A Walk-down History: A Visit to the Discovery of India Exposition – Nehru Centre

Jawaharlal Nehru or Chacha Nehru is well remembered for being the first and longest-serving prime minister. Serving for 16 years as prime minister, Nehru was not only an author but also an anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist and social democrat who was a central figure in India during the middle third of the 20^th century.

He was also a principal leader of the Indian nationalist movement. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 11 times for his contributions to maintaining and promoting peace in India. Besides this, he was imprisoned 9 times and survived four attempts to assassinate him.  He wrote 112 books during his lifetime, where The Discovery of India and Letters from a Father to His Daughter were the main ones. In fact, these books written by him are even taught at 80 universities around the world.     

The structure (Nehru Center) took less than three years to build. It was opened on 11 November 1985 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Sprawling 8 acres, there are many plants, trees and shrubs surrounding the centre. Being the largest interactive science centre in India, this science centre has a planetarium, art gallery, library, cultural centre, auditorium, exhibitions, horticulture and a permanent 14-gallery exhibit called Discovery of India.

Nehru was deeply interested in science, philosophy, literature and theosophy.

It is also a living testament and monument of faith in Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of man, his compassion for humanity, his concern for human beings and his undying passion to lift them to the greatest and highest purpose. The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is the parent body of Nehru Science Centre, also having 26 science centres/museums all over the country.  

Nehru Planetarium: Commissioned on 3^rd March 1977 the Nehru Planetarium was opened having the main objective of fostering science through edutainment (education + entertainment). There are various lectures, events and ongoing discussions about prominent space researchers held here.  

Art Gallery:  The Nehru art gallery was set up on November 14^th, 1992 and is dedicated to the promotion of young talent, providing them with a platform to exhibit their work along with eminent artists. There have been several noteworthy exhibitions of paintings, graphics, sculptures, calligraphy, textile paintings, ceramics and photography held here. Some of the prominent painters and sculptors include M.F. Husain Akbar Padamsee, K.K. Hebbar, Navjot, Altar and Kishor Thakur.    

The Library

Opened in 1977, the Nehru Library is a centre having a massive collection of books. Having over 30,000 books on varied subjects such as philosophy, religion, astronomy, social sciences, art and architecture, history, geography, biographies, and books by and about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi; you can also find many encyclopaedias’ here. 

Located on the first floor of the Nehru Centre, it is very popular as a reference library and is open to students, academicians and the general public. A library which subscribes to both foreign and Indian periodicals, the library is also equipped with a cyber-centre and has audio-visual services which can be utilised.    

 

Culture Wing: 

In an attempt to encourage young talent, the Culture Wing organises different cultural programs (workshops, programs or seminars)  – in performing arts, dance, drama, music, etc.  

The Discovery of India, a book written by Jawaharlal Nehru- the first Prime Minister of India was written during Nehru’s four years of confinement to solitude in prison and was in a way a homage to India and its rich culture. Providing a broad view of Indian history, philosophy and culture – as viewed from the eyes of an Indian, fighting for the independence of his country. While the book was written in 1944 it was only published in 1946. A whole segment of the Nehru Centre is dedicated to this book, Discovery of India.

Discovery of India: On the first floor, right opposite

the library is Discovery of India – a permanent unique 

exposition which covers the artistic, intellectual and

 philosophical attainment of India, as depicted through

 the ages. The exhibit is a walk-in experience to 

truly experience! When you enter from one side, 

you traverse the life history of Jawaharlal Nehru

 right from the time he was born, his education, 

his return to India, his participation in the freedom struggle

 and so forth. You will come across very unique photographs,

 including some pictures of him posing with 

Albert Einstein and George Bernard Shaw.

Another part of the exhibit will have you walk through an exhibit taking you back to the pre-historic era, to the Mauryan, Mughal, and Maratha Empires and ending with India’s independence. All of the exhibits are very detailed and there is also quite a lot to read!       

 

On the 4^th of July, I finally made a visit to this amazing exhibit after I had visited the reputed and well-organised library, after having a chat with Arati Desai – the librarian and documentation officer at Nehru Center.