were carried out by the Executive Engineer, North
Presidency Division, Madras Presidency, Shri T.S. Padmanabha Iyer, grandfather of Dr. R.
Kannan, IAS. This was a new facility for artists and cultural institution to arrange
exhibitions. The opening of the Centenary Exhibition Hall provided artists and art
institutions with a facility for arranging exhibitions of their art works in a location, which
was centrally placed and easily accessible. |
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1956 -
2500th Anniversary of the birth of the Buddha - Visit of the first President of
India Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad visiting the Galleries in 1956 .
Hon. Shri C.Subramanian, the then Education Minister, Government of Madras is also seen. |
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The major event in
May 1956 was the celebration of Buddha Jayanthi. The Madras Government Museum contains outstanding
examples of Buddhist Art, which have been on display in its gallery and constitute a major
attraction for the public. So, when the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha Parinirvana
Jayanthi was celebrated all over the country, the Government Museum, Chennai joined in the
celebration in a large way. The main attraction of the celebration was a special exhibition,which
had been organised “ to give the visitors to the Museum a visual idea of the place of Lord
Buddha in world culture – a picture of the Master through the religious art and architecture
of Asia”. The first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated it. The book titled
'Story of Buddhism with Special Reference to South India' released in commemoration of the 2500
Buddha Jayanthi Celebrations at the Madras Museum-May 1956, authored by Dr A. Ayyappan,
Superintendent, Madras Museum and Thiru. P. R. Srinivasan, Curator for Art and Archaeology, Madras
Museum. This Book was republished in 2000 by Dr. R. Kannan, Ph,D., I.A.S., Commissioner of
Museums, Government Museum, Chennai.
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| 20th All India
Museums Camp 
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During February 1990, the 20th
All India Museums Camp was organised by the Department of Culture by Government of India and
hosted by the Government Museum, Chennai, which was attended by museologists drawn from all over
the country. Honourable Minister for Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. K. Anbazhagan,
inaugurated the Museums Camp. Dr. Avvai Natarajan, Secretary, Tamil Development and Culture
Department, Government of Tamil Nadu presided over the function. |
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| South Indian Bronzes-
Special Exhibition A Special
Exhibition on the focal theme South Indian Bronzes was organised on 14 April 1992. The Honourable
Chief Minister, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa inaugurated the exhibition and released a Special Postal
Cancellation Cover of the National Art Gallery and released the Select Bronzes in the Chennai
Museum, authored by Thiru M. Raman, I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums. In this connection during
1992, the Museum Theatre was air-conditioned for better comfort. |
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Milestones crossed in the history of the Museum